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‘KILLINGS PRODUCT OF OUR FAILURES’
Dames blames decades of neglect for murders but assures public ‘You’re safe’ By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net DESPITE a recent spate of murders over the holiday weekend, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said Bahamians have no reason to feel unsafe, insisting police have the crime situation under control. Mr Dames spoke after five men were killed in separate incidents between Thursday and Monday, sparking renewed public concerns about violent crime. Police suspect some of
the crimes are linked and are the result of retaliation between “rival” groups. Yesterday, Mr Dames said while overall crime continues to trend downward, the most recent incidents prove there is still work to be done. He said many of the country’s crime problems stem from decades of neglect by Bahamian parents and adults. “What we’re seeing again is a manifestation of decades of neglect,” said Mr Dames.
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt says she’s happy to be recuperating at home after surviving horrific COVID19 symptoms in hospital. “It’s been rough, oh it’s been rough, but praise God, I made it,” Mrs Pratt, 75, said yesterday. SEE PAGE FOUR
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
SEE PAGE THREE
to resort properties where the union is represented as “sluggish”. Voicing hope that tourism’s recovery will maintain its present pace through the traditionally slow months of September and October, so that recalled hotel workers will earn sufficient income to carry them through to Christmas 2021, he added that those still on furlough are increasingly struggling to make ends meet almost 17 months into the pandemic. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
PFIZER’S VACCINE HERE BY AUGUST
60% OF HOTEL STAFF OFF WORK DESPITE RECOVERY By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE hotel union’s president yesterday said industry workers were yet to feel the benefits from tourism’s post-COVID resurgence with “no higher than 40 percent” of his members recalled to work to date. Darrin Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union’s chief, told Tribune Business that “a lot of people are still at home” while branding the number of staff recalled
‘MOTHER’ PRATT: IT HAS BEEN ROUGH
DID HE TAKE FIVE LIVES? DELANZO Cartwright outside court yesterday. He is accused of killing five men in three separate incidents. Read the full story on PAGE THREE. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
REMEMBERING ‘GENTLE GIANT’ CHARLES SWEETING By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net TRIBUTES have poured in for former Queen’s College principal and president of The Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church Reverend Charles Sweeting, who died last week. In a statement released yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis expressed sadness over the reverend’s death and
REVEREND Charles Sweeting. heralded him as a man of “enormous integrity”. “Rev Sweeting was an exemplary man of faith,
which was evidenced in his commitment to the spiritual, educational and social development of The Bahamas,” Dr Minnis noted. “It is with gratitude that even as we mourn his passage, we celebrate his legacy and tremendous contributions to national life.” Queen’s College announced the reverend’s death in a post to its Facebook page on Sunday. SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said the country is expected to receive its first doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the World Health Organisation’s COVAX Facility soon, with additional doses of the brand anticipated to arrive in the country later this year. Speaking to reporters before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Wells said the first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine will consist of 57,330 doses and added that officials are hoping to have those vaccines here by the end of the month. SEE PAGE FOUR
520 CRUISE SHIPS DUE IN COMING MONTHS By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
NASSAU Cruise Port’s top executive yesterday said it could welcome one million visitors by the end of the year - with a total 520 cruise ship visits scheduled between August 1 and January. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
PAGE 2, Wednesday, July 14, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
DAMES DEFENDS EFFORTS IN SEARCH FOR MISSING MAN By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday defended the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s search and rescue efforts for a missing man following a boating accident over the weekend. Police reported that sometime around 7pm on Sunday, officers received reports of an accident in the area of Rose Island involving a 26ft boat and a jet ski. “Initial investigations reveal that the sea craft was occupied by six people and two people were aboard the jet ski when both vessels collided,” police said in a statement. “The male driver of the jet ski sustained injuries to both of his legs and his male passenger was ejected into the water. The Police Marine Department in conjunction with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force conducted a search of the area, however the male is still missing.” Although police have not officially identified the victim, family members and friends said he is 28-yearold Drew Rigby. Keith Simms, the victim’s god-brother, told The Tribune that search and rescue
DREW RIGBY efforts were called off by RBDF officers on Sunday after night fell. “The Defence Force came. We had some other vessels out there last night (Sunday)… because you know in the night the Defence Force does not search in the night and it happened late,” Mr Simms told this newspaper on Monday. “So the search and rescue was very short. So we started again this morning (Monday) and we’re looking for persons with boats and other water vessels to help us with search and rescue efforts. We’ve had some persons who would’ve assisted us with boats in the rescue effort.” Asked to respond to reports that the RBDF suspended their search efforts because they did not have the relevant equipment, Mr Dames told reporters yesterday: “That’s incorrect.” “When you have search missions, people suspend
theirs. This is not out of the ordinary. I will have to look at that particular frame in that incident and what was said and why it was said. “But, we are equipped to search. Remember now, we’re a nation of over 100,000 square miles of sea with the assistance of some of the greatest powers throughout this world. Sometimes you’re searching for persons and vessels and you don’t find it. Sometimes you’re fortunate enough to locate them, all right, and so I will have to look at that. “We have access to the underwater drones. ZNS was there when we ran the tests on the drones months ago. They’re still in the testing phases. They’re still in the training phases but the submersible is available for use but where are you going to put it? What are you suggesting? I mean again, this is a nation of over 100,00 square miles of sea and you know you have to act on the information that you have and work within that framework. I mean just putting a drone, a submersible out there, you have to know where you’re putting it and why?” Mr Dames also said he has every confidence in RBDF officers, insisting they are well trained.
DRIFTING CATAMARAN RESCUED BY RBDF THREE occupants of a disabled vessel are grateful for the assistance of members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force after they were safely escorted to harbour in the southern Bahamas early yesterday morning. After receiving a distress call on Monday morning of a vessel that was experiencing mechanical problems 12.5 nautical miles northeast of Planta Cays, HMBS Rolly Gray, under
the command of Lieutenant Themo Berkley, was called upon to assist. On arrival, they discovered a white 44-ft catamaran with a broken mast adrift in the waters. The boarding team immediately cut the riggings and lanyard of the vessel, and also assisted with additional fuel. The vessel and its occupants were eventually escorted into Landrail Point, Crooked Island, shortly after 5am on Tuesday.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, July 14, 2021, PAGE 3
‘MY GRANDSON WENT TO THE STORE - AND WAS SHOT DEAD’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A GRANDMOTHER is in mourning after her grandson was shot dead in Ridgeland Park on Saturday. Nathalie Stubbs said her grandson, Sario Stuart, had left home to get her something from the store on Independence Day. The 23-year-old never returned home. Ms Stubbs is also the mother of Stephen Stubbs, who is currently in prison for the murder of a police officer and the attempted murder of another man over two decades ago. Stubbs was given permission by the Privy Council last year to appeal his 45-year sentence. “My grandson knocked
on my door and say, ‘Grammy, Sario dead.’ I said how Sario could be dead and Sario gone to the shop? “The boy said he saw Sario gone, come out the shop and a car just pulled up by Sario and he saw the car….when Sario walk off they shoot Sario and Sario fall to the ground,” she told The Tribune yesterday. According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, police were called to a shooting in Ridgeland Park west shortly after 9pm on July 10. Officers found a man lying in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Berkley Street with wounds consistent with gunshots. EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene. Ms Stubbs was emotional
about her grandson’s death. “I feel bad to know my grandchild died just like that,” she said. “I ain’t sleep yet from that happened. “Without him, I don’t know I could make it because the rest (of my relatives) is be to work….He makes sure I have lunch. “He cooks and does everything for me. They take him right away from me.” She expressed anger about her grandson being locked up by police for another murder recently. She believes he was picked up by police based on false information and thinks a suspected informant is the one who killed her nephew. Anyone with information on this killing is asked to contact police at 5029991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.
SARIO STUART, who was shot dead on Saturday.
‘Killings product of our failures’ from page one “You look at the age of the persons who are carrying out these heinous crimes. It speaks to our failures as parents and adults and we cannot expect that it would be the police’s job to kind of manage these young men, so it speaks to this continued concern that it is all of our responsibilities to address these problems. “We’re seeking to do our role, certainly as a government. We’ve been looking at introducing a multi-agency, a multifaceted approach at addressing these problems, looking at the work that we’re doing in the community (and) the work that we’re doing with all of
our agencies to deal with conflict resolution, to find meaningful ways to keep our young men and women engaged.” He said Bahamians have no need to harbour fears about gang wars happening in the country, insisting police have the situation in control. “I don’t think that there should be public concern about a gang war happening as you could see, the police are very much on top of that but these things are going to happen and it just speaks to how important it is for all of us to be playing our respective roles,” Mr Dames said. “We cannot sit back and rely entirely on police to resolve these issues. Usually when it ends up in the police hands it’s often too
late, we all have a responsibility here and this is a constant reminder of that fact and until we come to realise that we have a role to play, this is something that we will continue to face. “I mean if you look around the world, gun violence is the topic of discussion. If you look throughout the United States, it’s a concern throughout the US and other parts of the world. What is fuelling this? I’ll leave that for the researchers to tell us, but we’re going through a very difficult period here not only in The Bahamas, but globally. “But after having said that, I’m confident that the path that we’re on is the right one as we continue to
form up a lot of the policy initiatives and strategies that we promised.” He said people should not be afraid to go out in public spaces. This comes after a man was killed after 10pm on Sunday at Arawak Cay, a popular hang out and dining spot. Speaking specifically on the incident, Mr Dames continued: “You have violence in communities and so the thing is, I say that I have every confidence in our law enforcement officers and they are in fact in control... I’m not saying that incidents won’t happen, but we have issues within our households so should people be afraid to sleep in their own homes... “The reality is in that (Arawak Cay) incident, the young man was taken
into custody and a weapon was seized. Unfortunately, someone lost their life prior to it but it also speaks to the work that our law enforcement officers are doing and we just have to keep on pressing forward.” On Monday night, Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters acknowledged the recent rash in homicides was concerning. “We are concerned about all of these incidents that are occurring,” he said “However, we are also encouraged by the information we’re receiving from the members of the public, and we are making good headway with respect to the previous incidents that occurred, and we look forward to giving some information to the media in
due course.” Asked if CCTV will be helpful in assisting police with the recent homicide investigations, he said police will look into this avenue, but added that some of the cameras are not in operation. “It’s common knowledge that some of them are not operable due to whatever incidents with outage and so forth that maybe power may go down and so if they’re operable, we can look forward to getting information from them,” he told reporters. Anyone with information on these incidents or any other crime is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Department at 502-9991/2, Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.
FIVE FACE COURT FOR MURDERS By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
MARQUIN Williams outside court yesterday. Photos: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
DONDRE WILLIAMS, who is accused of murder.
FIVE men were yesterday charged with murder in the Magistrate’s Court in connection with five separate incidents - including one man accused of five murders. One suspect was charged with five killings — two of which were double homicides. Regarding the most recent matter, Rashad Stubbs, 24, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with the death of Dwayne Cargill on April 27. Due to the nature of the offence, he was not required to enter a plea. He returns to court on December 2 for the presentation of his voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Meanwhile, Delanzo Cartwright, 25; Dondre Williams, 23; Marquin Williams; 22; and Patreco Ramsey, 21, were accused of killing Anniko Strachan in October 2019. Like Stubbs, the men were not required to enter a plea to the murder charge during their arraignment before Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt and their matter was adjourned to November 29 for service of their VBIs. Yesterday, prosecutors also alleged Cartwright also killed Ian Porter and Raymond Adderley in June 2019. They further alleged he murdered George Deveaux and Ashlee Hilton in December 2018. At the time, the engaged couple were fatally shot in an apparent ambush near the general entrance to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in Fox Hill.
DELANZO Cartwright faces five murder charges. The incident reportedly played out as the victims attempted to leave Sandilands following a therapy session, according to initial reports. Dondre Williams also faced another charge. He was accused of conspiring to commit murder and eventually killing Alfred Bastian on December 3, 2020. According to initial police reports, sometime around noon that day, police responded to a gunshot alert from the Shot Spotter technology in the Kemp Road area. They then went to a home in the area where they found a man lying on the ground unresponsive, with apparent gunshot wounds. When EMS services arrived on the scene, they pronounced the victim lifeless. Williams and Cartwright were not required to enter pleas to the additional charges brought against them and their cases were also adjourned to November 29 for service of a VBI. All of the accused men were denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim. They have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
RASHAD Stubbs outside court yesterday.
PATRECO Ramsey arriving at court yesterday.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, July 14, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
‘Mother’ Pratt: it has been rough from page one “I thought I would have gone home (to the Lord).” She told The Tribune she caught COVID-19 ahead of plans to get vaccinated against the virus. After testing positive for the disease a week before, the former St Cecilia MP was admitted to hospital last week. Her physician Dr Lynwood Brown insisted at the time she had been admitted out of an abundance of caution for overnight monitoring. In the days that followed, Mrs Pratt said she experienced severe pain. “Oh, man, I tell you only (through) God. I have never had so much pain in my entire life,” she said of her illness. She thanked medical staff for their care and concerned citizens who showed support throughout the ordeal. “I am out of hospital and I am recuperating. I wish to thank doctors at the hospital (and) the staff. They’ve been tremendous. They have been there for me. “I can’t under-emphasise the amount of people that have been calling and I am so grateful.” Mrs Pratt told The Tribune in a previous interview that she suspected having the virus after experiencing nausea and fatigue. The former National Security Minister followed up with a COVID-19 test, which confirmed her suspicions. “This started about a week now, but I feel a lot stronger,” she said in a telephone interview from her home about two weeks ago, before she was admitted to the hospital. “This started last week Wednesday, and it started with nausea. I have been careful. I didn’t go out in crowds. I always wore double masks and things. I have always been careful.
TOTAL CASES
TOTAL DEATHS
13,233 254 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES
CYNTHIA “MOTHER” PRATT “When I started this nausea, I thought maybe it was something I ate that upset my stomach. “So, I got some Dica and I took that and it gave me some relief just over a short period of time and then it came back. “I then started to feel very weak, and I was fighting to put one foot before the next one. I said ‘Lord, something isn’t right here.’ I am a woman with energy. I could go like the Energiser bunny, and I was walking from the kitchen to the living room and every two minutes I had to sit down. “So, I decided to call my daughter. I told her I am going to get checked again because I have had five tests for different things, and they were all negative, but I never had any tiredness like this. I knew something didn’t connect. My daughter took me to get the test and mine came back positive and hers was negative and that’s been a week now.” She also experienced loss of taste and smell, tell-tale signs of a coronavirus infection in many cases. “I noticed I couldn’t smell the food I’m cooking and then I couldn’t taste the food. I had no fever, I had
no vomiting, but the diarrhea came later,” she said previously. “So, all of the signs weren’t really there at first and then, of course, I didn’t have a cold. . . but then I was bringing up a lot of cold, but I always have a problem with sinus on and off so I didn’t pay that much mind. The next thing I know I was diagnosed with COVID-19.” After her initial diagnosis, Mrs Pratt urged Bahamians to take the proper precautions to avoid the disease. “I want to say you could never be too careful and as much as you try, you don’t know who has it. This thing has no eyes, so some people look healthy, and they don’t even know they have it themselves. “Do what you are supposed to do to avoid it,” she said. Several public figures have contracted COVID19 since the start of the pandemic, including Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis, PLP Senator Dr Michael Darville, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister and former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, among others.
MONDAY
13 CASES
SUNDAY
55 CASES
NEW PROVIDENCE GRAND BAHAMA EXUMA
9 2 2
NEW PROVIDENCE 33 ELEUTHERA 8 BIMINI & CAT CAY 7 EXUMA 3 GRAND BAHAMA 3 EXUMA 2 PENDING 1
TOTAL TESTS
112,074
HOSPITALISED
67
CASES IN ICU
5
RECOVERED
11,961
68 NEW COVID CASES OVER TWO DAYS SIXTY-EIGHT new cases of COVID-19 were recorded over a twoday period. According to the Ministry of Health, 55 cases were recorded on Sunday, July 11, while 13 were recorded on Monday,
July 12. The country now has 13,233 confirmed cases. Nine hundred and twenty-six of these cases are active. There have been 254 confirmed COVID deaths.
PFIZER’S VACCINE HERE BY AUGUST from page one
“We will have a more definitive date when the Pfizer vaccine will arrive in (the) country by Friday of this week,” Mr Wells said. “The COVAX Facility, through PAHO, has informed the Caribbean region as to what is available and The Bahamas has been offered some 57,330 doses of Pfizer through PAHO. “You would also be aware that we are entitled to some 33 plus thousand doses of AstraZeneca. The date for arrival of that vaccine is July 26 and so we are eagerly awaiting AstraZeneca on July 26. We’re also awaiting the update through CARICOM for the donation directly from the United States as to how much doses of that vaccine we will be receiving. We should have that update this week as well.” The news comes amid concerns about low vaccine supply in the country, with vaccination sites only showing available bookings online until late July. To date, the Bahamas has received 67,200 of vaccine doses
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells. from the COVAX Facility, with the remaining 33,600 doses expected to be delivered at the end of this month. Twenty thousand doses were donated by the Indian government in March. Yesterday, Mr Wells said the government continues to be engaged in discussions with its Caribbean counterparts to shore
up on its vaccine supplies. He also said the government is still in talks with China concerning its offer to provide the country with its Sinopharm vaccine. “We are sourcing vaccines from everywhere we can possibly obtain vaccines under the... guidance of WHO rules and so we are looking to continue with our vaccination programme in country and I want Bahamians to go to the site and sign up and we will continue to vaccinate as vaccines come in country,” he said. The Pfizer vaccine is currently approved for emergency use in children aged 12 and older. In recent weeks, more young Bahamians have been catching COVID-19 and becoming seriously ill during the third wave of the virus than what was seen during previous waves. The country’s youngest victim to have died from the virus is a five-month-old girl who passed away on June 26, according to health officials. Yesterday, Mr Wells said officials will consider setting a portion of the Pfizer vaccines aside specifically for young children.
“We will most certainly take that into consideration as a part of the overall vaccination programme,” he said when asked about the issue. “You know our kids are going back to school in September so obviously, we need to be able to take that into consideration so that is one of the reasons why we sought to source Pfizer because Pfizer is the only EUL approved vaccine for individuals under the age of 18.” The Bahamas has administered 97,992 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to the Ministry of Health. Health officials said 60,303 people have received their first dose, while 37,689 have been fully vaccinated against the virus. Asked if the government is still hoping to end the current state of emergency next month, Mr Wells said to his knowledge, there has been no change of plan. He said when the emergency orders end, there will also be no vaccination day for fully vaccinated people as was previously announced. “The state of emergency ends
on August 13,” the Health Minister said. “If there’s going to be any change to that, obviously the competent authority, the Cabinet of The Bahamas would have to come back to the Bahamian people to say so, but right now there is no discussion about changing the fact that the emergency orders end on August 13. “But if it was to change, the Government of The Bahamas will come to the Bahamian people in the shortest possible time and inform the country as to what direction we are to go in. “But, you know in order to be able to do that, I do believe under the law you would have to go to the House of Assembly and the (House of Assembly) doesn’t meet until the 22nd of September. We would have to call an emergency session and the Governor General would have to call the (House of Assembly) back into session to be able to do that, but as it stands now, we’re moving forward.” Since the pandemic, The Bahamas has recorded 13,233 cases of COVID-19. Of this count, 926 cases remain active.
AIRLINES FINED THOUSANDS FOR VISA FAILURES By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
CHIEF Superintendent of Police Zhivago Dames said commercial airlines have been fined thousands of dollars for letting passengers enter this country without the required documents, such as the travel health visa. He said police officers and COVID-19 ambassadors have seen an increase recently in this type of situation. “Over the holiday weekend we issued some 29 citations,” he said yesterday. “Included in that were citations to a number of commercial airlines for allowing persons to enter into the country without required documents and each passenger was cited for entering the country without the required documents. The airlines were cited $2,000 for allowing passengers to come on to
their flights and passengers were also fined. Overall, the fines amounted to $14,500. “Over the last four weeks we have seen an increase in airlines allowing passengers to come to New Providence without the required documents, moreso without having the required health visa. In the case over the holiday, these were persons travelling from outside The Bahamas.” CSP Dames also said two businesses were cited over the weekend for operating despite being prohibited from doing so in the competent authority’s Emergency Powers Orders. A business was also cited for having a social gathering beyond the number of people allowed. Overall, the citations issued over the holiday weekend amounted to $29,000. “Based on the data that we have, this was a decrease over what we have seen over the other holidays and previous months,” he said. CSP Dames said so far
this year, officers have issued about $900k in citations. He said officers are also ensuring only vaccinated people are enjoying benefits outlined in the rules, such as the ability to dine indoors. “We know that restaurants are allowed to have inside dining with people who are fully vaccinated. The COVID Enforcement Unit has been going around to restaurants to check this out. I’m pleased to say the ones we have entered into, persons were fully vaccinated. We did visit a prohibited social gathering where people mentioned that they were fully vaccinated and we found that to be otherwise and they were warned or cited. “I think I just want to say to the populace, continue to do their best to follow the protocols and the rules set down by the competent authority,” he said. “The rules are there for all of our safety and protection.”
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, July 14, 2021, PAGE 5
Remembering ‘gentle giant’ Charles Sweeting from page one In another post yesterday, Queen’s College remembered the reverend as a “gentle giant”. “Flags fly at half mast today (Tuesday) at Queen’s College in memory of the late Rev Charles A Sweeting, former principal. His contributions to education, the Methodist Church and this nation have been many. He was a ‘gentle giant’. He has fought a good fight, he has finished the race. Well done, good and faithful servant,” the post read. More tributes came from Andrea U Gibson,
who served as principal of Queen’s College from 1997-2019. “Rev Sweeting had the distinct honour and privilege not afforded to any other Methodist; that of serving as the head of two of his church schools – St Paul’s College in Freeport, Grand Bahama and Queen’s College in Nassau, and also as president of The Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church,” Ms Gibson said in a statement. “As such, he was both progressive, and unafraid, of trailing paths in the history of the two schools and of the newly formed Bahamas Conference.
“I was told that, a few days before his passing, Rev Sweeting shared with one of his visitors how he had, against the odds, taken on the task of growing St Paul’s Methodist College from a primary school to a fullyfledged K-12 school and, in the process, brought about the Bahamianisation of that school. “In later years, as president of The Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church, he took the bold step of installing the first female, and first person of colour, as principal of Queen’s College. Despite the naysayers, Rev Sweeting was confident that the
leadership team he had put in place would effectively lead the next phase of Queen’s College’s growth and development.” She said during his time as QC principal, he worked “to lay a firm foundation that enabled successive leadership teams to build upon the school’s legendary past”. She noted that Rev Sweeting, a former head boy, teacher, and first Bahamian and alumni principal, was the first person to be inducted into QC’s Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also the first QC principal to have a landmark on the campus named
in his honour in 2014, she said. “Rev Sweeting’s contributions to his beloved Queen’s College, will long be remembered in the minds and hearts of all whose lives he influenced during his principalship and as chairman of the Queen’s College board of governors. May his soul rest in peace.” Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) leader Philip Davis also released a statement on Rev Sweeting’s death, saying the party was saddened to hear of his passing and expressed condolences. Mr Davis explained Mr Sweeting was “a nation builder par excellence and
his passing brings to an end a significant era in national leadership”. “He is credited with leading much of the developments of the Methodist Church in The Bahamas while preparing a generation of Bahamians for leadership in practically every sphere of national life. “We thank him for his stellar and selfless service to this country he clearly loved dearly - especially in the all important areas of education and religion,” Mr Davis said. Rev Sweeting is survived by his wife, Sheran, his son Andrew and other relatives.
INTERIM Prime Minister Claude Joseph gives a press conference in Port-au-Prince yesterday. A picture of late Haitian President Jovenel Moise, who was assassinated in his home on July 7, hangs on the wall behind. Photo: Joseph Odelyn/AP
DIPLOMATS RETURN HOME FROM HAITI By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net FOUR Bahamian diplomats who were stationed in Haiti are now safely back home after the shock assassination of Haitian President Jouvenal Moise last week, said Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield. Minister Henfield said yesterday the diplomats arrived in the country on Monday night and are currently in good spirits. He also said that five Bahamians are still in Haiti awaiting return home.
“I just wanted to report as Minister of Foreign Affairs that I was very pleased last night (Monday) to receive all four of our Bahamian diplomats from Haiti on Bahamian soil. They arrived around 8pm last evening. They’re all in good spirits. They’re all in good health,” he told reporters before going to a Cabinet meeting. “Of course, we were working assiduously to get them home since last week Wednesday following the tragic killing of Haitian President Juvenal Moise. We still have about
five Bahamians in Haiti (and) some other residents that are normally in The Bahamas that we need to work on how we ameliorate their circumstances in the future. We’re working on that with my ministry and the health people and hopefully, we can come up with a conclusion really soon to see how we can best go forward.” Asked when it is expected those people will return home, Mr Henfield was unable to say. “No, there is no timeline,” he said. “We have been working on this now
since the closure of the borders, almost. Haiti presents to us a bit of a challenge in that they had no vaccination programme, and they went ahead as you know and held Carnival for what we saw as an incubator for COVID but we need to find a way to work through these circumstances. “… I reached out to my colleague the Prime Minister who was also a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Claude Joseph several times. I’ve also spoken with their director general in the Ministry of Tourism and so we didn’t want it to appear
that we’re abandoning them in this hour of challenge. “I wanted to reassure them that even though we want our people home, The Bahamas or the Bahamian government as well as CARICOM, we stand in solidarity with them and hope that this issue could come to an end very quickly.” The Bahamas closed its embassy in Haiti last week, hours after President Moise was shot dead at his home by a group of masked assailants. His wife, Martine Moise, was also shot in the attack and is currently
being treated in a US hospital. Yesterday, Mr Henfield said the Bahamian embassy in Haiti will remain shut until officials feel confident it is safe for the diplomats to return. In February, the government banned all commercial flights and vessels from Haiti in what officials said was done as a precautionary measure to prevent the risk of imported cases of Covid-19 from that country. The ban, however, has since been extended several times.
BISHOP ELLIS CRITICISES CRYSTAL CRUISE PROTESTS PROMINENT Mount Tabor Church pastor Bishop Neil Ellis has criticised Harbour Island residents whose protests prevented Crystal Cruises from anchoring its ships there as part of its home porting experience in The Bahamas. Touching on the matter during a service as congregants marked the Independence Day anniversary last week, Bishop Ellis said: “What you see happening with the cruise ships now, two of them cruise porting here in Nassau. “(God) says that’s a commanded blessing for the country. That is not a political issue. Everybody needs to celebrate it and stop complaining. But He
says what Harbour Island did was tragic to their own selves. They rebelled and insisted they do not want the ship there on their island. God says you errant, you allowed stupidity and politics to get in your way of a commanded blessing and he says but your error benefit another island.” Protests from both Harbour Island and Spanish Wells residents led Crystal Cruises to cancel its plans to call weekly on the islands. The cruise line has instead turned to Cat Island. The cruise line is also visiting Bimini, Great Exuma, San Salvador and Long Island. In contrast to Harbour Island and Spanish Wells residents, Cat Island residents have praised the cruise line’s arrival, with one business owner there
telling this newspaper last month that the move is “desperately” needed to help the island recover from COVID-19. Bishop Ellis, meanwhile, has occasionally made news by commenting on national affairs. Last year, he knocked House Speaker Halson Moultrie for complaining about “bathroom issues” in Parliament and Education Minister Jeff Lloyd for saying he won’t engage with Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson anymore because of her behaviour. During a speech about the ego of King Nebuchadnezzar in October 2020, he criticised Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis as well, saying: “In our country we live in a democracy and I’m saddened over the fact how grown men and women can
sit in our Parliament from March to now and still allow the prime minister
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PAGE 6, Wednesday, July 14, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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Minister Dames and the crime problem A BLOODY weekend has put our murder rate in the spotlight again – with five men killed between Thursday and Monday. Police suspect some of the crimes are because of retaliation between “rival” groups – we can assume gangs fighting one another, while National Security Minister Marvin Dames said Bahamians had no need to fear a gang war as the police had the situation under control and were “very much on top of that”. We would respectfully suggest that five murders in such a short span shows the police are very much are not on top of that. It is difficult for police, of course. They might have Shotspotter technology to help them react more quickly after a gun is fired, but we need a shot stopper to prevent the guns going off in the first place – that’s what we need to address. Mr Dames had his views on that too, as he blamed “a manifestation of decades of neglect” for the country’s crime problems. That sounds a long way from the Marvin Dames in opposition who lambasted the PLP saying that the FNM would “approach crime as the scourge that it is” and who urged his predecessor as minister Dr Bernard Nottage to “call him” if he wanted “real solutions” to the crime problem. Indeed, in November 2016, in his role as FNM leader, Dr Hubert Minnis referred to “a rash of murders over the weekend” and “Bahamians scared to go out at night due to rumours of retribution killings”. Here we are, with the FNM in power, and another rash of murders, and not just rumours but police all but confirming retribution killings taking place. In one way, Mr Dames is right. We didn’t get here all of a sudden, and there is a long history of neglect that got us to where we are now. However, if we look back down the decades, we see the murder rate has generally gone up. As recently as 1991, the murder count was as low as 28, according to police records. By 2010, that rate had tripled. It has dropped since a peak in 2015, but it’s still far higher than decades ago, the time frame to which Mr Dames refers. He talks about gun violence, but when it comes to what is fueling this, he says he’ll leave that to the researchers to tell us. Why? Can the minister not inform us? More to the point, can he inform us what he is doing about that? We know we live next to the US with its easy availability of guns – but the minister should not be shy about informing us of what is being done to staunch the flow of weapons. He also says: “We’re seeking to do our
role, certainly as a government. We’ve been looking at introducing a multiagency, a multi-faceted approach at addressing these problems.” All well and good, but the Marvin Dames on the last campaign trail would have had harsh words with him, as he did with Dr Nottage, when he questioned what Dr Nottage had been doing for the previous five years if he was “just rolling out” new anti-crime initiatives a few months before the general election. Here we are, with a general election in the air, and here is Mr Dames “looking at” new measures. We are in a worse situation than decades ago, and we absolutely need to deal with problems in our society that lead young men particularly down this path. But we cannot simply pin our problems on our history to absolve ourselves of our current problems. We have too many deaths. We hope the Marvin Dames of the campaign trail has a word with Minister Marvin Dames about the urgency to deal with that.
Still out of work There has been much optimism recently – and rightly so – about the surge in tourism in The Bahamas. Not everyone has been able to join in the celebrations, however, as hotel union chief Darrin Woods pointed out yesterday. Mr Woods, who leads the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union, says that “no higher than 40 percent” of his members have been called back to work so far. It doesn’t quite bring our optimism down to earth with a bump, but it does serve as a reminder that we’re not fully recovered yet by far – and there are many people still in need who don’t have a pay cheque coming in to keep their families going. The hope, of course, is that the recovery keeps going and those staff members do get the call to get back to work. It’s not just hotel workers, either. For every hotel worker, there will be a straw vendor or a hair braider sitting at home, a trip operator or a souvenir stall holder. The impact of COVID-19 on our economy has been deep, and not all those affected have been able to get back to business yet. They’re going to need continued support – and programmes such as the feeding network might well need to be extended to help people along. The recovery won’t be complete until all those who want to be back at work can be. Every step forward brings that day closer – but we’re not there yet.
The losers of the next general election EDITOR, The Tribune. WHO’S going to lose the next general election in our country – The Bahamas? We, the Bahamian people, as usual. There is no political party out there that’s up to the challenge of moving our nation out of the grips of omnipresent poverty, widespread illiteracy, rampant crime, the pervasive underground economy, and economic stagnation. The PLP and FNM have demonstrated over and over again in government – that they are simply executive taxers, borrowers and spenders. They only want to get control of the cookie jar once more, so that they can continue their regular lovers, family and friends feast – while many more of us join the unemployed and underemployed band, the hunger line, the default payment society, and the – may
God help us prayer. FNM and PLP leaders have shown us their wicked colours a long time ago, but we still look forward with great enthusiasm – to screwing ourselves all over again at the next polls. It’s like stupidity on steroids. We love punishment and the shit end of the stick; and the politicians are always delighted to swing us again – one more time. I have noticed the misguided passions of the yobbish PLP and FNM fans – and cheerleaders on social media. We are stupidly blind and politically careless about our future. We don’t know Brave Davis yet, or Fred Mitchell, Glenys Hanna Martin, Obie Wilchcombe, Dr Hubert Minnis, Carl Bethel, Dion Foulkes, et al? What could those political dead weights do for The Bahamas and Bahamian people at this juncture of our
existence as a free nation and people? They grew up in the corrupt PLP and FNM. They have already executively served in the various corrupt PLP and FNM regimes over the past few decades, and all we got from their respective governments are more public debt, more crime, more unemployment, more hunger and suffering, a broken education system, a failing health care infrastructure, and an absolutely corrupt status quo. So, who will lose the next general election in The Bahamas again? We, the Bahamian people will – if we don’t collectively resolve to hold the next Bahamian government’s feet to the fire – for the benefit of a truly better, prosperous and more competitive Bahamas and Bahamian people in the 21st century. DENNIS DAMES Nassau, July 12, 2021.
It’s time to reevaluate our relations EDITOR, The Tribune. Dear Minister Darren Henfield, For most of our 48 year history, The Bahamas has been relying on two of our strongest allies, which is the US and China. We always gave them our hopes and expectations, but what have we gotten from our cooperation? The Bahamas has been on the brink of economic collapse and rising crime rates multiple times and Washington, DC, and Beijing have always spoken about bringing up the Bahamian people from poverty and combatting crime, yet we never see such promises fulfilled. The US still hasn’t sent an Ambassador for almost a decade and China’s economic deals keep provoking Washington, DC. Also, the cheap donations we keep getting aren’t adding anything of value to The Bahamas. Additionally, the Cold War spats between America and China over the Bahamas has neglected the country that they were trying to build up. Instead they bicker on what company should get the economic deal to operate in the country whilst many Bahamians remain destitute and jobless at times. The solution is clear, Mr Henfield. You should contact the Prime Minister to organise a high level meeting with every American and Chinese diplomatic
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net staff involved with the Bahamas so we can reevaluate our diplomatic relations. Both Ambassador Dai Qingli and Charge d’Affairs Usha Pitts and other important diplomatic personnel should bring themselves forward to answer the hard questions to the country. What benefits did we really get with the Thomas A Robinson stadium and Baha Mar with the Chinese EXIM bank? What benefit do we get on the Andros fishing deal with Chinese fishers? What’s the education standards between the Ivy League universities and those found in Shanghai and Beijing when it comes to producing quality alumni who would become the Bahamas’ next generation of geniuses and nation builders? How effective is the US Coast Guard and the DEA in combatting drug, human and arms trafficking? In addition to that question, why does South Com give the RBDF a little more than small boats and minor naval support technology for our base in Coral Harbour as the Trade winds training exercises have all but completely ceased since 2019? How much money do we really get from millions
of American tourists and thousands of Chinese workers who visited The Bahamas on a yearly basis before COVID-19? Does the monetary donations from the EXIM Bank and IDB benefit The Bahamas in any capacity? Does BTC benefit from Huawei and other Western telecommunications companies with building our 5G network? Are the Bahamian people satisfied with US cruise ship companies at all? Is The Bahamas in general, satisfied with our relationship between the US and China? These are the questions that Mrs Qingli and Mrs Pitts should all answer front and centre and not just for you, Mr Henfield, not for Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, but for everyone in this country. This should be the perfect time for you and the current government administration to deliver a firm statement. Either the US and China will respect our sovereignty and work together to help The Bahamas or if they don’t wish to do so, then Washington, DC, and Beijing should stand aside and say nothing until they’re willing to sit on our table and start negotiations. For this is the way that The Bahamas will benefit as a nation. AMMAKA RUSSELL Nassau, July 11, 2021.
Zimbabwe needs reform EDITOR, The Tribune. ELECTIONS in Zimbabwe will be held in two years to come and the world is now beginning to think about the credibility of these elections. Zimbabwe is desperate to join The Commonwealth. The first avenue for Zimbabwe to engage with other countries, join the Commonwealth and attract investor is by holding credible elections. The situation
on the ground does not show that Zimbabwe is committed or serious about reforming election process. Zimbabwean government should be forced to reform election process and ensure that the forthcoming elections in 2023 are completely free from violence and rigging. The world should force Zimbabwean government to hold free and fair elections in 2023. There should be pressure on clueless, careless, and
corrupt President Emerson Mnangagwa to hold credible free and fair elections. If Zimbabwean government is not held to account, many Zimbabweans will flee Zimbabwe and invade other countries like South Africa, Botswana, UK, Zambia in search of better conditions. KUDZAI CHIKOWORE Human Rights Activist London, July 13, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, July 14, 2021, PAGE 7
SPONSORSHIPS GIVEN
STUDENTS receive their sponsorship awards from the Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM.
THE Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM has handed out seven scholarships to outstanding students of its Service Leadership Programme. The recipients are: K Kids - Shadanae Thompson, Breana Chisholm; Builders Club - Aliah Johnson, Danielle McCoy, Christopher Edwards; Key Club: Rolanda Knowles, Jaydon Bain. Club president D’Andrea Davis said: “This scholarship fund was my ultimate goal in my administrative
year. It was not easy but God favoured us. We not only met our goal, but we’ve shattered every goal set before us.” During the year, the club held various fundraisers, including its annual steak out and scholarship fund raffle, which were earmarked to provide the scholarships which ranged from $1,000.00 to $1,500.00. The club thanked its corporate sponsors and individuals who made substantial donations to help reach the goal.
Post office clerks testify on Rudy King transactions By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
TWO post office clerks yesterday testified that they conducted transactions for Bahamian businessman Rudolph “Rudy” King that required authorisation from their supervisor. The impresario is accused of defrauding the General Post Office of over half a million dollars, then laundering that amount between 2012 and 2015. In 2019, King was charged with five counts each of fraud and money laundering concerning allegations that he defrauded the Post Office’s savings account of over $632,416 within that time frame. However, last month the court was told that the actual amount the accused allegedly defrauded between June 2012 and April 2015 totalled $661,648. King maintains his not guilty plea during his ongoing trial before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis. When Ina Sturrup gave evidence yesterday, she said she was employed at the Freeport Post Office at the time the fraud was alleged
to have taken place. She said she knew King as a customer because she conducted transactions for him when she was employed there. When questioned by Crown attorney Eucal Bonaby, Mrs Sturrup said she conducted two withdrawals for King in the amounts of $4,000 and $4,800 in November 2012 and January 2013, which she recorded on a day sheet. When asked, she also said the money he requested was “above the normal amount” because “the maximum amount” of cash a clerk is allowed to give a customer during a withdrawal “is no more than $3,000 without authorisation”. She said in order to process his requests at the time, she had to go to her supervisor for authorisation. When Mrs Sturrup was cross-examined by attorney Damian Gomez, she said she recalled telling officers that there was a policy of the Post Office Savings Bank that stated that all savings accounts should only have up to $6,000 in them. When it was put to her, she also admitted telling police they had been “somewhat relaxed” with
the policy because of the fact they had clients in the Family Islands who they allowed to deposit over the stipulated amount. The last witness to take the stand was Melinda Martin. During her testimony, she said she was employed at the Freeport Post Office at the stamp counter between 2010-2017. Ms Martin said she had the opportunity to meet King in her capacity on one occasion when he made an $80,000 withdrawal from the Savings Bank. During cross-examination, Mr Gomez asked her “would it be true to say” that when King deposited sums over $6,000, it had been approved by her supervisor and was therefore not “unusual”. She agreed. Mr Gomez also asked Ms Martin if King had sufficient funds on his account to withdraw the $80,000. She confirmed that she was able to “ascertain” that he did. “So notwithstanding his withdrawal of the $80,000, there was far more money in the account. Is that not so?” Mr Gomez asked. “According to the (pass) book, yes, sir,” Ms Martin replied. The case continues today.
WOMAN DENIES HELPING TO LAUNDER MONEY By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 46-YEAR-OLD woman who denied helping another person launder nearly $50,000 into a foreign country was yesterday granted bail ahead of her trial. Jane Smith was accused of knowingly acquiring $3,000, which represented the proceeds of crime, on March 18. She was further accused of laundering the sums of $7,900; $11,690; and $26,930 on March 22, March 29 and
April 12 respectively. Prosecutors allege Smith knowingly transferred $2,019 on a Royal Bank of Canada account to Malaysia sometime between March 18 and 19. It is further alleged that she transferred $7,007.26 to the foreign country between March 22 and 28 and the sums of $15,218.24 and $20,323.49 in the month of April. Smith is also accused of concealing $49,250, which represented the proceeds of crime, and abetting another in obtaining the funds from
a woman between March and April of this year. When she appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, she pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of money laundering and a single count of abetment to commit money laundering. Her case was adjourned to August 11 before Magistrate Kendra Kelly. Smith was granted $10,000 bail in the interim. She must report to the East Street South Police Station once a week leading up to trial.
MAN ACCUSED OF SETTING FIRE TO CHURCH By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 22-YEAR-OLD man was denied bail yesterday over allegations he set fire to a local church. Trey Bastian was charged with arson after he was accused of setting fire to
Bethel Baptist Church on July 7. Prosecutors alleged the accused caused $8,000 worth of damage when he set fire to the 15-room split level stone structure. Due to the nature of the offence, Bastian was not required to enter a plea and the case was adjourned
to December 2 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment. In the meantime, he was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
PUBLIC ALERT OVER REAL ESTATE SCAM THE general public has been put on high alert by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to be on the lookout for a real estate scam artist. The scammer, claiming to be based in the US, is targeting financial institutions, real estate companies and law firms. The FIU is asking those groups to exercise extreme caution while conducting their ‘know your customer’ (KYC) procedures. In recent months, the FIU has seen an increase in suspicious transaction reports where the said individual contacts a real estate agent or law firm via email, requesting the assistance of or representation from these institutions with respect to the purchase of real estate in The Bahamas. The scam artist — who
has used the names Andrew Franklin, Franklin Andrew, Frank Andrews and Frank Andrew — once made aware of the retainer amount and necessary KYC documentation, will forward the paperwork needed, however the documents are fraudulent. The unit also says that during these transactions the retainer amount would be overpaid and either sent directly to the law firm or the law firm’s banking institution. After this is done, the individual immediately requests a refund of the overpaid amount hoping that the funds are remitted prior to the cheque being cleared. The FIU notes the individual is purporting to be a citizen of the US, residing in the state of Washington. The unit recommended
companies refrain from depositing any cheques remitted to the institution and discontinue communication with the individual. The FIU says it appears that the individual is targeting The Bahamas and therefore asks that all financial institutions, in particular law firms and real estate agents take extreme caution in this regard. The FIU is asking members of the public to contact them immediately if they have any information on this individual or if their financial institution has been approached by an individual using any of the stated names or a variation thereof and fits the description as noted. The FIU can be contacted at director.fiu@ fiubahamas.bs
RUDOLPH ‘Rudy’ King outside court previously.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, July 14, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Planning for the future but do we really have one? INDEPENDENCE is always an interesting time in The Bahamas. On the weekend, someone joked that on July 9, people complain about the country. On July 10, The Bahamas is the best place on earth. By July 11, the complaints are back. It can be quite amusing, observing this commentary from one day to the next because, if the country was not named, it would seem like it was about different places. We clearly have mixed feelings about this place, its potential, living here and whether or not we are prepared to commit ourselves to the work necessary to make it a better place for us, year round. One of the most striking comments I saw was that we have about 30 years of independence left to celebrate. This, of course, pointed to the almost completely ignored issue of climate change and the threat that these islands will, eventually and in the not-too-distant future, cease to exist. Hurricane Dorian should have convinced everyone that we need to put resources into the development of a comprehensive and immediate climate adaptation and mitigation plan. Maybe we think climate change is a problem we can keep passing on to the next generation. Maybe we are overestimating our ability to live through anything. Maybe we have bought into the narrative of some inexplicable, innate and limitless resilience or the favour of whatever God(s) we believe in, and science is not a consideration. THE FLAG being raised for this year’s Independence - but The Bahamas faces problems ahead, be it through rising waters and increased flooding from climate change or the effects of hurricanes such as Hurricane Dorian.
WHERE WILL WE GO?
In recent weeks, I have had serious conversations with friends about our plans for retirement, if such a thing will even be possible. There are numerous questions to answer before we get there, from the state of the economy and social services to the ability to save and confidence in national insurance and pensions. Will we be able to stop scheme for “young proworking to earn money as fessionals”, I watched the long as well live? Noth- excitement of my age mates ing seems like it will last while wondering, “Where? long enough or remain in How far from good enough the coast? condition to ‘Twenty, 30, 40 Only on New benefit us in years from now, Providence?” our old age. We do The Bahamas will Even land, not have be facing the same the previously luxury thought to last challenges, almost of thinkforever and ing about appreciate in certainly with a the future as value, cannot greater sense of though evebe depended urgency because rything will upon. be the same For those there will be no in that time. of us attempt- other choice, but Twenty, 30, 40 ing to plan living here will years from for retirenow, The ment, having be a completely Bahamas will a place to live different be facing the is critical to experience.’ same chalour security. It lenges, almost may seem like certainly with a no-brainer to consider a greater sense of urgency buying or building a home. because there will be no When the Prime Minister other choice, but living here announced the housing
By Alicia Wallace will be a completely different experience. Climate change is one reason, and it is a big one. Is this the place to build or buy a home with the expectation that it will see us through the rest of our lives? Is this a place to grow old? Bus stops do not have shelters or seating. Many buildings have heavy doors. There is usually an orange cone blocking access to designated parking for people with disabilities and no one in sight to move it. Senior citizens have to jump through hoops to get verified to ensure they can receive their monthly pensions. Times of crisis, from economic downturns to climate disasters, make increase vulnerability. Elderly people are forced to suffer in silence or
depend on the kindness of individuals because there is no evidence, at the government level, that we care about their wellbeing. Can we afford to age here? Money is a major concern, but we also have to consider quality of life and access to basic resources and services. A friend and fellow advocate often says many Bahamians raise their children to live somewhere else. In particular, people in positions of power ensure their children can go away to boarding school and/or university and secure employment in another country or come back for a brief time before being sent abroad under the guise of service to country. There is little commitment to the sustainable, equitable development of The Bahamas because the people we “choose” through elections have personal and professional motivations that are not aligned with our needs and the collective desire for a better country. Their investment is not here or in us because their future is not here nor with us.
AND STILL THEY WAIT... THE Persons with Disabilities Equal Opportunities Act passed in 2014 and has yet to be properly implemented. As a part of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence and a project co-led by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers, Equality Bahamas held a community circle focused on safety and equity in public spaces. We talked about streets, parks, workplaces, schools, public transportation and government institutions with a diverse group of women who all noted that there is an absence of elderly people and people with disabilities in all of them, due in no small part to the difficulty in getting to and navigating them. One participant noted that, because her husband has a disability, she has to do a pre-check of every place she plans to take him because so many of them are inaccessible and people do not seem to realise
it. She noted that there are many businesses that have designated parking spaces for people with disabilities, but no ramp, or they have a ramp, but there are still steps to enter the building. Seven years after the Act was passed, businesses are still non-compliant. In 2021, people with disabilities do not have equitable access to public spaces. In fact, if you cannot walk up stairs, you cannot access the gallery of the House of Assembly, a space meant for members of the public to observe proceedings. In many cases, people with disabilities choose not to leave their homes to avoid the frustration, disappointment and disrespect they encounter as they try to navigate public space and advocate for themselves. It is easy to simply think, “Wow, that’s terrible for them,” when we are convinced it could never be us. I will never forget hearing Iris Adderley, a woman with a
disability, advocate and member of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities speak at an event at University of The Bahamas. The event was held in the Harry C Moore Library Auditorium with a stage that could only be accessed by stairs. Ms Adderley, an invited speaker on the issue of disabilities and a wheelchair-user, could not take her rightful place on the stage and had to speak from the front row. She noted that disabilities is a club that is always open, always taking new members - what a statement. This is something we need to consider for two reasons — we ought to concern ourselves with equality and access for all, and we need to understand that we can be affected by issues that seem distant to us. It could be a temporary injury caused by an accident, changes in mobility due to illness, or permanent damage to a vital organ. Our abilities can and do change all the time, especially as we age.
PROMISES ARE MEANINGLESS EVERY election season, political parties put out manifestos and charters that have the same vague, empty promises every time. More jobs, programmes for young people and reduced crime are always on the list. The current administration is a perfect example of the disinterest of a political party in its own stated priorities. We still do not have a fixed election date. We still do not have term limits for Prime Ministers. We continue to wonder when the general election will be called. The Prime Minister urged people to register to vote, making people think there will be an early election. Why do we have to speculate? Does this make any sense? We often say we are tired of the promises. We do not want to be lied to. We know politicians will tell us anything they think we want to hear, as long as it does not require much effort or a binding agreement. We do not trust them to make the best decisions for all of us. We know they want to get our votes and do whatever it takes to maintain their positions. Improving the living conditions of the people is not their priority and, in many cases, it seems to be in direct opposition with their primary interest which is the longevity of their political careers. We need to be better, more consistent participants in governance. We need to set the agenda. We need to reject the empty promises, set a standard, and call those who want to
represent us to meet those standards. Equality Bahamas is facilitating community engagement toward the development of feminist standards for governance. What does that mean? We are creating a community-sourced call to action for representatives and people in positions in power and influence. We are identifying issues, working toward solutions, and making clear the actions the government needs to take. Throughout this process, we are centring the needs of the most vulnerable people among us to ensure they are not left out. For example, when we look at education, we specifically consider the needs of people with disabilities and specific learning needs. When we look at health, we specifically consider the needs of young women, people without insurance, and people experiencing violence. The thematic areas are health, education, women and LGBTQI+ people, social services, youth, environment, and labor and the economy. Members of the public can participate in this process through the survey at tiny.cc/feministsg (and participants can answer some or all of the questions) and registering to join next collaborative working session on July 21 at 6pm on Zoom at tiny.cc/ fsround1. More information can be found on the Equality Bahamas Facebook page. Let’s set the standard together and demand it be met.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, July 14, 2021, PAGE 9
TECHTALK
ELECTRIFY AMERICA TO DOUBLE EV CHARGING STATIONS BY 2025 By MATT OTT AP Business Writer SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Electrify America, an electric vehicle charging network funded with money paid by Volkswagen as punishment for its emissions cheating scandal, says it plans to more than double its number of charging stations throughout the United States and Canada. The expansion will include 1,800 fast-charging stations and 10,000 individual chargers to be installed by 2025 and is part of Electrify America’s previous commitment to invest $2 billion over 10 years on EV infrastructure, education and access in the U.S. Automakers have ramped up production of electric vehicles that can go farther and charge faster, but are concerned that consumers interested in
EVs may wait to buy until there’s better, faster charging infrastructure. The latest generation of EVs, many with ranges around 300 miles (480 kilometres) per charge, can accept electricity at a much faster rate than previous models could, but most charging stations can’t keep up with the vehicles’ advanced technology. There are about 42,000 public charging stations in the U.S., but only about 5,000 are considered directcurrent fast chargers, according to the Department of Energy. The rest require roughly eight hours to fully charge longer-range batteries. The higher cost of fastcharging stations is an issue President Joe Biden’s administration will have to take into account as it develops incentives to encourage companies and
CAN QUANTUM TECH BOOST FIBER-OPTIC OIL, GAS LEAK SENSORS?
A CHEVROLET Bolt charges at an Electrify America site outside Colorado Mills outlet mall in downtown Lakewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) governments to build more charging stations. The administration’s goal is to have 500,000 charging stations nationwide by 2030. Electrify America’s expansion plan increases its presence in established U.S. regions as well as
adding new states such as Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming and Vermont. The additions bring its network to 49 states and the District of Columbia, Electrify America said. It also plans to add a new electric vehicle
charging highway to the “upper Midwest” but did not say specifically where it would be. Since its first charging station opened in May 2018, the Reston, Virginiabased company said it has installed an average of four stations per week.
KANSAS FARMER INVENTS ROBOTS TO REDUCE PESTICIDE USE
By ALICE MANNETTE The Hutchinson News
CHENEY, Kan. (AP) — For years, Kansas farmer Clint Brauer has struggled with keeping weeds out of his row crops. Along with keeping living roots in the ground, organic practices and no-till methods, he tried crimping — but the pigweeds just grew taller. Three years ago, Brauer, an exCalifornia-based executive who farms in Haven and Cheney, decided to implement a wild plan, using robots to behead weeds. “I realised there was no great way to get the weeds out at scale without chemicals,” Brauer said. “I needed to invent one.” He started Greenfield Robotics. Before chemicals replaced them, workers pulled weeds from the farm. Greenfield Robotics puts the “workers” back in the field with a new kind of worker — a mechanised one, The Hutchinson News reports. “We want to control weeds with labor and make it robot labour,” Brauer said. “Robotics is our way of putting (mechanised) labour back into the farm.” The challenge for Brauer was he felt regenerative farming did not work for large fields without the heavy use of agrichemicals. “I came up with the idea for it (a robot) and tested it manually,” Brauer said. “No one knew if it would work. It has to fit between rows.”
Weeding Brauer started up his company, Greenfield Robotics, on one of his family farms in Cheney in 2018. He currently uses the weeding bots running on other farmers’ soybean crops in Harper, Reno, Rice and Sedgwick counties in central Kansas. Along with soybean crops, Brauer hopes to work with sorghum, cotton and possibly canola farmers. There is slightly under 90 million acres of soybeans planted across the U.S. this year, according to the USDA. During 2020, Kansas ranked seventh in soybeans planted, with more than 5 million acres. The Sunflower State follows Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Indiana and Missouri in soybean acreage. “Our mission was always to get the chemicals out of farming,” Brauer
A ROBOT, owned by Greenfield Robotics, travels in between rows of soybeans as it cuts down weeds in a field near Cheney, Kan. In front of the robot is the density of weeds that will be cut and behind it shows the result. (Sandra J. Milburn/The Hutchinson News via AP)
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Researchers in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee are working to see whether quantum-enhanced fiber sensing could detect offshore oil and gas leaks before they’re big enough to damage the environment. “We will use quantum states of light to enhance the sensitivity of fiber-optic leakage sensors,” said Jyotsna Sharma, an assistant professor in petroleum engineering at Louisiana State University. Sharma and Alberto Marino, an associate professor of atomic, molecular and optical physics at the University of Oklahoma, have a $750,000 Department of Energy grant to work with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee on the three-year project. Current commercial techniques for leak detection are limited by environmental and background noises, including those from waves and pumps, Sharma said in a news release. She thinks recent developments in quantum information science can greatly improve the monitoring, so that leaks could be found before they’re big enough to destroy marine life. After lab tests, the team will test new techniques at a 5,000-foot-deep high-pressure test well at LSU’s Petroleum Engineering Research, Training, & Testing Lab. They hope to develop a system compatible with current oil and gas infrastructure.
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said. “There is no resistance to the spinning blade.” The robots, which travel from 1 to 3 mph, are water-resistant and weigh about 200 pounds. As they move between the crop rows, they cut down the weeds with their blades, leaving the chopped-up debris in their wake. Although they are programed to stay in their lane, someone is monitoring them on a computer screen at all times. Both Brauer and Jerry Poole, the company’s president, grew up in Kansas. Brauer helped his father tend to their crops and cattle in Haven. Poole, who grew up in southeastern Kansas, spent time on his grandfather’s hog and cattle ranch in Oklahoma. Brauer, who had a successful career in start-ups and technical businesses in California, got together a top software engineer and several other key players to mount his company. After a career in engineering and a brief health issue, Poole wanted to put his efforts into helping farmers, so he joined Brauer’s team. Food is medicine if it is grown without too many chemicals, Poole said. “Big agriculture are creating virtual poisons,” he said. Although the robots can be used
on any type of farm, conventional or regenerative, it works better on a farm that is using regenerative principles — always having a living root in the ground, using cover crops, not tilling the field and having animals graze on the land. On his farm in Cheney, Brauer practices organic and regenerative principles and has a flock of sheep that he moves around the land.
Soil Regenerative practices leave carbon in the soil. Because these practices hold more moisture in the soil, the robots have an easier time manipulating on the ground. A recent study performed by the Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München) in Germany found plant residues, or roots left in the ground, are important for carbon storage. According to Carsten Müller, Ph.D., at TUM, these roots can help ensure carbon is stored in the soil for longer. “We plan to realign the interests of farmers and consumers with a food system that is economical and sustainable,” Brauer said. The company charges per acre at the same rate the farmer would pay
for chemicals. It usually takes about three run-throughs per season for each crop, but that might change by climate. Brauer hopes to expand to other states. “We work until they (the plant) canopy,” Poole said. “We start postemergence (of the crop).” The U.S. is the world’s largest producer and exporter of agricultural pesticides and one of the largest users — utilising 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides in 2016, according to Nathan Donley, Ph.D., a researcher at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We (the robots) are as effective as herbicides,” Poole said. Unlike herbicides, robots do not need specific weather conditions, like rain, to work. After starting his business, Brauer learned of Naio Technologies, a French startup, that uses robots to weed near garden vegetables. In 2011, the company introduced robots that work with mound-grown vegetables, especially lettuce. Recently, they introduced a robot that could work in vineyards. “I really appreciated them,” Brauer said. “They gave me good advice.” Brauer believes there is a lot of talent in the Sunflower State. “I have a great team,” he said. “Next year, we hope to grow by about ten times.”
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PAGE 10, Wednesday, July 14, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
FLORIDA CONDO COLLAPSE TOLL REACHES 95
DEATHS CLIMB TO 72 IN SOUTH AFRICA RIOTS
EXHAUSTED crews neared the end of their search for victims of a Miami-area condominium tower collapse yesterday as the death toll reached 95 with just a handful of people unaccounted for. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the number of people considered missing has dwindled as authorities work to identify everyone connected to the building. The mayor said 14 people remain unaccounted for, which includes ten victims whose bodies have been recovered but not yet identified — leaving potentially four more to be found. “It’s a scientific, methodical process to identify human remains. As we’ve said, this work is becoming more difficult with the passage of time,” Levine Cava said.
THE death toll climbed to 72 from rioting in South Africa yesterday, with many trampled to death during looting at stores, as police and the military fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to try to halt unrest set off by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. More than 1,200 people have been arrested in the lawlessness that has raged in poor areas of two provinces, where a community radio station was ransacked and forced off the air and some COVID-19 vaccination centers were closed. Many of the deaths in Gauteng and KwaZuluNatal provinces occurred in stampedes as thousands of people stole food, electric appliances, liquor and clothing from stores, said police yesterday.
US COVID CASES ON THE RISE THE COVID-19 curve in the US is rising again after months of decline, with the number of new cases per day doubling over the past three weeks, driven by the fast-spreading delta variant, lagging vaccination rates and Fourth of July gatherings. Confirmed infections climbed to about 23,600 a day on Monday, up from 11,300 on June 23, according to Johns Hopkins University data. And all but two states — Maine and South Dakota — reported that case numbers have gone up over the past two weeks. “It is certainly no coincidence that we are looking at exactly the time that we would expect cases to be occurring after the July Fourth weekend,” said Dr. Bill Powderly, of Washington University’s School of Medicine in St Louis.
METRO police take aim on people who took part in a protest, at a shopping centre in Soweto, near Johannesburg, yesterday. Photo: Themba Hadebe/AP
Power vacuum rattles Haiti after assassination PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Associated Press PRESSURE is mounting on the man who claims to be Haiti’s leader in the aftermath of the president’s assassination, with at least two other officials claiming to be the legitimate head of government amid a race to fill the political power vacuum. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who is ruling Haiti with the backing of police and military forces, has pledged to work with the opposition and allies of President Jovenel Moïse, who was killed last
Wednesday at his private residence. He faces two rivals: Ariel Henry, whom Moïse designated as prime minister a day before he was killed, and Joseph Lambert, the head of Haiti’s dismantled Senate, who was recently chosen by a group of wellknown politicians to be provisional president. Meanwhile, a coalition of main opposition parties called the Democratic and Popular Sector presented its own proposal yesterday for the creation of what it called the Independent Moral Authority. It would be made up of human rights
Funeral Service for AUDREY GREEN-KING, 67 will be held on Thursday July 15 2021, at 2:00pm at Bahamas Harvest Church Prince Charles, New Providence, The Bahamas. Officiating will be Pastor Mario Moxey, Assisted by Other Ministers of The Gospel. Interment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens & Mausoleums, John F. Kennedy Drive. Left to celebrate her life are her five immediate children; Dorica Walker, Kernette Miller (Brian), Arlington King (Sharmaine), Antwon King (Ashley), Audrica King-Newry; Adoptive daughter: Marvalyn Wellington; Stepchildren: Garth King, Wendell King, Elvardo & Chavone Deleveaux; Sister: Barbara Carey; Brother: Thomas Grant; Cousin: Carol, Errol, Donald, & Ronald McGowan, Diann Daley, Stephanie McGowan Patrick Hanlan (Jamaica High Commissioner), Clarissa, Patrick Jr., Lincoln, Heather, Patrice, Craig and Omari Hanlan; Nephews: Deacon Calvin, Othniel Sr., Rev’d H. Marvin, Minister Christopher, Delmaro Duncombe, Ted (Edward), John, & Don Carey, Dominique Grant; Nieces: Valarie Darville, Thecla Lord, Sharon Carey Nottage, & Dr. Michelle Grant; Grand children: Andrew Thompson, Kyara & Banetha Miller, Bryna Barry, Tamon & Nathon King, Antwonique & Ashton King, Reanna McNeil, Akeem Mortimer, Aiyden Pelecanos, Devaughn & Devaughnte Newry, Gregory, Ramon, Jasmin, Janiya and Jenea King. Best Friend: Diasy Knowles; God Children including: Johnlee Ferguson & Sidney Whymns; Neighbors: Shirley Collie, Ms. Barbara, Jerry & Gretha Meadows, Mrs. Rolle; Bachelor of Education Study Group: Tais Russell, Sherrill Wilson, Geta Williams, Elizabeth Garrett, Bridgette Cooper, Vanda Moss, Judith Major, Deborah Miller, Charles Moss and Cardinal Wood. Other relatives and friends: Barbara Reckley, Coi Osbourne, Lynette Headley, Inez Johnson, Mrs. Helen Campbell, Mrs. Elizabeth Darling, Ms. Powell, Ms. Linda Evans, Ms. Colette, Rose Wells, Dorothy Knowles, Eloise Whyms, Noami King, Brian Williams, Ms. Grant, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Hamilton-Storr, Ms. Turnquest, Mrs. Williams, Sheldon Miller, Margery Williams, Vera Williams, Liette Pratt, Lavarda Adderly, Erica Symonette, Brittney Higgs, Shanika Hamilton, Monalisa Aranhna, Travanna Roxbury, Kueriesha Stubbs, Nicoya Colebrooke, Veda Rolle, Alma McDonald, Annastacia Francis, Kim Rolle, Shalanda Beckley, Shevaun Bain Edens Small Group, Valencia Bethel, Sonia, Laurain, Vanessa Clarke, Rev. Richard Hanna, Rev. Carlos Thompson, Grace Edwards; Extended Family: Yolande Donaldson and family, Carnetta Ferguson & Family, Ms. Helen Miller and family, Ms. Nina Phillips and family, Wenzel Culmer, Monique Storr, Faithlyn Evans-Bernard, Brittnay Bain (Therapist), Arkia Higgs (Therapist), Dr. Faith Butler, The Evans family, Dr. Ablack (Internist), Dr. Francis (Cardiologist), Dr. Darville (ICU), Dr. G. Rolle, Dr. Gibson (ICU), Dr. Thurston Carroll, Dr. Bodie, Nurse Colette, Nurse Norma, Nurse Joanna, Nurse Regis, and Nurse Takeia, Rena Hudson, Doctors Hospital, Dontez Williams, Darvin, Llody, Ninfa and the Class of H.O. Nash 1996, Ladies of Blessings, Dr. Kevin Simmons, The Allen family, Mr. Leander Brice & Mr. Garvin Newbold and the A Sure Win Family, Medical Records & SRC Family, Unique Christian Learning Academy Parents and Students, Bahamas Harvest Greeting Ministry, Tameka & Andrew Fernander Small Group, Toastmaster Club #1095, Anatol Rodgers High School, Modern Free and Accepted Masons of the World, Inc and Ancient and Accepted Scottish Right Freemasonry. Family Pet: Serri. Relatives and friends may pay their last respect at Evergreen Mortuary located on Wednesday from 10:00 am - 5:00pm and again at the church on Thursday from 1:00pm until service time.
activists, religious leaders, academics and others who would be charged with reviewing and merging all proposals. Also yesterday, members of Haiti’s civil society announced that they were working on a proposal for a smooth transition and declined to say whether it supports a specific person to lead Haiti. “We don’t want them to reduce us to who should do what,” said Magalie Georges, a teacher and union leader. Lambert was supposed to be sworn in Sunday as a symbolic act, but the event was canceled at the last minute because he said not all his supporters could be present. Joseph, Henry and Lambert met on Sunday with a US delegation that included representatives from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security who flew to Haiti to encourage dialogue “to reach a political accord that can enable the country to hold free and fair elections,” the White House’s National Security Council said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the delegation received a request for additional assistance, but she did not provide details. Haiti’s request for US military help remains “under review,” she said. Psaki suggested that political uncertainty on the ground was a complicating factor as the administration weighs how to help. “What was clear from their trip is that there is a lack of clarity about the future of political leadership,” Psaki said. Haiti is also seeking security assistance from the
United Nations. The UN has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990, but the last UN military peacekeepers left the country in 2017. Few details of the meeting between the US delegation and the three men have emerged, although Lambert said he was urged to work together with other actors whom he did not identify. “I am not looking for personal glory. We have the country first in mind,” he told Radio Télévision Caraïbes. The deepening political instability comes as Haitian authorities continue to probe the assassination with help from Colombia’s government. Twenty-six former Colombian soldiers are suspected in the killing, and 23 have been arrested, along with three Haitians. Léon Charles, head of Haiti’s National Police, said five suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed. Police yesterday identified three of the five fugitives, describing them as armed and dangerous. One is former Senator John Joël Joseph, a well-known Haitian politician who is an opponent to the Tet Kale party that Moise belonged to. Another is Rodolphe Jaar, who uses the alias “Whiskey” and was indicted in 2013 with two other men in federal court in South Florida on charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela through Haiti to the US. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nearly four years in prison, according to court records. At his 2015 sentencing hearing, Jaar’s attorney told the court that Jaar had been a confidential source for the
US government for several years before his indictment. He also agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. In June 2000, Jaar filed a civil suit against the US government seeking the return of a “large amount” of cash taken from him along with his passport and tourist visa when he was stopped in a rental car by customs agents. He was not arrested at the time, but Jaar said he learned that he was under investigation for money laundering. Jaar described himself in court papers as the owner of a successful import business in Haiti. He said his family has operated the enterprise since 1944. The third man was identified as Joseph Felix Badio, who once worked for Haiti’s Ministry of Justice and joined the government’s anti-corruption unit in 2013. The agency issued a statement saying Badio was fired in May following “serious breaches” of unspecified ethical rules, adding that it filed a complaint against him. Haitian police also have arrested a man considered a key suspect: Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 62, a Haitian physician, church pastor and Florida businessman who once expressed a desire to lead his country in a YouTube video and has denounced the country’s leaders as corrupt. Charles said Sanon was working with those who plotted the assassination and that Moïse’s killers were protecting him. He said officers who raided Sanon’s house in Haiti found a hat with a DEA logo, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four license plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence.
THE CROWN AND THE MANDALORIAN TIE LEAD FOR EMMY NOMINATIONS THE CROWN tied with The Mandalorian for the most Emmy nominations Tuesday with 24 apiece, but the Marvel universe also got bragging rights with runner-up WandaVision. The haul reinforced the rise of streaming, with most of the top-nominated scripted shows on services that emerged in the past two years. In the top three categories — drama, comedy and limited series — broadcast networks scored only two nominations, for the NBC drama This Is Us and the ABC comedy black-ish. Mj Rodriguez of Pose is the first trans woman to be nominated in a lead acting category. The show also earned a best drama series nod. “The moment my name was announced, I just screamed and I broke,” Rodriguez said. “My mom grabbed me. She kind of flung me around... I
Colman for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, with a supporting bid to Gillian Anderson for her role as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Oprah Winfrey’s headline-making interview with the late Diana’s son Harry and his wife Meghan earned a nomination for best hosted nonfiction series or special. The Mandalorian, a Star Wars series, and the invenWandaVision THE CROWN, top, tive featuring the Marvel remem- and The Mandalo- characters Wanda rian, top the Emmy ber falling into nominations list. and Vision, put the my boyfriend’s series in the ranks arms and just of past sci-fi and fantasy crying tears of joy, tears of Emmy favorites Game of happiness. I felt so seen.” Thrones and Lost. Netflix’s The Crown “I would never have received its fourth nomi- thought in a million years nation for best series, with that playing a witch in a Josh O’Connor and Emma Marvel show would lead to Corrin, playing Prince this. It’s like a dream,” said Charles and Diana Spen- WandaVision co-star Kathcer, receiving lead drama ryn Hahn. She received a acting nods, as did Olivia supporting actress nod.