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The Tribune

Volume:114 No.157, JULY 7TH, 2017

Weekend

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No escape from soaring bills Fly the flag

Bannister warns govt cannot keep subsidising BPL

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said while it is unfortunate that consumers have seen a significant increase in their Bahamas Power and Light bills because of “faulty machinery,” the government cannot continue to absorb the cash strapped utility provider’s expenses.

Mr Bannister told The Tribune that BPL has a “huge legacy debt” and unfortunately the cost will have to be passed on to the public “directly or indirectly”.

He was responding to the Central Bank of The Bahamas’ monthly report that re-

vealed that BPL’s fuel charge increased by 8.3 per cent to 13.7 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) on a monthly basis, and by 49.7 per cent when compared to May 2016.

In a statement, BPL explained that an increase in bills for the month of May was also caused by its reliance on engines at the Blue Hills Plant, which uses more expensive fuel than the Clifton Power Station.

“I could understand consumers being angry at the increased cost because the service is unreliable and the price is high but that is the reality of what is happening at BPL,” Mr Bannister said when asked for comment.

SEE PAGE SIX

IDB BANS COMPANIES FOR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE Inter-American Development Bank has sanctioned ten Bahamian entities for fraudulent and collusive practices, barring those companies and individuals from participating in IDB-financed contracts as well as other linked international organisations.

The ineligibility period

for those entities span three years to seven years; however, there is no explanation given for the debarment.

The revelation was made during an interview with IDB country representative Maria Florencia AttademoHirt, who underscored the bank’s rigorous and independent mechanisms to investigate allegations of fraud and corruption.

SEE PAGE FIVE GEO Phillipe carries Reno Roxbury at Arawak Cay as they get in the Independence spirit yesterday ahead of the holiday weekend. Get your copy of The Tribune’s Independence supplement inside today.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

‘COCKY AND ARROGANT PLP’ MUST SEEK FORGIVENESS

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Progressive Liberal Party lost the general election because its members of Parliament became “cocky,

arrogant and dismissive,” according to former PLP Cabinet minister George Smith, who said he believes the former government can bounce back from the crushing defeat.

Mr Smith said he believes

the PLP should seek forgiveness from the Bahamian people, rather than continue to make excuses and blame others for the party’s loss at the polls.

SEE PAGE SIX

INGRAHAM: SOMETHING DOES NOT SMELL RIGHT

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PAYING $8m to a contractor engaged in hurricane clean-up does not pass the smell test, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said.

“In and of itself, it doesn’t demonstrate criminality but it does not meet the smell test to have that kind of contractual work for solid waste collection over a five or six-month period,” he said.

“There have been many allegations relating to construction contracts, garbage collections, supplies to the government and all matters of things. I suspect police will be following up these because some of them on the face of it are credible.

But the state ought not to pursue a witch hunt because they don’t like decisions that were made (by the former administration).”

SEE PAGE SIX

JACKPOT CHEATS WON’T BE PAID

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PARADISE Games is defending its actions after patrons of the web shop complained about not getting their winnings.

The web shop suggested in a statement Thursday that the patrons allegedly might have engaged in dishonest activity.

Three construction workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Tribune earlier this week that after playing numbers and winning nearly $60,000 and $32,000 on separate tickets, Paradise Games told them there were problems issuing the money to them.

The customers played in house ‘Early Iowa’.

“Paradise Games is committed to payouts to all its customers but strongly maintains its decisions to exercise its legal right to – in the face of customer fraud – rightly and lawfully refuse payout on tickets discovered to be fraudulent,” a statement from the web SEE PAGE SEVEN

THE TRIBUNE WISHES OUR READERS A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE HOLIDAY. OUR NEXT EDITION IS ON TUESDAY

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Friday, July 7, 2017, PAGE 3

The Island Game pays power bill for home for the aged

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE operator of the Good Samaritan Home for the Aged yesterday praised a local gaming company for effectively erasing its $7,000 debt with Bahamas Power and Light, saying the possibility of having the home’s power disconnected almost gave him a heart attack.

Dr Kendal Capron, in an interview with The Tribune, said “words cannot explain” how “relieved” he is over The Island Game’s (TIG) donation of $7,682.93 to the Yellow Elder Gardens facility, as he thanked the local gaming company for “coming up to the plate and taking our burden away from us”.

Dr Capron also said the home’s 40 residents are now at ease because of the donation, adding that they are all “relieved that they wouldn’t have to be in darkness”.

The donation from the gaming company came the same day Dr Capron said he and the home’s 40 residents were “stuck in the

wilderness” on not knowing whether or not the home would be disconnected if it failed to pay an outstanding bill of $7,000 to BPL by today.

When he spoke with The Tribune, he said the home had only managed to secure approximately $700 in donations — not nearly enough to satisfy the electricity provider.

Yesterday, however, TIG posted a picture on its official Facebook page, showing Dr Capron accepting a cheque dated July 4, worth $7,682.93.

The caption on the photo said: “We answered the call. It’s opportunities like these that we at (TIG) pride in, community service. The residents at the Good Samaritan Home for the Elderly can now rest comfortably knowing that at least one of their bills were paid.”

TIG said it also donated grocery vouchers.

In an official statement sent to The Tribune, the gaming company said it was first made aware of the situation after one of its customers contacted the com-

THE ISLAND Game presented a cheque for $7,682.93 to Dr Kendal Capron, of the Good Samaritan Home For the Aged. pany through Facebook. ditional $1,600 and change ing as $7,682.93 and we TIG said it subsequently was due,” TIG’s statement made a decision to issue a contacted Dr Capron to said. “We identified who we cheque payable to (BPL) on see how the company could were, and asked if he would their behalf for the entire help. accept help from us. amount.

“Upon speaking with Mr “An overjoyed Mr “As our team discussed Capron, the administrator Capron indicated that he the home’s situation with for the home, we were ad- would be grateful for any Mr Capron, we realised vised that there was a pend- amount we could help with, there were other needs, ing disconnect on the past and said he would bring the and made the decision to amount of $6,000 plus and bill to us. The BPL notice also provide them with the current amount of an ad- showed the total outstand- $200 worth of grocery cer-

tificates. Mr Capron and his staff were most grateful.”

When contacted yesterday, Dr Capron told The Tribune he was elated over TIG’s donation.

“I’m relieved that they came to our rescue,” he said. “We’re quite happy, and I can’t tell you how happy I am. I even can’t explain to you how happy I am.

“We want to thank Island Game for coming up to the plate and taking our burden away from us. And words cannot explain how happy I am, because it almost gave me a heart attack.

“But I am very pleased and was not expecting Island Game to come up with that, but I want to thank them very much.”

When asked how the residents felt about TIG’s donation, he said: “They’re relieved that they wouldn’t have to be in darkness.

They have been relieved.”

The Good Samaritan Home for the Aged has been in operation since the 1990s. It is located on Melvern Road in Yellow Elder Gardens.

D’AGUILAR: WE’LL COUNTER FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT COUNTRY

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Tourism will “redouble” its marketing efforts to “counter” an inflammatory video encouraging prospective visitors to avoid New Providence to preserve their own safety, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.

Mr D’Aguilar, on the sidelines of a press conference at Ministry of Tourism’s headquarters, regretted the “false information” contained in the video that was shared on social media this week.

Still, Mr D’Aguilar admitted that New Providence “is not something that we should be proud of,” adding he is “unimpressed” with the experience cruise visitors have when they arrive at the Port of Nassau.

He said he will soon hold a meeting with all stakeholders to find a solution to make New Providence’s tourism product better.

His statements were in response to a controversial video making the rounds on social media, in which the narrator highlighted potential dangers in visiting New Providence, referring to the crime situation in both Nassau and Grand Bahama.

Topping the list was the warning “Don’t stay on New Providence Island.”

The video’s narrator also offered the following advice to viewers: “Sadly the island is listed as a critical threat to tourists on most travel advisories. Criminal activity has spiked in recent years, including rapes and muggings.

To play it safe, book your stay in the Out Islands.”

Another warning: “Don’t go to non-tourist areas at night,” highlighted how “many of the country’s crimes happen on New Providence and Grand Bahama, and many incidences occur after nightfall”.

“Armed robberies, home invasions and sexual assaults targeting tourists are common,” the video’s narrator added.

The video, which had 20,000 views on Facebook and was shared over 200 times as of yesterday afternoon, has attracted mixed

reviews from Bahamian viewers, with some agreeing with the video’s assertions and others vehemently repudiating them.

When questioned on the matter yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar said: “Social media, it has its advantages and it has its disadvantages. And one of the disadvantages is anybody can post anything about a destination and it’s left to the Ministry of Tourism I guess to respond to it.

“Of course we will double, redouble our marketing efforts to counter such false information about The Bahamas. I mean we have our problems, we all know what our problems are, but the benefits of travelling to The Bahamas and the enjoyment that millions of people have when they come to The Bahamas each year far outweigh the issues brought to (attention) in that video.

“So it’s unfortunate, and when I watched it I said

A SCREENSHOT from the video. ‘goodness gracious me,’” he continued. “But this is the disadvantage of social media, you cannot control the content. And this will happen from time to time. People will put up fake news about your destination and it’s up to us and our marketing team to counter that. So rest assured we will be responding to that and trying to see the penetration. Obviously in this jurisdiction it gained a lot of traction because we’re all interested in it, but we’ll see whether it’s gaining traction in other areas of the world.

“I mean, I don’t know, if you’re sitting in New York City are you going to get this video? Are you going to see it? So our marketing team will determine how far and wide it’s travelled and we will put up a message that counters that.”

Still, Mr D’Aguilar regretted the current state of affairs in New Providence,

stressing that “our tourist product needs some work.” “…And I alluded to that in my maiden speech in the House of Assembly, that the city of Nassau is just not something that we should be proud of,” he said. “And we really now need...there’s been 100 studies done, and 100 possible solutions come up, but the time to act is now. And I’m going to (bring that up) in a meeting with all the stakeholders…I hope and I pray that we can come to a decision amongst ourselves to come up with a solution to this.

“I mean, when the cruise visitors arrive at the port of Nassau, I am very unimpressed. I am not proud of that experience. And we need to do something about it. And I’ve made that a primary focus of this ministry to address that issue, the port of Nassau, and then obviously when they come into the city of Nassau, we need to address these issues, because it’s just unacceptable.”

He added: “These cruise visitors that come here, that hopefully one day we want to convert (them) into a stopover visitor, and they have the experience that they have, it’s not something that we’re proud of and we should certainly address that issue.”

In 2015, then Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe expressed disappointment in a video made by Disney Cruise Line employees that portrayed The Bahamas in a negative light.

The controversial, threeminute long video starred Americans Casey Gill and Joseph Oster, both said to be Disney Cruise Line employees, It was filmed in downtown Nassau.

The video, a spoof styled as an infomercial, showed the pair acting as a couple on vacation, experiencing the worst that Nassau has to offer. In one scene of the video, Mr Oster was shown sitting on Junkanoo Beach playing in sand littered with cigarette butts and bottle caps as a pile of garbage is shown in the background.

In another scene, Ms Gill was shown in front of several derelict buildings that the narrator called “four star hotels and fine dining establishments.”

The video ended with the couple frolicking on the beach with the words “visit www.nassau.com/getoutnow or call 1-800-DONTFEELSAFE,” scrolling across the bottom of the footage.

The video had nearly 70,000 views on Facebook and was shared about 1,000 times.

BOWE QUERIES IZMIRLIAN CALL TO HALT SALE OF BAHA MAR

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

GOWON Bowe, president of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA), has questioned the basis of Sarkis Izmirlian’s call for a moratorium on Baha Mar’s sale to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd (CTFE), insisting concessions should not be the determining factor of whether the deal reached completion.

As concessions have been a matter of heated discussion, Mr Bowe called on the government to execute a more stringent approach to how these are accounted for, which outlines the economic benefit to the country to allay fears that “something is being given away”.

He further criticised the former Christie administration, saying it gave too much of an impression of great responsibility and influence in the matter when this is not the role of the government.

The state, he said, has the responsibility of ensuring the appropriateness of the investor and who may own land in the country, but not the terms of transactions to take place.

Suggesting Mr Izmirlian’s remarks were “emotional,” Mr Bowe said it is impor-

tant for all parties to revert to understanding the sale of the resort is a transaction between private entities.

Mr Izmirlian is Baha Mar’s original developer.

Last week, his company BMD Holdings Ltd called for the sale process to be halted, saying this was motivated by a review of the recently released heads of terms between the Export Import Bank of China (CEXIM), China Construction America and the government.

The statement reiterated the former developer’s pledge he is fully prepared to purchase the beleaguered resort, complete construction and operate it with a full Bahamian workforce and organisation.

It also noted that BMD is now considering legal options against the parties involved in the heads of terms.

“From the perspective of a former developer calling on the government to call a moratorium, the question should be upon what basis?” Mr Bowe said in an interview with The Tribune yesterday.

“The government is not a party to the transaction.

The government has issued concessions, which will no doubt have conditions upon which the parties must adhere or else they don’t get

the concessions. do more harm than good to “But receiving conces- the country, they have done sions or not receiving their due diligence in their concessions is not then responsibility.” to determine whether the He added: “There has transaction goes through been a tremendous amount between two private en- of technical persons that terprises. From that per- have been involved in this spective, we really should process and they should be be focused on saying the able to sit down in a dispasgovernment should not in- sionate manner and explain volve itself in something the process. Not underlying that it has no business in. details, but the process and If it only has its interest be very clear as to what the based on the concessions government’s role is legally that have been granted, as a participant in the overthen it should hold the par- all activities and the negoties that it has given the tiation that’s taking place concession to accountable, and what the government but that shouldn’t interfere has done. or give the impression that “So that it is a very clear the government has an eq- indication that the governuity interest or an actual ment has not interfered in stake in this project. private business because we “The government has a are not a social state we are stake in the country and in a state that is government it being successful. So as by private enterprises havlong as they are satisfied ing rights under the law and that they are not bringing the government does not Friday,to 7th July investors that are going own2017 all assets.”

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Where there are difficulties understanding concessions, Mr Bowe said the government must direct efforts to ensuring there is an even trade off.

“The new administration needs to step back and look and say that we have a proper economic planning unit that focuses to make sure that we have a true cost benefit analysis to ensure that for every dollar and concession we give, it has a net benefit to the country of at least a dollar or more.

“We should not be giving away anything. We should say that if I allow you not to pay certain taxes the benefit will be that the employment and the taxes that the employed individuals pay will net more money than the actual taxes I have conced-

ed in the arrangement.

“I think that is the real discussion that we should be having saying really on what basis have governments, not just the previous administration, been granting concessions. Are they able to justify the return from the concessions?

We have never had a true accounting of concessions granted. I know the current deputy prime minister and minister of finance has indicated an intent to table all concessions or contracts that had concessions. But that tabling is only a part of the story. What they should do is an actual accounting that says I gave ‘x’ number of concessions to Atlantis and this is the net economic benefit to the country,” Mr Bowe said.

PAGE 4, Friday, July 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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

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Former German chancellor a political colossus IN THESE columns last week we commented on the current uncertainty in the European Union (EU) and in Britain engendered by the start of the Brexit negotiations to determine the conditions of the latter’s departure from the bloc.

This week, we reflect on the legacy in relation to European unity of Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 and considered by some to have been the most important European statesman since the end of the Second World War, who died last month.

Described as a political titan and architect of modern Europe, Kohl was the driving force behind German reunification, following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 which created the EU. He was regarded as the consummate political operator who, having delivered reunification, went on to provide the impetus for European integration.

As the EU currently now seems to be lurching from one crisis to another, it is interesting to consider the significantly different state of the continent more than thirty years ago.

The politicians of the time had been affected, personally or indirectly, by the horrors and ravages of war in Europe and its aftermath which had produced a divided continent including Germany itself being split into two parts. Their views were shaped by this and led to an unshakeable commitment to the dream of the founding fathers of a new united Europe.

With President Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl had pursued ideological and practical opposition to the Soviet Union, and this was instrumental in achieving its collapse together with the end of the Cold War which had gripped Europe since 1945. In pressing for German reunification, he was able to convince the four victorious nations of the Second World War – in the face of doubts expressed in particular by Britain about a revived Germany dominating Europe again – that this would not translate into a resurgence of German nationalism; and, as well as reunification, he succeeded later in bringing the former USSR satellite countries into a newlydeveloped EU. In securing a reunified Germany, Kohl claimed that his motive was to establish harmony and close ties with its neighbours so that conflict between them would be unthinkable ever again.

By bringing the EU into existence and paving the way for integration, including a joint euro currency and, later, the removal of internal borders through the Schengen agreement, he believed that fear of an overly strong Germany would be reduced if not eliminated.

He also persuaded the then French president to cooperate on the grounds that Europe would only be safe if its most frequent antagonists, France and

Germany, could work in tandem and that the curtain on two world wars could finally be brought down.

More recently, critics have seen creation of the EU as a way of giving Germany the markets and means to produce a new domestic industrial and manufacturing miracle and that the Eurozone has developed into a two-tier north/ south divide which favours France and Germany.

Today’s EU, against a background of increasing globalisation, looks significantly different from its original creation and euro scepticism among its member states is on the rise. Apart from debt issues within the Eurozone, particularly affecting Greece, Britain’s withdrawal is inevitably seen as a repudiation of the greater integration championed by Kohl and there is a fear that others may follow suit.

The most serious issue, however, is the worsening refugee crisis. According to the United Nations, migrant flows to Europe from North Africa and the Middle East are increasing again with an estimated 230,000 people expected to arrive in Italy this year. Such levels appear to be unsustainable and EU states disagree about sharing out the settlement of refugees amongst them, with Poland and Hungary rejecting a quota scheme and Austria threatening to close its borders.

Short of dealing with the root causes of migration and making it more difficult for people to reach Europe, the problem may be insoluble and serious tensions within the bloc are likely to rise.

Overall, commentators on Europe are beginning to cast doubt on the EU’s goal of ever-closer union. Resistance to political integration leading to a federal superstate seems to be growing. In any tribute to Helmut Kohl as a European visionary, his original aim of economic integration, together with cooperation in all other spheres for the mutual benefit of EU member states, must surely be applauded. Such integration has contributed to increased prosperity and helped to keep the peace, but a full-blown federal Europe may turn out to be a step too far.

In observing developments in the EU from the perspective of a small country like ours, we need perhaps to remind ourselves of the importance of the sovereignty of nation states. We believe in international co-operation for mutual benefit and in the interests of world security.

But we should be mindful of the West Indies Federation as a short-lived and failed political union as well as our country’s decision not to participate in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.

In common with other small states around the world, we value our sovereignty and independence. In order to survive and prosper as a people, we should ensure that we always act, both at home and on the international stage, in accordance with a hard-headed assessment of our own national interest.

Blind Mitchell EDITOR, The Tribune.

HON Fred Mitchell must be the only and I mean only Bahamian who doesn’t understand why the PLP lost.

Some free advice - all persons who had any connections to Rt Hon Perry Christie must be expunged from all elected positions in the

PLP - past candidates also.

Start with the Leader of the Opposition, now ... the only acceptable person is one Chester Cooper forget he has no past political experience he is not tarnished by the era of Perry Gladstone Christie.

How can a Jamaican Political Strategist understand

the Bahamian voter? He might be good in Jamaica but The Bahamas?

Mr Mitchell - you don’t know? That indicates you need also to make a quiet retirement.

five weeks to receive mail in my Box. On all of the utility bills, the due dates are already two weeks past due when received.

Could the Ministry of Public Works and Transport investigate this problem?

Do we need to hire more staff to sort the mail and put into boxes?

The Bahamas cannot function without a good postal service.

GODFREY T PINDER Nassau, July 1, 2017.

Slow post EDITOR, The Tribune.

Re: MAIL DELIVERED BY PONY EXPRESS? Open letter to Prime Minister, Dr H Minnis I have a P O Box at the Main Post Office. It takes

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, July 3, 2017.

Nottage a nation builder EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE passing of the late Dr Bernard Nottage this week marked the end of an era for and within the Progressive Liberal Party. Nottage, despite whatever some of us might think may have been his “faults”, was the consummate Bahamian patriot and nation builder. I always ‘thought’ that he was my cousin due to the close friendship between his late mother and my own late paternal aunt, Rena, of Liberty City, Florida. He was, in fact, not my cousin but I have always known that he would become one of the movers and shakers within our wonderful nation.

It was obvious over the past year or so that BJ, as he was universally known, was not well. As a trained medical doctor, he reminded me of a motor vehicle mechanic... always able and ready to take care of a customer’s vehicle but allowed his own to fall into a state of disrepair. He was possessed with the focused desire to make life better for the average Bahamian.

His hopes and dreams of becoming Prime Minister were never to be realised but he publicly, never appeared to be bitter and he never withdrew from front

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net line politics.

I first met both Dr. Nottage and former PM Perry Gladstone Christie way back in the day when we were all students in London and Scotland. PGC and I were into our legal studies (a few years apart, of course) at the University of London and the Inns of Court, while BJ was further up north. They were both passionate about returning home to serve in politics.

Well do I recall the frequent trips of the late great founding father of our nation, Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, coming over to the UK to have regular talks with Bahamian students.

A fierce debater and political theorist, BJ, held his own during the lively discussions with our then “Moses”. PGC was a little more laid back but, he too, often exhibited a messianic propensity and a sense that he had a date with Destiny.

I the more Machiavellian character and remain so to this very day.

If one is unable, for whatever reason, to become king then I chose the path of “king maker and moun-

tain shaker”. BJ followed his path and was fairly successful in all of his known endeavours. Behold the man whom we knew as BJ. Not a perfect politician but a Bahamian who made us all proud.

I recall the first time that I was introduced to BJ by his then fiance, Portia, down at the Nassau Beach club where she was a singer and diva beyond comparison. It was obvious to me that she was “the apple of his eye” and “the love of his life”.

A good husband; proud father and community builder, BJ will long be remember as a champion of the unwashed masses. And so, as we mourn his passage let us not ever lose sight of the salient fact that BJ lived a full and productive life, unlike so many of those of us who remain alive, for now.

BJ was the perfect example of “If I can touch someone along the way... my living would not have been in vain.”

To God then, in all of these things, even death, be the glory for great things He hath done.

ORTLAND H BODIE JR Nassau, June 30, 2017.

Tough to do business EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Bahamas is very well known for how hard it is to do business especially with government - flying to New York this week I sat next to two investors and after an hour conversation all I can say - nuttin change from May 10th.

I have a copy of General Orders, the Rule book for the practice-business of the Civil Service (I suggest Public Service Commission prints copies or electronically makes them available to every Civil Servant)....

A civil servant answering the telephone must identify themselves ... when you ever

hear that?

1935 ..... imagine the Civil Service is required to answer, actual word used ‘must’ with the least delay ..... when you last received this service?

1936 .... If a reminder is sent the senior officer receiving the incoming mail must call for the file and ascertain why the correspondence has not been dealt with!

1937 ... all mail unfiled 48 hours after receiving must be show to a senior officer who will give written instructions how the correspondence will be dealt with ..... 48 hours after.

General Orders might

need upgrading to the electronic age but what it needs is a fundamental understanding of what is a Civil Servant? PM Minnis you better get the whip out as from what that investor told me their experience was terrible.

In a BTC Sales Office ..... big promotional poster on the wall- the composition is a young male jumping seemingly with joy but who is that gentleman? Are senior Civil Servants permitted to do private, paid-forwork, outside of their job?

W THOMPSON Nassau, July 1, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 7, 2017, PAGE 5

Targets in overhauling waste management haven’t been met

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net EIGHT years after the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded the development of solid waste management infrastructure in the capital, key targets on building awareness have yet to be fully realised, according to IDB country representative Maria Florencia AttademoHirt.

Ms Attademo-Hirt told The Tribune that impacting the culture of waste management in The Bahamas will take a long-term commitment to building awareness, as she weighed in on the efficacy of the bank’s public sector loan to spur reforms in the late 1990s.

In a statement issued recently, the bank acknowledged that although the integral infrastructure was developed, operational management and support has remained inadequate throughout the past 18 years.

“In 1999, yes, the IDB approved a public sector loan for solid waste management,” she said. “That 1999 loan was basically focused on the landfill in New Providence but also on the landfills in the Family Islands.

That project had an initial period of execution of five years and it was extended.

“Typically, the execution period for public sector loans tend to be five years, what happens when you’re about to come at year four

A WORKER in a protective mask at a dump fire earlier this year. or five between the govern- IDB-funded projects as ment and the bank, we look the bank’s current five-year at the project and we say is country strategy comes to it justified? In the case of an end.

It follows criticisms levthe 1999 loan, I understand that that kind of dialogue elled by pundits who, in the took place and an exten- wake of recurring fires at sion was granted to try and the New Providence Landaccomplish a little bit more fill, contend that the bank’s than what was being accom- $23.5m loan for a solid waste management proplished by year five.”

Ms Attademo-Hirt said: gramme in New Providence “I would have to tell you was not fruitful.

This loan was approved that that project from my point of view did not ac- in February 1999, during a complish all of its intended previous Ingraham adminobjectives, it did accom- istration, and the loan conplish a good amount. Was tract was signed in October there room for improve- of that year.

The loan was intended to ment? Absolutely.”

Ms Attademo-Hirt support existing government was responding to ques- programmes in a bid to imtions asked by The Trib- prove solid waste manageune related to the moni- ment in New Providence and toring and evaluation of on several Family Islands.

Primary components were said to include: institutional strengthening and regulatory adjustments; priority investments for disposal facilities; public awareness campaigns and recycling programmes.

The project is listed as finished on the IDB’s website, and project details indicate a cancelled amount of USD$1,689,746, repayments totalling USD$17,308,414, with some $4.5m listed as outstanding.

The programme was preceded by two loans for technical cooperation. The first loan contract, valued USD$750,000, was intended for the preparation of pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for a solid waste management project,

Caribbean Asphalt Products was sanctioned for alleged fraudulent and collusive practices.

Individuals sanctioned by the bank include: Dereck Mackey; Eugene Smith Jr; and Robert “Bob” Smith for alleged fraudulent practices; and Trevor Cleare and Steven Rose Jr for alleged fraudulent and collusive practices.

“The OII looks at allegations of fraud and corruption in IDB-funded projects,” Ms Attademo-Hirt said. “This type of independent entity is common in all international organisations. Let’s say we executed a project, and anybody, it could be a Bahamian, foreigner working on the project, an IDB employee, they can pick up a phone send a complaint about implementation, the way money is being used, concerns of fraud and corruption, basically that project funds not being used for the purpose that were intended, or with the efficiency and efficacy that they are supposed to be used.”

transformative initiatives to ensure macroeconomic sustainability; social stability and employment; and increase resilience to the negative impacts of climate change. Priority areas included: public finances and management; citizen security and justice; energy; private sector development; coastal risk management and climate change adaptation.

Nine public sector loans are currently in execution at the moment, Ms Attademo-Hirt confirmed, and of those loans, there are two yet to be approved by Parliament and signed. There is one more that is ready for negotiations, but has not gone to the IDB Board of Directors yet, she said.

“The IDB has several monitoring mechanisms,” she said, “so it starts with planning - important, effective, efficient, planning.

Before we disperse (a loan) let’s look at all the conditions prior to the loan being eligible for (disbursement) to ensure that we have a sound structure so even be-

and was signed in February 1995. The second loan contract was signed in May 1997 with a total value of USD$100,000.

Ms Attademo-Hirt said: “I believe at the time . . . it was a very comprehensive project, a very ambitious project. I do also believe that that project started the change in terms of waste management. Some of the things that were not accomplished and that perhaps are not fully accomplished till this day eight years later, and many years after we finished the implementation in agreement with government.

“Like, awareness - one of the components of the project was about creating awareness in the commu-

nity about the importance of effective, efficient, conscious I would say, solid waste management.

“I believe there is room for more there,” she continued. “I don’t think that process has been completed. Is there ever a point in saying a society is fully aware and ready? I don’t know.”

Reflecting on her childhood experiences in Argentina, Ms Attademo-Hirt said she could personally attest to the cultural shifts that can be effected through consistent awareness-building over decades.

“I am from a developing country, I grew up in a country where tossing a piece of paper out of a car window was socially okay. I also saw in my teen years, and now going back as an adult, a country that has turned the page there and it’s not ok culturally or socially anymore to toss things out of the car.

“These processes of change take decades, because you have to make a mind shift not only of certain leaders in government and civil society, but of a nation.

“So yes, I do believe that some of the objectives of that project were not fully met. I do believe there is room for improvement, absolutely, in the awareness or in the recycling, in the management itself of a landfill.

However, I am happy that the project took place even if it was imperfect because I believe it was a vehicle of change,” she said.

fore we start dispersing the time between the signing of the loan contract and the day in which the first dollar goes out to the government account, we look at what we call eligibility conditions.”

Before funds are dispersed, and at each subsequent request for disbursement, Ms Attademo-Hirt advised that officials must present justification of the use of the advance.

“Whether funds are (disbursed) or reimbursed,” she said, “in both cases there is monitoring and a request for accountability that happens on a project by project basis, and on a disbursement by disbursement basis.

It depends on each project and the purpose, they have to justify how the purchase will contribute towards the project targets.”

At the project-level, a Project Execution Unit (PEU) is established within the government ministry that has the greatest stake in the project. Led by a project coordinator, the PEUs typically include specialists in finance, procurement, and

project monitoring. These positions are identified by a competitive process run by the government, with the IDB to provide a nonobjection on the selection of posts funded by the bank.

Ms Attademo-Hirt said: “The IDB provides a nonobjection because resources of the loan are used to pay for that service. Another way of populating a PEU is with existing public servants in which case we don’t need to provide non-objection because there are no additional resources from IDB at least, or government may identify these persons and say we want this person to be the project manager or financial specialist or procurement specialist.

“If the IDB doesn’t fund that position with proceeds of an IDB loan we don’t have the non-objection right.”

She added: “Of course we do maintain a dialogue with government saying we still need people who are qualified, because if not the project implementation and execution suffers.”

IDB BANS COMPANIES FOR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION from page one

Ms Attademo-Hirt was responding to questioned placed by The Tribune related to the monitoring and evaluation of IDB-funded projects as the bank’s current five-year country strategy comes to an end.

It follows criticisms levelled by pundits who, in the wake of recurring fires at the New Providence Landfill, contend that the bank’s $23.5m loan for a solid waste management programme in New Providence was not fruitful.

The debarred firms and individuals are investigated by an independent branch of the IDB called the Office of Institutional Integrity (OII), and cases adjudicated by a sanctions officer and a sanctions committee.

Bahamian firms True Blue Heavy Equipment and Trucking Co; M & R Heavy Equipment Road Builders; Supersea Marine Ltd and Westside Equipment Ltd were sanctioned for alleged fraudulent practices; and

She continued: “When there is an allegation of fraud and corruption, this independent unit investigates, and depending on findings they may launch an investigation. It’s a long process because due process is important, but if there is proof, real evidence of fraud and corruption in accordance with the principles of the IDB - sanctions could be imposed.

“The most egregious ones are being made public, we are part of this international community where we recognise sanctions imposed by other organisations. If the Asian Development Bank were to debar an entity or individual, or the African Development Bank, or the World Bank, they will send a formal communication and say under our agreement to respect and recognise mutually our sanctions.

“We recognise that sanction, we follow that, and we have a list of sanctioned entities.”

The IDB’s 2013-2017 Country Strategy targeted

CUSTOMS WON’T BE RELOCATED TO SKYBAHAMAS

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE Minnis administration has ruled out renting the SkyBahamas building to relocate the Department of Customs warehouse after deciding its existing structure will better serve the needs of the government once repairs are done, according to Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest yesterday.

He said the Ministry of Works has been directed to review the customs warehouse near the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) to make a decision on the extent of the needed repairs.

Once this is done, the minister of finance said the work will go out to tender to find the most suitable contractor to carry out the work. Until then, he said it is not known how much the work could cost taxpayers.

Mr Turnquest has an interest in SkyBahamas. This has been the basis of direct criticism from the Official Opposition, with Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin drawing attention to these ties in the House of Assembly in early June.

“We have had a look at the customs warehouse,”

Mr Turnquest told The Tribune when he was contacted yesterday. “We believe we can continue to run the operations from that facility, although we are severely hampered by the destruction that occurred there last month.

“We are going to try to make some immediate repairs and move around the internal operation until the other parts are restored. We have asked the ministry to have a look and make a determination cost wise and then be able to send it out to bid.

“We believe there is more we can do with the (existing) building once it is repaired.

And we will look at the security to ensure what happened there does not happen in this manner again.”

The facility was broken into last month.

Not long after the incident, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said it could cost around $3m to correct the damage caused.

He told reporters the government considered moving the customs operations to Gladstone Road. However he said this was not only a little inconvenient, but would result in losses of $600,000 in business that is conducted daily.

The second option was the SkyBahamas building be-

cause of its proximity to the airport and was thought to be able to accommodate customs business immediately.

According to Mr Newbold, when this came up for discussion before Cabinet, Mr Turnquest had to recuse himself because of his ties to the company.

Last month, Mrs Hanna Martin alleged in the House of Assembly that Mr Turnquest did not disclose his stake in SkyBahamas after the government approved duty exemptions for the repair and maintenance of aircraft in the 2017-2018 Budget.

She said because these concessions “could impact the financial interest of persons in the House,” Mr Turnquest was “obliged” to reveal his interest in the company when the debate began.

In response, Mr Turnquest said before the election he disclosed all his interests to the relevant authorities because he had nothing to hide. He also admitted that he did not realise the aircraft exemptions were in the budget until he read them in the House of Assembly.

Mr Turnquest also said Mrs Hanna Martin’s implication that he somehow amended the legislation to benefit himself is “misleading” and dangerous to his reputation.

PAGE 6, Friday, July 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

No escape from soaring bills from page one

“BPL has to pay their way by whatever means necessary, which means the cost has to be passed on to customers. The government cannot afford to continue to subsidise electrical power but we have to be able to provide reliability and to ensure the machinery is working. In order to do that the cost has to be passed on.”

Mr Bannister said he understands that “times are hard” but whether Bahamians understand it or not, either “you pay BPL directly or you pay through our taxes.”

“We have not upgraded our equipment in a long time and now it is telling on us. We need customers to bear with us because we have a plan and we will put systems in place,” he said.

“These are difficult and

hard times but the question is, do you want to pay it now to the company or pay it later through taxes?

So, no matter how you look at it, the customer will still pay for it. You pay one way or another, this time you are paying directly and it is easier because this way you are paying for only the electricity you use and not for someone else’s. “BPL has a huge legacy debt and it is difficult to operate the

corporation with that hanging over its head. Hopefully with this new board, we can find a way to lower the price to consumers and get BPL to run efficiently.”

On Monday, Mr Bannister revealed that the new BPL board would be in place on Wednesday and said the group’s first priority is tackling the utility provider’s “inability to keep the lights on.”

In an interview with The

Tribune, Mr Bannister confirmed that the new board was selected, but said Cabinet will have to release the full list of names to the press.

The Tribune understands the board’s new chairman is Darnell Osborne.

Mr Bannister has repeatedly said he is “extremely troubled” that BPL has not been able to keep the lights on and provide reliable consistent electricity.

American company Pow-

erSecure was contracted to take over management at the government-owned utility provider in early 2016.

The new management deal was promoted by the former Christie administration as being the answer to sub-par electricity service and high electricity bills.

However the country has still been plagued with repeated power outages, especially in the summer months.

INGRAHAM: SOMETHING DOES NOT SMELL RIGHT from page one

“That is not a crime in and of itself. Where you exercise power and the state lost money because of your misfeasance, that’s an option that they have and it’s a civil matter,” Mr Ingraham said.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis revealed the litany of payments to the contractor, Johnathan Ash, during his contribution to the budget communication last month. He said he was shocked at the high payouts and the speed at which Mr Ash was able to collect cheques.

It is one of several cases officials in the Minnis administration have highlighted as troubling decisions made by the Christie administration.

The Minnis administration’s apparent determination to go after politicians it believes engaged in misfeasance is a departure from the way previous administrations dealt with their political opponents.

Mr Ingraham was asked to react to this following a Rotary Club of Southeast Nassau meeting Wednesday. He said that he long believed elections rather than a short time in prison settled “scores between populations and politicians.”

He said: “If crimes are committed, criminal activities committed and police have evidence then police ought to proceed with it against whosoever, politicians or non-politicians.

But there ought not be a witch hunt against people.

If there’s evidence some-

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham speaking at Rotary Southeast Nassau this week. body abused their authority mitted claims through the hand, sources at the ministry in office or evidence of mis- Ministry of Works and the have told The Tribune that feasance then that’s possi- National Recovery Unit some of the ministry’s staff ble but not to do otherwise. (NRU) in the Office of the were transferred to the NRU in the aftermath of HurriI come from the school Prime Minister.

Officials in the govern- cane Matthew and they reof thought that generally speaking elections settle ment, past and present, have ported not to the permanent scores between the popu- been cagey about the pay- secretary of the Ministry of Works but to Jack Thomplations and politicians and ments to Mr Ash, however.

Officials in the NRU son, then permanent secresometimes a loss is a bigger punishment for them than point fingers at senior civil tary of NEMA, hurricane six months in prison be- servants in the Ministry of czar Shane Gibson and, cause he spends the rest of Works, suggesting they had occasionally, former Prime his life with this thing that jurisdiction to authorise Minister Perry Christie.

Until at least mid-Dehe regards as humiliation.” the payments and should Last month, Dr Minnis take responsibility for what cember last year, work by revealed that Mr Ash sub- happened. On the other Mr Ash was certified by

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff Leyton Rahman, chief en- waste from green waste gineer at the Ministry of at the dump sites and for Works and one of the peo- transporting the bulk waste ple said to be transferred to the main dump site. to the NRU. Mr Rahman Mr Rahman denies cercertified work for Mr Ash tifying work for Mr Ash to the tune of hundreds of worth millions of dollars thousands of dollars and and was shocked to learn he played a role in choos- from Dr Minnis’ speech ing Mr Ash to maintain the how much money the conthree dump sites on New tractor received, sources Providence that were cre- told The Tribune. ated following Hurricane Mr Ash was among five Matthew. In addition to his contractors the former work cleaning up Centre- prime minister selected to ville, Mr Ash was respon- clean-up Centreville in the sible for separating bulk wake of the hurricane.

‘COCKY AND ARROGANT PLP’ MUST SEEK FORGIVENESS from page one

Appearing as a guest on “The Real Deal” with host Ortland Bodie, Mr Smith also said Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper should be celebrated for his “frank comments” on the current state of the PLP, rather than being criticised by members of his own party.

In fact, Mr Smith, who is a member of the PLP’s

General Council, said he supports Mr Cooper and Cat Island MP Phillip “Brave” Davis forming the PLP’s new leadership team.

Mr Davis, the PLP’s former deputy leader, was promoted to interim leader after former Prime Minister Perry Christie resigned from the party’s top post in May. When the party holds its next convention, expected later this year, all leadership positions will be vacant and up for a challenge.

Last month, Mr Cooper, in a speech before the PLP’s National Progressive Institute, said the party lost the recent election because it ignored scandals and condoned behaviour it should not have.

He also said the party lost touch with the people it sought to help. Although he said the PLP made contributions that the country will come to appreciate in the future, his sharp critiques diverged from public

statements of other PLP officials.

“We (the PLP) lost connection with the people and the members of the government seemed to become more aloof and dismissive,” Mr Smith said Thursday.

“So the Bahamian people started to show signs of their anxiety and their lack of faith in the party and so the support began to dwindle. “...Too many of the politicians on my side became

cocky and arrogant and dismissive and when the people sent signs that they weren’t happy, the politicians did not pay attention.

Then came the revelations and the gestures which made it worse.”

On Tuesday, South Andros MP Picewell Forbes said there was no need for the PLP to apologise for the mistakes the party made while in office. He also chastised Mr Cooper for his earlier criticisms of the PLP. Yesterday, Mr Smith called Mr Forbes’ comments unfortunate and said: “When you offend people like the PLP did, or like the people believe the PLP did, you must seek forgiveness.”

He added: “It is nonsense what Mr Forbes said. All Chester Cooper did was repeat the statements that he heard from the voters in Exuma, I know because I was there.

“I was there when people said they would ordinarily vote PLP but they couldn’t

this time because they had to register their displeasure with certain aspects of the conduct of the government.

“If Mr Forbes believes that as a Christian you should have a contrite heart, well that means that you must be a forgiving person and it means when you offed people you should seek forgiveness. If the Bahamian people told you, this is your judgment, then you should apologise.

The Bahamian people sent the party a clear message and there is a growing position in the party of people who appreciate that message.”

The Free National Movement won 35 out of 39 seats in the House of Assembly on May 10, wiping out the incumbent Christie administration. On top of that devastating loss, the PLP only captured one seat in New Providence and Mr Christie lost his seat in Centreville, an area he had represented for 40 years.

PARKER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF BAHAMAS BAR ASSOCIATION AFTER a vigorous campaign, Kahlil Parker was elected president of The Bahamas Bar Association at its annual general meeting on June 30.

J Denise Lewis-Johnson has been elected vice-president.

The other elected officers are: Joan Dilworth, honourary secretary, and Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson, honourary treasurer.

Ian-Marie Darville, Jacy Whittaker and Kelli Ingraham were each elected council members for a oneyear term. Jeanine WeechGomez and Wayne Mun-

roe, QC, continue to serve as three-year council members.

Mr Whittaker is the bar council’s representative in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

According to a press release, Mr Parker said he is pleased that the new bar council is “reflective of the burgeoning presence and influence of younger members of the profession.”

However, it was said he will seek to “secure greater participation of senior members in the executive, professional and social endeavours of The Bahamas Bar Association.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 7, 2017, PAGE 7

Board appointments to be finishing ‘within two weeks’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net DAYS after reports suggested the Minnis administration were nearing a finalised list of government board appointments, Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest said yesterday aspects of the appointments were still being discussed and are now expected to be concluded “within a fortnight”.

The government has faced some level of pressure for its delay in naming its list of appointments to the various statutory boards ahead of the start of the new fiscal year, a move the Minnis administration criticised the former government for while in opposition.

The beginning of the month marked the start of the new fiscal year and with it came reports that the Minnis administration had met on and certified several key appointments with the view to release its completed list by Tuesday, July 4.

However, despite those indications, the East Grand Bahama MP yesterday insisted that list of appointments had not been finalised and was still before Cabinet.

Asked to clarify the status of the

appointments, Mr Turnquest said: “The Cabinet will release the list in its appointed time.”

He added: “I’m sure it will be within a fortnight.”

When asked if it would be better to report the list as completed and certified, or as in flux, he responded: “The matter is before Cabinet.”

In 2012, former Prime Minister Perry Christie was criticised for failing to appoint people to boards in time for the start of that fiscal year, July 1.

The Christie administration argued at that time that its predecessor, the 2007 Ingraham administration, didn’t complete its appointment until July 8, 2007.

Meanwhile, Free National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie yesterday seemed to bow out of the ongoing public debate he had with Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts on the matter, telling The Tribune that all comments on appointments would now come exclusively from the Cabinet level.

In a war of words earlier this week, Mr Roberts said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and his administration were not ready to govern and continued to “mud-

dle along” despite its past criticisms.

In response, Mr Collie said it took the PLP at least 100 days to name appointees, adding that it has only taken the new government about half the time to compose the boards.

When asked to respond to criticisms that statutory boards are normally filled by party supporters, Mr Collie this week said there was criteria prescribed by law for appointments, but indicated party supporters do expect opportunities to serve once their party of choice is successfully elected.

Moreover, Mr Collie said the party often does whatever is possible to ensure this expectation is accommodated. He also noted that an estimated 6,200 persons have expressed interest in the various appointments.

Mr Collie played a vital role in the FNM’s transition team following the May 10 general elections.

In addition to Mr Collie, Dr Minnis, Mr Turnquest, Attorney General Carl Bethel, former parliamentarian Cornelius A Smith and former Ambassador to the United States Joshua Sears, all played prominent roles on the transition team.

DEPUTY Prime Minister Peter Turnquest.

JACKPOT CHEATS WON’T BE PAID from page one

shop noted.

“The Iowa State 3 and 4 Ball Lottery draws were officially discontinued and now share and publish the (same) results as the Indiana State Lottery, which draws 30-minutes prior to the non-existent Iowa ‘House’ draw. The merger between the two state lotteries was neither communicated nor advertised in a

public forum and provided the claimants in question with an opportunity to be dishonest. The time difference between states and the publishing of results created a 30-minute wind for a handful of individuals in web shops throughout the country to purchase pre-existing winning numbers.

“As responsible operators, Paradise Games immediately notified the Gaming Board and the

claimants were informed of its findings and position on non-payment, a position supposed and clearly articulated on the company’s website under the terms and conditions of play.

“Our system is dependent upon highly sophisticated software used by gaming entities throughout the United States and Europe – not unique to The Bahamas. Attempts to manipulate the system and extort

funds are not uncommon in our industry. And, that is precisely why we must take every precautionary measure to ensuring the integrity of the games we offer to customers. Speculation to the contrary is simply false,” Paradise Games also noted.

“Obviously, it is always in the company’s best interest to make complete and timely payouts to its customers. Anything otherwise would not only be destructive to business but

a blatant offence of The Bahamas’ Gaming Act. Paradise Games has a longstanding, unblemished history of timely payments and will not be manipulated by a few unscrupulous individuals.”

Incorporated in 2012, Paradise Games said it underwent a stringent vetting process that caused it to be awarded a gaming operator license by the government.

“Paradise Games has successfully met and ex-

ceeded every requirement of a gaming operator and upholds every standard to ensure a safe and responsible, enjoyable, best-inclass gaming experience.

Paradise Games maintains a zero-tolerance policy for fraudulent claims and justly exercises its lawful right to do so as stated under the company’s terms and conditions, which every customer accepts when using the company’s website, its products and services.”

PAGE 8, Friday, July 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Bimini in the balance A

S we approach our 44th Independence celebrations, I truly hope we gain ‘independence’ as a nation from certain types of foreign investors, investors with only their personal gain in mind, with little or no concern for Bahamians.

Take for example the fiasco unfolding before our eyes in Bimini, with little or no response from the Government.

The island of Bimini’s future is hanging in the balance right now, at a critical tipping point.

Over the past 20 years, RAV Bahamas (owned by Gerado Capo) and more recently RW Bimini (owned

by Genting) has been accused of being unfriendly to Bimini’s natural resources.

Pleas from numerous, Environmental Agencies, Bone fishermen, International supporters, scientists and locals alike, seem to continue to fall on deaf ears, no matter the administration.

Environmental Impact Studies have shown over and over that our shores are under huge environmental impact.

50 per cent of Bimini’s mangroves have already been destroyed.

Mr Capo is reportedly getting ready to fire up the diggers and bulldozers again and rip out more land that was quoted in 2000 as being “the highest priority in the whole Bahamas” in need of a MPA. And still nothing has happened, the resort is still advertising more houses, another hotel, a golf course and a 100 acre water park on East Wells. Which is an MPA. Mr Capo lures in foreign investors by giving the impression he’s untouchable, operating with free reign from the government.

Biminites have reported and will go on record, to how Capo, gloats over having bought out both sides of the political divide, making careful choices in the “friends” he chooses to entertain.

On March 2, 2017, Capo signed a deal with the PLP Government for the approval and go ahead of an 18 hole golf course, on land on the North Sound, part of the MPA.

THE CASINO building at Resorts World Bimini.

A golf course requires 18 million gallons of water a year, that’s 1.5 million gallons per month, just to keep a golf course green, this on an island that already has insufficient infrastructure to supply local homes and businesses.

On Memorial Weekend, he was quoted as saying: “This was the worst weekend we ever had due to insufficient water and power to maintain effective running of the resort.”

A few days later, a letter was issued to his management and directors of the resort stating that in future, power would be switched off to settlements in Bimini and to his workers dorms between 5-10pm daily, in order for enough electricity to be saved for the resort to function.

Phase 1 of this development, promised improved infrastructure and a new water plant for the island.

As of today, none of which

was carried out and now locals will suffer with no power or water, in order for the resort to run effectively.

We are left to wonder whether Mr Capo has any concern for Biminites or the future of this island,or whether his only concern is completing his personal agenda, at all costs, especially to Biminites.

Not to mention the other promises of a new school, the improved and extended clinic, new fire truck, sea defenses, waste management, and most importantly the entrepreneurial opportunities for Biminites.

Also the low cost housing for Resort workers?

Ongoing, Environmental Impact studies?

None of it has come to fruition, instead what Bimini has gotten in return, is diminishing fish stocks, diseased and dying marine life, and alarming rate of coastal erosion, dying reefs, which in turn means dimin-

Funeral Service KEVA CARTWRIGHTKNOWLES, 65 of Coral Lakes, West, will be held on Saturday, 8th July 2017, 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, East Shirley Street.

Fr. Anselm Russell will officiate. Interment will follow in Southern Cemetery, Spikenard Road.

Cherished memories will forever linger in the hearts of her: Sister: Theresa Bowe; Brother: Jan Cartwright; Nieces: Jill Turnquest, Amyee Kerr (Montez), Sian Cartwright, and Mia Bowe-McIntosh; Nephews: Allan Turnquest, Alex Cartwright, Adrian Bowe (Raquel), Jamaal Curtis (Vonya), Xavier Bowe, and Hugh-Tyler Bowe; Grand-Nieces: Hailey Bowe, Morgan Kerr, Skye Bowe, Teagan Kerr, Shyla Curtis, and Sanya McIntosh; Grand-Nephews: Rashaun Rolle-Bowe, Alexxus Francis, Adrian Bowe, Latario Curtis, Xavier Bowe, and Tyler Bowe her bed mate; Aunts: Joan Treco, Lois Cleare, and Carolyn Roker-Gomez; Uncle: Richard Treco; Brother-inLaw: Adrian Teran Nichols (Donna) and family, Steve Nichols (Arleyne) and family, Wenzel Nichols (Rocky) and family, Campbell Cleare (Sharon) and family, Denise Fedeth and family, Hedda Smith (Philip) and family, Richard Treco (Dawn) and family, Shasta Treco-Moxey and family, Camille Albury, Freddy Farrington (Theresa) and family, Renee Albury-Burrows (Paul) and family, Peter Albury and family and Dawn Knowles and family; God-Brother: James Farquharson. Her Special Children Cats: Jingles, Leah, Yoko, Goldie, and Dora; Dogs: Chica, Addie, Brandi, Bambi, Dana, and Nubby fish and birds. Numerous Close Friends: Delores “Reds” Thompson, Ida Sears and family, Keith Thompson, Patricia Bazzard and family, Audrey Wright and family, James Catalyn and friends family, Phillip Burrows, Lawrence Carroll, Norma, Martin, Niven, and Cindy Allen and families, Cecile Albury and family, Nelly Walkes, Rhonda Grant, Sandy Edwards, The Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts family, Shakespeare in Paradise family, The National Arts Festival family, The Ministry of Youth and Culture family, The Ministry of Education family and all the many other people who have crossed paths with Keva during her life.

Friends may pay their last respects at the church on Saturday from 12:00 noon until service time.

ished marine life, and a big kink in our food chain.

There is no denying Capo’s projects in Bimini appear quite successful ascetically, however the number of visitors to Bimini is to great ecologically and socio-economically for Bimini, thus creating a negative impact ecologically with intense pressure on local natural resources.

Resorts World lost $48 million last year, with the major complaint being “insufficient infrastructure to accommodate guest needs”, but instead of implementing the mitigation measures laid out from 2008 in the Vetch report, Mr Capo and Resorts World Bimini continue to run roughshod over these islands at Biminite’s expense.

Ironically enough I bumped into fellow activist, and friend, QC Fred Smith in Taj Mahal recently, and I asked him his opinion on all that has transpired in little old Bimini?

Never shy, Mr. Smith offered up these remarks: “Bimini the abomination!

No respect for the locals or the environment; the mischief and disrespect at the route of anchor projects; secret heads of agreement; unregulated development; allegedly secret deals with the office of the prime minister; no freedom of information; hypocritical ineffective local government; abuse of the environment; disrespect for historical cultural, and social local rights; It feels like a broken re-

cord sometimes, I’m so exhausted by the dictatorial office of the prime minister in Nassau treating all of the family islands as if they are colonies of New Providence to be exploited for their natural resources by secret deals made from glossy brochures by foreigners, simply pulling the wool over the eyes of our inexperienced non-business minded and more often than not corrupted politicians.

Heads of agreements and anchor projects are like a virus, which have infected the body politic of politics in the Bahamas for decades.”

What will be left for future generations to come in Bimini?

With the main food source dwindling and all the wild life destroyed?

What will be their legacy, a casino Bahamians can’t gamble in?

The golf course too expensive for locals to play on?

The Hilton Hotel comparable to any other in the world?

Trust me, I’ve done tons of road gigs in my 20 year career as a professional stand up comedian, US, Canada, the Caribbean, all the Hiltons look the same.

Is this really what Bahamians, especially Biminites, want for Bimini, and more importantly is it truly what’s best or right for the island?

Or is it more important to preserve beauty of Bimini and all it’s natural resources?

Ask yourselves those

tough questions Bahamas!

I’m quite sure there is a large contingency of Biminites who are grateful for the creation of jobs and new sources of revenue for Bimini, but what is in place now is more than adequate and sufficient for all parties concerned, locals and foreign investor alike.

According to the new Government “It’s the people’s time.”

So I implore the Minister of Environment, Marathon MP Mr. Romauld Ferreira, to do what is morally right and implement the MPA to save all of our islands for Bahamians and for future generations to come.

Meanwhile very few people take into consideration, the Bahamas being such low lying islands, are under critical threat from Global warming and rising sea levels.

Each year we are seeing more and more coastal erosion, sea walls disappearing, no more projects to aid in the erosion.

No more projects such as the epic failure, the cruise pier.

You remember the project in Bimini, that called for dredging for a cruise ship pier, that was rendered obsolete in just over a year, leaving dive sites and other marine areas buried with silt.

So as we look to celebrate 44 years of Independence, as a nation, let us learn from our past mistakes moving forward.

So we can truly move “forward, onward, upward, together”.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 7, 2017, PAGE 9

Nursing students to begin training at Rand

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TERREVE College has finally obtained a memorandum of understanding from the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) that will allow its nursing students to begin their practical training at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.

The institution’s nursing programme has been suspended for the past eight months because the PHA would not sign off on the MoU even though the college had reportedly supplied all the necessary requirements to the institution.

Some 25 nursing students enrolled in the programme were unable to continue their training because they needed to complete practical training at the hospital

before they could move to the next level.

Herbert Brown, managing director of PHA, previously informed The Tribune that the PHA was awaiting directives from the Department of Public Services before signing off on the MoU. Terrence Archer, the founder/owner of Terreve College, said the eightmonth delay has severely affected the institution and its nursing students, many of whom have now left the programme.

“We finally got the MoU,” said Mr Archer this week.

“Now that we have it in hand we have to now move forward to getting students into the Rand (for their practical training), but we are not able to do this right now because of the negative effects that were spooned onto the institution.”

In June 2016, Terreve was removed from the Department of Public Services’ list of approved recognised private tertiary institutions as a result of policy changes implemented by the department. The school applied for a judicial review and in October 2016, Supreme Court Justice Ian Winder ruled in favour of Terreve and ordered that the decision to revise the policy be quashed, which put the institution back in its initial position as an approved institution.

Despite the ruling, the PHA managing director would not sign off on the MoU and was awaiting directives from the Department of Public Services regarding the school’s standing before proceeding with the agreement that would allow the second-

year nursing students to receive their training at the hospital in Grand Bahama.

Mr Archer said many of the students have become discouraged. “We are trying to see how we can get the students to come back into the programme because as you know they have been waiting for quite some time, and of course, the spirit of discouragement has hit a lot of them.”

There are currently nine students enrolled, but the institution needs a minimum of 15 to proceed with the programme.

Mr Archer said that school officials are doing their best to work with those returning nursing students.

“We had a meeting with them, and it was very positive, but all of the students did not come out. We had

25 students, and now we are down to just under half that - only nine showed up to the meeting. But they are excited and looking forward to getting back on the road to training,” he said.

Even though Terreve has sorted things out with the MoU, it still has to satisfy other requirements.

“For the programme, we must have a minimum of 15 students, and we are short,” Mr Archer said. “We are trying to see how we can encourage others to come back as some have left us and gone to other places into a lesser programme than we were offering.”

Mr Archer said the institution is still reeling from the aftermath of what has happened over the past year.

Before June 2016, Terreve had an enrolment of

over 400 students and had catered to 30 per cent of public servants.

Mr Archer said: “If we have 120 students we have a lot. We are running from behind and trying to catch up, and it is not easy. It put the institution under a lot of financial burdens because we had to make a lot of financial sacrifices on investment on our programmes so students can benefit.”

He said small private tertiary institutions such as Terreve College play an important role providing an alternative for those students unable to meet the financial and other criteria required to enrol at the University of the Bahamas.

“Institutions like Terreve pick up the slack and we you have to be flexible to assist persons in obtaining training,” he said.

SENTENCING DELAYED IN FACEBOOK SEX ASSAULT CASE

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

SUMMER time work crews rather than students doing school work - as renovations begin while youngsters are away. But here Elridge Deveaux, electrical contractor, is pictured with youngsters who are assisting with the renovations at Stephen Dillet Primary School.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

RENOVATIONS FOR SUMMER

A MAN must wait an additional 11 weeks before he is sentenced for the sexual assault of a teenage girl whom he lured to his home through a fake Facebook profile.

Jamal Daniels, 27, was due before Justice Bernard Turner yesterday for the penalty phase of his trial concerning an incident that occurred with a 14-year-old girl on September 22, 2014.

However, the probation report concerning Daniels’ social background, which had been requested for the court’s consideration in sentencing, was unavailable for yesterday’s proceeding.

He is now expected to reappear in the Supreme Court on September 7.

Daniels stood trial before Justice Turner last month on the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse which he denied at his formal arraignment in January 2015 and again at the commencement of his trial.

It was the prosecution’s case that Daniels lured the girl to his home on Carmi-

chael Road through a fake Facebook profile.

The court heard the complainant’s Facebook friend “Quetell” suggested that they both get tattoos at a parlour on Carmichael Road.

The complainant, now 17, took a bus to the parlour and as she was on her way, a man who spoke with an American accent called her phone from a private number and asked if she was still coming.

The victim said when she arrived, she asked Daniels for “Quetell”—the name of the fake Facebook profile—and was told that she was in another room.

It was revealed in court that Daniels started a tattoo on the girl’s stomach but did not complete it. Instead, he allegedly held her down and raped her.

Police photographed the incomplete tattoo.

Daniels did not testify in his defence following the close of the prosecution’s case.

Viola Barnett prosecuted the case for the Crown while Allan Emmanuel represented Daniels.

LAWYER REQUESTS MORE TIME TO PREPARE MURDER APPEAL

DEBRIS cleared during the renovations, above, and youngsters and workmen in action at Stephen Dillet Primary School.

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A LAWYER representing a man who wishes to contest his murder conviction asked the Court of Appeal for additional time to prepare for the formal appeal.

Rolin Alexis, 26, appeared in the Appeal Court yesterday for the expected substantive hearing concerning his formal challenge to a Supreme Court jury’s guilty verdict concerning the killing of Deslin Nichols in July 2011.

His recently appointed lawyer, public defender Stanley Rolle, requested additional time to prepare for Alexis’ appeal.

The request was granted and the matter was further adjourned to October 30.

Nichols was shot multiple

times as he sat in his vehicle at Florida Court, off Balfour Avenue.

Alexis was convicted by a Supreme Court jury in May 2015 and two months later, Justice Bernard Turner sentenced him to 45 years at the Department of Correctional Services.

However, Justice Turner shortened Alexis’ sentence to 42 years and eight months after taking into consideration the time Alexis had spent in custody, which was some 28 months.

Justice Turner also took into account Alexis being a “young man” with a “clean criminal history” before the incident in question and “being gainfully employed”.

Jacqueline Forbes-Foster appeared for the Crown in yesterday’s appellate hearing before Justices Jon Isaacs, Stella Crane-Scott and Roy Jones.

ONE-DAY WORKSHOP TO OFFER ADVICE FOR MOTHERS-TO-BE A SPECIAL team of medical health professionals will help provide expectant parents with all the tools they need for a healthy pregnancy at a special one day workshop called Nurturing a Healthy Egg. The one-day workshop being held at the Island House will feature a panel of experts that includes: Dr Allan Lyons - who is a noted Obstetrician/ Gynecologist, Jimmy Mackey - a fitness master trainer, Christa Soleyn, a clinical psychologist, Lathera Lotmore, a dietitian, Christine Carey,

a lactation consultation and Kerel Pinder, motivational speaker, playwright and author.

Dr Williams Hamiliton Bambini’s chef operations officer explained that Bambini’s Nest was created to provide an all encompassing mother and baby sanctuary.

“It’s a one-stop shop for mothers. We understand that mothers in the Caribbean may not have all the resources they need and so with this in mind, our workshop was created. It is our mission to provide parents

with the tools and information needed to nurture their healthy egg. This has truly been a labour of love,” he explained.

Dr Williams explained that each of the topics for the day was chosen after consultant with mothers and mothers to be to ensure that they would be relevant and practical.

“We did not want to assume we knew the concerns of all mothers so we designed a survey and collected data on the topics mothers wanted to know about. We then chose the

most common choices and designed our workshop around them. Once we chose the topics we selected the leading experts in the relevant fields and so our participants will have the opportunity to interact and hear from the best.”

Dr Williams added that expecting mothers and fathers, current mothers and fathers, persons planning to be parents and persons generally interested in motherhood will all benefit from the experience.

“Participants can ex-

pect to have fun, learn new tools, gain relevant knowledge and leave empowered.

This is our first workshop and we intend to make it an annual event. The response so far has been amazing which speaks to the need for prenatal care and preparation. Our team has a unique background inclusive of medical doctors, a psychologist, a pharmacist, mothers, fathers-to-be and baby product specialists.

This allows us to respond effectively to the needs of mothers whether from personal or professional ex-

perience. We believe that the service we provide is definitely needed and it has been an honour serving Bahamian mothers thus far,” he added.

Nurturing a Healthy Egg takes place on Saturday from 9am-3pm at the Island House. The $99 entrance fee also includes lunch. Interested persons can register at the People’s Pharmacy at their Prince Charles Shopping Centre East Street South or Carmichael Road locations or by emailing baminisnest@ gmail.com.

PAGE 10, Friday, July 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

Call to support Run For Pompey

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

RUN for Pompey lead organisers yesterday called on Bahamians and visitors to come out and support the third annual event, which officials said promises to be a unique display of Bahamian history, sports and culture.

At a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism’s Bay Street office, Run for Pompey co-founder Jeff Todd highlighted the merits and significance of the event, which takes place October 6 to 8 in Exuma.

“What I really love about this event is not only does it draw tourists to the Bahamas and to Exuma, but it really celebrates something that’s real,” Mr Todd said. “And I think people travel for the things that are culturally relevant, things that are historically relevant and things that are real.”

According to Kevin Taylor, race director, Run for Pompey will feature six distance races ranging from a 2K George Town dash, 5K and 10K fun-runs, a half marathon, a marathon, and the 50K ultra.

Mr Taylor also said

Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants.

- Quoting singer Frank Sinatra’s My Way in her farewell speech as President of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA), Darnell Osborne leaves her post with a long list of achievements under her belt.

Established in 1971, BICA regulates and oversees the development of the professional accounting industry in The Bahamas with its principal mandate – the protection of the public interest.

As President, Mrs Osborne successfully led the institute into its next chapter of modernisation and growth while ensuring the profession remained relevant and integral.

“BICA has grown over the years from a small association to a membership of over 500 with members and

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licensees working in every aspect of our economy,” she said. “BICA anticipates serving in a greater leadership capacity on national issues impacting the economy, accountability, transparency and development of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for the benefit of future generations.

There are important issues that must be carefully and competently addressed by the policymaking and lawmaking branches of the Government. These include, but are not limited to, the implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), financial reporting reform and tax reform.”

Due to deficiencies in legislation, BICA’s membership was suspended from the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) forcing modernisation of legislation. Mrs Osborne, assisted by members of the Legislative Reform Committee and the attorneys at the Law Reform branch of the Attorney General’s Office, laboured for a few years to update the required policies and plans.

In 2015, the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) Act, 2015 and its accompanying legislation which includes General Regulations, Disciplinary and Committee Regulations were passed and became law. This pivotal and critical move regained the country’s international respect in the accountancy profession.

“This achievement was a proud day for the Institute

and could not have happened without the help of a most diligent and hardworking team of committed professionals, some of whom had worked on the first legislation,” she said.

According to Osborne, selfless leadership is about paving the way for others to take the organisation to the next level. “We must actively create opportunities and forums for our members to share their challenges and ideas to ensure a strong and successful future for The Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants.”

She now turns the reins over to Gowon Bowe, Chief Financial Officer, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) (FBB), and former Chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation.

Rotary Club of New Providence Rotary Club of New Providence. - The Rotary Club of New Providence held its 29th annual changeover on July 1 at the Melià Nassau Beach All Inclusive.

Outgoing president Elburt Ferguson conveyed his thanks to the club for the leadership opportunity and reminded fellow Rotarians to stay committed, putting “Service above Self”.

Breaking the glass ceiling as the first female President of RCNP since being chartered on June 1, 1988, is Inga Bostwick. Inga pledged to continue the great legacy of her predecessors.

the 50K ultra’s defending champion, Jessica Sheffield, will be returning to defend her title along with a group of runners from Key West, Florida. The event’s first winner, Stephen Pintard, is also expected to participate.

Every participant who crosses the finish line will receive a medal from Bahamian Olympic gold medalist Pauline DavisThompson, while winners in the age groups of each race will receive a handcarved wooden trophy. Participation for students and children are free, Mr Taylor said.

Additionally, proceeds from the event will go towards a scholarship fund for one student in Exuma to attend Acadia University in Canada, according to officials. BAF Financial & Insurance Ltd will again be the title sponsor.

“Overall, we think Run for Pompey is a great example of sports, culture and heritage tourism, that will expose Exuma to what tends to be a high net worth and collective market of visitors,” Mr Taylor said.

Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar, present during yesterday’s press confer-

ence, also called for the wider public to support an event he said “ticks all the boxes.”

“One thing that I do urge is that we encourage Bahamians to come from throughout the islands to enjoy the beauty of Exuma,” he said.

“With the support of the Out Island Promotion Board and our many partners in the Family Islands, events like this fit perfectly into the pattern of incentivising inter-island exploration by covering airfare for Bahamians who choose to vacation in the Family Islands.”

The race event honours Pompey, the slave who risked his life to sail to New Providence to convince the governor of the Bahamas not to allow the splitting up of slave families with whom he lived.

In 1830, then 32-yearold Pompey led a rebellion against his British plantation owner, Lord John Rolle, who had declared Pompey and 76 other slaves would be moved from Exuma to Cat Island.

Local historians have said Pompey’s rebellion marked the birth of the “freedom fight” that concluded with the emancipation of local slaves in 1838.

PRESIDENT Inga Bostwick and Immediate Past President Elburt Ferguson.

This year, she has chosen of Women in Rotary. the theme, “Tomorrow’s Assisting with the inducChange Makers”. She said tion was past District Govin the club’s newsletter: ernor Felix Stubbs who en“Rotary has distinguished couraged President Inga to itself over the years as a set defined goals, and convehicle for positive change duct periodic reviews while throughout communities making a difference. Also worldwide. Our community speaking was former Atis no different. For years, torney General Janet BostRotary and Rotarians alike wick. She urged Rotarians DARNELL OSBORNE have committed time, en- to be the very best, giving ergy, and effort into making unselfishly of themselves.

Methodist Church on SunThe Bahamas and the world Walking away with Ro- day. The Rev Christopher a better place for its current tarian of the Year was Val- Neely preached the message citizens and future genera- entino Hamilton, while Past “Good News; Good Protions. As a new day dawns President Jiphco Johnson vides”. Rev Neely reminded in our club and we journey was awarded Distinguished the congregation that “God over the next 12 months Rotarian. can be counted on”. supporting other non-profit President Inga introThe club meets every organisations, collaborat- duced the new board for Tuesday at 7pm at The ing, networking, and pro- 2017-2018, which featured Poop Deck, West. Anyviding “Service above Self”, experienced board mem- one interested in Rotary we must always deliver the bers, and several new faces. can visit portal.clubrunner.

“Yes we can” attitude and RCNP closed the week- ca/1527 or like the club on be a “change maker.” end with its Annual Church Facebook or follow on InsThis year marks 30 years Service at the Ebenezer tagram.