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VOLUME:116 No.141, JULY 18TH, 2019
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JURY CONVICTS ‘MAD’ FIRE MUM Defence vows to appeal and prove she’s ‘ill not evil’ By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavel la@tribunemedia.net
A SCHIZOPHRENIC woman was unanimously convicted yesterday of murdering her one-year-old daughter by dousing her with gasoline and setting her afire. The woman said she carried out the act because “demons” told her to do it. An all-female jury found 41-year-old Phillipa Marshall guilty of murdering Philicia Marshall by setting the child alight in December 2017 at their Faith Gardens home.
Marshall had no visible reaction to the ruling, but sat stone-faced in the prisoner’s dock as the jury’s forewoman declared the verdict. Marshall faces up to 60 years in prison. Her attorney Bjorn Ferguson told The Tribune he will appeal the conviction, and is prepared to “go all the way” to the Londonbased Privy Council in pursuit of “justice” for his client. “We’re disappointed with the verdict,” he said. “Verdicts are supposed to be supported by evidence. It’s SEE PAGE THREE
A GRUESOME discovery was made early yesterday morning when the body of a woman was found in the trunk of a vehicle at a local car junkyard in Freeport. A senior police official confirmed that foul play is suspected as there were visible signs of facial injuries to the body. Supt Brian Rolle, officer
in charge of the Central Detective Unit in Grand Bahama, told reporters at the scene that they are withholding the woman’s identity, but said she is believed to be in her late 40s. However a source confirmed to this newspaper that the deceased is Eudelle Bevans. Police said a 20-yearold male relative is helping police with their investigation. SEE PAGE FIVE
L SOUR CE
SUSPECT DIES AFTER OFFICERS OPEN FIRE By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net
POLICE in New Providence are investigating an officer-involved shooting yesterday that left a man dead. This incident is the second police involved shooting in as many days. According to police, shortly after 1pm yesterday, officers were conducting an operation on John Street in the Bain Town community when they encountered a man “engaging in the sale of illegal drugs” and armed with a firearm. The man “engaged the officers” which resulted in him being shot, police said. The victim was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. SEE PAGE SEVEN
MARSH HARBOUR REPRIEVE By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhar tnel l@tribunemedia.net
WOMAN’S CORPSE IN TRUNK OF CAR By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
$1
AN ALL-female jury yesterday found 41-year-old Phillipa Marshall guilty of murdering her daughter by setting her on fire. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
AN Abaco MP yesterday said the threat of an “immediate closure” of the island’s main commercial shipping port had been “eliminated” following yesterday’s inspection. James Albury issued a statement to “address a few immediate concerns” over the fate of Marsh Harbour’s port. Confirming the International Ship and Port Security assessment went ahead, Mr Albury wrote: “Overall the feedback was satisfactory. The ISPS will present the findings within 45 days to six months, at which time any remaining deficiencies would be noted and a deadline extended to remediate them.”
APOLOGY? YOU CAN PUT IT IN WRITING By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
AFTER a harsh rebuke and ridicule over his comments mocking Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and criticising Bahamian workers, Liberty Latin America’s president Balan Nair apologised and explained that his comments were taken out of context. Dr Minnis told Parliament Mr Nair called him
LIBERTY’S BALAN NAIR yesterday morning to explain that the remarks he made were never intended
to insult the Office of the Prime Minister or the Bahamian people. To this, Dr Minnis said he told Mr Nair to send formal letters apologising for the remarks. Dr Minnis spoke about his conversation with Mr Nair after Official Opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis said he was concerned about it and questioned whether the
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SIX AND BUSINESS
STATESIDE
RADICALISM AND RACISM ON ROAD TO RE-ELECTION
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Thursday, July 18, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
GAMING BILL TABLED WITH FRESH TAX SCALES
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
THE government’s Gaming Amendment Bill 2019 proposes a winnings tax and returns the Gaming
Board to a regulatory body with power to shut web shops, search them and seize documents that may prove noncompliance with laws. According to Attorney General Carl Bethel yesterday, this winnings tax
will be imposed at a rate of five percent under $1,000 and at 7.5 percent over that amount. He said the amendment sets up a structure of gaming taxation that the government believes will
withstand the test of time. “In short, the bill once enacted will impose the winnings tax that’s on lottery games,” Mr Bethel said after the amendment was tabled at Parliament. “The bill also sets up the
framework for the scale of taxation of the internet based gaming which is like 90 percent of the market in our domestic gaming sector. So the sliding scale (between) 15 and 17.5 percent (with) $24m being the boundary between the two, that is going to be imposed. Also the winnings tax below and over $1,000 will also be imposed in that bill. “So what the bill will do is to in our view for the foreseeable future set up a structure of gaming taxation that we believe will withstand the test of time. We worked very hard on it, did a lot of research, did a lot of consultation as the best way to structure these taxes and the way to impose them. So this bill will now reflect that. “The point is once you have an agreed (method) of taxation, then should the need arise at any future time, government has great flexibility after appropriate industry discussions to take it up a bit or take it down a bit as the needs would arise.” Asked by The Tribune if this was something operators were comfortable with, Mr Bethel explained that the challenge was to find balance in an industry. “The Bahamian people have to understand that the nature of the industry that we have in the country today is small but it is diverse within its smallness, so you have two very large players one of course being the giant of all the players that one of them and there’s another one but not anywhere near the size of that big one. “Everybody else - the other six or seven of them are every small in terms of their turnover and their size and the great difficulty in determining how to apply a tax is how do you apply it fairly when you have two large and the rest small in terms of turn over, that’s the first problem. “The second problem is that there is a further subdivision in the industry. At least one player is
90 percent only in lottery games so there are questions on how to avoid disproportionate impact on one while also spreading the burden across the industry.” The amendment means the Gaming Board will be given the teeth it needs to regulate gaming houses. According to Mr Bethel, the board’s functions were changed under the former Christie administration. “We’re creating a new investigatory arm of the Gaming Board designed to go after those persons who would seek to set up unlawful lottery based type gaming. People are now using iPads, cell phones and other computer access to place numbers bets on the internet and so the bill is going to create a framework where the investigatory agency within the Gaming Board is able to pursue illegal operatives particularly on the numbers side and those who are offering illegal internet gaming based sites etcetera to go after their servers, to go after the internet service providers to cause the internet service providers to shut down their access to the internet. In other words to disrupt wherever possible and at all cost all illegal operators. “So the bill is also to empower the Gaming Board to do this. (It) reverses the policy in the former Gaming Act, which was that the Gaming Board only have jurisdiction over licenced gaming operators. “This bill will give the Gaming Board the old jurisdiction it once enjoyed before the last government legalised domestic gaming, which is jurisdiction over any and all gambling operations that are either licenced or unlicensed in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.” As a result Mr Bethel said the board will need to beef up its staff compliment. Parliament meets today to begin debate on the amendment.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 18, 2019, PAGE 3
Defence vows to appeal after jury convicts ‘mad’ fire mum
PHILLIPA Marshall outside the Supreme Court yesterday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
from page one their verdict, but we think they fell into error. And as a result, we will have to appeal the decision. And so, we’ll see what the Court of Appeal has to say about it. “We intend to go all the way,” he added. “This is a case that I think highlights the fact that mental issues in our country are still not being taken seriously. A (negative) stigma is attached, and I think that is reflected in the jury’s verdict today. So we’re prepared to seek justice.” Yesterday’s verdict came a little over an hour after the jury was given four options in deciding the elder Marshall’s fate: murder; manslaughter; manslaughter based on diminished responsibility; and not guilty by reason of insanity. The latter two options were borne out of the evidence led at trial, particularly during the defence’s case and Mr Ferguson’s submissions, which was that Marshall was “not in her right frame of mind” when the offence took place. Prosecutors had asserted that the 41-year-old doused her child with gasoline and set her on fire at their home after “hearing voices”. Philicia suffered second and third degree burns on 43 percent of her body as a result. The child died in February 2018 at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). She didn’t die from the burn injuries, but from an “overwhelming” bacterial infection—klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis—that when tested, was extremely resistant to multiple antibiotics. That infection, according to Forensic Pathologist Dr Kiko Bridgewater, likely set in during her hospitalisation at PMH. The lack of an epidermis, or the protective outer layer of skin, made it
easier for the toddler to get infected in such an open environment. As to what actually took place on the night in question, Sergeant Tamika Gibson, who was formerly attached to the Carmichael Road Police Station, said Marshall’s husband Isaac Marshall told her that he fell asleep with Philicia and his two sons by his side, only to wake up the next morning to discover that his wife had spirited the child away to another room and set her on fire at the behest of “demons”. Sgt Gibson said when she arrived at the residence and gained entry that morning, she observed the entire family in the front room. Mr Marshall and the two boys were on the couch. Marshall was seated on the floor, attempting to put a pink sweater on Philicia, who was lying on a tan blanket next to her. According to Sgt Gibson, Marshall was getting the toddler dressed to go to the hospital. At that point, Sgt Gibson said she noticed that Philicia had no skin on her arms, hands and legs. However, she said the child was not crying. The officer said she also saw a burnt diaper as well as a burnt, yellow onesie near the young child. Sgt Gibson said Mr Marshall told her—in his wife’s presence—that at around 10.30pm on December 27, 2017, he fell asleep on the floor with his two sons, ages seven and three, and Philicia next to him. He said he awoke around 2.50 the following morning, and when he did, realised his daughter was no longer next to him. Mr Marshall got up and started searching for his daughter. His search led him to one of his son’s rooms, where he not only found his wife, but also his daughter, who was lying on his son’s bed with her skin “falling off”. Sgt Gibson said Mr
Marshall told her that he observed a burnt pillow and red blanket on his son’s bed. Sgt Gibson said Mr Marshall told her that when he asked his wife what had happened, she did not respond. Sgt Gibson said she immediately cautioned Marshall, who in turn told her demons told her to kill herself and her daughter. Sgt Gibson said Marshall told her that she threw gasoline on the toddler and lit her afire. After cautioning and arresting Marshall, Sgt Gibson said she made checks of a northern bedroom where a red, carshaped children’s bed was situated. And on the bed, was a burnt pillow and a burnt, red blanket. During his submissions, Mr Ferguson called on the jury to find his client not guilty by reason of insanity. He referred to the evidence of Dr Kirk Christie, a psychiatrist, who previously testified that Marshall had told him and others that the reason she set her daughter afire was because a demon told her to ignite both herself and the child.
In July of last year, and during a hearing to determine whether Marshall was fit to plea to the charge of murder, Dr Christie said Marshall told him that she was coaxed to set her daughter afire by “demonic voices” that had been “commanding” her to kill herself and do other “bad things”. Dr Christie said Marshall also told him about being tormented on a daily basis by those demons for the past three years at the time, which she claimed included her being instructed to overdose on tablets and harm herself. According to Dr Christie, Marshall described those demons as being as tall as the ceiling, with no arms or legs, and with eye sockets but no eyeballs. She also mentioned seeing a dark shadow hovering around her which she said was another kind of demon that tormented her daily. Dr Christie also said Marshall indicated two previous suicide attempts by driving her car off the road into lamp poles, and that she felt like committing suicide would free her from
hearing the demonic voices and seeing the demons. Dr Christie said Marshall told him the symptoms began from as early as 2014. During that year, Dr Christie said Marshall saw two private psychiatrists concerning her issues, but did not follow up with them because she felt the treatments were ineffective. Nonetheless, Dr Christie said Marshall had an “unshakeable belief” that one of her neighbours had “fixed” her by using witchcraft to cause her to be possessed or tormented by demonic forces. However, Dr Christie said Marshall has since reported that while she still hears the demonic voices in her head, they now tell her to do “good things” as opposed to commanding her to commit suicide or other negative acts. Dr Christie added that during the time he and other officials at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) were working with Marshall at the Fox Hill facility after the incident, she was hopeful her child
would be okay. However, he said when Marshall got the news of her daughter’s death, she was thrown into an “emotional catharsis” and began crying as a result. This, Mr Ferguson asserted during trial that Marshall is “ill” and not “evil”, adding no healthy woman would hurt her own child. However, lead Crown attorney Cephia PinderMoss, who was assisted by Tommel Roker, asserted that Marshall had the presence of mind to commit murder and was “methodical” with her actions—noting Marshall waited until her family was asleep to grab the child, took her to a bedroom and locked the door, and doused the child with gasoline. Marshall returns to court on September 19, at which time it is expected that both a psychiatrist and probation report will be prepared. She is remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until that time. Editorial View - Page 4
PAGE 4, Thursday, July 18, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Technology and transparency can help ensure justice TWO police-involved shootings in as many days again leads us to raise questions about such incidents. First of all, we should be clear – with the number of guns on the streets and criminals willing to use them, being a police officer is no easy task. Officers face danger on a regular basis and have to be prepared to meet it. In yesterday’s incident, police say they saw a man selling drugs and armed with a firearm. Police say the man “engaged the officers”, which ended up with him being shot. He was taken to hospital, and was pronounced dead. Police said they recovered an illegal firearm and a quantity of drugs at the scene. A woman at the scene who said she was the victim’s girlfriend said she saw the incident – and that her boyfriend was cleaning his yard when he saw police and tried to run away. She said he was shot once, in his back, and that he didn’t have any weapons or drugs. In the previous day’s incident, a man was taken to hospital in critical condition after a police chase that ended in Nassau Village and a gunfight with officers, police said. Different stories are, of course, nothing unusual in any incident – every day the courts have to resolve cases with different sides telling different versions of what happened. And that reinforces the need for
transparency – the clearer police can be about what took place in these incidents, the more faith the public will have in their actions. We continue to await the longpromised body cameras for police officers, which would help to give a clearer insight into these events. But alongside that, when we know where so many trouble spots might be for incidents, why do we not have a wider net of closed circuit television cameras. CCTV footage would not only help in police shooting incidents, it would help by recording all manner of other crimes. Indeed, if monitored live, it could have been used in the first police shooting incident to monitor the path of the fleeing car and help officers find the best way to intercept it. Add cameras in police stations to show how suspects are treated in custody too and you have a continuous chain of evidence that can be shown to courts. Investigations are of course ongoing in these incidents and we do not know if anything untoward happened – but technology, properly used, could show what took place, even when everything was done the right way. Technology can help the police – and it can reinforce our trust in them. Let’s make the most of it – and let’s hear more about when we can expect such measures to be in place.
A tragic case - but what can we learn? THE story of the mother found guilty of murdering her baby daughter by lighting her on fire is beyond tragic. It is a terrible court case to read about – and it must have been difficult for jurors to endure as they heard the evidence. Given that the accused, Phillipa Marshall, said she killed her daughter because demons told her to do it, it’s hard to imagine that there weren’t questions about her mental fitness to face trial, so it is surprising that the verdict was returned so quickly – in less than an hour. The accused’s lawyer, Bjorn Ferguson, has pledged to appeal the case, saying that the case “highlights the fact that mental issues in our country are still not
being taken seriously”. His words echo the words of Health Minister Dr Duane Sands this week, who said “we have a challenge with mental illness in The Bahamas”. The jury heard the evidence and were firm in their decision - the rest shall go on to be decided either with a sentence or through the appeals process. Nevertheless, the questions over mental health are a reminder to society to take mental illness more seriously, and devote resources to those suffering from it. We keep hearing calls for more support for those with mental illness - it’s time to turn those calls into action. For the sake of all those in need.
FNM must remove this disgraceful man EDITOR, The Tribune THE PLP believes that the point was properly made in The Tribune’s editorial about the conduct of Bennett Minnis, Member of the Board of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, who engaged in a homophobic, racist diatribe by voice note. In the news pages, he doubles down on his conduct and words, quite proud as he wallows in ignorance and stupidity. This is a tough world and politicians have to put up with all kinds of abuse in the cut and thrust of the political arena. However, despite the disgraceful public debate which comes to us READERS have been posting their views on the stories making the news on tribune242.com. Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest says resolving the government’s own looming multi-billion dollar pension crisis “is certainly a high priority but not top of the list”.
from our northern neighbour, we in that country and this, say there are certain statements which have no place in public dialogue. One is homophobic slurs and dog whistles. I call that the last refuge of a scoundrel. When you cannot meet the arguments with reason, you demonize and de-personalize your opponent. Then there is the racism. This is all the more shocking because Mr Bennett is himself of African descent. Even today, in Europe people are fined at football games and sometimes banned for calling black players monkeys. The irony then of a black man like Mr Bennett seeking
That prompted this comment from DDK: “Why do we pay all these elected officials and civil servants and then go hire private
to demonize another black man, our leader in that disgraceful manner. The government must remove him if he refuses to resign. We therefore agree with the sentiments of your editorial. We think the point we make is not selfserving but is of general applicability. The final point is his threat to breach the peace if we the PLP decide to return to Long Island and no policeman can stop him, he said. We shall see because we intend to return to Clarence Town asap. FRED MITCHELL Nassau July 17, 2019 consultants and put more burden on the tax payers? This practice is more than ridiculous. If those in charge do not know what they are doing or how to do it they should all resign. Don’t they realise that this is part of the problem of gross over-expenditure or do they simply not care?”
No shortage of work to be done EDITOR, The Tribune WHEN I was much younger, there was a saying about “holdin’ on ter ya ma gown-tail”. In more demeaning tones, it was said “under ya ma gown-tail”. I knew what it meant then, and I wonder how many of us would understand that bit of Bahamianism today. Since this country’s Independence, nearly a half century ago, it seems that there is still a pervasive mentality of being attached to that colonial past; gowntail. Sometimes I might say that we appear to be dragging “‘ ‘ol massa’s slippers”, but loose footwear like those may slip off, however unintentionally. No, being under the gown-tail of ‘ol misses seems more apt. It might be cool under there, or sometimes hot, but for sure there’s no light under those circumstances. So, the consecutive leaderships of this country for more than forty years appear too blind to see or do things in an “Independent” way. What you t’ink? Please don’t see this humble opinion as a mad criticism. Rather, please consider it as a poignant, objective observation. When a four-feet tall, fully grown adult, in this society, is referred to as short, it should not be considered a criticism, but merely an observation of fact. Examples abound, but my supporting arguments will take the route of brevity. Either you see the point, or you don’t. Either way, The Bahamas is not likely to change overnight. Accustomed to the dark, some of us are likely to shun the light. So, before there is that 100th anniversary of Independence, enough changes should have taken place to have a real cause for true celebrations. What you t’ink? Here are a few questions that may appear to be rhetorical, but are, oh, so real. Your considered answers may or may not reach me. However, they might be shared with others who could be a part of that momentum for some positive changes. Ok. What use is the Governor General to the governance of this country? In fact, what real purpose does the Senate
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net serve? Has there ever been a time in the long history of proclaimed ‘parliamentary democracy’ that the Senate refused to pass a bill forwarded from the House? Should general elections be mandated for a particular time, say, March every five years, instead of at the whim of the Prime Minister? Could the system be designed to have a specific number of Ministers, instead of fluctuating numbers? Is it possible to have ‘the best person for the job’, rather than a random member of Parliament ... whether that individual has an inkling about those portfolios or not? In my earnest efforts to be brief, here are just a few more. Will the country ever outgrow that particular building at Bay & Parliament Streets, for the steering of the directions of The Bahamas? Would Members of Parliament actually be required to reside in their constituencies? And, is it anywhere in the imagination of any elected official to consider the development of a new city, somewhere outside of New Providence, as did some foreigners in the establishment of Freeport? What you t’ink? At this point, we can go on with business-as-usual, ad infinitum ... Queen’s Highway here, Queen’s highway there ... The spectacle of big, grown, black men and women parading around in their lil white wigs for those judicial pomp and pageantry can continue on ad nauseam ... Then, what about that crew still scurrying about, behind the scenes, trying to get one of those titles (Sir/ Dame) from Her Majesty, even though the Queen wouldn’t know them from the man-in-the-moon? Or, ... we might take a peek from under those colonial gown-tails, and see what we can see. A good buddy of mine used to say “see what ya lookin’ at”. I will close this bit with one of my own sayings: “You can have foresight, insight, hindsight, no sight ... you choose”. Dey jump off da boat
‘cause da people dem in front uh dem jump off da boat. In this global dynamics today of ever-increasing turbulent seas, we may choose to stay where we jumped off the boat, treading water, or use some singular good sense, and swim to shore. That seems simple enough. Still, metaphors aside, I will admit to not having all, even most, of the answers. But, I believe that I have a few of the really important questions that The Bahama should be finding answers to, at this time in its Independence. What you ti’nk? Admittedly, some of us don’t know any better. We tend to be very limited, and brush things off with the notion that we met our foreparents doing it, so that’s why we do it, still. Someday, somebody is going to offer a good explanation as to why almost every parade, celebrating anything, has to march on Bay Street. Even though the people targeted to watch the parade do not live on or near Bay Street, it’s amazing that such a route becomes the norm. For example, a celebration of Bain & Grants Town might start at East Street & Wulff Road, and end at the University of The Bahamas. Yet, some genius will include Bay St. in that march. Shouldn’t we be smarter than that, especially since we now have our own university? I’m not about to hold my breath, but I do look forward to the day when those in the immediate vicinity will aptly describe the Emperor’s new clothes. Just as a parting shot, did anyone else notice that some of our Parliamentarians continue to say “Beehamians”, while a few of the female announcers at ZNS persist in renaming the country; “Bahamiss”, without nary a ‘point of order’ (objection) or disclaimer, respectively? There is no shortage of work to be done here, but we have to see it to do it. I seriously doubt that we would ever see it from under the gown-tails. What you t’ink? Nom De Plume Nassau July 8, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 18, 2019, PAGE 5 THE BODY of a woman was found in the trunk of a vehicle at a local car junkyard in Freeport yesterday. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
Woman’s corpse found in trunk of car from page one
SUPT BRIAN ROLLE
According to reports, police received a call shortly after 8am from a local tow truck driver/junkyard business operator who discovered the body inside the trunk of a vehicle at his business on East Beach Drive. He told police they had been contacted around 6.30am about a request to remove a vehicle from the Queen’s Highway area. Supt Rolle explained that
after towing the vehicle to the establishment the tow truck driver conducted a check of the vehicle and made the discovery. Officers were dispatched to investigate. “One more sad occasion as officers at CDU visited the scene where a female was found in the back of a vehicle,” he told reporters. “Some person from a local wrecker company was summoned to Queen’s Highway to move a vehicle. On moving the vehicle and following procedure by
checking the interior of the vehicle and the trunk, they found a lifeless body of a woman who appears to be in her late 40s,” Supt Rolle said. He stated that EMS personnel checked the woman and pronounced her dead at the scene. “We are in the midst of our investigation and so no identification will be released at this time,” Supt Rolle said. When asked if a missing persons report was made to police, Supt Rolle said that
none had been received by police in the past 24 hours. This is the sixth murder for the year on Grand Bahama. Supt Rolle said police are not yet sure of a motive. “With this type of murder as we get further in our investigation we will determine what happened. I can say that the other murder that occurred earlier (this week), police are working on avenues to ensure that persons who continue to wreak havoc in the community will be
brought to justice,” he stressed. “I hope that Bahamians reach to the point where they are sick and tired of this. I know as a police force we are, and we are working doing our best to make sure that these persons who continue to bring damnation on the Bahamian public will be brought to justice. “In Grand Bahama, we are not going to rest until we bring all persons involved in this type of activity to justice,” Supt Rolle said.
MINISTRY OF TOURISM HIT BY COMPUTER VIRUS By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar is calling for computer security at the Ministry of Tourism to be beefed up following the discovery of a virus on a ministry server on Tuesday. Mr D’Aguilar confirmed the existence of the virus to reporters yesterday, saying the agency’s information technology (IT) department is “working assiduously” to correct the matter. He also stressed the importance of government agencies not
becoming “complacent” regarding cyber security. When asked to respond to rumours that there was a hacking at his ministry, Mr D’Aguilar said a virus was found. “Yesterday we found a virus on our server that began to corrupt some files,” he said. “The servers were shut down immediately and we think that we can repair the damage that’s been done, but we’re still assessing. I certainly use the server for my email and I haven’t had a problem. “But I’m sure, I’ve heard that some persons in the Ministry of Tourism had files that got
corrupted and they couldn’t - but I think we identified and caught it early enough that the situation can be resolved.” Regarding whether he’s calling for security to be beefed up, Mr D’Aguilar said: “Oh, absolutely. You just have to make sure that all your subscriptions are paid up and that all of your software and necessary security protocols are working as they should be.” He also said he does not believe any sensitive information was breached. When asked if an investigation is underway, Mr D’Aguilar replied: “Well the IT department
at the Ministry of Tourism (is) working assiduously to correct it. I haven’t heard of any traumatic loss of data or any large corrupted files or large amount of files that were corrupted. So we’ll wait and see. I haven’t gotten the full report yet.” He also asked if an investigation is being conducted to determine where the virus came from. To this, he replied: “How the virus got there? Yes I’m sure… But you know, the question is not how it got there, it’s what we could have put in place to prevent it from getting there. “There will always be viruses
trying to get on your computers, on your cellphones, everything, so you just have to make sure that you have the necessary protocols in place to ensure that it doesn’t happen. “And keep that software up to date and relevant and not just get complacent. Think that you bought an anti-virus software ten years ago, it’s still going to work today, is unrealistic.” Mr D’Aguilar also said the matter is being dealt with inhouse, adding the ministry has “sufficient expertise” to do so and a “very robust IT department”.
PAGE 6, Thursday, July 18, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
PLP TO CHALLENGE BENNETT MINNIS IN HIS OWN BACKYARD By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party officials will visit Clarence Town, Long Island, after the party’s convention this month, daring Water & Sewerage board director Bennett Minnis to make good on his threat to block them from the area, PLP chairman Fred Mitchell said. His statements came as he demanded that Mr Minnis, a Free National Movement official, be removed from the board of WSC. In a voice note recently circulated on social media, Mr Minnis called the PLP a from page one Liberty executive had been “placed on a stop list” from entering the country. Liberty is the parent company of BTC. Later, a letter from Mr Nair to Dr Minnis was made public. He wrote that he was “sorry” and did not mean to disrespect the prime minister or Bahamians. The comments he was referring to were made during an internal staff meeting in Jamaica last week and were captured on videos that have since gone viral. In the clips, Mr Nair says the difference between BTC and its Jamaican counterpart, Flow, was “night and day”. He also joked that Dr Minnis could not look LiLAC officials in the eye while calling for more Bahamians to be employed at the company. “I know that some video is going around,” Dr Minnis said. “The video is not as what had taken place. “The CEO Balan who you’re talking about called me on my cell and he apologised for - if the Office of the Prime Minister was insulted. That was never his intention. “He apologised to the
party of “corrupt, thieving, no good, bastard, homosexual, African monkeys.” To many, his comments were a clear breach of protocol requiring people in public service to avoid political controversies. He doubled down on the comments in an interview Tuesday with The Tribune, saying the PLP’s presence at the gravesite of his late cousin Sir Henry Milton Taylor incensed relatives. Sir Henry is one of the founding fathers of the PLP. Speaking during a PLP rally on Tuesday night, Mr Mitchell said: “There’s a man named Bennett Minnis. You heard the voice note. We went down
to Long Island to honour the founder of the party, Sir Henry Taylor. “We did it last year, we did it this year, an innocent gesture, a simple service, and that is now turned into a political battlefield, and you heard the nastiness, ‘sissying, tiefing, black monkeys’ and so forth. I say to myself, my ma used to say, I heard him talking about ‘sissying and tiefing’, I say in answer to that, it takes one to know one. “. . .But that’s not what I want to deal with tonight. The part I want to deal with tonight is he said that if he had known we were coming down to Clarence Town he was going to block the
road and not let the PLP go into Clarence Town. That’s what he said. And then he went a little further than that. He said if we go again, he’s going to come down to Clarence Town, block the road and no police could do anything to stop him. “This is a man who is a public official, he serves on the Water & Sewerage Corporation board. If this had been Sir Lynden Pindling and one of this members had done that he would’ve been gone within seconds. And the only reason we’re not pushing the issue right now, I sent the matter to Desmond Bannister, the minister of works, but he is in mourning because his
BENNETT MINNIS mother died. But once that mourning has passed we expect the government to deal with this man Minnis. And as George Mackey once said to me, not only one woman born a crazy child. And if you can act crazy, I can act crazy too so I want to tell him this: I
Apology? You can put it in writing Bahamian people if that was the interpretation that was never his intent. I told him, (and) this was a communication early this morning, I think it would be fair and wise if he would send an official letter of apology both to the Office of the Prime Minister and the people of The Bahamas. “Exactly what transpired and why things were done
in Jamaica, Mr Speaker, I know he explained to me but I don’t think I am at liberty to disclose that information to the public. But we can expect an official letter of apology from Liberty both to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Bahamian populace.” Dr Minnis then referred to a meeting last week with Liberty and BTC officials
in which he told them he found it insulting that there were plans to move the company’s call centre from New Providence to Guyana. “I would not want misinformation to remain on the records of the House of Assembly,” Dr Minnis said. “I had a meeting with the executives of BTC/Liberty about a week ago or the latter part of last week. It was a very cordial meeting. “I informed them that the government would not tolerate the removal of the call centre from Nassau to Guyana because I found it very insulting. “I called Scotiabank some time ago, (the) latter part of last year I think and was asking for a particular individual only to hear at the other end of the phone a foreign voice. There was a communication thereafter between myself and that foreign voice somewhere in the Caribbean answering for Scotiabank and I was most insulted. “In The Bahamas, we have personal relationships with our banking sector and other industry elements within The Bahamas and I am most insulted when calling a particular entity and the phone is being answered by some foreigner. “I was very firm that we would not tolerate Bahamians losing jobs. I would not tolerate that. “The government was (also) very upset with information that we are receiving that senior officials within BTC are being replaced for a foreign entity. That is most concerning and there was some rumour that individuals were being cherry picked and that is not done in The Bahamas. The remainder of the meeting I would not go into (but) those matters were resolved.” Mr Nair’s July 17 letter said he looked forward to
called the people in Long Island and I told them, after this convention is over, we going to Clarence Town. And we gon’ see what you gon do. You try any sugar, honey, ice tea. You try it. I’m a Bahamian and I go anywhere in the Bahamas.” So far, FNM officials have not condemned Mr Minnis’ statements and it is not clear if he will be allowed to remain on the WSC board. During the FNM’s days in opposition, Mr Minnis remained a steadfast supporter of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, The Tribune understands. The PLP’s convention is scheduled for July 25-26.
And so he did THE LETTER of apology on the left, dated July 17, 2019, and signed by Balan Nair, CEO, Liberty Latin America putting the incident behind all involved and building a better BTC. “First and foremost, I would like to apologise for the remarks I made and the unintended consequences that have arisen as a result of my comments,” he wrote. “The message I was trying to convey did not come across appropriately, have hurt many feelings and for that I am sorry. I meant no disrespect to the prime minister, his office or the citizens of The Bahamas. I look forward to putting this incident behind us and building a better BTC for its employees and for The Bahamas.” He further thanked Dr Minnis for meeting him and colleagues on July 8 when many topics were discussed that affected local business. Mr Nair continued: “I emphasise that we are excited about the business prospects for BTC and are committed to the company. As we discussed we are also looking to invest in improving networks across the region and we will certainly look at The Bahamas as one of those markets to enhance and extend our network. We believe in our employees, The Bahamas and we know there is a bright future ahead. “I appreciate the relationship we have developed and our collaboration with the board of directors of BTC has been constructive as we work together on recent initiatives. My sincere hope is that we can continue to work together in a meaningful way to ensure that BTC can reach its potential and meaningfully contribute to The Bahamas.” “Let me reiterate my apologies to you, your office and the people of The Bahamas. I also want to thank you again for your time last week and look forward to our next meeting,” the letter said.
Mr Nair also released a statement to BTC staff in which he acknowledged the comments were insensitive, adding he felt remorse. He said he “believed” in BTC and the aspirations of Bahamians. Ahead of this apology, Mr Davis said it was only acceptable for Bahamians to criticise their prime minister and government, but not for foreigners to do so. “I am very concerned, the member for Killarney is my prime minister,” the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP said. “I recognise it. “I have some views about my prime minister (but it) is for me to express and for us to express and we should have our agreement. Let me cuss my prime minister (but) don’t let anyone else. “The question I have I am wondering whether this person, Balan Nair of BTC/ Liberty, who mocked the prime minister and was so derisive in a social media video that was circulated, whether he is in the country, whether he has been put on a stop list.” He then referred to a situation in the early 1970s in which outspoken FNM supporter Theo “FNM” Farquharson allegedly struck a British man in the head because he publicly expressed views about Bahamian politics. “FNM Theo in those days he was spirited in his language in describing the PLP and the FNM. This pub on the mall you know a lot of foreigners used to congregate as well. “So happened that this Englishman, decided to get up and butt into our conversation and was telling Theo Farquharson how right he was. ‘That’s a good thing you’re doing.’ Next thing I know a bottle was across his head,” Mr Davis said.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 18, 2019, PAGE 7
Suspect dies after officers open fire from page one Officers recovered an illegal firearm and a quantity of dangerous drugs at the scene, police said. However, a woman who identified herself as the victim’s girlfriend, who did not want to be named, said she witnessed the incident. She claimed the victim was cleaning his yard when he saw police. She said the man attempted to run away, resulting in him being shot once in his back. She also claimed he did not have any weapons or drugs in his possession. She said: “He was a striving and hard-working young man.” This incident came hours after a man was taken to hospital after being wounded by police during a shoot-out following a car chase that ended in the Freeman Subdivision. According to a police report, shortly before 8 o’clock on Tuesday night, officers were on patrol in the southeastern part
of New Providence when they observed two men in a blue Honda. The men began acting in a suspicious manner and the driver sped off after seeing police. The officers pursued the vehicle, which came to a stop in Freeman Subdivision in Nassau Village, police said. The male passenger got out of the vehicle armed with a firearm, which he discharged in the direction of the officers, police said. The officers, “being in fear for their lives”, fired their service weapons in the direction of the man, injuring him. Paramedics took the injured man to hospital where he was listed in critical condition. No one else was injured during Tuesday’s incident. A 9 millimetre pistol and a quantity of dangerous drugs were recovered at the scene, police said. According to The Tribune’s records, there have been five fatal police shootings this year. Editorial View - Page 4
GRANDMOTHER FEARED DROWNED
POLICE in Abaco are investigating an apparent drowning yesterday. It has been reported that, shortly before 2pm, an American woman, who owns a home in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, while swimming with her two grandsons on Gilliam Bay beach, was caught in a rip current. People who were nearby rescued the two boys while the woman was brought ashore. CPR was administered by local residents and the nurse from the Government Clinic also assisted but the woman was later pronounced dead by a doctor.
THE SCENE of a police involved shooting at John Road off Baillou Hill Road.
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PMH RESUMES NON-EMERGENCY OPS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NON-EMERGENCY surgeries will resume today at Princess Margaret Hospital following a brief suspension, the Public Hospitals Authority announced yesterday. “All patients whose procedures were cancelled during the temporary suspension will be rescheduled
appropriately,” PHA said in a statement. The surgeries had been suspended since Friday as officials investigated possible sabotage of the chilling system in the Critical Care Block. The system was fully restored Wednesday night after a rental chiller unit was installed. PHA said the installation of the “250-ton rental chiller unit will provide service to the CCB during
the upgrade of the new permanent chiller system at the hospital. It is anticipated that the installation of the new chillers will extend over the next five months. As a result of the impending works, the main driveway to the legacy entrance of PMH located off Shirley Street at Burnside Lane will be closed to vehicular traffic.” PHA has substantial evidence indicating the chilling
system was failing because it was being tampered with, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has said. He said police are investigating the matter. “We have made a decision that the results of the investigation, if there are findings and if there are recommendations for prosecution, justice should be served,” he said. “So, let the chips fall where they may. No matter who it is that’s involved.”
PAGE 8, Thursday, July 18, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
W Radicalism and racism on the road to re-election
HAT are we to make of the widening tripartite dispute between US President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and “the Squad,” a group of four newly-elected Democratic congresswomen who see as part of their mandate the transformation of the Democratic Party? On one level, Trump really has no part in this inter-party fracas. “The Squad” – Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) and Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts) – came to Washington charged by their constituents to bring about broad changes in social justice and the way the US government serves the people who elect their representatives. To do this, the four women, and others who share their views, believe the Democratic Party must reform and transform itself into a party more literally of and for the people. The Squad is not pushing a purely socialist agenda. But some of their policies certainly tend in that direction and the accompanying rhetoric can easily be distorted by political foes eager to portray the four as radical to the point of being subversive. This is of course exactly what Trump defenders are doing who know it is unwise to completely affiliate themselves with the president’s recent outrageously racist comments. Leading among these craven apologists is South Carolina senator Lindsay Graham, once a harsh critic of Trump and staunch ally of former Arizona Republican senator John McCain on sensible military and foreign policy, but now a golfing buddy and opportunistic pal of the president. Graham, as if you needed to ask, is up for re-election next year and is anxious to avoid a Trumpfuelled primary election challenge in what is otherwise likely to be an easy path to re-election.
PRESIDENT Trump is hurling Twitter racist and ideological grenades at the Squad.
STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
The Squad has had an uneasy relationship with powerful Speaker Pelosi from the moment they were sworn in to office. As other, more seasoned House members contemplated a challenge to Pelosi late last year and early in 2019, there was much speculation about how the Squad would respond. In the end, Pelosi prevailed and a truce
was declared in the greater interest of the unity needed to defeat Trump next year. But it was an uneasy and, as we now know, not a durable truce. Wily Trump is doing what he does best in such circumstances. Making no effort to conceal his glee at the Democrats’ feuds, Trump is doing his best to fan the flames in the hope he will
help open a corrosive divide between the up and coming progressive forces and the Democrats’ old guard. The president opined the other day that he was sure Pelosi would be happy to arrange travel for the Squad to go “back where they came from”. He is hurling Twitter racist and ideological grenades at the Squad. It’s all being played
out against the background of the deteriorating situation at America’s southern border, with visiting dignitaries from both parties drawing their own conclusions from what they observe. It is not difficult to understand the causes for the Democratic schism. Pelosi and her allies see as Job One getting Trump out of the White House and Mitch McConnell out of the Senate majority leadership (and maybe out of the Senate altogether: a credible Democrat has signed up to oppose him in Kentucky next year). The business of governing, of which policies the new Democratic president should embrace,
and 1,000 other things, can wait. For the Speaker, regaining political power is paramount. A divided Democratic Party cannot beat Trump, according to this thinking. The Squad’s agenda, and that of many other progressives, must await the voters’ choice in 16 months. Ocasio-Cortez and her allies see the political calculus differently. Unquestionably recognizing the need to dismiss Trump and his corrupt administration, they advocate for change now. A big part of that change is the powerful symbolic gesture of a House-passed Bill of Impeachment of the president, however remote the chances might be of a Senate conviction. The Squad is impatient; they believe their voters want them to be impatient. But the Squad and others also believe the surest path to defeating Trump is to actively embrace and promote social and economic change now. They deride the so-called political expediency of waiting until after the election. Waiting, according to this thinking, will lead many progressive voters to stay at home and not vote on election day. They don’t believe Trump can be defeated unless the Democrats show they are already moving forward with a strong, progressive agenda. Political pundits and cartoonists across the US are rushing to offer commentary on this familial political dispute. Trump correctly sees it as enormously helpful to his re-election bid. As the congressional summer recess looms in the near future, the main Democratic antagonists show no signs of backing down. But it’s still early days.
How two changes kept baseball fans in the game In 1994, baseball was beset with issues between the powerful players’ union and a recalcitrant bunch of team owners. As that fateful season unfolded, two teams roared out to great starts and may have ended up meeting in the World Series. The Cleveland Indians, without a championship then (and now) since 1948,
launched an amazing multiyear run of success by racking up a 66-47 record that would have qualified for the playoffs. And the Montreal Expos put together their best season north of the border, leading the major leagues with a 74-40 mark. Both teams were understandably frustrated when labourmanagement problems
ultimately caused the cancellation of the latter part of the 1994 season and the World Series. The Indians have played in and lost three World Series since 1994, and the Expos suffered from an antiquated stadium and low attendance and eventually moved to Washington DC to become the Nationals. But also in 1994, baseball changed its playoff schedule to include a “wild card” participant. The wild card team didn’t play that year since the playoffs were cancelled. Earlier in 1994, MLB had also changed to a structure of three divisions in each league. Each division winner made the playoffs, plus the wild card team. Then, in 2012, a second wild card team was added in each league and the playoff schedules were later extended so that it became possible in some years for the World Series
THE YANKEES have 60 wins. to actually extend into November. 2019 promises to be a banner year for increased fan interest, which was the clear intent of the MLB playoff changes. Yesterday, with all teams having played over 100 games this year, the American League standings showed nine of the 15 AL teams with a decent chance to play in the postseason. The Yankees (60 wins), Twins (58) and Astros (59) were all leading their divisions by seemingly
comfortable six games. But Tampa Bay (56), Boston (51), Cleveland (53), Oakland (54), Texas (50) and the Los Angeles Angels (50) were all close enough to be included in any postseason discussion. The National League was somewhat less competitive, with only seven teams in the post-season picture, led by the Dodgers with an astounding 63 wins. The Cubs (51) and Braves (58) led the other divisions, with the Nationals (50), Phillies (49), Brewers (49) and Cardinals (47) also contenders at least for the NL wild card. Every fan knew MLB was playing for more money a quarter century ago when it added the wild cards and expanded the playoffs. But no one will care as September rolls around this season with their team still in contention for the post-season. Hope, after all, springs eternal.
FOR SALE
THIS summer marks the 25th anniversary of two big changes in Major League Baseball. Both of these changes were implemented during a period of great labour strife and public disenchantment with MLB, but they have stood the test of time and will play a major role in the unfolding summer 2019 baseball season and fan interest in it.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 18, 2019, PAGE 9
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net CHIEF Immigration Officer Norman Bastian yesterday maintained that it was not “improper” for him to have had sex with a Jamaican woman he questionably had in his exclusive custody and who has accused him of raping her, though, he said, in hindsight he would not do it again. Mr Bastian, taking the witness stand before Justice Indra Charles, maintained that while he did have sex with Claudia Edwards Bethel, he did not rape the woman, and consequently denied her attorney’s invitation for him to apologize for the “trauma” she suffered as a result of his actions. However, Mr Bastian admitted to making a “professional mistake” in having Mrs Bethel in his exclusive custody without a female immigration officer present, stating: “In hindsight, I would say no, it was not proper.” Mr Bastian also admitted that the woman he used to satisfy the Department of Immigration’s policy when it comes to dealing with female detainees, Marsha Curry, was not an immigration officer, but merely a friend of 30 years with whom he had grown up in the same neighbourhood. Ms Curry was present with Mr Bastian and Mrs Bethel for a portion of the time she was in Mr Bastian’s custody. As to why he didn’t utilise a female immigration officer as expected, he said none were available at the time. Mr Bastian, who was promoted from senior immigration officer to chief immigration officer just months after his initial rape charges were thrown out in 2016, maintained he conducted himself “to the best of my abilities and high standards” in dealing with Mrs Bethel. “I have nothing to hide,” he insisted. Mr Bastian’s testimony came during Mrs Bethel’s civil suit against the government after her rape case was tossed out of Magistrate’s Court in March
In hindsight, I was wrong to be alone with woman
IMMIGRATION officer Norman Bastian arriving at the Supreme Court. Photo: Shawn Hanna//Tribune Staff 2016. Mr Bastian was never tried of the offence and consequently was never convicted. Mrs Bethel, who has waived her right to anonymity, claims Mr Bastian raped her and forced her to
commit oral sex after lying in wait for her in his bed naked. Mr Bastian denies the rape and maintains the sex was consensual, claiming it was initiated by Mrs Bethel after she bluntly asked for
CHIPMAN PRESENTS PETITION OVER QUIETING TITLES ACT
By FARRAH JOHNSON
CENTREVILLE MP Reece Chipman yesterday moved a petition to review the Quieting Titles Act of 1959, which currently outlines the process to claim unused land without holding a legal title. During the request for presentations of petitions yesterday in the House of Assembly, Mr Chipman said he believes the law has given foreigners and permanent residents the freedom to quiet land at the expense of Bahamian citizens. Presenting the appeal to House Speaker Halson Moultrie, Mr Chipman said: “Whereas Section 3 Part 27 of the constitution specifies the granting and protection of the fundamental rights of human
beings from being deprived of property. Whereas the Privy Council cases suggest that this clause should have priority over the savings clause in matters of fundamental rights. Whereas, we believe the act has allowed for foreign persons and or permanent residents to quiet land in the Bahamas to the disenfranchisement of the Bahamian people. And whereas we are unable to locate documents of companies in the Registrar’s Office that would have quieted land or purchased land that was quieted.” Mr Chipman added the Quieting Titles Act also lacks a restriction on the amount of land that can be quieted and asserted that the “procedures and investigation processes” of the
act do not align with “best practices”. “And whereas we believe the act does not benefit the majority of the Bahamian people in terms of land ownership and wealth. “And whereas funds received from all lands quieted and or resold should go to the Sovereign Wealth Fund as established by the act of Parliament in 2016. And whereas we believe the land unit and Land and Surveys Department served a single purpose and adequate documentation of quieted land should be a public document,” he furthered. Mr Chipman said he is calling on Parliament to establish a competent authority to eliminate deficiencies in the country’s land laws.
sex after pulling down her pants and showing him the tattoos on her buttocks. Mr Bastian’s testimony also came after Mrs Bethel’s attorney Fred Smith, QC, officially declined Justice Charles’ offer to recuse herself because she ordered the Department of Immigration to reinstate Mr Bastian and pay him damages because the rape allegation was thrown out three years ago after a preliminary inquiry. The inquiry was to determine whether there was sufficient evidence for Mr Bastian to stand trial in the Supreme Court over the allegations. However, the matter ended at the nocase submission stage in Mr Bastian’s favour in March 2016 after Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt found Mrs Bethel’s testimony to be not credible and “terribly shaken”. Mr Bastian, who was interdicted and on half-pay at the time, launched an action seeking to compel his reinstatement. At the time, Justice Charles said Mr Bastian was seeking “substantial sums of money” owed to him. She said there was also talk about whether he should be promoted, but said she didn’t deal with it at the time. Nonetheless, Justice Charles said she ordered
that the DOI should fully reinstate Mr Bastian and pay him damages. According to Mr Smith, in October 28, 2016 a letter from the Public Service Commission stipulated that Mr Bastian’s reinstatement was approved as of September of that year. That letter also specified Mr Bastian’s incremental scales of pay. On November 16, 2016, a letter from the permanent secretary in the Department of Public Service approved Mr Bastian’s promotion to chief immigration officer. At the start of yesterday’s proceedings, Mr Smith said after having the opportunity to review the file and consider the relevant issues and the law, his legal team had no grounds for making any accusations of bias against Justice Charles, and thus no grounds for a recusal application. He said that was because Justice Charles was not required to and did not make any judicial determination, heard no witnesses and considered no evidence, and “was not involved in any way” in considering the merits of that matter. However, he said, the respondents in the matter ought to have been produced earlier, as he previously stated he had “no
idea” of Mr Bastian’s other court action. Crown lead attorney Kayla Green-Smith also said her team would not be asking for Justice Charles’ recusal, as she submitted that the judge’s reference to Mr Bastian’s other matter had “nothing to do” with the present case. Mr Bastian’s attorney Alex Morley also said he had no objection to her continuing to preside over the matter. However, Mr Smith disagreed with the Crown and its assertion that Mr Bastian’s other matter had nothing to do with the present case, as he asserted that Mr Bastian’s interdiction, the terms of the settlement, the removal of the interdiction, and his subsequent promotion, are “fundamentally relevant to the current case”. Mr Smith also asserted that just because a person’s criminal charges are dismissed doesn’t mean they should automatically be reinstated. He charged that the governing bodies, in this case the DOI or the Public Service Commission, still had an obligation to consider whether the actions of the interdicted person warranted any disciplinary action. The matter continues.
PAGE 10, Thursday, July 18, 2019 By MATHEW SCHMALZ Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross THE Trump administration will stop accepting asylum applications from migrants who could have claimed asylum in a different country before entering the US, it announced on July 15. The new interim immigration rule upends a 60-year-old policy that protects refugees from war, political persecution and targeted violence. Central Americans – hundreds of thousands of whom cross Mexico each year – will now be barred from applying for asylum when they reach the US. Only refugees who applied for and were denied asylum in a “safe third country” – in practice, Mexico – may then apply to the US for protection. As a Roman Catholic scholar, I look to the Bible for guidance in evaluating the Trump administration’s immigration policies, from the Muslim ban and the border wall to the new asylum rule. At issue in all these policies, it seems to me, are deeper questions about what it means to welcome the stranger. So, what does the Bible actually say? The Bible affirms – strongly and clearly – the obligation to treat strangers with dignity and hospitality. In “Love the Stranger,” an article written for the annual meeting of the College Theological Society, biblical scholar Alice Laffey states that in the Hebrew Bible, the words “gûr” and “ger” are most often cited as referring to the “stranger,” though they are also translated as “newcomer” and “alien” or “resident alien,” respectively. In the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the word “ger” appears almost 50 times. The fifth book, Deuteronomy, specifically sets out requirements for treating “the stranger” not just with courtesy but also with active support.
THE TRIBUNE
The Bible’s message is clear, Mr Trump - we should welcome refugees
MIGRANTS who were lodging at a migrant shelter being taken to apply for US asylum in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico yesterday. For example, Deuteronomy states that a portion of produce should be saved by farmers every third year and given to strangers, widows and orphans. In the “temple sermon” attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, the Jewish people are also exhorted to “not oppress the sojourner.” Within the Hebrew Bible the requirements of hospitality are sometimes presented in shocking ways, as in the story from the book of Judges where a host offers his own daughter to rapists in order to protect his guest. Of course, the Israelites themselves were “strangers” during their enslavement in Egypt and captivity in Babylon. The Hebrew Bible recognizes that every one of us
will be a stranger at some point in our lives. In the New Testament, which Christians read together with the Hebrew Bible or “The Old Testament,” the most often cited passage dealing with welcoming the stranger is from Matthew 25: 31-40. This section speaks of the Final Judgment, when the righteous will go to paradise and unrepentant sinners will be sent to eternal fire. Christ says to those at his right hand that they are “blessed” because “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” The righteous then ask, “When did we see you, a stranger, and welcome you?”
Christ replies, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” As Matthew 25 makes clear, Christians should see everyone as “Christ” in the flesh. In fact, scholars argue that in the New Testament, “stranger” and “neighbour” are actually synonymous. The Golden Rule, “love your neighbour as yourself,” refers not just to people whom you know – your “neighbours” in the usual sense – but also to people whom you do not know. Beyond this, in the letters written by Paul of Tarsus – one of the most notable of early Christian missionaries – often known as the Pauline “Epistles,” it is made clear that in Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is no male and female.” From this perspective, being “one in Christ” should be taken literally as acknowledging no fundamental differences in kind among human beings. All people have equal dignity. Of course, in Christianity strong statements about treating the stranger with love and respect have coexisted with actions indicating the opposite. Pogroms against Jews, slavery, imperialism and colonialism have been supported by Christians who also would have affirmed biblical principles regarding caring for those who seem “other” or “alien.” When it comes to denying asylum or building a wall on America’s border with Mexico, some Christians
argue that doing so does not violate biblical values of hospitality since the issue is one of legality. And a good number of Christians support Donald Trump’s presidency. But other Christians take an opposing position, calling for cities and educational institutions – in addition to churches – to be set apart as “safe zones” for undocumented immigrants. As the divide among Christians around the treatment of undocumented immigrants and refugees shows, applying biblical principles to matters of policy is difficult. However, in my reading of the Bible, the principles that demand we welcome the stranger are broadreaching and unambiguous. theconversation.com
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 18, 2019, PAGE 11
Bahamian music icon gunned down in his own home By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN musician Sylvester “Sly” Roker who was killed at his home in the Turks and Caicos Islands yesterday.
BAHAMIAN musician Sylvester “Sly” Roker was killed after a home invasion in the Turks and Caicos Islands yesterday morning. According to Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police, around 3.05am yesterday officers received reports that armed assailants entered a home on Bay Road and opened fire on a man. Police and medical units were dispatched, and the victim was pronounced dead at 4.43am at the hospital. Speaking on the incident, TCI Commissioner of Police James Smith said: “This is a traumatic situation for the victim’s family and friends. While there are many emotions, I can tell you that my officers are committed to bringing the facts to light. We are currently conducting a thorough investigation. We are collecting evidence and would like to hear from all available witnesses. We are asking anyone in our community with information regarding the incident to contact 911 or 18008477 anonymously.” Roker, 65, is said to be a father of 17. In an interview with The Tribune, his son Jamal Rodgers said his father was a Bahamian icon and that news of his death has shocked relatives. Mr Rodgers said: “It’s rough to wake up to phone calls that you know your father has been murdered, words can’t explain how you feel. The news that we got was a home invasion and he was shot multiple times about the body and that’s all the information that I have.” Roker’s daughter, Raeh Williams, posted an emotional message about his death on her Facebook page yesterday.
“To wake up with calls from Turks & Caicos this morning broke my heart,” she wrote. “Our father Sly Roker was killed this morning. He was able to relay what happened although he didn’t survive, so we give thanks for his journey as unfortunate as it is. “We are very confused and sad, but wanted to let friends and family know. One of my sisters lives in Turks and is helping his brothers sort through the situation. Some of us will travel today, tomorrow and the weekend. Please keep my siblings in prayer, especially my sister there dealing with this. We give thanks for his journey!” Obie Pindling, friend and Visage Band member, said every musician and entertainer from the ‘60s and ‘70s looked up to Roker. He said: “I still can’t get over the devastating news out of Turks. It really shocked me because he was really and truly one of those musicians from the ‘70s as young
men learning to play music, we really respected him. We really did. “He and I had a fantastic relationship over the years, and we reconnected last year. (I wanted) his permission to re-record his song and he said, ‘Obie I’d be honoured if you guys did it’.” Mr Pindling said Roker was a youthful, vibrant, energetic and wonderful person and the Bahamas has lost a legend. “Sly always was cracking jokes and would say something to make you laugh. Sly was a fantastic and wonderful person. Couple of weeks ago we lost Mdeez one of the young upcoming superstars and now we have weeks later we are lost a legend to crime,” he said. The Bahamian entertainer was mostly known for his songs “Hollywood Humpty Dumpy” and “Give It Up Baby” which was recently remade this year by Visage.
PAGE 12, Thursday, July 18, 2019 By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net IN the wake of a month marred by several shark attacks - including one fatal encounter - Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday said the government will review protocols to see how it can “mitigate against” these occurrences. He also suggested the infrequency of shark attacks, events he described as “freaks of nature”, has contributed to the lack of companies which have requisite safety measures in place. “But now they will,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “And so I think that the industry will transform itself based on what has transpired.” The tourism minister also expressed his belief that visitors will select excursion companies which demonstrate having the “necessary safety protocols”. Speaking to reporters following Parliament proceedings, he also underscored the importance of a multi-ministerial approach to this matter, particularly the Ministries of Transport and Marine Resources. On June 26, Jordan Lindsey of California was killed in a shark attack near Rose Island. The 21-year-old was swimming with her mother 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. When asked to respond to these recent attacks, as well as their potential impact on the nation’s tourism industry, Mr D’Aguilar noted this phenomena is not exclusive to The Bahamas, while offering his condolences to Lindsey’s family. “As it relates to the shark attacks, first and foremost, I think that there have been numerous shark attacks all up and down the east coast of the United States…I’m deeply saddened of course by the family that, their
THE TRIBUNE
We will review protocols in light of shark attacks, confirms tourism minister
ABOVE: Jordan Lindsey of California who was killed in a shark attack. Inset, Dionisio D’Aguilar daughter was tragically killed by the shark,” he said. “And you know it’s very hard to - everybody, everybody in the press wants to know ‘how is this going to affect tourism’, ‘how is this going to affect people coming to the country’, and it’s very hard for one to discuss that knowing that this family has had their loss. And so I always put it in that context. We have to recognise that someone has suffered a tragic loss. “But, I always say - we have 6.6m foreign visitors come to our country and there are going to be accidents. And there are going to be freaks of nature, which I consider this, the shark attack to be.
“And so, how we react to it and how we respond to it and how we attempt to mitigate it is probably more important. And we’re certainly looking- I’m in discussions with the Ministry of Marine Resources, in discussions with the Ministry of Transport that’s responsible for licensing boats.” The tourism minster also discussed the issue of enforcing rules as well as the role visitors can play in this matter. “But, as I always say, writing rules is no problem. It’s enforcing the rules that are the problem. And I’m sure that as foreign visitors decide what excursions they’re going to go on, they’re gong to be a lot
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more discerning and they’re going to go with a business that demonstrates to them that they had the necessary safety protocols in place. “So, I think that companies (that) probably never even thought, because we have had so few shark attacks over the last 100 years, I think it’s maybe three or four, and it’s so infrequent, that many companies just didn’t take that into consideration in terms developing their safety protocols, but now they will. And so I think that the industry will transform itself based on what has transpired.” Mr D’Aguilar was asked if any rules in particular are being considered. “Not really… Given the
accident that happened last year in Exuma, the Ministry of Transport, well first of all we passed a new act of Parliament as it relates to water sports and water craft and how they should be licensed and all that so, we definitely took that measure,” he said. “Now, how to respond to shark attacks is going to be difficult, but based on what happened we certainly have to review our protocols and what we were doing or were not doing and see how we can mitigate against something like that happening again,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “But as I say, it is so infrequent, and based on the history has happened so infrequently, that we may have over looked that.” In June 2018, a horrific boat explosion in Exuma claimed the life of an American woman and seriously injured two others who lost limbs. The company’s owner and one of his captains will stand trial in 2020 over allegations of negligence in the fatal tour boat explosion. Regarding whether any laws against the practice of chumming or feeding sharks could be implemented, Mr D’Aguilar said that matter must be directed to the
minister of marine resources. “My job is to attract foreign visitors to the country and ensure that they have a wonderful vacation when they get here. And obviously that requires me to have discussion with other ministries to ensure that.” On July 4, a 32-year-old American tourist was airlifted to New Providence after being bitten by a shark while snorkelling in waters off Guana Cay, Abaco. Police officers and EMS personnel took him to the Marsh Harbour Clinic where he was treated for his injuries. He was later airlifted to New Providence for further treatment. On June 17, 50-year-old American Salvador Ruiz was bitten by a six-foot reef shark while snorkelling in the waters off Waderick Wells Cay, leaving a large gash on his leg. He was discharged from a Florida hospital on Sunday, where he underwent five surgeries, according to international reports. He will require additional procedures. Concern that the Bahamas’ tourism market could suffer a blow after Lindsey’s fatal shark attack has created the impetus for officials to consider a number of measures to protect snorkelers. On Monday, CEO and Executive Director of the Tourism Development Corporation Janet Johnson, told The Tribune several safeguards are being considered. Stakeholders also want emergency and training protocols put in place, she said.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 18, 2019, PAGE 13
JOAQUIN ‘EL CHAPO’ GUZMAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON NEW YORK Associated Press
MEXICAN drug kingpin and escape artist Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was sentenced yesterday to life behind bars in a US prison, expressing no remorse over his conviction for a massive drug conspiracy that spread murder and mayhem for more than two decades. Instead, a defiant Guzman took a parting shot at a judge in federal court in Brooklyn by accusing him of making a mockery of the US justice system in refusing to order a new trial based on unsubstantiated allegations of
juror misconduct. “My case was stained and you denied me a fair trial when the whole world was watching,” Guzman said through an interpreter. Experts say he will likely wind up at the federal government’s Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, where inmates are held alone for 23 hours a day and have little human interaction. “Since the government will send me to a jail where my name will not ever be heard again, I take this opportunity to say there was no justice here,” he said. The 62-year-old drug lord sporting his trademark moustache after being clean-shaven during
his trial - also used what could be his last chance to speak in public by complaining about being kept in solitary confinement since he was brought to the US to stand trial after twice breaking out of Mexican prisons. Before handing down the sentence, US District Judge Brian Cogan said Guzman’s complaints were minor given the “mountain range of evidence” against him detailing conduct he described as “evil”. Yesterday, the judge heard from one of Guzman’s alleged victims, Andrea Velez Fernandez, who once worked for him until she made his enemy list. She claimed
JOAQUIN “EL CHAPO” GUZMAN
he put out a $1 million bounty to have her killed. “Fortunately, I found out and escaped with the help of the FBI,” she said. Guzman had no visible reaction at hearing his sentence. As he stood to be led out of the courtroom, he put his hand on his heart and waved to family members. The term - life plus 30 years - was a foregone conclusion. The guilty verdict on drug-trafficking charges in February triggered a mandatory sentence of life. Cogan also ordered Guzman to pay $12.6bn in ill-gotten proceeds - money his drug-trafficking organisation made distributing cocaine and other drugs around the US.
Trump has no regrets as election battle looms WASHINGTON Associated Press
WITH tweets and a vote, President Donald Trump and House Democrats established the sharp and emotionally raw contours of the 2020 election campaigns. In the process, they have created a fraught political frame: “racists” vs. “socialists”. Trump’s aggressive condemnation of women of colour in Congress has allowed House Democrats to mend, for now, their own political divisions as they put the president on record with a resolution condemning his words as racist. But by pushing the House majority into the arms of the squad of liberal freshman women, Trump also adds to his narrative that Democrats have a “socialist” agenda, a story line he started to bring into focus during his State of the Union address. Political triumphs are being claimed on all sides. Yet it’s unclear whether either approach is what’s needed to sway independent-minded voters who typically determine congressional and presidential elections. And at a time when polling shows Americans sense a worsening of racial attitudes, the searing attacks along Pennsylvania Avenue are tapping potentially explosive emotions. “I do think I’m winning the
ILHAN OMAR, left, joined by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as they respond to remarks by President Donald Trump. political fight,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “I’m winning a lot.” Whoever is “winning,” there was no cooling off yesterday. Trump jetted off to a campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina, while the House voted on a resolution on impeachment. A majority of Democrats joined united Republicans in killing the measure.
In all, the current state of affairs offers “a very clear choice,” said Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. “The Democrat party is now a socialist party, and these four women have become the de facto speakers of the Democrat House,” she said on Fox. “So he’s saying, do you want socialism or do you want what we’re delivering with higher
jobs, higher wages, more jobs, a strong economy.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that Americans have already heard enough from Trump, with his “disgusting” remarks “denigrating” the nation’s values. “The president knows the arguments that are being made against him and therefore he wants to distract from them,” Pelosi said. “Let’s not waste time on that,” she said. “We’re talking about what we’re going to do to help the American people.” The four freshmen, in their own appearance together, portrayed the president as a bully who wants to “vilify” not only immigrants, but all people of colour. They’re fighting for their priorities to lower health care costs, pass a Green New Deal addressing climate change, they say, while his thundering attacks tear at the core of America vales. “America has always been about the triumph of people who fight for everyone versus those who want to preserve rights for just a select few,” said Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The women, Ocasio-Cortez and Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, all were born in the US except for Omar, who became a US citizen after fleeing Somalia as a refugee with her family. Stateside - Page 8
CONGO EBOLA OUTBREAK DECLARED GLOBAL EMERGENCY GENEVA Associated Press
THE deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo is now an international health emergency, the World Health Organization announced yesterday after a case was confirmed in a city of 2 million people . A WHO expert committee declined on three previous occasions to advise the United Nations health agency to make the declaration for this outbreak, even though other experts say it has long met the conditions. More than 1,600 people have died since August in the seconddeadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which is unfolding in a region described as a war zone. A declaration of a global health emergency often brings greater international attention and aid, along with concerns that nervous governments might overreact with border closures. The declaration comes days after a single case was confirmed in Goma, a major regional crossroads in northeastern Congo.
55-YEAR-OLD TAKES WORLD POKER CROWN
LAS VEGAS Associated Press GERMAN Hossein Ensan outlasted Italy’s Dario Sammartino and Canada’s Alex Livingston to claim the $10 million title yesterday at the 50th World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas. The 55-year-old native of Iran who
immigrated to Germany 30 years ago became the oldest world poker champion in 20 years when he won the 301st hand at the final table to finish off Sammartino after nearly eight hours of play. “Unbelievable,” said Ensan. “I am so happy. I thank my fans at home in Germany, also in Iran and my fans, my buddies here. This is the best feeling in my life.”
NEW WAY TO KILL DISEASE-CARRYING MOSQUITOES NEW YORK Associated Press
SCIENTISTS say they nearly eliminated diseasecarrying mosquitoes on two islands in China using a new technique. The downside: It may not be practical for larger areas and may cost a lot of
money. In the experiment, researchers targeted Asian tiger mosquitoes, invasive white-striped bugs that can spread dengue fever, Zika and other diseases. They used a novel approach for pest control: First, they infected the bugs with a virus-fighting bacterium, and then zapped them
with a small dose of radiation. Zapping is meant to sterilize the mosquitoes. And releasing mosquitoes infected with a bacterial strain not found in wild mosquitoes would stop them from reproducing. Mosquitoes need to have the same type to make young that will survive.
PAGE 16, Thursday, July 18, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
DNA REPEATS CALL FOR VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance outside the house of assembly yesterday. Left to right, Deputy Leader Busheme Armbrister, party leader Arinthia Komolafe and party chairman Omar Smith. Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff THE Democratic National Alliance held a press conference on the steps of the House of Assembly yesterday, again calling for a vote of no confidence to be moved against the Minnis administration. “We are asking for the members that we sent to this honorable House that we are standing before right now to do the right thing and to put forward a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Minnis and the FNM government,” DNA leader Arinthia Komolafe said, flanked by party members. She said as the third party canvasses the country, its members hear common complaints from
Bahamians: that they are “tired, frustrated” and afraid of victimisation. The press conference was cut short after security at the House of Assembly informed the DNA members that they could not assemble on the steps of Parliament and block parliamentarians from entering the the building. On Tuesday, the DNA launched its 10 days of activism calling for transparency in governance. At that time, the party raised issues with the government leasing portions of Town Centre Mall, which is partly owned by St Anne’s MP Brent Symonette, for the relocation of the General Post Office.
SIX FACE SUMMER THEFT CHARGES By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
SIX men were brought before the Freeport Magistrate’s Court yesterday to face a laundry list of shopbreaking and stealing offences that occurred in the Eight Mile Rock and Freeport areas between June and July. Eric Forbes and Bobby Outten, both 18; Delano Black, 31; Darren Black, 35; and Charles Bethel, 41, all of Eight Mile Rock, and Andrew Bowe, 34, of Freeport, appeared in Court One before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson. Delano Black, Darren Black, Outten, and Forbes were charged with nine counts of shopbreaking and seven counts of stealing from a shop, two counts of sacrilege, and one count of causing damage. The accused men allegedly stole property from a church and several businesses in Eight Mile Rock. Delano Black and Darren Black pleaded not guilty to all the charges and elected summary trial in Magistrate’s Court. Forbes pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. He was ordered to pay compensation totalling $2,700 to the virtual complainants by noon today. If he pays, his sentence would be reduced by six months and he would serve six years. Darren and Delano Black were denied bail and remanded in custody at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until November 6 for trial. Bowe was charged with receiving. It is alleged that on July 16, the accused dishonestly
received one black LG 55-inch flat screen TV knowing it was obtained or appropriated by an offence. He pleaded not guilty to the matter. He was denied bail and the case was adjourned to October 10. He was remanded to BDCS. Bethel was also charged with receiving. It is alleged that between July 3 and July 4, while at EMR, the accused dishonestly received one Polaroid television valued at $300, knowing it was obtained or appropriated by an offence. Bethel was also charged with possession of ammunition with intent to supply. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was denied bail. The case was adjourned to October 10 for trial. As for matters that occurred in Freeport, Forbes, Outten, Delano and Darren Black were each charged with three counts of shopbreaking; one count of attempted shopbreaking; three counts of stealing from a shop, and one count of causing damage. Forbes and Outten pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced to three and four months in prison. Delano and Darren Black pleaded not guilty. They were denied bail and were remanded in custody until October 10. The four men were also arraigned in Court Three before Magistrate Rengin Johnson on further shopbreaking and stealing charges. Forbes and Outten pleaded guilty, and their sentencing was deferred to Friday, July 19. Delano and Darren Black pleaded not guilty. Bail was denied and they were remanded to the BDCS until November 18 on that matter.
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