f la G raisin G ceremonies held throu G hout Grand Bahama to mark the road to 50

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

Flag-raising ceremonies were held on Friday throughout Grand Bahama in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Independence. In Freeport, the ceremony was held at the Harold DeGregory Government Complex. Residents of East End attended the ceremony in High Rock. In West End, Senator Kirkland Russell told the gathering that the Bahamas’ flag connects all Bahamians.

“This flag represents all of us,” said Mr Russell. He noted that in 1973 the representatives of West End (Warren Levarity) and East End (Maurice Moore) were a part of Majority Rule which was pivotal to The Bahamas’ Independence.

Bahamians dressed in their national colours at government and business offices.

once-forgotten childhood vaccine-preventable illnesses like polio, like measles.

“If our children are not vaccinated, the chances are, if one of the adults who works in those communities interacts with someone with the disease, they could transfer the virus home to their household. If we have pockets of individuals not vaccinated, there’s nothing to protect that group, and the disease then flies like wildfire. We could see school closures happen again if we do have outbreaks like polio and measles.”

Dr Swan could not say what the current vaccination rate is among children, saying health officials are trying to determine this.

According to the WHO, the pandemic saw immunisation levels decrease in over 100 countries, leading to rising outbreaks of measles and polio, among other diseases.

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration is considering introducing a one-off holiday to mark the 50th anniversary of CARICOM, with Latrae Rahming, director of communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, saying a decision on this is “imminent”.

“The decision on whether The Bahamas will observe or make a holiday for the 50 years of CARICOM has not been decided as yet, but it is a matter that has been discussed at CARICOM heads level,” he said yesterday.

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of CARICOM.

During the 44th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government, held in The Bahamas last month, members declared July 4 a national holiday for all member states.

However, only Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis have announced a one-off holiday to mark tomorrow’s anniversary.

Barbados will observe a holiday on July 31, with Bajan Prime Minister Mia Mottley reportedly saying a July 4th date would have been too early.

The Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established CARICOM, was signed by Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago leaders on July 4, 1973.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis recently ended his term as CARICOM chairman.

Highlights of his tenure included visits to The Bahamas from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US Vice President Kamala Harris.

gB M A n ‘not guilty’ of RA pe with a 16-year-old Girl

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ARTHUR Damien

Brown was unanimously acquitted of the rape of a minor on Friday in the Supreme Court.

A jury of four men and five women delivered a not guilty verdict shortly after 3pm.

Justice Andrew Forbes thanked the jurors for their service. He then told Brown, 54, that he was free to leave.

Brown, a resident of Grand Bahama, was charged with having unlawful sex with a 16-year-old girl without her consent on September 30, 2018, in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.

Erica Culmer-Curry, of the Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. She was assisted by Ashley Carroll and Sean Smith. Defence counsel Ernie Wallace was pleased with the outcome.

“I think it was a just verdict because the prosecution brought a case in which they had no forensic evidence, and really ought not to have brought this case,” he said. Mr Wallace said his client feels good about the outcome.