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VOLUME:115 No.142, JUNE 18TH, 2018

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INSIGHT: IS MINNIS REALLY SAVING THE BAHAMAS? PAGES ‘VOTE NO TO BUDGET AND LOSE YOUR GOVT POST’

CRACKDOWN

More police and new cars after wave of violence

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net IN the face of a spate of murders, National Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday announced a series of new crime fighting strategies geared towards the blanket coverage of specific hotspot areas in New Providence.

During a press conference held at police headquarters yesterday, Mr Dames announced the planned enrolment of some 105 new recruits, the roll out of a new crime reporting app, the long-awaited roll out of the Marco’s Alert planned for this week, and the incorporation of new crime fighting equipment as a part of the 2018 budget cycle, including an updated

fleet of squad cars valued at $6.9m.

Referring to the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s recently published Manpower Audit, which noted that for every 100 officers recruited and deployed there should be a three percent decrease in crime statistics, Mr Dames contended that more personnel, paired with cutting-edge technology will be on display in the coming months.

Mr Dames said working in tandem, law enforcement agencies are consistently making inroads to cut crime.

To date, he said there have been 51 homicides reported, compared to the same period last year when there were 70 – representing a 27 percent decrease.

SEE PAGE THREE

BUSINESSMAN ONE OF THREE VICTIMS KILLED OVER WEEKEND

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net A WEST Bay Street business owner was shot dead just outside his establishment early yesterday morning, marking the 51st murder for the year and the third over the weekend, according to The Tribune’s records.

In the latest incident, Noel Cartwright, owner and operator of the Plantation Bar and Grill, was reportedly sitting in his vehicle in the Grill’s parking lot when he was approached by an armed man who shot him before fleeing on foot.

Paramedics responded to the scene, but were unable

to revive the victim. The incident occurred shortly before 1am.

While police have not officially identified the victim, dozens of family members, friends and customers took to social media yesterday to share their thoughts and prayers with Mr Cartwright’s family.

Additionally, Long Island MP Adrian Gibson, a longtime friend of the victim acknowledged his death.

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Gibson called Cartwright a “true son of Long Island”.

He said Cartwright, a beloved family man and business owner, worked SEE PAGE THREE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel has warned senators and elected officials who have been appointed to government posts that they must vote for the 20182019 budget in its entirety or resign their positions.

His comments, made on Friday during the Senate debate on the Interception of Communications Bill, came as several Free National Movement parliamentarians have announced their opposition to the 60 percent increase in value added tax.

“Let me be pellucidly clear,” Mr Bethel said, “if this was a budget bill, then conscience or not every government senator would be expected to vote for it and for every bill making up the packet of budget measures. I hear some members of the other place (House of Assembly) seeking freedom to do as they wish in respect of certain controversial parts of the current budget being debated there.

“I would take this early opportunity to openly remind senators that every budget measure voted upon is a vote of confidence in the government. It is not open to any member appointed as part of the government team to vote against a budget measure.”

SEE PAGE 12

WEB SHOPS ‘ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WORKERS’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames speaking to the media yesterday.

Photo: Eric Rose/BIS

HENFIELD VOTES NO TO SPY BILL

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SENATOR Ranard Henfield voted against the Interception of Communications Bill in the upper house on Friday, the only senator to do so.

He criticised the involvement of the attorney general in sanctioning interception devices as well as a provision allowing authorities to obtain entry

RANARD HENFIELD warrants into homes.

His speech did not satisfy all his critics, however, with Progressive Liberal Party Senator Michael Darville telling The Tribune “he

came out very soft against the government” compared to his vehement criticism of the bill when the Christie administration introduced a version of it last year.

Mr Henfield, appointed as an independent senator by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, said entry warrants, which would allow police to secretly enter people’s homes and install interception SEE PAGE 12

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

THAT Island Luck employees were seemingly threatened with a loss of pay if they failed to attend Thursday’s protest is a “blatant, naked attempt to take advantage of poor people”, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.

Tribune Business last week confirmed the validity of an internal Island Luck staff memo which said attendance at the protest was “mandatory” for people scheduled to work Thursday morning.

While Island Luck sources have denied the pay-cut threat, the memo said: “Failure to sign in and sign out will result in a pay cut for the day.”

Yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar said the revelation blunts the momentum the web SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Monday, June 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE CONCRETE beams blocking off Munnings Road.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Speed bumps and reflectors placed on deadly crash road

By FARRAH JOHNSON OFFICIALS have erected speed bumps and placed reflectors on concrete beams at Munnings Road after a crash at the newly closed road left a woman dead.

Last week, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister pledged more precautions and safety measures will be implemented on Munnings

Road to avoid future fatalities.

Mr Bannister said his ministry is going through the tender process for the construction of a cul-desac, but insisted residents should still be careful when using that road.

His comments follow an accident that led to the death of Garvanisha Anastasia Carey early Thursday morning.

In a recent interview with ZNS, Mr Bannister

reiterated the cul-de-sac was in compliance with the law.

“I’m very, very sorry to see that the young lady lost her life,” he said, “that’s something that none of us would like to see – but the speed limit in that area is 25 mph, and it’s important for all of us to appreciate that we have to obey these speed limits.”

At the time, Mr Bannister revealed more warning signs and speed

bumps would be added to the area to warn drivers of the road barriers.

He also stated that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, the area MP, had placed speed bumps in the area “many many times,” only to have them “taken up”.

“I can tell you that coming from the John F Kennedy Drive, as you come on from the airport gateway, if you come on to Munnings Road, before

you get to that area where it’s blocked off you have at least half a mile to a mile of clear vision,” he said.

“So we’re going to do some other things to ensure that persons who try to speed along that road, that they themselves would see.

But still it is a very sad lesson that we’re learning about road safety.”

Carey was pronounced dead on the scene after her vehicle collided with

the barriers.

Her death sparked outrage from many Bahamians who believed the accident could have been avoided if there was better signage and lighting in the area.

In April, the Ministry of Public Works advised it would be carrying out works on Munnings Road for one week regarding the intended closure, which is to become a cul-de-sac.

The road was closed in the beginning of May.

TRIBUTES left to Garvanisha Anastasia Carey, who died at the scene on Thursday.

THE TRIBUNE

Businessman one of three victims killed over weekend from page one very hard to better the lives of those with whom he came in contact.

He added that he and the entire Long Island community were “gripped” with sadness as they try to understand the circumstances that led to Cartwright’s death.

“The last time I saw him was back at regatta where we reminisced about an encounter we had some time back where we discussed, in detail, so many plans for the island of Long Island,” he said.

Mr Gibson added: “That was the type of persons he was, when you saw him, he would not hesitate to tell you about where he was from and what the island meant to him. He was one of those persons who stood up for Long Island and what it means to be from there.”

Mr Gibson extended condolences to Mr Cartwright’s immediate and extended family. He said he intends to visit with the Cartwright family on his return to Nassau this week.

In the second incident, a male employee of a Faith

Avenue and St Vincent Road clothing store was in the store when an armed man entered after 9pm on Saturday.

According to police reports, a struggle followed between the gunman and the employee resulting in the assailant shooting the employee before escaping the store.

Police said EMS workers were called to the scene and attempted to revive the victim, but were unsuccessful.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

While police have not identified the deceased,

The Tribune understands that he is Anthony “Tony” Thompson.

His death marked the 50th murder so far this year.

These killings came after a man was shot dead outside of a bar on Crooked Island Street in the Grove early Saturday morning.

According to police, shortly after midnight, the man was standing outside a bar when he was shot.

Emergency Medical Services personnel were called and attempted to revive him but were unsuccessful.

Monday, June 18, 2018, PAGE 3

NOEL CARTWRIGHT Police yesterday said they Jarad Williams aka Jarad were still awaiting an offi- Rolle. cial identification by the Anyone with informavictim’s next of kin before tion on these or any other they released his identity. crimes is asked to call police However, The Tribune at 919 or Crime Stoppers at understands the victim is 328-TIPS.

MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames speaking to the media yesterday.

Photo: Eric Rose/BIS

MORE POLICE AND NEW CARS AFTER WAVE OF VIOLENCE from page one

Mr Dames insisted that while overall crime continues to decrease, police cannot take comfort in the fact that people are still losing their lives. He said: “We cannot sit back while murders occur as one life is one too many. The fight against crime and violence has to and will continue to be approached holistically.”

Referring specifically to a string of murders that have occurred in the month of June, Mr Dames said he has instructed all agencies under his command to do all within their power to bring them to a close quickly.

There have been 12 homicides thus far in the month of June making it the deadliest month of the year, so far.

Since Saturday, three murders have been recorded.

According to police, two of the three occurred in suspected armed robbery scenarios.

Further to that, Mr Dames yesterday suggested that a large percentage of the homicides that have occurred across the country this year, have been committed by young assailants operating with the intent to spread fear across the wider Bahamian public.

His comments come almost a week after he reassured Bahamians that there was absolutely no reason for them to feel unsafe.

Last Monday, Mr Dames doubled down on the narrative of the Minnis administration winning its fight against crime. To that end, he asserted yesterday: “I want to issue a stern warning to parents

of young men roaming our streets. We cannot have a society where young men are roaming our streets and taking out lives of hardworking Bahamians.”

Mr Dames said the actions of this particular group of criminals “will not be tolerated.”

“We will use every tool at our disposable under the law of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, to ensure that every hardworking and law-abiding Bahamian is kept safe,” he said. “If you choose to take on law enforcement with a firearm then there are consequences.”

Mr Dames said without question, while officers will abide by the law, they will not allow innocent people to fall victim at the hands of “gun-toting thugs.”

When asked by reporters if recent trends makes a case for the enforcement of capital punishment, Mr Dames said he has long been a supporter of plans for the country to execute the laws on its books, but admitted that he doesn’t see a situation where that would happen.

Mr Dames insisted that on many levels, he has taken it upon himself to design and introduce strategies that both detect and prevent crimes more deliberately. However, he said members of the public now need to live up to their responsibilities and help police in their fight against crime.

He said: “We are extremely proud of the progress we are making, but takes you aback whenever people lose their lives, especially persons who were hard at work making ends meet for their families and

it is never a good sign.”

He continued: “So the two incidents, the incident (Sunday) morning and the incident on (Saturday night) you know, there are people out there who know what happen. Why should the police have to go and work so hard to find them, right, as Bahamians don’t we have an obligation to say, ‘Hey listen, the guy

right around the corner, they were just talking, they killed that man last night.’

“Why should police through an investigative process have to put in a significant amount of man hours, not complaining, they are all up to it because of the progress that we are making, they are arresting these people, they are putting them before the court.

But as Bahamians we have to live up to are obligation, we have to live up to our responsibility to protect the other.

“It is like seeing someone break into your neighbour’s house and jumping into your vehicle and pretend like you didn’t see it and drive off. We have to move away from that, “ Mr Dames said. “We can not

keep beating up on it being a police problem, a police problem. I met with them and I expressed some of the concerns that I have, some of the areas that I see where they can improve, now the commissioner and his team will have to go because they are responsible for the operation and the strategy outlay and they will have to go and address it.”

PAGE 4, Monday, June 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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Unity is needed to build a country IT IS said that a revolution can be built in a day, but it takes a generation to build a government.

The time for demonstrating is over. It is now time for Bahamians to unite to rebuild a broken country.

No one wants taxes, but there were times when Bahamians should have been more vocal — remember when the 7 per cent VAT was introduced the promise was that it would eventually replace Customs duties – when Customs duties remained Bahamians did nothing but grumble. Over the years there have been many warning signs that The Bahamas was sinking under growing debt. The PLP politicians just scoffed and kept on spending the people’s money without explanation. And the explanations that they did give in certain areas, such as free medical care for the indigent, made no sense. However, unthinking Bahamians took the political bait, said little, but waited for the day that cook-outs to raise funds for medical care, would end. They never did. And when one examines the finances of the Princess Margaret Hospital there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

Two years ago, the Bahamas government was warned that unless investment was increased or spending drastically reduced - or even a combination of both - The Bahamas was facing trouble.

In January 2016, the Royal Bank of Canada reported that by the end of September 2015 The Bahamas’ debtto-GDP at 76.5 per cent, had grown by 98.5 percentage points or more than $500m year-over year. The Central Bank confirmed the figures adding that by the end of 2014 The Bahamas was already several points over the danger threshold. Yet, the Bahamians who are being urged to demonstrate today seemed unconcerned by their freewheeling PLP government then. It was reported that at the time VAT had slowed the slide, but not enough to reduce grave concern for the country’s financial future.

The gambling referendum was another financial scandal, which after spending $5m of the people’s money to hold it only to be told that a referendum was not necessary and government had the power to vote on it in parliament, which in the end they did. They made the illegal web shops – once known as the “numbers racket” – legal, thus ignoring the people’s “No” vote. Bahamians are now wondering what might have gone on behind closed doors at that time for the web shop owners to display such an arrogant attitude of entitlement today with the threat that if they are heavily taxed – the “sin tax”– they will go underground. The Bahamas is now being over run by web shops — 210 in New Providence; 41 in Grand Bahama, 31 in Abaco, 25 in Eleuthera, 14 in Exuma, 13 in Andros, eight in Long Island, six in Bimini, three in San Salvador, two in Inagua, two in Cat Island, two in the Berry Islands and one in Acklins. It is now being suggested that a government lottery should be established so that these funds can go to help pay off the country’s debt.

As a result of the suggested rate of the

tax, web shop operators organised a loud protest on Bay Street. After the protest, several persons told Tribune reporters that they were forced to demonstrate with the threat of losing their jobs it they refused. The web shop owners, denied this, but The Tribune was shown a letter in which they were instructed where the bus would pick them up to join the march, and the loss of their job if they were not there and on time.

Of course PLP chairman Fred Mitchell called the “rent-a-crowd” report “rubbish”. He invited Bahamians to stay tuned, promising that another march was coming. Many PLPs were a part of last week’s demonstration. “Stand by.

Brace for what’s to come! We coming for them!” he promised.

We hope that when Mr Mitchell comes he will bring with him the long awaited report of the cost of his flying around the world in search of new sources of revenue for the financially strapped Bahamas. He announced at the time that he would take a year off as Foreign Affairs Minister on this search for new sources of investment. Off he went. The only report of which we are aware was when he put on show the arrival of $500,000 worth of “high grade phosphate” fertilisers donated to The Bahamas by the government of Morocco. It was available for purchase

by Bahamians at a “very reasonable price,” he said. The fertiliser was meant to reflect the “strong relationship” between Morocco and the Bahamas.

That’s the last we have heard of that “friendship” and, of course, the cost of Mr Mitchell’s travelling and what revenue he was able to bring back for the Treasury – if any.

As someone recently pointed out demonstrations were always being organised by the PLP when they were out of power. Several years ago one of our staff tipped us off to a Bay Street demonstration being organised for outside the House of Assembly. How did he know? He said that on the previous evening no other than Sir Lynden Pindling himself had come to his group to tell them to be on the ready for the next day. It is amazing the number of protestors that Tribune reporters have interviewed over the years who have had no idea why they were demonstrating. Not too long ago there was a disturbance on Bay Street as persons crowded around the office of a PLP politician. They were there they said to collect their demonstration pay.

It’s now time for Bahamians to take off their sun glasses and see life as it is.

We have a country to build. Many Bahamians have themselves to blame for the financial state that we are now in because they have accepted the lies for too long. It is now time for all of us to get on board the Ship of State and together row her to safe harbour.

Taxes are tough, but we would not be in our present desperate state if we had been more aware of the situation and demanded more of our politicians.

It is now time to unite for our country’s sake.

Unbelievable EDITOR, The Tribune.

I HAD decided to stop writing letters but after watching the local news tonight I am so disgusted that something has to be said.

We see the PLP parliamentarians and the former Prime Minister, Perry Christie, standing in front of the microphones and lying through their teeth.

Do they ever talk about how they left the country’s finances in a total shambles and then have the gall to criticise the present administration who are trying to put the finances in order. If anyone should be put in the stocks it is them.

Now I also think the present administration overdid the VAT hike and should be tackling the unpaid receivables the Government has outstanding and collecting the unpaid bills which would help alleviate the country’s dire financial condition. This of course was never tackled by the previous Government.

I also find the presentation by Seb that I saw on TV tonight rather disconcerting.

The web shops are sucking money out of the system as the Family Islands recognise and although it is true they employ a lot of people it is to the detriment of the country. The present Government has to find more

productive employment for those who may lose their jobs and perhaps Seb would like to donate the $50m he is planning to invest in paying down the Government debt.

FNM/PLP, improving the education system is one way to produce more jobs and make foreign investment in the country simple.

Do not talk about it do it.

This country has been so badly managed for so many years instead of being the paradise it should be it is a disaster. So come on guys get together and make it work for all.

PATRICK THOMSON Nassau, June 14, 2018.

Inhumanity of separating children EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM a Bahamian who swore that because I am not American I would have nothing to say – pro or con – about US president Donald Trump.

But as a citizen of this world in which we all have to live, I just can’t contain myself any longer. Imagine 2,000 innocent children – all immigrants – being separated within the past six weeks from their parents because their parents disobeyed Trump’s zero tolerance policy and illegally entered the United States.

To make matters worse Trump has the effrontery to insult our intelligence with one of his eternal tweets — which incidentally some of them indicate that he should go back to grade school to learn how to spell. In this particular tweet, he lyingly blames his own administration’s cruelty at the US border on the Democrats, a party that has been out of power from the day he strutted on the world stage taking the oath of office on January 20, 2017. As far as I am concerned Trump has been in power 18 months too long.

And now we have his Attorney General Jeff Sessions quoting from Romans 13 the words of St Paul to justify this godless behaviour.

“The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net legislative agenda….”

Tweets Trump. What a lying piece of … I think it best not to finish that thought!

Here is a man who boasts that with the lift of a telephone he has the power to grant pardons — even for himself should he be indicted – and yet he wants us to believe that he is powerless to stop the cruelty of his administration at the border – don’t look to blame the Democrats, they aren’t in power. They can’t stop the tragedy. This is all the doing of Trump and his wretched wall. Children being held hostage for a wall! I don’t understand the Americans tolerating this type of intellectual insult from their seemingly unhinged leader.

And then to add insult to injury his Attorney General Jeff Sessions quotes from St Paul’s letter to the Roman Church to justify his master’s inhumanity at the border.

“Let every soul,” wrote St Paul, “be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the

evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.”

The assumption here is that St Paul is referring to the laws of God — not of God’s laws as interpreted by a man like Trump. It’s God’s laws that are to be followed, not man’s. If anyone wants to understand to what I refer they should understand the decision of “just laws” as defined at the Nuremberg trials.

Remember all those Nazi who swung from the gibbet when their plea that they were “following orders“ was soundly rejected?

St Paul was referring to a sacred law – God’s law— a law above that of man to which all mankind are subject. So for Mr Sessions to suggest that what is happening at the border today has to be followed because it is God’s supreme law is blasphemous. We recommend that both he and his boss read and digest the reasoning at Nuremberg and the eventual end of those whose feeble excuses that they were just following orders ended on the gallows for their inhumanity to their fellowman!

As far as I am concerned that once noble party of dear old Abe Lincoln has destroyed itself. Poor old Abe. I can almost see tears in his eyes.

DISAPPOINTED Nassau, June 16, 2018.

Barbados govt theft?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AN article, Banks Facing Billion Dollar Hit, in Barbados was making the rounds on Social Media this past weekend and it is an example of theft by government. No more, no less.

Bear with me.

Barbados was on this trajectory for the last 20 - 25 years with their Government pretending it is a “Unicorn” and could provide services below cost and free university education and more by simply borrowing money to hide tax

and cost increases needed to pay for it.

Sound familiar?

You got it, it’s the same fiscal trajectory The Bahamas has been on for decades.

While I remain concerned that raising the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 12% could backfire and effect economic growth just as the introduction at 7.5% did just three years ago, I applaud the government’s alleged concern to right fiscal ship of state before The Bahamas is backed into the same

situation Barbados faces.

All this does not disguise my empathy for the taxpayers of Barbados. They were convinced government could provide every need and wipe every tear, but now they understand it was all a big lie.

Too bad that politicians believe they have to provide fantasies to get elected.

It’s even more regrettable that voters believe in Unicorns too.

RICK LOWE www.weblogbahamas. com

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 18, 2018, PAGE 5

STABBING VICTIM RECOVERING IN HOSPITAL

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE AFTERMATH of the Labour Day March tragedy, which saw four women killed and many others injured.

A 23-YEAR-OLD man, a resident of West End, is in hospital with serious injuries following a stabbing incident in Eight Mile Rock, police reported.

According to police, four men are assisting them with their investigation into the matter.

ASP Terecita Pinder reported that sometime around noon Thursday, police were called to the Rigby Plaza in Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock where a man was found with stab wounds to the upper body.

The victim told police he was attacked by a group of men while at the construction site in Pinedale. He was taken by EMS personnel to the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport where Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff he was last listed in serious condition.

Investigations are who were participating in continuing. the Labour Day parade along the eastern side of East Street, coming to rest against a Nissan Micra and the building just at that intersection.”

The driver was released from police custody and reportedly assisted them with the investigations.

Prime Minister Dr By DENISE MAYCOCK Hubert Minnis met with the Tribune Freeport Reporter families of the victims the dmaycock@tribunemedia.net day after the tragedy.

TWO men who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court in Grand Bahama to possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition According to police, in separate matters will the woman was travelling serve three and five years in west on Carmichael Road prison. in a purple coloured 2008 Eric Culmer, 19, of Bass Nissan Cube when she was Lane, Freeport, appeared approached by two men in Freeport Magistrate’s with firearms.

The men reportedly Court before Magistrate forced her from the car and Rengin Johnson where he drove away in it shortly was charged with possession of an illegal firearm after 11pm.

Police are asking the and ammunition.

He pleaded guilty and public for any information that might assist their was sentenced to three years in prison. investigations.

In the second matter, Police also arrested nine Lynden Ferguson, 36, of Haitians in the Montagu Lewis Yard, appeared Shores area on Thursday.

Officers were tipped in the Eight Mile Rock Court off to a group of persons Magistrate’s gathered in the area of before Magistrate Gwen the restroom, according to Claude.

He pleaded guilty to posreports.

Four men, four women, session of illegal firearm and a child were arrested and ammunition and was and later turned over to the sentenced to five years in Immigration Department. prison.

Police: We’re close to end of Labour Day crash probe

THE AFTERMATH of the Labour Day March crash.

Minnis: Don’t spread rumours TWO JAILED FIREARM over Labour Day March tragedyFOR OFFENCES

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

it’s not just putting reports Gray-Ferguson, 55; Kathtogether. There are other leen Augusta Fernander, agencies that we must wait 51; Tabitha Charlene for and there are consulta- Haye, 41; and Tami Patrice POLICE are close to tions that we must do based Gibson, 48. completing investigations on these circumstances.

Labour Day celebrainto the Labour Day traffic “We are very close to tions turned tragic on accident, which killed four women and injured numer- completing the investiga- June 1 when a truck tion and we will be coming mowed through a crowd of ous others.

By AVA TURNQUEST and support.”

Princess Hospital back to the public very, very Margaret people that morning, killing Assistant Commissioner Tribune Chief Reporter Labour holiday cel- and Doctors Hospital, who soonDay with an update.” four and injuring about two of Police Ken Strachan aturnquest@tribunemedia.net ebrations turned deadly worked with great compasIt has been more than dozen others. told The Tribune on Friday: when a truck mowed down sion and urgency to care for weeks since Atthe the time, ACP StraPRIME Minister Dr paradetwo “We’ve been working participants.

Police thethetragdeceased and injured.

Hubert Minnis yesterclaiming the chan confirmed said edy the occurred, incident hapWe commend all those who the tragedy every day and like I have day urged the public not pened came to the aid ofwhen those control was shortly after theElizabeth been saying all along is, lives of Dianne struck

to speculate or spread driver exited the truck. affected by this tragedy. rumours concerning the The driver was said to be “I again thank the variLabour Day tragedy, under- assisting police with their ous government ministers scoring the matter will be investigations. and officials, who quickly thoroughly investigated.

Yesterday, Assistant responded in the wake of Dr Minnis reiterated his Superintendent Craig the tragedy. condolences and expressed Stubbs said traffic investi“As our union leaders gratitude to parade partici- gators were interviewing and workers demonstrated pants, medical professionals injured people. during the march, we are and onlookers who sprang Dr Minnis noted he had one people, united in love,” nto action following the heard wonderful stories he added. “We remain unprecedented incident about the contributions of united in this time of tragthat claimed the lives of the fallen unionists “who edy and suffering. May God four women and injured each, in their own way, bring consolation to the two dozen others. contributed to our country, bereaved at this time and The prime minis- including as professionals in may he continue to bless Police, assisted by personMeanwhile, police on DENISE MAYCOCK the banking terBy pledged the government our Bahamas.” industry”. will continue to offer nel from a resort in Bimini, Eleuthera are investigating The House of Assembly He continued: “I wish Tribune Reporter support andFreeport care and underto reassure the publicthe that of silence extinguished fire. also held a moment a fire which destroyed a two scored its commitment to the Royal dmaycock@tribunemedia.net the victims.

Bahamas Police ASP Pinder said yesterday there forstory structure on Harbour assisting family members BIMINI police are invesPRINCESS Force was and no other lossrelevant of life or •injuIsland Margaret on Saturday. oftigating the deceased, authorities are investigat- Hospital will facilitate a a fire and thatthose occurred ries, and investigations are According njured and their families. special counselling session to reports, ing the matter.

The various onboard the vessel Sherice “We mourn the deaths authorities continuing intotheir the matter. shortly after for all nursing and allied11am a prowill report whileCharlene it was docked in ofMTabitha Haye, findings and Sherice what subsepersonnel staff members as truck was The M is owned pane delivery Alice Town.

Katherine Agusta Fer- quent and the Labour aDay actions operated may be takenby a result Cap- of servicing propane tank According police, nander, Tami Patriceto Gibson march tragedy. in the wake ofEmmett this tragedy. tains Munroe and at a washhouse, when an and Diane after noon Elizabeth Grayshortly on Sat-“I caution the public not The session will be held Shawn Munroe occurred, resultFerguson,” Dr Minnis said toa engage Friday explosion in the hospital’s in idle specula- ofonNew urday officers received nreport the House Providence.

The in the building catching tion and rumours about the mailboat meditation ing suite located ofofaAssembly.

126ft freight “Our prayers and tragedy. in the Critical Block In Cat investigating serves Cay and Bimini. afire.CareAttempts by the vessel that was ablaze while thoughts are with the and reviewing from police 1pm – 3pm.

She alsothis sailsmatter to Saltlobby Pond, and residents to mooredand at the government deceased all of those we must be guided by the can conCay and Staff Sey- members extinguish the fire were dock.sustained injuries. rule ofDeadman’s who tinue to seek additional law and fairness. mour’s, Long Island from unsuccessful, The ASP wounds Terecita of the injured Pinder“I know that the House counselling at the Bahamasand the buildare physicalthat psychological, Nassau. ing located was totally destroyed. on will join me in thanking the Crisis Centre, reported the vessel was emotional spir-when march The participants, first cost East Street and Sands estimated of One maleLane, received injuries engulfed inandflames tual, which will require responders, or call 328-0992 onlookers and is not yet322-4999 and or was treated at the local officersforms arrived the scene. the damage various of at healing the professional teams at the more information. known, neither is it for known clinic. He was referred to

lost of a black Ford F150 vehicle.

He said earlier this month: “The driver of that vehicle was accompanied by three persons on the back and another individual inside the vehicle. It is understood that when he got out of it, it went forward colliding first with a child along the side of the street, then descending the hill, continuing north running into several persons

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A male passenger got out of the vehicle, armed with a firearm, and forced her out of her car before getting into it and speeding off behind the small silver car.

Days earlier, on Thursday night another woman had her car stolen at gunpoint after she was forced to stop her car in the Carmichael Road area.

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PAGE 6, Monday, June 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Govt ‘not swayed by alliance between web shops and PLP’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer said his party will not be moved by the possibility of a political alliance between web shops and the Progressive Liberal Party.

Mr Culmer stressed opposition to the government’s 2018-2019 budget was largely fueled by groups seeking to capitalise on the emotional public response to the shock increase in value added tax.

He said he fully expected his party will be returned to office at the end of this term.

Mr Culmer said: “When you really look at it, these number guys will never lose, and what they’re trying to do is rally on the 12 percent (VAT) to use that along with their greed to succeed in getting their point across.

“But when you look at the 12 percent and all the other customs duties that are coming down, it’s gonna balance out.

“We in this country have been used to everything being handed to us,” he continued, “not from a political point but in order to build a country we all need to contribute. So far the middle class has been carrying a lot of the burden, the thing is we need to understand is the government’s intention to reduce high cost of living to not just middle class but the most unfortunate among us.

LEADER of the opposition Philip ‘Brave’ Davis greets protestors during last week’s anti-tax march.

“The intent with the 12 percent is, might as well bite the bullet,” he said.

Mr Culmer spoke to The Tribune about the strong public backlash to the proposed increases ahead of Thursday’s “Keep Ya Corned Beef” march.

Hundreds of protesters gathered on Parliament Square to protest the proposed 60 percent increase in value added tax and a new sliding scale tax on web shops, set to come into effect on July 1.

Mr Culmer said: “They’re playing on the emotions of the Bahamian people. I

expect the numbers folks to spend big money to get their message across. I suspect they will pay people to come out to protest, they’re good at marketing.

“So we all gotta come to grips and say what is best for the country, do we want to continue to go down the road paying deficits or to get our bills current and get the country moving in the right direction?”

Seeking to make a clear separation between the campaign tactics of the two major political parties, Mr Culmer claimed the FNM would never seek to exploit

the emotions of the public.

Mr Culmer said: “We are trying to educate the people, the FNM never takes advantage of the masses. Our job as the government is to be responsible, to educate persons why things are happening and to ensure we understand. The PLP for years they drive on emotions, if you notice there is no industrial unrest during the PLP administration.

The first thing, it’s because the PLP uses our workers at their will and pleasure. It must stop.

“I believe at the end of the day Bahamians are

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff going to see the benefits that the FNM is attempting to do,” he continued, “I believe the FNM will be the government again, the country is moving in the right direction.”

The FNM has been criticised in recent months for “eating its words” on major issues for which it had criticised the former Christie administration, most notably, Baha Mar, the Interception of the Communications Bill, and VAT. While in opposition, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis lambasted the Christie administration over its

handling of Baha Mar, even calling the resort’s soft opening last year “fake.” The FNM strongly opposed the Interception of the Communications Bill when a version was tabled before the 2017 election, dubbing it the “Spy Bill” and FNM parliamentarians voted against the introduction of VAT. Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer told The Tribune last month she was shocked at how much the Minnis administration has “come around” on several policies and strategies it criticised while in opposition.

WEB SHOPS ‘ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WORKERS’

from page one

shops may have gained while fighting the government’s decision to

hike their taxes.

“If true then clearly this protest was not something

that organically came about,” he said.

“This was rent-a-crowd.

The crowd was motivated and incentivised to turn out not because of any passionate dislike for what the government was doing but more that their owners were pressuring them to participate and I have a number of constituents who work for these gaming houses and they assured me that they really did not want to go out there but if they did not their job was in jeopardy or they would be cut that day. It’s not democracy . . . but if you’re a minimum wage employee as most of the gaming house employees are, you’re afraid and you’re not gonna take on the powerful and well monied operators of the gaming houses over this issue so you’re just going to comply.”

He said: “I think the revelation that the gaming houses make so much money and the fact that all of the profits except for

minimum wage accrues to the owners in obscene amounts is probably causing people to take stock and say ‘hold it now, what am I fighting for? I getting minimum wage and they getting, between the seven of them, $50m a year and I fighting for them and they paying me minimum wage?’ Now if they paid substantial salaries and people were feeling some of that, they might have got a better buy-in.”

Mr D’Aguilar said he empathises much more with people who protest the impending 60 percent increase in value added tax than those who protest the rising gaming taxes.

“I could understand frustration with the increase in value added tax,” he said.

“There is genuine frustration with that and I’m frustrated too. Every time governments abuse the public purse it’s like they turn around to the electorate and they say ‘look you got to pay more’ and it’s

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like ‘man y’all just get your act together and manage the public purse properly.

In the name of Jesus live within your means.’ So from that perspective I could be frustrated. The average person did nothing wrong. They paid their taxes and the government overspent and now the people are being called upon to pay. But I think it’s pretty common knowledge everybody found it quite reprehensible the tactics used to rent-a-crowd which were so open and obvious. You could have said look, ‘we’re going to close the shops and if you want to come, come.’ That would have been a better approach.”

Under the government’s proposed sliding scale, web shops will pay a 20 percent tax on up to $20m of their revenue, a 25 percent tax on between $20m and $40m of their revenue, a 30 percent tax on between $40m and $60m of their revenue, a 35 tax percent on between $60m and $80m of their revenue, a 40 percent tax on between $80m and $100m of their revenue and 50 percent on revenue above $100m.

Mr D’Aguilar has said only five percent of net gaming revenue will fall in the sixth category while half of such revenue will fall in the first category.

Yesterday, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell called the narrative that Thursday’s protest involved a rent-a-crowd “rubbish.”

Stay tuned, he said, another march is coming.

The PLP supported the protest and many PLP members were part of the demonstration.

“They have to come up with a rationale because thousands of people were in the streets one year after the election and they are embarrassed,” Mr Mitchell said. “The question of who those people were was irrelevant because the fact is it was thousands of people protesting their actions.”

“Stand by. Brace for what’s to come. We coming for them.”

The Tribune and other media outlets reported that hundreds of people took part in Thursday’s protest, which became chaotic at times.

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

Everything to lose and so little to gain P

RIME Minister Hubert Minnis has been unwavering - perhaps even deluded in his claim that his government will save The Bahamas. But save The Bahamas from whom? It is his own government that could be poised to plunge it into economic ruin.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest could not be more aloof as he leads the crusade to prevent (as he puts it) looming economic Armageddon.

You shouldn’t hate a man for his ambition, but you can if his goal prevents you from achieving your own.

The government’s plan to pay down the deficit by 2021 will certainly slow the country’s economic growth in the short-term. Not many will be spared the potentially gruelling effects of what’s to come, as the pinch that people felt when VAT was first implemented will be magnified.

People are at risk of being unemployed by the end of the summer. Crime, while there has already been a flurry of recent killings, will likely increase under harsher economic conditions. Parents whose high school graduates are getting ready to begin college at home and abroad will have to adjust to the new economic realities.

The outlook isn’t an enticing one for would-be entrepreneurs hoping the government would focus

on creating an environment conducive to their success. Despite the FNM campaign promise to do just that, businesspersons are likely to be hesitant as consumer spending power is about to shrink.

Understandably, this is not the environment many had expected the government to create. Though the government promised a land of milk and honey, soon after coming into office they broke the news of just how dire a fiscal situation the country was in.

However, this should hardly have been a surprise to the current minister of finance who was previously the shadow minister of finance. Should he not have been privy to some of the knowledge, rather than being so shocked to find out? One would certainly think so. Yet, while the government has talked

who the government says acquired funds through malfeasance, now it is the least fortunate citizens that will be most affected.

It is disappointing that after five long tumultuous years under the previous administration that we find ourselves here. Except, this time, we are being led by true wolves in sheep’s clothing, who dare to say they serve the interest of the citizens of The Bahamas.

What is most insulting is despite a lack of consultation and the outraged response of the public, the government continues to suggest that they’ve produced a “people’s budget”.

Certainly, they could not seem more disconnected and unaware of the pulse of the people.

If that were the case, why has the government’s intent to balance the budget not

You shouldn’t hate a man for his ambition, but you can if his goal prevents you from achieving your own. gloom and doom – and claimed rampant corruption by its predecessors - since taking office, there has not been one single conviction in the courts.

Indeed, rather than those

been received as warmly as they may have anticipated?

The method that the braintrust has come up with to hike VAT from 7.5 percent to 12 percent has resulted in widespread fear that less

BY MALCOLM STRACHAN

fortunate Bahamians will have their backs broken under the new tax regime. While the government may tout the exemptions also listed in the budget, they are hardly worth mentioning in comparison to the sudden decrease in our purchasing power.

Where will the Bahamian people scrounge up the disposable income to take trips to utilise the $500 exemptions? How militant would a family have to live to keep their light bill under $200 with the rising costs of fuel? How can we celebrate VAT exemptions on medicine when going to the doctor will become so much more expensive? The callousness and inconsideration on the part of the government is astounding.

Moreover, the government’s plans to introduce a sliding scale tax on the local gaming sector that can result in businesses paying up to 50 percent of their revenue has also resulted in intense debate.

Regardless of which side of the gaming divide you land on, it will be regular citizens such as you and me

GN 2041

who suffer as a result of the government’s pursuit to snuff out this industry.

People are concerned that their jobs are on the line. Can you imagine the government setting in motion a ripple effect that results in you losing your job by the end of summer?

That would make it two years straight that the government’s actions have led to the Bahamian people being out of work during the back-to-school period.

Notwithstanding the massive debt that the country has incurred over successive administrations, this becomes an issue of timing. There is no definitive reason that has been given to the Bahamian people that expressly says why the budget must be balanced in three years.

Perhaps there is none other than the government not wanting to set something in motion that another government can take credit for. But this is hardly a goal that is in the best interest of the people.

The current administration, who has also borrowed well over a billion dollars in its first year in office, seems to not take into account how high they have turned up the heat in the economic environment.

Last week’s rally, which at times became very

sector, as well as members of the Progressive Liberal Party with obvious political agendas.

Justifiably, the Bahamian people have not been taking this well. Many are still in shock while others are banking on the government to lower the rate.

Although some partyblinded Free National Movement supporters are defending the government’s decision, we also still have a few citizens that prefer to take the bitter medicine being prescribed by the government now, rather than later.

Despite opinion polls showing that the people do not support the Budget, and worse, do not support the government, the Minnis administration is steadfast – which may be to its own peril.

Poor people across the country see the government as tone-deaf and inconsiderate of what will happen to the “small man”. While some MPs have accepted what may be the fate of this administration in 2022, one has to wonder - why they would take such a gamble in a scenario where nearly everything has to go right for

The current administration, who has also borrowed well over a billion dollars in its first year in office, seems to not take into account how high they have turned up the heat in the economic environment. tense, showed some of the rage people feel towards the government as a result of its actions. Protesters booing, chasing, and throwing water on Members of Parliament - while not a civilised manner in which to protest - are indicative of the public’s furore over the government’s decision to increase taxes.

The protestors ranged from regular citizens to employees of the gaming

their plan not to backfire?

As it stands, the public’s confidence in this government knowing what they’re doing is all but non-existent. Surely, there is little doubt that the Minnis administration has pulled the pin on not only an economic hand grenade, but a political one as well.

Our only hope is that whatever may come, we are able to withstand it and thrive in the long run.

PAGE 8 MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Crumbling before our eyes W

HEN I wrote a column last week that started with the words - shame on me I was fighting back tears. I am a Bahamian citizen and as guilty as every one of us who stands by and lets history crumble before our eyes. Earlier that day, I had stood in front of a building that once housed Pan American Airlines headquarters and realised, just as I had the Sunday before when a young friend and I pushed away the bush to get inside Blackbeard’s Tower, that we are letting our incredible history vanish piece by piece, decaying block by block, day by day.

The Pan Am headquarters building on East Bay Street and what is left of Blackbeard’s Tower off Eastern Road by Tower Heights are only structures. But our skin is only skin. Yet its job is essential. It is the outer layer that houses all the elements that make us human. It protects us because it saves what is inside.

History is often and too easily forgotten when it is not housed.

As time passes and we increasingly rely on the few lines we see online, the richness of our history will fade.

The age of piracy in The Bahamas will be reduced to a Wikipedia reference and Pan American will be remembered as an airline that went out of business instead of the first to fly across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the airline that gave birth to the tourism industry in The Bahamas.

The dangling parapet on the Pan Am building that thousands of vehicles pass every day seems symbolic, clinging on for dear life, supported by a single remaining column carrying all the

FORMER Pan Am headquarters on East Bay Street.

weight, threatening, yet begging for rescue before it collapses. Thanks to Tribune Publisher Eileen Carron, the specifics of Pan Am’s operations take a more personal turn. It was one George Morley of Farnborough, Hampshire, England who came to The Bahamas at

the age of 25 in 1926 to be a teacher, then Out Island Commissioner and later served as director of operations for Pan Am for 33 years, working out of that same building. The building was next to a ramp that served as the “runway” for Pan Am’s seaplanes. Morley

had two sons, the youngest son, John, became a wellknown businessman, one of the early presidents of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and both his widow, Diane Morley, and their daughter, Tara, are highly successful businesswomen and active in civic affairs.

The original Morley, along with the founder of Pan Am Juan Trippe, deserve to be remembered. In Eleuthera, Trippe is still considered a legend and hero.

Structures like the Pan Am building and Blackbeard’s Tower house more than history. They house opportunity. The Pan Am building could easily become an aviation museum with a lively story of “Pappy” Chalk, Blackbeard’s Tower an attraction open on certain days and where those dressed in period costume put on a pirate’s demonstration complete with “swords”, treasure and accents of the day. Imagine the selfies from the top of

the tower, or next to a pirate.

If these monuments were in private sector hands or if the Historic Bahamas Foundation council were minimally funded and permitted to run with ideas, visitor fees would cover restoration and operational costs. More importantly, pieces of the history of The Bahamas would come alive with all the romance, honesty and tales that will never be repeated and should never be forgotten.

Memorial Service For KARAN MARGARET GRAY, 74 of York Avenue, Gleniston Gardens and formerly of Geraldine, New Zealand, will be held on Wednesday June 20th, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Brothers Mortician Chapel, #44 Nassau Street.

Officiating will be Pastor Terrance G. Morrison. Pre-Cremation.

She is predeceased by her parents: K. George and Frances Gray and adopted mother: Eileen Farmer.

Left to cherish her memories are her daughter: Ngaire J. Strachan; son in law: Wayne M. Strachan; three grand children: Michael-Sinclair, Sebastian and Andrew Strachan; brother: Stuart Gray; sister in law: Fiona Gray: sister: Janet Mitchell; also survived by her adopted family: Ingrid and Danny Knowles, Jenny McKenzie, Ila Shulman, Lorna and Anthony Bosfield, Michelle Davis, Treska Benny, Godfrey and Sheila Strachan, Terrance and Shonie Strachan, & Tevon and Terran Strachan, Kevin Strachan, Liyah Strachan, Lynden, Denise, Devin, Ashli & Kyle Ferguson, Christopher and Rachel Knowles, Laura Lowe, Donna Delva & family; close friends include but are not limited to Mary Malone, Melena Russell and the staff at Back to Health Chiropractic, Dr. Christa Knottage, Clare David, Kirk Catalano, Liz Barrie, Noreen Schasching and Charlotte Gibson.

DEATH NOTICE CYNTHIA LOUISE BUCHANAN ROLLE, 87 of #15 Coral Road, died on Monday June 11th, 2018.

She is survived by (8) daughters: Olga, Janet, Dorothy, Andrea, Sharlene, Renee, Margot and Cheryl; (5) sons: Kenneth, Barry, Craig, Lawrence and Jimmy; (7) sisters: Norma Stubbs, Betty Charlton, Roslyn Armbrister, Agnes McKenzie, Orlean and Kathleen Buchannan and Alfreda Russell; 4 brothers: Ernest Pinnock, Ralph, Everette and Joseph Buchannan; numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

INSIGHT

GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 PAGE 9

GAIN AN EDG

A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCA

Top Tips for Landing the First Job After Graduation C

OLLEGE graduation is an exciting milestone that marks years of preparation, hardwork and sacrifice for both students and their families.

However, the celebration of success is often short-lived for graduates as they anxiously turn their thoughts to what the next steps should be.

As graduation day gets closer and closer, most student become obsessed with the big question: “How long will it take to land a great job doing what I went to college to do?”

Studies show that it takes the average college graduate three to six months to find a job in their field when economies are good. It can take much longer when the economy is not as strong or if the graduate doesn’t make the job search a top priority.

Lyford Cay Scholar Treymaine Dean was graduated from Gupton-Jones College in Georgia with an associate’s degree in Mortuary Science in 2017. Treymaine admits that her road to college was challenging, but worth it. She was among the wise graduates who took steps well before graduation to ensure that she would have a career opportunity waiting for her before she even had her college degree in hand.

Here, in her own words, are Treymaine’s top tips for landing the first career opportunity:

LYFORD Cay scholar Treymaine Dean took smart steps to secure employment after graduation.

1. Develop a passion for your field.

“I’ve always been drawn to Mortuary Science because it’s a field that touches everyone. During my final two years in high school, I started researching the field. After school I would go and visit Restview Memorial Mortuary where I would sit in the back and observe services. I visited so much, that the staff noticed me and asked if I’d like to learn about the field. This led to me interning there.

Although I knew college was expensive, I was

passionate about making this a career. I knew that I had to have my college degree to be successful. I saved up and with the help of a Lyford Cay Foundation Scholarship I was able to get a formal education in Mortuary Science.

I’ve always known that it’s important to keep myself current in the industry and to remain passionate about my work.

From the moment that I connected with the Restview team, I worked hard and made myself available to learn everything I possibly could.”

2. Network and gain experience well before graduation.

“Whenever I had breaks from college, the first thing I would do when I returned home to Nassau was make arrangements to go to Restview and help. All throughout the school year, I made it a point to stay in touch and let everyone know how I was progressing with my studies.

That’s probably why the general manager took me aside and told me exactly what the steps would be to be hired after graduation.

I stayed focused, accomplished my goal of graduating from college and was offered a part-time apprenticeship position with the objective of becoming full-time.”

3. Stay focused on your long-term goal.

“This isn’t your typical field, but I find so much happiness in helping families when they are at their most vulnerable.

My ultimate dream is to be a business owner while paving the way for others.

My Lyford Cay Scholarship

helped me to get a step closer to that dream.

Landing a job in your field really isn’t easy. Even though I’m working in my field, it’s challenging to be part-time. It is extremely competitive in this market to find work as a full-time mortician. I’ve had people discourage me about this field and try to convince me to come out of the industry and do something full-time to make extra money.

For me, I know you can never be truly paid for what you love. If you love something, you’ll be willing to sacrifice for it. That’s why I’m committed to staying in this industry until I reach my goals.”

“Gain An Edge” is a biweekly collaboration of the Lyford Cay Foundations, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on higher education. The Gain An Edge team looks forward to resuming this column in the Fall. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net.

PAGE 10 MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

STOP TAXING THE POOREST

By FREDERICK SMITH, QC

A

LREADY drowning in a sea of hefty utility bills, high living costs, and archaic businessstifling restrictions, low to middle income Bahamians have just been smacked in the face with a sledgehammer in the form of a regressive, unexpected and misguided tax hike. It is far worse for Grand Bahamians where the economy remains mired in a quagmire of depression.

In raising value-added tax (VAT) from 7.5 to 12 percent without spending the last 12 months exploring tax reform in The Bahamas, without consultation, the FNM continues to conduct business as usual. VAT is a pass-on tax to the ultimate consumer and is an unimaginative addiction that hurts those who can least afford to pay it.

It’s time to face reality. To realistically save The Bahamas from the PLP’s fiscal negligence and the disempowering consequences of centralised governance. In order to provide a higher standard and quality of life to all Bahamians, the FNM must tax the affluent, both Bahamian and foreign. It must also stop the irrational Anchor Project Heads of Agreement tax giveaways.

It must decentralise governance and empower “home rule” in the Family Islands by passing a true Local Government Act to impose taxes, pass local bye laws, and enforce. It must amend the law to provide for local government to collect real property taxes regularly and efficiently from all property owners.

Instead it has branded itself as a party oblivious to the basic realities of life in The Bahamas; an enemy

of transparency and public consultation; and – most worryingly – totally lacking in both original ideas and the intestinal fortitude to attempt bold change.

Despite promising the dawn of a new day, “more of the same” has become the FNM’s mantra in the face of economic difficulties, especially in Freeport.

Presumably, at least some in Cabinet know it is madness to expect different results from repetitive behaviour; but this knowledge seems to have no effect whatsoever on their policy considerations.

The government, of course, argues that it has no choice. Its predecessors left the country on the brink of fiscal disaster and yet another monumental tax hike is the “only way” to pull the country back from the brink. Such thinking betrays a shocking lack of strategic capability and either an arrogant unwillingness or a woeful inability to plan long term.

Yes, previous governments spent irresponsibly.

Yes, near-sighted politicians shamelessly drove up debt to the point that our international credibility and borrowing ability were torn to shreds.

Yes, our economy continues to underperform and public services are woefully underfunded while virtually every government department, from the police to the schools to the hospitals, suffers from chronic shortages and deficiencies. Yes, our system of raising funds, which relies almost totally on import duties and VAT, has not been able to keep pace with the needs of a growing Bahamas.

Yet not for a second does any of this indicate that the

!

INSIGHT

right approach is to apply more of the same myopic, uninspired thinking that got us into an economic quicksand in the first place.

The fact is, the taxation path trodden by successive governments has produced a revenue starved, economically controlled, opportunity barren society and a growing gap between, on the one hand, the wealthy and entitled elite and on the other, struggling regular Bahamians who can hope for little more than a menial job at the latest mega-development Anchor Project.

The toxic mix of customs duty and VAT depresses economic activity by discouraging people from spending money. To suggest that Freeport is “tax free” is now an ironic joke. This decreases the earnings of local businesses and ultimately, lowers the amount of tax that can be collected. That is to say nothing of the hundreds of millions of dollars routinely lost through customs fraud and VAT scams each year.

Worst of all, the everincreasing shortfall created by this vicious cycle is inevitably foisted upon the less affluent members of society.

VAT is a particularly regressive form of tax, meaning it essentially keeps poor people poor and ensures the rich will continue to become richer. In a nutshell, what the government has just done is to double down on a system that doles out massive unfairness and misery to all regular Bahamians.

Instead, why not take this opportunity to break out of the endless death spiral?

Why not consider a radical and far-reaching overhaul of our entire tax system? With every person and business already tagged with an NIB

number, a National Income Tax (NIT) can easily be implemented almost overnight. Persons earning below a certain income would pay no NIT, and those with higher incomes would pay a percentage, but in order not to depress entrepreneurship, those falling in the highest bracket would pay no more than $100,000 in tax per annum. Why not try to create real opportunity and prosperity for Bahamians?

To hear Cabinet ministers speak, one would think the only choice is between either more VAT on the one hand, or national annihilation on the other. Of course this is nowhere near the truth. Alternatives, in fact, abound.

For example, the most significant drain on our revenue by far are the extremely generous secret “gifts” offered to foreign investors in the form of customs duty exemptions, casino tax exemptions, stamp duty exemptions, business licence exemptions, free crown land, etc.

These could be done away with in a flash with the introduction of a corporate tax that would raise revenue from all large and successful companies that have a presence in The Bahamas.

“But that would bring an end to foreign investment!” timid politicians will lament.

This is highly unlikely to say the least. What’s more, even were it so, it remains not at all clear that the practice of trading concessions for FDI investment was ever worth it in the first place.

In a recent report, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC ) urged Caribbean countries to reconsider the usefulness of the incentives

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

used to attract FDI, because “on average, the repatriation of profits derived from foreign direct investment is equivalent to more than three-quarters of the FDI inflows into the Caribbean.”

In other words, foreign investors take far more cash out of Caribbean countries than they ever put in. Every foreign investor, developer, hotel and corporation operating here is taxed on their Bahamas income in their home country, while getting a free ride here. So their profits are generally 100 percent repatriated abroad, and perversely the citizens in those countries get the benefit of earning in The Bahamas.

A far more controversial suggestion is that The Bahamas introduce some level of income tax. But the fact is, such a tax would be a far better fit for the modern Bahamas, both in terms of raising government revenue and alleviating the financial burden on the average citizen.

This is a point that the FNM’s own MP, Frederick McAlpine, raised during the budget debate. Noting that this overnight 60 percent VAT hike will disproportionately affect the poor, he accused the government of being “highly disrespectful” to the public in its failure to consult, and suggested the implementation of an income tax instead.

Thank goodness at least one FNM isn’t stumbling around in the dark, lurching from quick fix to quick fix. Thank goodness at least one is determined to get us off this hamster wheel to nowhere.

With income tax, it is far more difficult to commit fraud as a taxpayer, or theft as a tax collector. Salary and employment information for the vast majority of the population is already (NIB) or could be through NIT or business licenses returns already available to the government meaning any shortfalls or inconsistencies can be quickly pinpointed and dealt with.

Because income tax spreads the burden more evenly across all of the employed population, the government would be able to raise much more revenue.

Even if there is 15 percent unemployment, 85 percent of the public would still be regularly paying taxes.

No longer would we have to rely on the whims of consumers – who may spend more or less depending on a host of personal, social and environmental factors – to fund our public services.

With government raising more revenue on an increasingly consistent and transparent basis and from a greater number of taxpayers, the burden on the regular taxpayer would inevitably be less over time.

It would also give us a vehicle for collecting from foreign investors by way of bilateral tax exchange treaties, which oblige them to pay us tax on their earnings here, then claim exemptions in their home country, rather than the other way around.

Without question, income tax can and should be applied as a progressive tax; that is, a tax the rate of which increases as the taxable amount increases. Under such a system, the more you earn, the more you pay, but subject to a maximum dollar amount. This, along with efficient collection of property taxes, is probably the only hope we have of shrinking the rich/poor divide.

It is also probably one of the main reasons why it has not been implemented thus far. Under such a tax regime, affluent members of society would bear a greater and more equitable burden

of taxation – because they have so much more opportunity to earn, they have much more of an obligation to pay.

The political, social and economic oligarchy – both white and black – has been quite happy to maintain the status quo; no wonder, as it is they who benefit the most.

The same goes for politicians, who regularly and conveniently fail to disclose their income and assets.

Income tax would force greater transparency and bring in penalties for keeping sources of income secret.

Income tax will not work on its own. There must be other strategic changes, for example the abolition of exchange control, which would facilitate the expansion of Bahamian companies into overseas markets and allow all of us to increase our capital by investing in international companies, and by allowing Bahamians to invest directly in foreign enterprises that invest in The Bahamas.

The government would have to remove much of the red tape that chokes emerging businesses, and give financial support to new local enterprises or Bahamian-foreign partnerships that show potential in burgeoning, cutting edge industries such as: ecotourism; renewable energies and alternative fuels; information technology and software development; robotics and artificial intelligence; data services and public sector technology as well as the tourist and second home industry.

Within such a framework of progressive economic change, which seeks to empower Bahamian entrepreneurship and unleash our people’s full potential, the introduction of income tax – or, more pointedly, the bringing to an end to our reliance on regressive and stifling consumption taxes – could both spur economic activity and alleviate much of the government’s revenue woes.

This, in turn, would increase international confidence in The Bahamas and help us maintain a solid economic reputation. The huge increase in revenue would also mean that struggling families could benefit from a real economic boost, as those who earn less than a certain annual income, say $30,000, could be exempted from paying any taxes whatsoever.

At the same time, the government would be creating lucrative work for local accountants, auditors and tax collectors, while funding new regulatory agencies and hiring IT professionals to digitise the system. This would amount to a whole new industry for the skilled and intelligent Bahamians whom it is said we lose to the notorious “brain-drain” through lack of opportunity.

Why then, do we continue to sputter from crisis to crisis instead of pursuing real change? For how long will we continue to apply the same threadbare bandages to our ever growing and festering fiscal and economic wounds?

How many more futile tax hikes, black-listings and credit rating downgrades must we suffer, how large does the divide between the rich and privileged and everyone else need to become before our government will engage in a rational, deliberate and fully informed discussion with the nation about the future of our tax regime, rather than arrogantly shoving their will down our throats, yet again?

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 18, 2018, PAGE 11

FRANK Smith outside court previously.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Sands ‘gave $1.8m contract to woman in Frank Smith case’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands approved a contract estimated at $1.8m for Barbara Hanna’s Magic Touch cleaning company about three months after criminal charges were brought against former PLP Senator Frank Smith, according to testimony heard in court on Friday.

Smith’s legal team also officially requested that Dr Sands appear before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt to give testimony in the case.

During cross-examinations of Public Hospitals Authority Legal Advisor and Board Secretary Leslie Isaacs, the court was told that Dr Sands approved the contract without any formal discussions by PHA’s board last October.

Smith’s lead attorney Keith Knight, QC, raised several questions about PHA’s contract tendering, review and approval processes.

As a result of that line of questioning, Ms Isaacs testified that contracts totaling $250,000 or less could be approved by the board without input by the minister of health or Cabinet.

Additionally, she said that any contract above the $250,000 threshold would need to be reviewed and approved at the ministerial level.

Mr Knight asked Ms Isaacs if contracts totaling more than $250,000 would have to be assessed by Cabinet, to which she said she was not sure.

When pressed by Mr Knight on the matter, Ms Isaacs indicated that PHA regulations only specify that such a contract be sent the minister of health.

However, she said any contract sent to the minister of health would, as a part of procedure, go before

Cabinet.

Ms Knight said Smith, in his prior post as PHA chairman, did not have the power to approve any contract over $250,000.

She further testified that Smith served on the Finance Sub-Committee; a unit that had no direct approval power.

Once those points were clarified, Mr Knight asked the court for a short recess.

When proceedings resumed, Mr Knight presented the court with a contract dated October 30, 2017, which showed that Magic Touch was awarded a cleaning contract valued at $1,862,978.16.

Asked if she could identify the contract and its signatures, Ms Isaacs obliged and acknowledged that the document was a notice of approval made out to Barbara Hanna’s company.

Ms Isaacs also admitted in cross-examination that the contract was approved

by Dr Sands.

Mr Knight suggested the estimated $1.8m contract was not considered by the board before being approved by Dr Sands as per PHA regulations, to which Ms Isaacs agreed.

Mr Knight then highlighted segments of the minutes from a December 14, 2017 PHA board meeting, where the contract awarded to Ms Hanna and the process through which it was awarded was referred to as unfortunate.

The minutes also noted the contract was never brought to the board for discussion.

Additionally, the board said it had concerns about the contract.

Mr Knight asked Ms Isaacs directly if the minutes reflected the views of the board, to which she responded, yes.

She also explained that PHA regulations do not

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permit a contract to move from the Analysis Committee, another sub-committee of the PHA board, directly to the minister.

The minutes revealed that the board was so concerned, it thought it necessary for the director of internal audits at PHA give a chronological report on what exactly transpired during the review and approval of the contract.

Smith is facing 15 criminal charges concerning his alleged solicitation of $65,000 in bribes from a woman he is said to have assisted in getting a contract. He is currently out on $50,000 bail.

It is alleged the former Public Hospitals Authority chairman, between April 2016 and April 2017, demanded and obtained $5,000 per month from Mrs

Hanna, knowing he was not lawfully authorised to do so.

He is also alleged to have attempted to extort another $5,000 from Mrs Hanna.

Concerning the bribery charge, it is alleged that he solicited $5,000 a month from Mrs Hanna for helping her to get a PHA contract.

Smith pleaded not guilty to all the allegations during his arraignment last July.

The matter is adjourned until September 3.

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PAGE 12, Monday, June 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

‘Vote no to budget and lose your govt post’ from page one “If your conscience or your base is giving you problems, you may, of course, speak freely, but the whip is on. If you cannot support every measure in the budget by voting for it, you may as well tender your resignation at the same time that you vote with the opposition.”

Although his comments were clearly directed at Free National Movement senators, Mr Bethel later told The Tribune they apply generally to people who have been appointed to government posts.

Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller, Bain and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson, Centreville MP Reece Chipman and Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine have all suggested they will vote against the VAT increase.

Of these, only Mr Chipman, fired by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis as chairman of the Antiquities Monuments and Museum Corporation (AMMC) in March, does not have a government post. Mr Robinson is the parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, Mr Miller is the parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of Social Services and Mr McAlpine is chairman of the Hotel Corporation.

The Manuel of Cabinet and Ministry Procedure makes it clear that parliamentary secretaries in particular are expected to give their “full support in public” to any course of action a government takes.

Mr Bethel told The Tribune yesterday: “According

ATTORNEY General Senator Carl Bethel. to every parliamentary authority and principle, a budget vote is automatically a vote of confidence in the government.

“Governments in the Westminster system fall when they can’t pass a budget. In America, President Obama could go for more than five years without Congress passing a budget. Not under our system. The Canadian

Prime Minister Joe Clarke lost a budget vote within weeks of being sworn in. He had to call immediate elections which he then lost to Trudeau, hence the reality is that the whip is always on for a budget vote. So important is the passage of a ‘money bill’ that under the Constitution Article 60, if the Senate does not pass a money bill within one month after passage in

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff the House, without amendment, they simply send the House Bill to the Governor General for assent prior to enactment.”

Mr Bethel’s comments place immediate pressure on officials who cite the concerns of their constituents as reason to oppose VAT’s increase but who might be reluctant to relinquish the perks of their posts.

Mr Robinson said last week the people of his constituency are concerned about their “livelihood, well-being and purchasing power” after a VAT hike.

“Should the VAT increase do pass, 12 percent of almost every purchase is not going to be easy,” he said. “I am directed by the people of Bain and Grants Town not to support in its entirety, the 2018-2019

budget communication bill.”

Mr Miller said last week: “Golden Isles cannot support this increase in VAT from 7.5 percent to 12 percent. It is too aggressive, it is too much, it is too soon.”

For his part, Mr McAlpine said the VAT increase is “void of transparency and compassion” and is “highly disrespectful to Bahamians”.

HENFIELD VOTES NO TO SPY BILL from page one

our concern with the perceived veto power of the attorney general who gets devices, does not exist in to determine which applisimilar legislation in Trini- cations for interceptions dad, Jamaica, the United will make it to court. I vote Kingdom, and other no.” countries.

As a senator, Mr HenHe said no oversight field has repeatedly said mechanism has been iden- he will be guided by civil tified to ensure that when society organisations that authorities enter someone’s came under the umbrella of home, nothing untoward the We March movement happens. when taking positions. Of He expressed fears the those groups, Rights Bahaprovision will dispro- mas has been the most portionately affect poor persistent critic of the interpeople, as those well-off ception bill. “have sophisticated alarm Nonetheless, Mr and camera systems, with Henfield praised the housekeepers that are government for the consulalways at home, hence tative process it initiated making it nearly impossible before tabling the bill and to effect a secretive entry praised its removal of “sediwarrant to plant a listening tion” as a ground on which device”. an interception warrant He said: “I also express could be obtained.

He defended Dr Minnis against charges of hypocrisy and flip-flopping, highlighting a quote from Dr Minnis as proof the prime minister merely wanted consultation before the bill was passed. That consultation has now taken place, he said.

In February 2017, Dr Minnis said: “On Wednesday in Parliament, the government intends to push through their Interception of Communications Bill 2017. This piece of legislation, which has been rushed and rammed down the throats of the Bahamian people, should not be allowed to stand. It is a breach of the privacy of the public at large, and it is our fear that this bill has more to do with blocking any opposition to this corrupt government than being a useful crime fighting tool.

The government can say all it wants, but the simple fact of the matter is that we do not trust them. The Bahamian people do not trust this PLP government.

To have this piece of legislation, with the dangers it posted to the country at large, being rushed at this late stage before a general election raises more questions about the true motive of this bill. It is unacceptable for an administration that took five years to bring forth a Freedom of Information Act to attempt to rush a bill of this magnitude without any form of consultation with the Bahamian people.”

Dr Darville said Mr Henfield’s speech did little to assuage critics who note his “soft” approach toward the FNM differs from the “radical” persona he cultivated ahead of last year’s election when dealing with the PLP. “He deserves to lose credibility and popularity because he was only an instrument of the Free National Movement under the guise of an independent group used to attack government policy,” he said.

The legislation was passed in the Senate on Friday.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 18, 2018, PAGE 13

THE ANIMAL spay clinic in Puerto Rico, where Dr Chante Wildgoose, of Freeport Vet Hospital, led a team to treat 899 animals.

Vet comes to the aid of animals in Puerto Rico

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama veterinarian led a group of volunteer vets in a major animal spay clinic in Puerto Rico, organised by Helping Paws Across Borders (HPAB).

Dr Chante Wildgoose, of Freeport Vet Hospital, led a team of six veterinarians to Ceiba where they performed 899 surgeries in ten days during the Puerto Rico Spayathon.

She has performed 210 of those surgeries.

“To able to assist by spaying and neutering animals in places where there is gross animal overpopulation, and in many cases lack of knowledge or ignorance about proper pet care means a great deal to me,” Dr Wildgoose told The Tribune.

Dr Wildgoose reported that every day their team from HPAB met some 200300 people waiting as they arrived at the clinic site in Ceiba.

Hurricane Maria hit the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. It was the worst storm to hit

the island in over 80 years and came two weeks after Hurricane Irma passed just north of the island, leaving one million people without power.

The Bahamian veterinarian who also does volunteer work on the island of Abaco, said when she arrived in Puerto Rico, she was not prepared for the amount of work she and her team would be dealing with.

“The reason for the spayathon did not prepare me for being there and witnessing the number of animals that needed spaying and neutering…” she said.

According to Dr Wildgoose, many Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria relocated to the United States’ mainland, and unfortunately abandoned their pets resulting in even more of increased animal breeding in the streets.

Dr Wildgoose said that the animals treated and sterilised would now have better and healthier lives.

Also, she noted that public health would be improved, animal cruelty would be decreased, and pet owners would be educated on how to care for their animals.

She said that volunteering

with HPAB, and helping to make a difference in communities means a lot to her.

“It means a lot to help out communities so dynamically even though it seems I’m just spaying and neutering,” said Dr Wildgoose.

Back at home in The Bahamas, Dr Wildgoose also holds a spay and neuter clinic four to six times a year with Abaco Shelter volunteers in Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay, Fox Town, and Cooper’s Town.

Helping Paws Across Borders was founded

by CEO Angela Cherry.

Dr Wildgoose is the

organisation’s lead veterinarian. The organisation consists of a small group of animal professionals dedicated to making a difference. According to the organisation, its mission “is to bring animal humane services to desolate areas in different countries at no cost to the local people.

And to make a positive difference in the lives of unwanted animals through compassionate care, rescue, and medical intervention.”

The organisation believes that through education and sterilisation, it can help stop animal neglect.

PAGE 14, Monday, June 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE BAHAMAS National High School Diploma Commencement Ceremony for CV Bethel, RM Bailey, Anatol Rodgers and Government High School at the Kendal Isaac Gym. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Students can sign up free to BTVI

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd, in a speech on Friday, reiterated that full-time enrolment at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute will be free this September.

Mr Lloyd announced this initiative on Thursday during his speech to Parliament. The next morning, he again spoke on the matter while delivering an address at the Bahamas High School Diploma Commencement Ceremony.

The service was for the Southern New Providence Secondary School District.

During his address, the education minister reminded the new graduates of Anatol Rodgers, C V Bethel, R M Bailey and Government High Schools of the opportunities they

have for post-secondary education and training.

“To the graduates. For you there is no excuse,” Mr Lloyd said.

He added that students who get five BGCSEs, including English and math, are “automatically qualified to the University of the Bahamas,” and can receive bursary scholarships.

“You’re going to UB almost free. Almost,” he said.

“For you who are interested in full-time enrolment at Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) , your enrolment is free in September. BTVI. So you have no excuse. None.”

In his written message published in the commencement programme, Mr Lloyd congratulated the graduates and also reminded them of major expectations for their success.

“You are expected to: fill

your role as nation builders; use your God-given abilities to build your community and the world; be law-abiding and patriotic citizens; and let the world see the manner of your bearing,” he noted.

According to the history of the Bahamas High School Diploma published in the programme, the initiative was first conceived in 1998, during the tenure of then Minister of Education Dame Ivy Dumont.

“Its fundamental objective being to ensure that students, across the length and breadth of the Bahamas, graduate high school having satisfied consistent, minimum standards of achievement,” the programme noted.

In 2014, the diploma was “given its birth” under then Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, and in 2017 it was presented by Mr Lloyd.

MINISTER of Education Jeff Lloyd speaking to students on Friday.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 18, 2018, PAGE 15

A PHOTO provided by the RBDF showing their detention of Dominican poachers.

DOMINICAN POACHERS HELD BY RBDF HER Majesty’s Bahamian Ship Durward Knowles arrested a Dominican fishing vessel for poaching in Bahamian waters on Saturday morning.

While on routine patrol in the southern Bahamas, HMBS Durward Knowles, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Omarv Saunders arrested a 50-ft Dominican fishing vessel on the Great Bahama Bank.

On board at the time were four Dominican fishermen, along with a quantity of scaled fish.

HMBS Durward Knowles is continuing its search for additional crew members of the Dominican vessel who left the area aboard several skiffs.

The arrest comes on the heels of the apprehension of two drug suspects, along with the discovery of 168 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $168,000 on June 10 by RBDF marines stationed at the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, along with the park warden.

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Two men have been charged in connection with that incident.

On September 18, 2017, the RBDF patrol vessel, HMBS Durward Knowles arrested six Dominican poachers aboard three skiffs in the area of Cay Santo Domingo. The Dominicans were sentenced for engaging in foreign fishing within the exclusive economic zone of the Bahamas and each was sentenced to 18 months in prison. They were also charged with possession of prohibited apparatus for fishing purposes and were sentenced to six months in prison at the Department of Correctional Services.

The Dominicans in this latest incident were taken into custody and will be handed over to police and officials at the Marine Resources Unit.

PAGE 16, Monday, June 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Troops take time to help the disabled ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force Commander Commodore Tellis Bethel led the way on Thursday as participants in the Tradewinds exercise took time out to help disabled children.

Participants from Belize, the RBDF, the United Kingdom and the United States visited the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled School, on Dolphin Drive.

The troops met teachers and staff and spent time with the children, playing

with them and presenting them with educational and specialty toys.

Tradewinds 2018 is an annual regional military training exercise being held in The Bahamas until Thursday.

This year’s exercise will focus on countering transnational organised crime in the region.

The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2009. The main objective of the event is to foster training for security forces that is “tailored for the region by the region”.

The annual exercise is sponsored by the United States Southern Command.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force, Bahamas Customs and Bahamas Immigration Department were invited by the RBDF to participate this year.

Twenty-two partner nations from the Caribbean region, the wider Americas and Western Europe representing a total of over 800 troops are expected to participate in the exercise.

Photos: Eric Rose/BIS