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HO US E & 16 VOLUME:116 No.119, JUNE 17TH,

SPORT: WOODLAND HOLDS NERVE TO TAKE US OPEN

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‘Crafty’ Rastas jumped the gun

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel yesterday said legal action from the Rastafarian community over their right to sacramental use of cannabis, has an “extremely slim” chance at success and should have been delayed to wait on the outcome from the national Marijuana Commission.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Christian Council president Delton Fernander has characterised the legal threat as a “crafty way to force the government’s hand” towards legalisation.

However, legal counsel for the group, Wayne Munroe, QC, told The Tribune he is gearing up for a

legal battle he has been waiting to wage since he left law school in the 80s.

Mr Munroe added the government’s Marijuana Commission was nothing more than a thinly veiled probe into the pros and cons of “smoking dope for fun”.

“I have been looking for some Rasta with the courage to do this,” Mr Munroe said. “They said the same thing about our battle with the Muslim on the defence force, and what happened with that? It went all the way to the Privy Council who affirmed his religious freedom.”

He was referring to a constitutional dispute between the Royal Bahamas Defence Force SEE PAGE FIVE

MICAL MP Miriam Emmanuel’s parliamentary mishap last week has unearthed deeper concerns over her competency at the helm of the Education Loan Authority (ELA) and the effectiveness of political appointees.

Several employees at the ELA told The Tribune the senior pastor’s tenure has been rife with internal blunders and a continued refusal

to accept help. Yesterday, Mrs Emmanuel said she was not aware of any issues concerning her leadership at the authority; however, she only spoke briefly with The Tribune due to a family commitment.

The employees spoke on the condition of anonymity as public mockery over a clip of Mrs Emmanuel stumbling over her words when she attempted to read a number from prepared remarks went viral.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

TAXIS AND BUS DRIVERS THREATEN NEW ACTION

By NATARIO MCKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

TAXI and jitney drivers have joined forces and are threatening a massive shutdown if government does not take their concerns seriously, stating: “We will no longer be pushed aside.”

Both Wesley Ferguson, president of the 1,100-strong Bahamas Taxicab Union, and Frederick Farrington, president of the Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union, told Tribune Business that the government has until July 1 to meet with them and work on resolving their issues.

Mr Ferguson said: “The taxi and bus drivers have joined forces because we have pretty much the same issues. We are warning the government that this is the last delay.”

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

22 HELD IN MASSIVE BIMINI OPERATION

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

STAFF RAISE ISSUES OVER MIRIAM’S ROLE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

HOME

PROM STARS

PUPILS at CV Bethel enjoyed their prom at the Hilton this weekend. For full coverage, see The Tribune’s Weekend section, out on Friday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

LAW enforcement officers arrested 22 people during a massive operation in Bimini on Saturday.

The operation, headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Samuel Butler, was a collaboration between the police and defence force and comes after two people were murdered on the island in separate incidents in April and May. “The purpose of the operation was to follow up intelligence that was gathered from Bimini,” ACP Butler said yesterday. “It was a multifacetted approach looking SEE PAGE THREE

SUSPECT CHARGED OVER KAMEELA’S MURDER

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER assistant principal at the school where Bahamian Kameela Russell was employed has been charged with her murder in Florida.

Ernest Joseph Roberts, 39, was taken into custody on Friday morning by police and charged with first-degree murder.

“According to an arrest warrant, investigators

BAHAMIAN Kameela Russell found Russell’s spattered blood inside the house, and also that he dumped her

car and tried to get another school’s employee to make it ‘disappear’,” The Miami Herald reports.

“Phone records and video surveillance also placed Russell at Roberts’ Miami Gardens home when she disappeared, according to police.”

The Tribune has not seen this arrest warrant.

Russell was employed as a test invigilator at Miami Norland Senior High School. A mother-of-two, SEE PAGE SEVEN

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

INSIGHT TIME TO END CORPORAL PUNISHMENT?

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Monday, June 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

THIEVES pulled the ATM machine from the wall and stole the contents from the vault.

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

Thieves break into store and smash ATM

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama Police are investigating a brazen break-in and robbery at the Solomon’s Wholesale Store in Freeport on Friday that resulted in significant damage to the establishment and a bank ATM machine there.

Thieves smashed in the southern glass doors to gain entry to the store, and then pulled the ATM machine, the property of First Caribbean Bank, from the wall and stole the contents from the vault.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Samuel Butler told reporters that the incident appears to be similar to another break-in and robbery in New Providence, involving the theft of cash from an ATM there.

He is appealing to the public to assist the police with their investigations into the matter.

According to reports, police were called to the establishment on Queen’s

Highway shortly after 6am on Friday concerning a break-in.

ACP Butler said that when one of the store managers arrived, he saw a disturbance at the store near one of the banking machines.

“It appeared that some perpetrators entered and were successful in chain pulling the ATM off the wall, and getting away with the contents of whatever was in the vault at that time,” he said.

When The Tribune arrived at the scene, investigators were still conducting their investigations.

The ATM machine was significantly damaged, and was smashed up into pieces on the ground, just outside on the entry ramp.

The area was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape and customers arriving at Solomon’s to shop were directed to another entrance at the eastern side of the building. Many of them were shocked and could not believe what had happened.

The Tribune spoke with

store manager, Jimmy Smith, who referred this newspaper to the head office in Nassau. Efforts to reach an AML Foods official proved fruitless up to press time.

ACP Butler said police are in the early stages of their investigations, and are still waiting for the manager to complete an audit.

“We had a similar incident in New Providence and we are looking at those and speaking with our counterparts in NP to share notes on the MO and similarities to see if there is a link,” he said.

ACP Butler also noted that investigators have been dispatched to seek out those responsible for the crime.

“We remain optimistic and will go after those responsible, and in short order we should bring some pieces together,” he said. “Police in Grand Bahama will spare no effort going after every crime perpetrated.

“We want to appeal to members of the public that whatever little you may

be aware of to speak with police. I know there are times the public feels the little they may know may or hear may not be significant to police investigation, but every bit and piece can assist in causing successful conclusion,” ACP Butler said.

He said Grand Bahama is generally a peaceful place, and noted that incidents like this affect the entire community.

He called on citizens to be vanguards of Grand Bahama to ensure that it is seen as a destination of “peace and civil order”.

ACP Butler appealed to residents of Grand Bahama to join hands with the police.

He noted that perpetrators of crime are generally people from the community.

“They are our brothers, sisters, and children and we strongly appeal to family members and guardians to take a second look at what your children maybe doing. You are complicit if you know they are doing things and say nothing,” he said.

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THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 17, 2019, PAGE 3

22 held in massive Bimini operation from page one at possible suspects from the recent murders to drug trafficking to migrant smuggling.

“The plan was to make contact with the island under the cover of darkness from air, land and sea. We had in excess of 150 officers in the operation.”

ACP Butler said 13 people were brought to New Providence for further investigations. They included a family of three associated with the seizure of a kilo of cocaine at their residence and a family of two arrested after officers found 40 rounds of .40 ammunition. The others were brought in relation to migrant smuggling, drug trafficking and recent homicides.

“There were a number of other minor drug violators associated with minor drug possessions that were processed right in Bimini –– about nine persons in total,” he said.

The operation began

THE OPERATION, pictured above, which led to the arrest of 22 people in Bimini was headed by ACP Samuel Butler who said: “The purpose of the operation was to follow up intelligence that was gathered from Bimini. It was a multifacetted approach looking at possible suspects from the recent murders to drug trafficking to migrant smuggling.”

WOMAN DIES AFTER ACCIDENT ON MILO BUTLER POLICE are investigating a traffic fatality that left a woman dead on Friday morning.

According to reports, shortly after 4am a man and woman were in a black Honda Civic in the north bound lane of Sir Milo Butler Highway when the male driver lost control of the vehicle, which ran into a tree and rolled down a ditch.

Police Fire Services personnel were called to the scene and extricated both persons from the vehicle.

Paramedics were called to the location where the woman was pronounced dead. The man was taken to hospital and is listed in stable condition.

The deceased victim’s identity has not been released.

at 4am and ended around noon.

Asked if authorities have growing concerns about criminal activity on Bimini, ACP Butler said: “Generally, the people in Bimini are law-abiding people. It’s a small community, but you have a few persons who involve themselves with illegal activity and I want to be careful against branding the lawabiding citizens who are by and large the majority that simply works hand in hand with police with the few who engage in criminal activity and give Bimini an adverse name.

“From our perspective, we are satisfied that the general populace of Bimini is conforming to the law and have high regards for working in a cordial way for law enforcement. Had it not perhaps been for those two homicides earlier this year, a lot of this attention may not have been on Bimini in such a way. We took this action to maintain a level of calm and ensure a safe community in Bimini.”

PAGE 4, Monday, June 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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Don’t mock a slip-up, look at the job being done MIRIAM Emmanuel was the target of a lot of mockery over the past few days.

The MP for MICAL stumbled over her words during her speech in the House of Assembly last week, unable to wrap her mouth around a number in her budget presentation.

Soon enough, the video of her mishap was being circulated along with all sorts of unkind commentary. “D average in full swing,” said one commenter alongside much more, often far worse.

Health Minister Dr Duane Sands was moved to stand up for his colleague, calling the commentary “nothing short of crass, mean-spirited, unacceptable bullying”.

He’s right. There’s hardly anyone who has done public speaking who hasn’t had a slip of the tongue. Could Mrs Emmanuel have gotten out of it more gracefully? Certainly, but it seems harsh to take one little clip from her speech and drag her down because of it.

Senator Renard Henfield also defended her, saying: “It’s as if for someone to serve their constituents or the country they are expected to be great speakers void of ever getting nervous or stumbling on a word.”

A stumble here and there should not be a reason to excessively criticise – although constituents should expect their representative to communicate effectively. That should be viewed in its entirerty though, not an isolated incident.

No, if one is to criticise Mrs Emmanuel, it should be on issues of substance – it is perfectly legitimate for example to criticise her for the stance she took in the House of Assembly last year on domestic abuse.

At the time, she was talking about her father when she said: “He said if there

ever comes a time when you have to come back to this house and say to me as your father that your husband shook you, or give you a slap or punch you in your mouth, I will analyse while I listen to you. I will analyse the consequences that would have caused your husband to probably shake you, slap you or punch you in your mouth.

“And I said simply what my father was saying that we are to respect each other, have respect for your priest, your provider and your protector. So in this honourable House it’s no exception from a marriage relationship if you as a woman want to come up in your husband’s face and behave like you are a man, my father said then you will get manhandled.”

The comments prompted an uproar, with Mrs Emmanuel later saying she regretted the “unfortunate analogy” and claiming the comments were taken out of context – although she did not clarify in which context such comments would be acceptable. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was satisfied with her apology.

It is also fair to question Mrs Emmanuel in the wake of the story in today’s paper, in which a number of members of staff complain about her behaviour and her performance.

If the allegations are true, there is more reason there to be unhappy with Mrs Emmanuel than over a stumble in the public eye in Parliament. Stage fright can hit anyone. A failure to perform in a public speech is as nothing compared with a failure to perform in public office.

It’s easy to mock a moment on video – but don’t let that blind you to how the person behind the slip-up is doing the job they were elected to do.

Let’s leave ‘D average’ in the past SPEAKING of that “D average” used as an insult to hurl at the MICAL MP, our eyes turn to the world of education – and one of the jobs at hand for the re-elected president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, Belinda Wilson.

“I win big, big, big,” she said on Friday as the results started to come in – well, it’s long past time for Bahamian parents to win big, big, big.

First on the table for Mrs Wilson is a new industrial agreement. We hope equally high on the agenda is ways in which her members can help students to excel.

The news last week that just 46

percent of students who leave high school qualify for a diploma is no ringing endorsement of the status quo.

The biggest criteria to graduate is just four Bahamas Junior Certificate examination passes at a minimum grade of a D in Maths, English, Health or General Science and Social Studies or Religion – and yet less than half succeed at that.

So as Mrs Wilson sits down with ministry officials to talk about a new agreement, we hope any such deal will include terms designed to improve those results.

Let’s work together to lift our standards – and put that “D average” insult in the past for ever.

Foreign affairs cost money EDITOR, The Tribune DID the Ministry of Foreign Affairs totally fail us, even embarrass us in their endeavour to win a seat at the UN Security Council?

Voting for our region was exceptionally high…Bahamas application got not a single vote - thought, well listening to the Ministry that We are - We seem to have been a leader at least in CARICOM, but not a single vote could we obtain.

Cost effective? Member States wanting to be elected have to do the rounds entertain, etc, have senior officials travel to New York (expensive) to assist the staff of ones UN delegation… what was the connected costs to this failure?

I did catch from the Minister’s Budget contribution something which was said a long time ago as a result of the level of our GDP - yes we are not in the class of undeveloped or developing

but we all know that is totally artificial as a result of the high level of expat workers here earning very high salaries who regrettably are part, included, in our GDP which is substantially lower, maybe around $23-24,000.00 pa if that.

Playing big time Foreign Affairs is very expensive for ego.

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, June 11, 2019.

Pay up or be shamed ...

EDITOR, The Tribune WE owe $400 plus million on Real Property Taxes…Mr Minister - Mr Acting Financial Secretary a very, very simple method is to write to the people and/or their companies and give them 30-days to settle.

In the letter you advise them if in 30-days the debts have not been cleared then the Ministry will run advertisements indicating

and identifying those who owe this incredibly large amount. Yes, as previously done, then $330,000.00 was paid in days…I suggest those who have it will dig and write the cheques.

Minister - Acting Financial Secretary, no discounts or breaks remember the stupidity before when discounts were given to real Property Taxes owing on commercial property - to the uneducated the

majority of that is paid for by those who are renting the property!

Whoever you are pay up or be shamed…if this FNM is really behind transparency then let the axe fall where it has to.

Pay up or be shamed, your choice. No discounts or reductions!

W THOMPSON Nassau June 4, 2019

WEIMIN Chu is the winner of the 2019 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Enitled Greenlandic Winter, Chu’s picture captured a small family walking along the snow-covered streets of a remote town called Upernavik.

Arrogance is a roadblock on the highway to wisdom EDITOR, The Tribune I MUST speak whenever there are injustices being visited on anyone. I must also, without ambiguity, express how I arrived at my explicit opinion.

I must cause my boldness to be seen in my honesty.

The brazenness of Nassau Airport Development (NAD) Company’s recent request for proposal (RFP) was nauseating, to put it mildly. It actually published the RFP worded as it is, regardless who objected.

It dared us to swallow its arrogance, hook, line and sinker.

It was disconcerting to see that NAD would even think about such a venture when there exists right now a restaurant owned and operated by a Bahamian in good standing.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net What is so alarming in the request is that Bahamians need not apply.

The suggestion that the RFP is asking for an operator with international branded concessions smacks the government’s Bahamians-first policy.

There are many reputable high-class restaurants that could compete with any internationally.

Why would NAD be leaning so hard on “international”?

Are there suggestions that Bahamians are inferior?

It is unfortunate that a fully established Bahamian, who has proven to be knowledgeable enough

to operate domestically for all these years, is being “snuffed out” by a system designed to target Bahamians.

The request for proposal is designed to ostracise Bahamians, plain and simple.

Where are the legal minds? Where are the wellintentioned Bahamians who have a conscience?

How come God-fearing Bahamians could sit idly by while Bahamians are being slaughtered on the altar of politics? When is it going to stop?

This is not right. This cannot be right.

Arrogance is a roadblock on the highway to wisdom.

IVOINE W INGRAHAM Nassau June 14, 2019

Why you should never give people absolute power EDITOR, The Tribune UNDER the point of the sword, King John of England enacted the Magna Carta on 15 June, 1215, and created parliament. The principle is that everyone is subject to the law, even the king, and guarantees the rights of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial. The problem with any rights is how you enforce them. s1 The effective control of government is the supremacy of parliament. In the 17th century, Edward Cook wanted to make the Magna Carta above the king and above parliament.

He failed. Parliament has

been able to act like a king having parliamentary prerogative - usually corrupt without being subject to the law. Parliament can give you rights and take them away. Making citizens of parliamentary democracy subjects and not free.s1 Because the guarantee of rights were to guard against the king, abuse of power by a pro parliamentary group and transfer the power to parliament. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I recommend that parliamentary supremacy be put in check by requirements to hold referendum on any matter that affects the citizens significant.

We have made parliamentarians kings then we are upset when they act accordingly.

Elections only reinforce this system because they become a government in waiting. They will continue to act like they are above the law because in practice they are. As a mathematician I study patterns. Never give people absolute power (like some to fight crime) because they will never give it up. It is like good sex and lots of money - intoxicating.

BRIAN PLUMMER Nassau June 10, 2019

ELLIS

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 17, 2019, PAGE 5

from page one

Bethel says legal action from Rastafarians had an ‘extremely slim’ chance of success

and former officer Gregory Laramore, who refused to participate in a Christian prayer service and was disciplined for it.

“It’s a mental thing,” Mr Munroe continued.

“If the proposition was should Christians worship freely in the Bahamas, would anybody wait until the government decides if they can do what they already have a right to do?

“You see Rastas hauled before the courts on a possession charge and you hear a magistrate tell them they must stop smoking marijuana, what type of nonsense is that?”

The Bobo Ashanti formally known as the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress (EABIC) - gave the government 10 days to indicate a willingness to grant a licence for the cultivation, possession and supply of Indian hemp or face a lawsuit on the grounds that a refusal breaches their constitutional right to religious freedom.

That deadline expires on Wednesday, but the AG’s position - coupled with comments made by Health Minister Dr Duane Sands in the House of Assembly last week - makes it clear the matter will not be resolved without legal action.

The health minister maintained the government’s position that it would not consider the issuance of “multiple licences” under the Dangerous Drugs Act during this consultative period as it would circumvent the work of the commission.

The commission has been granted a three-month extension to complete its work after missing its April deadline.

Yesterday, Mr Bethel said: “Everybody has a right to assert a claim to whatever right they feel that they have. The law is the law, it has been the same law since before independence so I’m not entirely sure…they have extremely slim prospects of any success and they may be better advised to wait for the national consultation and determination on what we’re going to do.”

The call to suspend legal action until the Marijuana Commission has completed its report was also echoed by its co-chair, Bishop Simeon Hall.

The EABIC’s legal letter argues that Roman Catholic and Anglican churches are allowed to give alcohol to confirmed minors as a religious sacrament while Rastafarians are criminalised.

It also underscores the Dangerous Drugs Act that gave the health minister responsibility for the control of Indian hemp and the other dangerous drugs specified in the act.

For his part, Mr Fernander said while he did not wish to alienate the Rastafarian community,

CARL BETHEL QC, Attorney General and, left, Bishop Delton Fernander, president of the Christian Council.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

there was a clear loophole that needed to be addressed before any resolution could be achieved.

He said the BCC would be closely monitoring legal arguments presented in court. “I believe the

difference being put forth is not all churches serve alcohol for their sacrament,” Mr Fernander said, “and for those confirmed youths it’s distinguished how young you can be to partake.

Obviously the Rastafarians

have a right to partake in their sacrament, but they don’t have the right to partake in their sacrament that’s illegal.”

Mr Fernander continued: “It’s a crafty way to force the government’s hand but then the whole country has to legalise. And the challenge to their argument if it is approved and legalised that way is everyone will say they’re Rastafarian - here is a loophole. We don’t want to alienate the Rastas but we must be very careful in arguments we bring.”

Yesterday, Mr Munroe insisted cannabis was not illegal and accessible to vets and dentists upon application, and as such, the only determination that needed to be made was how to set up proper controls. He underscored his clients were not asking for the issuance of a licence.

The outspoken QC said the official response to his

client’s appeal indicated a level of incompetence and lack of understanding of religious freedom.

“I can’t countenance people not respecting other people’s faith,” Mr Munroe continued, “it is something we should be ashamed of as Bahamians at any time.

We talk about how the Eleutheran Adventurers came here because of religious persecution - well what are we doing to these fellas?

“Why talk about we gotta go to court,” Mr Munroe said, “why not talk about what are the control measures we’re going to put in place. Instead, they want us to go to court, we succeed, then they advocate for a right to put a sensible thing in place, and then what? “(The Marijuana Commission), all they talking about is smoking dope for fun, and them trying to dress it up as anything other than smoking dope for fun

MAN SHOT DEAD AS HE SLEPT IN HIS BED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A MAN was killed on Saturday, becoming the 39th murder victim of the year.

The murder rate for the year is 25 percent less than at this point last

year, when 50 people were killed up to June 16, 2018.

The latest victim was identified across social media as “Codero” also known as “Showboy.”

According to reports, shortly before 2am the man was asleep in a bedroom in a home on Sister Marie Rahming Drive, Millennium

Gardens, when an armed men stood outside his window and opened fire into his bedroom, hitting him about the body before running way. Paramedics confirm him dead on the scene.

Police also reported that a woman was shot on Friday.

Shortly after 11pm a group of

women were standing outside a home in Flamingo Gardens when an armed man came from the rear of the house and opened fire in their direction, hitting one woman about the body before running away. The injured woman was transported to hospital and is said to be in stable condition, police said.

is disingenuous, which is really dangerous.”

Mr Munroe made it clear he was against recreational use, noting the impact legalisation would have on drug use among rebellious minors.

Yesterday, a representative on the Marijuana Commission - who spoke on the condition of anonymity - told The Tribune the body was “scattered” in its opinion on the way forward.

Pointing out that the Rastafarian community has representation on the committee, the commission representative suggested the legal threat was directly linked to dissatisfaction with the status of deliberations.

“There is no real unity,” the commission member said, “no real message. So if they feel they are being left out of the presentation, they may have been advised to force the government to legalise this.”

Clarification

IN Friday’s paper a story relating to Agriculture Minister Michael Pintard carried the headline: I only want to work with people who are committed to the FNM. We are happy to clarify Mr Pintard’s statement was directed solely at FNM members who were actively working against the interests of the party.

PAGE 6, Monday, June 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

I WIN BIG, SAYS WILSON AS SHE IS RE-ELECTED BUT PRESIDENT

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BELINDA Wilson is celebrating yet another election victory as president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers after elections were held last week.

Official results from the election had not been released at press time, but Mrs Wilson told The

Tribune that unofficial results indicate she has won yet another term. “I win big, big, big. Most of my team (won),” she said.

BUT elections are held every two years. Mrs Wilson was first elected president in 2008 when she defeated her opponent by 606 votes in the last election. However her tenure has been rocked by several suspensions. She was last

suspended in September 2018. She told The Tribune her focus is now on negotiating a new industrial agreement for teachers.

“We gave the government a proposal, they gave us a counter-proposal, we now gon’ have our fourth session (this) week and we will defend our position. So far the talks have been going slow, but steady.

We put forth a proposal

for a salary increase and we expect to get a salary increase, but we’re nowhere near that right now.”

Teachers had their last salary increase “a couple years ago in the previous agreement,” Mrs Wilson said.

She said about winning: “I feel very honoured and I’m glad the teachers supported the ‘A team’. We have no unofficial numbers,

WINNER: Belinda Wilson

labour (officials) said they will have the results for us on Monday.”

Positions up for vote in the election included president, vice president, secretary general, assistant secretary general, treasurer, assistant treasurer, trustee and executive member. Thirty-eight people had been vying for the 13 positions.

Editorial View - Page 4

DESTROYER PAYS A VISIT TO HIGHLIGHT GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH US

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames celebrated the arrival of an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer to Nassau ports on Friday alongside American embassy and navy officials. The USS Stout arrived in Nassau on June 12.

During the reception, US Charge D’Affairs Stephanie Bowers highlighted US efforts to collaborate with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

She said since October, 2018 there have been 25 interdictions of cocaine and marijuana, resulting in the confiscation of over 490,000lbs of marijuana and almost 500 kilos of cocaine with a street

value of over $505 million. “During that same time our joint forces interdicted 41 migrant sea vessels, resulting in the repatriation of over 1700 migrants,” she said.

“In April we inaugurated a maritime surveillance radar on the island of Inagua. Within the next year, a second radar will be installed on the Coral Harbour base in New Providence. Today, I’m happy to announce that we’ve just received approval to fund a third radar which will be installed on Great Exuma.

Once operational, these radars will significantly enhance the RBDF’s ability to monitor illicit activity transiting Bahamian waters.”

For his part, Mr Dames said The Bahamas’ relationship with the United States continues to grow.

PHOTOS: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

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THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 17, 2019, PAGE 7

from page one

Staff raise issues over Miriam’s role

She was making her contribution to the budget debate in the House of Assembly last Thursday .

“When you work in places like this, you get what you get,” said a tenured employee at the agency.

“You don’t get to pick the skill level or the talent these people come in with; the winning side decides who is who and it’s often people who aren’t qualified or care to learn the area they are in.”

The employee claimed that while staff have tried to establish a good relationship with Mrs Emmanuel, her closed off nature has led many to “work around her and her foolishness”.

“When we speak about what is going on there people act shocked, but the truth is the truth and the reality is we often find ourselves working around her,” the employee said.

Another employee took issue with Mrs Emmanuel’s alleged unorthodox office rules, telling The Tribune: “When she first came in, it was more of ‘don’t come up until after 9am’ or whatever. That went into us not being able to go up unless she summoned us.”

Coupled with Mrs Emmanuel’s alleged efforts to have her “personal staff” hired by the agency, the employee claimed the MICAL MP’s blunder in the House of Assembly was only a “glimpse into our reality”.

While grievances varied between canvassed employees, an overarching theme was the alleged rapid decline in morale at the ELA since Mrs Emmanuel took over the post from Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes in January.

“With Mr (Michael) Foulkes, he was competent and knew what he was doing,” another employee said.

“This lady refuses to learn how things work and all she does is block everyone out. It’s sad because we have gone from a striving unit to a sinking ship. We’ve complained to every person we can, but there is no willingness to make a change.”

The employee continued: “This lady has come in and done whatever she wanted without the input of the staff that has been doing this. You can’t say nothing to her, she figures she knows it all and doesn’t give anyone, beyond her assistant, the space and time to speak up.

“She brought in her assistant, who became her left

and right hand. That entire thing has brought morale down to the ground.”

The Tribune understands several workers have written to the Office of the Prime Minister; however, none of the employees interviewed were willing to share the letter with The Tribune.

When asked why the letter was drafted, an employee said: “It was our only choice.”

“Let’s be real, You can have a good person, it doesn’t make them good at their job. Bahamians need to get that.

“Maybe (the government) should consider appointing qualified people who have some connection to the area they are being appointed to. It can’t just be, ‘we win, we putting our people in’. We are running a country here. The ELA plays an important role in our country, the person that leads that should have something to offer to it,” the employee added.

Meanwhile several of the MICAL

MP Miriam Emmanuel MP’s parliamentary colleagues, including Cabinet minister Dr Duane Sands, have come to her defence in written statements posted to social media over the weekend as public ridicule reached a fever pitch after her House of Assembly blunder.

During her budget presentation Thursday, Mrs Emmanuel struggled for quite sometime to enunciate a number written into her presentation.

The blunder, which saw the MICAL MP attempt to state the number as many as six times, was broadcast across the country over the Parliamentary Channel and

Suspect charged with Kameela murder from page one

she was last seen alive by her family on May 15. Her body was found days later in a canal. Her death was ruled a homicide caused by blunt head injury, according to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Department.

According to The Miami Herald, investigators “immediately honed in” on Roberts, Norland’s ex-assistant principal, who had known Russell from childhood, according to her family.

Last week, Russell’s mother Linda Russell told The Miami Herald that she did not believe Roberts was connected to her daughter’s disappearance.

The report added the arrest warrant “detailed a compelling, if circumstantial case”, detailed below: “Russell was last seen alive on the evening of May 15, when she pulled up to her aunt’s home in Miami Gardens to pick up her daughter. The plan, as usual, was to take her daughter to a 6.30pm gymnastics class.

“But Russell’s car, a black Audi, abruptly left the driveway and drove off. She then vanished, prompting a missing-persons search and a widespread hunt publicised by the media.

“On Monday, May 20, Roberts entered Lentin K-8 early in the morning, before he was scheduled to fly to Washington, DC, to chaperone a student field trip, the warrant said.

“Then, he called a fellow employee at Lentin and

later went viral on various social media platforms.

It’s not the first time parliamentary comments

by Mrs Emmanuel have elicited widespread public rebuke.

She was criticised for her “ill-advised” statement of support for disciplinary action taken by Speaker Halson Moultrie, who last year named and suspended Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin.

Her suggestion there is nothing wrong if a woman is “manhandled” by her husband, in which she further detailed the man might also decide to “slap,” “shake,” or “punch” her in the mouth as punishment for challenging him - led to widespread calls for her resignation.

Hours later, Mrs Emmanuel “sincerely apologised” for the comments and insisted she did not condone domestic violence of any kind. At the time, she said her remarks were taken out of context and misunderstood.

something crazy,’” according to the warrant.

“He did not admit to killing Russell. Instead, Roberts claimed an intruder broke into his home and he ‘hit the person with a baseball bat.’ In person, Roberts later told the employee, he killed the supposed intruder, wrapped him in a tarp and ‘dragged the body through the house leaving blood stains,’” the warrant said.

“Roberts even asked the man ‘how to get rid of the blood stains.’ The employee thought Roberts was kidding but suggested Clorox bleach.

The employee later called Roberts — as

Editorial View - Page 4

ERNEST Roberts pictured when he appeared before a Miami-Dade judge on Saturday on a murder charge.

ERNEST Roberts posted a photo on social media of him and Kameela Russell after her body was found in Miami Gardens.

‘directed [him] to go to a specific file cabinet inside of conference room 908,’” the warrant alleges.

“Inside was a set of car keys and a hand-written note that read: ‘Do you know anyone that can chop up a car? If so or make it ‘disappear’ take these keys.

It’s behind the speedway racetrack on 441 by County line. Friends are gone and need it to disappear. If not leave it + I’ll work it out later. THROW THIS NOTE AWAY!’ “The alarmed employee called Miami Gardens police officers. He told them that Roberts had also called him and said: ‘I did

In a Facebook post last week, Bain and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson insisted Mrs Emmanuel was doing her best to help her constituents.

“Oftentimes politicians are used as billboards for mockery,” Mr Robinson’s post read, “while they fight for the age builder of the billboard to have rights, freedoms and privileges that protects them from laws that would hinder their very freedom of expression to lambaste the very fighter for their rights.”

For his part, Free National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer told The Tribune he could not speak of Mrs Emmanuel’s performance at the ELA, but noted the MP had his full support.

“I will support Miriam,” Mr Culmer said. “And that’s the most I’m going to say on it. I’m standing by Miriam. As a chairman I will stand by her. I will not speak one way or another (about her performance).”

detectives secretly recorded — and acknowledged the Audi “referenced in the handwritten note,” the warrant said.

Officers “immediately” found the Audi just where the note reported.

In the wake of this evidence, Miami Gardens police raided Roberts’ home. The master bedroom had been cleaned with bleach - however the warrant reported an Amazon box with traces of blood spatter and a pair of bloody sandals were found in the bedroom.

The Miami Herald also reported: “Tests showed the blood in the house matched

Russell’s DNA. An extensive closed-circuit video surveillance security system inside his home had been shut off just before Russell arrived to his home, police said. And cameras from a neighbour’s house showed Russell pulling up to his house that night, shortly after she left her aunt’s home, the warrant said. She walked into the home — but was never seen leaving.

“Instead, the surveillance showed, Roberts backed her Audi up to the front door. Investigators believe he put her dead body into the car’s trunk. The footage showed he drove the Audi away, then returned home

on foot later that night, according to the warrant by Miami Gardens Detective Pedro Valdes.

“We all want to know that. it’s human nature to try to find out how was it that someone so close could’ve done this to someone who was so loved by so many people,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

Roberts and Russell have known each other since they were children. The suspect is the godfather of the victim’s two daughters.

The Miami-Dade County Public Schools District released a statement following the arrest. The statement reported the district is “appalled and saddened” and noted it has been cooperating with the police department.

“Based on preliminary information we received, the district took precautionary measures while the case was being investigated and immediately removed the individual from duty,” the statement continues.

“Following his arrest, the district has initiated the employment termination process. Our prayers and thoughts continue to be with Ms Russell’s family.”

Hazel McKinney, the victim’s aunt, previously told The Tribune: “Kameela was gentle, soft spoken with a heart for underprivileged and hurting children. She’s the only child of her mother and the first of my deceased brother Michael Hall. She always had a smile and always seemed so full of joy. She’s an accomplished violinist and played in Carnegie Hall.”

PAGE 8, Monday, June 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

ARSON ATTACK SUSPECTED AS FIRE DAMAGES SCHOOL

POLICE suspect an arsonist set fire to a building on the Anatol Rodgers Senior School campus, causing extensive damage.

According to a police report, shortly after 8am on Sunday, Police Fire Services responded to a call that a building was on fire.

Officers discovered that a person or persons had set fire to the school’s wood work room and had attempted to set fire to the school’s tuck shop.

No other buildings were damaged, police said, adding arson was the suspected cause.

This comes days after an investigation was launched into the cause of the fire at the Huntley P Christie High School in Andros.

INQUESTS into policeinvolved killings are occurring at a quicker pace after years of neglect, Coroner’s Court records show.

Eighteen inquests have been held since January 2018, a significant amount for a court that went years having only a few inquiries. Fourteen of the inquests have resulted in lawful killings, three in unlawful killings and one in an open verdict finding, according to records obtained by this newspaper.

In recent years The Bahamas has experienced a higher rate of policeinvolved killings than the United States. There were 11 such killings in 2018 and 11 in 2017––a rate of 2.9 per 100,000 people. According to the Washington Post, there were 992 policeinvolved killings in US in 2018, a rate of 0.3 per 100,000 people.

The Tribune reported in 2017 on the longstanding problem of families waiting years for an inquest into their loved one’s death, with lawyers upset that dates were not reliably set for hearings like in the other courts.

In response, Attorney General Carl Bethel

on Thursday. The school year will end for teaching staff on Friday, June 21.”

The statement added clean-up efforts will commence as soon as the cause of the fire is discovered.

According to a police report, shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, Andros police officers were on patrol in the area of the Huntley G Christie High School, Queen’s Highway, Nichols Town, when they discovered the centre block of classrooms on fire. Officers and volunteers from the community extinguished the fire, which damaged four single-storey classrooms.

No one was injured during the incident.

ANATOL Rodgers Senior School

Big increase in cases heard at Coroner’s Court ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel

disclosed that there were around 28 outstanding cases of police-involved killings into which an

inquest was required. He said he found the delays “distressing” and “unacceptable” and he pledged

needs to be but there’s been a huge improvement.”

Critics note there are still problems with how the justice system deals with police-involved killings. That police officers investigate the killings is seen by many as a conflict. Lawyers also bemoan the process that ensues when jurors return an unlawful killing verdict: officers are only charged with an offence if, upon the reviewing the file, the attorney general or director of public prosecutions determine charges are warranted.

When contacted, attorney Bjorn Ferguson, who has represented numerous interested parties in coroner inquests, praised the decision to schedule inquests before Magistrates Kara Turnquest-Deveaux and Carolyn Vogt-Evans and to assign a lawyer from the AG’s Office to marshal cases.

“The OAG used to have difficulty finding counsel with a free diary to assist,” he said, “but now they don’t have that problem because they have someone assigned to the court.

The system is not where it

to seek legislative or administrative fixes to address the problem. Yesterday he said: “Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs (now deceased) spearheaded the appointment of a number of deputy coroners with my support in order to spread the load. Also, the Office of the Attorney General assigned a qualified prosecutor full time to assist the Coroner’s Court in marshaling cases. I must also point out that in Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez we have found a very efficient, dedicated and effective coroner.”

HENFIELD: RELIEF ON WAY FOR PASSPORT OFFICE FOREIGN Affairs Minister Darren Henfield says that although the Passport Office has some challenges, help is on the way. During his 2019/2020 Budget contribution, he said the Passport Office has always been challenged with providing services in a building with inadequate space.

DARREN HENFIELD “The influx of renewal applications due to the tenth year anniversary of country’s existing e-passthe first e-passports cou- port system.

“In October 2018, CBN pled with new applicants and persons now renewing conducted the user accepttheir manual passports have ance test at the Passport compounded the challenges Office in conjunction with faced,” he said. “Despite the Treasury to identify the challenges, staff at the challenges that may exist Passport Office remain or arise when using the committed in executing system and to assess the their tasks in an expedi- online direct payment protious manner to meet public cess,” said Mr Henfield. He said concerns and issues demand.” bune during the testing He said to counter the TheBigTgestriobserved And Best! addressed by CBN. challenges, there are con- were ne TheBiggTestriAndbu tinuing improvements to He noted that testing of the Best! the e-passport OBITS system. He electron application process INSIDE said that the Canadian for renewal of adult ribudne he eeTe-passMay Bank Note (CBN) Com- ports started on T ken W 13.

“It is anticipated that pany Limited, a leading company in secure tech- the public’s utilisation of h the Watcapplication nology solutions, was the electronic film - every contracted to upgrade the for e-passport agonising,renewal n

would alleviate some of the overcrowding currently occurring at the Passport Office,” he said.

Another issue which plagues the office is the timely collection of completed passports. He said that as of May 22 this year 1,277 passports had not been collected.

To reduce the large crowds at the Passport Office, plans are underway to install ‘e-Pics’ systems, which are kiosks to be placed in strategic locations in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

“The installation of these systems will allow persons to complete and submit electronic applications for passport renewals without having to visit the Passport Office. It is anticipated that utilisation of the kiosks will significantly decrease the current overcrowding at the Passport Office.”

The government also plans to install e-Pics systems in four Family Islands – Exuma, Central Eleuthera, Inagua and Long Island.

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By NEIL HARTNELL Editor $25m, five-year maximum I can say toothe corporat contract et Tribune Business ibunemedia.n BPL managemen chairman of nhartnell@tr and Minnis to direct if the board wish it to go. tion I am going DAMIAN owing on Power & GOMEZ that all personswho are BAHAMAS board will administrati which will OBIE The meeting,PowerSecure $3,413 excessive arrears EIGHT Light’s (BPL) by WILCHCOMBE meeting” CLEOLA SEE PAGE hold a “crunch e today, be attendedand their attorneys $4,911 HAMILTON the end of key with PowerSecurlikely crit- executives they owed at is viewed as $6,118 the from the US, list and the amount since that date. with the outcome disconnect” whether the to determining whethermake BPL “do not made or further debt incurred and ical in decidingas manager. named on the sides will “kiss NINE individualsdo not include any payments latter remainsTribune Busi- two separate. sums up” or Multiple - SEE BUSINESS July. The yesterday US FULL STORY ness sources that the confirmed

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CRUNCH DAY OVER

wi landslideCHRISTI E AS HE HUMILIATION FORAFTER 4O YEARS LOSES HIS SEAT

seats: Encaptured four Island and Cat were spent under to South Aners’ dollars administration. glerston; 1,900 votes and San Salvador; Christie the win with is evidence 2017 the as well as Exuma DORSETT Mr Christie’s 1,875.

He said if there”, the new dros VIRGIL ELECTION Islands.

By SANCHESKAReporter to the unofBy KHRISNA Reporter seat, Fox According the the Ragged of “criminality et Tribune Staff from the Parwill allow SPEAK An additional being reDeputy Chief bunemedia.n ficial results Registration government course.

THE PEOPLE nemedia.net sdorsett@tri PAGE 4 was still its kvirgil@tribu his Hill, law to take to press time. and liamentary , Mr Chipman after ON’ decounted up his parMoments DNA ‘TO GO PAGE 5 IN a surprisingat the Departmentout of 12 pollas the na- This marked the worst in AFTER leadinglandslide defeat party won seven maiden speech MinLOSE humbling leader, Dr Prime Min- ing divisions in the former ty to a stunning feat for a governing Mr tion’s next PLP BIG NAMESPAGE 7 dealing a parapolls, outgoing that under recent history. victory and to the ProgresChristie lost PLP stronghold, while will nis promised victory came MPS ister Perry Bahamians The FNM’s won five. lysing blow Party last night, years the Centreville his watch, YOUR PROJECTED his seat in last night by Christie PAGE 9 to fear from despite a rocky five Mr Christie sive Liberal nothing Minister challengto In 2012, have conPrime constituency representing , pointing FAR included two incoming the Centrevilleeighth said that Dr Minnis’ leadership, the government RESULTS SO PAGE 14 Minnis declared 25 votes aftermore than 40 won the n, which he Dr Hubert of a fracstituency for time with have abused victimisatio tional” “im- es to the area for to unofthat those who trust “have continued reports consecutive He defeated is “unconstitu MORE COVERAGE and ultimately of years, according PAGES 2-18 positions tured party from the post and “wrong”. votes.

2,950 moral” results. fear”. to ficial to unofficial his removal candidate Ella has held Opsomething to thousands of According able at the Mr Christie 1977 and the FNM’s of the Official FNM was Speaking by 1,349 votes at the Q House today. results, the stunning defeat of leader in the House of won all the Lewis the seat since a pledged that jubilant supporterslast night, ment Mr Christie leader of Dr Minnis on will give to pull off securing a mas- position has been Liberal Party time. polling division in E Sports Centre but one administrati Terrance of the PLP, constituencies. Assembly. a long fought National MoveProgressive 39 “This was victory is not the Free also announced his General it sive 34 of ry Regsince 1997. released a but the Prime 2012. ment leader be sworn in as Auditor the resources former is yours,” Although he the loss, The Parliamenta did battle, The about his seat to that he will fourth prime Bastianto probe how taxpay- istration Department re- mine - the victory thousands Minister lost Movement statement did not speak full election last Dr Minnis told on the carThe Bahamas’ at Govern- needs Christie release Mr National not the 5pm Free packed with and pominister at SEE PAGE SIX sults last night, in from the of FNMs (FNM) candidate Reece nival grounds. people’s time numbers coming litical newcomer agency around “This is the and I who secured government from the and I am your servant Chipman, 11pm. However it apSEE PAGE THREE unofficial numbers, the PLP only of the conpeared that “The outcome trust according to vention did not inspireBahalast Mark Humes in the results, said coming afor confidence that’s “obvious” mian electorate but think sweeping defeat residents unofficial that it is I ROLLE have stood behind us now and they night ter Fort Charlotte

By RASHAD Reporter told him party would winning the the party has a wonderful repeatedly lead- the Tribune Staff stand the any a better chance rebuild and emedia.net could not he been victori- opportunity to rrolle@tribun of the country per- election had itself,” he said. leadership for for- ership despite their ous in the PLP’sadding that reengineer longer, him.

AS HE called SEE PAGE SIX RASPBERRY Minister Perry sonal affection for was pro- race in January, made a mistake” mer Prime ICED TEA Sears, who Free Na- “the party Mr Christie. resign as leader Mr to Christie Liberal in choosing to lose to the Al- jected Movement’s (FNM) of the Progressive last night, the tional Party (PLP) said he saw fred Sears

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(CDU) while projecting the Baha- must carefully Though most Police aimed at eliminating tive Unit SEE PAGE 11 units counHe added: near the Southeast Prime was spared gang activity in the morning, of mas Friday Hubert Minnis of the Bahamas the number try, reducing Minister Dr of those SEE PAGE TWO residents urging and is be vigilant islands to

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Dr Hubert MinPRIME Minister Kendera Woodside, nis meeting murdered Eugene the mother of

this Yes I feel for y our countries.than I can say.” more ensure has a responsibilit one mother said he will Each citizen information Dr Minnis provided to and whatever that forward. medical attention is is pregnant. the composure. said he felt the fam- has we must bring among us.” who after feel live Dr Minnis Mrs Woodside, the grieving and days makes me Three These criminals who emphasised country’s he “You can see of those pushed the ily’s pain. “What through,” Mrs Minnis, that her appearis that most during murder that violent crime into ROLLE she’s going someI, even worse

By RASHAD Reporter not a pain “I assured her that the family the yard, struggle with spotlight yet again, them was doctor, to will have we see in Tribune Staff ance before called on women said. today (Friday) we to look the national as a medical emedia.net acute. rrolle@tribun come my my years political move,one day this week time her pain remained live a life, medical personnel she’s pregand comforting cried.

“He ain’t even to wear blackfor murder victims.

Dr THE hugs her because sure that Prime Minister wife God,” Mrs Woodsidegive my upon after in mourning I’m calling words of I have to make infant are and his a baby. I could my really nant.

“As a mother, Hubert Minnis couldn’t answer “He’s right now just for because I this,” her and her unborn will also make take all mothers can stop the Patricia Minnis that consumed breath be right here. They well and we sure both mothers to believe who was tearful arrangements to makepersonnel the questions yesterday as babyheart out my body. who They said Mrs Minnis, medical eight- my Kendera Woodside have our sons on a only son. for her son, killed times. “We birth and as they necessary her and see her “This my my daughter too she grieved of them at from look after the safety who was almost shoot (the house) with would’ve delivered most knowing we cradle are still with regular basis to ensure we year-old Eugene, men me inside infant.” to with they four days ago. people ain’t tell- and What they do to my family? so they are closer patients,” Dr becomeWe have to speakshould of her and her unborn PAGE TWO SEE them. are my former “Why these bringing my son me. they do to us? st by pro- them. I think all women week me? I they we ain’ carry one day this ing me they she cried between What Minnis, a gynaecologi “The message “Why they wear black what’s happening in a baby.” tried to right now?” fession, said. the entire Bahamas 29 years, He’s Dr Minnis and mourn Eugene’s Rose- live screams as must send to this alone.

Tonio Woodside, family at theirEugene wife even is the police can’t fight console the consoled his home where on father, struggled to maintain bud Road a stray bullet as he was shot by did his homework. he Monday as

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By NEIL HARTNELL Editor Rolle, minForce’s (CFATF) BRENSIL et Tribune Business services he included that were not The Bahamas ibunemedia.n report on his staff ister of public nhartnell@tr 1,700 workers Gen- that he instructedaddressing and National Insurance, in his original count.

December Progressive THE Attorneyslammed to begin work on June.

Amid the said between 2017, the criticism May flaws from early eral yesterday

by Liberal Party’sadministrablasted the 2016 and in the nation’s the ballooned Mr Bethel deficiencies adminis- public purse laundering of the of the Minnisof its firings anti-money former Christie to tackle $16,532,738 because on’s tion because “entirely unacadministrati PAGE SIX had tration for failing with the Christie regime as SEE they service public ceptable”, warning “in great known weaknesses hiring of new that period. during put The Bahamas necessary urgency.

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By RICARDO Reporter Tribune Staff nemedia.net rwells@tribu

TERS yesFIREFIGH a large blaze terday battled Providence at the New three weeks Landfill, nearly a massive that after tackling city dump fire at the nearly a month. burned for Charge of Fire Officer in Chief SuperinServices, Evans said tendent Walter is “not confire the the current any way to this nected” in and at previous blazedo not know time officials the fire. Howwhat caused t Minister ever Environmen told rehe Kenred Dorsett the site that porters at “sabotage” in said suspected the fire. He relation to the team he “instructed”to have the of firefighters “before and blaze extinguished day” today nomination Mar’s Baha certainly before Friday. opening on started shortly The blaze and Wednesday after 3am officEvans said Chief Supt battle the fire to but ers expect another day for at least wind is a “huge” he said the factor.

SEE PAGE SIX

OPENS AT LAST HEALTH CENTRE MARSH HARBOUR

G concern ADMITTIN Bernard Notin over what Dr have battled last tage may his isolation during Prime Minisdays, former yesterday for ter Perry Christie admiration the expressed forth by the effort put security to former national the build-up minister in election. the May general from his Breaking away since being public silence office in hisof a voted out last month, toric fashion Mr Chrishis visibly troubled portions of his tie detailed with last conversation and longfriend childhood colleague on time political Thursday.

Centreville The former Nottage as Dr MP saw “fought tehis someone who throughout naciously” he loved and life for thosetrait he said he a supported, up to their saw on display . last conversation PAGE SIX SEE

IS • FORMER PM BY DAVIS TRIBUTE TO LEGACY OF ‘DISAPPOINTED’ FNM ALLEGATIONS COLLEAGUE • SAYS GOVT DID NOTHING WRONGT PAYOU $8M OVER • CALLS FOR REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS

ROLLE

By RASHAD Reporter Tribune Staff emedia.net rrolle@tribun Nottage’s DR Bernard forever be will “footprints the Bahamian etched on tal landscape” developmen work as a forthrough his of the Bahamer president of Athletic mas Association s, the Bahamas Association , the Medical Association and as a afMinDoctors’ Union consumer FORMER Prime reminister for health and to accept the ister Perry Christie education, a defeat, was as I did when I fairs, into Opposiyesterday. for it arrears, pictured W. national security, who was in sponsibility response to Photo: Terrel Philip “Brave” airport tenant described recent resigned,” he said in levelled e Staff tion Leader as Carey/Tribun the criticism recent on from accusations Mr Christie Davis said Wednesday. questions on on in 71, died administrati e spending, misfea- moves made by the government Dr Nottage, the Clevea party pandering at his administrati by of irresponsibl WELLS at a “misstep” thought

By RICARDO Reporter Wednesday He will receive sance and cronyism. that weeks. never any he was “disap- to its base. maintained Tribune Staff “There was land Clinic.

He also said allegations being I was acceptin arrangenemedia.net relating Mr Christie part that by the rwells@tribu gova state funeral announced, of documents would on my y for any degree Per- pointed”around by the new to be responsibilit criminality, irrethat a review two controversies secments ing Prime Minister press tossed matters any the of FORMER as to these his administration of according to Office of the the notion whatsoever yesterday condemned ernment concerning his last term spending andbare’ is just that much absolve ry Christie retary for the and prove as noth- sponsible Minnis administra- transpired during Anthony is is wrongdoing efforts by the his government in Prime Minister, that ‘the cupboard prime minister.at accusations from of the FNM’s rhetoric slogans.” slogans.” tion to portray as he challenged back Newbold. “political political adminisHitting SIX than light, THREE a have PAGE I more SEE ing the Minnis SEE PAGE a negative leader to carry out challenges members of the controvergovern“One of the the nation’s te examination of the who led the $8m to tration concerning of more thanclean up as the person led the government “dispassiona sial pay out and who record”. interview at one vendor for hurricane to an ment off of $1.2m During a lengthy home on Thursand the write his Cable Beach defended his day, Mr Christie

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traditions. just a short ROLLE “Earlier today,present ParBy RASHAD Reporter the while ago, Tribune Staff officially disemedia.net liament was Christie said. rrolle@tribun Mr of Perry solved,”seat in the House “Every PRIME Minister the prover- Assembly is now vacant. the to you, Christie rang morning, “It is now left beloved bial bell yesterday that the 2017 citizenry of our who will announcing be held on nation, to decide in the next election willMay 10. fill those seats In doWednesday, address, givof Assembly.

His televisedOffice of the House you will also be demo- ing so, who will form the en live at the came Prime Minister, Commis- ciding of the BahaPolice government five years. ments after Greenslade, for the next that mosioner Ellison as provost mas “You will make in what ns in his capacity decision proclamatio pray marshal, readHouse of As- mentous hope and fair elecoutside the Governor Gen- I earnestly be free and Pin- will following a spirited sembly from Marguerite Let tions eral Dame Parliament. peaceful campaign. dling dissolving said he is but the forthcoming Mr Christie election will us contestwith all the vigour confident the and will fol- elections fair at our command.” be free and and peaceful SEE PAGE TWO low a spirited is consistent campaign that political with this country’s

TERED 170,000 HAVE REGIS NG DAY AHEAD OF POLLI

with correctnow engaged the voter ROLLE ing and editing it of its

By RASHAD Reporter register, ridding Tribune Staff ised errors. emedia.net much-public enough staff to rrolle@tribun “We have “We 170,000 peo- do this,” Mr Hall said.certiJUST over sure it’s to vote have to make after tople have registered 10 general elec- fied some 14 daysdate.” for the May ry Com(Tuesday’s) tion, Parliamenta Hall said day’s accordance with the In Elections missioner Sherlyn ry pubParliamenta yesterday. what he de- Act, Mr Hall will give of This follows election in a “mad rush” notice of the week, statscribed as to vote lic this of newspapers people registering place in conthe last day ing the date, times when on Monday, and be stituencies registration. 172,000 peopapers must There were to vote in the nomination delivered. ple registeredelection.

SEE PAGE THREE 2012 general ry RegParliamenta is The Department istration

THE ELECTION

race is under

ARCHER PLP IS OMAR CONVICTED ARCHDEACON SAYS ITS LIFE’ OVER THREATS ‘FIGHTING FOR

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By SANCHESK said this elecnemedia.net Reporter con Palacious “difficult” for ljohnson@tri kvirgil@tribu et Tribune Staff Sr was tion will be and the FNM Move- sdorsett@tribunemedia.n of OMAR Archer both the PLP is no FREE National convicted Dr Hubert N Archdea- and at this point there how yesterday senment Leader to harm a ANGLICA gauge said said the threatening way to “properlygo.”

Minnis yesterday“all hands con James Palacious officer through need that the Progres- the results will came one ior police his social media FNM will vote the Pro- yesterday Party appears a post to two years ago.

His comments on deck” to Party gov- sive Liberal its life” Deputy Prime nearly he to be “fighting for neither day after Phillip “Brave” page 45-year-old Nassau gressive Liberal of office as that The ernment out Day, May and predicted party nor the Ministerpredicted that the Village resident appeared Davis heralded Election seats in the SEE PAGE SEVEN Movement that will bring the governing will win 30 10, as a day Free Nationalseats in next PLP TWO SEE PAGE 30 change. spoke dur- will wingeneral election. at month’s Dr Minnis on conference as a guest ing a press Appearing SEE PAGE THREE

ES OVER BPL BANNISTER WORRITHE LIGHTS ON ABILITY TO KEEP

energy. solar, to produce of agreeof Works The heads the governMINISTER said challenges, Desmond Bannister ment requires to “address concerns” pressed certain and BPL delayed today marks which he suggestedof docu- he has “serious Power and ment and consistent WHILE with Bahamas to “keep the reliable of electricity on the for both sitsubmission the deadlineformer parlia- the tell- supply Providence, Light’s ability are chal- lights on this summer,” of island of New ting and to file financial ments. the abiliAmong these the lack will include finans mentarians Public Discloing The Tribuneprevent the whichmeet the requirement with obtaining may ty to disclosures, Chair- lenges from spouses, cial records in situations reliability from fulfilling of the project.” sure Commission the instalLaroda told requireoper- government This involves supporting man Myles yesterday that particularly Mar all the necessary they may have all lation “of The Tribunestill some that wherebank accounts prior ments in the Baha necessary to re ated there were He said there heads of agreement.he is al- infrastructu g”. that SEE PAGE FIVE are “outstandin yesterday, to marriage. some unwilling-n He added at new, alIn an interview in his dis- was also ready “looking including and apprehensio said ways,” Mr Laroda some persons ness SEE PAGE THREE ternative cussions with to make who are required they exthe disclosures,

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it must Hurriis so devastated the island as Ragged Island remained on home has Minnis warns with those whohomes last week. “Every The en Rag- discussion battered their has been destroyed. has been health facility on storm-strick Min- cane Irma Prime teachers’ residence no water. destroyed. The and safety conditions to deteriorate, urged the 18 been has been destroyed. The is no light. There is HEALTH he smell the school will only continue destroyed. There about, you can yesterday as The in the afterged Island Minnis said to evacuate “As we walkcarcasses, dead animals. deister Dr Hubert on the island reduced will stench of dead of the individuals remaining residentsIrma, which has them REPORT that we get of rubble and SPECIAL health conditions Russell, math of Hurricane it’s essential there to piles Words: Khrisna W Carey teriorate and Dr Minnis said. only most structures Pictures: Terrel island unlivable. Dr Minnis to leave the for off this island,” rendered the bly reluctant stay here,” saw for the understanda home, expressing concern “They cannot were delegation a as Many days and and ever known through said after he damage left by Irma place they’ve hurricane ripped of their residences, first time the Five monster will have about the safety personal belongings. behind. We Defence by the smell after the Category island.

“They are concerned may have left exacerbated here and the the same of all es- whatever materials they condition, the small southern vessel a at physical the destruction still Force dispatch the cleanup and The island’s carcasses and strongly urge those the Defence Minnis said. THREE of rotting animalled Dr Minnis to small community can Force will try to commence security,” Dr SEE PAGE that there is sential services, to leave until the time ensure Island has been on Ragged Island Ragged and be restored. to the residents; a walk through “I’ve spoken Minnis said following Dr devastated,”

Friday, June 30, 2017

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SIVE Liberal were obtaineda from a ther’s PROGRES The emails Bradley EMAILS leaked following of China Con- by The Tribune Party Chairmanout at his highdata breach (CCA) Roberts lashed story in December of CCA struction America’s colleague Vinthat from the breach former party night, accusservers show2013, Jerome lighting by a San Francisco cent Peet last North Anto servers China Construction as early as was seeking ing the former Islands MP hacker.

Fitzgerald of dollars eventually paid 24 bitcoins dros and Berry enemy” $24,000) secure millions trucking, and (the equivalent of of being a “political an independin brokerage, to their servat Baha who mounted because he to have access it aplimousine contracts showing a resat in Cabinet ers restored; however, ent campaigna nomination forwarded leaked emails Mar while he of Educathat emails ONE of the Education, Sciwas denied party.

Minister of as the Minister and Tech- pears relating to personnel quest from or d, Jerome Fitzgerald. from the governing to, Science tion, to PLP supTribune has at CCA were compromise ence and Technology Speaking in The in North nology, The officials at Baha for Limolink encour- porters at a rally Mr Robdespite top they were not his agent are learned. night, contradict the saying with which at Bahamas. You from Andros last is war” as The emails this week de- Mar by the hack “I clientele company was fa- aged to get a reference said “this if writes, vote who erts concerned of Viacom Minister, the crowd toPerry Mr Fitzgerald ma- limousine his office to time. the president feel free he urged Dr nied ever using to himself the an email dated May 18, am aware that interior arrive miliar. with regard the you wish. Please incumbent In a vote “Also Izmirlian terials have began to really personally for we direct contracts adding that for the business from the mul- 2013, sent to Mr contact me with contact Gomez, vote limousine to meet with to hotel. I would or his family resort. your agents Mr Peet is a Mr Fitzgerald, Cur- for the could be have for dollar we or by if ready it Managing he Movement. ti-billion our - the Probro- are people anytime,” Porter, Shelly appreciate Free National Mr Porter Mr Fitzgerald Party MP QuentinAlarice Fill copied, appointed your official your SEE PAGE SIX his Director directly.” tis and 1st 2013.” writes. gressive Liberal we really ker for June - appears also Mr Fitzgerald indicates a request TWO & THREE “As indicated cusSEE PAGES for Marathon $20,000 He then makesfor limouto start brokerage to highend for requesting readiness cater be only to official Baha Mar’s and trucking services and of Mr Izmirlian Baha Mar, tomers and are the project a month from Sarkis services at of Baha Mar of re- sinehe touted the level original developer the ex- the as the brokers citing Izmirlian, were necessary remain for the property. penses that cost of his fa- cord to cover the Healthcare hisMarsh Harbour a tortured ROLLE Centre has missed deadBy RASHAD Reporter tory, one of of shoddy Tribune Staff emedia.net lines and claimsall without rrolle@tribun ip, ity. of- workmansh ENT clear accountabil GOVERNM ed the anyThe facility’s original bankrupt. ficials commissionHealththe contractor went of Marsh Harbour n in Abaco yesConstructio care Centre centre began it as a longIngraham terday, touting to the island healthcare under the former awaited boost on. adminisin and the Christie Health administrati Christie adhealth centre When the e Staff tours the new tration’s National came to power, RASPBERRY Perry Christie the W. Carey/Tribun Insurance plans. and Ado- ministration renovating Photo: Terrel ICED TEA PRIME Minister $1m it spent Like the Child SEE PAGE SIX Abaco yesterday.

Robert Smith lescent and that was the (CARS) Complex ed last year, commission

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By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

In a press release issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Education said the school in Nicholls Town sustained fire damage to four classrooms on Wednesday afternoon. The statement read: “The Ministry of Education has commenced an investigation into the cause of the fire, which severely damaged the school’s mathematics block, and will be making a public statement when that investigation concludes.

“In the meantime, the ministry advises that the school has remained open and all of the students were able to complete their final exams. The Huntley P Christie High School closed for the summer break for students at 3pm

MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

The grey area of corporal punishment in schools may have made one administrator a sacrificial lamb

by Malcom Strachan DURING the debate of the 2019-20 National Budget, in his contribution, Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd said Bahamians should decide what they want the government to do in relation to corporal punishment. Wisely placing the onus on the Bahamian people, the ball is essentially in our court.

Now, where will we go from here?

In the wake of a parent of a St Augustine’s College student posting a picture on social media of bruises on his child’s bottom, there has been intense debate on this subject in recent weeks.

Here we have two interesting polarities – wanting to maintain a sense of discipline within our children, but not to the point where it becomes excessive and abusive under the authority of others As attitudes toward corporal punishment continue to shift globally, the country exists in a grey area. As traditional views collide with more modern perspectives on how children ought to be corrected in the circumstance of wrongdoing, there is no clear impetus or push for our schools to alter their policies. Parents of the students are not even in total agreement on what should take place with some entrusting the school to discipline their children as they see fit, while others, such as the father in question, do not physically punish their children and would prefer if it is not done by the school either.

How do parents who do not believe in corporal punishment balance the desire to send their children to schools that have traditionally used this means of discipline? Is this communicated during PTA conferences, orientations, or otherwise? Or are we

waiting for these instances to blow up in our faces, leaving us to scapegoat and prosecute individuals in the court of public opinion who are simply doing, as they see it, their jobs?

On the other hand, how do schools manage the various expectations from parents and ensure they are fostering an environment that mirrors a rules-based society?

These are not easy circumstances to manage overnight. However, we must begin somewhere.

Corporal punishment in schools has been completely banned across Canada and all European countries. And though 19 states in the US still allow corporal punishment, it has certainly become frowned upon in most instances as a result of scientific research debunking the myth that it is a deterrent to bad behaviour.

In fact, risk factors of corporal punishment in the home and in school are quite similar; both essentially leading to adverse physical, psychological and educational outcomes.

Nevertheless, in a Third World society, we continue to be satisfied with lagging behind.

That said, who should really be at fault for what has occurred – parents, educators or both? A school dean is now facing criminal charges for doing his job, and without a new policy banning corporal punishment, it is likely this won’t A7MAIN THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 30, 2019, PAGE 7

Father’s fury as son comes home from school ‘black and blue’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net A FATHER’s outrage over the beating of a seventh grade student by a senior official at St Augustine’s College has reignited viral debate over the use of corporal punishment in schools.

The private Catholic school is investigating the incident, and The Tribune was told the matter is also being investigated by the police.

be the only case of this kind.

As long as we fail to find answers, we must be careful how we go about destroying reputations, criminalising people and, most importantly, the messages we’re sending our children.

Conversely, we should not accept having the autonomy to use force as a disciplinary measure on our children. Without checks and balances to determine one’s state of mind, how do we determine when use of force crosses the boundary of being excessive? It’s not like parents sign waivers on the first day of school, as for too long it has been one of those things you just knew takes place. Leaving room for too much ambiguity can lead to these kinds of issues.

It is a system set up to backfire, and indeed, it just may have with this recent controversy giving a black eye to such a highly regarded institution.

Certainly, the Minister of Education’s refusal to be pulled into this debate is totally understandable. The Bahamian people have to be the ones to decide how we move forward on this as a matter of policy.

There will be uncomfortable conversations to have and decisions to make.

However, they must be had.

Else, history is doomed to repeat itself, and it will be unfair to litigate school administrators who have, in a sense, already been convicted by a jury of their peers in social media.

Additionally, if corporal punishment will be made illegal in schools, perhaps we should take it a step further and consider criminalising it at home. We ought not be hypocritical as a society, and as Education Minister Lloyd puts it, “half kill” our children at home, but be quick to shame educators.

Parents and educators should always be on the

noting the public tension over whether the practice should be discontinued.

“There is a debate where those who feel that corporal punishment should be eliminated, there are those who believe that corporal punishment should remain as at least some possible sanction in the hand of a mother, teacher, or administrator.

That debate obviously will continue, the government will have a final position sometime after proper vetting of the discussion with relevant stakeholders.

punishment, named “black beauty”.

FB user Glenisha Albury wrote: ‘I know everyone is upset with SAC…but (senior official) really and truly uses corporal punishment as last resort. He talks several times to students about their behaviour before he gets to that level.

Everyone is threatening his life when (the official) has saved more lives than your favs (sic).”

Another user Rayne Heastie wrote: “I didn’t know there were parents

THE TRIBUNE on May 30

THE DECEASED is believed to be James “Jay” Alfred

17-YEAR-OLD DIES

same page. When children commit an act that warrants discipline and they are in the care of educators, a discussion should always take place prior to an agreed upon form of correction. There should never be a scenario where parents are finding out after the fact, and as such, one can understand this particular parent’s frustration.

Hopefully, as school is about to break for the summer, administrators will spend some time revisiting their policies and ensure this unfortunate circumstance can be avoided in the future.

One can plainly see the level of aggression that has sent the great ideals of our nation spiralling out of control. Paradoxically, we refuse to take the steps to

MINISTER of Education Jeffrey Lloyd said Bahamians should decide what they want the government to do in relation to corporal punishment.

alter the country’s course by ignoring how much of society’s ills begin in the home.

Quite a tragedy.

Lloyd’s call on the Bahamian people to look themselves in the mirror should not be taken for granted.

Unfortunately, as we are a people deathly stuck in our ways, his plea may have fallen on deaf ears.

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T R I D E N T T R U S T. C O M

PAGE 10 MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Maryland has created a truth commission on lynchings - can it deliver ?

BY KELEBOGILE ZVOBGO Provost’s Fellow in the Social Sciences and Ph.D. Candidate, University of Southern California

BETWEEN 1850 and 1950, thousands of African American men, women and children were victims of lynchings: public torture and killings carried out by white mobs.

Lynchings were used to terrorise and control black people, notably in the South following the end of slavery.

Yet despite the prevalence and seriousness of the practice, there has been an “astonishing absence of any effort to acknowledge, discuss, or address lynching,” reports the Equal Justice Initiative, the leading organisation conducting research on lynchings.

Until now.

In April 2018, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice – the first lynching memorial in the US – was opened in Montgomery, Alabama. In December of the same year, the US Senate unanimously passed a bill that defined lynching as a federal crime.

More recently, in April 2019, the state of Maryland established a truth commission to investigate the lynchings of at least 40 African Americans between 1854 and 1933.

The legislation that authorised the truth commission, Maryland HB 307, was sponsored by Maryland House Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk.

Speaking before the House Judiciary Committee in February 2019, Peña-Melnyk said the commission would be an opportunity “to send the message that the lives of the

40-something people really mattered.” Written with the help of the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project and endorsed by the Equal Justice Initiative, the bill passed with strong bipartisan support just two months later.

The commission has the potential to educate the public about dozens of lynchings – some of which occurred with the knowledge or direct involvement of local, county and state government entities. The commission can also provide the opportunity for reconciliation between the families of those who were responsible and the families of those who were killed.

Can it live up to its promise?

LYNCHINGS happened across the US, including the 1916 lynching of Jesse Washington in Waco, Texas.

Truth commissions around the world I study human rights, with a particular interest in institutions that hold individuals, organisations and governments accountable for human rights abuses.

My current research focuses on truth commissions and how they can be designed to be effective.

A truth commission is a temporary body that investigates different forms and systems of violence that happened in the past.

Examples include the commissions that investigated apartheid in South Africa, the civil war in Timor-Leste and the dictatorship in Chile.

Generally, governments establish commissions to examine documents and collect witness testimony.

A key goal of commissions is preparing a report that details the facts and traces the legacies of violence and abuse. A second, related goal is reconciliation. In Maryland’s case, this would mean working toward

respect, understanding and trust of those of other races and their experiences.

Based on my research and analyses of truth commissions in Chile, South Africa and Timor-Leste, I believe the commission in Maryland has the potential to succeed.

But it faces some big obstacles.

Truth commissions in US The commission in Maryland will not be the first in the US. In the 1980s, a national commission studied the government’s relocation and internment in camps of people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The commission’s work led to both apologies and reparations for victims.

In addition, there have been commissions at the local level – for example, the 2004 commission in North Carolina that examined the killing of five anti-Ku Klux Klan demonstrators in Greensboro in 1979. There have also been commissions at the state level – for example the 2013 commission in Maine that investigated the separation of indigenous Wabanaki children from their communities since 1960.

However, the commission in Maryland will be the first to research lynchings, which investigative journalist Ida B Wells in 1909 called the

United States’ “national crime”.

The truth commission in Maryland The Maryland law establishing the commission calls for “full knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of the truth”.

How would a commission accomplish this?

I have found in my research that a commission needs support from politicians, access to information, and community knowledge and involvement. It appears that the commission in Maryland has – or will have – each of these characteristics. In this regard, it is similar to previous successful commissions.

First, similar to South Africa, the commission has support from politicians on both sides of the aisle – in this case, Democrats and Republicans.

Bipartisan support affords the commission public legitimacy as it seeks access to court records, historical archives, and local and statewide newspapers. So, it may be harder to politicise the commission’s work.

Second, as in TimorLeste, where the commission held hearings in the villages where violence occurred, the commission in Maryland will hold hearings across the state, including in communities where lynchings occurred.

By operating throughout the state, the commission can more easily reach victims’ descendants and collect their stories.

Collecting information from as many sources as possible is important to ascertaining the truth.

In addition, the commission will be well positioned to broadly share its work and findings, through the hearings themselves, local news reporting and more.

This is key to both truth and reconciliation.

Third, as in Chile, the commission in Maryland will receive recommendations from the public, including from victims’ families, about erecting memorials and historical markers where lynchings occurred.

Getting families and the wider community involved in this aspect can help provide healing and closure.

For more than a century, the pain and trauma they experienced went unacknowledged.

Now, not only does Maryland have the potential to address this pain and trauma, it has the opportunity to memorialise the lynchings so others, too, can know what happened.

Obstacles to truth and reconciliation There are, I believe, obstacles that may prevent the commission from

accomplishing all of its goals.

To start, the commission’s limited focus may lead to limited reconciliation. Lynchings represent just one form – the most extreme form – of racebased discrimination and violence.

Other forms – which persist today – include the over-policing, overcriminalisation and mass incarceration of African Americans. The commission hasn’t been designed to address these issues or the broader context of racism and violence. So, it’s unclear how the commission will lead to widespread reconciliation.

In addition, while the families of those responsible for lynchings can work with the commission and take the opportunity to make amends to the victims’ families and communities, they may decline to do so. And victims’ families may not be prepared to forgive.

Finally, the commission has been created in a fraught social and political environment. Hate crimes have increased in recent years throughout the U.S. Some elected officials have trivialised racial violence – including lynchings. And some race-focused policies, such as reparations, are widely unpopular among Americans.

So, while the commission benefits from broad support from government leaders in Maryland, it may not enjoy similar support from the public.

Whether the obstacles I describe will overcome the strengths of the commission remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the commission represents an important first step, and offers a guide for similar efforts in other states.

theconversation.com THE LEGACY MUSEUM, left, opened in Alabama in April last year and focuses on lynching and its victims.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

M

AKE no mistake about it, the election of St Vincent and the Grenadines – one of the world’s smallest states – to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is both an important and timely event.

The election, primarily by the world’s developing states, has occurred when there is increased intolerance of small states by larger and powerful governments determined to enforce their objectives on the rest of the world.

This intolerance is manifest in many ways, including the continuous efforts by governments of big countries to secure changes in voting methods in intergovernmental organisations that would disenfranchise small states. Big governments have, in the past, tried to impose “weighted voting”, a process by which votes of countries that pay the most in sums of money to international organisations, count at a higher value than others.

Of course, these countries conveniently ignore the fact each member state of intergovernmental organisations pays its subscriptions based on a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The same percentage of a rich country’s GDP may be larger in volume terms, but the comparative burden on its taxpayers is no greater than on the taxpayers of smaller economies.

Recently, in the Organisation of American States (OAS), there has been an attempt to nullify votes of “abstention”, casting them as “absent”. So far, this attempt has been resisted by 12 of the 14 CARICOM countries, supported by a few like-minded Latin American states.

But, should this maneuverer succeed, it would turn international practice on its head, allowing a small group of countries that do not comprise more than a half of the member states to win a vote and so impose their minority will.

Casting a vote of abstention is a valid position for any government. It indicates that a government believes particular proposals may not have sufficient merit or substance to be supported or that the proposal has enough value not to be rejected out of hand.

It leaves the door open for supporters or opponents of a proposal to convince abstainers of the worthiness of their positions. And that is what the business of diplomacy is about. It is a hard graft of discussion and negotiation, of persuasion and bargaining based on convincing evidence.

Abandoning that process and declaring, instead, a government which abstained from a vote is “absent” and, therefore, its vote does not count, is an alarming attempt to disenfranchise a nation in international decision-making.

This latest attempt to side-line small states follows a litany of positions, adopted by comparatively larger and more powerful

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MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019 PAGE 11

St Vincent on the UN Security Council: more valuable than coin countries. These include: the imposition of taxation requirements; assaults on citizenship by investment programmes in small states that compete with similar programmes in North America and Europe; cutting off small states from participation in the global trading and financing system by withdrawing correspondent banking relations; paying lip-service to the arguments of island-states about the deathly threats posed to them by Climate Change; using coercive methods to turn governments of small countries from standing-up for principles such as nonintervention in the internal affairs of states; turning a deaf ear to the one-sided terms of trade that give powerful countries large surpluses in money terms while offering no incentives that would help to balance trade and improve the lives of people of small countries; closing the door to concessional financing desperately needed to maintain and improve economic development; and depriving small states of a voice in the major global decision-making bodies.

For all these reasons, the election of St Vincent and the Grenadines to the UN Security Council, for a term beginning in September, is of enormous importance to every small state in the world. It gives small states a voice at the table of decision-making – a chance to resist further incursions on their rights as sovereign states, and the opportunity to show that small size is no obstacle to contributing meaningfully to resolution of issues that confront the world.

Large and powerful countries deserve the right to be at the centre of global decision-making, given their GDP, their large trade volumes, their worldwide investment and their

financial contributions to a range of global challenges, including peacekeeping, combatting diseases that can cross borders, and alleviating the worst aspects of poverty. But that right is not exclusive; it should not deny the legitimate voice of the small and vulnerable.

When the United Nations was conceived, leaders of states committed themselves to a world “governed by justice and moral law”, one in which they asserted “the pre-eminence of right over might and the general good against sectional aims”. Over the last 50 years, the world has witnessed a withdrawal from those commitments if not a reversal of them.

As one voice on the UNSC, St Vincent and the Grenadines might not be able to stem the tide of intolerance for small states, but it can demonstrate that the intolerance is misplaced and that small does not mean stupid, ignorant or incapable. Indeed, the history of the United Nations is replete with the contribution of small states to the enhancement of the UN’s work and for the beneficial conditions that apply to all humanity. Among those are Malta’s introduction of the concept of Law of the Sea, and Guyana’s definition on the concept of “aggression” that now informs international interpretation of that term.

The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, under the leadership of its Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, spent many years doing the hard grind required to win the seat. His government has been steadfast in upholding the principles of international law and justice which protect small states from abuse. In doing so, it made enemies of the powerful who might have preferred it to acquiesce to their objectives. That enmity was evident in the

THE NEWLY elected members of the United Nations Security Council. From left, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, Nigerian Foreign Minister Kalla Ankourao, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui and Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung. failed last-ditch effort to cause St Vincent and the Grenadines to lose its election bid.

The cost of the campaign and work that must follow during the tenure of St Vincent and the Grenadines at the UNSC was not cheap by Caribbean standards, but it is invaluable

in the participation which it gives to people of all small countries. Not everything is measured in coin; upholding rights, arguing for fairness and justice are value beyond money.

The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the

Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com

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PAGE 12 MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

E3SPORTS

Friday, September 30, 2016, PAGE 3

SOME members of the first cohort of FOCUS. The 2019 high school graduates began the program in fourth grade.

GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

A band of brothers GAIN AN EDGE and sisters - achieve their common dream A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

F

OCUS (Forward and Onward to College Upward to Success) is a college access programme of Lyford Cay Foundations, made possible by the generosity of donors. This year the very first cohort of students completes high school and moves forward to college. This is their story.

“I started this programme as an only child but I’m leaving with over 20 brothers and sisters,” said Lavano Sands, FOCUS Class of 2019.

In June 2011, just after completing grade four, 30 shy and tentative students were wide-eyed about their future, with a relatively narrow scope of careers, but a common dream to move on to post-secondary education after grade 12. Fast forward to June 2019 and 23 of the original 30 FOCUS students remain and are poised to do just that.

FOCUS Class of 2019 comprises a diverse group of young, confident and caring students, who plan to explore a broad spectrum of career fields and post-secondary options. Ninety percent of the Class of 2019 applied to national colleges like the University of The Bahamas (UB), The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), and LJM Maritime Academy. An overlapping 25 percent have additionally applied to a host of international colleges and post-secondary options.

This was the goal all along. But how did they get there?

FOCUS starts with six-week summers of enrichment learning at UB, the programme’s site host partner since inception. Students engage in project-based learning (PBL), showcase their projects

and talents, learn to swim, play soccer and other sports, enjoy experiential learning field trips, and receive mentorship and encouragement along the way from expert guest speakers. These key ingredients are applied consistently during the school year for 15 Saturdays a year.

PBL, a form of hands-on learning, tackling real life problems, is the hallmark of summer learning for FOCUS students in grades 5 through 9. By the time the Class of 2019 completed junior high school, they already completed a myriad of projects from making musical instruments from everyday objects, creating a documentary film comparing life in Nassau at the time of independence to the year 2013, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to create a unique bus route for FOCUS students, and producing radio/ television broadcasts and a newspaper publication featuring news and topics of their choice.

In the summer before grade 10, the Class of 2019 was prepared for the demands of senior high school, learned how to navigate personal and emotional transitions, and supported in envisioning who they wanted to be, while navigating the road to accessing a college education. During On Course to College (OCTC) - the final stage of FOCUS - these driven students were given tailored college specific information and preparation.

Each enthusiastically delved into researching colleges and scholarships, understanding college application processes, sitting the necessary college entrance exams and focused on meeting the requirements to receive a national high school diploma. Greater responsibilities were placed on each student with increased individual support from the Programme Coordinator, Karen McCartney and programme interns. OCTC took students through the rigorous process of college prep in a tailored and student-centred way.

For many, grade 12 - the final year of OCTC - was both stressful and rewarding for students and programme staff alike. Saturday seminars focused on preparation for life after high school and going to college. Supreme emphasis was placed on college and scholarship applications and students received individualized support.

Karen McCartney said: “FOCUS was designed to be impactful and

transformational for our students and their families, but these students have been equally as impactful to us, well certainly for me.”

FOCUS has the goal of achieving high school graduation and/ or direct enrolment into a college, a technical/vocational school, or into a structured gap year activity placement for all of its students. FOCUS develops not only its students’ academic skills, but ever important soft skills, and the resilience to foster their success through tertiary education and beyond.

FOCUS staff worked towards these goals by nurturing youth voice/agency, their sense of identity, their holistic development and a sense of community belonging.

In Their Own Words, FOCUS Class of 2019: “FOCUS has taught me the importance of discipline, education, and family.” Berkell Sturrup “FOCUS has made me into a better person by teaching me life

lessons and how I should deal with many different situations.”

Decordre Johnson “It changed my mindset towards life and how I think about applying for college.” Jermaine Bannister “FOCUS has made me mature to the point where I’m able to make wise choices. From a very young age I had already known my future goals and plan for my life.” Rashawna Rolle “FOCUS has had a major impact on my life, mainly with math, language, and social skills.”

Cierra Barr “FOCUS, from the very first moment, has encouraged me to be grateful at all times. Everything FOCUS has done for me will not be in vain. I have to make them proud because they saw the best in me when I couldn’t even see it in myself.” Shanquell Clarke “FOCUS has given me a head way and a guiding hand that helped me with things that I was clueless about. It’s given me a future and inspires me.” Ishmael Gibson “Being in FOCUS not only gave me the knowledge to apply to my school work but also the experience of having a family working towards one goal and helping each other along the way.” Edwin Simmons “An impact FOCUS has made in my life is being able to be the first college student in my family.”

Jenny Gaspard

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

SUMMER IS HERE and thousands of children are off school. Here are ways to keep your children safe this summer.

HOME ALONE SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS It is important to stress the importance of safety rules, without unnecessarily instilling fear..

• Post a list of emergency numbers, including family members, trusted friends and neighbours, and emergency personnel.

• Make sure your child knows his/her phone number and address. Write these on the list of important numbers. It is very easy for anyone, especially a child, to panic in an emergency. If included on the list, your child can easily read aloud to a 911 operator in case of emergency.

• Keep a first aid kit in the house. Teach your child basic first aid.

• Make sure there are working smoke detectors on every floor of the house and teach your child what to do in case of fire. Practice fire evacuation routes with your children.

• Keep a flashlight and batteries in an easily accessible place in case of power outage. Show your child where to find it.

• Make sure that your child has a way to contact you when you are away from the home, including a cell phone and/or work number. Check your messages often and promptly return your child’s calls.

• Limit the kind of cooking that can be done absent of adult supervision.

• Call and check on your child. Always call and let them know if you are running late.

HOME ALONE SAFETY TIPS FOR CHILDREN • Never let anyone into the house. Do not open the door to strangers.

• Use caller id or an answering machine to screen calls. When answering the phone, never tell callers you are home alone.

Tell them your mom/dad is busy and will call them back.

• Keep all doors and windows locked.

• If coming home to an empty house never enter the house if there are open or broken windows or doors, or other signs of forced entry. Leave and get help from a trusted neighbour.

• Do not invite friends over.

• Tell parents of any fears or concerns.

THE BEST DEFENCE AGAINST A HOME INVASION IS PREVENTION FIRE SAFTEY Do not play with matches and lighters.

Tell a grown up immediately it you find matches and lighters lying around.

No matter where you are if your clothes catch on fire STOP, DROP to the ground and ROLL over to put out the fire.

If a fire occurs while you are home alone, get out of the house as fast as you can and go to a neighbour and have them call the Fire Department.

If a fire occurs while you are home, “DON’T HIDE” Crawl low on your hands and knees outside to safety. Once you are out, stay out. Do not go back for anything!

Do not play with electrical cords. And do not stick anything into an electrical socket.

Make an escape plan.

Practice! Work with your family to plan how to get out of your home if there is a fire.

Plan two ways out of every room. The first way out should be a door.

Second a window.

Choose a meeting place.

Pick a safe and easy-toremember spot outside your home where you will meet your family after you get out.

Test smoke alarms. Help

grown-ups remember to test smoke alarms monthly and to put in new batteries twice a year when the clocks change.

Know the number of your Fire Department. 919 or 322-1225.

INTERNET SAFETY The thought of what your child might come across online can be worrying.

Here are some internet safety advice to make sure going online is a positive experience for you and your child: Discover the internet together Be the one to introduce your child to the internet.

For both parent and child, it is an advantage to discover the internet together. Try to find websites that are exciting and fun so that together you achieve a positive attitude to internet exploration. This could make it easier to share both positive and negative experiences in the future.

Come to an agreement for internet use in your home Try to reach an agreement with your child on the guidelines which apply to Internet use in your household. Here are some tips to get started: • Discuss when and for how long it is acceptable for your child to use the internet • Agree how to treat personal information (name, address, telephone, e-mail) • Discuss how to behave towards others when gaming, chatting, e-mailing or messaging • Agree what type of sites and activities are OK or not OK in your family • Follow the rules yourself! Or at least explain why the rules are different for adults.

Encourage your child to be careful when disclosing personal information A simple rule for younger children should be that the child should not give out their name, phone number or photo without your approval. Older children using social networking sites like Facebook should be encouraged to be selective about what personal information and photos they post to online spaces.

Regardless of privacy settings, once material is online you can no longer control who sees it or how it is used.

Talk about the risks associated with meeting online “friends” in person.

Adults should understand that the internet can be a positive meeting place for children, where they can get to know other young people and make new friends.

However, for safety and to avoid unpleasant experiences, it is important that children do not meet strangers they have met online without being accompanied by an adult you trust. In any case, the child should always have their parent’s approval first. In addition, it is also a good idea to have a fail-safe plan in place such as calling them shortly after the meeting begins so that they can bail out if they feel uncomfortable.

Teach your child about evaluating information and being critically aware of information found online.

Most children use the internet to improve and develop their knowledge in relation to schoolwork and personal interests. Children should be aware that not all information found online is correct, accurate or relevant. Show your child how to check information they find by comparing it to alternative sources on the same topic. Show them trusted sites they can use to compare information.

Do not be too critical towards your child’s exploration of the Internet Children may come across adult material by accident on the web. Also, a child may intentionally search for such websites;

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MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019 PAGE 13

Simple rules to keep children safe this summer remember that it is natural for children to be curious about off-limits material.

Try to use this as an opening to discuss the content with them, and perhaps make rules for this kind of activity. Be realistic in your assessment of how your child uses the internet.

positive aspects of the internet outweigh the negatives.

The internet is an excellent educational and recreational resource for children. Encourage your child to make the most of it and explore the internet to its full potential.

Let your children show you what they like to do online

We know that some children are more fearless than others and the risk-taking ones are often lectured most about playing safely.

Cautious children also find themselves in unknowingly hazardous situations and end up in the ER as a result.

Thankfully, most injuries that occur while playing are preventable.

How you approach safety has a lot to do with the personality of the child and

To be able to guide your child with regard to internet use, it is important to understand how children use the internet and know what they like to do online.

Let your child show you which websites they like visiting and what they do there.

Remember that the

PLAYGROUND SAFETY

their age, but there are some fundamental precautions you should take to help keep your kids safe while playing whether they are toddlers or teens.

Gear up!

Get your toddler in the habit of wearing a helmet for protection while riding bikes, scooters or if they are heading off to a game of football and you will have less trouble getting them to do it as they gain independence Play by the buddy system Playing outside exposes your children to the dangers of paedophiles and common criminals. When your child is playing outside, insist that they have

a playmate and that they stick together at all times.

It is also a good idea for your child, and the children they play with to know the location of “safe houses”– neighbourhood homes they can run to should a stranger approach them or if someone gets hurt.

LET US KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE THIS SUMMER AS WE CONTINUE TO CREATE SAFER COMMUNITIES Visit the Royal Bahamas Police Force website at www.royalbahamaspolice. org or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ rbpforce for Latest News, Daily Crime Reports and additional Crime Prevention Tips

PAGE 14, Monday, June 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

SUMMER CAMP THE NEWEST FRONT IN BATTLE WITH MEASLES OUTBREAK NEW YORK STATE Associated Press

VACCINATIONS have been made mandatory this summer for campers and staff in several counties north of New York City that annually fill up with kids from the Orthodox Jewish communities that have been hit hardest by measles.

Ulster County took the extra step of mandating the measles vaccine or proof of immunity at all day camps and overnight camps, becoming the latest county in the area to issue immunisation requirements. Rockland County announced a similar order this month, following mandates from

Sullivan and Orange counties.

“We have to make sure our t’s are crossed and our i’s are dotted in making sure all these vaccination records are in and have been finecombed through to make sure everything is in compliance,” said Rabbi Hanoch Hecht, of Ulster County’s Camp Emunah, which hosts many girls from a Chabad community in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights.

“In the past where we accepted religious exemptions for certain things,” said Hecht, who is getting his own blood checked for immunity, “now we cannot.”

The state of New York requires summer camps to keep immunisation records for all campers,

but doesn’t bar children from attending if they haven’t gotten a measles shot.

Children are required to get the measles vaccine to attend schools in New York, however, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Thursday eliminating an exemption for kids whose parents object to vaccinations on religious grounds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, as of June 1, more than 1,000 measles cases had been reported in the US since the start of the year, up from fewer than 100 cases a year a decade ago. The bulk of those cases have been diagnosed in ultra-Orthodox Jewish

neighborhoods in Brooklyn and suburban Rockland County.

The CDC recommends everyone over a year old should get the vaccine, except for people who had the disease as children.

Those who have had measles are immune.

The vaccine, which became available in the 1960s, is considered safe and highly effective — paving the way for measles to be declared all but eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. But it has had a resurgence several times, including 667 cases in 2014.

Hecht and others stressed that vaccinations are widely accepted by most members of the Orthodox community, echoing rabbis in

Brooklyn and Rockland County who say it is a relatively small group of parents influenced by anti-vaccination propaganda — not religious teachings — who have resisted inoculations.

The Orthodox Union said it has previously required up-todate vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine, for its 37 summer programs.

“Most of the leaders and rabbis have taken the approach that vaccination is required,” Hecht said.

Health officials in New York City have taken a tough approach, making measles vaccinations mandatory for everyone living in the Brooklyn neighborhood that is the epicenter of the outbreak.

CHANCHAL Lahiri was lowered into the river by crane. Left: Lahiri being lowered into the Hooghly river during a similar stunt in 2002.

JOHNSON SKIPS TV DEBATE AS RIVALS QUIZZED ON BREXIT LONDON Associated Press

STUNTMAN MISSING AFTER HE IS LOWERED INTO THE GANGES INDIAN stuntman Chanchal Lahiri who was lowered into the Ganges river while tied up with steel chains and rope is missing after the trick apparently went wrong. Before his trick he said: “If I can free myself it will be magic, if I cannot it will be tragic.” Lahiri has attempted similar

tricks in the past but was labelled a fraud in 2013 when onlookers claimed they could see his escape door on a metal cage. This time, the 40-yearold failed to emerge from the water, triggering a frantic search by authorities. “We are still searching,” a family member said.

Hong Kong police begin to clear protesters away HONG KONG Associated Press HONG Kong police and protesters faced off early today as authorities began trying to clear the streets of a few hundred who remained near the city government headquarters after massive demonstrations that stretched deep into the night before.

The police asked for cooperation in clearing the road. Protesters responded with chants, some kneeling in front of the officers. The move came after activists rejected an apology from the city’s top leader for her handling of legislation that has stoked fears of expanding control from Beijing in this former British colony.

Nearly two million of the city’s seven million people turned out yesterday, according to estimates by protest organisers. Police said 338,000 were counted on the designated protest route in the “peak period” of the march. A week earlier as many as one million people

POLICEMEN stand guard on a road as protesters march toward the Legislative Council earlier today. demonstrated to voice their concern over Hong Kong’s relations with mainland China in one of the toughest tests of the territory’s special status since Beijing took control in a 1997 handover.

After daybreak today, police announced that they want to clear the streets. Soon after, police lined up several officers deep and faced off against several hundred demonstrators on a street in central Hong Kong. The police asked for

cooperation in clearing the road.

Crowds had gathered well after dark outside the police headquarters and Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s office. On Saturday, Lam suspended her effort to force passage of the bill, which would allow some suspects to be sent for trial in mainland China.

The move did not appease Hong Kong residents who see the legislation as one of many steps chipping away at Hong Kong’s freedoms and

legal autonomy. Opponents worry the law could be used to send criminal suspects to China to potentially face vague political charges, possible torture and unfair trials.

Protesters are also angered over the forceful tactics by police in quelling unrest at a demonstration on Wednesday.

Periodically, the shouts of the protesters standing shoulder-toshoulder in front of the police headquarters would crescendo into a roar that reverberated through the narrow concrete canyons of the red-light district of Wanchai.

Smaller crowds stood chanting outside Lam’s office building.

In a statement, Lam noted the demonstrations and said the government “understands that these views have been made out of love and care for Hong Kong.”

“The chief executive apologises to the people of Hong Kong for this and pledges to adopt a most sincere and humble attitude to accept criticisms and make improvements in serving the public,” it said.

CANDIDATES seeking to beat Boris Johnson and become Britain’s next prime minister accused the Brexit-backing front runner of trying to avoid scrutiny after he refused to take part in a televised debate alongside his five rivals yesterday.

“Where is Boris?”

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt asked as he and four other contenders for Conservative Party leader faced questions about how exactly they would fulfill a key promise: to unblock the stalled Brexit process and lead Britain out of the European Union.

Broadcaster Channel 4 left an empty lectern on the debate stage for Johnson as the participating candidates argued they had a quality that many think the absent Tory politician lacks: trustworthiness. “I believe I’m the candidate most trusted to get us out (of the EU) by the end of October,” Dominic Raab, a former Brexit Secretary, argued.

Hunt said the Conservatives must choose “a prime minister that families up and down the country trust with their future.”

Johnson, pictured, a former London mayor and foreign secretary, has a commanding lead after last week’s first round of voting by Tory lawmakers in the contest to replace Theresa May. She stepped down as party leader earlier this month after failing to secure Parliament’s backing for her European Union divorce deal.

An instantly recognizable figure, famous for his Latin quips and unruly blond hair, Johnson is admired by many Conservatives for his ability to energise voters.

But others mistrust him for his long record of misleading and false statements, verbal blunders and erratic performance in high office.

The 313 Tory lawmakers in the House of Commons are set to narrow the field of candidates in a series of votes this week, with the final two names put to a postal vote of about 160,000 Conservative members nationwide.

MILLIONS WITHOUT POWER AFTER BOEING CEO ADMITS MISTAKE IN SOUTH AMERICAN BLACKOUT HANDLING 737 WARNING SYSTEM BUENOS AIRES Associated Press

A MASSIVE blackout left tens of millions of people without electricity in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay yesterday after an unexplained failure in the neighboring countries’ interconnected power grid.

Authorities were working frantically to restore power, but a third of Argentina’s 44 million people were still in the dark by early evening.

Voters cast ballots by the light of cell phones in gubernatorial elections in Argentina. Public transportation halted, shops closed and patients dependent on home medical equipment were urged to go to hospitals with generators.

“I was just on my way to eat with a friend, but we had to cancel everything. There’s no subway,

nothing is working,” said Lucas Acosta, a 24-year-old Buenos Aires resident. “What’s worse, today is Father’s Day. I’ve just talked to a neighbour and he told me his sons won’t be able to meet him.”

By mid-afternoon, power had been restored to most of Uruguay’s three million people. But in Argentina, only 65% of the nation’s grid was back up and running as of 5 pm local time, the national news agency Telam reported.

“This is an extraordinary event that should have never happened,” Energy Secretary Gustavo Lopetegui told a news conference. “It’s very serious.”

He said the cause of the massive outage was still under investigation and that workers were working to restore electricity nationwide by the end of the day.

Argentina’s power grid is generally known for being in a state of disrepair, with substations and cables that were insufficiently upgraded as power rates remained largely frozen for years.

An Argentine independent energy expert said that systemic operational and design errors played a role in the power grid’s collapse.

“A localized failure like the one that occurred should be isolated by the same system,” said Raúl Bertero, president of the Center for the Study of Energy Regulatory Activity in Argentina. “The problem is known and technology and studies (exist) to avoid it.”

The country’s energy secretary said the blackout occurred at 7:07 am local time when a key interconnection system collapsed.

PARIS Associated Press

THE chief executive of Boeing said the company made a “mistake” in handling a problematic cockpit warning system in its 737 Max jets before two crashes killed 346 people, and he promised transparency as the aircraft maker works to get the grounded plane back in flight.

Speaking before the industry-wide Paris Air Show, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg told reporters Boeing’s communication with regulators, customers and the public “was not consistent. And that’s unacceptable.”

The US Federal Aviation Administration has faulted Boeing for not telling regulators for more than a year that a safety indicator in the cockpit of

BOEING’S Dennis Muilenburg the top-selling plane didn’t work as intended.

Boeing and the FAA have said the warning light wasn’t critical for flight safety. But the botched communication has eroded trust in Boeing as the company struggles to rebound from the passenger jet crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

“We clearly had a mistake in the implementation

of the alert,” Muilenburg said.

Pilots also have expressed anger that Boeing did not inform them about the new software that’s been implicated in the fatal crashes.

Muilenburg expressed confidence that the Boeing 737 Max would be cleared to fly again later this year by US and all other global regulators. “We will take the time necessary” to ensure the Max is safe, he said.

The model has been grounded worldwide for three months, and regulators need to approve Boeing’s long-awaited fix to the software before it can return to the skies.

Muilenburg called the crashes of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines jets a “defining moment” for Boeing, but said he thinks the result will be a “better and stronger company.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 17, 2019, PAGE 15

BPL CUSTOMERS VENT THEIR ANGER AS POWER GOES OFF FOR TEN HOURS

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net MANY customers turned to Facebook to criticise Bahamas Power and Light on Friday for a power failure that left the western area of New Providence in darkness for more than ten hours on Thursday night.

The outage affected West Bay Street between Compass Point and Bahamia West. Saffron Hills, Yuma Estates, Kisskadee Drive, Whispering Wind, Old Fort Bay and Pineapple Grove, according to a post on social media by the company.

One customer said: “We have been nearly 12 hours without power and zero communication from BPL, no updates on their social media, no one is answering their phones and they don’t respond to messages.

Before the PLP created this ridiculous management company, you couldn’t have told me that BEC could get worse.

“In general, it is absolutely inexcusable that in 2019, a country that purports to be civilised can’t keep the lights on. I don’t want to hear about lightning

strikes and the rest of that nonsense. Where else in the world is that a satisfactory excuse for frequent power outages? And as always, the solution of ‘buy more generators’ is useless. Every administration has done this, but you see where we are today.”

He added: “The fact is, we have a medieval power generation system that needs to be phased out and the country placed on a path to efficient and renewable energy, where households can generate their own power and feed it into the grid. But no one has the political will to do this. Instead of thinking outside the box and calling for would-be investors to give us cutting edge solutions to our power issues, we have just given Shell permission to build yet another dirty and inefficient diesel and bunker C burning power plant, with a little LNG thrown in there for show, and so it will be more of the same for at least 20 years.”

Another customer said on Friday: “My power is still off from last night...and you’re telling me it won’t be on (until) noon? What kind of incompetent crap is this? Also maybe consider

answering your phones?”

One patron said: “You people are pathetic, incompetent and unprofessional. I despise BPL.” Last month, BPL Chairman Donovan Moxey said the acquisition of seven new engines represented the first step in BPL’s new strategy and strategic outlook.

He said one of the major components of this new direction would be BPL’s relationship with Shell North America, citing its arrangement to construct a 220-megawatt gas power plant in the coming years.

Updating the status of the installation at the time, Mr Parker said BPL was working hand-in hand with Wärtsilä to ensure the new engines are correctly installed and operated according to best practices.

He insisted the installation process would “guard against” potential interruptions to the fragile New Providence grid.

He told The Tribune previously: “The preparatory work done by BPL at station A, has considered all aspects of the installation.

We have prepared the area for the weight of the new engines and prepared it for all of the auxiliary work needed during at this time.”