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The Tribune

Volume:115 No.156, JULY 6TH, 2018

Established 1903

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WEEKEND: FACING THE CAMERA - PROMS ON PARADE

Dropped - no cash for World Relays

Govt pulls out from hosting showcase event

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE International Amateur Athletic Federation’s World Relays, which took the world by storm since its inception in The Bahamas in 2014, has been cancelled by the Bahamas government, ten months away before the country was due to host the event again in May next year.

No official word has been released from the government, but Michael Pintard, who was just relieved of

his position as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture before the decision was made, declined to comment.

Pintard, who has been moved to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, referred the matter to Lanisha Rolle, who replaced him in office on Wednesday.

Rolle, formerly the Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, was unavailable for comment.

SEE PAGE THREE

POTTER’S Cay Dock vendors are concerned about the potential impact cases of conch poisoning could have on their businesses.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands announced there have been four confirmed cases of conch poisoning and possibly six unconfirmed cases in recent days.

Dr Sands said a “number of patients” would have eaten at Potter’s Cay. However, he added no advisories had been given out for the area and noted Department of Environmental Health teams would be deployed “throughout New Providence” to speak with vendors about the issue.

Bahamas Docks and Allied Venues Association (BDAVA) President Dwain Bastian was among SEE PAGE TEN

Page 11

Prom perfect

Graduates step out in style pages 14

&15

ROKER RANTS AT ‘NONSENSE’ SHANTY TOWN DEADLINES

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net A FORMER Cabinet minister yesterday branded as “nonsense” the government’s self-imposed deadline of July 31 to evict shanty town residents in New Providence, adding the 2019 Abaco deadline also makes no sense, as people breaking the law should not be given preferential treatment.

Loftus Roker, former immigration minister under a previous Progressive Liberal Party administration, said he has no faith the government will find any success in the Nassau deadline, telling The Tribune it is hard to think otherwise when it appeared the December 31, 2017 deadline for all illegal immigrants to leave the country was not honoured.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

‘MARCO 2’ BRINGS LAW STEP CLOSER

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

VENDORS’ FEARS ON CONCH POISON ALERT

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

ICON AWARDS

BAHAMIAN athlete Demetrius Pinder at a previous World Relay Finals - hosted in The Bahamas since its inception. The government has now pulled out from hosting the event.

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday announced the launch of a revamped version of the Mandatory Action Rescuing Children Operation (MARCO) Alert.

During a press conference at Police Headquarters, Mr Dames said the alert, now in a pilot phase, will act as the first step in a series of moves intended to stifle sex crimes across the country.

Mr Dames said the revamped version of the alert flowed directly from the original 2013 initiative, adding features which allows the alert to stand “in line” with the Minnis administration’s effort to fully enact Marco’s Law and establish a sex offender registry.

SEE PAGE SIX

‘MEDICAL MARIJUANA SAVED MY LIFE’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PHENTON Neymour, former Minister of State for the Environment, yesterday announced his support for medical marijuana, claiming the treatment saved his life when he was battling stage three colon rectal cancer.

Mr Neymour stressed he would not support the legalisation of marijuana

PHENTON NEYMOUR for recreational use; however, the former Cabinet

minister criticised the government for taking such a weak stance on the issue given the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the country.

Yesterday, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said he personally supports the use of medical marijuana; however, the government’s position is that it will be guided by regional analysis at CARICOM.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

A COMIC’S VIEW: A WEEK FULL OF NO, NO, NO

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Friday, July 6, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

TROPICAL STORM BERYL FORMS A TROPICAL depression formed in the Atlantic Ocean strengthened into a tropical storm yesterday, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.

As of 5pm yesterday, the centre of Tropical Storm Beryl was moving toward the west near 16 mph. A fast westward

to west-northwestward motion is expected through the weekend, the NHC said.

On the forecast track, the centre of Beryl will remain east of the Lesser Antilles through Sunday.

Beryl could become a hurricane by Friday or Saturday, the NHC said, but the storm is forecast to degenerate into an open

trough just east of the Lesser Antilles over the weekend.

“Beryl is a tiny tropical storm. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the centre,” the NHC reported.

No watches or warnings have been issued and Beryl is not expected to be a threat to land.

POWER OUTAGE AS POLE HIT BY TRUCK

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

POWER outages in sections of eastern New Providence were yesterday blamed on a minor traffic accident in the area.

Bahamas Power & Light Chairwoman Darnell

Osborne yesterday confirmed that electrical supplies to consumers in Winton Meadows, Twynam, Eastern Estates, Sans Souci, Culbert’s Hill and Prince Charles east were interrupted after a delivery truck collided with two electrical poles.

Supplies were restored by

the afternoon to all of the areas except Prince Charles east, which officials said would be restored some time last evening.

Late last month, a lightning strike was blamed for an island-wide power outage that affected some customers for up to four hours.

Fresh Prepared, In-store, Daily.

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IT is a striking image that has captured the essence of the battle to reduce plastic pollution.

This photograph of a stork trapped inside a plastic bag has gone viral, spreading across social media, and being used to champion the cause of reducing plastic pollution.

The Bahamas has set its own sights on reducing the use of plastics.

Earlier this year, Environment and Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira officially announced an initiative to ban single-use plastics and Styrofoam in the country by January 1, 2020.

The ministry is also working on making the release of balloons into the air illegal, as these contribute to ocean pollution.

With grocery stores bringing in an estimated 26 million plastic bags a year, the ban is predicted to help businesses save money while also giving local “creatives” the opportunity to help develop alternatives.

According to the Bahamas Plastic Movement, if the rate of plastic pollution on beaches increases, it could cost up to $8.5m annually in tourism losses for the country.

The Bahamas will also

become a signatory to the Clean Seas Campaign which was launched by the United Nations in January 2017.

According to plasticfreechallenge. org, single-use plastics, or disposable plastics, are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled.

These items are things like plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles and most food packaging.

The UK could also ban cotton buds, plastic drinking straws and other single-use plastics in England next year

THE TRIBUNE

formation.

Their period of operation is usually about a month. Fraudsters have been known to withdraw funds locally and in other jurisdictions.

“We want the public to be aware of their surroundings when using machines,” ASP Thompson said. “Shake the mouthpiece of the ATM. If it’s easily detached or rattled or appears to be tampered with, don’t use the machine. Notify the bank and the police department. If suspicious people are lurking around a machine, be aware and don’t use that machine. Protect your pin as you enter the code into the machines.”

Banks investigate suspected fraud and victims could expect to get their money back, ASP Thompson said.

Friday, July 6, 2018, PAGE 3

ing device, above right. s: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff installing devices on machines between 10pm and 3am.

They are partly distinguished by their clothing, wearing hooded jackets, baseball caps and sunglasses despite the summer weather.

They often have multiple cards at ATM machines, a sign of probable criminal activity, ASP Thompson said.

This isn’t the first time the country has been affected by skimming fraud.

THE CROWD at the World Relays in The Bahamas - and below, Chris Brown racing for The Bahamas at the event.

Dropped - no cash for World Relays

from page one

Efforts were also made to contact Pauline Davis, the IAAF councilwoman, but she declined to comment. Davis, who will celebrate her 52nd birthday on Monday, said she preferred to wait until she received clarification from the government.

But Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Rosamunde Carey, who served as chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the last World Relays in 2017, said it’s quite disappointing that The Bahamas will not be the A9MAIN host any more.

“It’s very unfortunate that after working so hard to make The Bahamas the destination for the World Relays that we won’t be able to host it again,” Carey said.

“Over the years, we have made this one of the

premier events hosted by the IAAF, because a lot of the things that were introduced at the World Relays are now being staged at various meets by the IAAF.” The latest addition was the mixed relays, was staged for the first time in 2017 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium when the team of Steven Gardiner, Shanuae MillerUibo, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu won The Bahamas’ first gold at the championships in a time of three minutes and 14.42 seconds.

The IAAF has agreed to add the mixed relays to its schedule of events during the IAAF World Championships, scheduled for September 28 to October 6, 2019, in Doha, Qatar.

Also since the three previous championships, held in 2014, 2015 and 2017, the IAAF has introduced the teams as a quartet when they entered at the start of

the 100m on the track, and athletes and dignitaries that the winners were presented attended. with their medals immedi“It’s very disappointing, ately following the event. but we understand the conThose two features of the sensus of the government,” World Relays were also car- she said. “As the former ried over to some IAAF chairman, I just want to say events. thank you to the previous Carey said that while The Bahamas Government and Bahamas won’t host the the IAAF for allowing us to event on May 10-11, 2019, showcase such a prestigious as originally planned, it’s event. not known who will pick “We have made The up the baton and stage it Bahamas a global sporting next year. She said that she mecca, hosting the event to had spoken to IAAF presi- the high standard that the dent Lord Sebastian Coe, IAAF expected us to put and several countries have on. We have been able to expressed an interest. put the event as a staple on She indicated that Coe is their calendar and fulfill the expected to make a formal confidence that they had announcement on the can- placed in our council and cellation by The Bahamas The Bahamas in general.” and theThursday, possible July venue With the 9BAAA prepar5, 2018, PAGE for the next host country by ing to go to elections in next week.

November, Carey said she’s The last World Relays, not certain if the BAAA according to Carey, was would be putting in a bid estimated to cost about to host any other event in $5m to stage, includ- the next few years, including accommodations and ing the return of the World transportation for the Relays in 2021.

FtoFINANCE WORKER prove link Fin $500,000 FRAUD case COURTfraud DEBATES NAME IN FRAUD CASE

charged

By NICO SCAVELLA stealing Staff Reporter Tribune loyment. nscavella@tribunemedia.net of being A CROWN witness others yesterday confirmed that total of shformer fromMinistry of Finance accounts clerk James between Anwar 16, andJohnson also went by his middle name, folwhich lowinghe extensive legal virtue debateofover the user name connected to a local busi-

ced nessoneallegedly receiving stealing thousands of dollars in ployment unauthorised payments. mpting to Director of Information the minTechnology at the Minis17. try of Finance June Collie not only he was confirmed that she knew of an “Anwar JohnMagisson” on who worked at the inney o ministry, counts she also identified the person currently on trial accounts the man to whom she oascounts was and that he eason referring, of s answered alleged to that name on multiple occasions. ovember The revelation came 5,a 2017. day after lead Crown on both attorney Terry Archer 016, and to exhibit certain sought e documents serving containing rkJohnson’s at the purported user ified the tag ‘FINANJO’, which was f allegedly VMMS used to facilitate purportcertain unauthorised payit was ments at the ministry. wo Those sepa- documents, which hard copies of certain f were $37,500 files retrieved from the mintively. istry’s system by Ms Collie, ged that contained ber 25, the user name the first three 5,‘FINANJO’; 2017, lettersofrepresent an abbreeason viation $37,500 for finance, while the letter’s ‘AN’ and ‘JO’ operty of purportedly represent the nment. first two letters of Anwar ever, Mr and Johnson. thatAccording the to Magisbe withtrate Ambrose Armbrister, and 26 after being approached by d, which ation of ttempted

JAMES ANWAR JOHNSON the police who requested certain information from her, Ms Collie conducted a query on the ministry’s system and retrieved certain information, which she then uploaded into Microsoft Excel and ultimately produced in hard copy format.

However, the issue that

the Crown previously faced, according to Magistrate Armbrister, was that while the user tag ‘FINANJO’ suggested a forename beginning with the letters ‘AN’, the charge sheet listed Johnson’s first name as James, and not Anwar.

As a result, the magistrate questioned if sufficient

evidence had been led to establish a strong enough connection between Johnson and the user name ‘FINANJO’, notwithstanding the issue of which first name he went by.

Thus, Magistrate Ambrose Armbrister had ordered that the Crown would have to establish a “nexus” between Johnson’s former user name and the person currently on trial.

Yesterday, after much legal debate on the issue, Ms Collie first confirmed that based on the information provided in the user tag, as well as being familiar with the names of the various ministry employees, she knew of an “Anwar Johnson” who worked there.

When questioned, she said she was told by colleagues and other persons that the individual in question was “Anwar Johnson”, but never actually walked up to him and introduced herself.

However, she said in making her rounds around the Cecil Wallace Whitfield building, she would see this “Anwar” now and again, and also heard that person respond to “Anwar” when others would call out his name to speak with him.

After a bit more prodding, she ultimately identified the “Anwar” she spoke of as Johnson seated in the court room.

Johnson is accused of defrauding the ministry of over half a million dollars within a five-month period.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The trial continues.

PAGE 4, Friday, July 6, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

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Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

CONCH POISONING OUTBREAK

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International crises could affect us IT IS unsurprising that Bahamians who are curious and well-informed follow closely the ebb and flow of the nation’s domestic politics. In smaller countries like ours, without the checks and balances and varied layers of authority of larger parliamentary democracies, the powers of government ministers tend to be disproportionately greater and their decisions attract much public interest. One recent example is the arbitrary hike in VAT without adequate prior consultation that has dominated public debate, and this has been followed by intense discussion of this week’s mini-reshuffle of the Cabinet.

The corollary of such close interest in local affairs is less curiosity about events elsewhere beyond our shores. So from time to time in this column we draw attention to aspects of international affairs that are causing concern in the wider world.

There is much talk currently about the gradual but perceptible disintegration of the rules-based international order established after the Second World War. This was based on shared values and objectives that were embodied in global institutions like NATO and the United Nations, together with its specialised agencies, as well as European cooperation that progressively developed from a trading bloc and economic community into today’s fully fledged European Union.

The work of these bodies and what they stand for has been instrumental in bringing about – broadly, though with some exceptions – peace, prosperity and security to the West. But they are now facing perhaps the greatest threat to their existence in their seventy-year history; and, in a troubled world that is becoming less secure with the rise of nationalism and populism, there is even talk of parallels with the situation in the 1930s which led ineluctably to the rise of fascism and a global war. This danger seems to have grown surreptitiously – and, ironically, it is being precipitated by the actions of the leaders of the countries concerned that have benefited the most from international order.

The role of the USA as protector of the West remains unchanged in the face of a variety of potential threats; namely, Russian expansionism, China’s militarisation of the South China Sea, the nuclear challenge from Iran and from North Korea despite last month’s summit meeting in Singapore, and the continuing dangers of terrorism and of mass migration. There is, however, growing disquiet about President Trump’s performance on the global stage.

Many believe that his unorthodox, unpredictable and confrontational approach is leading America down the wrong path.

Some examples are US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement, the Paris climate accord and the

Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, his vociferous condemnation of NAFTA while also taking aim at the WTO and the EU, and his threats to NATO members about their defence spending. All this, together with rows with friends and allies in the G7 and unilateral imposition of tariffs that could lead to a trade war with China and others, has produced widespread uncertainty and concern about international cooperation and the cohesion of Western countries. Some say that, far from advancing the comity of nations, his actions have soured the global political environment, and it will be interesting to see whether his trip to Europe next week to attend a NATO summit in Brussels, to meet President Putin in Helsinki and to visit Britain will make matters better or worse.

Meanwhile, the growing political crisis in the EU as it struggles to find consensus in dealing with mass migration is becoming a serious threat to the stability of Europe as a whole.

Divisions within the bloc, which are widening to expose the crumbling façade of unity, could even lead potentially to its collapse.

Despite agreement at a recent EU summit to measures to stop migrants travelling within the Schengen area, including establishing refugee processing centres in different countries, member states like Austria, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic continue to refuse to accept any migrant quota system.

As a result, the mood in Europe seems to be shifting towards scrapping the Schengen arrangements permanently and restoring borders.

As well as the migrant crisis, the EU is facing the upheaval of Britain’s forthcoming departure from the bloc and a rise of ‘euroscepticism’ which could become a major threat to the entire European project. In particular, it may no longer be practicable to adhere to freedom of movement which was one of the founding principles of European integration contained in the Treaty of Rome in 1957, though the EU is still intent on ever closer political union and a federal superstate that will consign the nation-state to history.

To Bahamians, much of this may appear far removed and only of marginal interest. But, as a small island state, we are inevitably dependent on others for our overall welfare. We rely, in particular, on the US for our security and, in the main part, our prosperity – investment, imports of goods and services and large numbers of tourists as a source of foreign exchange. But we also need to interact with many other countries and be aware of events elsewhere in an interconnected world since these may indirectly affect both our economy and our whole way of life as a sovereign nation.

Whether we like it or not the ripples of events around the world will somehow find their way to our shores.

Westminster Parliament EDITOR, The Tribune.

WESTMINISTER Rules and protocols are good for all, not when appropriate to be applied.

An MP, sorry a Cabinet Minister, as in Prime Minister misinforming The House… you resign. The Oban Energy issue.

An MP making a statement which clearly is opposite to Cabinet’s position in public - Minister resigns. The Hon Jeff Lloyd comment on Oban.

Is party politics covered

by the Constitution? Not until you have had an election and you are choosing the Prime Minister who is chosen least we forget by all MPs elected and the Leader of the Opposition.

Do we breach the law when only party symbols are used and not as I understand the law…each candidate has their own symbol on the ballot?

I think over the years we have seriously deviated from the law and regulations and it is laughable how we abuse the Rules and

Protocols of Westminster.

Watch the UK Commons… their Speaker does not have the control and insists on the reason you wish to speak unlike ours!

Stop quoting and not using unilaterally, Mr Prime Minister.

If you hold the Westminister Rules so sacred then please abide by them.

Rev McAlpine MP is 1000% correct!

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, June 22, 2018.

Who will be celebrating Independence?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I MUST ask all Bahamians this question, “Do we have an existential crisis in our country?”

My own answer to this question is, “Yes, we do.”

Here are my reasons; Presently, our economy is in shambles. At least it is for the majority of Bahamians.

That a majority of our citizens have no savings, have had no increase in wages in many years, and are seeing a dramatic increase in our cost of living, leads me to this conclusion. I am speaking of percentages.

While our politicians, our newspaper editors, our pastors, our business leaders, the web shop owners, and lawyers do have enough food on their tables, and can pay their basic bills, they do not constitute the majority of Bahamians, Yet, they are the ones who get to make most of the decisions. They are the ones whose voices we hear, read about, and are for the most part, reported on. The rest of us are statistics. So, for me, when I am presented with the “statistics” of how many of us are in poverty, are unable to scrap together a couple of hundred dollars in an emergency, how many have to depend on social services, of how many are homeless, of how many are jobless, I say we have a crisis.

But, I don’t want to stop there.

Our crime rates, no matter what the talking heads in the police department say, are out of control.

The number of murders, rapes, robberies here, constitute a crisis. The statistics clearly show that on a per capita basis, crime in The Bahamas is at unacceptable levels. No matter how we look at it, nor no matter what we see on TV, the US has a murder rate of 5.35 persons per 100,000 people, versus 28.4 persons killed per 100,000 people here in The Bahamas. This is no small difference.

I say we have a crisis.

As to our national debt and the state of our finances. Though we have no transparency and no freedom of information act here, most of us who have been paying attention can agree that we are in dire straits. Our unfunded liabilities, the losses in most of our government

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net enterprises, and the amount of money paid each year in interest payments, the amount of money lost to corruption and theft, are untenable.

I say we have a crisis.

Judging by the way traffic flows on our streets in Nassau, by the number of traffic accidents, the number of broken up and mashed cars, and by the disrespect for traffic laws in Nassau, I say we have a crisis.

Judging by the reports in the papers of the numbers of people with AIDS in this country, the rate of cancers, of diabetes, of obesity, by my own experience in visiting people in Princess Margaret Hospital and in seeing the clinics in the Family Islands, I say we have a crisis.

My point is not to be completely negative, or to see the glass as half empty.

On the contrary, I want us to be honest, and to admit we have a problem so that we can positively move forward and upward. Unless we face up to these overwhelming social failures, nothing can change.

Most importantly, I want to establish the fact that we do, in fact, have a crisis situation in The Bahamas.

And if we do, is it not fair to ask that all citizens of The Bahamas equally share in the pain of righting many of these wrongs?

Presently, no such thing is happening.

VAT, no matter how it is justified, is disproportionately, and unarguably making some people starve and go without. Many Bahamians are being forced to go without food, medicine, electricity, school clothes, lunch money, and on and on. Not luxuries, but the very basics required for life.

Therefore, I must ask, who among us is truly Christian?

Are Dr Minnis and Mr Turnquest and the rest of the MPs who voted on this increase in VAT? They must see the statistics of how many Bahamians are suffering. For god’s sake, we are in a national crisis.

The first thing a decent leader would do is to admit that we must all share in the pain together. The decent thing to do would be to vote

for a reduction in pay for all MPs, and to institute a progressive tax for those who are not just making ends meet, but actually getting rich by any standards. What is wrong with my thinking?

Was it only the poor who got us into this mess? Of course not. Honestly, Dr Minnis, are you, or any in your administration unable to put two and two together, to see the direct consequences of your actions? Or, do you just not care?

Yes, I want the richest Bahamians to pay much, much more than the poorest Bahamians. Is this not Christian? Or would you argue that these are not basic Christian principles?

It appears to me that we here in The Bahamas are in a crisis situation. I believe it is only fair that we all chip in to the best of our ability to help stabilise and right this sinking ship.

The way the government is currently going about it, I believe, is entirely unfair, truly hypocritical, wholly undemocratic, and ghastly unChristian. To place such a great, great burden on those least able to bear it, forcing them to make choices which can only degrade their lives, is unforgivable.

That this is the “leadership” mentality we presently have is truly unfortunate for our country.

That the pastors who are supposed to uphold some semblance of Christian values have remained virtually silent, acquiescing to the will of the lawmakers, is unacceptable.

That those who are doing very well by any standards, and have allowed the poor to be saddled with these life and death choices is inhumane and disgusting.

I would ask of all the so-called “leaders” in this country to go home and look in the mirror.

Presently, I can see no other way to describe our treatment of the majority of the Bahamian people as heartless, soulless and cruel, that can never be excused.

I find it sad that we will come out on July 10 waving our flags, and this is the best we can do for the least among us in our own country.

Yes, I am disgusted.

PORCUPINE Nassau, June 30, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 6, 2018, PAGE 5

‘Medical marijuana saved my life’ from page one

Dr Sands reiterated his call for the public to temper expectations of medical marijuana as a cure-all for every illness, and the answer to all economic woes.

In response to Dr Sands’ scepticism over whether there was a sustainable local market, Mr Neymour said he believed resistance among government officials stemmed from ignorance.

“It is something that saved my life,” Mr Neymour said. “I had no appetite, I couldn’t eat, nausea, felt bad all the time.

Once I take the pill the only thing I did was fall asleep, the pill takes out that element that causes you to get high. Most government officials haven’t done their research.

“Only for medical reasons,” he said of his support for this type of therapy. “It must be certain guidelines

put in place, and only prescribed by a doctor. I do not support recreational use of marijuana but I do support (medical use), it has many values.”

Mr Neymour said he was diagnosed in February 2014, and has used the drug Marinol, a man-made form of cannabis, to restore his appetite, combat nausea and relieve pain. However, he said he had to travel to Miami each time he needed relief.

“I’ve battled it (cancer) ever since, been in remission but it comes back in different forms and different places. I went into remission twice. It is something that was truly a battle.”

Mr Neymour said: “When doctors had given up in the States, they actually gave me a prescription for it but it’s illegal in the Bahamas. It comes in a pill form, looks just like chocolate. But I had to travel to Miami, if I felt really

bad I had to go to Miami just to purchase it to use it there.

“It is something Bahamians are being denied because we are playing politics because we don’t have the testicular fortitude as politicians to speak what they know.”

Mr Neymour said he has been in remission twice, and is currently cancer-free.

He believes his life is an example of how persons can continue to live and enjoy life once they receive the proper treatment.

“I couldn’t have succeeded without God,” he said. “It’s natural methods I’ve used in the past that worked best. If you Google it, soursop (a local fruit) is found to be the best natural treatment for cancer so what I do today is I boil the leaves and drink it as a tea.”

The government has said it will be guided by CARICOM’s Regional Marijuana

Commission (RMC) on the issue. The body was tasked in 2014 to fully ventilate the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in the Caribbean.

Of this position, Mr Neymour said: “I think it’s a weak position to justify it because if one looks at the number of Bahamians doing it now and there are examples of success, the government would not oppose the introduction.

“The problem is the pharmaceutical companies are leading this. The US has realised they’ve lost the battle. It’s being used as medicine around the world.

If you’re elected and only concerned about the vote, then you will act a certain way.”

He added: “I suggest government take a scientific survey, and they will be shocked by the results.”

A recent Public Domain survey has found overwhelming support for

cash cow for ‘Big Pharma’ (pharmaceutical companies). We’re spending millions in South Florida. I get phone calls daily, from persons with AIDS, epilepsy, lupus, chronic pain, you name it. We are a very sick nation, the highest rates in the Caribbean for non-communicable diseases.”

His group commissioned a Public Domain survey released this week, which found 59 percent of respondents knew someone suffering from a debilitating medical condition.

Seventy-one percent of 998 residents surveyed said they believed marijuana should be legalised for medicinal purposes, and all respondents ranked marijuana as the least harmful substance by comparison to tobacco, alcohol, and sugar, across the board.

Respondents were not asked about recreational marijuana or decriminalisation but just attitudes toward medicinal marijuana.

Yesterday, Mr MarshallHepburn said: “When I started, people told me I was crazy, that I was flying too close to the sun. Now those same people are on the radio talking and calling for it as we speak, it’s amazing. I knew we would have high support because I have thousands of Bahamians that have contacted me. From 85-year-olds to people just walking out of doctors office diagnosed with stage three cancer.

“I know what’s going on, I feel the people’s pain.

It’s a great incentive for our economy and a whole bunch of entrepreneurs in many other areas.

“Even if they allow it to happen today, we’re still a year away from being able to sell quality product because there is so much learning. Just New Providence alone will have to be mapped, and the technology it will bring to the Bahamas - it will take us into the 23rd century.”

The government has said it will be guided by CARICOM’s Regional Marijuana Commission (RMC) on the issue. The body was tasked in 2014 to fully ventilate the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in the Caribbean.

The report is expected to be delivered today; however the report was leaked to the Gleaner in Jamaica and published on Monday.

It reportedly calls for the introduction of a strictly regulated framework for marijuana, akin to that for alcohol and tobacco.

The report said there was a unanimous view that the current classification for cannabis/marijuana as a dangerous drug with no value or narcotic should be changed to a classification of legal cannabis as a “controlled” substance.

BAHAMA Cann president Elliot Hepburn-Marshall.

‘WE WANT TO GROW MARIJUANA FOR SCIENTIFIC REASONS’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN company yesterday announced it has completed an application under the Dangerous Drugs Act to cultivate marijuana for medical or scientific purposes.

Bahama Cann president Elliot HepburnMarshall told The Tribune the group intends to submit its application by the end of the week emboldened by the results of a Public Domain survey which gave massive support to the use of medical marijuana.

“We have two organisations,” he said, “a non-profit organisation called Bahamas Cannabis Initiative and the Bahama Cann, a for-profit corporation that is really the engine behind the movement we started.

We’re hoping to empower Bahamians to invest in it.”

Mr Marshall-Hepburn said: “We are applying for medical and scientific use, and I’m hoping to be able to manufacture it (in the Bahamas) and hopefully create a boom in the agricultural community.”

Mr Marshall-Hepburn is CEO of Proper Rx Collective, a company based in Oakland, California, that delivers medical marijuana to patients. He was born in the US to Bahamian parents, and raised in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama.

He attended St Paul’s Catholic School until the age of 14, when he moved to Miami to pursue his dream of playing basketball.

He told The Tribune in an earlier interview his desire to promote marijuana legalisation in the Bahamas was sparked after he received a heart-breaking phone call from the mother of an epileptic child.

Yesterday, Mr MarshallHepburn said he continues to get thousands of calls from sick Bahamians.

“There is a huge industry here. I’m sure we’re a big

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

medical marijuana among Bahamian residents across demographics of age, gender and income.

For his part, Dr Sands said he does not want Bahamians to get their hopes up that medicinal marijuana will be a cure-all.

“The perception is, it’s going to replace diabetes medicine, hypertension medicine, that it’s going to be the be-all and cure-all.

I’m not trying to burst anybody’s bubble, simply trying to introduce a level of calm and caution here.

“I personally support it.

But when you now hear all these people saying we’re gonna make millions of dollars and fix our national debt…really?”

Dr Sands believes the end goal for marijuana advocates is recreational adult use, but noted countries on this track have been on a path towards decriminalisation for more than a decade.

He acknowledged the

status quo was shifting to a paradigm that moved beyond a sanitised view of the plant to where more and more people were accepting of recreational use.

“We don’t even have the ability to talk about gender equality, we don’t have the ability to talk about safe sex, abortion, much less recreational marijuana.

We don’t talk about any of those things, there are a number of loud voices and I applaud them trying to change our consciousness.”

Dr Sands said: “Similar to voices heard in the US and around the world at the end of prohibition, a similar set of voices resulted in the end of slavery, the tear down of apartheid. And while this is an example of freeing your mind, the translation into economic viability in the medical marijuana arena is a major step, because it then presumes the ability that you are going to have a market.”

PAGE 6, Friday, July 6, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames speaking yesterday.

Photo: Eric Rose/BIS

‘Marco 2’ brings law step closer from page one “As a government, we are committed to that cause,” he said.

Unlike the original alert which was almost exclusively tied to traditional forms of media, the new alert system operates via a web-based platform which allows for broad dissemination across any phone, pagers, emails, internet pop ups, fax, loud speakers, RSS feeds and secure encrypted messages through mobile applications and radio.

The alert will feature crime, weather and traffic updates and various community notifications.

The new alert also features two unique protocols.

The first, which was exhibited yesterday, operates along the lines of closed-circuit communication.

Via this version, specific

units - police teams, neighbourhood watch groups or select communities - will receive all notices being disseminated related to any ongoing matter.

As a part of protocol two, notices will be disseminated across all platforms to everyone signed up for the alert.

Additionally, platform designers Multimedia Technology noted the system is equipped with a feature that will allow for any alert to be sent to all electronic devices nationwide, regardless of whether or not that device applied for the service.

According to the design team, the feature can only be used if authorised by the national security minister or commissioner of police.

During an initial test of the alert yesterday, officials guided several law enforcement officers, neighbourhood watch

representatives and members of the press through the sign-up process.

Shortly after, a test alert was sent out and within seconds, a notice was received.

The test notice said police were seeking the public’s assistance in locating a ten-year-old boy, reported missing by his family.

The alert also provided a short description of the child and several pertinent details related to the abduction.

The contents of the alert varied by classification.

Critical details were sent primarily to the police in the room, while general information was sent to members of the press and neighbourhood watch personnel.

“We would have had any number of meetings leading up to today,” Mr Dames said.

“We are excited that we

are at this juncture and this pilot for MARCO Alert is expected to take place over a period of some three months, so we will have a good opportunity, as well as members of the public, to see it in operation to test its effectiveness and usefulness so that once that is done, then we can begin to look at the next phase.

“This is all in line with our government’s efforts to make reality sometime this year the Marco’s Law and the sexual offenders registry.

“And so, the alert system, along with the sexual offenders registry, are those areas that are currently outstanding and we all can attest that there is an urgent need to make this a reality,” he added.

In late 2013, the government tabled two amendments, one to the Sexual Offences Act and the other to the Child

Protection Act, which would create a sex offenders register, and a MARCO Alert for missing children, respectively.

The changes are the direct result of the death of 11-year-old Marco Archer who was murdered by convicted child killer Kofhe Goodman in 2011.

The Child Protection Amendment Act 2014 came into operation on August 26, 2015 and the regulations were introduced in the House of Assembly in February 2016.

The Christie administration rolled out its version of the MARCO Alert in July 2016.

At the time, then Minister of National Security the late Dr Bernard Nottage said under the alert, when a child is reported missing and authorities are satisfied that there is a risk of harm or death, the commissioner of police will be required to

use the alert.

According to Dr Nottage, the commissioner would have caused the alert to be broadcast via commercial radio stations, television broadcasts, teletext communications, electronic network systems, the erection of billboards, or such other means as the minister responsible for national security would have deemed appropriate.

Despite the introduction, the alert was rarely used.

Upon coming to office, Mr Dames committed the Minnis administration to reviewing the alert and relaunching it.

Furthermore, he committed the party to fully enacting Marco’s Law and establishing the longawaited sex offender registry.

When questioned on the remaining two components, Mr Dames yesterday said they were not too far off.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 6, 2018, PAGE 7

GOVERNMENT officials have been surveying shanty towns, such as this one in Abaco.

Roker rants at ‘nonsense’ shanty town deadlines from page one Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis made this announcement last October in the House of Assembly. At the time he said those who did not adhere to this timeline would face aggressive pursuit and deportation.

However, some observers have said as far as this is concerned, nothing outside of the ordinary has taken place.

Mr Roker further questioned whether the government was serious about immigration matters, pointing to The Pointe development in downtown Nassau and concerns that continue to linger about the mostly Chinese workforce at the project.

He claimed to have recently observed foreign workers painting and repairing the exterior of

the British Colonial Hilton, tasks he said many Bahamians can do.

“First of all it’s ridiculous you see,” Mr Roker said when he was asked about the deadlines, which include a July 31, 2019, timeframe for Abaco evictions.

“The problem about us Bahamians (is) we only do things which seem to be convenient to us. If you break the law, you can’t say I will let you break the law for the next six months.

Your job is to stop me now.

Not six months from now.

What nonsense is that?

“What I am saying is can you imagine you are dealing with New Providence now and then a year from now you gonna deal with Abaco?

“What sense is that?

Wherever illegal immigrants are - wherever they are in New Providence, it should be dealt with today,

now, right now. Not next year or year after next.”

He continued: “When my parents got old and they were not that well we built a house here in Nassau for them and they were living here, that (house) had all the conveniences and stuff.

When they died nothing was happening, it was just closed up and we wanted to redo do it. I had to carry my land paper, my passport and all of that to BEC to get electricity back to the house.

“In these shanty towns, how the hell you get electricity? As a Bahamian, I had to prove I was Bahamian and had to show my land paper and every darn thing and they get electricity and they don’t even own the land?

“The illegal immigrants were given until December 31 to leave, so what are you waiting for now?

“Listen, the Immigration

Department is costing Bahamians millions a year to operate and their only reason is to ensure people coming in come in with the permission of the government and those who are here without permission are sent out, that’s the only reason you need that.

“So all I say is, ‘do your job’. Don’t tell me I could steal for the next six months but at the end of the next six months you must stop stealing or else I will arrest you, what nonsense is that?”

Regarding The Pointe development, the Pindling-era politician said Bahamians needed employment and the project should have provided them with jobs. “(At one point) the minister (Brent Symonette) didn’t know the percentage of Bahamians and Chinese working at The Pointe. But what the hell is his job? It’s

his job to know.”

He was referring to an April interview in which Mr Symonette, minister of immigration, conceded the government had no idea how many foreign workers were engaged on the project.

“They have to get permission from immigration to employ non-Bahamians, that’s your job. What you getting paid for?”

“It means we are not keeping check on what is going on,” he continued.

“I pass by British Colonial and I see Chinese painting and repairing British Colonial and you tell me you can’t find a Bahamian who could paint? You can’t tell me that jive. Bahamians need employment. Our first priority must be Bahamians and that they get employment before anybody else,” Mr Roker said.

He is the latest to criticise

the Minnis administration’s handling of shanty towns.

On Tuesday, PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said Labour Minister Dion Foulkes’ admission that there will most likely be challenges finding rental properties in Abaco for evicted shanty town residents proves there is a lack of planning and vision by the government.

Mr Davis said when it comes to cracking down on shanty towns, the government has only sought to say the things Bahamians might want to hear without regard to actually carrying out the plan effectively.

On Saturday, Mr Foulkes told The Tribune with only few rentals available in Abaco, efforts could be complicated. He spoke shortly after the Shanty Town Action Task Force completed assessments on that island.

PAIR GIVEN THREE MONTHS IN JAIL FOR ILLEGAL LANDING

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 23-YEAR-OLD Haitian woman and a 38-year-old Haitian man charged with illegal landing were both sentenced to three months in prison by a magistrate yesterday after it was revealed that they had been previously deported from the country.

Sherline Myrtil, of Cap Haitien, and Allande Alcy, of La Tortue, were sentenced after immigration officials revealed that both had been deported from the Bahamas in February 2018 and June 2017.

Myrtil and Alcy were two of 46 Haitians — 38 men and eight women – to be arraigned before Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans for illegal landing after being apprehended by Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) in waters off South Eleuthera on Tuesday.

Unlike their two fellow countrymen, however, the other 44, ranging in age from 17 to 68, were ordered to be deported from the country after pleading guilty to the single count of illegal landing with which they were charged after being picked up some 20 nautical miles south of Bannerman Town.

Towards the end of the arraignment, Alcy, with the assistance of an interpreter, explained that he had been living in The Bahamas since 1989.

He told the court that the reason he came back to The Bahamas after being deported in February is because he has a child here, and as her mother was deported three years ago, there is no one to take care of her.

Upon being questioned by the magistrate, Alcy further revealed that the

child lives in The Mudd shanty town in Abaco with an aunt, Christiane Exantus.

Myrtil, meanwhile, who speaks and understands English, claimed she lived in The Bahamas for 14 years, attending Sandilands Primary School, L W Young Junior High School and then R M Bailey High School.

She claimed she resided in the Fox Hill area, and has a father who has some status in the country. However, she said she doesn’t know her mother.

Nonetheless, the magistrate convicted Alcy and Myrtil and sentenced them accordingly, ordering that the other 44 be deported.

Upon convicting and sentencing the group, Magistrate Vogt-Evans stressed that the country needs to do a “little bit more” to curb the “influx” of illegal migrants to the country, charging that merely deporting them is evidently not a strong enough deterrent.

“It cannot continue this way,” she said. “It cannot.”

In May, 25 Haitians, with birthdates ranging from 1961 to 1998, were each arraigned on a single count of illegal landing, contrary to Section 19(1) and punishable under Section 19(2) of the Immigration Act. It was alleged that on May 27, the 25 people — 15 women (one pregnant) and 10 men, were found in Venice Bay, New Providence, having landed from a place outside The Bahamas without leave of an immigration officer.

At the time, Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt ordered that they all be returned to their country “as soon as is reasonably practicable”.

She also gave them a conditional discharge pursuant to Section 209 of the Penal

Code, on the condition that they do not return to the country illegally.

However, the chief magistrate scolded them for

their actions, telling them: “We cannot support you.”

She said it was “not wise” for them to have taken a risk on their lives in making

the voyage from Haiti to New Providence, noting that anything could have happened to the group while at sea.

According to RBDF reports, over 200 migrants have been apprehended by the law enforcement agency for the year.

PAGE 8, Friday, July 6, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

A week of no, no, no T

HIS week was an eventful one, so there’s no shortage of material to choose from, in fact some of it wrote itself.

WHY GO IF THE ANSWER’S NO? If my memory serves correctly, The Bahamas voted “no” to all the items on the CARICOM agenda.

Not that I had issue with a “no” vote in regards to some of the items.

The CSME (Caribbean Single Market Economy) No, we have CEB (Commercial Enterprises Bill) The CCJ (Caribbean Court of Justice) No, we have the Privy Council.

And the legalization of marijuana, a big fat ‘NO’ simply because of all the ‘boogeymen’ associated with the topic.

So why, if “no” means “no”, and considering the dire straights we are in financially as a nation, is PM Minnis “toting” a 15-member “posse” that would make “MC Hammer” proud, to the CRICOM meetings in Jamaica?

The Prime Minister is accompanied to CARICOM by : • Joshua Sears, Senior Policy Advisor; • Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs; • Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education; • His Excellency Reuben Rahming, High Commissioner of The Bahamas to CARICOM; • Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe, Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister; • Viana Gardiner, Chief Operating Officer, Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit; • Michael Guy, Foreign Service Officer; • Kemico Sands, Protocol Officer, Office of the Prime Minister;

• Inspector Livingstone Barr, Aide to the Prime Minister; • Sgt Kirk Bastian, Aide to the Prime Minister; • Yontalay Bowe, Personal Assistant/ Photographer; • Lindsay Thompson, BIS Senior Information Officer; • Kent Minnis, BIS Senior Digital Visuals Editor; • Altovise Munnings, ZNS Reporter; • and Philip Marche, cameraman.

Again why is this sizable contingent necessary?

What purpose do they serve?

(Apart from witnessing PM Minnis, saying No to CARICOM.) “If yinna already know how the vibe set, and ya answer is no, then you ain gatta carry dat whole massive and crew, take ya time, ease up, send one, three or four to sight the vibe in yard.”

How are we as a nation, to benefit from CARICOM, considering our multiple no votes on their initiatives?

In my opinion, a smaller, efficient group would have been a more sensible approach for this trip.

It would have also eliminated any chance for the government to be criticised, considering how the FNM, took former Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, to task (albeit deservedly so) over his exorbitant travel budget and schedule.

It would have also saved the tax payers, you and me, money.

Sadly, the PM’s “road trip” to CARICOM is yet another example of this administrations continued hypocrisy, and it really makes one wonder if the FNM truly knows the meaning of “accountability” and “transparency”.

I have a hunch why the PM’s posse was this big.

I’m thinking the PM, while on his “VAT tour” of the family islands, he missed popular Jamaican reggae artist “Popcann,” after the Jamaican dancehall artist failed to show in Abaco for his scheduled concert. As a result, not to be outdone, the PM ensured his trusty companions, they would fete on the best jerk chicken and the coldest Red Stripes in Jamaica, all while watching “Popcann” live.

“Me say, pull up.”

It could happen, especially with this administration!!

AND NO TO THE IAAF As I tried to wrap my head around the whole CARICOM junket, news broke, that ten months out, from hosting the 2019 IAAF World Relays, The Bahamas was pulling out as host nation.

How embarrassing Seriously? There were no other options that could have saved the event and our reputation?

Allegedly it was a financial decision, however there has been no official word from the MYSC. I’m wondering if the IAAF World Relay money was possibly redirected to perhaps the government’s

SPECTATORS cheering on the World Relay Finals... but not next year. travel budget, which allows for bloated travelling entourages, on unnecessary trips, travelling to and fro on government business.

NO GOUGING Finally, I thought it was

commendable that the government, sprung the Price Control Unit into action, immediately after reports surfaced that some business owners were taking advantage of the VAT increase, allegedly by including the 12% VAT

on the price of the items and then charging an additional 12% VAT at the register.

“Tings tough enough, ain’ no need for Dat.” Until next week, laugh now cry later.

READERS GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA AFTER The Tribune reported that a Public Domain survey had found overwhelming support for medical marijuana among Bahamian residents across demographics of age, gender and income, readers on tribune242.com had their say.

BahamaPundit had this to say: “We can only wait and see what happens.

My greatest hope is that the industry is opened to the ‘small man’ and that, like Jamaica, everyone can pay a relatively small fee to be a grower or a supplier. However, past actions in the Bahamas would suggest that everything will be done by the Government to ensure the licenses are very costly and only a few privileged

cronies are allowed to buy them.”

That prompted this response from PastorTroy: “I totally agree, however, this will only create an even bigger illegal blackmarket cannabis problem and put a bigger strain on our Law Enforcement Officers, Judicial and Correctional systems. Cutting out the ‘small man’, aka Mom and Pop businesses, will not only create more animosity between the rich and poor but will threaten the very fabric of our

Bahamaland.”

BahamaRed said: “I see this being like numbers, only a certain few will have the money required to even start up a business.

Between purchasing your own land or leasing Crown land and then paying for the different licences, only the already rich will be able to capitalise on this venture.

Then what happens the rich get richer and the poor spends money to purchase the marijuana from the rich.

Sad but true . . . Should it be legalised? I think so.

But not if only certain rich people have access to being distributors.”

There was this from John: “Marijuana should never have been criminalised in the first instance. And in the second instance to rate it as being as dangerous as cocaine – Cocaine is the base for many of the opioid drugs that are killing thousands from overdoses annually. The alcohol and tobacco industry has been fighting hand and tooth to keep marijuana illegal in any form. And its medical value has never been disputed or challenged. In fact, doctors are now prescribing medical marijuana as an alternative and more safe treatment to persons addicted to opioids.”

JohnDoes said:

“Meanwhile, less than half of those supporting would actually be able to use for medicinal reasons. This is where the red tape comes in. Medicinal use is by prescription only. However, if a doctor does not think you need it, then you will not be prescribed or allowed to use it. They need to focus on BOTH medicinal and decriminalisation.”

Sickened believed such a move would help tourism: “I’m sure that there is a tourist market for this as well in that many people in Canada and the US need to take marijuana on a daily basis for medical reasons.

Chances are they don’t travel because they can’t get their daily dose in the country/state they would

like to travel to. Wouldn’t it be great if they know that they can travel here and still be able to access their prescription (THC level and all that) while on vacation? There may not be millions of these tourists at the moment but there are thousands (probably tens of thousands) that would like to visit - and we could certainly use a few thousand more room nights a year!”

And in The Tribune’s online poll, we asked readers if they thought marijuana should be legalised for medicinal purposes.

At the time of going to press, 85 percent of those voting said they were in favour of such a move, with 15 percent saying they were against it.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 6, 2018, PAGE 9

Murderer’s sentencing to be held on anniversary of killing

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE sentencing hearing for convicted murderer and armed robber Devaughn “Short Man” Hall - who shot and killed a husband and wife from Deadman’s Reef, West Grand Bahama - was adjourned yesterday.

Family members of the murdered victims Barry and Sheena Johnson had gathered outside the Supreme Court in Freeport awaiting Hall’s arrival.

Hall, 24, was expected to appear for sentencing at 10am before Justice Estelle Gray-Evans but was not transferred from New Providence for the scheduled hearing.

Senior prosecutor Neil Brathwaite informed Justice Evans that the probationary report by the Department of Probation and Welfare Services was not ready and asked for an adjournment.

Jethlyn Burrows, Hall’s attorney, was present.

Wynette Goodridge, probation officer, told Justice Evans the probation report was not finished, explaining she still needed to conduct

interviews with some of Hall’s relatives, including his brother and parents.

She said the report should be ready in early September. A psychiatric report is also expected to be presented before sentence is passed.

Justice Evans adjourned the sentencing hearing to September 13, which is the anniversary of the brutal murders of the Johnsons, who were shot in the head.

The victims’ families were not in the courtroom but were standing outside at the rear of the courthouse waiting to get a glimpse of Hall.

When they were informed by reporters that the probation report was not finished and that Hall was not brought down from Nassau for the scheduled hearing, they were taken aback and noted the adjourned date was the anniversary of their loved ones’ deaths.

Hall, a resident of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock, was unanimously found guilty on May 10 of the double murders and armed robbery of the Johnsons, who were discovered shot dead at their residence on September 13, 2015.

According to court evidence, four armed masked men went to Deadman’s Reef and shot Barry and Sheena Johnson at their triplex apartment. The couple was also robbed of a set of keys, and a GMC truck, valued at $8,000.

Hall, along with two other co-defendants – Paul Belizaire, 31, of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock; and Kevin Dames, 28, of Holmes Rock – was on trial in the Supreme Court. Belizaire was found guilty of armed robbery, but the jury was hung on the two murder counts. He has since been sentenced to 25 years on the armed robbery conviction.

The jury also came back with hung verdicts on the two murder counts and armed robbery in relation to Dames, who had given the four armed men a ride to Deadman’s Reef the night of the murders.

Two other co-defendants Alan Alcime, 24, of Hanna Hill, EMR; and Virgil Hall, 24, of Freeport, accepted a a plea deal with Office of the Attorney General and pleaded guilty to armed robbery and testified as witnesses for the Crown. They are serving nine years in prison.

SUSPECT ACCUSED OF EIGHT MILE ROCK RAID

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ANTHONY DeAngelo Parker was arraigned in the Supreme Court on charges of armed robbery and robbery in relation to an incident that occurred in Eight Mile Rock in March 2017.

Parker, who appeared before Justice Estelle Gray-Evans, was not represented by an attorney.

It is alleged that he, on March 31, 2017, at Eight Mile Rock, robbed Weneil Ethney of $278.98 while armed with a firearm. The

money was the property of Smart Shopping Convenience Store.

It is alleged that on the same date and place, Parker robbed Weneil Ethney of an iPhone valued at $150.

Parker pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Evans informed the defendant that he had 21 days to provide an alibi to the court or the Office of the Attorney General.

Parker informed Justice Evans that he had been incarcerated for nine months and had appeared for two bail hearings, but was told his bail application could not be heard because

he had not yet pleaded to the charges.

The judge ordered Parker remain in Freeport for one additional day to possibly accommodate a bail application hearing today.

When asked if he was represented by counsel, Parker said he was not.

Justice Evans asked the defendant if he needed the court to assist him in finding a lawyer, but he stated his family was looking into getting an attorney for him.

The trial was set for March 2, 2020, and the pretrial review was set down for February 21, 2019.

DEVAUGHN Hall pictured outside court previously.

PAGE 10, Friday, July 6, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Vendors’ fears on conch poison alert

ARTHUR Johnson speaking to The Tribune at Potter’s Cay yesterday and, below right, Aretha Bastian.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff from page one

When asked if the conchs at Potter’s Cay would have to be tested, Dr Sands the many who expressed explained the issue is not concern yesterday about with the meat itself. the impact of the reported “(Vibrio parahaemolytiillnesses on business. cus) is not an issue of the “Yes, I’m conmeat itself,” Dr cerned about ‘Anybody who Sands said on it because…it Wednesday. could cost you, is serving conch “Vibrio is because people should always bacteria that would not come properly wash ordinarily lives to your business in seawater until they get their hands and is a part of the truth about and wash their the surface of the situation conch in the the conch. The with the conch,” conch meat Mr Bastian said. fresh water.’ itself is not Many ven- Aretha Bastian infected with dors also called vibrio parafor the specific haemolyticus…. stalls the afflicted persons We have learned historiate from to be revealed, so cally that you can eliminate business at the other stalls this problem by washing would not be impacted. conch in fresh water.

DWAIN Bastian speaking to The Tribune yesterday.

“If you’re washing the conch with vibrio containing water, you’re not going to solve the problem. Even though the conch itself may appear clean on the surface.

The way to get rid of the vibrio is to use fresh water.”

While a majority of vendors advocated for washing conch meat with fresh water, a minority of vendors said salt water is the only efficient away to clean them.

Aretha Bastian, BDAVA trustee, told The Tribune: “Anybody who is serving conch should always properly wash their hands and wash their conch in the fresh water.”

Arthur Johnson, a visiting

filled

vendor from Adelaide, explained: “You should wash them in fresh water. You supposed to keep them in salt water, and then when you serving it, wash it fresh water.”

However, one vendor, who wished to remain anonymous, adamantly stated that salt water is the only type of water that can properly clean conchs.

“Yes, it is. You can’t use fresh water, because fresh water can’t take slime off conch. It can’t. That’s why they need salt water. The best way to clean conch is with salt water.”

There also appeared to be a lack of awareness among the vendors about the exact cause of the recent illness.

Another vendor who wished to remain anonymous said: “Conch don’t poison people…

You should have ask them what

they eat earlier before they come here.”

Meanwhile, Mr Bastian criticised the effects of dredging works near Montagu beach on the quality of conchs at nearby Potter’s Cay Dock.

“What is happening right now, here in Nassau… the government allowing people to do some dredging,” he said.

“And what is happening, about three, four days ago, we had a lot mud (come) down through Potter’s Cay Dock, coming from the eastern side of Nassau, from round Montagu side. I know they’re doing some dredging down there.”

Mr Bastian said this has caused many conchs to be

with “muck and mud”.

While he was clear he cleans his conch with fresh water, salt and lime, he pointed out that other people solely use salt water.

“And people who making conch salad or who doing conch handling (and) don’t have proper running water to wash the conch (are) using sea water, cleaning the conchs with (dirty) sea water.

“When the people cook the conch or eat the conch, they will be…consuming some of that same liquid from the conch juice.”

On May 2, a Montagu Beach fish ramp vendor, Donna Rolle, expressed a similar concern.

“We can’t put our conch in the water, because automatically it will be conch poisoning to people…because of the situation in the water,” she said.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 6, 2018, PAGE 11

PAGE 12, Friday, July 6, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THAI RESCUER IN CAVE DIES FROM LACK OF OXYGEN

Mystery as US Army starts to discharge migrant soldiers

MAE SAI, Thailand Associated Press A FORMER Thai navy SEAL working as part of the effort to rescue a soccer team trapped in a cave has died from lack of oxygen, authorities said.

SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference that the rescuer was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters. He said while underwater, the rescuer passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

“Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission,” Arpakorn said.

Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from a flooded cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, before more rains are forecast to hit the northern region.

EPA’S PRUIT OUT AMID SCANDALS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned Thursday amid ethics investigations of outsized security spending, first-class flights and a sweetheart condo lease.

Pruitt has been dogged for months by scandals that spawned more than a dozen federal and congressional investigations. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and other officials pushed Pruitt to tender his resignation yestrerday amid the mounting scandals, according to a senior administration official. Talking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump continued to praise his scandal-plagued EPA chief, saying there was “no final straw” and he had not asked for Pruitt’s resignation.

SAN ANTONIO Associated Press SOME immigrant US Army reservists and recruits who enlisted in the military with a promised path to citizenship are being abruptly discharged, the Associated Press has learned.

The AP was unable to quantify how many men and women who enlisted through the special recruitment program have been booted from the Army, but immigration attorneys say they know of more than 40 who have been discharged or whose status has become questionable, jeopardising their futures.

“It was my dream to serve in the military,” said reservist Lucas Calixto, a Brazilian immigrant who filed a lawsuit against the Army last week. “Since this country has been so good to me, I thought it was the least I could do to give back to my adopted country and serve in the United States military.”

Some of the service members say they were not told why they were being discharged. Others who pressed for answers said the Army informed them they’d been labeled as security risks because they have relatives abroad or because the Defense Department had not completed background checks on them.

Spokespeople for the Pentagon and the Army said that, due to the pending litigation, they were unable to explain the discharges or respond to questions about whether there have been policy changes in any of the military branches.

Eligible recruits are required to have legal status in the US, such as a student visa, before enlisting.

More than 5,000 immigrants were recruited into the program in 2016, and an estimated 10,000 are currently serving. Most go the Army, but some also go to the other military branches.

To become citizens, the service members need an honorable service designation, which can come after even just a few days at boot camp. But the recently discharged service members have had their basic training delayed, so they can’t be naturalised.

Margaret Stock, an Alaska-based immigration attorney and a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who helped create the immigrant recruitment program, said she’s been inundated over the past several days by recruits who have been abruptly discharged.

All had signed enlistment contracts and taken an Army oath, Stock said. Many were reservists who had been attending unit drills,

receiving pay and undergoing training, while others had been in a “delayed entry” program, she said.

“Immigrants have been serving in the Army since 1775,” Stock said. “We wouldn’t have won the revolution without immigrants.

And we’re not going to win the global war on terrorism today without immigrants.”

Stock said the service members she’s heard from had been told the Defense Department had not managed to put them through extensive background checks, which include CIA, FBI and National Intelligence Agency screenings and counterintelligence interviews. Therefore, by default, they do not meet the background check requirement.

“It’s a vicious cycle,” she said.

Calixto said he was devastated by the unexpected discharge.

“Now the great feeling I had when I enlisted is going down the drain,” said Calixto, 28. “I don’t understand why this is happening.”

In hopes of undoing the discharge, he filed a lawsuit in Washington, DC, last week alleging the Defense Department hadn’t given him a chance to defend himself or appeal. He said he was given no specific grounds other than “personnel security”.

Calixto, who lives in

Massachusetts and came to the US when he was 12, said in an email interview arranged through his attorney that he joined the Army out of patriotism.

In the suit, Calixto said he learned he was being kicked out soon after he was promoted to private second class.

A Pakistani service member said he learned in a phone call a few weeks ago that his military career was over.

“There were so many tears in my eyes that my hands couldn’t move fast enough to wipe them away,” he said. “I was devastated, because I love the US and was so honored to be able to serve this great country.”

It’s unclear how the service members’ discharges could affect their status as legal immigrants.

In a statement, the Defense Department said: “All service members (ie contracted recruits, active duty, Guard and Reserve) and those with an honorable discharge are protected from deportation.”

However, immigration attorneys told the AP that many immigrants let go in recent weeks were an “uncharacterised discharge,” neither dishonorable nor honorable.

US ‘WILL MEET’ DEADLINE TO REUNITE MIGRANT FAMILIES WASHINGTON Associated Press STUNG by a public outcry, the Trump administration said Thursday it will meet court-ordered deadlines for reuniting families separated at the border, even as the politics of immigration remained at a boil.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters that his department is ready to reunite children in its care with their parents, starting next Tuesday with those under age five. HHS said it’s using DNA testing as a backup to confirm the parentchild link and speed up the process.

However, Azar warned that entire families may remain in the custody of immigration authorities for extended periods, even those who are claiming asylum. Before the Trump administration’s “zero

tolerance” policy, migrants seeking asylum under US laws were often granted temporary release as their cases were resolved.

Azar also used a new and much higher number for migrant kids separated from their parents, “under 3,000” as compared with the figure of 2,047 he provided at a Senate hearing last week. Of those, about 100 are under five years old.

He said the new number reflected a more thorough look by HHS at its case files, and over a longer time period, to comply with the court order that families be reunited. That order had been issued after his Senate testimony.

Nonetheless, Azar’s effort to provide a more accurate accounting only seemed to create more confusion.

HHS has long been charged with caring for unaccompanied minors crossing the border,

thousands of children every year. Usually, the agency places kids with a US relative or foster family while their immigration cases are decided. This year, HHS also took on the role of caring for children separated from their parents as a consequence of the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy.

Azar said the new number reflects a case-bycase audit of about 11,800 migrant children in its care, over a longer time frame.

About 80 percent of those children arrived unaccompanied at the border, and many are teenage boys.

Azar said the audit was done to make sure the agency was in full compliance with a court order.

US District Judge Dana Sabraw in San Diego has ordered the youngest children reunited by Tuesday of next week, and the rest before the end this month.

SUSPECT IN CHARLOTTESVILLE ATTACK PLEADS NOT GUILTY CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia Associated Press

AN Ohio man pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges in a deadly car attack on a crowd of protesters opposing a white nationalist rally in Virginia.

James Alex Fields Jr entered the plea Thursday during his initial appearance in US District Court in Charlottesville after being charged last week with 30 federal crimes in the Aug. 12 violence that killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injured dozens more.

He also is charged under Virginia law with murder and other crimes.

Fields, of Maumee, Ohio,

wore a gray striped jumpsuit and sat quietly, giving brief answers to the judge’s questions. He entered the courtroom wearing handcuffs and shackles. The cuffs were removed when he came in, then re-fastened when he left. His attorneys made no request for bail.

He told US Magistrate Judge Joel Hoppe that he is being treated for bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and ADHD, and is taking medication. But he also said the drugs do not impair his ability to understand the charges against him.

Hoppe said Fields was qualified to be represented by a federal public defender and appointed legal counsel for him.

The 21-year-old defendant said he has a high school education and has worked as a security guard.

Some survivors of the attack were among the dozens of people in the courtroom. Also present was Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro. Talking with news reporters outside the courthouse, Bro said she expected a not-guilty plea at this stage of the case, but added she still “felt a little punched in the gut”.

She also said she was a bit surprised that Fields’ voice sounded “bold”. “I just somehow expected him to sound more timid and abashed, but he didn’t sound like it at all,” Bro said.