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VOLUME:114 No.155, JULY 5TH, 2017

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Premium Advertisement Space SPORTS: JUNIOR GOLFERS TEE OFF IN CARIBBEAN CONTEST

PLP blew $234m in final months

Central Bank and deficit figures show pre-election spending

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net AN “horrendous” $234m was added to the Government’s fiscal deficit during the May 10 general election quarter, Central Bank data released yesterday reveals.

The regulator’s May economic developments report shows the former Christie administration actually contained the ‘red ink’ during the first three months of 2017, even posting a “small surplus” for its Budgetary operations.

However, the Minnis administration’s estimate of

a $500m deficit for the full 2016-2017 fiscal year suggests this achievement was squandered by excessive government spending and contracts in the run-up to the general election.

Given that the Central Bank pegged the ninemonth deficit at $265.9m, the new administration’s full-year estimates - given

by K P Turnquest, minister of finance, and in its Budget booklets - suggest that the Government spent $234m more than it took in during the three months to endJune 2017.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR 4TH OF JULY

BAHA Mar’s main contractor was yesteday accused of “insulting the intelligence of the Bahamian people” over its missed completion deadline warning, with local industry players urging the Government to investigate.

Stephen Wrinkle, a former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president, questioned how a dispute over the delivery of 1,420 lounge chairs could delay “substantial completion” of a $4.2bn project.

“It’s a heck of a stretch for a $4.2bn project to be held up by a couple of lounge chairs,” he told Tribune Business. “There’s something wrong with that.

It doesn’t compute.”

Mr Wrinkle was backed by Leonard Sands, the BCA’s current president, who said he could not see how the non-delivery could result in CCA missing the deadline.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar dismissed claims of another missed completion deadline, saying this would be “odd” for a SEE PAGE SIX

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE board of the National Health Insurance Authority will consider introducing a co-payment system for primary healthcare, pharmaceutical and diagnostic services under NHI, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands revealed yesterday as he warned: “Nothing in life is free”.

If a co-payment system is introduced, it would be a blow to Bahamians expecting free service at the point of care as had been advertised for years by the Christie administration.

Free healthcare at point of service was to be the defining quality of NHI. SEE PAGE SIX

SECOND MAN OUT ON BAIL SHOT DEAD

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net A 25-YEAR-OLD man out on bail for firearm possession was shot multiple times and killed Monday night.

The killing took place shortly before midnight Monday off Bimini Avenue and brought the country’s murder count to 71 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

According to police, the victim was standing near a home off Market Street when a man armed with a handgun approached him and shot him multiple times before fleeing the area on foot.

SEE PAGE SIX

CCA CHAIRS THREAT ‘MAKES NO SENSE’

By NEIL HARTNELL and NICO SCAVELLA

NHI BLOW: ‘NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE’

FYRE FESTIVAL VENDORS TO LOSE OUT FIREWORKS over Paradise Island last night for the July 4 US Independence Day celebrations - marking the 241st anniversary of the country’s independence.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

employees from the “unsanitary” General Post Office on East Hill Street. At the time, he said his members were forced to work in a mould infested building with rats and termites and a leaking ceiling.

Since then, Mr Pinder said things have got progressively worse and now the air conditioning unit in the building is not working, forcing employees to work in the sweltering heat.

BAHAMIAN vendors allegedly owed thousands of dollars in the wake of the botched Fyre Festival will likely get “nothing” as unsecured creditors, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.

Mr D’Aguilar weighed in on the fate of businesses and local workers as he pushed back against criticisms over the Ministry of Tourism’s role in the failed event.

He acknowledged that more due diligence could have been performed on the part of his ministry; however, he said that it was unlikely further

SEE PAGE FIVE

SEE PAGE FIVE

POST OFFICE STAFF ON FOUR-HOUR DAY

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

EMPLOYEES at the “mould and rat infested” General Post Office have been working four hour shifts for nearly a year, according to Bahamas Public Services Union President John Pinder, who said the “half days” have caused a significant back up in mail delivery.

Mr Pinder said the former Christie administration

promised employees would be out of the “old, broken down” building and in a new building off Tonique Williams Darling Highway by the end of May. However, he claimed the Free National Movement (FNM) administration stopped those plans and is considering moving the post office to the Town Centre Mall.

Last year, Mr Pinder threatened industrial action if the government did not immediately relocate

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

PAGE 2, Wednesday, July 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

YOUNGSTERS took part in the Hands On Nature Camp at Ardastra Gardens - which lived up to its name, as the children got to feed sheep, goats and pigs, and handle a snake yesterday. Zookeeper Eugene Pinder introduced the children to a host of animals at the site.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

ANIMAL MAGIC

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 5, 2017, PAGE 3

Gamblers say web shop failed to pay out thousands

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net IRATE patrons of Paradise Games, a local web shop, yesterday vowed to “take their business elsewhere” amid accusations the gaming house has refused to reward tens of thousands of dollars in winnings.

The customers, on the request of anonymity, allege after playing numbers and winning nearly $60,000 on one ticket and another $32,000 on an additional ticket in house ‘Early Iowa’, they were “given the run around” by Paradise Games and ultimately told there were “problems” with issuing the money.

The three construction workers also told The Tribune they suspected the gaming house simply did not want to pay them because the sum of money is substantial. These suspicions rose when ‘Early Iowa’s’ drawings were no longer visible on the web shop’s website, the men said.

They explained the win-

ONE of the tickets showing the Iowa draw. nings were substantial be- sults unbeknownst” to the cause of a “pooling system” company. among at least ten people.

According to Mr However, Kevin Knowles, Knowles, about $180,000 Paradise Games’ owner, de- was being disputed up to fended his company saying yesterday. it has no issues with paying He said officials at the customers once they win Gaming Board were made “fair and square.” aware of the issues and it Mr Knowles admitted was expected the matter to The Tribune his gaming would be resolved somehouse was forced to remove time Wednesday. houses Iowa and Indiana “We played in Early Iowa pending an investigation and after visiting the web after the “lotteries teamed shop yesterday (Monday) up and posted identical re- we were told to come back

because the workers in the shop were changing shifts,” one of the men said in an interview at The Tribune yesterday. “We waited around and still were not able to get our money. We were told to return this (Tuesday) morning.

“When we returned at around 7am, we tried until at least 12pm and still nothing. All we were told was that there were problems.

But we want to know what the problem is. We have the receipt that shows the number and this ticket says that Paradise Games says they will honour this receipt.

That’s two days of work we already missed to get our money.

“The number came and on the United States’ lottery post website the number is there, but it is no longer on Paradise Games’ website and it’s not on the print out of numbers that have already fallen.

“You know why? Because they don’t want to pay us our money. They think it’s too much money to be paying out.”

However, Mr Knowles vigorously disputed this as-

sertion, saying his business would not have been successful if it didn’t pay patrons the money they win.

He explained: “Two of the lotteries teamed up and then posted the same results unbeknownst to us.

Iowa and Indiana showed the same results. We took them down pending the investigation.

“These guys are claiming they won $180,000 not $100, but it is $180,000 they are trying to get.

“One (ticket claims winnings) of $50,000 and two is $31,000 and then there were a bunch of other payouts.

We are doing the investigation and we have alerted the Gaming Board, so they are aware of it.

“The matter will be concluded tomorrow.”

Mr Knowles added: “We wouldn’t be operating if we didn’t pay our customers.

We don’t want to try and keep anyone’s funds away from them. That wouldn’t be good for business at all. If we owe them we pay them.

“It’s not the amount of the money (that is the issue). If they won it fair and

square they would have been paid yesterday on the spot.”

Officials at the Gaming Board said yesterday there was a process to be followed in issues such as this, adding multiple patrons complained about problems receiving payouts from Paradise Games.

One official said from a legal perspective, the Gaming Act provides a mechanism for patrons who are aggrieved by gaming house operators to seek redress through the board and this process commences through a written complaint.

Patrons must also produce proof to show they purchased a particular number.

Once this is done, an interview with the both operator and patron is carried out.

The Gaming Board then arrives at a preliminary determination, of which both the patron and operator is notified.

Should either remain dissatisfied, officials said recourse can be sought in court.

MINNIS MAKES HIS DEBUT ADDRESS AT CARICOM MEETING

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has urged heads of government in the Caribbean region to continue embracing the United Nations’ climate protocols to combat climate change, as he repeated his administration’s intention to launch an “ambitious” solarisation programme in the country over the next five years.

And although the government has yet to advance its promised anti-corruption legislation in the House of Assembly, Prime Minister Minnis went on to boast of his administration’s implementation of a “zero tolerance approach” to corruption.

He further called on leaders in the region to create tourism-based marketing and improvement programmes on facts instead of opinions or gut instincts with a view to improving fiscal positions and unemployment levels throughout the Caribbean.

The prime minister spoke last night in St Georges, Grenada during the 39th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Gov-

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis addressing the opening session of the 38th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Grenada yesterday It is the Prime Minister’s first head-of-state CARICOM address. Photo: OPM Media Services ernment of the Caribbean. our livelihoods and exist- dition to our populations, This is Dr Minnis’ first re- ence demand regional and our region hosts just under gional meeting as the na- global action to address cli- 30 million stopover visitors tion’s leader. He is also the mate change generally, and annually. As both of these head of state with responsi- threats such as rising sea numbers increase we will levels, depleted fish stocks, need to increase the producbility for tourism.

“Our people need us to and the frequency and in- tion of power generation, act together to harness the tensity of hurricanes. electricity and clean water.

“We should be diligent We will need to improve tremendous mutual potential of the region, while facing in putting into action our waste treatment and recyshared challenges,” the prime plans for renewable en- cling. These challenges can ergy, and energy efficiency only be met with renewable minister said yesterday.

“Our region is depend- from the sun, the wind, the solutions. We must bring ent upon the resources of oceans, rivers and lakes. It the same vigour and fothe sea, the blessings of the is my government’s inten- cused discipline to the task trade winds and year-round tion to launch an ambitious of economic development. ambient temperatures. Ac- solarisation programme in “Corruption remains a cordingly, we must con- the Bahamas over the next formidable challenge to tinue to embrace the UN five years.” small and developing counHe continued: “In ad- tries such as my own and we climate protocols because

are determined to brutally confront this challenge. In this regard, my government has implemented a policy of zero tolerance for corruption.

“Upon taking the oath of office, all ministers have been told that they would be immediately dismissed if they are found out to be soliciting or accepting payments. We will implement strong anti-corruption laws and measures,” Dr Minnis also said.

Regarding tourism, Dr Minnis said collectively the region is the most tourism dependent in the world.

This, he said, should drive a more focused approach in finding ways to extract much more value from this area.

“Given the collective state of our fiscal positions and levels of unemployment, we must become more focused on finding ways to extract much more value from that area of our economies. It is time that we create marketing and product improvement programmes based on facts instead of opinions or gut instincts, which are often proven wrong in the face of new knowledge gleaned from data.

“By example, we should better appreciate the stored value that is waiting to be unleashed by the proper analysis of multi-year data from immigration cards and from the development of tourism satellite accounts.

“Tourism officials in the Bahamas are increasingly astonished by the information that such analyses are telling us, and the refreshing guidance that it is providing. Additionally, we must more aggressively address perennial issues like regional air and sea transportation to make it easier and more affordable to move people and goods around the Caribbean, including citizens and residents of the region and visitors.”

Accompanying Dr Minnis in Grenada are his wife, Patricia Minnis, Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield, Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd, Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Joshua Sears, Bahamas Ambassador-designate to CARICOM Reuben Rahming, and the Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sharon Brennen-Haylock.

The CARICOM meeting ends on Thursday.

NO TIMELINE ON DISCLOSURES ACTION DESPITE DEADLINE

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the firm deadline it imposed following the May 10 general election to have all outstanding disclosures filed by June 30, the Minnis administration remains unable to give a clear timeline on when it expects to move forward with plans to prosecute or penalise those public officials still refusing to file.

When contacted on this yesterday, Attorney General Carl Bethel sidestepped questions on the matter.

He would only repeat earlier comments related to the completion of appointments to government boards as the factor that would result in this ongoing process being “worked out”.

“Again, as I have said, we have worked on our board appointments, and as we conclude with that, you can expect this matter to be worked out,” Mr Bethel said.

When asked about the deadlines imposed by the government, he said: “We are taking the steps necessary, there is a board in place so it will be dealt with in short order.”

However when asked further questions, Mr Bethel said he had no more comment on the issue, leaving many concerns unad-

dressed.

It is unclear if the government has reappointed the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) as constituted prior to June 30, or appointed an entirely new commission.

On Sunday, former PDC Chairman Myles Laroda told The Tribune the expiration of his appointment and those of others on the commission left aspects of the declaration process “up in the air” and at risk of not being finalised in time for a list of delinquent politicians to be submitted to Mr Bethel on Monday.

However, in response to those claims, Mr Bethel insisted the commission could fully operate despite the status of appointments.

Mr Bethel’s comments Tuesday also did little to clarify whether the Minnis administration still intended to prosecute those not meet-

ing the imposed deadline.

On June 6, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said delinquent former and sitting members of Parliament were given three weeks to file disclosures or face the court for breaking the law.

The deadline affected more than 20 MPs and followed a report in The Tribune last month that revealed that a handful of parliamentarians did not make a single disclosure last term.

Failure to file disclosures can result in a fine of $10,000, or two years in prison, or both, or confiscation of land if land is involved, Mr Newbold has said.

In the Speech from the Throne, legislation was promised to amend the Public Disclosure Act to include a campaign finance component and allow for a matter to be referred to an independent prosecutor.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, July 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

PLPs DISMISS DISCLOSURE THREAT

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Congratulations to the writers at BIS SINCE THE change of government, there has been a dramatic transformation at Bahamas Information Services. At last it is moving into the realm of professionalism.

Information has not only increased in volume, but it is on time. Also — and this is most important— we no longer receive calls informing us that someone didn’t appreciate the way a political story “was played.” Of course, we know that this call was made on the orders of some political potentate, but nevertheless it was made contrary to the rules under which BIS was formed.

Bahamas Information Services had been turned into a political vehicle by the PLP government and an outlet for such twisted PLP propagandists as PLP chairman Bradley Roberts, who became a regular contributor. Now if the PLP want their message out they will have to hire their own writers — for which they, and no longer Bahamian tax payers, will have to foot the bill.

Bahamas Information Services existed, even before it was officially formulated by an Act of Parliament in 1974.

Its purpose was to “ensure effective communications between the government and the people by providing a central channel” through which information could “flow to and inquiries made from local, regional and international media and the public.”

“In general, BIS is mandated to advise the Government in relation to the dissemination of information on the policies and activities of the government, and to promote the policies, programmes, goals and role of the government.”

BIS was to “assist the government with public relations, and its officers sit on many governmental committees, offering advice on developing and publicising various programmes”.

BIS was also to be “of service to the government of the day, government ministries, departments and affiliated services, regardless of the political party controlling the country.” The department was not “intended for the promotion of party politics nor the promotion of party or politicians.”

Yet under the PLP both BIS and ZNS were used as the PLP government’s mouthpiece. Now when chairman Bradley Roberts wants to say that “it has been 40 days since the FNM assumed office and for a group who was so critical of the PLP’s governance, it is inexcusable that the Minnis crew could not table one single bill in parliament in 40 days and took a ten-week vacation break” he has to disseminate it through his own public relations team.

Of course, he has forgotten to add that the PLP government could not in five years reduce the crime problem, which it had promise to do – a promise that had

won the party the 2012 election. Nor was BAMSI – again in five years — able to reduce our food import bill, again as promised by the PLP, and despite the VAT tax being introduced the PLP added another $2 billion to the country’s $7 billion national debt. No wonder the FNM had to take a summer break to allow their investigators to examine the books of the various government departments before formulating workable plans on a reduced budget for the future.

Anyway, we leave that problem with Mr Roberts and his own propaganda machine.

At last The Bahamas seems to have a professional team of writers to keep us informed. We hope they keep up the good work and continue to build their reputation as responsible members of the Fourth Estate.

Today they are a far cry from the days when the late Cyril Stevenson admitted in 1986 that when he was Government Information Officer (1970 to 1985) he was instructed from Prime Minister Pindling’s office — and other ministries — that he was to delay in giving news releases to The Tribune. In an article published in The Tribune on July 23, 1986, Mr Stevenson wrote: “Another shocking example of news suppression has been demonstrated on so many occasions by the Government’s hostile attitude towards the evening paper, The Tribune, because of its aggressive policy dealing honourably with its readers by printing all the news, suppressing nothing of importance whether or not such news is highly critical of the Government or whether it counters the beliefs or prejudices of its owners.”

Mr Stevenson said that the PLP “government on occasions deliberately withheld government press releases from The Tribune until such information had been used by Radio Bahamas Television 13 and The Nassau Guardian. And, in fact, some of the information was never made available to The Tribune. Instructions that this should be done came from the highest levels of government,” said Mr Stevenson. He concluded that this was done to punish The Tribune for its policy of “publishing all the news even if it was highly critical”.

Although it was hard in those days, we beat the Pindling government at its own game. Very often we got wind of some of these releases by cultivating valuable sources that would tip us off so that we often beat our opposition by publishing the news while the releases were still in Mr Stevenson’s pocket awaiting delivery.

Although angry at the time, their unfairness honed The Tribune into the fighting machine that it is today — and for this we thank them.

But the PLP meant well...

EDITOR, The Tribune FORMER Prime Minister, Perry G Christie (PLP), in defence of spending tax dollars without proper/legal approval, is quoted as saying, “There were compelling urgencies to work.

During the hurricane itself, expenditure was incurred.

We didn’t have any time to go talk about we were going to bid. We had to have trucks to go in to help in waters of three feet high and so forth and so on.”

It’s funny how compelling urgencies change when a party is in government or the opposition.

A similar thing happened

with a contract regarding security at the airport when the FNM were in power and the then opposition PLP, led by Mr Christie raised so much hell, the Minister resigned his post.

Mr Christie found the action of the former FNM Minister so egregious that his political party even used it as one of their criticisms of the FNM in the last election campaign.

It’s odd that a similar action by their political opponent is treasonous while their actions were pure.

I’m reminded of what I mockingly refer to as “Lowe’s Law” which states, “Politicians spend their ca-

reers making laws to keep everyone else accountable, and make the average citizen and business play ‘fair/ do the right thing’, yet, they refuse to hold themselves to the same standards.”

Dry the crocodile tears Mr Christie. Maybe an apology will suffice if you are not found to have compromised the Office of the Prime Minister with your compelling urgencies.

Can you hear the echo?

“But we meant well. Really we did...”

Yours in Liberty, RICK LOWE www.weblogbahamas.com July 1, 2017.

Mitchell: The ego has landed EDITOR, The Tribune.

FRED Mitchell had the temerity to lecture the Senate on the merits of globetrotting diplomacy.

Over the past five years, Fred became, perhaps, the most travelled foreign minister in the Caribbean racking up well over a quarter million first class miles each year at the people’s expense.

Fred now wants to whitewash his record. But he used a pretty specious argument to make his point that foreign ministers must travel to every meeting around the world.

He trotted out the ole chicken-and-egg conundrum saying that because Bahamians are all over the world the government mustn’t follow behind them, it (meaning Fred) had to be out in front of them. In today’s diplomacy the flag follows trade, not the other way around like it used to be.

Except one would have thought that with budgets squeezed, Perry Christie and his failed PLP Cabinet would have forced Fred to give a value proposition for most, if not all of his trips.

Trouble is a great many of Fred’s jaunts were for vanity, pure and simple.

Constantly traipsing to Los Angeles to see and be seen with Sydney Poitier was more about Fred’s ego than it was about bringing home any bacon for the Bahamian people.

By Fred’s logic, when Bahamians migrate to the far corners of the world the foreign minister has to call on them, even though they no longer pay the local taxes that underwrite his first-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net class airfares, luxury hotel and private limousines.

On his many trips around the globe, I wonder how many students he entertained in the Michelin star restaurants he frequented.

We don’t expect a tangible benefit every time the foreign minister goes to a United Nations meeting.

But unless Fred was promoting tourism or banking or some other industry where we can count the direct benefits to the treasury then surely some of Fred’s trips were simply ill-advised junkets.

Fred needs to be reminded that the chief diplomat of the country is always the Prime Minister, not the foreign minister. Perry Christie was just too weak a Prime Minister to demand accountability from anyone in his cabinet let alone the smooth-talking gadfly who coveted Christie’s job.

I stand with our new foreign minister Darren Henfield who has advised his staff to justify their need to travel in terms of a costbenefit analysis for the country.

In places where we have Ambassadors and High Commissioners surely they can do the meet-and-greet in the foreign minister’s stead. And why are we always the ones on the airplane, why not invite our foreign partners to come visit us here?

I urge Mr Henfield to not succumb to Fred’s bait.

Fred tried to spin the narrative that Henfield was enti-

tled to luxury living on the tax payers’ dime. If Henfield does the same then ipso facto it will bless Fred’s profligate behaviour.

Our beef with Fred had to do with his outsized ego.

An ego that led him to travel with a security detail. Kaching!. With a retinue of foreign service officers to carry his briefing papers. Ka-ching!. To give diplomatic passports and ambassadorial rank to all and sundry so that he could magnify the credentials of his entourage. Mega Ka-ching!

The late Paul Adderley was perhaps our most frugal foreign minister.

He travelled only when he had to and would get vex if an Ambassador or High Commissioner sent a limo to pick him up. He would dismiss the limo and hail a cab, the very same behaviour that Fred lectured Henfield against.

Mr Adderley never worried about his safety. He ate dinner with local staff, enjoying a preference for cheap Chinese buffets because they provided value for money.

And God help the staffer who wasted the food on his plate. The food you just wasted could have purchased a text book for a little Bahamian child, Mr. Adderley would grumble.

Mr Henfield should emulate the Adderley model of conducting our foreign affairs and abandon any temptation to follow the lavish Mitchell doctrine.

Welcome back to earth Fred.

THE GRADUATE Nassau, July 4, 2017.

Conch management EDITOR, The Tribune.

PLEASE print this open letter to the Hon Renward Wells, Minister for Agriculture and Marine Resources.

Dear Minister Wells, I am interested to know what progress is being made, if any, in advancing the Conchservation Project of the Bahamas National Trust in conjunction with the scientific research being

conducted by the Community Conch Organization. www.communityconch.org Data from surveys conducted over the last seven years at most major fishing grounds in The Bahamas indicate that, with the exception of the Ragged Island fishery, most of those grounds have been overfished to population densities incapable of species reproduction.

One of the latest reports disseminated to your Ministry stated that “It is clear

that current management and regulations are not adequate to sustain conch resources in The Bahamas.”

I have attached a couple of photos taken last week of conch deliveries to just one restaurant and have to ask how much longer can this be continued before the inevitable collapse of the fishery and da conch gone!

IAN MABON Nassau, July 3, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 5, 2017, PAGE 5

Old folks’ home struggling to raise $7,000 to avoid having power cut

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE operator of an old folks’ home said yesterday his facility is now stuck “in the wilderness” after struggling to secure donations to beat a Friday deadline by Bahamas Power and Light to pay an outstanding bill of $7,000 or face disconnection.

Dr Kendal Capron, head of the Good Samaritan Home for the Aged, said that as of yesterday afternoon, the home had secured some donations — approximately $700 — which is not nearly enough to meet the amount needed to avoid disconnection.

Dr Capron said he and the home’s 40 residents are now “waiting” for the week’s end to see whether the facility will be without power, adding they “don’t know where we are” on the facility’s chances of avoiding disconnection.

This, Dr Capron said, is after he allegedly paid some $14,500 since February to settle a previous balance of $10,000 on the home’s light bill.

He claimed the former figure was the result of an

alleged discrepancy over two accounts and questions about where these payments should have been applied.

When contacted yesterday about the allegations, BPL officials told The Tribune the utility provider “does not comment on the accounts of its consumers”.

“Persons experiencing difficulty in paying their electricity bills are encouraged to come into one of BPL’s offices and speak to a customer service representative to make payment arrangements,” a statement from BPL said.

Dr Capron, when asked if he has reached out to BPL for assistance, replied by saying: “I prefer speaking with (Minister of Works Desmond Bannister). If he wants me to have a word with him, then I’ll do that with him.

I wouldn’t speak with nobody else until he tells me what to do.”

Dr Capron told The Tribune that he has been invited

by Mr Bannister to speak with him on the matter, but said he was unable to reach Mr Bannister due to the minister being in Cabinet yesterday.

THE GOOD Samaritan Home For The Aged in Yellow Elder Gardens.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff ally need donations. we don’t know. ing. “We can’t clean withNonetheless, when con“…So, we are here in the “We have about 40 peo- out water.” tacted by The Tribune The Good Samaritan for an update on how do- wilderness. That’s all we ple inside of here, and nations were going, Dr are right now, we are in the they’re dependent,” he Home for the Aged has Capron said: “We got some wilderness. We don’t know added. “Even the water, been in operation since donations but not (the where we are as far as the with the light off we can’t the 1990s. It is located on amount) that is needed. We government is concerned, get water to bathe them, we Melvern Road in Yellow Elstill need donations, we re- we’re in the wilderness, so can’t get water to do noth- der Gardens.

FYRE FESTIVAL VENDORS TO LOSE OUT JURY SELECTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY TRIAL

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

from page one

background checks would have countered the fact that organisers booked some 6,000 tickets for the twoweekend event.

“The government obviously isn’t going to guarantee the payment of it,” he said. “We were hoping these people (Fyre organisers), they owed the government of The Bahamas import taxes, landing fees, immigration processing fees, any number of fees, and the containers were seized by (Department of) Customs as collateral.”

The Tribune understands trailers seized by the Department Customs for nonpayment have since been released; however, Mr D’Aguilar said he could not confirm the payment yesterday.

“We have to find out what they paid,” he said. “I don’t know if we were legally allowed to tack on what third party vendors were owed as a condition of releasing the equipment.”

When asked about the fate of unpaid workers and vendors, he said: “Probably nothing, sadly it will probably be nothing. I don’t want to be harsh but unfortunately that’s one of the risks businesses take.”

Last week, Fyre Festival lead organiser Billy McFarland was arrested and released on bail in the United States on a federal wire fraud charge in connection with the ill-fated festival.

The Tribune understands that agents from the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation received a permit from the government to conduct a probe in Exuma after the botched event went up in smoke on April 27.

Yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar insisted that tourism officials only performed perfunctory roles in connecting organisers with the relevant government agencies and expressed confidence that

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR there was nothing untoward about the involvement of his ministry.

“Anybody who comes into the country and wants to hold a festival or event, the Ministry of Tourism rises to the occasion and assists. We facilitate, you need someone at BEC (BPL), customs, flight operations, we put these people in contact and say these are the people you need to speak to.

“In no instance did the Ministry of Tourism take control of this event. They presented themselves, the position was let’s find the people on the ground that you need to make this thing work.”

“We should have done our due diligence on the organisers of this event, but even so we probably would not have found anything because we would have been enamored by the fact that organisers had booked some 6,000 persons. It was 3,000 for one weekend and 3,000 for the other.”

He continued: “What we should have done was, we should have said ‘where are all these people going to stay? How is this going to work?’ Maybe be a little bit more involved in saying ‘hey maybe we should check things out (in respect to accommodations).’ They didn’t ask us for help in that area, so we were just like, ‘where do you need us to help?’

“We got sucked in to the excitement of the moment, and nobody stepped back and looked at it. Our job was to make sure they were in touch with public health, we just facilitated them and put them into contact with the arms of the government.”

He said tourism officials “rose to the occasion” after the event descended into chaos, assisting stranded ticket-holders and coordinating flights in hopes of making the “god-awful situation” better.

“I don’t think the employees of the ministry did anything, from what I can tell,” he said. “My initial indications are they tried their endeavour best in assisting them.”

Mr D’Aguilar assumed his post after the May 10 general election and was not in place for the planning of the Fyre Festival.

Speaking to the level of communication from his ministry post-festival, he said: “I don’t think there was a cover-up. I think there’s no good news to bring, nobody likes to say well you’re not getting nothing. You’re an unsecured creditor.

“This is just an unfortunate situation that went horribly wrong and we learned from it.”

Mr D’Aguilar’s explanation mirrors previous statements on the matter given by former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe.

POST OFFICE STAFF ON FOUR-HOUR DAY from page one “For years, we have been trying to get out of that building, I mean they moved everyone else out there, but the post office staff,” Mr Pinder told The Tribune.

“So now they are working four hours a day and the mail is piling up. The work day is cut in half and so that is what is going to happen. The government has stopped the plans for the Tonique Williams Darling Highway building and are revisiting the possibility of moving the post office to the Town Centre Mall; discus-

sions are currently ongoing.

“The former government said we would have been out of the building by now but then the government changed. The air conditioner in the current building is not working and the building is full of mould. It is very hot and you cannot expect people to work in those type of conditions.”

Mr Pinder said the construction on the building off Tonique Williams Darling Highway was not complete and residents in the area complained about the “traffic that the office would bring.”

“The government reviewed and stopped the

work and the quickest solution in my opinion is what is being proposed, to just move the Town Centre Mall,” Mr Pinder said.

“The new minister met with the employees and assured them that the government will do all it can in the next couple of weeks to get all the cosmetic work on the old building done. Hopefully, they will live up to their promises.”

Last May, former Labour Minister Shane Gibson said the government was acquiring the Independence Drive Shopping Centre, off Tonique Williams Darling highway, as the new location for the General Post Office.

A SUPREME Court jury was empanelled yesterday for the trial of two men accused of being the suspects behind a gunpoint robbery that occurred three years ago.

Lordson Allonce, 42, and Everton Wright, 32, appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs on an armed robbery charge.

Though the nine-member panel for their case was se-

lected yesterday, the start of evidence was adjourned to Thursday, July 6.

It is alleged that the pair, being concerned together on June 3, 2014, and armed with a firearm, robbed Gia Hart of a Gucci bag, a Samsung S4 cellular phone and Ray-Ban sunglasses.

A third accused, Raquel Williamson, 30, is accused of receiving a pair of sunglasses and a case believed to have been obtained during the incident in question.

Wright is also separately charged with dishonestly

HAIR TODAY, GONE TO COURT TOMORROW

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was fined $1,500 in Magistrate’s Court yesterday for being in possession of more than $6,000 worth of hair extensions and beauty products reportedly stolen from the original owner.

Deon Bowleg, 40, of Rosedale Street appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney facing a charge of receiving brought contrary to Section 358 of the Penal Code.

He is accused of dishonestly receiving the following items on June 29: dozens of packages of hair weaves, several wigs,

other hair pieces, several bottles of nail polish, four packs of African black soap, makeup and watches.

The items are collectively valued $6,355.11.

It was alleged that he dishonestly received the items knowing they had been stolen or were appropriated by the commission of an offence.

Bowleg pleaded guilty at his arraignment on Tuesday and alleged to Magistrate McKinney that some men had placed the items in his car.

He was fined $1,500 for the crime and told that he would serve six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

receiving a pair of RayBan sunglasses and the Samsung cellular phone while Allonce is separately charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

All three denied their respective charges at their formal arraignment in 2014 and again yesterday.

They have retained attorneys Philip Lundy, Allen Emmanuel and Sonia Timothy to represent them while Darnell Dorsett is prosecuting the case for the Crown.

BRITISH MAN HELD AFTER DISCOVERY OF MARIJUANA A BRITISH man was arrested on Tuesday for alleged possession of marijuana.

According to police, officers in Harbour Island arrested a man from London, England shortly after 1am.

Officers in Harbour Island were on routine patrol when they saw a man standing near a nightclub who aroused their suspicion, police said.

The officers conducted a search of the man and found a quantity of marijuana in his possession.

The man is expected to appear in court this week.

WORK

NOTICE

Blue Hill Heights and Pride Estate

The Water and Sewerage Corporation advises its customers and the residents of Blue Hill Heights and Pride Estate that the Corporation will commence improvement work on Tuesday July 4, 2017 for a period of three days.

During this period there may be some interruption in the water supply and single lane traffic around the work area between the hours of 9:00am and 3:00pm.

The Corporation apologies for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates your support as we work to improve our level of service.

Tel: (242) 302-5599 or Toll Free (242) 300-0150 Find out more on

or our website www.wsc.com.bs

PAGE 6, Wednesday, July 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

NHI blow: ‘Nothing in life is free’ from page one

Dr Sands also revealed that the Minnis administration continues to uncover new bills. When he spoke to The Tribune yesterday, Dr Sands said bills were sent to the government from KMPG seeking payments for NHI services for the months of April and May worth $543,000 and $338,000 respectively. This is on top of the $8.3m he previously said was paid out to KMPG for its NHI consultancy services. Dr Sands said KMPG remains a government consultant but the scope of its work has been significantly reduced.

He also said the NHIA board will have to review the contracts for healthcare providers that were negotiated when they registered for the scheme prior to the board’s appointment.

“Those contracts are going to be reviewed and adjusted, renegotiated,” he said.

More than 60 providers registered for the scheme, the NHI Secretariat announced in April. The secretariat has also said laboratory services could now be received from at least five labs at no cost at the point of care.

The changes to the plan may happen because the former administration, which pledged about $125m for the first phase of NHI, sequestered no money for this in the budget for this fiscal year, Dr Sands said.

Dr Michael Darville, former Minister for Grand Bahama, claimed yesterday that the Christie administration would have secured the necessary funding had it been re-elected.

The Minnis administration has allocated $40m for the NHIA for this fiscal year. Of this, Dr Sands has said $15m will go toward catastrophic services, $15m to primary healthcare and $10m to the administrative infrastructure of the

NHIA. “Yes they will have to consider introducing a copayment plan,” Dr Sands said as the NHIA board is expected to be appointed today. “NHI benefits package came complete with expectations that were heightened by public relations exercises and discussions for years in the lead-up to the rollout. People want what they believe they were told they were going to get and there were expectations of a comprehensive package. If there had been money available for those benefits we wouldn’t be having much of a conversation, but the truth of the matter is expectations were raised and the funds/revenue were never identified to pay for NHI.” He added: “The board and the executive of the new NHIA will look at copays and subsidised rates for services. For example, a service may cost $100 in the private sector. We may try to negotiate a price of $50

and then have the NHIA, given the volume, agree to pay $40 of that and the patient pay $10. That’s just an example. The idea is that people can still get a $100 service that you pay $10 out of pocket for. But it’s not free. Nothing in life is free.”

Criticism Such a system could amplify criticism that NHI is hardly different from what is already available to Bahamians at public clinics and at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

“You put cash at point of service and that defeats the purpose of NHI,” Dr Darville told The Tribune.

No matter what, Dr Sands said, NHI is not being halted.

“It is a peculiar scenario right now that NHI continues to be provided through the existing governance framework but in terms of payments for NHI, in this new dispensation beginning July 1 there is a requirement for the establishment of the

NHIA, the appointment of the board and the managing director,” Dr Sands said.

“Services will not be halted. What has never been introduced in the NHI are the pharmacy services and some of the diagnostic procedures.”

The new board will review the advice and consultations given to the Christie administration and will adapt its plan to meet the country’s needs and budgetary constraints, Dr Sands said.

Regulations for NHI have never been released, but Dr Sands said he has given the new board “serious marching orders” and he does not expect that it will take long for the board to start making important decisions.

“I believe we have selected an excellent board,” he said. “When names are revealed Bahamians will see a group of Bahamians to serve that are actually an interesting and talented cross-section of society.”

The NHIA has functioned in recent months without a board.

Dr Delon Brennan, the project manager at the NHI Secretariat, is expected to become the managing director of the authority.

The lack of a formal management structure for the NHIA raised questions about the status of the contracts the NHIA executed with healthcare providers.

“The board will be in place by (Wednesday) and they’d have the ability to ratify retroactively what has been done,” Dr Sands said, adding that the board will review those contracts.

Dr Sy Pierre, president of the Medical Association of the Bahamas (MAB), said yesterday that he has received complaints from several clinics who signed up physicians as providers under NHI only to recognise that “it doesn’t make a difference now because we’re starting over from the beginning.”

CCA CHAIRS THREAT ‘MAKES NO SENSE’

from page one

resort of its size.

Mr D’Aguilar, in an interview with reporters before a Cabinet meeting, suggested that he has no concerns over a recent Tribune Business report that the project’s deadline could be missed over a legal dispute with a key supplier over the project’s 1,000 plus lounge chairs.

Nonetheless, Mr D’Aguilar said the Minnis administration is “very anxious” for the project to be finished.

When asked for comment on the matter yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar said: “I think they’ll address that issue. I don’t think that if you’re investing significant amounts of money in

BAHA Mar courtyard. getting that project ready, really the deck chairs are the issue that will cause a delay in opening and Bahamians getting employed.

“I didn’t believe that as something significant, but I haven’t spoken to them as yet to get the other side

of the story to find out why it’s so pressing. But my initial reaction is I don’t think deck chairs are going to really delay the opening of a hotel of that size, with that magnitude of an investment.

“The Bahamas govern-

ment is very, very anxious for that project to be finished,” he added. “We have heard about endless delays, obviously in the past, and we’re just very, very anxious for it to be opened and for Bahamians to be employed.

I found it a little odd that the reason for the delay as reported in the press yesterday (Monday) is deck chairs. I don’t think that’s going to delay the opening. “…We just have to get it opened as soon as possible, and Bahamians employed.

There’s a pressing need to find jobs, there’s high unemployment, and obviously we want to get that project opened as quickly as possible.”

When asked if he has any meetings planned with CCA or Baha Mar officials, Mr D’Aguilar said: “No, nothing is planned. I’m sure

in the cursory course of my day I’ll put in a phone call, and find out if there’s any concerns, are we still on schedule for the dates. October was for the SLS, I believe March or April of next year is for the Rosewood, and if there’s any change I’m sure they will appraise me of that and I will report back to you at that time.”

On Monday, Tribune Business reported how Baha Mar’s main contractor has raised the alarm that it may miss the project’s completion deadline if a Floridabased supplier continues to withhold 50 per cent of the project’s lounge chairs.

China Construction America’s (CCA) Bahamian subsidiary, in legal findings obtained by Tribune Business warns that itself – and Baha Mar – will “suf-

fer incalculable and irreparable damage” if Source Outdoor is not compelled to deliver the 1,420 chairs it is holding.

CCA, in a lawsuit filed with a South Florida court last Thursday, alleges that these chairs are “essential to the timely completion” of the Cable Beach development by October 15.

Failure to hit the completion date, CCA alleges, will expose it to penalty fees of $150,000 per day –rising to $250,000 per day after one month – under the terms of its construction contract with the China Export-Import Bank.

Baha Mar was initially set to open in December 2014.

A soft-opening was held in April of this year.

• Wrinkle and Sands speak out - see Business.

SECOND MAN OUT ON BAIL SHOT DEAD from page one

The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police said the victim was arrested for firearm possession in May and was out on bail.

The victim has not been officially identified, but The Tribune understands he is Derek Sands.

Police have no motive for the shooting and no suspects in custody.

The murder came three days after another man out on bail was shot and killed near Meadow Street.

In relation to that matter, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said police received information that shots were heard near Wulff Road after 10pm on Friday.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found the lifeless body of a man with gunshot wounds to his body.

He was pronounced dead on the scene.

The 33-year-old man has been identified as Valentino Ferguson.

Ferguson was out on bail for murder, according to police.

Last Thursday, National

Employment Opportunities Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) is recruiting highly qualified and reflective educators with vision, creativity and passion. We are seeking candidates for the following positions: • PYP Elementary Teacher • PYP ELC Teacher Successful candidates will have: • Belief in the school’s vision, mission and strategic vision • Bachelor’s degree in education, master’s degree in education or similar credential • Strong theoretical background in their subject area • A minimum of 3 years full-time experience teaching, developing and delivering curriculum in accordance with an inquiry-based programme like the International Baccalaureate

Other positions: • Sailing Instructor To apply, please send a résumé and cover letter explaining why you are a match for LCIS to jobs@lcis.bs by 19 July 2017. To learn more about the school, please visit www.lcis.bs

Security Minister Marvin Dames said the government is not “totally satisfied” with the crime situation.

He insisted that Bahamians should have already started to see some elements of the Minnis administration’s crime plan manifested in various communities.

Mr Dames said increased visibility and a more strategic approach to inner-city crime hotspots are a part of the government’s shortterm approach.

Of the killings that have happened this year, 18 of these have occurred since May 10 under the Free National Movement’s watch.

Last week, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said the country was “recycling” prolific offenders due to less than firm punishments.

Commissioner Greenslade said no amount of arrests and aggressive police tactics could limit crime if “the people who are coming into the system, that is the bad people who are committing crimes, very serious crimes in this country, are not dealt with in a very firm way.”

Anyone with information on any of these homicides is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS. Investigations continue.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PAGE 8, Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Why pay for advice if you never act upon it?

T

HERE has been a flurry of discussion lately over the $400,000 annual contract given to Ian Poitier by the former government.

This comes after Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar revealed in Parliament that Mr Poitier received over a million dollars since 2014 to consult on cultural matters for Perry Christie and Obie Wilchcombe.

A high-flying St Anne’s alumnus, Mr Poitier obtained an international baccalaureate in Canada before studying law at Oxford. In 1985, he switched to musical theatre, at the Arts Education School in London.

He worked as a performing artist in Britain, and began directing and coordinating shows and events in the 1990s. He also worked in advertising.

After three years as an investment manager at the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in London, Mr Poitier began focusing on freelance projects.

Beginning in 2008, he directed the annual Cacique Awards in Nassau, and he was responsible for the creative content of the 2014 independence celebrations.

So there can be no argument with the fact of his ex-

posure to, and experience in, the arts and creative industries - both here and abroad.

Not surprisingly, Mr Poitier called Mr D’Aguilar’s recent statements in Parliament “inaccurate, incomplete and misleading…If (his) quarrel is with the previous administration, then it is regrettable he did not make that clear.”

Before considering all this, it’s worth pointing out that a little more information is available on the circumstances of this particular contract compared to others that were aired recently in Parliament.

According to the new minister, no signed agreement exists, but in a 57-page summary report that was published last year, Mr Poitier styles himself “head of cultural development”.

Mr Poitier admits to having been “impressed” with former Prime Minister Perry Christie’s “vision” for culture, and says his chief role under the previous administration was to pursue a sustainable creative economy.

Along the way, he directed some national events, acted as a policy advisor for the prime minister, and helped the government with communications - including speechwriting for Mr Christie.

“People seem to think

IAN POITIER, centre, whose consultation role has prompted much debate. that I am some sort of vate citizen for his lawful, national identity.

In fact, the document is crook,” Mr Poitier said re- ethical commercial activichock full of good ideas and cently in his published re- ties is baffling.”

Unfortunately, it seems marvelous intentions. The sponse. “Nothing could be further from the truth. Vot- to have been a pattern of problem is we have heard so ers may criticise a govern- the former Christie admin- much of it before, and very ment for its decisions and istration to hand out large little has ever been realised actions. But to attack a pri- contracts, with no transpar- in concrete terms. ency and no regard for fiscal As early as 1987, a UNresponsibility.

ESCO report The terms ‘We prefer authored by a of Mr Poitier’s the cultural leading culturcontract were al expert urged discussion in never made the governavailable, just the abstract, but ment to write like the terms while we study, legislation and of the Renew set a $5m anBahamas land- the thing we nual budget for fill contract or study dies a slow development the agreement death.’ of our creative with Power industries.

Secure, or the In the early David Burrows 1990s, the construction contracts for Senate held a BAMSI, or so series of hearmany others. So we don’t ings on cultural developreally know what the deliv- ment. Those sessions reerables were and are unable sulted in a draft law that to judge whether value was sought to create a national received for money. arts council. But the exerDavid Burrows, who cise went nowhere. heads the Ringplay ProducMost notably, in 2002, the tions local theatre group, first Christie administration had this to say about that in appointed a National Coma social media comment last mission on Cultural Develweek: “A tiny percentage of opment with much fanfare. that money would have Its 60 members met regugone a long way to fix things larly for two years under at the Winston V Saunders the leadership of Charles Theatre, for example. We Carter and the late Winprefer the cultural discus- ston Saunders. This body sion in the abstract, but revised the earlier Bill and while we study, the thing we sent it to Cabinet in 2004, study dies a slow death.” where it promptly died.

Nevertheless, it’s inThe draft law called for teresting to read Mr Poi- a semi-independent arts tier’s Summary of the council with a mandate to Cultural Development raise funds, operate creaStrategy, which recom- tive facilities and schools, mends using culture as a give grants, produce shows key tool for national devel- and fund research - much opment. This document is like Ian Poitier’s current apparently an overview of recommendations. a broader programme he The Cultural Commiswas working on - one which sion also came up with a requires feasibility studies comprehensive policy docand business plans. ument for the arts. And all The summary calls for this was unveiled and bala national school for the lyhooed at a grand National creative and performing Cultural Conclave in 2006 arts, after-school arts pro- - over ten years ago. grammes, and creative The goal of the policy was partnerships with both the to give “a coherent strategic public and private sectors. national context for planIt also advocates the craft- ning and decision-making ing of a cultural narrative about culture”. And there that can offer a compelling were loud calls for an urgent way to communicate our redirection of resources to

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

THE TRIBUNE

the cultural sector, which was said to be “one of the least developed” anywhere.

Of course, the risk is that by subsidising cultural industries we open ourselves up to yet another massive public sector gravy train like the millions wasted on carnival or the hundreds of thousands lost on the Caribbean Muzik Festival.

So perhaps the first question to consider is whether we are on the right track with our existing spending.

In contrast to the dismal track record in cultural development, is our annual multi-million-dollar spend on overseas advertising and PR (not to mention bricks and mortar Bahamas tourist offices) to generate tourists.

No policymaker has seen fit to justify the worth of this massive expenditure in recent memory, yet most of us would agree that the visitor experience on the ground (especially in Nassau and Freeport) is dreadful and only getting worse.

Meanwhile, multiple studies confirm that cultural heritage travellers stay longer and spend more than other types of tourists. So we should be able to generate more return by investing more in cultural activities and product development.

Perry Christie’s “visions” are just that. All the work on this issue was done during his first term in office and trumpeted from the rooftops - but absolutely nothing happened. And he was still happy to throw around more public money to talk it up again in his second term.

On this ground alone, both Mr Christie and his former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe have proven their incompetence and insincerity beyond a shadow of a doubt.

And a big public fee for repetitive information that will never be acted upon is clear justification for criticism, I think.

At this point, a cultural strategy for The Bahamas is not some daunting technical project requiring in-depth research. All the legwork has already been done. Something just needs to be implemented.

Perhaps Dionisio D’Aguilar, whose own family established an arts foundation years ago, will be able to pick up the slack.

• What do you think?

Send comments to lsmith@ tribunemedia.net or visit www.bahamapundit.com.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, July 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Port Lucaya Marketplace ‘holding on by a thread’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MERCHANTS at Port Lucaya Marketplace are holding on by a thread, hoping for a speedy reopening of the Grand Lucayan Resort which is so vital to the island’s survival.

Store owners are experiencing one of the worst droughts in a decade since last October when Hurricane Matthew damaged and forced the closure of the resort property in Grand Bahama.

The loss of more than 1,000 guest rooms has had a devastating impact on Port Lucaya Marketplace, which depends on visitor traffic from the hotel.

There is some fear that the marketplace will suffer the same fate as the now derelict International Bazaar in Freeport which never recovered from the 2004 fall-out due to the closure

of the hurricane damaged Royal Oasis Resort.

With no cruise ships in port on Tuesday, the marketplace was a like “a graveyard,” as one merchant described it.

“The situation is sad,” said Frances Gee, owner of Goldylocks Jewellery. “We are dying a quick death, not as slow (as at) the International Bazaar.”

Ms Gee indicated that everybody is affected by the closing of the hotel and casino.

“I think it is sad that everybody lost their job, and tourism is down. We are really relying on the (cruise) ship people coming in that are not spending their money.

“It is a sad situation. Everybody is holding on the hoping for the swift opening of the hotel because this is what we are relying on,” she said. “Everybody is hanging on hoping for better days.”

While the hotel reopen-

ing is critical, she believes that all-inclusive hotels like the Memories Resort are not really beneficial for merchants.

“All-inclusive hotels do not help us,” she said. “The guests don’t come out, and they stay there (on the property). We need people that will pay their hotel bill and come out and spend their money at Port Lucaya. If everything is all inclusive, they are not going to spend here when they can get there for free.”

Lauren Wells, the proprietor of Freeport Jewellers, fears that the marketplace will become like the International Bazaar.

“That’s our fear and sales have really decreased with that hotel being closed in a big way,” she said. “Today there is no cruise ship in, and you could imagine, here is like a graveyard.

“It is vital that the hotel opens because it is the lifeline for Port Lucaya.”

Ms Wells said although sales are down, merchants in the area are not doing as badly as some of the others.

“I mean for us, thank God we have the local business, so maybe we are not doing as bad as others because we do sell to locals. But if we were only selling items that were for tourists, we would have a big problem.”

While strolling through Port Lucaya, The Tribune observed some stores once occupied, now closed and vacant.

Ms Wells indicated that store owners are very concerned about the hotel’s reopening.

“I have not seen any stores closed, but I heard people saying, ‘it’s terrible for us.’ If the hotel does not open, we are going to have to make some big decisions.

“We need something to happen, and we need the government to get on that like asap, “ said the jeweller.

Ms Wells said cruise visitors do not spend as much money as overnight visitors staying in the hotels.

“If you have a customer staying overnight and they are looking at an item, the likelihood of them returning and purchasing it the next day is greater than persons who are only here for an hour,” she said.

The businesswoman said that big purchases had been cut down because cruise passengers are rushed through the marketplace by taxi-cab drivers who are in a hurry to get them back to the ship to bring another group of passengers.

Ms Wells stressed that it is vital that the hotel reopens.

Miranda Wells, the manager of the Unusual Centre, said business is very slow and the business had to let got one of the four employees at the store.

“It was tragic enough we suffered the hurricane, but

the hotel has not reopened and it looks like nothing is going to happen – it looks as if we are headed in the same position as International Bazaar. I have heard nothing about when, or if the hotels will be up and running soon.”

Despite the soft economy, the store pays nearly $3,000 a month in rent.

“It is hard. We have three persons on staff now, but we had to lay off people. It is unfortunate, but there is nothing we can do if sales are down and we cannot pay them,” she said.

Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson has asked Grand Bahamians to be patient as the government is in talks with the prospective buyer of the resort.

The Minnis administration, he said, is talking to the parties involved daily due to the importance of the hotel reopening for Freeport’s economic revival.

BTVI LAUNCHES NEW SERIES OF PROGRAMMES FOR FALL AFTER a recent curriculum review, the Information Technology (IT) Department of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) will now be offering a set of new and optimised programmes come Fall 2017.

The new programmes include associate of applied science degrees in network engineering, software engineering and a redesigned IT management degree.

This is in addition to an IT support specialist diploma and an IT entry level certificate programme – the latter of which will also be available online.

The IT entry level certificate can be completed in 40 weeks online or on campus within a semester. It offers the essentials for a student with at least three Bahamas Junior Certificates to jumpstart a career in information technology. Further, it is a springboard into the institution’s diploma and associate’s degree programmes.

Chair of BTVI’s IT programme Anthony Ramtulla said offering an online programme is proof that the institution is changing with technology.

“Every single piece of this programme you will be able to do in the cloud. We’re on the bleeding edge – not even on the cutting edge when it comes to our education,” said Mr Ramtulla.

“A lot of the things we do

BTVI information technology instructor Kevin McCartney guides student Saveion Stubbs while in the IT lab.

Furthermore, Mr RamMeanwhile, BTVI’s IT ey is presently at Fanat BTVI require that students be in the lab learning tulla noted that IT pro- degree students are now on shawe College in Canada by experience. However, grammes are in demand and a path to a bachelor’s de- as an exchange student some of our programmes, BTVI allows for students to gree in just three years. This on an Emerging Leaders especially at the early stag- also acquire international is possible because of an in Americas Programme es, are more cognitive, and certifications from Micro- agreement with the fully ac- (ELAP) scholarship. Folcredited New England Insti- lowing his two-semester we have technology where soft, CompTIA or Cisco.

“It is proof our courses tute of Technology (NEIT) stint, he is expected to rewe can simulate the labs in turn to BTVI to complete the cloud, so you don’t have are industry validated,” he in Rhode Island, US. said.

IT student Dion Mack- his degree. to leave home,” he added.

Photo: Shantique Longley “Information technology is always evolving. It’s not stagnant. There is always something to learn.

It is such a diverse field,” he said. “I (got) so much from the IT programme at BTVI. The certifications open doors and prepare you for jobs in the IT field.”

ECONOMIC STORIES CATCH THE ATTENTION AS READERS RESPOND AFTER Tribune Business reported the Government’s optimism in resolving the Grand Lucayan resort’s fate, readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com.

Observerinlondon wasn’t hopeful of a deal being done: “Its impossible to make money in The Bahamas. After the Baha Mar fiasco do you think any business would want to invest money here? I doubt it.”

Proudloudandfnm was also doubtful: “My family and I leaving the Bahamas.

We are out of here in three weeks. Can’t survive any longer with no revenue and can’t take any more of these ‘good things coming’ promises by the new government.

Goodbye Bahamas . . .”

To which The_Oracle responded with: “Soon time, Proudloud, I agree, these guys are falling short on action, and following the well rutted road to nowhere. I’ll hold out a bit longer, their election did create a short term ‘feel good’ but that don’t last.”

Sangeej said: “Its not

Wynn’s fault this deal is not sealed, it is just hard doing business in the Bahamas, it takes years to get anything done, but this will happen.”

John had a suggestion for the Prime Minister: “Allow all new companies coming into the Bahamas to fix their business plan where local Bahamians can buy ownership (shares) into these companies. At least to the tune of 30-50 per cent.

Create opportunities where Bahamians with financial wherewithal can also get opportunities to invest in our tourism industry.”

There was this comment from Sheeprunner12: “Freeport should be a strictly industrial-based economy. Leave the tourism to West & East GB. Our Lucaya would be a good facility for board meetings, short term residency and

sports accommodations.”

And Bahamas Resolve chairman James Smith’s warning that the government may have to pay interest costs for bad debts at the Bank of The Bahamas prompted this response from Screwedbahamian: “In the real banking world, if a securitised loan goes delinquent, the collateral is repossessed and sold off and the funds applied to the loan balance. If the monies realised from the sale are insufficient to totally liquidate the loan, the individual or individuals who were signatures on the loan are responsible for payment of the deficiency balance.

Why are these individuals not taken to court to have them declared insolvent, and liquidate all of their assets to recover the loan in full? Why is it that the poor people of the Bahamas now must pay for these financial scumbags to go free as a birdie?”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 5, 2017, PAGE 11

Aviation investment may be needed to meet US screening measures

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE government may have to make a significant investment in the aviation industry as it looks to bring the country’s airports in accordance with new security screening measures announced by the United States last week.

Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday equipment upgrades could

cost the country $50,000 to $75,000 per apparatus, per airport.

This comes just days after Mr D’Aguilar warned that travellers would face increased screening time at airports once planned US regulations take effect.

The new security measures call for greater scrutiny of passengers entering the US, enhanced screening of electronic devices, and better deployment of canines that detect explosives.

Offering further insight

on the issue Tuesday, Mr D’Aguilar said the US has received intelligence that persons in the Middle East have figured out how to put explosive devices within electronics such as laptops and those devices would now require additional screening. “(US officials) have deemed it necessary now to request and require enhanced security measures,” he said.

“So, not only (will) your electronic devices be

swabbed, but you can also expect for more passengers to be subjected to additional screening,” he continued.

Mr D’Aguilar added that the new screening techniques could force officials to either divert passengers coming from Family Island destinations not equipped with the correct technology to adequately screen passengers or, invest in additional apparatuses.

“Where it does affect us, however, is the Family Islands because not in every

Family Island airport (do) we have this device to detect explosive material.

“So we are either going to have to divert passengers who want to travel with these electronic devices to airports where these detection devices are or purchase additional equipment for these airports.

“For example, one of those airports is Treasure Cay (in Abaco); they have one international flight a day on Silver Airways into the United States, and it is

going to cost us $50,000 to $75,000 to buy additional equipment to put in place so we need to decide how best to proceed on that,” he said.

Mr D’Aguilar also suggested that the security measures could result in “additional overtime” for aviation security staff.

In addition to New Providence, Abaco, Exuma, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera, there are occasional direct flights from the US into Long Island, San Salvador and Bimini.

Sports for

summer

THE MINISTRY of Youth, Sports and Culture held a sports camp yesterday at the sporting complex near AF Adderley.

PRISON OFFICER HELD AFTER DRUGS FIND DRUG Enforcement Unit officers took a 25-year-old correctional officer from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services into custody following the seizure of a quantity of dangerous drugs allegedly found in his possession on Monday.

According to police, around 10pm DEU officers acting on information conducted a search of a correctional officer who

had just arrived for duty at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS).

Officers allegedly found marijuana in his possession and he was arrested.

DEU searched the correctional officer’s home in Pastel Gardens, where they allegedly found an additional quantity of marijuana.

The investigation into this matter is continuing.

This is the second arrest

in less than a week involving a correctional officer on a drug offence.

Last Wednesday, a 45-year-old correctional officer was arrested after he was found with six ounces of cocaine at the BDCS. The officer in that matter, Logan Smith, 45, was arraigned last Friday. He pleaded guilty to marijuana possession with intent to supply and was sentenced to one year in prison.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

PAGE 12, Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Graduating to the art world

THE TRIBUNE

PATRONS and artists mingle at the recent University of The Bahamas Visual Arts Department Grad Show 2017, at Antonius Roberts’ Studio & Gallery at Hillside House.

Photos: Eric Rose/BIS

GRADUATE Spurgeonique Morley (BA, art education) poses GRADUATE Nowe Harris-Smith (BA, art education) with her artwork. with her artwork.

GRADUATE Kiana Christie (AA, art) with one of her ceramic creations.