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The Tribune
Volume:116 No.133, JULY 5TH, 2019
Established 1903
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Friday, July 5, 201
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WEEKEND: OSANO’S DREAM ELTON AND THE JAZZ MAN
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PROM CHIC Page 14 & 15
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JULY 4 HORROR US billionaire among seven Americans Food from the world at your
doorstep
pages 8 & 9
killed in helicopter crash near Abaco
THE BODIES began to arrive in Grand Bahama early this morning. Photo: DENISE MAYCOCK By AVA TURNQUEST and DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Straff Reporters
BILLIONAIRE coal tycoon Chris Cline who died in a helicopter crash yesterday.
A HELICOPTER crash off Grand Cay, Abaco claimed the life of billionaire coal tycoon Chris Cline, his daughter and five other people yesterday. Mr Cline died a day before his 61st birthday after their helicopter crashed as it was flying back to the United States, Close family friend West Virginia Governor Jim Justice confirmed the deaths in a series of tweets yesterday evening following reports that seven Americans had been found in a submerged helicopter some two miles offshore. According to police, the helicopter (N32DCC) took off from
Big Grand Cay around 2am yesterday, on its way to Florida. “The aircraft was reported missing to the Royal Bahamas Police Force at about 2.53pm on Thursday after it did not arrive at the intended destination,” the police statement read. The helicopter was found overturned in 16 feet of water, off Grand Cay. Other victims were identified as David Jude, two young adults from Beckley, West Virginia, unidentified friends and an unidentified helicopter mechanic from Florida, according to the Register-Herald, a West Virginia newspaper. Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar told The Tribune the incident happened around 2am yesterday, however
local officials did not release information until last evening. “It’s all very scant,” he said when asked about the reporting delay. Mr D’Aguilar continued: “I’m sure the police will provide that information. I was advised it happened early this morning (Thursday). What then transpired from then and where we are now is still under investigation.” Tributes poured in on social media for the seven passengers who perished in the crash, with many expressing shock and heartbreak over the tragedy. The aircraft was headed to Fort Lauderdale with four women and three men, according to police. SEE PAGE THREE
‘KNEE-JERK REACTION’ WON’T STOP CRIME By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames insists law enforcement will not allow emotional, “kneejerk” reactions to drive decision making in the fight against crime. In interviews with The Tribune yesterday, both he and Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson stressed the importance of a “systematic” and “sustainable”
MARVIN DAMES approach. Commissioner Ferguson highlighted officers will continue to be
“visibly seen” across New Providence. Their comments came after a spate of gun violence in the capital, including a traumatic incident on Sunday where more than a dozen people were shot while attending a birthday party in Montel Heights. “These things, these incidences. . . didn’t get here overnight,” Commissioner Ferguson said. “And so you’ll find that you’re
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE THREE
A COMIC’S VIEW NO SURPRISE AS BPL STILL PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Friday, July 5, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Three officers charged over assault on teen
LEFT: Bahamian-American teen Delucca Rolle. Three police officers are facing criminal charges after two of them were seen on video punching and arresting him. Above, the incident caught on video. Right, his mother Clintina Rolle. By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net THREE Florida police officers are facing criminal charges after two of them were caught on video punching and arresting a Bahamian-American teen. Sergeant Gregory LaCerra, 51, was charged with two counts of battery for spraying the teen,
Delucca Rolle, with pepperspray and throwing him to the pavement. Deputy Christopher Krickovich, 29, was charged with two counts of battery for slamming the teen’s head into the pavement and punching him in the face. Deputies Krickovich and Ralph Mackey, 49, also face charges of falsifying records and conspiracy to falsify records for falsifying
the description of the circumstances of the juvenile’s arrest. All three men are expected to appear in court to be arraigned on all of the charges in coming weeks. “When kids do something, they should be accountable for what they have done. And when adults do something, they should be accountable for what they have done,”
Delucca’s mother, Clintina Rolle, told CNN affiliate WSVN. “I want to tell the state attorney thank you for making the right decision.” Benjamin Crump, the family’s attorney, said that no one should be above the law. In April, Sergeant LaCerra and Deputies Krickovich and Mackey responded to a fight outside the McDonald’s in Tamarac, where some 200 students were gathered. Delucca, 15, is seen on video being pepper-sprayed by Sergeant LaCerra and then thrown to the ground where Deputy Krickovich kneeled on him and is seen slamming the teen’s head into the concrete and punching him on the side of his face. A bloody-face Delucca is finally seen in videos restrained by the officers. Onlookers to the ordeal can be heard throughout the video recordings calling on the officers to show a level of restraint, with one bystander asking: “What are you doing? He’s bleeding!” Another added: “He didn’t do anything.”
At the time, Deputy Krickovich was placed on leave following the incident, and in his report his arrest report claimed Delucca took an aggressive stance toward officers and clenched his fists. Mr Krickovich further suggested he was forced to push the teen’s head into the ground to free the teen’s right hand from under his body, according to Local10 in Florida. The incident garnered international attention and a tremendous amount of support from celebrities — all calling for justice in the matter. Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen in tweet called for Mr Krickovich to be fired outright. NBA star LeBron James said the incident has made him concerned about the safety of his own kids. Delucca’s mother has said he has Bahamian citizenship and is a naturalised American, according to earlier reports Just two weeks ago Rolle was involved with police again when he was arrested after Lauderhill police discovered a stolen car and
followed it into North Lauderdale. Rolle was a passenger in the car, authorities said. Rolle’s mother, Clintina Rolle, posted on Facebook that a friend had picked up her son. “He did not know the car his friend was driving wasn’t the friend car,” she wrote. “The friend told the police my son wasn’t aware of what’s going on. My son was afraid and he ran. Due to the fact that, he is still in fear of the police. He didn’t know what to expect.” She added, “I can’t change the fact that he didn’t know what was going on.” After Rolle fled the scene, a helicopter was used to find him. He was subsequently charged with being in a stolen car and resisting an officer without violence, local press reported. Officials said the car was stolen out of Margate driveway on June 24. The owner told police he had left the keys in his unlocked Mercedes, which had been broken into. Broward Sheriff’s Office, would not release reports last week citing juvenile privacy laws.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 5, 2019, PAGE 3
‘KNEE-JERK REACTION’ WON’T STOP CRIME from page one
dealing with persons who seem to be lawless and then you have to keep working on it to really reduce the level of criminals running up and down the streets and creating fear in people. “We are prepared to do so by our approach, a systematic approach in getting to the criminal element and removing them out of society and putting them before the courts so they can be properly dealt with. “We always try to, where it’s necessary, to increase visibility on the streets. We will continue to do that from
time to time, have more officers on the streets and we will continue to do that.” When asked if this increased visibility will apply to Montel Heights specifically, Commissioner Ferguson replied: “All those areas that we deem, where we see increased criminal activities… you’ll find that we continue to do that. And even where there seems to be none, really as a matter of precaution, I think we’ll continue to move about and be visibly seen in those areas to prevent persons from either wandering around in those other areas. So we want to be able to cover the island
effectively by being visible.” For his part, Mr Dames said The Bahamas is currently “in a better place today than we were a few years ago” in the fight against crime. While noting incidents such as Sunday’s shootings are appalling, he called for cooler heads to prevail — dismissing calls for The Bahamas to implement a state of emergency as was recently implemented in Jamaica to fight crime, with law enforcement patrolling the streets armed with highpowered weapons. “Look at where we are over the last two years compared to previous times,”
Mr Dames said. “The police are very much on top of what is happening in this country. You’re not going to stop everything. That’s the reality. I think last year we had the lowest murder rate in (nearly) 10 years. Did we call for state of emergency the previous year? C’mon… we have to first understand the context of the problem…unfortunately many persons are speaking from their gut without first understanding the context by which we face. “The crime statistics over the last (two) years since we have been in office is a clear reflection of that. And if we weren’t calling for it
(previously)…we’re moving in the right direction. We have a plan. And we’re not going to take a knee-jerk reaction to addressing these issues. “We’re running a country, and so we must ensure that the actions and positions we take can be sustained and are measurable and we’re able to find meaningful solutions, bring about meaningful solutions to the problems we face. “We have to not allow our emotions to drive our conclusions or our decision making…These are not quick fixes. These are manifestations of neglect over the decades. It’s going to
require short- medium- and long-term solutions before we can see any cessation of this continued trend.” The men were contacted a day after Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander told reporters he thinks residents must give up some “freedoms” so law enforcement can stem crime. While predicting police would soon implement sweeping searches and road checks, Bishop Fernander asked the public to be receptive to law enforcement being a “bit more aggressive”. Editorial View - Page 4
HORROR ON INDEPENDENCE DAY
US billionaire among seven Americans dead in helicopter tragedy
THE BODIES began to arrive in Grand Bahama early this morning. Photos: DENISE MAYCOCK
from page one
CHRIS CLINE, the coal magnate from West Virginia who once dated golfer Tiger Woods’ ex-wife Elin Nordegren.
“Today we lost a WV superstar,” Mr Justice’s tweet read. “Our families go back to the beginning of the Cline empire - Pioneer Fuel. Chris Cline built an empire and on every occasion was always there to give. What a wonderful, loving and giving man.” US Senator Sue Cline
wrote: “Prayers for family and friends of my great friend Chris Cline and his daughter Cameron and her dear friends who we loss (sic) today in a helicopter crash. Chris was (an) exceptional human being and we all loved him so much. Such a loss for all seven aboard today. Our hearts are broken.” Beckley Mayor Rob Rappold told the Register-Herald: “Words can’t
express the absolute sorrow and disbelief. Southern West Virginia was Chris’ love and his legacy of compassion and giving back will last for ever.” The helicopter was found two miles offshore, according to police. The Air Accident Investigation Department will head to Grand Cay this morning to begin investigations, according to Chief Investigator Delvin Major.
He said the department was notified of the incident sometime after 4pm. “We do not know the time when it happened, a lot of information is going around. We cannot say that, we are the investigators, we can’t speculate. The timeline is still unclear,” Mr Major said. For the latest news, go to tribune242.com
GIBSON RETAINS KNIGHT TO BE HIS NEW ATTORNEY By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson has retained Jamaican attorney Keith Knight, QC to be his lead attorney in his upcoming bribery trial, it was revealed yesterday. Mr Knight successfully defended Gibson’s fellow Progressive Liberal Party politician Frank Smith in his bribery and extortion trial in the Magistrate’s Court, and is now representing Smith in the Crown’s appeal of that decision. Yesterday’s revelation by another one of Gibson’s attorneys, Damian Gomez, QC, came less than a month after Crown
prosecutor Terry Archer indicated that the government has retained the services of James Guthrie, QC, to act as lead prosecutor in the matter. The matter is adjourned to August 30. Gibson remains on bail until that time. On August 3, 2017 Gibson was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court on 36 bribery and extortion related charges: one count of misconduct in public office, 16 counts of bribery, two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion and 15 counts of extortion – all concerned with Jonathan Ash. The number of bribery and extortion related charges were later
SHANE GIBSON YESTERDAY
decreased to 31, though the amount he was alleged to have solicited from Mr Ash remained the same. The Crown later announced its decision to drop all the extortion charges against the former Golden Gates MP, with Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin stating at the time that the decision was for the Crown to devote a
“singular and simplified focus” on Gibson’s bribery charges. About an hour after his initial arraignment, Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson granted the former Golden Gates MP $40,000 bail with two sureties on the condition he does not reoffend and attends his trial. She did not impose any travel restrictions on Gibson, and neither was he required to surrender his travel documents or check into any police station. Last month, Mr Wells revealed that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis may be called upon to give testimony in his client’s trial. At the time, Mr Wells said Dr Minnis wields information that is “vital” to
the defence’s attempts to stave off the allegations. Mr Wells said the defence has requested the Crown to make Dr Minnis available as a witness. However, he said given the position the Crown has taken on the issue, Dr Minnis may have to be subpoenaed. In response to Mr
Wells’ statements, Justice Carolita Bethel, who inherited the case after her fellow judge, Indra Charles, recused herself in May, said Gibson’s attorneys should endeavour to ensure that Dr Minnis has “something to offer” from an evidential standpoint. The trial is set for September 23.
PAGE 4, Friday, July 5, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Overcharged by BPL? Get the facts and figures before calling IT’S FAIR to say there’s not a great relationship between BPL and customers at the moment. As people labour through the summer heat despite regular load shedding and an island-wide outage, another concern has been raised – are our bills going up? Readers contacted The Tribune to say that while their power has been off, their bill has somehow been creeping up. One reader said that they had done nothing differently yet their bill went from $150 to $230, two other women reported significant increases despite what they say are no changes to their behaviour. What does Donovan Moxey, the chairman at BPL, say? Not us, he says, it’s against the law for us to change the cost. The price of oil going up can increase billing – but again, that’s not happening right now. So what’s the solution to this game of “he says, they say?” Well, the evidence is right there in your homes. A vast amount of BPL bills are issued based on estimated readings – but in your home is a meter. Find where it is and read the numbers on it – you’ll see it turning with even just a light bulb on in your home. Don’t go messing
about with anything, just read the numbers and jot them down. Track it each week to see how much power you’re using each week and if it’s different from what BPL reckons you’re using, phone them up and tell them! Hold them to account with the facts on your side. Tell them to sort out that power bill right away if it doesn’t match up. You might, though, find without realising that you are using more power – in which case maybe spare that call to BPL to tell them off. If you are using more, then start looking at the things you can do to save on power if it’s costing you too much – turning off the TV at night rather than leaving that stand-by light burning, thinking about what devices need to be on all the time or remembering to put out that light before bed. There are a lot of reasons to be grumpy at BPL right now as we go through a summer of sweat with power outages too common – but for this one, let’s all be sure we have our figures in our hands ready to challenge the company first… and maybe learn a trick or two for savings along the way too. After all, why let your money go to waste?
Audits are doing their work - are enforcers? SPEAKING of wasted money, how many times must we hear about audits turning up missing money before we hear more about what’s being done about it. Today it’s $280,000 missing from Bahamas Embassy records supposedly to pay a school for tuition in Washington, DC. The school was not named, which seems an unusual thing not to reveal – are there gaps in both the embassy and the school’s records at the same time? We don’t know right now, though presumably the embassy must know which schools they have arrangements with. This week, the Opposition burst into protest at a $9,000 a month cost for the new Governor General’s accommodation while Government House is being restored, we hope they will be as upset over $280,000 going missing, largely under their own former government’s watch? We think the $9,000 is a monthly
sum the nation would be best rid of– but this one audit of a single embassy shows missing money that would pay for that 31 times over. The audit story is one we keep hearing. Police overtime this week. BAMSI. The National Sports Authority – at least that report is going to the police. The Ministry of Education. They keep coming. Auditor General Terrance Bastian and his team are doing sterling work – but is their work being acted on? Let’s be as public in the way we sort out these problems as the way in which they’re announced. Let’s ensure the culprits are identified, and that no one slinks away into shadow. It doesn’t matter what colour shirt is worn, which shout of “PLP” or “FNM” is made by those who mishandle at best – or defraud at worst – the nation’s money. Whoever does that is in the wrong, and should be held to account. Let’s start doing so.
We must stop this partisan wrangling EDITOR, The Tribune The FNM is not going to disintegrate because Mr Brent Symonette resigned from cabinet. That is wishful and juvenile thinking. Unless there is some unknown and politically suicidal issues over his abrupt, seemingly, departure from cabinet it may well be a tempest in a tea cup. I am not and have never been a partisan of Brent. While I love him as a human being and a fellow Bahamian, he’s always, in my view, been too smug and arrogant for front line politics in the Bahamian context. In short, he has a Midas sized wealth but is abjectly, in my view, lacking in people’s skills and communications. His departure is a bonus to Minnis’ regime. Brent would have always sought to outshine, if that were possible, the shine of the Most Honourable. Many years ago, he and I spoke via telephone and once in his real estate offices on East Bay Street.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net He asked me if he could ever become Prime Minister. I did not quite burst out laughing but came close to it. Bahamians are not racists. Most of you all are simply culturally ignorant and closed minded to anyone whom do not look, walk and talk like you all. You all don’t ‘like’ black Haitians; black Jamaicans; black Americans and, for sure, black Africans. You all, especially the lazy ones, do not like to see others, especially if you are white, benefiting from transitory wealth. Brent Symonette is a classical case. Brent probably never had to work one hard day in his life. He is a lawyer but no one has ever heard about this legal eagle at the Bar or over the ridge. Not to disparage him but to state what it is......no white Bahamian, save and except for the Hon Clay Thompson, could ever become
Prime Minster in this life time. The PLP, if it work it tight is poised to ramp up its parliamentary ranks but it has to evolve into a more inclusive and pro action opposition. The same old same old will not work. The DNA, if Branville were to come back could be the king or queen maker next general elections. The Hon Elsworth Johnson (FNMYamacraw) will make an outstanding Minister of Financial Services & Immigration. I have always supported him and will continue to do so. It is my desire that we get a bit past the partisan wrangling of the past when parliament comes back after the summer recess. Good things are ahead for the FNM; the PLP and the DNA, God willing. It is to be remembered, however, that in all things, to God be the glory.
As a student, I see PLP’s faults Does wealth discriminate? EDITOR, The Tribune
MY NAME is Nicholas Knowles, a Bahamian student studying International Politics at Georgetown University. Having interned thus far at the Bahamian Embassy in Washington, DC, the Bahamas Mission to the United States, and the Organisation of American States, I have made every effort possible to involve myself in Bahamian politics. Opposition leader Philip Brave Davis’ most recent commentary in light of Brent Symonette’s resignation is nothing short of embarrassing, though indicative of the scourge of hypocrisy that has come to characterise the PLP in recent years. Davis, who claimed Symonette was “emblematic of conflict of interest and self-dealing in the government” should be reminded that in 2016,
the United States again criticised The Bahamas’ procurement methods, calling them “susceptible to corruption.” Davis, in response, felt the criticism “unfortunate” because “they differ from (our) own practices.” It is truly unfortunate indeed if our practices have become so entrenched with corruption you defended the report by claiming, with playground judgment, there are “many ways to skin a cat.” How many ways are there exactly, one must ask, when the State Department’s 2016 investment climate statement echoed concerns over “a lack of transparency and undue political interference” — the same concerns the same report had repeated for the length of the PLP administration. The ever-learned Leslie Miller’s response to those claims was to admit that such a system of corruption
was a “way of life” in The Bahamas. Back in 2014, when the United States again called into question the “undue interference” of the government when awarding contracts, Davis admitted: “I don’t know what they mean by it… I don’t understand. As a government, we don’t question their process…” Five years later, MP Davis is still grasping for whatever shred of intellectual legitimacy he can grab hold of, still pandering to the party faithful, still a useless presence in Bahamian political society. Derailing the FNM’s efforts to right the wrongs of the former administrations, your former administration Mr Davis, does nothing to move the Bahamian population forward. NICK Georgetown University July 1, 2019
EDITOR, The Tribune BRENT and his wealth and companies? So much to do about nothing as Symonette out of Cabinet still an MP will still when his companies bid can be given tender after tender - his company in their field is highly qualified. Boy but what a political issue they gave to the PLP…nothing better for them to feed off racism - the wealthy taking more and more…boy best transfusion they could ever be given and who gave this to the PLP? The FNM). I have written on disclosure before… when you look at it MP-Senator disclosure is actually in secret not to be shown to the public unless the Prime Minister
Jr
ORTLAND H BODIE,
Nassau July 4, 2019
decides and he probably has many reasons not to disclose that…exposing where all his global investments are could be a little embarrassing (his words).Tenders? Nominee shareholders should not be allowed… all bids should be on-line and all results should be posted. Does wealth discriminate? Does the colour of your skin discriminate? What is so funny it is well known that the Symonette family is far from being Caucasian so what is this all about? Garbage in and oh so much garbage out! FNM gave a lot to the PLP…that’s politics! W THOMPSON Nassau July 3, 2019
A stitch in time saves nine EDITOR, The Tribune
I AM convinced that the expression “you got more guts than a calabash” was coined to describe politicians. For, I can’t see how Brave Davis can fix his mouth to complain about the state of Government House, when, by his own admission, it seems to have begun its bad deterioration during two years of his
tenure as Minister of Works. Remember the old adage “a stitch in time saves nine”? Well Mr Davis consider this, possibly some bundles of shingles and some other repairs in 2015 could have saved us rent of $9,000 a month in 2019. JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau July 4, 2019
THE TRIBUNE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net AMID consumer complaints of rocketing Bahamas Power and Light bills in the aftermath of load shedding and an island wide outage, BPL chairman Donovan Moxey is urging consumers to look at subtle changes in their behaviour while at home. “We don’t magically kick up the cost in the summer,” Mr Moxey told The Tribune yesterday. “We are not allowed to. It’s against the law. The problem is no one takes the time to understand the subtleties about how their life changes in the summer.” This was his response yesterday when told of consumers’ displeasure over increases in billing, while factoring in power cuts since June, coupled with an island-wide blackout this week. “I haven’t done anything differently from all my bills and I am comparing them. My bills are usually between $130 and $150; my bill came out for the end of this month and it’s $230 and there was nothing different,” New Providence resident Claude St Claver told The Tribune yesterday. Two women who preferred not to be identified insisted their bills significantly increased despite having the same behaviours throughout winter and into this summer. Still, Mr Moxey maintained yesterday that most people don’t realise the little things. “There are subtle differences in our behaviour when the whether gets warmer that we do in terms of our electricity consumption. We don’t quite notice right away. “What I can say to anybody is this: the meter that you had three months ago when the winter time is occurring is the same meter you have now. The mechanisms to read that metre three months ago are the same mechanisms now. “So if they look at their bill, the only thing that
Friday, July 5, 2019, PAGE 5
Moxey moves to defend BPL over summer increases
BPL chairman Donovan Moxey and, inset, Works Minister Desmond Bannister changes is the fact that the usage in terms of kilowatt hour usage kicks up. This is what a lot of people don’t take into account. “It’s the use of electricity that is changing because (of) people’s lifestyle patterns. That’s what’s happening,” he also said. “We cannot adjust the pricing based on volume usage. We are not allowed to do that. So when you look at your bill or anyone looks at their bills they’ll
see that those rates remain the same throughout.” Mr Moxey said when the price of oil increases that too would increase billing, but this is not the case now. He gave some examples of what may affect usage in the hot summer months, pointing to the reliance on air conditioning units. “If they have central air in their house set at auto and it is set to a certain temperature, if the outside temperature is close to the
Infection killed baby girl who was ‘set ablaze’ By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A ONE-YEAR-OLD girl who was allegedly set on fire by her schizophrenic mother had close to 50 percent of her body burned in the process, a forensic pathologist said yesterday. Dr Kiko Bridgewater said Philicia Marshall suffered second and third degree burns on 43 percent of her body due to “nonaccidental injury”. Dr Bridgewater said the little girl suffered burns on her chin, chest, abdomen, the front and back of her lower limbs and the back of her right forearm. He said by the time her body got to him, he could see where doctors grafted skin off her back and buttocks in a bid to treat her. But despite that, Dr Bridgewater said Philicia didn’t actually die from the burn injuries, but from an “overwhelming” bacterial infection —klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis—that when tested, was extremely resistant to multiple antibiotics. That infection, Dr Bridgewater mused, likely set in during her hospitalisation at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). The lack of an epidermis, or the protective outer layer of skin, made it easier for the toddler to get infected in such an open environment. Dr Bridgewater also said Philicia had also contracted bilateral pulmonary consolidation, or lung pneumonia, where the lungs become swollen or hard. He said though it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility for Philicia to have survived, the odds were against her, given the percentage of her
body surface area that was burnt and her age. And he said the bacterial infection would have still been difficult to treat, even if it was caught early on. The testimony was given moments prior to the close of the Crown’s case against Marshall over allegations she caused her daughter’s death by means of unlawful harm. Prosecutors allege the 41-year-old doused her child with gasoline and set her alight in December 2017 at her Faith Gardens home after “hearing voices”. The child died in February 2018 after being cared for at the Children’s Ward at PMH. Also taking the witness stand yesterday was Dr William Seymour Jr, the Emergency Room resident who dealt with Philicia when she was first admitted to Accident & Emergency on December 28, 2017. Dr Seymour said at the time, he estimated that Philicia suffered burns on 37 percent of her body; 6.5 percent on her anterior torso, 2.5 percent on the front and back of her legs; and another 2.5 percent on her right hand and forearm. Dr Seymour said the burn pattern suggested that the toddler was lying on her back at the time she was set afire, as her back was not affected. He said the reason why she suffered burns on the back of her legs was likely because as a toddler, she had her legs elevated. Dr Seymour said he viewed the injuries as “serious”, and the kind that required “aggressive” medical treatment. Otherwise, he said the toddler risked various complications, dehydration and improper healing.
As a result, he said he recommended she be admitted to PMH for pain control, hydration and burn treatment. He said his recommendations were carried out to the best of his knowledge. Dr Seymour noted that during his initial examination of Philicia, which included blood work, he detected no signs or suggestions of an infection. However, he agreed that she may have picked up an infection while at the hospital. However, Dr Seymour said although Philicia had suffered such serious injuries, he did not expect the child to die. He said that was based on a “prediction” he arrived at using the Baux score, which he said is a universally accepted system used to determine the chance of mortality due to burns. In order to determine a Baux score, Dr Seymour said the victim’s age and the total body surface area that was burned would be added. Based on his evidence, the higher the score, the higher the chance of mortality. In Philicia’s case, he said her Baux score was “very low”, and less than five per cent. However, he noted that even with the Baux score he still could not say with certainty that she would not die. Nonetheless, Dr Seymour said barring all causes of complications, he believed that with aggressive medical intervention, Philicia could have lived. However, he disagreed with suggestions that an aggressive medical treatment was not rendered. The trial continues.
temperature that is set that doesn’t kick in a whole lot. “One of the things that people look at and they don’t take into account is when that air condition first kicks, in there is a huge amount of amperage electricity that absorbs and then as the temperature gets cooler that kind of goes down after awhile. “The hotter the weather gets, even if you have the temperature set at the same setting, that particular unit
is going to work harder in order to maintain that because the outside temperature is hotter.” He continued: “Now some people might say ‘well I didn’t adjust the temperature on my air conditioner.’ “That’s fine but your air conditioner is going to run a lot harder and longer and even if your air conditioner runs an additional ten percent a day or 20 percent a day you aren’t going to measure that, but it means
you are using 10 or 20 percent more electricity for that unit that’s number one.” Mr Moxey also said in the summer when children are at home this drives up the cost of electricity. He urged consumers to utilise various conservation methods, including turning lights off when no one is using them, purchasing timers for water heaters, or using high efficiency appliances that do not drive up usage. The complaints come as Bahamians are becoming increasing angered by BPL’s generation challenges. On Tuesday there was an island wide black out that Works Minister Desmond Bannister said was the result of a large truck hitting a high voltage pole during the course of illegal dumping. His explanation however has done little to ease the pain of consumes who have had to endure BPL’s power generation issues this summer.
PAGE 6, Friday, July 5, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net PROMINENT businessman Sir Franklyn Wilson has hit out at former Cabinet minister Brent Symonette for his comments on race, calling his views narrow and emotional. Sir Franklyn suggested any perceived political barrier erected against Mr Symonette was not due to skin colour but his character. He cautioned sitting Cabinet ministers to view Mr Symonette’s comments as a lesson of their own political mortality, and to be merciful while in positions of power. “A lot of Cabinet ministers today are making decisions that are bringing a lot of hurt to a lot of families and I want them all to remember that the day will come when they no longer have that power,” Sir Franklyn said. “Mr Symonette says he has a lot of wealth, the country knows he has a lot of power for a long time. Yet still today his public comments suggest some hurt, some not being at peace. “Mr Symonette’s experience drives home the point. Don’t care how much power he had, how he been the son of the first premier, how much wealth he has today. We see hurt, we hear hurt, so those who seek peace for themselves and otherwise take an opportunity from this high profile example.” For comparison, Sir Franklyn referenced the struggle faced by the Anglican community when it deliberated over the appointment of Reverend Angela Palacious as the country’s first female priest. “There were a lot of people who previously would have thought they could not support a woman but when they looked at the Reverend Angela Palacious they saw sufficient of Jesus Christ in her to say I could support her. “So Brent’s comment about a barrier may be in his mind, because people are saying not that ‘I’m against white people being prime minister.’ Maybe they’re saying I’m against you.” Sir Franklyn continued: “That may be hurtful for someone to come to accept but that may be the barrier to which he refers. I believe
A LOT of Cabinet ministers today are making decisions that are bringing a lot of hurt to a lot of families and I want them all to remember that the day will come when they no longer have that power,” says Sir Franklyn. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
It’s not colour, it’s you, Brent, says Sir Franklyn that Mr Symonette’s experience should be a matter for reflection before talking, just individual reflection.” Mr Symonette grabbed headlines this week over a race narrative spun in exit interviews concerning his decision to step down as a Cabinet minister mid-term. On Wednesday, the former deputy prime minister suggested the country was not ready for a white prime minister and reiterated his call for a national discussion on race and wealth in politics. Yesterday, Sir Franklyn said he interpreted Mr Symonette’s call for a national discussion on race as a financial commitment to fund the research needed to fully ventilate the issue. “I assume that by that (Mr Symonette) means that it’s a discussion which will reflect research and intellectual rigour. It won’t be grounded on emotions and I interpreted his saying he’s out to facilitate the discussion as a public financial commitment to fund that research.
“And if that is what he means then I think he is to be commended and I look forward to him making that serious financial contribution towards that cause,” Sir Franklyn said. “Beyond that a discussion grounded on just his experiences would be too narrow to be either helpful or accurate.” Sir Franklyn also took aim at Mr Symonette’s intent for returning to frontline politics after his retirement in 2012, stating he believed a significant achievement for the former Cabinet minister was to have his father recognised as a national hero, an honour he received in 2018. Mr Symonette is the son of Sir Roland Symonette, the country’s first premier and leader of the defunct United Bahamian Party. Sir Roland was part of a group of white businessmen known widely as “The Bay Street Boys”. Sir Franklyn was part of “The Sunshine Boys”, a group of black businessmen
founded by the late Bradley Roberts in the 1970s. Mr Roberts was a former Cabinet minister, parliamentarian, and long-serving chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party. During Wednesday’s interview, The Tribune asked Mr Symonette whether backlash he experienced could also be linked to attitudes surrounding wealth disparity in the country. Mr Symonette replied that the same disparity existed throughout the world. “The wealth in The Bahamas is controlled by the people who control it,” Mr Symonette said. “You’ve got me, you’ve got Franklyn Wilson, you’ve got Tiger Finlayson, some very successful lawyers and bankers and doctors, that’s what it is. So let’s have that discussion.” “Any country in the world you can use the ratio that ten percent of the population controls 90 percent of the wealth,” Mr Symonette added.
Yesterday, Sir Franklyn rejected Mr Symonette’s attempt to draw a parallel between them on the matter of wealth disparity, and pointed to a stark contrast between their economic philosophy. “I don’t consider myself to be an elite nothing,” Sir Franklyn said. “His economic philosophy is fundamentally different from mine. I don’t believe this thing. The fact of the matter is if you look through my history, I was in groups like UNICOLL that was about advancing the concept of egalitarianism, of sharing, spreading.” UNICOLL was founded by former Prime Minister Perry Christie and the late Dr Bernard Nottage in 1966 as a forum for Bahamian college students who were studying abroad to engage in dialogue about national development. It was changed to UNICOMM to reference “community” in 1968 in a bid to be more inclusive. Sir Franklyn continued:
“I have no bones about it. I support the Progressive Liberal Party because progressive is in the name. I hear him drawing the parallel about himself and myself. You only go around that road when you have, in my humble view, the wrong concept of wealth. Like somehow it’s all right because Frankie Wilson, but he is very different from me.” Sir Franklyn noted the impact Mr Symonette’s views had on public policy. “The most serious thing he will go down in public policy for is the Commercial Enterprise (Act) - which I fundamentally oppose,” Sir Franklyn said. “When he was minister of tourism he threw away the ‘It’s Better in the Bahamas’ campaign, made the change for senseless change sake. “One of his first shows I remember as a politician on Wendell Jones show talking about market forces. I don’t believe that. These are things in his public life he is best known for.”
SYMONETTE DISMISSES IDEA OF CANNABIS VENTURE By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Cabinet minister Brent Symonette has ruled out the possibility of a business venture in cannabis for him or his children if the government moves to end prohibition. Mr Symonette told The Tribune he supported the track to cannabis reform outlined by CARICOM after watching his father’s slow and painful death from cancer.
“Absolutely not,” he said when asked whether he would consider getting into the industry. “I’m not against other people using it for medical or whatever reasons. “No plans, nor my children, not the lottery, not the gaming,” he also said, shooting down speculation he would join the domestic gaming sector. CARICOM’s Regional Marijuana Commission (RMC) report, released last year, calls for a strictly regulated framework for marijuana, akin to that for alcohol
and tobacco - bringing an end to the prohibition of marijuana for the entire region. The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana—tasked with codifying Bahamian views on the matter—was recently granted a three-month extension to complete its work after missing its April deadline. Mr Symonette said he did not think the commission was moving too slow on the matter. “When government becomes assertive you say they’re ramming
it down your throat,” he said, during a recent interview. “I personally think (legalisation is the way to go) within certain constraints. But one of the things my wife and I have talked a lot about is - with alcohol if you’re driving impaired it’s a very easy test. How do you deal with that question of impairment when driving? There’s those issues but my father died of cancer and I watched a slow death, and to keep people out of pain, why not? “I believe in assisted suicide too
for those reasons,” Mr Symonette continued. “When I was in the Attorney General’s Office, I would always push for… you get a guy caught with one joint on a cruise ship, why do you take him off a cruise ship and put him in our jails? Why do we get the fella who’s smoking a joint or whatever—now 100 pounds (should be treated differently) - and why should those people (with minor possession) have a record? So I think we should do a lot in that area.”
FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))
FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))
Shane A. Miller
Shane A. Miller
Registrar of Marriages
Registrar of Marriages
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 5, 2019, PAGE 7
GOVT RENEWS ITS 52-WEEK JOB PROGRAMME HUNDREDS of participants of the government’s National Job Creation and Skills Enhancement Programme have been re-engaged for the second year of the employment initiative which begins on Monday, Minister of Public Service and National Insurance Brensil Rolle said. The programme, better known as the 52-week job programme, started in August 2018 and came to an end on June 30. One thousand participants have benefited from the initiative so far, according to Mr Rolle. “Because of the hard work
performed by the programme’s participants and the feedback we’ve received from the employers, the government has decided to renew the programme for another year,” said Mr Rolle. “We made a commitment that we would re-engage all participants who received a satisfactory report from the various government ministries and departments, and the private sector.” Mr Rolle, pictured right, said his ministry is in the process of disseminating re-engagement letters to participants who are scheduled to return to work on Monday.
The National Job Creation and Skills Enhancement Programme is a job initiative established to provide the unemployed between the ages of 19 and 30 with hands-on skills aimed at enhancing their ability to find gainful employment. The programme is designed to include elements of classroom learning through partnerships with the Ministry of Education and the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI); paid internships in the areas of
construction, plumbing, electrical installation, hospitality, fashion design, business and information technology; and opportunities for professional certifications. The National Training Agency provides participants with soft skills and hospitality training, and BTVI provides additional workforce readiness training and a 22-week internship with independent professionals. Private sector companies provide training for participants in a variety of areas, including law,
construction, customer service and home maintenance. Mr Rolle said programme participants were placed in the public and private sector in New Providence, Grand Bahama and all of the Family Islands. Mr Rolle said that as a direct result of the National Job Creation and Skills Enhancement Programme, many participants have been offered full-time employment in the private sector, and government ministries and departments, including the Water and Sewerage Corporation and the National Insurance Board.
Auditors fail to verify $280,000 school payment By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net AUDITOR General Terrance Bastian has said the Bahamas Embassy in Washington DC did not receive any receipts over five years to verify that nearly $280,000 was paid to a school for tuition. As a result, auditors could not verify whether the school received this money. The report did not name the school, but provided a breakdown of vouchers issued from 2013 to 2017, one of which is described as “education for three children 2013 – 2014”. The finding was contained in a report for the period July 1, 2016 to June 20, 2018, tabled in the House of Assembly this week. “During review of the accounting records, we were
presented with a schedule showing payments for education allowance totaling $279,661 for the period August 2013 to August 2018,” the reported noted. “While the government pays for school fees, the embassy did not receive any receipts to verify payments to the school.” The report recommended that all supporting documents be provided to verify payments. It further noted that the official residence in Washington, DC was unoccupied at the time of the audit with renovations at a cost of $204,024 scheduled to begin. “The Ministry of Works assessed the work needed to be done on the residence in November 2014. Quotes were obtained in November and December 2017 from three companies to renovate the residence. “(A) Ministry of Foreign
Affairs letter dated April 10, 2018 indicates the ministry was in receipt of relevant Cabinet conclusion approving the disbursement of funds amounting to $204,024.” This embassy is also operating without a credit card, the report said, after the Bank of America refused to issue one. “During our review of the corporate credit card statements, we were informed that the Bank of America has refused to issue the embassy a credit card due to discrepancies which are currently being addressed. “We view this with great concern because the embassy cannot function efficiently in this technological advanced age without a card. The embassy has subsequently paid off the balance,” auditors said. Editorial View - Page 4
STAKEHOLDERS MEET OVER WATER SPORT PROTOCOLS By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THE Tourism Development Corporation yesterday held a stakeholder meeting to discuss the development of emergency protocols and regulations for the water sport industry. In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, TDC CEO and Executive Director Janet Johnson described the meeting as “very positive”. “It was just an initial coming together to talk about emergency protocols and those sorts of things that may have happened and to look at putting some rules and regulations in place,” she said.
“I think some good stuff came out of it. People feel that we need to put some regulations in place and that we need to start doing drills and things so that we have emergency protocols in place for when things happen. We’re a water-based destination, a lot of our tours are water based.“ She added a follow-up meeting is planned for later this month. “The stakeholders want to get together to see what they can do to put some things in place that they want to present to the government. It was very, very positive.” Organisations represented included the Bahamas National Trust,
the Port Department, the Marina Association, Sandy Toes, Blue Lagoon, Stuart’s Cove, the Bahamas Dive Association, the Department of Fisheries, and the Bimini Shark Lab. Last month, 21-year-old Jordan Lindsey of California was tragically killed by sharks while snorkeling with her family near Rose Island. Another American, Jonathan Hernandez, told NBC reporters he survived a shark bite in Abaco just days before Lindsey’s tragedy. The Bahamas has traditionally averaged several shark attacks per year. Lindsey’s death was the first confirmed shark-related death since 2008.
PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis with Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway yesterday.
MINNIS IN CLIMATE TALKS WITH NORWAY PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis stressed the need for The Bahamas to build climate resilience in the face of rising sea levels and increased hurricane activity, during bilateral talks with Norway yesterday. Dr Minnis met Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, in the margins of the 40th Regular Meeting of the Conference of
Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Dr Minnis took the opportunity to emphasize the need for a global approach to combatting the harmful effects of climate change with Norway, a country that has proven to be a frontrunner in the fight against climate change. The prime ministers
discussed a range of issues, including climate change, a sustainable ocean economy, environmental regulations and universal preschool education. Climate change has emerged as a critical issue for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like The Bahamas and other countries in the region which are particularly vulnerable to its impact.
PAGE 8, Friday, July 5, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
THE REAL BOSSES OF BPL, CONT
ANOTHER GOOD IDEA, THIS TIME FROM CALIFORNIA
LAST week Works Minister Desmond Bannister offered up this nugget, regarding BPL’s horrendous performance, especially as of late. “Despite days of load shedding, Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) performance so far this summer has been better than it was during any of the summers under the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration.” More verses from that sad FNM song“The PLP was gonna do it too.” And once again, continued failing service from the nation’s power provider. (I know, I know, the PLP was gonna do it too.) Here we are a week later, and Bannister is back at it, regarding BPL’s latest island wide blackout! He’s in full defence mode, ready to attempt, to defend, the indefensible yet again, BPL’s failing service, and lackluster performance in terms of power provision. Even if it is as you say, Mr. Bannister, regarding the latest episode with BPL, sounds like a lot of “see what had happened” “It is clear that yesterday a heavyduty vehicle that was engaged in illegal dumping within the easement came too close to one of the transmission poles. The impact caused the 132,000 volt lines to clash into each other thereby imposing a major fault on the transmission network. The result was that generation at both stations tripped offline, thereby causing a total island wide outage.” BPL’s service and power provision for Bahamians, still SUCKS!! Thank you for the rapid update, and the ‘Trumpian’ explanation in this particular instance, hopefully your legacy will be affordable, consistent, well managed and maintained power provision, for all Bahamians. However, at present, the fact is, BPL’s product leaves a lot to be desired, and they remain public enemy number one!
FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))
Shane A. Miller Registrar of Marriages
WE already know that ludicrous amounts of Bahamians are in prison for simple marijuana possession. Compounding this issue is that prisoners who are caught with marijuana when they are already in HMP, an offence that can end up adding years to their sentence and hence, costing the taxpayers the additional expenses to keep offenders locked up. California recently took a step in the right direction when it comes to guaranteeing incarcerated people’s rights in the middle of the cannabis legalisation movement. Though it remains illegal to consume marijuana in prisons, the state’s 3rd District Court of Appeals decided that less than an ounce of marijuana was legal for imprisoned people to have in their possession — the same amount that all Californians are authorised to carry by law by 2016’s Proposition 64. The case was brought to court when marijuana
was found in the cells of five Sacramento County inmates. The state of California argued that allowing incarcerated individuals to possess cannabis would cause issues in maintaining control in the prison facilities. Despite the valid concerns, a three-judge panel ruled to override the state’s concerns. Assistant public defender David Lynch said, “this ruling will prevent inmates from having years added to their sentences for simple possession, reducing overcrowding and saving $50,000 to 75,000 a year in unnecessary costs.” This is an excellent model for us as a nation to study, while creating our own laws to legalise and decriminalise marijuana in the Bahamas. Additionally it would deter contraband being smuggled in to inmates, by prison officers and other staff. Once we can, as a nation, finally get the conversation sparked up!!
THE IDEA THAT A LOAN CAN BE FORGOTTEN IS SHOCKING
TRIBUNE Business reported commercial banks are working with the government to remove “bottlenecks” to cutting the $500m “bad loan” pile. Readers gave their reactions on tribune242. com. Clamshell said: “$500,000,000 in bad mortgage loans to be simply written off in a nation of just 400,000 people. Shocking. Just . . . shocking. What is it about Bahamians, this idea that a loan or other debt can be just forgotten the day after you’ve spent the money?” That prompted this response from B_I_D___: “A healthy chunk of that 500M will be connected politicians and their cronies.” Former DNA leader Branville McCartney said the Bahamas “certainly needs to explore” replacing the present regressive
taxation system with an income tax. Dawes posted this comment: “I agree our taxes need to be more progressive but Bran needs to think a bit more before he speaks. There is no way a person making $5,000 a week is paying the same amount of tax as someone on $250 per week. Now, yes, they may be paying a smaller % of their wage in tax but it won’t be the same.” Joeblow asked: “What would be the point of having income tax WITHOUT greater accountability and oversight of spending? If resources in the past
were better managed this country could have been so much better off WITHOUT the massive national debt! Income tax would fundamentally change nothing other than HOW government collects taxes!!!” And after Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest warned that following the IMF’s income tax call would likely result in “a significantly higher tax burden” for middle class Bahamians, The_Oracle asked: “And so who is at fault in the above? The IMF? It was and is our political leaders who have borrowed on average $50 million/year for 50 years (Number may be wrong, but who would know? They sure don’t want the public to know!) The lender now wants certain conditions met. Maybe they should just put us in default?” Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))
FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))
Shane A. Miller
Shane A. Miller
Registrar of Marriages
Registrar of Marriages
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 5, 2019, PAGE 9
SHOOTING INCIDENT LEAVES 2 WOMEN IN HOSPITAL
Get tested for HIV is message to public By FARRAH JOHNSON “GET Tested Bey” is the message to the public as part of the 12th annual National Testing Day held in Pompey Square last Friday. The event, organised by the National HIV/AIDS Programme in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, and workers from the HIV & AIDS Centre, brought the free HIV screening test to encourage people to be proactive about knowing their status and to practise safe sex. Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said the main goal of the initiative is to “increase public participation in voluntary counselling and testing”. Lynette Deveaux, a research coordinator at the HIV & Aids Centre, told The Tribune another goal is to “normalise HIV testing”, so that it could be considered a standard part of a person’s “health screening process”. “HIV, like many other sexually transmitted infections, can be in your body up to ten years without there being any sign that you are infected, so the only way to know that is through testing,” she said.
“What many persons don’t know is that we have effective medication that is available free of charge to the public,” she added. Mrs Deveaux said that once a person tests positive for HIV, they are placed into care and the prognosis is usually “very good”. She said while there is no cure for the virus, if medication is taken as prescribed, it is possible for people to “feel healthy”. She said: “There’s a condition called viral suppression...where it would seem as if HIV is not in the body. It’s still there, but they feel healthy (and) they’re okay. “The Bahamas has signed onto the 90-90-90 treatment strategy and a part of that is we want 90 percent of all persons who are HIV positive to know their status. “The other thing is out of those persons who know their status, we want 90 percent of them to get into care and on medication. And for those who are into care and on medication, we want 90 percent of them to achieve viral suppression. So that’s our ultimate goal in 2020 to end AIDS.” Still, Mrs Deveaux insisted that even though the country’s HIV
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
statistics are beginning to decrease, one of their major concerns is people growing “complacent” and forgetting the importance of annual testing. “We want persons to be aware. We know people are going to have sex, so as long as persons are sexually active they need to get a test at least once a year. “If you have multiple sexual partners, then you should get tested two or maybe three times a year, but it’s important to know your status.” The HIV screening test was broken down into five stages: registration, pre-test counselling, rapid testing, post-test counseling and incentives. Mrs Deveaux said while they tried to “create a fun, light environment”, the event dealt with a “very serious matter”, because the results of an HIV test could drastically
INAUGURATION CEREMONY HELD FOR PRESIDENT AT ANNIVERSARY BANQUET THE club held its traditional changeover and inauguration ceremony for its new president, Kevin A Fernander, on Saturday, June 12. The event was held as part of its 31st anniversary banquet-styled gala of cocktails and dinner at SuperClubs Breezes Resort and Spa. The change-over saw the passing of the presidential baton between RCNP’s outgoing president, Moreno Hamilton, and Mr Fernander. The night was filled with glitz, glamour, and of course epic dance moves by an audience of Rotarians, family and friends. Members of Rotary Club New Providence eagerly took part in the weekend of events to mark the changeover - which began on June 28 with the customary roast of the outgoing president, followed by a pub crawl to various westerly located bars namely The Poop Deck West (RCNP Club meeting homestead), Plantation and the Compass Point Beach Resort.
Rotary Club of New Providence The Connectors (members) and accompanying friends danced the night away to the legendary Ira Storr and live band. At the changeover banquet, RCNP supporters paid homage to the outgoing president by honouring him with a president’s plaque. The historic first female past president (2017-2018) Inga Bostwick also received her due accoutrements. Past president Valentino also showed his gratitude with a presentation of certificates to his entire club board and named Rotarian’s Jasmine Wright and James Anderson Rotarians of the Year for their dedicated service during his reign. The celebrations culminated with awards, photo sessions and signature dance moves in true RCNP grand styled fellowship!
RCNP then inaugurated and welcomed their new president (affectionately referred to as Caesar from his days of prudency as club treasurer) with an evening of live band music from mother daughter duo Bangia. The master of ceremony was PS Jack Thompson. To close out the weekend, on Sunday, June 30, the members of RCNP attended the St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Cathedral where the Very Rev Glen Nixon gave his blessing to the new president. In true RCNP style, the new president made a donation to the summer school programme at the cathedral to initiate the club’s continued support to community all year long. Mr Fernander has chosen a theme of “Rotary…connecting generations”. He also challenged his members to do just that, by fortifying partnerships and connections in serving communities in the full and true spirit of Rotarians to put “Service Above Self”.
transform a person’s life. This is very, very important, primarily because we know that people are engaging in risk taking behaviours and engaging in... unprotected sex (or) any (other) form of sexual contact puts you at risk. “...Even if their results are negative, they still need to be counseled because we don’t want them to be negative in 2019 and then come back in 2020 and test positive.” Emile Lesbott, a health educator and prevention officer, said being aware of their status can give individuals a “heads-up in terms of making good decisions”. “It’s giving that awareness that if you want to have an encounter with a sexual partner that you don’t know anything about or their history, then use a condom to protect yourself,” he said.
TWO women are in hospital following a shooting incident in Freeport early yesterday morning, according to police. Assistant Superintendent of Police Terecita Pinder reported the victims sustained non-life threatening injuries. According to reliable sources, the women were with a man who was believed to be the intended target. The source said the trio was at the Fish Fry in Smith’s Point earlier and left after a heated argument with some other people. Police said shortly after 2am, while in the area of East Sunrise Highway, a man armed with a firearm shot the two women in their legs. They were taken by private vehicle and ambulance to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where they were both seen by doctor. ASP Pinder said both women are listed in stable condition. Investigations are continuing into the matter, and police are appealing to anyone with information that could assist them to call 350-3107 through 12, 911/919 or call the nearest police station.
FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))
Shane A. Miller Registrar of Marriages
FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))
FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))
Shane A. Miller
Shane A. Miller
Registrar of Marriages
Registrar of Marriages
PAGE 10, Friday, July 5, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Trump urges Americans to ‘stay true to our cause’ WASHINGTON Associated Press A SOGGY crowd filed to the Lincoln Memorial grounds for President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” on yesterday as supporters praised his celebration of US military clout and protesters assailed him for putting himself centre stage on a holiday devoted to unity. Trump was calling on Americans to “stay true to our cause” and declaring “the future of American freedom rests on the shoulders of men and women willing to defend it,” according to excerpts of his remarks released in advance by the White House. A late afternoon downpour drenched the capital’s Independence Day crowds and presaged an evening of possible on-and-off storms, raising some suspense about whether Trump’s
THE US Marine Corps band performs in the rain in front of the Lincoln Memorial yesterday. program of military flyovers and the city’s annual July 4 fireworks would be interrupted. The rain chased off a steady stream of people while others arrived, using plastic bags, ponchos and the covers of baby strollers for shelter. By adding his own, one-hour production to capital festivities that typically draw hundreds of
thousands anyway, Trump set himself up to be the first president in nearly seven decades to address a crowd at the National Mall on Independence Day. “I will speak on behalf of our great Country!” he said in a morning tweet. “Perhaps even Air Force One will do a low & loud sprint over the crowd.” Protesters unimpressed
by his “Salute to America” program inflated a roly-poly balloon depicting Trump as an angry, diaper-clad baby. Trump set aside a historic piece of real estate — a stretch of the Mall from the Lincoln Monument to the midpoint of the reflecting pool — for a mix of invited military members, Republican and Trump campaign donors and other bigwigs. It’s where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I have a dream” speech, Barack Obama and Trump held inaugural concerts and protesters swarmed into the water when supporters of Richard Nixon put on a July 4, 1970, celebration, with the president sending taped remarks from California. Aides scrambled in recent days to distribute tickets and mobilise the Trump and GOP social media accounts to encourage participation for an event hastily arranged and surrounded with confusion.
STRONGEST EARTHQUAKE IN 20 YEARS RATTLES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES Associated Press THE strongest earthquake in 20 years shook a large swath of Southern California and parts of Nevada yesterday, rattling nerves on the July 4th holiday and causing some injuries and damage in a town near the epicenter, followed by a swarm of ongoing aftershocks. The 6.4 magnitude quake struck at 10.33am in the Mojave Desert, about 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles, near the town of Ridgecrest, California. Multiple injuries and two house fires were reported in the town of 28,000. Emergency crews were also dealing with small vegetation fires, gas leaks and reports of cracked roads, said Kern County Fire Chief David Witt. He said 15 patients
were evacuated from the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital as a precaution and out of concern for aftershocks. Kern County District Supervisor Mick Gleason told CNN there were some structural issues with the hospital and some patients had to be moved from one ward to another and that others were taken to a neighboring building. A series of aftershocks included a 4.5 magnitude temblor, according to the United States Geological Survey. “It almost gave me a heart attack,” said Cora Burke, a waitress at Midway Cafe in Ridgecrest, of the big jolt. “It’s just a rolling feeling inside the building, inside the cafe and all of a sudden everything started falling off the shelf, glasses, the refrigerator and everything in the small refrigerator fell over.”
JAWS POLISHES OFF 71 HOT DOGS TO RETAIN HIS TITLE NEW YORK Associated Press
JOEY “Jaws” Chestnut ate 71 wieners and buns to secure his 12th title at Nathan’s Famous annual July Fourth hot dog eating contest yesterday, just a few hot dogs shy of breaking the record he set last year.
THE WINNING technique
In front of a crowd of fans and facing 17 opponents, the California native far exceeded his nearest competitors, but didn’t quite make or pass the 74-dog mark he reached in 2018. When asked how he felt after the contest, Chestnut, 35, said, “I feel like I should eat a couple more. I think it’s getting harder the older I get.”
A BUILDING on fire after the earthquake hit.
FAMILIES OF HONDURAS BOAT VICTIMS AWAIT RETURN OF BODIES
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras Associated Press
Funeral Service For Retired Senior Trained Clinical Nurse
Willamae Ellavise Seymour Butler, 71 affectionately Called
“Willa”
FAMILY members of 27 people killed when a fishing boat sank off Honduras waited back at port yesterday for the bodies to be returned to shore, a day after the 70-ton vessel went down in bad weather in the Caribbean. Armed forces spokesman José Domingo Meza said the cadavers were still on the high seas and some had begun decomposing. At a military airport in Tegucigalpa, the capital, empty
coffins were loaded onto a plane for flight to the remote area in northeastern Honduras. “We deeply regret the shipwreck of our compatriots in Gracias a Dios” province, President Juan Orlando Hernández tweeted. “All our solidarity with their families.” The president added that authorities were coordinating operations of rescue and aid for victims and their families. The Capt. Waly sank on Wednesday in bad weather in the Caribbean near Cayo
a resident of Atwar Court, Foxdale Subdivision and formerly of New Bight, Cat Island, will be held at The New Bethlehem Baptist Church, Independence Drive on Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Everett Brown assisted by other Ministers. Interment follows in Western Cemetery, Nassau Street. Fond memories will always be in the hearts of her family and friends including; Sons: Steve, Pete and Darren Butler; Brothers: Minister Frederick, Dennis, Calvin, Andrew, Henderson and Wendell Seymour; Sisters: Evangelist Leathica King, Florence McCoy, Elva Henfield, Elder Iris Strachan, Trudymae Ambrose; Adopted Siblings: Terry Kemp, Mizpah Strapp, Tanya Sands and Jackie Whylly; Grandson: Samuel Butler; Granddaughters: Sydney, Hailey, Hannah, Abigail, and Rachael Butler; Brothers-in-Law: Rev. Jerome Henfield, Randolph Strachan and Deacon Oral Ambrose, Thomas Williams, ASP Derrick Butler, John Neymour, Eugene and Errol Neymour-Brown; Sisters-in-Law: Minister Christine, Tamara, Christina, Sheryl and Ramona Seymour; Sandra Rolle, Brenda Butler, 1699 Seargent Jennifer Butler-Gardiner and Julia Thompson; Aunts: Ophelia Hunter, Donna Seymour, Vernice Nottage and Firstina Seymour; Nieces and Nephews: Frederick, Christon, Shawn, Shannon, Cherice, Kenneisha, Andrew Jr., Christen, and Christel Seymour, Christopher, Joyanne and Christabelle McCoy, Shuranda and her husband Alexander Hall, Rishanda Strachan, Neorissa Knowles, Calley Seymour-Bowleg, Kendal Miller, Zhivargo & Alexis Henfield, Oria and her husband Watson Augustin, Alphania Ambrose; Grand Neices/ Nephews: Jasmyne and Jenique Sweeting, Jayden, Sadé, Haylie and Josiah Hall, Kaiden, Noah and Karter Delancy, Otto and Lee Caddell, Kendal “KJ” and Kennedy Miller; Cousins: Vernell, Loise, Nicole, Juanita, Linda, Cheryl, Ingrid, Dorothy, Theresa, Terry, Sharon and Selena Thurston, Deborah Miller, Yvonne Paul, Coralee Burrows, Janet Scavella, Patricia Mortimer, Constance Russell, Debbie Thurston-Estimé, Stephanie Ingraham, Cynthia Nicholls, and MaryLou Seymour, James Leo, Lloyd, Roy, Henry “Harper”, Brantford, John, Jack, Tyrone, James, Floyd, Randy, Vernon, Gladston, Elisha Jr., and Detrick Thurston, Nelson Mackey, Maxwell Hunter, Jeffrey, Neville and Alphonso Harris, Christopher and Lavette Seymour; God Father: Beaufort Dorsett; God Children; Numerous godchildren including: Dr. Octavia and Renea; Many other Relatives and friends including, but not limited to the following and their families: The Gaitors, Thurstons, Seymours, Turners, Strachans, Moncurs, Kings, Gilberts, Romers, Moss’, Johnsons, Dorsetts, Bethels, Mckinneys and Larrimores of Cat Island, Children of the Late Drucilla Dorsette, Children of the late James and Violet Minns, Children of the late Silas and Edna Moss, Children of the late Fred and Diana Thurston, Children of the late Pearl Moxey, Children of the late Willard and Carmen Gaitor, Children of the late Cleveland Gaitor, Children of the late Jane Bullard, Paula Romer and Family, Linder Seymour, Nurse Miriam “Merm” Simmons, Elsiemae Johnson, Pastor Everette Brown and the New Bethlehem Baptist Church Family, William Taylor, Daisy Middleton, Lillymae Johnson, Carolyn Hunter, Albert Armbrister, Swiyyah Butler, Denora Marshall-McPhee, Ledoris Lloyd, Laurece, Dauran and Lanyah Marshall, Deon and Deandrea Munroe, Leo McPhee, Residents of Atwar Court and Fox Dale Subdivision, Staff of Female Medical Ward II at Princess Margaret Hospital, Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, Nurse Kirklyn Barr, Nursing classmates from 1966, former coworkers and nursing staff at Princess Margaret Hospital, Sandilands & Geriatric Rehabilitation Centre, Bishop Albert Hepburn, Min. Bernal Bullard, Rev. Marina Sands, Rev. Dr. Shelton Higgs, Rev. Christine Johnson, Rev. Joseph Saunders, Rev. Harrison King, Rev. Christopher King, Deacon Emerald Roker, Mrs. Martha Moxey, Mr. Cornelius Ambrose, Derek Smith, Elder Cora McPhee, Ms. Diana Mckenzie, Paulette Walker, Gina Lesbott, Betty Ward, Chantay Davis, Edna Ijeoma, Johnathan Sweeting, Terry Rolle, Townsly Roberts, Rutherford, Williams, Ferguson and Woodside families, Beulah Dean, management and staff of Zamar Productions, and others too numerous to mention. Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 12-6:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 9:00 a.m. until service time.
Gorda, a cay about 75 miles offshore. The dead included the vessel’s captain, a cook, a crewman, 19 lobster divers and five cay residents. Six people were said to be missing, and 58 were rescued. Izza Alvarado, head of the Forensic Medicine agency, said a team of experts had been sent to the area to facilitate handover of the bodies to their loved ones. According to photos, the Capt. Waly apparently put to sea loaded with small skiffs from which the fishermen work.
RUSSIA PUTS 100 WHALES BACK INTO OPEN WATER MOSCOW Associated Press
Shirley Hall-Bass Project
RUSSIAN scientists said yesterday that an effort to put nearly 100 illegally captured whales back in open water has been successful so far, but some environmentalists claimed it was badly organised. The condition of 97 belugas and orcas kept in cramped conditions in Russia’s far east has drawn international concern, and President Vladimir Putin has personally ordered authorities to investigate the case and release the animals. The first group was released into the Sea of Okhotsk last week. Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Gordeyev told Putin the whales have since fully readapted to a natural habitat. Greenpeace Russia coordinator Oganes Targulyan said he thinks the marine mammals should have spent some time in temporary enclosures before they were let into the open sea. He said moving the whales on trucks inside water tanks meant unnecessary risk.. Scientists with Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography rejected the criticism, saying that all due precautions were taken to release the first two orcas and six belugas. They insisted the whales have been safe. It took 10 days to move the animals from a marine container facility near the port of Nakhodka to an area where they could be safely let closer to the waters where they had lived.
THE TRIBUNE
I
N A few days, The Bahamas will celebrate its 46th anniversary of Independence. There will be the usual pomp and circumstance, the banners, flags, bunting, music and feelings of pride and nationalism. It will be preceded by a Beat the Retreat on the 7th and culminate in a Junkanoo rush-out on Bay Street that insiders say will be different from any that came before. The Prime Minister plans to celebrate in Grand Bahama and there will likely be the usual fall-out of complaints afterward that not enough white people showed up, maybe the same group who were not necessarily remembered on the flag when it was designed but letting bygones live up to their name and moving on, what is worth noting is a little piece of history that continues to play out almost unnoticed. It’s the incredible secession without seceding story of Abaco. Abaco is a group of islands in the northern Bahamas known as the boating capital of The Bahamas. Each of its cays is a destination of its own – Green Turtle Cay, Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Man-oWar, all plump with history and postcard cottages, its once controversial development now among the most luxurious in the region, Baker’s Bay, the mainland Marsh Harbour with its Abaco Neem farm considered the finest product for
Friday, July 5, 2019, PAGE 11
Success secured by quietly going it alone hundreds of miles around, Pete’s Pub and Foundry in Little Harbour. Together, the cays of Abaco make up a miniarchipelago of their own and thousands visit by boat or air and never go any further. Locals say most are repeat visitors who bring new friends each year. Many leave their power or sailboats in the marina or on dry dock for storage, arranging to have them launched in time for their arrival. Abaco has its own independent TV station, radio station, newspaper and glossy magazine. You’d be hard-pressed to find this newspaper there and yet it is the second most vibrant economy in The Bahamas. Property values in Abaco maintain and appreciate. In fact, just about everything in Abaco maintains almost as if the island that once
sought to secede managed to do so without announcing it. Those who wanted to be separate from the new independent Bahamas believing Abaconians had been victimised carried their case all the way to the British Parliament. A member of the Conservative Party listened attentively and went so far as to propose an amendment to the Independence Bill for The Bahamas. It read: “Greater Abaco shall continue to be a colonial dependency of the Crown under the name of the Colony of Abaco, and shall be governed in accordance with the provisions of any Order in Council which may be made by Her Majesty.” The proposal died a predictable death though its existence continues to haunt historic accounts
The grand old lady of historic Nassau I HAD the privilege of spending a little time recently studying one of the most beautiful historic structures that helps to define Bahamian architecture, Victoria Court. Situated on Victoria Avenue between Bay and Shirley Streets, its pink façade with tall French casement windows trimmed in sharp white, its dormers, quoins, wrought iron balcony trim, gate work and octagonal opening portholes bespeak a style of dignity and grandeur we could never re-create. Once, before Lyford Cay was developed and private gated communities spelled exclusivity, the four-storey lady in the heart of the capital was where the rich and famous stayed when they came to
The Bahamas. In the decades since, she has had her ups and downs. Today, she has been largely restored thanks to extensive expenditures by her homeowners who come from a crosssection of the Bahamian population, a senior foreign service officer, a few doctors, nurses, attorneys, an executive with a local publicly-traded company. Those homeowners are united in a way that many in fancy gated communities are not. Despite the financial challenges of upkeep (a much-needed new roof could cost up to $300,000 to maintain the integrity of style), they love where they live and they are determined to preserve the beauty. This old place they call home is the grand lady of historic Nassau, one of the
few remaining architectural treasures of downtown. We should applaud them for doing all they can in the real work of restoration and preservation – words we often pay lip service to without digging into our own pocketbooks. They are doing it just because their home is historic, stately and beautiful and because there is only one Victoria Court.
PEOPLE waiting at The Leonard M Thompson Airport at Marsh Harbour. around the time of Independence each year, as it is now. Here we are, 46 years later, preparing for Independence celebrations, paying little attention to the success story of the Abaco islands brought about largely by a population that created it themselves. Despite failure to secede, Abaco goes its own way very nicely, thank you, except for those few areas where it relies on government. Designated public trash disposal sites lie just off the side of the road down a little trail. There are infrastructure defects
which need attention. The Leonard M Thompson Airport at Marsh Harbour is in need of public-private sector management. Flights are notoriously late (not government’s fault), the airport is always packed, often with hundreds of waiting passengers who are there for hours on end. There is huge opportunity for commerce. Yet a few days ago the only thing open on the second floor where there is supposed to be a sky lounge and a restaurant was a coffee stand. There was no toilet paper in the women’s rest room. Only one spigot worked.
Abaco is so independent there is no automatic gratuity in restaurants and most staff I spoke to preferred it that way, saying they did not think it fair to pool gratuities and share with others who may not have worked as hard as they did. They made more, they said, by providing excellent service. Maybe it’s in the islands of Abaco that the true spirit of individual independence lives on and the dependence in the word takes its rightful place in the back. Maybe there’s a lesson for all of us in that.