07162019 NEWS

MONDAY TUESDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 89ºF LOW 77ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

VOLUME:116 No.139, JULY 16TH, 2019

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

HEALTH: BUSH BREWS IN A CUP FOR A BETTER LIFE

Marsh Harbour ‘closure’ crisis Threat to shut port after it fails inspection

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net MARSH Harbour, Abaco’s main shipping port, faces a “make or break” inspection tomorrow that could result in its closure and derail the island’s economy by halting virtually all cargo trade with the US. Tribune Business can reveal that this blunt warning was delivered by US Coast Guard officials after the government-owned and managed port failed its International Ship and Port Security “mock” inspection on June 18. Captain

Troy Mills, the Abaco port administrator, wrote that Marsh Harbour will be “closed down unless there are some major improvements” made in time for Wednesday’s follow-up inspection.

Closure would probably send Abaco’s economy into a tailspin given that the island imports most of what it consumes. With its main port of entry shut, cargo freight would likely have to be sent to Nassau before being transferred to smaller vessels for onward shipping to Abaco.

A KEY Cabinet minister yesterday told The Tribune the government followed every protocol in leasing the Town Centre Mall from a sitting Cabinet minister to relocate the General Post Office.

Public Service Minister

SEE PAGE FIVE

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis wants no challenges to his leadership team at the upcoming PLP convention, he has told party members.

At a closed-door meeting at the Pelican Bay Resort in Grant Bahama on June 15, he made his desire clear to a room of nearly 200 stalwart councillors, The Tribune understands.

Calling for absolute unity, he said he wants his team of Chester Cooper as deputy leader, Fred Mitchell as chairman and Robyn Lynes as deputy chairman to remain in place.

Not expecting to face a leadership challenge himself, his statement, sources close to him told The Tribune yesterday, was meant as SEE PAGE THREE

By FARRAH JOHNSON

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Brensil Rolle said he presented Transport Minister Renward Wells with a copy of the former administration’s study on the mall after it was discovered use of the Phil’s Food Services building was untenable given the postal service crisis.

Mr Rolle did not provide an exact date for his conversation with Mr Wells,

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NEW ONLINE BATTLE TO STOP DISNEY CRUISE PLAN

POST OFFICE DEAL ‘ALL ABOVE BOARD’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

DAVIS TELLS PLP - DON’T CHALLENGE LEADERSHIP

TEARS FOR MDEEZ

A CONCERT celebrating the life of Devon “Mdeez” Knight was held at St Joseph’s Hall last night.

Above are Wendi and Dyson Knight. More pictures - Page 2 Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

THE Waterkeeper Alliance has partnered with leading environmental groups in the country to launch a digital campaign in protest of Disney’s plans to construct a cruise ship port in South Eleuthera.

In a press statement yesterday, the organisation announced the launch of StopDisney.com, the focal point of the Last Chance for Lighthouse Point campaign, which seeks to persuade Disney to abandon its “controversial plans” to construct a “massive cruise ship port” in Eleuthera.

The Alliance joins local environmental groups including Bahamas Reef Environment SEE PAGE SEVEN

NEW RULES TO FOLLOW SHARK ATTACKS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

CONCERN that The Bahamas’ tourism market could suffer a blow after a fatal shark attack last month has created the impetus for officials to consider a number of measures to protect snorkellers.

According to Janet Johnson, CEO and executive director of the Tourism Development Corporation, several safeguards are

VICTIM: JORDAN LINDSEY being considered in the aftermath of Californian Jordan Lindsey’s death as

a result of a shark attack on June 26. The 21-yearold was swimming with her mother near Rose Island when sharks savaged her.

Lindsey’s family has criticised tour company Sandy Toes, claiming there were no basic medical supplies and no attempts made by staff to save the college student’s life.

Ms Johnson agreed these should be mandatory, adding officials were going

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

FACE-TO-FACE LEGEND BORN OUT OF A BROKENSEEHEART PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Tribute to Mdeez

THE TRIBUNE

A CONCERT was held last night at St Joseph’s Hall on Boyd Road as a tribute to musical artist Devon “Mdeez” Knight.

Performers included Sammi Starr, above, Judah Tha Lion, top right, and Patrice Murrell, right.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

NO ONE HURT AS PILOT FORCED TO CRASH LAND AIRCRAFT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE pilot of a charter flight was forced to return to mainland Exuma yesterday morning after the aircraft’s landing gear failed to open on arrival at Staniel Cay, resulting in a crash landing at the airport in Moss Town.

Fortunately, there were no injuries to passengers, and the aircraft sustained minor damage during the landing.

According to police reports, the aircraft departed Moss Town, Exuma, shortly after 8am on Monday en route to Staniel Cay. On arrival at Staniel Cay, the front landing gear failed to open so the pilot had to return to Moss Town airport, where he crash landed the aircraft. Investigations are continuing.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 16, 2019, PAGE 3

NEW RULES TO FOLLOW SHARK ATTACKS from page one

to work “quite diligently” to make the necessary changes.

Stakeholders also want there to be emergency and training protocols put in place, she said.

“What’s come out of (a recent stakeholder meeting) is that people are now going out into the water and you’ve got somebody standing as a sentry watching to see that they’re safe and not interfered with,” she told The Tribune.

“There is improved technology that we can use now such as drones, you can have lifeguards posted at beaches, you can have

game wardens monitoring and patrolling areas. So there are things that we can do but maybe we need to step up our visibility.”

So far, there have been three reported shark attacks for the year.

Asked whether concerns were present that such incidents could affect the tourism product, Ms Johnson said: “No doubt. You have these incidents happening all over the world and they do have an impact. Our concern is for the safety of everyone involved and to mitigate against situations where we are able to react and respond in a timely manner.”

As for a timeline to implement

these new strategies, she said it was hoped the process would move along very swiftly.

The Ministry of Tourism seemed to distance itself from the situation saying it did not handle policy changes.

Instead, Tourism Director General Joy Jibrilu said her ministry was working along with partners to ensure communication remained open.

She said: “We are working as we do every day with partners having conversations, but more specifically we are working with the regulatory ministries who have control to ensure that we do everything for our visitors to be safe.

Don’t challenge leadership, Davis tells PLP from page one

a signal to former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe who has long been considering another run as party chairman. Mr Wilchcombe was seated in the audience.

A possible challenge by the former West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP has caused tension in the party and is seen by insiders as a test of Mr Davis’ strength and grip on the organisation.

When he ran for chairman in 2017, Mr Wilchcombe received 419 votes to Mr Mitchell’s 627 votes. It was by far the closest of the major ticket races; by contrast, Englerston MP Glenys

Hanna-Martin received 300 votes in her leadership quest while Mr Davis received 1,004 votes.

Former Cabinet minister George Smith, a prominent Davis ally, said yesterday he expects delegates to vote across the board for the candidates Mr Davis prefers.

“The next chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party,” he said, “will be the person that the leader and his supporters within the party will throw their support behind, the person that the leader is most comfortable working with, whoever that is.

“I think this because the people assembled at a convention two years waited daylong, late into the night. They came

“We are also mindful that while a tragedy - and nothing we say or do alleviates the pain of that family - we are dealing with a natural phenomenon.”

Sandy Toes, which offers excursions, private events and weddings alongside its beach bar and luxury villa on Rose Island, yesterday maintained all reasonable steps were taken to prevent the incident.

An American man said he survived a shark bite in Abaco days before the fatal attack, raising further concerns about possible chum dumping in Bahamian waters.

Jonathan Hernandez, the victim, told NBC reporters he blamed shark-feeding for his attack.

About a week after this incident an American tourist was bitten by a shark while snorkelling in waters off Guana Cay. Police said the Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident was snorkelling with two other Americans off Nippers Beach around 5.30pm on July 4 when he was bitten by the shark. Officers and paramedics from Marsh Harbour responded and met the victim at the Marsh Harbour dock.

The 32-year-old man was taken to the Marsh Harbour Clinic and later flown to New Providence for further treatment, police said. His current condition is unknown.

from far and near and they waited around to overwhelmingly vote for Philip Davis to be leader of the party. The leader won handily, the deputy won handily and considering that the chairmanship race was between two well-known personalities, a 200-vote majority is these days a comfortable majority in party politics in the Bahamas.

Since then Mr Davis has gotten the party out of the doldrums that the party was in and the organisation now is on a very positive path to win the next general election.”

Mr Wilchcombe did not respond yesterday to a message seeking comment.

Editorial View - Page 4

CALLING for unity, Philip Davis wants his team of Chester Cooper as deputy leader, Fred Mitchell as chairman and Robyn Lynes as deputy chairman to remain in place.

Victim may be an innocent bystander caught in crossfire

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net POLICE suspect a man who was shot dead on Sunday morning in Freeport was an innocent bystander caught in gunfire from two armed men who had just robbed a nearby nightspot.

Although identification is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, Assistant Commissioner of Police Samuel Butler said the deceased man was in his mid-30s and was likely an innocent pedestrian.

He is appealing to the public for any information that can assist with the investigation into the killing, which is Grand Bahama’s fifth homicide for the year.

“We are appealing to members of the public in those areas of West Mall Drive between 1.45am and 2am who might have observed anything of interest to please bring it to our attention,” ACP Butler said yesterday at police headquarters.

According to reports, around 1.45am on Sunday police were alerted to a person on the side of the street suffering from gunshot wounds. The man had sustained injuries to the abdomen and back.

ACP Butler said medical personnel were summoned to the scene and the man

was taken to hospital for medical care.

“Unfortunately, he lost his battle with life,” said the Grand Bahama police chief.

“We learned that this came on the heels of a reported robbery at one of the local licenced nightclubs, and we suspect there may have been some relationship between both (incidents) where this young person who met his demise may have been an innocent walker along the street.

“We are still early in our investigations. We will continue in our pursuit of this matter to bring some resolve to it.”

He said police are still trying to locate the next of kin before officially releasing the man’s identity.

Additionally, he said police are very concerned about weapons being used to commit various offences that can cause harm to individuals in public areas.

“That is a very high concern of the police and we must ensure we go after these individuals,” he stressed.

Two men were shot last week while at a local nightspot in Freeport. A man has been arrested and charged in connection with that incident.

ACP Butler said he is pleased with the good police work by officers in Grand Bahama in putting many individuals before the courts. He noted a small group of people are

committing crime on the island.

“They are no strangers to our community and we continue to see many of the same persons we placed before the courts,” he said.

“We ask the community to continue to be alert as to where they decide to go to socialise, the company they keep, and to be a part of the partnership with police

by being responsible citizens to ensure we maintain safety.”

As the commissioner of police prepares to make presentation on the midyear review of general crime statistics on Thursday, ACP Butler said: “We feel we are in a good place. . . we feel reasonably good we have received a reduction in many areas, but

one crime is one too many, and we are not relaxed in doing the people’s business in keeping the community safe.”

When asked about the use of ShotSpotter technology to assist police in Grand Bahama, ACP Butler said that it is not yet on the island.

“At the moment, it is not in GB, but it was launched

in New Providence (earlier this year) and is working extremely well in terms of alerting and allowing the police to know when a weapon is being used and the precise location, and we have gotten tremendous results so far. It is intended to come to GB as the budget allows, and I am sure we will be receiving ours,” he said.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, July 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

Abaco deserves better than to have its future in the balance TOMORROW, Abaco faces an inspection that is more than “make or break” for its port – a failure would have a knock-on effect for the whole island.

On June 18, the Marsh Harbour port failed its mock inspection – and tomorrow is the real thing.

Inspectors warned the port needed “major improvements” if it was to pass muster – or else it would be closed down.

Imagine the effect that would have on Abaco. No cargo ships coming into Marsh Harbour. No ships of any kind.

The island depends on imports – and suddenly at one fell swoop, it could be deprived of its main avenue of receiving them. Instead, shipments would have to go to Nassau, then loaded onto smaller ships for transport to Abaco.

It would become a bottleneck for supplies, at increased cost and reduced availability. In short, it would be a disaster for Abaco.

The port is run by the government – and it appears long-needed failings have been left until the last minute to be fixed.

Roscoe Thompson, chairman of the Marsh Harbour/Spring City town council points to a succession of problems with security, lighting and fire alarms that have been left unrepaired until now.

It sounds a horrible example of what happens when maintenance isn’t carried out – and small problem after small problem mounts up. Suddenly, you’re

faced with a huge amount of work, all because the little things haven’t been taken care of.

Mr Thompson points the finger too at Renward Wells, Minister of Transport, whose portfolio has responsibility for Marsh Harbour port. He says Wells “dropped the ball on this”. He’s similarly scathing of Abaco MPs Darren Henfield and James Albury.

It is difficult to imagine how it has come to this – when Abaco’s major port has been pushed to the brink of possible closure, and the local MPs and minister responsible are not pulling out all the stops to give the port the best chance.

Thankfully, it appears local businesses and local government has rallied round to deal with many of the problems identified – local Chamber of Commerce president Ken Hutton says it’s “looking pretty good” for tomorrow’s inspection.

As we hope that local stakeholders are indeed rewarded for their efforts and Marsh Harbour does indeed pass, we worry about why it was ever allowed to get to this stage. More, where else is also suffering from neglect and lack of maintenance? And why aren’t MPs being more active in helping to deal with such problems?

Tomorrow is judgment day for the port. We suspect any MPs who haven’t been at the forefront of trying to safegurard its future have already faced their own judgment day from the electorate.

What is Davis afraid of?

SO PLP leader Philip Davis says he doesn’t want a challenge to his leadership at the party’s convention.

Nor does he want challengers to his deputy, Chester Cooper, chairman Fred Mitchell or deputy chairman Robyn Lynes.

Former Cabinet minister George Smith insists that Mr Davis has gotten the party “out of the doldrums” it faced after an overwhelming defeat in the last election. He sounds like a knight in shining armour for the PLP. The trouble, of course, with knights in shining armour is that their mettle is

untested – and that’s exactly what competition could provide.

If Mr Davis is worried that his team couldn’t survive a challenge - with Obie Wilchcombe lurking in the wings as a challenger to Fred Mitchell - then it means they won’t be battle tested for the next election. Indeed, if they cannot deal with other voices in their own party, it’s a bad sign for when they face the more demanding voices of the electorate.

So let those other voices be heard, Mr Davis – or else we might have to start doubting that nickname, “Brave”.

Pride parade would be an audacious move EDITOR, The Tribune PRIDE Bahamas spokeswoman Alexus D’Marco obviously understands the provisions in the constitution which allows for the freedom of expression and the freedom of movement and assembly for all citizens, although I don’t believe the framers of the constitution had in mind Bahamian homosexuals marching though the streets of Nassau. A gay pride parade in The Bahamas would be an audacious move, considering the age-old accusations of homophobia and discrimination against LGBT members. Such a public spectacle would finally expose many of the nameless, faceless members of the LGBT who have successfully shielded their sexual orientation from the wider heterosexual community for years.

Many of the legislators of the first Majority Rule administration of Sir Lynden Pindling were either of the Baptist or Anglican tradition. Consequently, the constitution was composed within a

Christian framework. In her Tribune interview, D’Marco mentioned the Organisation of American States, as if The Bahamas would be intimidated by this massive international conglomerate to accommodate the LGBT community in its many demands. Without delineating the biblical position on this matter, seeing that The Bahamas is routinely touted as being a Christian nation, will D’Marco and other LGBT spokespersons champion the cause of zoophiles and paedophiles? They’re already unwittingly putting The Bahamas on this slippery moral slope.

While prominent bestiality advocate and zoophile Michael Kiok is fighting to get the German government to lift its ban on humans having sexual relations with animals, David Thorstad of North American Man/Boy Love Association is fighting to persuade United States lawmakers to decriminalise pederasty. Not surprisingly, Kiok, who unashamedly admitted to having an unusually bizarre relationship with his dog named Cissy,

has argued along the same lines as LGBT lobbyists.

Like LGBT spokespersons, Kiok views himself as being in the same predicament as African Americans in the civil rights movement.

Bahamian homosexuals and their international counterparts see their cause as being a civil rights matter, and not moral. In the event the Bahamian LGBT community is ever given the same latitude and privileges as heterosexuals, individuals who share the same immoral views as Kiok and Thorstad will appear on the scene arguing that the constitution gives them the same rights as heterosexuals.

A gay pride parade would be an affront to the Christian foundation of The Bahamas, in all things considered. I don’t believe many of the members of Pride Bahamas will have the temerity to march down Bay Street in broad daylight in celebration of their sexual orientation.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport Grand Bahama July 14, 2019

Sorry to see you go, Mr Symonette EDITOR, The Tribune Dear Mr Brent Symonette I’M sorry for your resignation at this time when our country needs great role models in politics. You’re an inspiration to the youth, especially our male sons.

Such a loss is significant.

You’re a formidable leader like your father (Roland Symonette); he led this wonderful nation

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net into prosperity and defiance. Your work in Foreign Affairs is notable, such as at the Passport Office and citizenship.

As a Bahamian, I feel there is more work to be achieved. I will help by reinforcing your grand

principles of “I am Bahamian...” It’s such a stellar aspect of every Primary School mantra, and should be taught there as well. I hope to see grand things from you in the private sector, wishing you all the best...

I will be here to support you.

WILLIAM NELSON Nassau July 1, 2019

Deep down, we are troubled EDITOR, The Tribune DO WE today really have National Pride or is it just a thing for the next day or so? We are asked to don our Gold-Turquoise and Black as if that means anything except to the shop selling the gear because I don’t think it does.

Gold - we see the precious shiny valuable metal but really where do we see it today in our Bahamas - where? What I see ashamedly is a tarnished gold in

need of a lot of polish.

Turquoise - that incandescent light light blue not shinning these days may be too many BP&L outages but that the past level of encandescantcy has gone so uniquely Bahamian - Exuma.

Black - used to be the colour of death but today used for celebration - smartness but I see darkness in the perspective and focus of our people - 4000 leave our school annually and virtually have little

chance to find reasonable employment…those over 38 God-help-you, you are made redundant as your next years will be thwarted with constant stress trying desperately to find some gainful work.

Yes, we will wish each other Happy Independence and God be with you, but deep down we are troubled – very troubled.

JACOB ALBURY Nassau July 8, 2019

Electioneering already...

EDITOR, The Tribune WOW it seems preelection campaigning has already started!

Yes, for a Republic of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas…look it will be totally cosmetic…a new flag for the President who will be the same as the Governor General different title…letterheads for government Ministries will have to change…but in reality naught else.

AFTER Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest agreed The Bahamas’ retirement funding crisis must be given “focus”, readers posted their responses on tribune242.com.

Truetruebahamian posted this: “We have always had to look after ourselves with prudent living, savings and making provision for our own and our family’s future.

What now - those who were wise enough to store their food for the winter will have it taken away and redistributed by law to the unwise and profligate?

Think again!”

Oh the biggest objection - opposition will come from the fervent Bahamian Nationalists who want their Royal Honours…this is all a comic opera!

Actually putting pen to paper for a Republic I doubt it will ever or could ever be the FNM - they like those British Titles and Honours.

The FNM middle class will not support something which should have occurred in the second parliamentary cycle around 1980-84.

Giordano said: “They already taxed the public on the pretext of paying the national external debt and rather than seeing the mentioned debt reduced today, we only see it more inflated than ever before. And the borrowing never stops, just to please the pockets of twenty plus key people, including all members of Cabinet every four to five

Absolutely no big deal … change the G-G’s flag and header on stationary I can deal with that…the majority of the Commonwealth countries are democratic Republics and recognise Her Majesty as Head of the Commonwealth…So let’s do it.

I say Minnis want…PLP will and immediate after election. Great!

W THOMPSON Nassau July 14, 2019 years – and sometimes the cycle repeats the same people again to be millionaires TWICE.” And the news that Princess Margaret Hospital has suspended non-emergency surgeries this week while it investigates a suspected sabotage attack prompted this reaction from Geostorm: “This is just ridiculous! Dr Sands is correct, a setback to the system is a setback to all of us. What is wrong with our people? Why are we destroying ourselves?

It’s just inconceivable! As usual, the union jumps in to defend nonsense!”

THE TRIBUNE from page one and subsequent presentation of the study on the mall, nor did he provide any evidence to clarify discrepancies that have emerged with respect to the mall resolution passed in Parliament last year.

Former Immigration Minister Brent Symonette, who has a 50 percent stake in the mall, yesterday said the lease with the government was signed last Friday; however, Mr Rolle told The Tribune the deal hasn’t been finalised.

Mr Rolle sought to provide a timeline for the post office’s relocation as new concerns emerge over whether the government misled Parliament with respect to the deal.

“We didn’t look at Brent initially,” Mr Rolle said, “we looked at Phil’s. Once we made the judgement that we could not go into Phil’s then I provided the minister of transport with a comprehensive study done by the PLP. And so when we determined Phil’s had mechanical, electrical, and plumbing issues that was gonna take too long to address the issues that we were facing, and you put in context that the employees at the post office building were in crisis, and they were in chaos.”

Mr Rolle continued: “[Mr Wells] didn’t get a look at other sites available until the decision was taken that the [Phil’s building] was not a suitable place. When we took the position to go into the building initially we thought the cost to get everything in shape was going to be $2m, afterwards, after the reports were all laid out then we got the impression the cost was around $4m.

“I said to Wells ‘listen, this building is not going to be ready, it’s going to take too long. Let’s look at some other buildings - the PLP did a study, let’s look at them’.”

He added: “The basic point is I did not make the study available to him until we made the determination that we just couldn’t go to Phil’s. It was going to take too long, it was gonna be expensive.”

The Garden Hills MP said Mr Symonette, then a sitting minister, was asked to step out of Cabinet discussions at that stage.

Mr Rolle said he also told Mr Wells to be mindful of the timeframe because “just down the road was the Independence [Drive] Shopping Centre, a building that was also identified by the PLP”.

The owner of the Independence Drive Shopping Plaza is now in a legal dispute with the government over a public-private partnership (PPP) it struck with the former Christie administration to construct the new main post office (see Tribune Business).

Tuesday, July 16, 2019, PAGE 5

Post Office deal all above board, insists MP Rolle

“When the minister of transport determined he had an interest in renting the post office and putting the post office in Town Centre Mall,” Mr Rolle continued, “we all knew that Brent Symonette was engaged so we said to Brent Symonette ‘listen you can’t be a part of these discussions. We’re talking about renting your building, we don’t want you to be in those meetings.’

“Cabinet then has to take a vote on whether or not we are going to go forward with this arrangement,” he added.

In an independent assessment of Phil’s building, engineer Basil McIntosh said the “entire structure” of the 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,” his report said, “that should our recommended minor remedial measures be carried out, the structural integrity of the captioned building will be enhanced.”

Mr McIntosh told The Tribune last week he was surprised by the government’s claim otherwise.

Although his report was dated September 6, 2018, about two weeks before the government announced its plan to abandon Phil’s building, Mr Rolle yesterday insisted “there was a space between when the study was done and when we actually tried to get into the building”.

“It cannot be disputed that all the electrical wiring was removed, condensers from air conditions were down, the plumbing in the building was problematic,” Mr Rolle said yesterday.

Mr Rolle continued: “There is also the issue of whether the second floor had the capacity to hold the kind of work pressures that was going to be on it. The roof is leaking, the sheetrock all moist.”

He said the situation at the General Post Office had forced 100 employees to work only three hours a day in conditions that some

PUBLIC Service Minister Brensil Rolle. Inset, Transport Minister Renward Wells Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff claimed impacted their health, adding the timeline and costs to fix Phil’s building were untenable as the process to issue and review public tenders would take months.

The Town Centre Mall relocation was scheduled to be completed by Christmas 2018 but construction overruns, shipping delays of new postal boxes and other unforeseen circumstances stalled the move until May. Mr Wells explained last week the lease agreement had not yet been signed because the government was still deliberating over the square footage, particularly the lease of additional storage space.

Officials at the post office have asked for an additional 1,600 sq ft, according to Mr Wells, who said the lease will be signed once that is finalised.

Combined with the 56,000 sq ft currently occupied by the General Post Office, the total sq footage of the lease is expected to be 57,600. The cost of the lease would be $691,200 per year, and $3,456,000 over the five-year agreement.

Yesterday, Mr Rolle noted the government still owned the Phil’s building as he maintained his support of the government’s decision as a cost-effective.

Controversy over the lease of the Town Centre Mall returned to the

spotlight when Mr Symonette revealed earlier this month that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis called him personally to negotiate the deal last year.

The St Anne’s MP has not confirmed the date of that phone call, but has suggested it took place sometime between October 4 and 5 when he was in Mexico on a government trip.

Mr Symonette resigned from Cabinet days before making the disclosure on a local radio show, and said he discussed “the whole question of conflict of interest” during that call. Mr Symonette also disclosed that he was informed of the decision to table a resolution in Parliament.

In an Op-Ed piece to local dailies, former Attorney General Alfred Sears said the resolution to lease the mall could warrant a legal challenge.

He said the resolution passed in the House of Assembly on October 24, 2018 to lease the mall, which pointed to “latent structural defects and technical issues (of the Phil’s building)”, was not supported by the technical report.

The resolution’s statement that Mr Symonette “did not take part in the discussions leading up to the decision” also appears to contradict Mr Symonette’s

admission he discussed the matter with the prime minister, Mr Sears noted.

“Therefore, there is an issue whether the Cabinet made misrepresentations to the House of Assembly seeking the approval of the House of Assembly for the lease of the Town centre Mall,” he wrote.

“The Powers and Privileges (Senate and House of Assembly) Act, makes it clear that the presentation of a false or misleading submission to the House of Assembly is a contempt against the House liable to the disciplined by Parliament.”

Mr Sears said the disclosures by Mr Symonette and Mr McIntosh presented several constitutional, legal and ethical issues: “Whether Mr Symonette’s disclosures breached his ministerial oath and the prudential rules contained in the Cabinet manual; whether Mr Symonette was required to disclose the leasehold contract himself to the House of Assembly before the presentation of the resolution for exemption; whether the House of Assembly was misled by the certain representations, amongst other things, contained in the resolution and, if so, the effect of any alleged misrepresentations; and whether the speaker of the House of Assembly, a senator or any member of the House has the legal standing to make a constitutional claim, under Article 39, for the Supreme Court to declare the aforesaid resolution null and void and order Mr Symonette to vacate his seat as a member of the House of Assembly.”

When asked about this, Mr Rolle said: “As the minister of public service who has the responsibility for

leases I’m telling you what I know, now that private conversation that they had or may not have had that’s another issue. I’m talking about what come to me.

“I don’t know about those private conversations, I’m saying to you as a sitting member of Cabinet, when the determination was made that we had some interest in this building, we told him you can’t be here, this is not for you.

“Once the decision was taken that that was something we were interested in doing, we then followed every step. We made sure the resolution went to Parliament to exempt him in accordance with the constitution.”

Mr Rolle called Opposition demands for the resignation of Dr Minnis and Mr Symonette over the deal hypocritical, and pointed to the FNM’s support of the decision to rent from former parliamentarian Leslie Miller. Mr Miller was not a sitting Cabinet minister at the time; however, Mr Rolle said this fact was not material to his argument.

A Cabinet sub-committee, formed by the former Christie-led administration to scout a suitable building to relocate the post office, identified the Town Centre Mall as the front runner. At the time, the former administration negotiated a rate of $24 a sq foot - double the cost of the rate offered to the present administration.

Mr Rolle said that deal would also have seen the government absorb the cost of renovations.

The subcommittee was comprised of former ministers Philip Davis; Glenys Hanna Martin; Shane Gibson; and Michael Halkitis.

When asked whether the decision by the owners to slash the rental rate in half was due to political favour, Mr Rolle insisted it was Mr Wells who negotiated the unprecedented low rate.

Mr Wells did not return calls from The Tribune yesterday as he was reported to be out of the country.

Editorial View - Page 4

PAGE 6, Tuesday, July 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Reparations fight needs to be global movement, says Bethel

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THE fight for reparations for people of African descent has to be a large enough “global movement” to “force the hands of Western countries”, according to Attorney General Carl Bethel.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Bethel spoke of his support of the “concept” of payment for historic wrongs, but also highlighted the importance of determining how this should or could be done.

Mr Bethel’s comments come amid national discourse on reparations in the aftermath of recent comments made by former Cabinet minister Brent Symonette who suggested he faced political barriers and attacks due to his skin colour.

Mr Symonette, who resigned as Minister of Financial Services, Trade, Industry and Immigration earlier this month, suggested the country was not ready for a white prime minister and reiterated his call for a national discussion on race and wealth in politics.

Former Minister of State

on Legal Affairs Damian Gomez has said he believes that conversation should start with reparations.

“We would all support the concept to pay for historic wrongs inflicted on our ancestors which resonate in economic and social disadvantage to this day throughout the Western Hemisphere,” Mr Bethel said.

“The question is how it should or could be done and whether there could be a large enough global movement to force the hands of Western countries.”

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest said reparations are not at the top of the list of items the government is “concerned about”, adding the Minnis administration is instead focused on developing the economy and “empowering people”.

Opposition chairman Fred Mitchell subsequently described this stance as “racist”.

Mr Mitchell also described Mr Turnquest’s comments that “looking backwards doesn’t help you win a race” as hypocritical – noting the Free National Movement is “always seeking” to denigrate Sir Lynden Pindling and the

Progressive Liberal Party government from the 1980s.

Regarding Mr Mitchell’s comments, Mr Bethel replied: “The PLP’s strategy of late is race baiting.

No one country can go this alone. There has to be an international movement.”

On Friday, Jamaican academic Verene Shepherd delivered a presentation, “Reparation: Righting Colonial Wrongs and Their Legacies in the Caribbean” at the United Nations HighLevel Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals.

In her remarks, she described the impact of slavery and colonialism on the African diaspora in the Caribbean and underscored the importance of reparations from colonial powers.

“In the case of the CARICOM countries, though, governments’ demand for reparation to former colonial governments that is framed within the development paradigm must be intensified and pursued intentionally,” Professor Shepherd said.

“They have to continue the commitment they made to Caribbean people in July 2013, when they announced that they would press complicit states for reparation,

AG Carl Bethel spoke of his support of the concept of payment for historic wrongs. formed a CARICOM Reparation Commission, a Prime Ministerial Committee on Reparation and directed governments to establish national committees on reparation that would advise them on the form of forms that reparation should take.

“The bold action by the Caribbean Regional Heads energised and in some cases re-energised flagging reparation movements around the world; yet today the disappointment with these

same heads who do not even speak about reparation on the international stage as they used to do between 2013 and 2015, is palpable.

“It is up to the people to make it uncomfortable for governments to maintain this silence; otherwise we would have betrayed the hopes and dreams of our ancestors. European governments need to right the wrongs of the past and attempt reconciliation.”

In March 2014, the

Christie administration formed a National Reparations Committee to establish the moral, ethical, and legal case for the payment of repatriations by the former colonial European countries. However it is unclear if the committee ever came to any conclusions on the matter.

When asked if this current government has any plans to revamp this committee, Mr Turnquest said that’s a question for the prime minister.

‘THE PHA WOULD NOT HAVE ISSUED A STATEMENT ABOUT POSSIBLE SABOTAGE IF IT DIDN’T HAVE CLEAR AND (IRREFUTABLE) EVIDENCE’

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

In an interview with The Tribune on Sunday, Mr Ferguson, whose union represents the workers in the hospital’s engineering department, was adamant his union will take “legal action” should its workers again be falsely accused of tampering with the systems.

“Anytime you see those types of comments, you have to ask the question: on what basis are those comments being made?”

Dr Sands asked yesterday.

“What are the thoughts, what are the concerns, and what is the understanding

FOR SALE

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands is maintaining that the Public Hospitals Authority would not have issued a statement about a suspected sabotage attack unless it had “clear” and “irrefutable” evidence to support this claim.

Dr Sands made these comments following remarks by Bahamas Public Services Union President Kimsley Ferguson that the allegations that Princess

Margaret Hospital’s chilling and air-conditioning systems were possibly sabotaged are a “cover up”, as the hospital should have replaced those units years ago.

Dr Sands yesterday told The Tribune he was unaware of the basis of Mr Ferguson’s comments and called for dialogue between PHA and the union.

Last week, PMH announced the suspension of non-emergency surgeries from July 12-19 while it investigates a possible sabotage attack.

FAITH GARDENS SUBDIVISION PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: Multi Family Residential PROPERTY SIZE: 7,800 sq. ft.

ACCOMMODATION: Consists of two-two bedrooms, one bathroom, living/dining room, kitchen, laundry, closet and porch.

LOCATION: Traveling east along Cleveland Boulevard from Faith Avenue, turn on to the last corner on the right, heading south the subject is the 19th lot on the left.

APPRAISAL VALUE: $227,000.00

INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD CONTACT: IAN SYMONETTE OR SHERRY THURSTON 397-6940 OR 376-1343 OR EMAIL: DISTRESSED.PROPERTIES@COMBANKLTD.COM

of the facts or the evidence on which those comments are made?

“Certainly the Public Hospitals Authority would not have issued a statement about possible sabotage if it didn’t have clear and (irrefutable) evidence.

“Now what we have asked is for the Royal Bahamas Police Force to investigate. And we’re prepared to be guided by the results of that investigation.

And I think all Bahamians should be minded to be guided by the investigation of the security forces.”

Mr Ferguson has said he is “not going to take this one very lightly” if PHA is insinuating that members of his bargaining unit are connected with sabotage.

“Certainly, we’re going to take some legal action,” he said. “Because two of our guys, it was claimed that two of our guys would have done so, and they suspended them earlier in this year. And they had to bring them back to work because what they were claiming was not so.”

When asked about these claims, Dr Sands replied: “I have no comments. I can neither confirm nor deny, I don’t have the basis to reliably respond to that”.

He also declined to comment on Mr Ferguson’s legal threat.

“I don’t know the basis of either of his comments,” Dr Sands said. “Certainly, I am happy to have a discussion with the union president.

It’s difficult to know what he means by the ‘units should have been replaced years ago’, since they were new in 2014/2015. So I don’t quite understand that comment.”

Dr Sands also noted “no allegations have been made

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands. about any particular individual or individuals”.

“So, it really is something that I think some dialogue between the parties would be very helpful to find out the basis of his comments,” he said.

On Friday, PMH released a statement announcing the suspension of non-emergency surgeries.

“Patients booked for surgical procedures between the 12th through 19th of July 2019 are asked to contact the hospital at 3578795,” according to the statement.

“Following months of challenges associated with maintenance, power failures and possible sabotage, PMH has commenced works to facilitate the installation of an upgrade to the chiller system of the Critical Care Block (CCB) and will engage the Royal Bahamas Police Force to investigate a possible compromise in security.

“Challenges with the cooling system in the CCB

led to the public tender for new chillers and additional interventions to safeguard the HVAC system. It is anticipated that manufacturing and installation of this new system will occur over the next five months.

“In the interim, equitable chiller capacity has been leased and will be installed to accommodate the installation upgrade.

Management apologises for any inconvenience caused and appreciates the public’s patience at this time.”

On Sunday, Dr Sands said the temporary chiller that has been leased was scheduled to arrive in Nassau on Monday.

Yesterday, he confirmed the arrival of the units.

“I can report that the units are physically in Nassau. We are in the process of clearing customs for the units, paying the appropriate fees, and it is our expectation that those units should be on site at Princess Margaret Hospital by tomorrow (Tuesday).”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 16, 2019, PAGE 7

from page one

New online battle to stop Disney cruise plan

Education Foundation, EARTHCARE, reEarth, as well as its partners Waterkeepers Bahamas and Save the Bays in protest.

Marc Yaggi, executive director of Waterkeeper Alliance, said activists are calling on Disney to find a “more suitable alternative,” so that Lighthouse Point could be preserved for “current and future generations.”

“We are pleased to join with our Bahamian partners to launch this campaign against Disney’s current plans for Lighthouse Point that would degrade a treasured natural site and proposed marine protected area,” he said.

“Disney needs to do more than just rush through a minimal government process in The Bahamas. It needs to seriously consider the environmental, economic, and social costs of this proposed cruise port.”

“On March 7, 2019, the government of The Bahamas secretly signed a heads of agreement (HoA) with Disney Cruise Lines Island Development (DCL), but the full text of the HoA was not released until March 20. The Bahamian environmental groups described the HoA—that sets out the framework for further negotiations and approvals—‘a realisation of our worst environmental, economic, and societal fears,’ the statement read.

“The HoA revealed a project much more massive than anticipated with much

less clear economic benefits. The HoA gives DCL rights to secure a 50-yearlease on the seabed to build a $250 million 0.6 mile long pier and onshore entertainment facilities to handle up to 20,000 passengers a week. The groups called upon Disney to prepare a world-class environmental impact assessment (EIA) that includes consideration of alternative sites, economic analyses, and full public consultation.”

Mr Yaggi’s statement said environment groups sent a letter on May 2 to Disney’s chief sustainability officer setting out a list of data, studies, and analyses that would be essential in such an EIA. “To date, Disney has been dismissive of the groups’ concern and their offer of cooperation,” Mr Yaggi added.

A letter sent to The Tribune by Disney officials shows that Dr Mark Penning, Disney’s vice president of animals, science and environment wrote to local activist Sam Duncombe on June 12 in response to her concerns.

Joe Darville, executive director of Save the

LIGHTHOUSE POINT Bays, said he finds it “alarming” that Disney is proceeding with “qualifying contractors for construction work,” before the EIA is completed.

“A comprehensive review of the environmental and economic effects of this massive port project must be done before any final decision is made on the future of one of the most majestically beautiful spots left on Earth,” he said.

“We urge Disney to choose a different site for its port and to work with

citizen groups on alternatives that would provide sustainable economic benefits for South Eleuthera.”

Ms Duncombe, executive director of reEarth, also said she believes there are “better, more sustainable development options” for South Eleuthera.

“Bahamians are increasingly questioning the benefits of the cruise ship industry to the country after so many failed promises of jobs and economic opportunities,” Ms Duncombe said.

“Cruise ship passengers comprise 75 percent of the tourists visiting the Bahamas, yet they only contribute 10 percent of the annual tourism GDP.” Phoebe Shaw, Last Chance for Lighthouse Point campaign director, added that this is the “last chance” the public has to save Lighthouse Point.

Describing it as a “special place” for people all over the globe, she insisted that the area as well as its surrounding seas “deserves to be protected for future generations.”

Meanwhile, a statement released from Disney Cruise Line yesterday

insisted that the company will only proceed with the project if it can be done in an “environmentally responsible manner.”

“Our own internal team of animal and conservation experts is working closely with a highly qualified team of Bahamians and an experienced international firm to develop a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and environmental management plan that align with our company’s deep and longstanding commitment to the environment,” the statement read.

The company added that once the draft is submitted to the EIA, it will be reviewed by the government and then made available for “public consultation.”

“Disney Cruise Line remains committed to developing less than 20 percent of the property, employing sustainable building practices including an open-trestle pier that eliminates the need to dredge a ship channel, establishing environmental monitoring programmes during construction and operation and donating

more than 190 acres of privately-owned land, including the southernmost point, to government for conservation and public use, among other commitments,” the statement added.

The company asserted that it is concentrated on “maximising Bahamian involvement” in the Lighthouse Point project to provide “the most significant economic impact possible,” and added that representatives have met with a “broad range of businesses and organisations,” who have the potential to provide support for the project.

“Through the Disney Conservation Fund, Disney has provided more than $13 million to marine conservation programmes around the globe, including several in the Bahamas, and since 2007 has been directly involved in leading a multi-year initiative to protect and rehabilitate coral reefs in the Bahamas. We will continue to work with leading conservation organisations and communities to protect special places in The Bahamas.”

Crown fails to appear again in case regarding Muslim officer

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE Crown has failed to appear on three occasions to represent the state in a lawsuit against former Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade for firing a police constable because of his unwillingness to compromise a key component of his Muslim faith.

Documents seen by The Tribune show how the Crown failed to attend hearings in May and June concerning Bertram Bain’s judicial review of his termination because of his unwillingness to shave his beard in accordance with the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s grooming policies.

The matter was set to continue yesterday morning before Justice Ian Winder.

However, only Mr Bain and his attorneys Maria Daxon and Tonique Lewis were present, while the Crown was nowhere to be found.

The matter was consequently adjourned to next week.

In March, the appellate court ordered that a Supreme Court judge would have to determine whether Mr Greenslade was right to fire Mr Bain on August 2, 2017. The order came after Mr Bain sought to appeal Justice Indra Charles’ decision not to grant him an injunction against Mr Greenslade’s decision, despite the attorneys from both sides previously agreeing that his judicial review application should be granted.

A copy of Mr Bain’s discharge certificate seen by The Tribune showed that on August 2, 2017, the officer of 17 years was discharged from the RBPF “in accordance with Section 7 (c) of the Police Disciplinary Regulations No 1965

and Section 21 (1)(c) of the Police Force Act 2009”.

The discharge certificate noted that during his tenure with the RBPF, Mr Bain’s “conduct and general character has been unsatisfactory”. Mr Bain first joined the RBPF in 2000, and converted to Islam sometime in 2011.

However, according to court documents seen

by The Tribune, Mr Bain claimed his dismissal was the end result of his multiple attempts at having Mr Greenslade acquiesce to his pleas to adhere to the Muslim practice of not shaving one’s beard while serving as a member of the RBPF. According to an affidavit filed July 6, 2016, which lists Mr Greenslade as one of seven defendants, Mr Bain met with the former commissioner and/or other senior officials no less than three times on the matter, dating as far back as early 2015. And each time the relevant parties met, Mr Bain informed all present of his Muslim faith, according to the affidavit.

In one such instance, on June 10, 2016, and in the presence of current and/ or former members of the RBPF’s senior executive leadership team and other RBPF officials, Mr Bain “humbly requested Mr Greenslade to assist with some accommodation to Muslim practices to wear a beard.” In the affidavit, Mr Bain said he did so “with humility and out of respect to consider awareness of my constitutional rights, and status as a police officer and as a Muslim.”

This represented an immediate conflict, Mr Bain acknowledged in a previous interview with The Tribune, given the grooming policies of the RBPF and the reported Muslim practice

of not shaving one’s beards in reverence of Islam and its founding prophet, Muhammad.

Mr Bain, via Ms Daxon, subsequently applied for judicial review of Mr Greenslade’s decision on the basis that the former police chief’s decision to dismiss him without giving him the opportunity to respond was “unconstitutional, unreasonable, unlawful, null and of no legal effect”.

Mr Bain further submitted in his application that Mr Greenslade “irrationally exercised his powers” when he “failed to promptly allow the applicant the opportunity to appeal his decision before he was dismissed”.

Mr Bain also challenged the legality of his dismissal, alleging that Mr Greenslade “illegally exercised his powers” when he “either by deliberate and/or by neglect failed to ensure that the applicant’s benefits payment be suspended, withheld or denied before the applicant had the opportunity to exhaust the appeal process”.

He also sought an order to quash Mr Greenslade’s decision to dismiss him without giving him an opportunity to respond, as well as to quash Mr Greenslade’s decision to recommend that his “benefits payment be suspended, withheld or denied before the applicant had the opportunity to exhaust the appeal process”.

Mr Bain also sought an order of mandamus to direct the commissioner to “update, adjust and correct” his benefits, and to restore and pay him “all benefits awards due and payable to him, as at the date of his discharge until the completion of the appeal process.”

In addition, Mr Bain

POLICE TO INVESTIGATE AMERICAN INJURES HAND SUSPECTED TEEN SUICIDE IN BOATING ACCIDENT POLICE are investigating the alleged suicide of a teenage boy who was found hanged in a closet on Sunday afternoon.

Police said shortly after 5pm, police officers were called to a home on Faith Avenue north of Carmichael Road, where a male was discovered unconscious, hanging from a rod in a closet. Paramedics were called and transported the juvenile to hospital where, a short time later he was pronounced dead.

Although police initially reported it was an alleged suicide, they said an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

EXUMA police are investigating a boating accident that left an American man in hospital on Sunday.

Shortly before 5pm, a tour boat was sailing in Elizabeth Harbour, George Town when the captain felt something hit the rear of the boat. He and others made a check of the water and discovered a man with injuries to his hand.

The injured man was retrieved from the water and transported to an Exuma medical facility where he was treated and later airlifted to a hospital on New Providence. He is listed in serious condition.

ELLISON GREENSLADE sought six declarations, which include that Mr Greenslade’s decision to terminate him “was so manifestly unreasonable that no reasonable authority or tribunal, entrusted with its powers, could reasonably have come to that decision in all circumstances of this case”, and that Mr Greenslade “has acted unfairly, unlawful, unreasonable, arbitrarily, capriciously and abusive towards the applicant”.

Mr Bain also filed an injunction against the August 2017 decision, in which he sought to have his “status quo” remain in place and “all rights and benefits as a police officer” continue until the matter was adjudicated by the Supreme Court or until the completion of the appeal process.

Justice Charles did not grant Mr Bain’s injunction, however, and further stated that she did not have the power to order the commissioner of police, the respondent in the matter, to have his salary reinstated until the appeal process or the case was completed.

Mr Bain consequently appealed Justice Charles’ ruling, asserting that her decision was “unreasonable” and could not be supported in law on the grounds of justice and fairness. He further charged

that no judge “having regard for their duty to act fairly could reasonably have come to the conclusion” she did.

Particularly, Mr Bain asserted that the judge erred in both fact and law by refusing to stay Mr Greenslade’s decision, despite having heard the evidence of both Superintendent Damian Robinson and Sergeant Paul Jones, who both agreed under oath that their former boss’ decision should have been stayed in accordance with law, namely the Police Force Act 2009 and the Bahamas constitution.

Yesterday however, Ms Daxon told The Tribune the appellate court remitted her client’s matter to the Supreme Court for the judge to make a determination on the “substantive application”.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, July 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

KIRK working with students in South Georgia; left, with his wife Charlene.

I

N THE late 1990s, “Matters of the Heart” was such a popular radio programme it became a household name. People from all walks of life were tuned in. Real people with real relationships called in. Some listeners called in just to profess their love; others needed serious help with fixing their relationship problems. Whatever the situation, people found peace, they found answers and they got the help they needed. Each edition, host Kirk Johnson came with vibrancy and energy and kept the audience in tune from start to finish. His show was so successful he was labelled, “Mr Matters of the Heart”.

The relationship talk show series launched from a temporary studio at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas on ZNS Radio in 1997. He went on to serve as the Assistant Director of Radio there.

His wide listenership and strong popularity made the show one that is still wellremembered and loved to this day. Kirk has a big smile; and you could hear his smile in his voice as he hosted the show.

“Matters of the Heart

A legend born out of a broken heart was born out of a broken heart,” Kirk confesses.

“It was a significant period in my life as I worked through the emotional pain of the end of a romantic relationship.

My search for answers and healing prompted the birth of the talk show that became a gathering place every Sunday for people across The Bahamas, the Caribbean and globally.”

After the break-up Kirk said he shifted between depression and an insatiable desire to get his life back on track. He believes

his journey was not only healing, but a renaissance of learning and growth.

“The show grew into something uniquely fulfilling as listeners and myself became ‘the advisor as well as the advised’,” he said.

Matters of the Heart was one of a few talk shows at the time that streamed live online, a cost that Kirk personally invested in. Private radio was in its early stages with the launch of 100Jamz and Love 97.

In 2011, Kirk left national radio to to start his own media, marketing and

training consultancy. He continued working contractually in broadcasting at other media houses, including Gems 105.9 and Guardian Talk Radio 96.9 where he hosted the community and current affairs show, “The Things That Matter” until 2013, when he left for graduate school.

Kirk’s path in media evolved at an early age.

After graduating from St Cecilia’s Primary School and St Augustine’s College (SAC) for high school, he attended the College of the Bahamas where he completed his first degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He went on to take up undergraduate and graduate studies at Valdosta State University in South Georgia, receiving graduate degrees in Communication and Educational Leadership.

His first job started while he was still in high school.

His brother Lyndon had his own DJ company, Master Mixx. Lyndon has since expanded Master Mixx to include sound engineering, music and lighting services.

“The experience incubated my love for music and the art of entertaining people, Kirk said.

“I used the stage name, ‘Cool it Kirk’, which I got from an ‘impossible-to-forget’ performance of New Edition’s “Cool it Now” in junior high. I worked at McDonald’s and in banking before landing a part-time board operator’s job at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (ZNS). I eventually joined full-time as an on-air personality under the tutelage of veteran broadcasters Carl Bethel and Picewell Forbes.

“However, it was Tony Williams and Brad Hanna who worked at ZNS at the time who gave me my first big break into broadcasting. I was then a part-time Journalism and Mass Communication student at the College of the Bahamas.

I also benefited from the journalistic coaching of veteran broadcaster Wendell Jones at Love 97FM (Jones Communications) where I worked for a year during college breaks once I began college abroad.”

Kirk’s work in higher education began in earnest when he served as the marketing manager for Nova Southeastern University’s Bahamas regional campus.

In 2013 he worked as an academic advisor, instructor and interim manager

of advising for a graduate programme in Educational Leadership.

Mr Matters of the Heart has stayed on his path of connecting media, education and people’s hearts and lives as his own life unfolded.

“I am passionate about relationships… about giving people hope and a chance for healing in their lives and relationships,” he said.

“To describe me in two words would be to say, ‘relationship builder’. I want to help adults and younger people build from the inside out through self-awareness and self-discovery, selfvalue, serving others and persisting to achieve their purpose and life goals.

“A person’s ability to love and support others and accept love and support from others is influenced by their self-perception and self-love. Fundamentally, our interpersonal relationships (friendships, dating, romantic, family) are directly impacted by the quality of our self-talk, selfview, and self-value.

“My mindset is global and I benefit from the example and mentorship of Dr. Myles Munroe who emphasised the importance of knowing one’s purpose and using it to serve others.”

Today, Kirk is living in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Charlene and his daughters Emi and Ambrielle. He and his wife are busy there challenging and encouraging adults and younger people to live life fully. He is a university mentor, speaker, trainer and relationships educator. Highly energised with a penchant for motorbikes and ping pong, Kirk has invested the past ten plus years creating environments that facilitate growth and human development as the founder of The My Heart Matters Group.

Family has always been important to Kirk: “I grew up in a very supportive home with my mom (Edna) and dad (Chris) and four brothers (Lyndon, Ricardo, Craig and Chad). One of my father’s favorite lines was: ‘there’s a sucker born every day’. It was his way of warning my brothers and me to be mindful of our decisions and our associations. He was Boys Brigade captain and disciplinarian, but always kindhearted.

My mom often emphasised the importance of sharing and unity among my

KIRK and the late Dr. Myles Munroe, centre, hold Dr Munroe’s book on fatherhood as Kirk’s father, Craig (left) and Dr Munroe’s father the late Rev Matthia Munroe (right) stand by.

siblings. I vividly remember one day when I was about eight years old, she brought home a single Foxes mint, bit it into pieces while it was in the wrapper and shared it among my brothers and me.

I was not ecstatic about the size of my piece of candy but learned an important lesson in love that day. I always felt loved and valued at home. My brothers and I remain close today.”

Tragically, Kirk lost one of his brothers to violence.

Craig was my schoolmate and friend and four years after we graduated from SAC in 1995 he was shot and killed near the family home in Stapledon Gardens. His father was also shot in the incident, but he survived.

“The importance of prayer and a personal relationship with Christ included attending Sunday service, grace before every meal and prayer at bedtime,” Kirk said of his family.

“It was my parents’ unfettered love that I model my genuine care and interest for others after. I love them deeply and thank God for them. I can never repay all they have seeded into me, but I am trying and in turn, seed into my wife and family.”

Kirk recently celebrated The Bahamas’ official launch of his book, “My Heart Matters: Making a Comeback After Love Breaks Your Heart” at the University of The Bahamas (Harry C. Moore Library, June 27). Hardback, paperback, and eBook copies are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Apple Store.

Printed copies are available in New Providence at Logos and Chapter One bookstores and The Bible Book Gift Centre. Read free excerpts of his book on: Https:// myheartmattersbook.com His YouTube Channel launches July 28 - provides relationship education and coaching support as well as an archive of memorable Matters of the Heart shows. His Audiobook release is scheduled for August 15, and the Atlanta official launch of my book is September 15.

“As a part of my civic engagement in The Bahamas, I am plan to adopt one 5th grade class to coach and mentor for one semester starting September 2019,” Kirk said.

The virtual and in-person project is called My Heart Matters and focuses on self-discovery, self-value, leadership, communication, and service. More information is available on www. kirkjohnsonworldwide.com.

He previously adopted the fifth grade male students of C.W. Sawyer Primary as an initiative of Bahamas All Pro Dad. Connect with Kirk Johnson on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ kjworldwide.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 16, 2019, PAGE 9

Ex-Atlantis worker fined for stealing from tourists when he was drunk

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A FORMER Atlantis employee was fined over $1,000 yesterday for stealing $3,000 worth of merchandise from tourists at the Paradise Island resort while he was drunk.

Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux ordered 26-year-old Basil Damianos to pay $1,550 in fines after admitting to stealing various merchandise from three tourists on Friday.

Damianos was ordered to pay half of that sum yesterday in order to be released.

He returns to court on September 9, at which time the difference should be paid.

He faces a six month prison sentence if he defaults.

Three other men, who were charged with Damianos, had their charges withdrawn by the prosecution after the former pleaded guilty to the charges.

Before being sentenced, Damianos admitted to stealing one black knapsack containing one iPhone 8; one silver MacBook Pro laptop; a red, white and blue pair of Tommy Hilfiger slides; and one Burberry wallet together valued at $1,200 and belonging to a Mr Isaiah McClurkin.

Damianos further admitted to stealing one iPhone XS Max; one black iPhone case; one silver Vera Wang chain with a heart pendant; two iPhone ear buds; one brass coloured office key; one real estate book; a pair of goggles; one coin purse;

75 business cards; as well as a backpack collectively worth $1,735.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a white and black pair of Jordan slippers worth $65 belonging to Jason Randoo. Damianos also pleaded guilty to dishonestly receiving all of these items.

According to a summary of the facts read off by the police prosecutor, Inspector Claudette McKenzie, sometime around 7.40pm on the date in question, three tourists made complaints to the Paradise Island Police Station. They reported that sometime around 6pm, they went to the Aquaventure Water Park where they placed their backpacks, sandals, laptops and other items. However, when they returned, their merchandise was missing.

As a result, an investigation was conducted in the theft. Two officers eventually cautioned and arrested four suspects in connection with the matter. A subsequent search of a blue Honda Civic revealed all of the items that were reported stolen.

While being interviewed under caution, Damianos admitted to moving those items. As a result he was subsequently further cautioned and charged. The stolen items were later identified by the complainants.

The other three occupants of the blue Honda vehicle, meanwhile, maintained their story, insisting that they were only catching a ride.

Bjorn Ferguson, who

represented Damianos yesterday, noted that his client was a 10-year Atlantis employee, however, he recently got fired due to the stealing allegations against him. However, Mr Ferguson conceded that on the date in question, Damianos was drinking, and was not on duty at the time.

Damianos’ other attorney, Alexander Dorsett, further submitted that his client is the father of a little girl, and is now the primary caregiver since the child’s mother was injured and disabled during the June 30 mass shooting in Montel Heights that left numerous others injured.

Mr Dorsett further noted that his client has already “paid his pound of flesh” by losing a job he has had for 10 years.

However, Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux noted that intoxication is not a defence to a criminal charge. She further charged that notwithstanding that Damianos “paid the ultimate price” in getting fired from his 10-year job, the country now has “another black eye to add to all the other black eyes that we get” whenever a tourist falls prey to a crime.

“So the rest of the country suffers because he decided he couldn’t hold his liquor or whatever it was that was happening with him?” she asked.

The magistrate subsequently fined Damianos $1,550 in fines for his actions, otherwise he would have to face a custodial sentence.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, July 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

BOXING GREAT PERNELL WHITAKER DIES AFTER HE IS HIT BY CAR NEW YORK Associated Press PERNELL Whitaker, an Olympic gold medallist and four-division champion who was regarded as one of the greatest defensive fighters ever, has died after being hit by a car in Virginia.

He was 55.

Police in Virginia Beach said the former fighter was hit by a car on Sunday night. The driver of the car remained on the scene, and police said they were investigating the circumstances of the death.

Sweet Pea was Whitaker’s nickname and it suited him. He was a

master of hitting and not getting hit back, a southpaw who slipped in and out of the pocket and rarely gave an opponent an opportunity to land a clean shot.

Whitaker won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and made his pro debut on national television. He advanced quickly, and was fighting for a major title by his 17th fight, a loss to Jose Luis Ramirez that he would avenge the next year.

But Whitaker was also known as the victim of one of the worst decisions in boxing, a draw that allowed Julio Cesar Chavez to remain unbeaten in their

welterweight showdown before a crowd of more than 60,000 at the Alamodome in San Antonio in 1993.

Four years later, Whitaker was on the losing end of another difficult decision against Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas, a fight many ringsiders thought he had won.

“When you see the list of greatest boxing robberies in history they were both No. 1 and No. 2 on the list,” said Kathy Duva, his longtime promoter. “And every list of top 10 fighters of all time he was on, too.”

Whitaker was a champion in four weight classes, winning his

BOXER Pernell Whitaker

first one with a 1989 decision over Greg Haugen at lightweight, in a professional career that spanned 17 years.

His style was unique and effective, a hit-and-don’t-be-hit strategy that was later adopted by a rising young fighter named Floyd Mayweather Jr. Whitaker and Mayweather never met in the ring, but Whitaker did win a decision over Mayweather’s uncle, Roger, in 1987.

Whitaker was divorced and had four children. His family issued a statement saying the death was “one of the darkest moments in our lives.”

Trump not concerned by widespread condemnation

RESTRICTIONS ON RELIGION INCREASING WORLDWIDE

WASHINGTON Associated Press

NEW YORK Associated Press

UNBOWED by searing criticism, President Donald Trump on Monday emphatically defended his tweet calling on four Democratic congresswomen of colour to go back to their “broken and crime infested” countries. Condemnation of his comments “doesn’t concern me because many people agree with me,” he declared.

Trump responded to questions at the White House after his tweet assailing the lawmakers, all of whom are US citizens and three of whom were born in the US. He has been roundly criticised by Democrats who labelled his remarks racist and divisive. A smattering of Republicans also have objected, though most leading Republicans have been silent.

Trump, resurrecting language not prevalent in the US for decades, said yesterday that if the lawmakers “hate our country,” they “can leave” it.

“If you’re not happy in the US, if you’re complaining all the time, you can leave, you can leave right now,” he said. The lawmakers’ criticism has been largely aimed at Trump and his administration’s policies and actions.

It was yet another sign that

PRESIDENT Trump speaking on the South Lawn of the White House yesterday.

Trump, who won the presidency in 2016 in part by energising disaffected voters with incendiary racial rhetoric, has no intention of backing away from that strategy going in 2020. Trump has faced few consequences for such attacks, which typically earn him cycles of frontpage media attention.

Earlier yesterday, Trump made clear he had no intention of backing down, asking on Twitter when “the Radical Left Congresswomen” would “apologise to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul

language they have used, and the terrible things they have said.”

“So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions!” he wrote.

Asked whether Trump’s comments were racist, Marc Short, chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, defended Trump, telling reporters he had been responding to “very specific” comments made by Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who was born in Somalia, and was not making a “universal statement.”

But Trump didn’t make that

distinction in his tweets. He cited “Congresswomen” — an almostcertain reference to a group of women who have labeled themselves “the squad” that includes Omar, Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

“I don’t think that the president’s intent any way is racist,” said Short, pointing to Trump’s decision to choose Elaine Chao, who was born outside the country, as his transportation secretary.

Chao is one of the few minorities working among the largely white and male aides in high-profile roles in Trump’s administration.

She is the wife of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who had made no comment on Trump’s attacks as of midday Monday.

Omar ignited a bipartisan uproar in Washington several months ago when she suggested that some members of Congress support Israel because of money, while Tlaib riled up a supportive crowd by calling the president a profane name and predicting he would be removed from office.

Trump yesterday singled out Omar, in particular, accusing her of having “hatred” for Israel, and expressing “love” for “enemies like al-Qaida.”

LANDSLIDES AFFECTING MILLIONS IN SOUTH ASIA PATNA, India Associated Press

AFTER causing flooding and landslides in Nepal, three rivers are overflowing in northern India and submerging parts of Bihar state, killing at least 14 people, officials said Monday. Farther east, 17 others were killed by flooding in Assam and other states in India’s remote northeast.

Pratata Amrit, a government official, said about 200,000 people left their flooded village homes in Bihar, with 50,000 taking shelter in 152 state-run relief camps.

More than 2 million were affected and 17 were killed by the flooding and mudslides in Assam and elsewhere in the far

northeast in the past four days, officials said. Nearly 80% of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, home to the endangered one-horn rhinoceros, has been flooded by the mighty Brahmaputra river, which flows along the sanctuary, forest officer Jutika Borah said.

Six deer trying to move to higher ground were killed by speeding vehicles on a highway crossing the park, Borah said. Forest guards have been posted on the highway to provide a corridor for the animals.

Officials in Nepal said flooding and landslides killed at least 67 people there.

They said 30 others are missing, either swept away by swollen rivers or buried by mudslides since monsoon rains began pounding the region on Friday.

GOVERNMENT restrictions on religion have increased markedly in many places around the world, not only in authoritarian countries, but also in many of Europe’s democracies, according to a report surveying 198 countries that was released yesterday.

The report released by the Pew Research Center, covering developments through 2017, also seeks to document the scope of religion-based harassment and violence. Regarding the world’s two largest religions, it said Christians were harassed in 143 countries and Muslims in 140.

This was Pew’s 10th annual Report on Global Restrictions on Religion.

It said 52 governments, including those in Russia and China, impose high levels of restrictions on religion, up from 40 governments in 2007. It said 56 countries in 2017 were experiencing social hostilities involving religion.

Pew said the Middle East and North Africa, of the five major regions it studied, had the highest level of government restrictions on religion, followed by the Asia-Pacific region.

However, it said the biggest increase during the 20072017 period was in Europe, where the number of countries placing restrictions on religious dress — including burqas and face veils worn by some Muslim women — rose from five to 20.

Among other measures in 2017, Austria enacted a ban on full-face veils in public spaces, and Germany banned face veils for anyone driving a motor vehicle or working in the civil service.

Globally, among the 25 most populous countries, those with the highest level of government restrictions were China, Iran, Russia, Egypt and Indonesia. The lowest levels of restriction were in South Africa, Japan, the Philippines, Brazil and South Korea.

EX-PRESIDENT ZUMA DENIES CORRUPTION JOHANNESBURG Associated Press

CODEBREAKER ALAN TURING TO BE FACE OF NEW BRITISH BANKNOTE

LONDON Associated Press

CODEBREAKER and computing pioneer Alan Turing has been chosen as the face of Britain’s new 50 pound note, the Bank of England has announced.

Governor Mark Carney said Turing, who did ground-breaking work on computers and artificial intelligence, was “a giant on whose shoulders so many now stand.”

During World War II Turing worked at the secret Bletchley Park codebreaking centre, where

he helped crack Nazi Germany’s secret codes by creating the “Turing bombe,” a forerunner of modern computers. He also developed the “Turing Test” to measure artificial intelligence.

After the war he was prosecuted for homosexuality, which was then illegal, and forcibly treated with female hormones. He died at age 41 in 1954 after eating an apple laced with cyanide.

Turing received a posthumous apology from the British government in 2009, and a royal pardon in 2013.

FORMER South African president Jacob Zuma has denied corruption allegations against him, saying the charges are part of an international intelligence conspiracy that started more than 25 years ago to assassinate his character.

Zuma is appearing before a state commission that is probing wide-ranging allegations of corruption in government and stateowned companies.

Zuma dismissed the accusations against him saying that they stemmed from efforts by South Africa’s previous apartheid regime and other foreign intelligence agencies to have him removed from powerful positions in the African National Congress, now the ruling party.

This, he told the commission, was because these intelligence agencies had infiltrated the ANC and feared that Zuma would either expose their spies.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Arrests as police crack major criminal GB gang

THE TRIBUNE

OFFICERS involved in cracking the stealing ring in Grand Bahama and the stolen property they recovered.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama police have cracked down on a

major stealing ring in Freeport and Eight Mile Rock, arresting several persons and recovering thousands of dollars worth of stolen items and property.

Superintendent of Police Sean Smith, officer in charge of EMR Police Station, reported that six suspects from ages 18 to 35 are in custody in connection

with a number of shopbreaking incidents.

He reported that over the past several months, police received a number of reported shop-breaking matters in EMR and in the Freeport area.

Supt Smith said a special team of officers which had resulted in the successful arrests of the suspects, who are expected to charged sometime this week.

Some of the items recovered included flat screen TVs, propane tanks, toiletries and other items.

The senior police officer attributed the success to good police investigation and collaboration with members of the community.

“I would like to send out an appeal to the public that if persons come to you wanting to sell property to ensure they have a valid business licence. If they don’t have one come to us for assistance,” he said.

“We also want to encourage residents to properly label your belongings or place an ID mark on them because that goes a long way in assisting us and to identify your property.”

He also thanked members of the public who assisted in providing vital information to help resolve matters.

SUPERINTENDENT of Police Sean Smith.