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The Tribune
Volume:116 No.137, JULY 12TH, 2019
Established 1903
Weekend
DIANE PHILLIPS: WHY THIS RESENTMENT OF SUCCESS?
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1 art books film fashion music
Friday, July 12, 2019
gardening history entert ainment food
Weekend
LUXURY FASHION Page 14-15
Fantastical depths
Painter-turned-writer relea ses fantasy novel
pages 4-5
Engineer hired to advise on Post Office HQ:
Town Centre Mall was wrong choice INDEPENDENCE DAY DELIGHT
Expert insists Phil’s Food Store was in ‘excellent condition’
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Minnis administration’s rationale in a resolution last year for abandoning the Phil’s Food Store building as the site of the General Post Office was not supported by the assessment of independent engineers contracted to evaluate the building. A plan to move the post office to the Phil’s building was first announced in March, 2018 but by October the administration had reversed its decision and decided instead on the Town Centre Mall, which is partly owned by St Anne’s MP Brent Symonette. Mr Symonette was a sitting Cabinet minister at the time. He resigned from his Cabinet post earlier this month.
A resolution passed in the House of Assembly on October 24, 2018 to lease the mall said the government “only recently discovered that the latent structural defects and technical issues (of the Phil’s building) would require a massive expenditure of taxpayer dollars in conducting extensive renovations to the entire building which would take at least a year or more.” How the administration arrived at this conclusion has now been questioned by the engineer it hired to assess the building. Basil McIntosh, an engineer with decades of experience, said yesterday: “All I remember hearing, based on the news reports, was that there were some structural defects with the SEE PAGE FIVE
DOUBLE JOY: Shonell and Hubert Hepburn, parents of the first baby girl born on Independence Day at PMH alongside Symphany Charlton, mother of the first boy. Full story - Page 2 Photo: Donavan McIntosh
FIRE DEATH MOTHER SECOND TWIN DIES IN ‘WAS ILL, NOT EVIL’ STREET KNIFE FIGHT By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
THE lawyer for Philippa Marshall, the woman accused of murdering her daughter by setting her on fire in December 2017, yesterday submitted that the accused was “not in her right frame of mind” when
the offence took place and therefore called for the nine-woman jury to find her not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Kirk Christie, a psychiatrist, previously took the witness stand before Justice Bernard Turner and testified that Marshall had told him and others SEE PAGE SEVEN
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
AS Curtis Murphy Jr held his stabbed and bloodied younger brother Nicartha in his arms at the parking lot of Smith’s Motel on Tuesday night, he clung to hope the 32-year-old father would live to see another day.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
However, hope would not be enough to save Murphy’s life. He died of injuries inflicted during an altercation with a “close friend”. The grief, said Mr Murphy Jr, is overwhelming and painfully too familiar. He told The Tribune yesterday his closely-knit family was still grieving after the SEE PAGE THREE
PAGE 2, Friday, July 12, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
‘Tourists take risks when they go to swim with wild animals’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net A TOUR boat operator said yesterday tourists and visitors assume risk when they snorkel, adding despite increased shark incidents the industry will survive. As he agreed it should be mandatory that every boat has basic medical equipment and medication, Stafford Missick, owner of 4 Winds Tours, said many appreciate that once they enter the water there are ramifications attached to swimming among wild animals. He, along with two other tour companies, said while attacks appear to be happening more frequently there had been no fall off in revenue. This comes as the family
of the American woman killed in a shark attack while swimming off Rose Island in June has claimed the tour company had no basic medical supplies and did nothing to attempt to save the college student’s life. Californian Jordan Lindsey, 21, was savaged by sharks while swimming with her mother near Rose Island on June 26. Relatives blasted tour company, Sandy Toes Bahamas, in a statement released on Tuesday, detailing the ordeal and allegations of inadequate emergency response. Yesterday Mr Missick, a tour boat operator for the last eight years, told The Tribune: “Business has been as usual with its peaks and lows but no significant drop for the most part.
“I personally don’t think (the negative press will affect us). I’ve seen situations where families they come here for years - five, 10, 15 years - and they have been incident free. They aren’t allowing this one (fatal) incident to deter them. They are also looking at it from an angle of there is no control over those animals out there. They just write it off as a one-off and they are saying it’s not really going to deter them from revisiting the Bahamas or continuing to snorkel.” He added: “When you are in the boat you have more control but once you get in that water they understand the ramifications. You practise the best safety measures that you can but outside of that we have no control over
HOW The Tribune covered the family’s story yesterday. those animals. I think most people kind of appreciate that as well.” Asked if he saw this is an opportunity for the government to clamp down on protocols for the industry he said: “When it comes to that it should be made mandatory that each boat has some kind of first aid kit. Now granted with that
situation that would not have sufficed, but at least at the very minimum they have that sort of first aid kit and they know how to do CPR and that sort of thing. “Basic medical supplies (and) anything to help a small surface wound to stop the bleeding until they can get further medical attention.
“From what I’ve seen most of the boats have it. But you have those that sometimes take chances and that’s the reason why I am saying they make the ones who are upholding that standard look bad and it’s few and far apart in my opinion for those who may not be operating above board.” Belinda Russell, a manager at Reef Tours in Grand Bahama, said considering business is always slow for the company due to the island’s depressed economy, she said their situation hasn’t gotten any worse because of the shark incidents. And none of their guests have even mentioned it, she said. Coast Line Adventures in Nassau also said it had been business as usual.
who was born on at 9.18 pm on July 10, weighing six pounds and 4.5 ounces. “It’s a privilege and a blessing. I didn’t expect it,” she said speaking about her daughter’s arrival. “We were pulling actually for her to come out on her father’s birthday, which is tonight, but she came on the 10th.” Still, Mrs Hepburn insisted that baby Sanae’s arrival was a pleasant surprise and added she was very proud to be a Bahamian.
“She actually is our rainbow baby too. She is the first after three miscarriages so she is truly a blessing. We have a son and a daughter now so we’re satisfied,” she explained. Adding to her remarks, her husband, Hubert Hepburn, said he was also “proud and speechless.” “We really thought she was going to come on my birthday, but it’s still a big birthday gift - not too far - one day apart,” he said. Both mothers were
presented with gifts by members of PMH’s executive team and management, including Sheron Johnson, who is also the founder of Cookie Collection. Speaking to The Tribune, Mrs Johnson explained that Cookie Collection, the non-profit women’s organisation which inspired the donations, presents gifts to mothers who give birth on public holidays. “I was inspired by motherhood. If you want to meet the needs of motherhood, the women have to support
each other in whatever they go through,” she said. “..It’s a special occasion to have a child so the inspiration came as I started an organisation and in giving I saw the appreciation and happiness on the mothers’ faces that motivated me to do more.” Praising both mothers, Mrs Johnson congratulated them on “bringing forth” beautiful babies and wished them both all of “God’s blessings” on their children’s future endeavours.
Independence Day joy for mothers
THE mothers of the first boy and girl born on July 10 were yesterday presented with gifts as part of Princess Margaret Hospital’s annual Independence Day donation presentation. Photo: Donavan McIntosh By FARRAH JOHNSON THE mothers of the first boy and girl born on July 10 were yesterday presented with gifts as part of Princess Margaret Hospital’s annual Independence Day donation presentation. Symphany Charlton, 24, and Shonell Hepburn, 37, said they were surprised by the initiative and happy they were able to give birth to healthy babies. Ms Charlton’s baby boy, Ja’niy Darling, was born at 12.25 am on Independence
Day, weighing seven pounds and 12 ounces. As a first time mother, she said she felt “different,” but added that she was still “very excited” about the arrival of her bundle of joy. Thanking PMH staff, she said: “This is really a surprise, this is a nice gesture. I never knew that y’all actually did something like this, so this is really good. I really appreciate it.” Likewise, Mrs Hepburn said she felt “honoured” by the arrival of her daughter, Sanae Samya Hepburn,
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 12, 2019, PAGE 3
32-YEAR-OLD DIES OF INJURIES INFLICTED DURING AN ALTERCATION WITH A CLOSE FRIEND
TWINS Nicartha and Elcartha are now both dead. Nicartha died on Tuesday while his brother Elcartha was shot and killed in December last year.
Second twin dies in street knife fight
CURTIS MURPHY JR, pictured with his mother, told The Tribune the family is shocked by the death of his brother Nicartha Murphy. Photos: Donavan McIntosh
THE SCENE of Tuesday’s tragedy. from page one murder of Nicartha’s twin brother Elcartha, who was shot and killed on the night of December 21, 2018 on Malcolm Road. Now just seven seven months later the family’s emotional wounds have been ripped open again and they must now plan for another funeral. Police said yesterday they are investigating Nicartha’s death as a homicide. It happened shortly after 9pm on Independence Day. “According to reports, two men were in the parking lot of a business establishment on East Street South and Cox Way
when they got into an altercation, which escalated, resulting in them stabbing each other about the body,” police said. “Both men were transported to hospital, where one of them was later pronounced dead.” A second man is detained in a serious but stable condition, police said. Mr Murphy Jr, speaking to The Tribune outside the family’s home at Ashburn Terrace off East Street South, said he was near the scene of the altercation when he got the call about his brother. “I had his son in my hand and all I did was pull right to the next building and I met him on the floor so I
just ran to him and held him up,” said Mr Murphy Jr as he was surrounded by emotional relatives. “The police were saying they waiting for the ambulance to come so I waited. “We are not over the first death as yet so to have received this one last night was an extreme blow.” Asked whether he knew what sparked the altercation, Mr Murphy Jr said everyone was questioning how two friends could have ended up into such a deadly confrontation with each other. “They hung there every day, they were friends,” he said. “Every day they be together. So we are
questioning what happened and why.” Nicartha’s close friend Pizzario Brennen said he has serious concerns over whether the time it took for an ambulance to arrive was a contributory factor in the death. “I was there when the whole thing happened.” he said. “I want to know why the ambulance took so long. It took them at least 10 minutes or more to get there. “I think if they came sooner, my breddren (sic) would be alive. They even took forever to get to the hospital. We had to come through here to drop off his fiancé and his jewellery and we got to the hospital
before the ambulance got there.” Mr Brennen also claimed the ambulance’s siren had not been turned on. After losing two brothers to senseless violence, Mr Murphy Jr said relatives
are finding strength in each other. He said with God’s help they hope to move past the hurt and pain brought on by the death of a man they described as humble and loving. Editorial View - Page 4
PAGE 4, Friday, July 12, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Did the government mislead over building decision? THE decision to relocate the Post Office to Town Centre Mall has been thrown into the spotlight in the past week. Concerns have been raised after now former Cabinet minister Brent Symonette said the prime minister called him personally to negotiate the deal – but what of the building that was originally earmarked for the Post Office? It appears now there are concerns there too – after the engineer who inspected the Phil’s Food Store building disagreed with the assessment of the government. When the government ruled out the Phil’s Food Store building, their resolution was emphatic. It said the government had “only recently discovered that the latent structural defects and technical issues… would require a massive expenditure of taxpayer dollars in conducting extensive renovations to the entire building which would take at least a year or more”. Not so says the engineer hired by the government to inspect the building. Basil McIntosh, who has decades of experience, says what was wrong with the building “wasn’t anything of note”. That’s quite the difference – and his report was received by the government just six weeks before that resolution so it seems unlikely indeed that any major structural problems will have cropped up between his report being handed
in and the government making its declaration. So how did the government come to its conclusion? Is there a report to contradict the work of Mr McIntosh? And if so, where is it? Who decided they knew better than such an experienced engineer? Suddenly there are even more questions for the government over this whole process – and precious few answers so far. Transport Minister Renward Wells, when he spoke to Parliament, talked of stripped out wiring, plumbing and air conditioning components rather than structural problems – but that’s not what the government entered into the record. At the very least, the government does not appear to have provided the public with the full story about the decision. At the very worst, they may have misled the public. They should immediately release all documentation regarding the decision – including any advice commissioned separate from Mr McIntosh. The government should also make clear who received such documentation, who read it – and who took it upon themselves to make a decision based on it. And if there was no other assessment, then we deserve an answer as to how the engineer can say one thing while the government in its resolution declares another.
A double tragedy for family TUESDAY night’s murder was another tragedy for the country – but also the second half of a double tragedy for one family. Nicartha Murphy was stabbed during a fight with a “close friend”. His older brother held him as he bled in the parking lot of a motel after the fight. The first half of the tragedy came seven months ago. Nicartha had a twin brother, Elcartha, who was shot and killed in December. A family has been ripped apart not
once, but twice. Two young men both now gone. Twin brothers both taken by crime. “We were not over the first death yet,” said elder brother Curtis, and said the family hope to move on with God’s help. We hope the community around the family can rally round and help them in this time of pain – and once more we long for a day when this nation suffers fewer such tragedies. There are already too many.
The value of a good education EDITOR, The Tribune
LETTERS
WE ARE living in the fourth industrial revolution and human beings without technological skills, which a good education provides, will be at the bottom of the social hierarchy. A long term deterrent to a life of crime is a good education. I am a teacher and I know the value of a good education but if we get the at risk youth in school, it is likely their education will be inadequate or they will dropout. It has less to do with the quality of teacher and more to do with a system that value money over people. Generally the high schools are over crowded and cannot deal with students with serious academic deficiencies. In January 2019, teachers strikes in Los Angeles(L A) for smaller class size and
higher pay. The class size in L A was 30 to 40 students. They put forward several academic research that support that small class size improves academic performance. In addition, remedial services for under performing students need to be funded or else at risk students chance of success are slim. It will cost a lot to fix the problem but it will cost at least ten times as much to continue status quo. s1 The public education system was designed for students with good parents that have control over their children but my experience is that is no longer the norm. Most parents
withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.” Children want to be disciplined and must be taught that they can’t do and say as they wish. For those who choose to spank be gentle in order not to abuse. 4. We have become slaves to sexual promiscuity. The “sweet hearting” lifestyle destroys families. Proverbs 5:15-23. (Vs.2223) says “The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.” My fellow Bahamians, weigh the consequences - a moment of pleasure against a lifetime of turmoil and stress! When you have children, it is your responsibility to raise them properly, which in turn builds a strong family. Do not neglect them and/ or let them get involved in crime. You can lose your very life when you pursue sex outside of God’s plan. We have children having babies, teenagers having kids to raise while they are still in high school. 5. We pursue wealth at
any cost while our families are neglected. We don’t spend time with our kids thinking that money will replace our love. Once again, the Scriptures teach us “the love of money is the root of all evil”- 1 Timothy 6:10. That means you don’t take a bribe. You don’t cheat on your taxes. You don’t hide your receipts at customs. You don’t steal from your employer. All this is good, but how do we change, how can we better implement it, how can we once again focus on the family for the future of our country? I believe the answer to the question is found in Jesus Christ, and His church! Now before some of you write me off as a religious fanatic, try and see that the Lord is good. Maybe you used to go to church when you were younger. Maybe your parents had you involved in church, but you have walked away. Let’s get back to being churched. How do we prove that the Lord is good? We do this by being faithful in our tithes, getting involved, (not just sitting in the pew) and being involved in a ministry in which God is at work. How about getting into the schools? If we save our
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seem to be their children’s friend. I have no problem with that but the current system was not designed for that kind of society. Their expression of love for their children is permissive. We can condemn that reality but that is useless. It is best to adjust the education system to function with little parental support. Currently it is design for utopia. We can continue to wage war against our own people without providing an alternative. The best solution to crime is to prevent criminals from being created. Aggressive policing to fight crime will not ensure that the next generation of criminals won’t, but in fact it just might increase the likelihood of more criminals being created. BRIAN E PLUMMER Nassau July 8, 2019
Focus on family for our future EDITOR, The Tribune AS I read about crime in our newspapers, I think and ask myself, “What are the answers to our social problems, crime, and the pressures on us from the outside? How do we solve them?” I realise that so much is clear from God’s word that will guide us back to a safer, more caring people, but I wonder why we as a people can’t see it or why do we ignore it? It is as if we are blind to the truth of what transforms lives and or to what works. I believe that most Bahamians would agree with me, that the real problem is the disintegration of the family. If we had stronger families our future would be bright, and the crime problem would improve. But how do we bring back stronger families, how do we get back to what we know works? We know that from history, the proven family that God set up, has worked since the beginning of time. What holds societies together, is a man and a woman committed together in marriage. Therefore, we need to guard with all our heart and strength anything that would challenge that proven record, or guard
against any substitute from without or within that tells us anything different. We should guard against any ideology that challenges the notion that God made a man and a woman in His image. We should stand against any belief that confuses our youth regarding sexuality, or any thought that tries to blur the fact that God made male and female, and said that “It was very good.” Some of the ways we have drifted from God’s social order for the family are: 1. We are confusing our created roles of male and female. The loss of our identity I believe, will have a negative detrimental affect on sports. You cannot have a man wanting to be a woman and then competing against women in a man’s body. Just recently, I heard on the news three different stories about the conflicts resulting from men winning events as women in races, weight-lifting, and boxing. What is going to happen to the Olympic Games if this madness continues? It will destroy it, and the true meaning of sports it was created to achieve. My mind goes back to the ‘76 Olympics when I competed in swimming
for The Bahamas, and the East German women were cheating by taking male hormones, in order to gain an advantage. What is the difference now if we have the same thing going on with men taking hormones to make them look more like a woman and then competing against other women? Should this be allowed all in the name of transgenderism? 2. We have allowed gambling houses to operate like fast-food joints. You can now drive up to a window and give your money to somebody else to get rich at your expense, with you getting nothing in return, except disappointment, and more stress. Are we blind to see that eventually everybody loses? 3. We are becoming weak on discipline/corporal punishment. History has proven that children who are disciplined normally grow up to be good citizens. I call on parents to love their children. This love will include disciplining them when the need arises. Proverbs 13:24 is correct, “whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them”. And Proverbs 23: 13-14 – “Do not
youth, we save our country! Join the many groups that are already doing this. Take a stronger stand supporting the truths of the word of God. For example, by speaking out against anything that destroys the family as designed by God! Bring family, friends, work associates to church with you. I know there are hypocrites in the church, just like in all walks of life. Maybe you have never trusted Jesus, because you see too many Christians who are hypocrites, but I think we can all agree that the one thing Jesus was not is a hypocrite. So, let Him prove that He is the answer for the world today. Pray every day for our country and its leaders, our churches and their leaders. If we do this, we will make a great impact on our families. Let’s not fight what the church stands for or make decisions that will take us away from its truths. The word of God is true when it says, “righteousness exalts a nation”, and “we will reap what we sow.” ANDY KNOWLES Olympic Coach for Bahamas Nassau July 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 12, 2019, PAGE 5 PHIL’S Food Store Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
building which I did not agree with it because we did the report and whatever we discovered was wrong on the building wasn’t anything of note.” The government received the engineering report from Mr McIntosh’s company, McACE Technical Services Ltd, six weeks before passing its resolution in Parliament. The company was hired by the Ministry of Works last year “to carry out a comprehensive structural assessment” of Phil’s building, an exercise it began on August 28, 2018. Engineers reported that the “entire structure” of the Phil’s building was “in very good condition” and “could be safely utilised for approximately another 20 to 25 years without any major maintenance work. “It is our opinion,” the report said, “that should our recommended minor remedial measures be carried out, the structural integrity of the captioned building will be enhanced.” The report, obtained by The Tribune yesterday, went unnoticed when Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin tabled it in the House of Assembly last year. But it has resurfaced as the controversy over the lease of the Town Centre Mall returned to the spotlight when Mr Symonette revealed earlier this week that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis called him personally to negotiate the deal last year. The Office of the Prime Minister has declined to confirm the date of that call, and further suggested the admission made by the former minister represented a breach of confidentiality. “The assertion that the prime minister would personally and unilaterally negotiate a proposal that has gone on over two administrations is nonsensical,” the OPM said in a statement last week. Still, Mr Symonette’s revelation appeared to contradict the part of the resolution which said: “Whereas one of the beneficial owners of the said Town Centre Mall is a
Town Centre Mall the wrong choice, says expert hired to advise on Post Office HQ serving Cabinet minister who did not take part in the discussions leading to the decision to accept the offer to lease portions of the building...” In his first public interview regarding the Phil’s building, Mr McIntosh said: “I try not to get involved in these things because I don’t want to be seen as biased or anything. And even though I was not involved with assessing the Town Centre Mall, I was familiar with the building and to put it bluntly, I think if any building should have been demolished it should have been that building because from a structural perspective, from what I’ve seen and even the repair work going on now which I see when I go to get my boxes, it’s not being done professionally the way it should be done.” In his report, his company concluded: “Our investigations reveal that there are no structural concerns (with the Phil’s building). Therefore we have concluded that the existing structure is in no imminent danger of structural compromise or collapse... Throughout this exercise it was discovered that there are no major repairs to be done. During our examinations and assessment, we have discovered that the entire structure is in very good condition. However, evidence reveals that some cosmetic architectural features (painting etc) which are non-structural can be
THE TOWN Centre Mall which was eventually chosen as the new home for the Post Office carried out with standard construction materials.” One source suggested yesterday that the resolution’s references to the building’s “structure” and “technical defects” may have been imprecise terms that don’t capture the real problems with the building, which were mechanical in nature. Indeed, Transport Minister Renward Wells never discussed a problem with the building’s structure during his speech in Parliament on the lease. Instead, he said after the government acquired the building, it discovered “that it was stripped of electrical wiring, plumbing and air conditioning components that were
TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR FIREARM OFFENCES
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A MAN convicted last week of firearms and ammunition possession in Grand Bahama has been sentenced to two years in prison by a Freeport magistrate. Jamal Rolle, 37, of Swillet Place, pleaded guilty last Monday to possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. During sentencing on Tuesday, Magistrate Rengin Johnson ordered Rolle, pictured right, to pay a fine of $5,000 or 14 months in prison for possession of a firearm. On the ammunition possession charge, Rolle was ordered to pay a fine of $4,000 or 12 months in prison. The judge also sentenced Rolle to two years imprisonment on the charge of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The sentences are to run concurrently. JAMAL Rolle outside court.
intended to be part and parcel of the renovations.” “This act of vandalism greatly increased the construction cost and the construction time,” he said at the time. “When we said we were interested in the building and inspected the building it was in one state. It had the air conditioning units, the electrical wiring. When we finally acquired the building, to our surprise and dismay what we were left was not what we got.” Never referencing the analysis of structural engineers, he said it was an assessment by the Ministry of Works which determined that a design for the building was incomplete and as
a result a “minimum of one year would be required to complete the drawings and the necessary renovations and as a result the cost to renovate Phil’s would far exceed the cost the $4m allocated for that.” Mrs Hanna Martin, however, believes the language of the resolution must be treated as authoritative. “The constitution requires a resolution,” she said. “They brought this resolution, the contents of which were not accurate and we know they were not accurate in two ways. One, there was no structural engineering report justifying their decision to rent from a Cabinet minister
and abandon the previous building like the resolution says. Secondly, they said in the resolution that the relevant member did not engage in discussions prior to the lease but we have now heard him say publicly that he was involved in discussions so the question is whether there were a couple of misleading statements in that resolution. “The resolution is the record of the Parliament about why the government chose to rent from a Cabinet minister. What is said during the debate is supplemental but the resolution is historical authority on the matter.” As for reports the Ministry of Works concluded it would cost more than $4m to move the post office to Phil’s building, Mr McIntosh said, in his professional experience, this is hard to believe even if the building had no electrical wires, plumbing and air conditioning units. “The building wasn’t bad as some people try to make it out to be,” he said. Mr Wells, who is travelling on government business, could not be reached for comment yesterday. When contacted about the report, Minister of Public Service Brensil Rolle stressed that there was a desperate need to get a new site for the General Post Office up and running for the benefit of employees and the public. Editorial View - Page 4
FOR SALE
from page one
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PAGE 6, Friday, July 12, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
PLP QUICK TO ATTACK SIGNS OF PROGRESS, SAYS FNM THE Free National Movement has accused Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis of launching an “unprecedented campaign to attack any and all signs of progress in the country,” after Mr Davis said last week the ShotSpotter technology was a bad investment. According to the FNM, the ShotSpotter technology has alerted authorities to over 187 gunshot incidents since March. “Leave it to the old and tired Brave Davis to talk, talk, talk but say nothing,” a statement from the FNM noted. “Brave’s unprecedented campaign to attack any and all signs of progress in the country are staggering, only rivalled by his continuing nonsensical litany of... mistruths, and most of all, hypocrisy. “This time, the old and tired Brave Davis is taking aim at the administration’s ongoing efforts to fight crime. Davis – who was
a key leader in the previous government when the murder rate hit historic annual highs, year after year – has now re-made himself into the PLP’s safety patrol, claiming he knows best on crimefighting measures even though he failed to introduce or implement them when he held power. ‘Crime expert’ Brave would have us believe the implementation of the ShotSpotter programme is a wasted investment. “Of course data and facts prove him wrong, but that won’t stop the PLP’s intrepid Brave Davis. It’s stunning how silent the woeful PLP has been on the issue of crime, given the Minnis administration’s progress in reducing crime over the last two years; yet when they do chime in – like the old and tired Brave Davis did recently – it’s usually a broken-record type attack short on solutions, data, and policy, but high on heated and empty rhetoric. Brave did his PLP duty with his latest attack,
he can check the box and go back to sleep.” The party also said, “When the Minnis administration took office in 2017, it inherited an absolute disaster in regards to police infrastructure and technology - 80 percent of CCTV cameras were inoperable and poor bandwidth limited the use of working cameras. The Minnis administration immediately repaired 200 of the 243 cameras and will soon be putting additional cameras online. The ShotSpotter devices, which Brave of course rails against, has alerted authorities to over 187 gunshot incidents since March of this year alone.” On July 2, Mr Davis slammed the government’s investment in the ShotSpotter technology. His comments came following the mass shooting in Montel Heights, where 14 people were shot. At the PLP’s monthly press conference, Mr Davis said the technology was a bad investment. “Fourteen persons were shot...how did the ShotSpotter
UNDER ATTACK: Philip Davis programme aid in preventing that horrific event recently in Montel Heights? “We need as a country to do a better job keeping people safe. It’s just that simple. Here again, we need serious policies and investments, not propaganda. More investments in prevention rather than detection,” Mr Davis said.
Earlier this year, the government signed a $1.9m contract with a technology provider, ShotSpotter in an effort for law enforcement agencies to pinpoint the location of gunfire. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and National Security Minister Marvin Dames said the new programme highlighted their commitment to modernising crime fighting tools and equipping agencies with the latest technologies. Gunshot detection systems work by deploying optical and acoustic wave sensors that detect impulsive noises atop rooftops or utility poles. The sensors locate the origin of gunshots and the information is quickly transmitted to law enforcement agencies. Mr Dames said, at the time, said he had “completed sufficient research” and is satisfied the technology will help reduce the high gun related violence in The Bahamas.
‘We need people in politics who can contribute’
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
SENATE president Katherine Smith says while she supports having more women enter politics, having people who are qualified to run who can make a contribution to the growth and development of the country is greatly needed. Her comments came during an interview with ZNS at the recent 46th independence celebrations held in Grand Bahama. While women have made tremendous strides in politics over the past four decades in The Bahamas, there is still a low level of representation. Concerning the percentage of women elected to Parliament, last year it was noted that The Bahamas is far below the United Nation’s minimum quota of 30 percent. In 2018, Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell revealed in his presentation at the sixth periodic state report of The Bahamas under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 2018, that only 12 percent of parliamentarians are women. The Bahamas was asked to provide information on measures taken to introduce a system of quotas aimed at reaching a minimum of 30 percent representation by women in Parliament, including the adoption of temporary special measures and the support of women candidates for elected positions in the state party. Mr Campbell reported
SENATE president Katherine Smith that in politics, five percent of Cabinet ministers, 12 percent of parliamentarians and 43 percent of senators are women. In the current Minnis administration, there is only one woman Cabinet minister, Lanisha Rolle. Senator Smith, who is a strong advocate of women’s rights and empowerment, said on Monday: “We should have leaders in this country that looks like the population that is voting for them.” But she also added: “I am not just one of those persons that believe we need to have women running, I believe we should have people who are qualified to run in politics, who actually can make a contribution to the growth and development of this country. “So, it is not just about anybody running. I believe we need to have more qualified people running in politics; more people who are prepared and who can bring something to the table.” The Senate president who founded the Girl Con organisation, which promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment believes that a government should leave the country better than officials found it for the next generation.
“We came (to office) two years ago, and I would like to see not so much partisan politics when we have to make a decision to move the country forward. “I find it very difficult at this particular time in our development to still be so partisan among the issues; we have a lot of work to do in this country. “I always said we got to leave this country better than we met it for the next generation. We got to change how we lead in this country,” she said. Reflecting on the country’s 46th independence anniversary, former Bahamian ambassador Maurice Moore believes that educating the youth is the key to moving the country forward. He stressed that resources must be made available so that young people can attend educational institutions to get proper education and training. “In that area I feel, yes, we have not done as much as we can,” Mr Moore said. He also believes that the quality of life in the Family Islands must continue to be improved. “I am beginning to get a degree of satisfaction because there is a genuine effort in improving the quality of life for our citizens in the far-flung islands. Even though resources are limited . . .we have to raise the quality of life in the islands by providing good roads, and water to drink, and reliable electricity. I am pleased that the government is stretching our resources as far as they go in the right direction,” he said.
A PERFECT PERFORMANCE THE ROTARY Club of West Nassau recently held its annual ball during which the Installation of Officers for the year 2019 – 2020 was held. Presentations of various awards were made to members. One of the highlights of the evening was an award to Rev Dr. C.B. Moss for 42 years of perfect attendance at the weekly meetings. Pictured accepting his award is Rev. Moss (left) from President Pedro Delaney (right).
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 12, 2019, PAGE 7
Happy Bahamas birthday CELEBRATING the 46th Anniversary of Bahamas Independence around an elaborate cake at the Government House State Reception on Wednesday. From the left: Independence Committee Chairman Mark Humes; Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest; Mrs Minnis and Prime Minister Hubert Minnis; Governor General Cornelius A Smith and Mrs Smith; and t Brian Moree, Chief Justice of The Bahamas, and Mrs Moree. (BIS Photos/Derek Smith)
Fire death mother ‘ill, not evil’, attorney tells court from page one the reason she set her daughter Philicia afire was because a demon told her to ignite both herself and her child. Attorney Bjorn Ferguson, who represents Marshall, yesterday underscored Dr Christie was the only expert who spoke to the court and, therefore, called on the jury to listen to his testimony. Marshall, who is said to be schizophrenic, was charged in April 2018 with a single count of manslaughter for allegedly causing the death of Philicia Marshall by means of unlawful harm stemming from the December 2017 incident. The charge was later upgraded to murder.
In his remarks, Mr Ferguson highlighted the prevalence of mental health problems in the country and questioned whether the jury would decide to “punish” or “help” a person suffering from a genuine mental disorder. He also said Marshall is “ill”, not “evil”, adding no healthy woman would hurt her child. According to an earlier testimony given by Sergeant Tamika Gibson, who responded to Marshall’s Faith Gardens residence on the morning in question, the one-year-old child was lying next to her father and two siblings when Marshall took her away to another room, poured gasoline on her and set her ablaze while her husband Isaac Marshall and two sons slept soundly.
Sgt Gibson said when she arrived at the house, she noticed Philicia had no skin on her arms, hands and legs and that Marshall was getting the baby dressed to take her to the hospital. The child died in the hospital in February 2018. Mr Ferguson noted medical personnel said the they expected the baby to live, but she later died of pneumonia. “Did the burns kill her or pneumonia?” Mr Ferguson asked. Mr Ferguson also said Marshall has been compliant in her treatment and can be a productive member of society. Prosecutor Cephia Pinder-Moss delivered closing arguments on behalf of the Crown yesterday, calling for
GB FREIGHT COMPANY WORKING TO KEEP ITS BUSINESS RUNNING By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
BOB Clutter, co-owner of GB Express, is “seriously considering” continuing its air-cargo express service in Freeport following recent discussions with the government about air freight customs procedures that would relieve some costs for air couriers. Last week, in a notice issued to customers, the company said it was shutting down its operation in Freeport on July 31 because the implementation of new Department of Customs policies related to air freight had resulted in the company losing “gross amounts of money”.
The document, signed by co-owner Bob Clutter and other senior executives, stated that GB Express could not continue absorbing costs to keep the price of its service within reach for its customers. “It financially destroyed the company,” Mr Clutter explained when contacted by The Tribune on Tuesday. However, he stated, government officials met with him last Friday with a view to trying to assist the company. “We have been in discussions with the airport supervisor at (Department of) Customs about procedures that would relieve some cost for couriers,” Mr Clutter said.
“We are on the way to trying to get things worked out. The government met with me on Friday in Freeport on my arrival to (the Department of) Customs to see of any way to assist us in not shutting down, and keeping Bahamians employed. “ He also said: “We are working with government to find a way of expediting and reducing cost for importing parcels through air freight.” Mr Clutter said GB Express has always been able to work with the Department of Customs and has been doing so for 23 years in Freeport. GB Express employs seven people in Freeport.
the jury to deliver justice for Philicia. She maintained that at every stage that night, Marshall had the presence of mind to commit murder and was “methodical” with her actions — noting Marshall waited until her family was asleep to grab the child, took her to a bedroom and locked the door, and doused the child with gasoline. The prosecutor also said it does not matter that the child died months later, adding doctors noted the baby was at high risk because of the extent of
her burns, coupled with the fact that her youth hampered her ability to fight infections. The prosecutor also questioned Dr Christie’s evidence. She said Dr Christie said he diagnosed Marshall based on her history, as Marshall claimed she had been hearing “demons” since 2014 and had seen two psychiatrists. However, three times Dr Christie asked her for the names of these physicians and she refused to give this information. The prosecutor said Dr
Christie therefore was unable to verify or confirm Marshall’s medical history. Consequently, the prosecutor argued Marshall did not give the names of doctors because they did not “exist”. She reiterated Marshall was consistent with a “lie” and a “recent fabrication”. The prosecutor also argued that Marshall’s family had no prior knowledge of her mental illness or struggles with “demons”, adding this is because there was “nothing to know”. The case has been adjourned to July 16.
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THE TRIBUNE
I
T’S HARD to get over the past. So when a white man who happens to be wealthy decides to offer himself for public service in a country where white people, possibly his own ancestors, once had slaves and colonial rule led to what some call the plantation economy, the past stomps on the present. In your face, present. It brazenly paints current perception with a patina of ugly reflection. I understand the past and the fear, the hatred and resentment. I, too, was a victim, the first Jewish girl in an anti-Semitic small town in South Florida a long time ago. I was 13 when we moved there in March of a school year and no one spoke to me for three months. They moved to the other side of the hall when I passed between classes. They pointed fingers and whispered ugly names just loud enough for me to hear. My cousin, who was male, was attacked or threatened almost daily. Even now, my husband and I, both of us white, face discrimination. When we went to Inland Revenue to present ourselves, pay real property tax and claim our senior discount, the woman official looked at us and said: “This reserved for Bahamians, you know.” We handed her our passports and stifled information about my husband’s late grandfather being the first Bahamian commissioner of police. No one is suggesting burying the past, nor pretending that it didn’t hurt. Some effects linger. PAHO, the Pan American Health Organization, attributes the high rate of mental illness throughout the Caribbean to vulnerability to both human and natural disasters, some of it dating back to slavery. But remembering the past and living in it are different forks on a road of our choosing. Those who choose to live with hatred and anger based on the past deprive themselves of the energy to succeed in the future. It is that ongoing internalised rage which has produced a bizarre Bahamian phenomenon – a resentment toward success. On the one hand, we applaud it when someone, especially from humble beginnings, makes it big. On the other hand, we look at every successful entrepreneur with suspicion. The distrust of people with money is at the heart of any discussion about
Brent’s departure exposes that bizarre Bahamian custom resentment of success former Cabinet minister Brent Symonette, who remains Member of Parliament for St. Anne’s. In three governments since 1992, Mr Symonette served in nearly every capacity that a Cabinet minister could. He gave years and years of his life to public service when he could have been out boating, golfing, fishing. No one even knows if he had time to develop those hobbies like others of his wealth did. Most recently, he spent Saturdays pouring over Immigration files, trying to bring order and digitalisation to a department riddled with corruption. Yet the conversation landed not on all he has
done, but on contracts, most, if not all, of which he had no control over and which made good business sense for the Bahamian public. The two most frequently mentioned, a contract to repave the runway at LPIA and the relocation of the Post Office to space in the Town Centre Mall, both businesses in which he or his family had shares. Decisions about who paves the airport runway are made at the airport authority and management level. Would the Bahamian people have been better served if a more expensive contract was awarded to a company with a less attractive record of performance?
Are we supposed to be deprived of the actual winner of a bid and settle for second best because someone in Cabinet or a public office has shares in a company? How many Cabinet ministers or MPs have shares in Commonwealth Bank, or CFAL or Fidelity? As for the post office at Town Centre Mall, which has been plagued by too much available space for years, only a fear of political fallout kept the sorely tempted PLP from taking the same action, a fact many of us were aware of and now is in the public domain. If I’m not mistaken, the FNM got a better per square foot rate. The underlying problem is not with the individual, in this case Brent Symonette. It is Bahamians’ resentment of success, particularly if that success had a head start. If we continue to hold success against people, our hypocrisy will be to our detriment for we will be asking only those
who can’t make it in a competitive economy to have the courage to step into politics. And then we wind up with professional politicians who can do little else but hang on to the seat they hold. Mr Symonette was the brave one. He walked into the fray and brought his business acumen with him. Most of his peers chose not to. And because he did, he suffered the consequences, the endless unspoken questions, What’s in it for him? Does he want more money than he already has? The Bahamian people must ask themselves, “Which road do we take, clinging with resentment to a past created by our ancestors or reaching out to a future we can mold with talent available in our present?” On a personal level, I thank Brent Symonette for his service and wish him years of relaxation and enjoyment in the Bahamas he loves. In time, he will make the perfect Governor General.
There’s a phobia for that THE world is filled with phobias and, in fact, you can find a phobia for just about anything except fear of success which only goes by the name Jonah’s complex after the biblical connotation. Among the strangest of all phobias are automatonophobia, fear of ventriloquist dummies or wax statues, and spectrophobia, fear of looking at one’s reflection in the mirror. And I thought that was just called avoiding reality.
A towering disgrace
IMPROVEMENTS to the port and to downtown Nassau can’t come soon enough. Here is the view cruise passengers get on arrival, the port control tower with all its bright yellow paint, sharp green trim and a roof that has obviously seen better days. Surely, we can do better than this. Shame, shame on us.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 12, 2019, PAGE 9
Funeral Services For Cecilia Mather McPhee, 93 DR CASSANDRA NOTTAGE
NOTTAGE TAKES OVER AS NATIONAL RISK CHIEF DR Cassandra Nottage has been appointed to the post of national identified risk framework coordinator, according to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General. The appointment took effect August 14, 2018, according to the press release. Dr Nottage has over 40 years of experience in anti-money laundering/ countering the financing of terrorism and proliferation. She held the post of manager of bank supervision at the Central Bank for 12 years (2002 - 2014) with a total tenure of 36 years with the institution. Post departure from the Central Bank, Dr Nottage commenced a financial sector and regulatory consulting business. It is through this consulting business that Dr Nottage would be recruited to assist the Office of The Attorney General with its AML/CFT/CFP mandate and progressed to her current post. Dr Nottage has been a guest lecturer with the Bahamas Compliance Association and Bahamas Institute of Financial Services for 17 years lecturing in the ICA anti-money laundering and compliance diploma programmes and the banking certificates programme. Dr Nottage, while at the Central Bank, travelled widely representing her country at international and regional conferences and seminars where at times she was a presenter on topical issues of banking supervision and anti-money laundering issues.
NEW GOVT OFFICE IN BIMINI TO BE BUILT
THE National Insurance Board has advised that the project to construct a new government office complex in Alice Town, Bimini is being restarted with the signing of the final contract on June 11 with Pyramid Construction. In a press release issued by NIB yesterday, it was noted that NIB Director Virgill-Rolle and her executive team worked closely with the organisation to ensure that there will be close monitoring and oversight of this project to completion. The project is expected to be completed within a sixmonth timeframe. Chairman Troy Smith expressed his pleasure with the restarting of the project and looks forward to the completion of the much needed government complex in Bimini. The new complex, which will house the island administrator’s office, post office, the Department of Immigration, the Customs Department, Magistrates Court and the NIB local office, is expected to open in early 2020. The press release did not provide the estimated cost of construction for the complex.
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a resident of Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas died on Thursday, June 27th, 2019 will be held 11:00 a.m.Saturday, July 13th, 2019 at Church Of God Of Prophecy, Duke Street, Harbour Island, Bahamas. Bishop Ghaly Swann assisted by Pastor Philip Ferguson and Minister Neville Gray will officiate. Interment will follow in St. Catherine’s Cemetery Harbour Island, Bahamas. Predeceased by her children: Rose Riley, Paul Moss, Kingsley Moss, David Moss. Left to mourn are his Children: Fred Moss and Shelia Cadichon; Adopted children: Claudine McPhee, Maria Johnson and Georgina Barry; Grandchildren: Mario and Tyresse Roker, Saton, Tovaris, Tonisha, Tivania Roberts, Denise and Christopher Riley, Doral, Duron, Kevin, Demetria, Tamar, De’Shawn, Karen Moss, Sherise Dawkins, Fabian and Fallon Aranha, Clint and Christle Moss, predeceased by Deshawn Condell; Great grandchildren: Christia, Chrishantia and Christopher, Christy and Christle Riley Jr., Pharell Roberts, Tyrese Roker, Chardonnay, Ty’iane Roberts, Joshua, Jayshun and Jayden Condell, Danya Moss, Virshe, Ty and Trey Dawkins, Keva, Desmonde, Kandi, Krystal, Jashon, Kourtni Rolle, predeceased by Kevin A Rolle Jr., Jada Joseph, Deyuan Harper, Clintranae, Clintwyan, Clintaliyah & Vanessa Moss, Kingsley Moss Jr. and Gerard Miller; Great Great Grandchildren: D’Shae Marshall, D’Shon, D’Shazz and Azaria Rolle, Antonya and Antonae’ Butler and Leon; Sisters: Patricia Mather, Agnes Mather; Adopted Sister/ Niece: Terry Mather-Johnson. Predeceased are Tackela and Melba Johnson; Brothers: Bennett and John Mather and predeceased by Anthony, Bill, Frankie and Vincent Mather; Son-in-law: Harold Cadichon; Daughter-in-law: Rev. Susan Moss; Sisters-in-law: Cloe and Juanita Mather; Nieces and Nephews: the Bennette Mather Clan, John Mather Clan, Anthony Mather Clan, Bill Mather Clan, Frankie Mather Clan, Vincent Mather Clan, Agnes Mather Clan, Teckla Mather Clan and the Melba Johnson Clan; Relatives and Friends including: Bishop Ghaly Swann, Ena Sawyer, Romell Rolle, Latoya Dixon, Dorean Albury, P. Rickey Mackey, Member of Parliament for North Eleuthera, Olga Higgs, Lyanne Lewis, Brenda Higgs, Dashiel and Edith Roberts, Tony Roberts, Jacklyn Percentie, Diane Percentie, Cathy Percentie, Gregory Higgs, Cindy Higgs, Lou Ann Lewis, Esther Davis, Percival and Curtlin Johnson, The Gittens, Bishop Sam, Jeffrey Johnson, Darrell Johnson, Linda Albury, James Higgs, Sherman Moss, Carolyn Moss, Ben Bethel, Bishop Dean, Philip Roberts, Thelma Davis and their families; The doctors and nurses of the Harbour Island Clinic and Pastor Philip Ferguson Relatives and friends may pay their last respects at THE CHAPEL OF MEMORIES THE NEW COMMONWEALTH FUNERAL HOME, INDEPENDENCE DRIVE (TODAY) Friday from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and at the Church in Harbour Island Friday from 5:00 p.m. to service time on Saturday.
Claranette Dethra Knowles, 40 affectionately called “Clarie” a resident of Nicholl’s Town, Andros who died Sunday, June 30th, 2019 at the Princess Margaret Hospital, will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 13th, 2019 at North Andros, Kingdom Hall Of Jehvoha’s Witness, Queen’s Highway, San Andros. Brother Pedro Knowles will officiate. Cremation was held. Left to cherish her memory are her brother: Philip Major Jr.; Sister: Monique Sands; Grand-parents: Benneth and Alva Knowles; Nieces: Trinitee Sands and Leah Ferguson; Uncles: Joshua , Solomon, Philip, Shadrack and Johnathan Knowles, Leroy Sr., Kasie Sr., Tyrone Sr., Dashawn Sr., Collin Brooks and Hervin Scott; Aunts: Dianne and Villadale Knowles, Luanne Fortune, Maria Menelas, Anthia Miller, Shavon, Fallon and Moesha Brooks, Deborah Newton, Nikita Burrows and Alma Scott; Grand-uncles: Neville Clarke and Tommy Russell; Grand aunts: Lillian McNeil, Sonia Russell, Dorothy Walkes, Rosemary Russell, Thelma Porter, Roselyn Smith and Jessie Brooks; Aunts-in-law: Grace, Hilga, Rosalee and Brittany Knowles, Shakera, Morgan, Kissie and Veronique Brooks; Uncles-in-law: Techler Menelas and Tony Fortune; Other relatives include: Nicholas, Phillipa, Sarah, Payton and Nylah Knowles, Bailley Miller, Shagonya Penn-Knowles, Kasie Jr., Tyrone Jr., Leroy Jr., Deshawn Jr., Leanne, Anthonique, Jade, Tyesha, Madison Brooks, Mario Jr. and Nevaeh Burrows Wilhan and Bernadette Pratt, Clarinda Albury, Willard Cartwright, Tony Miller, Tenelle Ferguson, Lakeisha Laing, Genevive Adderley, Kerry, Cyrus, Samantha Colebrooke, Tiffany Carter, Claire and family, Calvise Saunders, Lealox Williams and Francis Johnson, Agatha Bowe, Jennimae Russell, Deanne Cooper, Cory Scott; and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. Arrangements are handled by THE CHAPEL OF MEMORIES THE NEW COMMONWEALTH FUNERAL HOME, INDEPENDENCE DRIVE.
Death Notice For
Marion Miriam Butler, 92 a resident of Millennium Gardens and formerly of Green Castle, Eleuthera, Bahamas, died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Thursday, July 4th, 2019. Cherished memories are held by her Grandchildren: Judy and Claudius Gaitor, Sidney and Gertrude Butler, Sharon and Alex McIntosh, Ian Smith, Willie Brown, Donna Butler, Alberto Alaman, Laverne and Andy Percentie, Bernadette and Lewis Farrington, Shaniece Albury, Melanie Albury, Latoya and Vandyke Pratt, Brad Butler and Alfred Munnings; Great grandchildren: Ellison Butler, Krizzy and Kenwood Rolle, Pedro Seymour, Joel and Marva Seymour, Deron, Akeem, Brittney and Darius McIntosh, Audrey and Alexio Ash, Sidnieka, Aikman, Ashton, Clarence, Alston Butler, Tenell Leadon, Ianna and Ian Smith Jr., Anastacia Evans, Franklyn and Simone Poitier Keshano and Demetrius Butler, Pauline Davis, Andrea Percentie, Latika and Lewis Farrington, Kelvin Gordon, Danielle Gantaume, Gabrielle, Ariel, Adara Pratt, Alfred and Avery Munjnings (if too much call in # only); Nieces and nephews: Cynthia, Marie, Ulease, Alvena, Anthony, Timothy, Trevor Billy and Philip. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to THE NEW COMMONWEALTH FUNERAL HOME, INDEPENDENCE DRIVE and will be announced at a later date.
Death Notice For
Carrol Lynden Marche, 44 a resident of Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas, died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Saturday, July 6th, 2019. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to THE NEW COMMONWEALTH FUNERAL HOME, INDEPENDENCE DRIVE and will be announced at a later date.
PAGE 10, Friday, July 12, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Students head to Toronto for blockchain conference FOUR ecstatic University of the Bahamas female students travelled to Toronto, Canada in May to attend the Cryptochicks Blockchain Hackathon and Artificial Intelligence Conference. Their trip and participation on May 29 was sponsored by Equity Bank and Trust Bahamas Limited and they were mentored and chaperoned by the Bahamian ambassador for CryptoChicks, Rosalyn Brown. CryptoChicks is a volunteer-run, non-profit educational international organisation with chapters in Canada, the US, Russia, Pakistan and the Bahamas. Ms Brown has been studying and working with them for over two years and it is her vision to expand on this first trip and increase the number of students who can attend these ‘hackathons’ and conferences every year. “Equity Bank and Trust Bahamas, through their gracious sponsorship, confirmed their commitment to educating young Bahamians in these exciting new technological fields, a reflection of Equity’s dynamic embracement of the evolution of banking and finance,” said Ms Brown. The event brought together top blockchain and AI experts, leaders, mentors and advisors to educate and inspire the coders and aspiring innovators. Speakers included Vitalik Buterin, the inventor
of Ethereum, the largest smart contracting platform; Ben Goertzel, chief scientist of Hanson Robotics, the company that created Sophia the AI robot; Vlad Zamfir, Ethereum & Casper Labs researcher and Alex Tinsman, NEM.IO Foundation president. The students who travelled to the conference were Kylie Butler, Vashti Thompson, Breeah Rolle and Valtinique Tufi. The computer programming performed by the students was an excellent hands on experience in the use of blockchain technology combined with online training from BlockGeeks, a press release noted. While there, the students also visited the facilities and technology departments of the University of Toronto and Ryerson University. The young women were also interviewed by Netflix at the conference as a part of a highly anticipated documentary called “Searching for Satoshi,” the press release added. Delphino Gilbert Cassar, head of business development and Fintech at Equity, said the bank remains steadfast in its commitment to cutting edge financial technology and to meeting the needs of its most innovative clients looking to embrace and explore cryptocurrencies, blockchain and Artificial Intelligence.
‘BAHAMIAN LIFE IS UPSIDE DOWN’ AFTER investment banker Michael Anderson said Bahamians face paying “another tax on society” to support the workers not covered by an employersponsored pension plan, readers posted their responses on tribune242. com. The_Oracle said: “75% of workers have no bank balance after payday! Government pension, UNFUNDED! NIB, probably broke within 10-20 years. Most Bahamian workers opt out of medical insurance when offered by employers. This whole aspect of ‘Bahamian life’ is upside down, and you think Government can fix it?”
And John had this to say: “There are several things need mentioning: First off, the majority of Bahamians live from hand to mouth and there is little left to go towards a pension plan. Secondly, many businesses are operating barely by the skin of their teeth and to place another financial burden on them in the form of an employee pension plan
will definitely sink their ship. And since the workforce is so mobile, how would a company manage such a plan? The average worker will contribute to National Insurance for at least 50 years. Many workers who have contributed will not live to draw retirement and, for many, retirement is the only benefit they will ever receive from NIB. So there should be no problem with a retired worker getting the equivalent of his salary when he or she retires. Private pensions should be gravy.” Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
A TASTE OF SUMMER FUN Death Notice For Edna Janetta Pearce, 71
Funeral Service For Lola Elizabeth Albury, 80 affectionately called “Aunt Lola”
GRAND Prize winner Roosevelt Wright receiving an Atlntis Gift Card from Llewellyn Burrows, Fun Foods Managing Director and Amanraah Ford, Fun Foods Marketing Manager
of Quail Roost Ridge Road, Nassau, The Bahamas and formerly of Guana Cay, Abaco, died at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Shirley Street, Nassau, on Tuesday, 9th July, 2019. She was predeceased by her husband, Albert Pearce.
of Orchard Terrace, Nassau, The Bahamas, who died on Monday, 8th July, 2019, will be held at Bible Truth Fellowship, West Avenue, Nassau on Saturday, 13th July, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
She is survived by her son, Lance Pearce; Melissa and Tanya Pearce; brothers, Thomas Baldwin and John Delphon (Johnny) Albury; sisters, Barbara Kathleen Sands (Kathy) and Geraldine Louise Thompson; brothers-in-law, Steven Arms and Leonard Sands; sisters-in-law, Barbara Arms,Sheila Pearce, Debbie Baldwin, Bell and Myra Albury; and many other relatives and close friends including Alice Key, Margaret Malone, Michael and Brandon Pearce, Gina Roberts, Tiffany Roberts, Christopher and Craig Sands, Candice Pritchard, TJ Baldwin, John and Robert Pearce, Timothy Albury, Cindy Kuck, Andy and Andrea Albury, Rocky Thompson, Kimberly McLeenan, Sharmon Malone, Nancy Albury, Felisa Albury and Monica Pallas.
Officiating will be Colyn Roberts and Charles Kemp and interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens Cemetery, Soldier Road, Nassau.
Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.
Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.
She is predeceased by her brother, Eugene Albury and her sister, Roberta Albury. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Raymond and Christine Albury, Patrick and Angelina Albury and Denise Albury; grand nieces and nephews, Kristin and William Carroll, Rachel Albury and Randall and Falon Albury; great-grand niece, Alice Albury and many other relatives including Newman and Sylvia Sweeting; special friends Frances Roberts, Linda Sawyer, Dale and Pam Roberts and Sandy Williams. Special thanks to Dr. Indira Grimes and Nurse Burrows.
FUSION Superplex Gift Card winner Sheila Miller, collecting her prize from Fun Foods HÄAGEN-DAZS in collaboration with local distributor, Fun Foods Wholesale, kicked off Summer with an islandwide promotion, which gave ice cream lovers the chance to win exciting Summer time experiences including movies, food and fun at Fusion Superplex and a weekend for 2 at ATLANTIS, Paradise Island. Entries were received from participating food stores, all (3) Lickety Split
Locations – Village Road, Carmichael Road and RND Plaza, JFK Drive – and from Fun Foods Wholesale, Ches-apeake Road. Häagen-Dazs and Fun Foods Wholesale extend congratulations to Fusion Superplex Gift Card winners Bernard Major, Sheila Miller and Floyd Johnson as well as Grand Prize winner, Roosevelt Wright who received an ATLANTIS Gift Card valued at $1,000.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 12, 2019, PAGE 11
ROUGH TOTAL FOR TRUMP’S JULY FOURTH EXTRAVAGANZA: $5.4M WASHINGTON Associated Press
The event included donated fireworks, a military flyover, and Trump’s speech to a rained-on crowd at the Lincoln Memorial. Trump announced on Monday he would do it all again next year, calling the event “remarkable”. Democratic lawmakers have condemned the extra expenditures for the Independence Day celebration, which came in addition to the traditional concert, fireworks and events held at near the US Capitol. Arizona Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and one of several Democrats who had demanded a full cost
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s July Fourth extravaganza — featuring tanks, a military flyover, and a Trump speech at the Lincoln Memorial — cost an estimated $5.4 million, according to rough figures yesterday. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt provided the latest share of costs, $2.45 million for his agency, in a letter to lawmakers, saying his agency pulled money from operating funds for national parks, recreation fees, and another source to help fund Trump’s Salute to America.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks during Independence Day celebrations.
accounting, said in response to Interior’s funding estimates that the public funds were spent to “celebrate President Trump.” Bernhardt called the use of public funds justified, and cited past administrations’ spending for concerts, parades and other celebrations in and around the National Mall. Interior’s costs included crowd accommodations such as temporary fencing and portable toilets. In addition, the Department of Defense says its costs came to $1.2 million. Despite repeated requests, the Pentagon as of yesterday refused to provide a precise breakdown.
CHIMP RETURNS TO ZOO AFTER RECOVERING FROM DEPRESSION
HEAVY METAL GETS A TASTE FOR KNITTING JOENSUU, Finland Associated Press ARMED with needles and a yarn of wool, teams of avid knitters yesterday danced to the deafening sounds of drums beating and guitars slashing at the first-ever Heavy Metal Knitting World Championship in Finland. With stage names such as Woolfumes, Bunny Bandit and 9” Needles, the participants shared a simple goal: to showcase their knitting skills while dancing to heavy metal music in the most outlandish way possible. A Japanese performance by the five-person Giga Body Metal team clinched the title with a show featuring crasy sumo wrestlers and a man dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono.
SKOPJE, N Macedonia Associated Press
COMPETITORS in the first Heavy Metal Knitting world championship in Finland.
Britain says Iran tried to block tanker in Gulf DUBAI Associated Press
The British navy said yesterday it stopped three Iranian paramilitary vessels from disrupting the passage of a British oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz in a brief but tense standoff stemming from the UK’s role in seizing an Iranian supertanker a week earlier. The incident highlights how fragile maritime security has become through one of the world’s most vital energy supply routes as the Trump administration carries out a campaign of maximum pressure on Iran. Iran recently began breaching uranium enrichment limits set in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the accord a year ago. He also has re-imposed tough sanctions on Tehran’s oil exports, exacerbating an economic crisis that has sent its currency plummeting. Russia and China, both
HMS Montrose signatories to the nuclear agreement along with Britain, France and Germany, have called for restraint. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “freedom of navigation should be ensured in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard denied any incident had occurred in the strait, saying if it had received orders to seize any ships
it would have done so immediately. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, however, had warned on Wednesday of repercussions for the seizure of the Iranian vessel by Britain’s Royal Marines in Gibraltar, off the southern coast of Spain a week ago. The UK said in a statement that the British naval vessel HMS Montrose had been accompanying the commercial ship, British Heritage, through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for energy shipments . It said three Iranian vessels attempted “to impede” the ship’s passage. “HMS Montrose was forced to position herself between the Iranian vessels and British Heritage and issue verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, which then turned away,” the statement said. The HMS Montrose is on a threeyear mission at the British navy’s support facility in Bahrain, the hub of its naval operations east of the Suez Canal. UK Defence Secretary Penny
Mordaunt said the government is concerned by the incident and urged Iranian authorities to deescalate the situation. She thanked the Royal Navy for upholding international law and supporting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. A US aircraft was in the area at the time of the incident and the military has video imagery, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters. The US 5th Fleet in Bahrain declined to comment on the incident. US Central Command spokesman Capt. Bill Urban said CENTCOM was aware of reports of “harassment and attempts to interfere with” the passage of the British Heritage near the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s naval forces. In recent months, the U.S. has sent thousands of additional troops, an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and advanced fighter jets to the region as tensions with Iran rise.
KOKO the chimpanzee, once a star in Skopje’s zoo, has returned home after spending 10 years in the Netherlands recovering from depression, the zoo says. Koko was reunited with his keeper, Dragan Trajkovski who said he was overjoyed to see the chimp again. “It was a joy I cannot describe,” the 49-year-old said. “After 10 years, Koko recognised me. We touched each other, he turned his back for a little scratching and pursed his mouth in a chimp kiss.” Koko was born in the zoo of North Macedonia’s capital Skopje in 1995. His mother died of tuberculosis two years later, and the young chimp began suffering from depression and loneliness. Trajkovski tried parenting him but for years his condition did not improve. Eventually a Netherlands-based animal rescue group, Animal Advocacy and Protection, was contacted and Koko, pictured, was transferred to their facilities in the Netherlands in 2009 to recover. After 10 years at the AAP facility, Koko returned to Skopje along with three other chimpanzees who will be keeping him company. All three were treated by AAP after suffering years of mistreatment. Mimmi was once in a circus before ending up living in a drab enclosure in a garden centre in Germany, AAP said.
JUDGE APPROVES NEW WEINSTEIN NEW ORLEANS AREA BRACES FOR LEGAL TEAM LED BY #METOO CRITIC FIRST HURRICANE OF THE SEASON NEW YORK Associated Press
A JUDGE gave Harvey Weinstein the green light yesterday to shake up his defence team yet again — this time a mere two months before the disgraced movie mogul whose case inspired the #MeToo movement is due to stand trial in New York on sexual assault charges. One lawyer had already bolted amid public backlash. Now Jose Baes, known for representing high-profile clients such as Casey Anthony, is out after saying he and Weinstein just can’t get along. Donna Rotunno, a #MeToo critic specialising in defending men accused of sexual misconduct, and Damon Cheronis are in. The judge, James Burke, approved the swap after questioning Weinstein to ensure it was what he wanted and getting the new lawyers to promise they won’t seek to delay the trial from its scheduled September 9 start.
HARVEY WEINSTEIN Baes signaled last month that he wanted to leave the case, telling Burke in a letter that Weinstein had tarnished their relationship by communicating only through other lawyers and by failing to abide by a fee agreement. Weinstein engaged in behavior that made representing him “unreasonably difficult to carry out effectively” and insisted on taking actions “with which I have fundamental disagreements,” Baes wrote. Bounding out of the courtroom yesterday after getting sprung from the case, Baes said: “I feel
like I won the lottery. Just kidding.” Weinstein responded through his spokesman, saying: “With a lawyer like Donna Rotunno, I feel like I’m the one who won the lottery.” Rotunno has espoused a philosophy that the #MeToo movement, spurred by revelations about Weinstein’s alleged behavior, is overblown and that women are “responsible for the choices they make.” “I chose to represent Harvey Weinstein because I think these are the types of cases that lawyers that do what I do live for,” Rotunno said outside the courthouse after the hearing. “It gives us an opportunity to have a forum to speak what we believe.” Gloria Allred, who represents one of the accusers in the criminal case, offered a different perspective, saying: “I agree that women are responsible for their own choices, but when will Mr. Weinstein be held responsible for his?”
NEW ORLEANS Associated Press
THOUSANDS of Louisianans broke out sandbags or fled to higher ground yesterday as Tropical Storm Barry threatened to turn into the first hurricane of the season and blow ashore with torrential rains that could pose a severe test of New Orleans’ improved post-Katrina flood defences. National Guard troops and rescue crews in highwater vehicles took up positions around the state as Louisiana braced for the arrival of the storm tonight or early tomorrow. Barry could have winds of about 75 mph, just barely over the 74 mph threshold for a hurricane, when it comes ashore, making it a Category 1 storm, forecasters said. But it is expected to bring more than a foot and a half of rain in potentially ruinous downpours that could go on for hours as the storm passes through the
PREPARATIONS are underway for predicted stormy weather metropolitan area of nearly 1.3m people and pushes slowly inland. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who declared an emergency earlier in the week as the storm brewed in the Gulf of Mexico, warned that the storm’s blow could form a dangerous combination with the already-high Mississippi River, which has been swelled by heavy rain and snowmelt upriver this spring. “There are three ways that Louisiana can flood: storm surge, high rivers and rain,” Edwards said. “We’re going to have all three.”
He said authorities do not expect the Mississippi River to spill over its levees — something that has never happened in New Orleans’ modern history — but cautioned that a change in the storm’s direction or intensity could alter that. As of late Thursday afternoon, Barry was about 90 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi, with winds around 40 mph. A hurricane warning was posted for a 100-mile stretch of Louisiana coastline just below Baton Rouge and New Orleans.