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Galanis rejects claims PLP could become unstable without Christie

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  FORMER Progressive Liberal Party MP Philip Galanis yesterday chastised Prime Minister Perry Christie over his recent assertion that the party could become unstable without him at the helm, saying this was the “height of nonsense� and bordered on “delusional�.

In a frank interview with The Tribune, Mr Galanis said there are many persons within the party that are capable of bringing a breath of fresh air into the country, ridding it of the “Christie fatigue� it now experiences. Mr Galanis

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CARMICHAEL HOPEFUL AS MP DECIDES NOT TO STAND

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Danny Johnson’s announcement that he will not seek reelection for the Carmichael constituency has reportedly restored “new feelings of optimism� and hope in the area with PLP insiders telling The Tribune there were serious issues with the minister’s representation.

SEE PAGE 11

BUDDY BACK IN THE BAHAMAS

insisted that if it was Mr Christie’s desire to remain on as prime minister, he should just be intellectually honest and say so.

He went on to explain that despite Mr Christie’s constant mantra that his team was a “bridge to the future,� his declaration on Monday was an admission that he failed to appoint persons who could actually succeed him.

Asked if he believed the party should have an earlier convention, Mr Galanis said the PLP should because the planned November timeline was too late to change leaders and draft a plan to direct the country.

SEE PAGE SIX

ROLLINS: PM MAKING UP REASONS TO STAY IN POWER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE fallout from Prime Minister Perry Christie’s suggestion that the Progressive Liberal Party would become unstable if he were to step down as leader continued yesterday with Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins saying Mr Christie has “manufactured� a sketchy reason to substantiate his decision to remain leader.

Dr Rollins’ comments came as former PLP parliamentarians Philip Galanis and George Smith also

criticised Mr Christie’s statement a day after Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave� Davis rejected the notion that the party would fall apart if Mr Christie leaves.

The prime minister said one other reason he wishes to remain leader is that young members of his government have urged him to do so. “His comment,� Dr Rollins said, “was evidence that the prime minister is manufacturing reasons to hold on to power by referencing unnamed young SEE PAGE SIX

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A GRAND welcome yesterday for Bahamian basketball star Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield as he arrived in New Providence yesterday. For more photographs from the NBA player’s visit, see Sports section and page two inside.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

KILLER NAMED BY DYING VICTIM SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN JAIL

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison for a murder a judge said only served to underscore the “wave of uncharacteristic and unprecedented violence� in the Bahamas.

Jamal “Gargamel� Mor-

ley appeared before Justice Vera Watkins facing 30 years to life in prison for the March 2012 killing of 23-year-old Elroy Wilson at West End Avenue.

Morley’s sentence was reduced to 36 years and 11 months after the court took into account time spent on remand awaiting trial.

The 40 year old, The

Tribune understands, had been offered a 25-year plea deal at his trial if he admitted to the offence. He rejected the offer.

However, a jury unanimously convicted him of murder on April 22. The Crown did not seek the discretionary death penalty.

SEE PAGE TEN

‘DOCTOR WAS WITH ME ON DAY OF SUPPOSED RAPE’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AN employee of Dr Gerald Forbes gave sworn evidence in the Supreme Court that the accused was not at work on March 2 when a woman claimed that she was raped by the doctor at his Carico Medical Clinic

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Jumelia Mathieu, who was employed by Dr Forbes to open, close and clean the clinic, testified that she was with Dr Forbes on the date in question for the entire day.

It is alleged that on February 3, 2015, Dr Forbes, 46, indecently assaulted a 20-year-old woman during

a medical exam and raped her on March 2, 2015, having sex with her without her consent while performing an abortion.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place at his clinic in the Professional Plaza on Pioneer’s Way. SEE PAGE 11

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FNM CHAIRMAN: CONVENTION TO BE ON THE FRUGAL SIDE

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  FREE National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie said yesterday the party’s upcoming three-day convention will be on the “frugal side� with the convention committee focusing less on the “bells and whistles� regularly associated with such events and more on policy and substance.

At a press conference at the party’s headquarters on Mackey Street, Mr Collie said the FNM is still $150,000 shy of its $350,000 goal for the convention but he said the party’s finance committee is holding a meeting today and he SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Thursday, July 21, 2016

NEW MAPLE SAUSAGE BREAKFAST SANDWICH COMBO Wake up to the sweet taste of maple.

THE TRIBUNE

CHAVANO ‘Buddy’ Hield is welcomed at Lynden Pindling International Airport VIP Lounge yesterday, where the NBA star was presented with a backpack made by a Bahamian Designer. See Sports section for more on his homecoming.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

A WARM WELCOME FOR BUDDY HIELD

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POLICE HUNT FOR MISSING WOMAN

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A 26-YEAR-OLD Eight Mile Rock woman has reportedly gone missing and police are asking the public for its assistance in locating her.

Inspector Terecita Pinder reported that police are searching for Cardeisha Spencer, a resident of T Smith Village in Martin Town, Eight Mile Rock.

She is between 5’7” and

CARDEISHA SPENCER 5’8” tall, weighs about 190lbs, has an average build with a medium brown complexion. Ms Spencer was last seen in the Warren Levarity Highway area, wearing a red shirt, blue jeans with blue slippers and black knitted cap.

Anyone with information concerning her whereabouts is asked to call the EMR Police Station at 242348- 3444/5, Central Detective Unit at 242-350-3107, 919, 911 or the nearest police station.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2016, PAGE 3

Concerns raised among voters in Long Island

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net AS the Free National Movement hunkers down for a leadership battle, another storm looms in Long Island between supporters and detractors of representative Loretta Butler-Turner.

Long considered an FNM stronghold, senior FNMs on the island yesterday revealed that the outcome of next week’s highly anticipated convention could push die-hard supporters to seek out an independent candidate or boycott the next general election.

“If they don’t stop this foolishness, I won’t be voting at all,” said Cheryl Hall, chaplain of the FNM’s Long Island Constituency Association and convention delegate.

“The convention, whether Mrs Butler-Turner wins or not, according to how Dr Minnis handles himself or his people, because I can’t fault him, it’s his people that are doing this. Because of them, they are going to cause so many FNMs not to vote.

“If he don’t run Loretta in Long Island, he won’t win Long Island. They will not vote, they will boycott. Mrs Butler-Turner is my representative, my MP. I will back her because she’s my MP. If she was not my MP and I had a different MP, then I would have to look at the pros and cons. Looking at both sides, for her track record in Parliament, I would still go with her.”

LORETTA Butler-Turner and Dr Duane Sands at a meet and greet at SC McPherson school on Tuesday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff For the FNMs interviewed in Long Island, much like party supporters throughout the country, it is hoped next week’s convention will lay to rest the caustic infighting that has dogged the party’s image. Although widely regarded as vital to the party’s future viability in the 2017 general election, the dissenting MPs that pushed for an earlier date have been branded as dividers, with Mrs Butler-Turner taking the brunt of the scorching criticism due to her leadership bid. It has been widely speculated whether the Long Island MP or her parliamentary colleagues will be renominated as standard bearers if Dr Minnis is successful in defending his post at convention.

“She’s going to have a very hard time here,” said a former constituency association member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“Leading up to the last general election she was never our choice, that was (former Prime Minister Hubert) Ingraham’s choice.

When he met with us, one of the executives of the first association we had told Ingraham in her presence that they could look through her and see she was a fake.”

The former member continued: “Ingraham explained why he wanted her as a part of his government and we went along because of what he said. All she is concerned about is destroying whatever she touches.”

The former member represents a faction of FNMs in Long Island who insist that their reproach of the MP stems from unsettled issues dating back to the 2012 general election and perceived character flaws.

Mrs Butler-Turner secured 56.6 per cent of the vote in 2012, beating the PLP’s candidate Alex Storr and the DNA’s candidate Mario Cartwright.

The member continued: “If you can’t follow how could you lead? This woman knows nothing about unity. Even during our (2012) campaign she ran a cheap campaign. They gamble on Long Island, they know Long Island is always loyal to FNM. “These folks only wait-

ing until after convention.

Don’t be too surprised if you hear an independent running here.”

The FNM member added: “She gone get slaughter.

When Dr Minnis was here, they told him don’t send her back here.”

Rumours that Mrs Butler-Turner does not hold the support of her constituency, and is under threat of being rejected as a standard bearer for the 2017 general election, have been widely circulated.

However, Mrs ButlerTurner’s supporters on the island insist that her detractors are few, and that most of the controversy has been instigated by PLP agents.

Some pointed out that former Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells campaigned on behalf of the PLP in the 2012 general election, while others expressed suspicion of Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller’s public support of Dr Minnis. Mr Wells has recently been a vocal advocate of Dr Minnis.

“I can count them on one hand, certain people from the other party want to stir this trouble up,” Mrs Hall said. “It’s the PLP stirring the pot, it’s not the FNM stirring the pot. I have been campaigning, people whether they disagree with Loretta Butler-Turner or not, they are voting FNM. Don’t believe everything you hear.”

A “born and bred” FNM, Mrs Hall said she recently

became more involved in the party after the death of her husband Thomas R G Hall, a pharmacist and staunch supporter of Mrs Butler-Turner, earlier this year. She believes the pushback against the Long Island MP is rooted in misogyny, something she has faced personally as a female Anglican priest. She underscored that Mrs ButlerTurner’s instrumental role in delivering relief to the storm-ravaged island after Hurricane Joaquin will not be overlooked.

Mrs Hall said: “A lot of people are spreading propaganda. There are a couple of bad apples, they don’t want a woman prime minister.

They will support her in an election but for some reason on this island they don’t want women leading nothing. They don’t want women priests.

“If you able to speak to upstanding citizens on the island,” she continued, “they are for Loretta, a lot of the young people as well they are for a change.”

Long Island delegates were split in half during the 2014 convention. Next week, Mrs Butler-Turner is expected to bring in five of the six votes allocated for her constituency.

One tenet that both sides agree on, however, is that the party has long taken the island’s unwavering support for granted.

DNA: LORETTA BUTLER-TURNER HAS NOTHING TO OFFER ON ECONOMY

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance finance spokesperson Youri Kemp yesterday criticised Long Island MP Loretta ButlerTurner’s recent statements on the country’s economy, charging that she has “little or nothing” to offer on the issue other than “empty statements and glittering generalities without substance”.

Mr Kemp, the DNA’s recently ratified Garden Hills candidate, said a recent oped by Mrs Butler-Turner failed to provide a “plan of action” for strengthening the economy.

Mr Kemp also criticised the FNM as a whole, charging that the party’s “bitter political turf-war” is the reason the Official Opposition has “no working team on the ground” creating strategies and solutions.

In an op-ed that was published in a local daily on Wednesday, Mrs Butler-Turner suggested that progressing towards an “inclusive economy for all” in the Bahamas would require a reevaluation of the country’s policies in regulation, trade, crime and education.

However, Mr Kemp said Mrs Butler-Turner’s statement did not provide anything substantial. “…We are simply baffled that she has little or nothing to offer this Bahamas in terms of strengthening our economy other than empty statements, and glittering generalities without substance,” Mr Kemp said in a statement. “No plan of action, just words she wishes the voter to feel from her as words of strength and words that engender confidence.

“We are troubled by this, because we feel as if the Loyal Opposition is in more trouble than we once anticipated. Not only do they have a power struggle happening between the people that are in leadership versus the people they feel should be in leadership and looks best as leadership, they appear to have no working team on the ground devising real strategies, real

policies and real plans of actions if they were to win office.”

Mr Kemp also criticised both Mrs Butler-Turner and FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis for offering “no solutions in the public” to the possible downgrade of the country’s sovereign credit rating by Wall Street rating agency Moody’s, or any FNM “policy initiatives” to address the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Article IV report on the country’s “weaker than expected” economic growth.

“This is what we are dealing with: empty talk, empty slogans and half-hearted efforts along with ideas stemming from the leadership of the FNM that have no substance and no analytical ground to them, at all,” Mr Kemp’s statement said.

He added: “All of these factors, along with the people questioning (Mrs Butler-Turner’s) energy level and work ethic, we simply are not prepared to state with any degree of confidence that we feel comfortable with what is emanating out of the opposition party - and our discomfort goes well beyond their bitter political turfwar they are embroiled in today.”

Mrs Butler-Turner will challenge Dr Minnis for his post at the FNM’s convention next week.

• Loretta Butler-Turner statement on the economy, see page 14

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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,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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-

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Ted Cruz booed lustily as he refuses to endorse Donald Trump CLEVELAND (AP) — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tried to link arms with Republicans at the party’s national convention on Wednesday, but was booed lustily by delegates when he ended his speech without offering Donald Trump his endorsement — or even saying he would vote for the New York billionaire.

As he appeared on stage, Cruz basked in a minute-long standing ovation. Cruz finished second to Trump in the crowded Republican primary campaign and congratulated the GOP nominee on his victory.

But as close as Cruz came to saying he wanted Trump to win the White House came when he said, “I want to see the principles that our party believes in prevail in November.”

Cruz didn’t tell the convention crowd that he plans to vote for Trump. Nor did he ask his supporters, hundreds of whom encouraged him to run for president in four years at an event on Wednesday afternoon, to vote for the newly minted Republican nominee.

Interrupted by chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump,” Cruz paused and said with a smile, “I appreciate the enthusiasm of the New York delegation.”

But as Cruz closed his remarks, and as the crowd of more than 2,000 delegates at the Quicken Loans Arena waited for Cruz to say something — anything — kind about Trump, he demurred.

“And to those listening, please, don’t stay home in November,” Cruz said.

“Stand and speak, and vote your conscience. Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.”

The delegates responded with angry boos, and Cruz backer and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli escorted Heidi Cruz off the convention floor as she was heckled by Trump delegates.

“He’s a chicken,” said Eugene Delgaudio, a delegate from Sterling, Virginia, who clucked like a chicken when asked about Cruz’s decision. “He needed to toughen up like every other Republican loser of any nomination battle in the last 100 years since Abraham Lincoln and just suck it up, be a man and back the nominee that he was beaten by, fair and square.”

The crowd’s boos quickly switched to cheers when Trump entered the arena at that moment. His daughter Ivanka and other members of the Trump party turned their backs on Cruz to stand and applaud Trump, who sat down in the front row of his VIP box to watch his son Eric deliver the next speech.

New Jersey Gov Chris Christie called Cruz’s decision “totally selfish.” The outspoken Trump backer, like Cruz bested by the real estate mogul in the GOP primaries, said the voters made clear that Trump is their choice.

“If we’re not going to do that, why do we have elections? Because Ted Cruz has decided that he knows better? Than all of the people who voted in the elections?” he said.

The booing was so intense the Trump campaign encouraged its many staffers on the convention floor to try to calm the delegates down, said a Trump aide speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal campaign discussions.

Cruz halted his campaign two months ago, having outlasted all but Trump in a field that once numbered 17 candidates.

He finished a distant second in the delegate accumulation during the Republican nominating campaign.

The reaction to Cruz’s refusal to endorse Trump, who branded the Texas senator “Lyin’ Ted” during the GOP primaries, stood in stark contrast to his reception earlier Wednesday among a crowd of the convention’s most conservative delegates.

Many of Cruz’s supporters from around the country came to thank him, shake his hand and pose for photographs. They crowded around him 10 people deep in the sun on an outdoor restaurant deck after his 20-minute speech, chanting “2020, 2020, 2020!”

Donna Metz, Cruz’s 2016 Kansas state co-chairwoman, wore a sparkling red, white and blue hat and was jostled in the crowd as she made her way toward Cruz.

“Oh, my gosh, I hope he runs again,” said Metz, of Eudora, Kansas. “He’s by far the best candidate.”

As he would during his convention speech, the freshman lawmaker with a Texas-sized political ambition steered clear of a recommendation to back Trump at the afternoon event. Instead, Cruz talked about conservative ideals that could form the backbone of a future campaign.

“There is a better vision for our future: A return to freedom,” he said.

Cruz is eager to be seen as the face of the modern conservative movement should there be an open GOP field in four years, and he said Wednesday afternoon he was unsure what the future would bring.

But he urged the group to “follow our conscience,” ‘’unite behind liberty” and “empower the grassroots,” all signals to the deep organization Cruz assembled in finishing second to Trump to be ready to jump back into action in four years.

And for all the boos Cruz got later from the Trump backers inside the convention hall, supporters of the Texas senator said his refusal to back the billionaire was “true leadership.”

“I support it 100 per cent,” said Dalton Glasscock, a Cruz delegate from Wichita. “If someone feels they can vote for Trump, great. If they can’t, vote for someone they can believe in. He left the door open to more.”

By Thomas Beaumonth and Steve Peoples of the Associated Press

Blood bank services EDITOR, The Tribune.

I NOTED with interest the letter published in your paper of this date (7/19/16) concerning the blood banks refusal of any blood donations from British citizens living in The Bahamas - so too the article of the same date stressing the shortage of blood at all blood banks.

While I cannot comment on the decision to refuse donations from British donors due to lack of knowledge, I would reply to all concerned parties that at least some of the responsibility for the shortages should fall on the blood bank workers themselves.

Why you ask? I have been a registered blood donor for many years at both Doctor’s Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital. That means I have supplied all my contact information numerous times and have donation cards from both blood banks. Therefore, common sense would as-

sume that the banks, running short of blood, would actually make an effort and pick up the phone and start calling their registered donors – people they already know are prepared to donate. Does this happen?

Absolutely not, or at least, I have never received a single phone call and my phone number has remained unchanged for over 30 years, and my last name starts with a D so, it’s not like they have to thumb through too many cards before they get to my name. Further, I am 0 positive, which, while not as valuable as 0 negative, is still an easily accepted blood type for many.

While I applaud the blood drives that are launched, when I last attempted to donate at one occurring at a key store in the Marathon Mall, the blood bank staff were so busy talking among themselves, that I actually had to query if they were open for business and then stood there waiting for

someone to get out of the chairs that were supplied for donors as they had their finger pricked and information checked! The attitude I encountered so disheartened me that I walked off and never did donate that day.

I hasten to add that there are many devoted, hardworking staff members at the blood banks but like all of us, they can do better. Be on the ball and acknowledge all persons who approach your stations – they might be hesitant and your smile and welcome could be the very thing that decides their donation. Be pro-active and call donors as they do in the States and Canada – your donors will not let you down. Finally, be appreciative of those who donate – you never know when you or a family member might be the recipient of their donation.

COLLEEN DUNKLEY Nassau, July 19, 2016.

Graduate’s tactics are a diversion EDITOR, The Tribune.

I HAVE just returned with my family from Exuma where we spent ten days relaxing and admiring the beauty there. If there is anyone who doubts that there is a God, go to Exuma and they will quickly realise that there must be a Supreme Being to have created such beauty and perfection.

On returning, I met a letter to the Editor from The Graduate advising me not to kill the messenger. To take a message seriously, you must know who the message is from. In this case, The Graduate (he/she/it) is not delivering the message.

The Graduate (he/she/it) is rendering a personal opinion, not delivering one for somebody else.

There is a difference.

The Graduate (he/she/ it) is not the messenger, but the source. And why is this distinction important? If the Graduate is a paedophile and writes a column condoning paedophilia, then you ignore the contents of the message.

If the Graduate is a wife beater and writes a column condoning wife beating, then that is important to know when reading the article.

And so I don’t waste my time taking The Graduate’s opinion seriously, nor do I waste my time trying to determine who the Graduate is. I know what The Graduate is. To call the Graduate a snake would be to insult the snake. To say that The Graduate (he/she/it) is someone who could walk upright under a snake’s belly and still have head room would be the more accurate description.

The Graduate (he/she/ it) pretends to know a lot about Sir Etienne Dupuch and mentions the motto, “Being Bound To Swear To The Dogmas Of No Master.” The Graduate (he/she/ it) also claims to know a lot about the diversionary tactics that Sir Lynden used to keep his adversary’s eye off the ball.

This is interesting. Sir Lynden was known to keep his tactics close to his chest.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Only his closest colleagues knew them. But The Graduate claims to know them.

I wonder if The Graduate has inadvertently exposed himself/herself?

Is The Graduate in fact using Sir Lynden’s diversionary tactics by addressing everything and everyone except the problem?

By attacking Tennyson Wells, is The Graduate (he/ she/it) trying to keep the public’s eyes off the ball with regards to the FNM convention?

What has been going on recently with respect to the FNM’s leadership makes no sense. We have a situation where the FNM Constitution calls for the election of its Leader by the Delegates in Convention. The Parliamentary members are only a small part of the Delegates.

As I understand it, the Delegates of the FNM, on two occasions and by landslides at both, elected Dr Hubert Minnis as Leader of the FNM. It appears now that six of those Delegates, all members of the House of Parliament, object to the results.

Do you know what they are saying? What they are saying is that the majority of delegates who voted for Dr. Minnis don’t know what they are doing. They are saying that the majority of the delegates of the FNM are stupid. This is incredible!

If this is how they (the six MP’s) feel, maybe they should resign from the FNM and distance themselves from these honourable people.

Dr Duane Sands, who I have tremendous regard for and believe has a lot to contribute in public life, is either being used or has been badly advised.

Recently, there was a vacancy in the Senate. Dr Minnis, as FNM Leader, had to choose the replacement.

Both he and Dr. Sands had to meet and discuss policies, approaches to

problems, etc. Dr Minnis must have been satisfied that they both had reached an amiable agreement as to the direction of the Party.

On the strength of agreements reached at this meeting, I assume that Dr Minnis must have concluded that he and Dr Sands had agreed to work together.

Almost immediately after Dr Sands was appointed, Dr Sands announced that he had no faith in Dr. Minnis and had teamed up with Loretta Butler. Dr Sands was further quoted as saying that if Dr Minnis was re-elected as Leader, he (Dr Sands) would resign his Senate post. I stand to be corrected, but this is what I understand the case to be!

Incredible!

If Dr Sands plans to resign if Dr Minnis is re-elected, why did he accept the position in the first place?

This is no marbles game!

These people seem to be playing games with the Bahamian people.

None of this makes sense.

There’s something wrong here. Are we looking at the wrong ball? Is The Graduate writing these letters to distract the Bahamian people and cause voters to look the other way? Is The Graduate using Sir Lynden’s tactic of diversion?

Yes, there’s something wrong here. Why is this small group causing so much confusion in the FNM? Is it because they have a special agenda that has not yet been announced?

Is this a replay of the Convention where the public and Tommy Turnquest were assured, right up to the final hour, that Hubert Ingraham was not running, only to see him strut onto the platform at the convention and push Tommy aside to take control of the party?

The tactics look similar.

Think Bahamians! How many times are some people going to lie to you, and take you for stupid fools?

Wake up Bahamians, wake up.

PIERRE V.L. DUPUCH Nassau, July 20, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2016, PAGE 5

Honesty rewarded for clerk in $10,000 mix-up

By PEANDRA PRATT FOR Tiffany Eldon, a 29-year-old clerk at The Linen Shop, the day started like any other when she opened the company safe to get out the bundle of $1 bills to make up the cashiers’ floats for business.

The company, like so many, changes money at various times throughout the week, so it was not unusual for her to pick up the bills. Except a few weeks ago, the bundle turned out to be a little different. And her actions on the surprising discovery earned her the praise of her shop colleagues, the gratitude of the Royal Bank of Canada branch where the Linen Shop banks and the relief of one particular teller.

Instead of a bundle of 100 $1 bills as expected, Ms Eldon found $100 bills instead.

She nearly fell off her chair when she realised she was holding $10,000 rather than the $100 she was expecting.

Sue Pyfrom, the accountant at The Linen Shop, on

Bay Street in downtown Nassau, had not noticed the bundle of $100 bills because of the way that the bundles were wrapped.

“Sue just assumed the bills were $1 bills so she just put them in the safe overnight as she always does,” Ms Eldon, who has been working at The Linen Shop full time for 12 years, told The Tribune.

The next morning, on discovering the higher denomination bills as she was making up the cashiers’ floats for the day, she immediately called Mrs Pyfrom at home to find out why there was so much money. “Sue thought that it was a wrong number as Tiffany was babbling on about $10,000,” said one colleague. “Anyway, they all soon realised that a massive mistake had been made, and Sue told her to go to the bank with the shop boy, Will, and give them the wrong bundle back.”

“I went to the bank immediately and gave them the money back,” Ms Eldon said. “The teller who

gave them the money the day before came out and she hugged me. She said she had been up all night crying because she was short so much money. I didn’t want her to lose her job.”

Ms Eldon’s managers and co-workers were not surprised by her honesty and actions. The senior buyer at The Linen Shop, Gloria Raine, described her as “reliable and trustworthy”.

“Tiffany, and all of the staff here, are conscientious,” Mrs Raine said.

“Tiffany is a long-standing employee who has taken on any facets within this business, from dealing with customers to managing the money. She’s a valuable employee and us allowing her to deal with the money shows that we have confidence in her.”

Royal Bank of Canada gave Ms Eldon a gift basket on Tuesday, thanking her for her honesty in bringing the $9,900 excess error to light.

Ms Eldon puts her honesty down to being a prod-

TIFFANY Eldon was recognised for her honesty for returning bank money.

Photo: Tim Clarke/ Tribune Staff uct of her character and upbringing. “Honesty was something I was raised on.

My parents taught me a long time ago that if something doesn’t belong to me then give it back,” she said.

“And I’m a Christian so I live my life every day trying to be honest.”

STUDENT NAMED TO ST JOHN’S DEAN’S LIST

DAVID JOHNSON III

DAVID Johnson III, a first-year communications major at Saint John’s Unviersity in Collegeville, Minnesota, has earned the distinction of being named to the Dean’s List for the 2016 spring semester.

The son of David and Joanne Johnson, of Nassau, he was formerly head boy at St Anne’s School.

To be included on the Dean’s List, students must have a semester grade-point average of at least 3.80 and have completed 12 credits for which honour points (A, B, C, etc.) are awarded.

Students included on the

Dean’s List cannot have any “unsatisfactory” or “incomplete” grades for that semester.

PAGE 6,Thursday, July 21, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

PM ‘bordered on delusional’ from page one

Meanwhile, former PLP Cabinet Minister George Smith was adamant that while no one should underestimate the importance of Mr Christie’s role as leader, the organisation is bigger than any one person and will not fall apart should he retire.

Mr Smith said he believes Mr Christie is being encouraged to remain leader of the governing party by some PLPs and members of Parliament who fear without him they will not have the same level of “clout” under new leadership.

Mr Galanis said: “If those statements are correct, that is the height of nonsense. The PLP is much bigger than Mr Christie. It has withstood change in leadership before. His continued leadership has nothing to do with the stability of the PLP. It’s stable and has been so for many years.

While there have been moments where we have undergone challenges, there is no credence in the comment that he has to stay on for stability to remain in the PLP. “If he wants to stay on, just stay on. Be intellectually honest. Don’t say it will bring instability to the party because the party is stable.

In the year I won my seat in 1967, we won six seats. At that time many persons suggested that the PLP should re-brand itself or change its name. But the fact is in each instance, we garnered

sufficient votes from Bahamians. Some people who serve as minister may be unstable but that has nothing to do with the level of stability in the party. In fact it borders on delusional to suggest that.”

Mr Galanis added: “Mr Christie’s statement may be a poor indictment on him. It says he’s chosen people who are supposed to be a bridge to the future yet he is admitting he has failed to appoint or select persons who can be that bridge.”

Mr Galanis insisted that there were many people in the party capable and able to lead the party. These include: West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell, Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald and Golden Isles MP Michael Halkitis.

“There are any number of persons who would be able to bring a breath of fresh air and new vision and help us get over the Christie fatigue the country is experiencing right now. If he feels the way he does because there is no one who can replace him, that in my mind would be an indictment on him.”

Also speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Smith pointed to Mr Christie’s two predecessors – Sir Henry Taylor, former governor general and the party’s first leader, and former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling, the second and longest serving leader - insisting the PLP had always managed to unify and survive.

PRIME Minister Perry Christie on the Ed Fields Live show this week.

His comments came after Mr Christie, during an appearance on the “Ed Fields Live” show on Kiss FM Monday evening, said the instability affecting the Official Opposition might happen in the PLP if he stepped down.

Mr Christie gave this as one of the reasons he has decided to remain leader with no indication of a possible retirement.

Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis on Tuesday rejected Mr Christie’s assertions.

When asked if the PLP would become unstable without Mr Christie, Mr Davis said: “It depends on how you define what is meant by instability. The Official Opposition is in shambles. The PLP always finds a way to right its way at any given time despite

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff whatever happens.”

Asked why Mr Christie would make such a claim, Mr Davis declined to speculate, saying: “You should ask him. I don’t know why he thinks that. That’s for him to answer.”

The prime minister also drew attention on Monday when he said he seeks to continue leading the PLP because enough young members of his government

have urged him to do so.

He did not name those members, but one PLP parliamentarian who spoke to The Tribune on Tuesday expressed incredulity at his statement.

“I would have to ask around to find out who they are,” the parliamentarian, who did not want to be named, said. “I’m sure (people) got a good laugh at that.”

ROLLINS: PM MAKING UP REASONS TO STAY IN POWER from page one

parliamentarians who he claims have convinced him that he needs to stay on as leader. I assure you that any PLP ‘new generation leader’ who publicly says the

country and PLP party is best served by Mr Christie remaining leader and prime minister would be harshly ridiculed and discredited by the vast majority of Bahamians.”

Dr Rollins, who quit the PLP last year, called Mr

Christie “self-absorbed,” saying he is concerned “with satisfying his own ego rather than doing what is in the country’s best interest.”

He also claimed that Mr Christie’s desire to remain leader is part of an effort to prevent Mr Davis from as-

cending to the job.

“The PM is eager to carry the PLP into the next election because he and other senior parliamentarians do not want Philip Davis to become the next leader and they know full well that if the prime minister were to demit office before the next election, there is no one within the PLP who can defeat Mr Davis in a race for leader. The hope is that by waiting until after the election, Mr Christie will have denied Mr Davis the opportunity to ever become leader of the PLP.” Dr Rollins said that Mr Christie’s statement is also part of an attempt to ensure parliamentarians don’t challenge him.

“The established culture of the PLP is that the leadership of the party ought

never to be pursued unless the leader makes it known that he no longer wishes to lead,” he said. “This has meant that the only way to remove a sitting leader of the PLP is to embarrass them into leaving following a landslide defeat at the polls as the FNM did in 1997, leading to Sir Lynden’s subsequent retirement.”

On the condition of anonymity, one PLP MP who said he would support Mr Davis in a leadership race told The Tribune yesterday that the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP enjoys significant support within the party and is not disliked by PLP MPs. To the PLP parliamentarian, Mr Christie’s assertion that young people in his

government have urged him to remain leader is incredulous.

“The prime minister wants to stay on and most people wouldn’t say anything about it because if you object to it and you in the Cabinet then you got to resign,” the parliamentarian said. “From what I gather, he said that young members of the Cabinet asked him to stay on. That could just be them saying ‘I want a promotion.’

“It’s normal for people to vie for the leadership. These things happen in politics.

The party is over 60 years old. To think we would now become unstable all of a sudden because Mr Christie is retiring would be a damnation of him as leader if that was the legacy that would be created.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2016, PAGE 7

‘Asinine’ to claim FNM hoping for downgrade

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest yesterday hit back at Sir Franklyn Wilson for suggesting that the Official Opposition is rooting for a downgrade of the country’s credit rating, calling it “the most asinine statement somebody could make.”

The East Grand Bahama MP said he and the FNM are “hopeful” the Christie administration is “successful in its efforts to allay the concerns of the ratings agencies,” adding that it is not in anyone’s interest to see the country downgraded.

His comments came just days after Sir Frank-

lyn urged Bahamians to cast aside political divisions and unite in trying to ward off any downgrade by Wall Street rating agency Moody’s, as he argued that opposition supporters were almost willing it to happen in the belief it would boost their party’s prospects in the upcoming general election.

Sir Franklyn added that “bad news for the country” should not be celebrated by any right-thinking Bahamians.

Sir Franklyn was referring to Moody’s previous announcement that it placed the country “on review” for a potential downgrade, due to both The Bahamas’ unexpected economic contraction and further deterioration in the government’s fiscal

position.

“That’s the most asinine statement somebody could make,” Mr Turnquest said in response to Sir Franklyn.

“Because again, if all of us are blind, it doesn’t work to the benefit of anybody, because all we’re going to do is go around in circles.

We all are invested here.

We all have our life savings, our hopes and dreams tied to the success of The Bahamas. And so why would we be rooting for a negative outcome?

“The truth of the matter is we have been saying to the government for the last four years, that the projections that are being put forth are not realistic. We have been right in the last four years in that regard.

We have also been encouraging the government,

urging them to reign in expenditure, to reign in these discretionary projects that have not been producing a return. But they have insisted that they want to go ahead. Like bulls, they just want to go ahead with blinders on as if they have the answer. And reality is proving that they did not have the answers and they have been wrong.”

Mr Turnquest also said the FNM shares in the government’s desire to avoid a potential downgrade. However, he said the FNM takes umbrage that the ratings agency did not meet with the Official Opposition, considering that the agency met with various other private sector organisations last week.

“Be that as it may, having not had the opportunity to

give any input, we have to be hopeful that the government is successful in its efforts to allay the concerns of the ratings agencies,” Mr Turnquest said. “Based on what we know, there has been nothing that we can see that is going to make a dramatic impact in the short term.

“So again we don’t know what plans have been put forth that is going to cause this turnaround, certainly in the short term, but we are definitely hopeful because we do recognise that if this boat sinks we all drown together, regardless of whether you’re PLP, FNM, DNA or whatever.

And so it is not in anyone’s interest to see the country downgraded.”

On Monday, State Minister for Finance Michael

Halkitis said the Christie administration is “hopeful” the country’s credit rating will not be downgraded after having a series of “constructive” meetings with Moody’s last week.

Mr Halkitis said representatives from Moody’s met with both government and private sector groups over a two-day period and now the Christie administration has to “wait and see” what the agency’s review will be at the end of August.

Moody’s has warned that any potential downgrade could be “by one notch or more.” The country currently has a ‘Baa2’ rating, two notches away from being cut to so-called “junk” status--a position where it will lose its existing investment grade status.

day, Dr Minnis had paid in full, Mrs Butler-Turner had only paid half and the finance committee has contributed $50,000.

Mr Collie said there has been no agreement to reimburse the candidates and anyone who enters the race last minute will not be required to come up with any money.

“You will recall that the convention was originally scheduled for November and it was moved up to July, the very act of moving it up three months put the FNM in a bind with raising funds.... For the first time in the history of the party but because of the peculiar nature of how we came about for a date in July, it is not surprising that something had to be done to raise the funds and in the

circumstances that’s what the FNM did,” Mr Collie said.

“This is a classic case for campaign finance reform.

At some point in the future the country is going to have to decide how major political parties are going to find money for these kinds of events. Until that happens political parties will be forced to become creative in how they raise the funds.”

Mr Collie said nominations for the party’s top five positions will remain open until the last night of the convention. He said he does not expect any “surprise nominations” but anything is possible.

So far, only Dr Minnis and Mrs Butler-Turner have announced that they are vying for leader, while

Dr Duane Sands will challenge East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest for his deputy leader post.

It has been speculated that former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham will return to front line politics and vie for leader of the party however, many within the FNM have dismissed the assertion as nothing but a rumour.

The theme for this year’s convention is “Because You Matter” and is scheduled for July 27-29 at the Melià Hotel.

Mr Collie said evening sessions begin at 8pm and are open to the public. The convention will also be carried live on Our TV, ZNS TV, ZNS Radio, Peace FM and Star FM. It will also be streamed live on Facebook.

FNM CHAIRMAN: CONVENTION TO BE ON THE FRUGAL SIDE

from page one

expects more money will be coming in.

Mr Collie said FNM conventions usually cost between $350,000 and $500,000 and are funded by the party’s finance committee, but because of the “unusual circumstances in which the convention was pushed up” the party had to be “creative” with how the funds would be raised.

The $350,000 will cover full arrangements and accommodations for all 410 delegates.

For the first time in FNM history, the candidates vying for the party’s top post, current FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, were

FNM chairman Sidney Collie yesterday.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff asked to raise $100,000 each to defray the costs of next week’s event.

The finance committee will raise the additional $150,000. As of Wednes-

PAGE 8,Thursday, July 21, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Hands up all those who want Perry Christie to stay as PM A Young Man’s View

By ADRIAN GIBSON

B

ASED on the Prime Minister’s comments this week, it appears that the post-Perry Christie era within the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) will be interminably delayed.

It is clear that Mr Christie has designs on dying in office of old age and/or stress related complications.

According to Mr Christie, he intends to continue leading the governing PLP, including into the next general election, because young members of his government have urged him to do so. What’s more, he asserted that instability would arise in the party if he was no longer the leader, similar to the chaos we see occurring in the Free National Movement (FNM).

Why Mr Christie? Why? At 72, Mr Christie is clearly punch drunk on power. Surely, he must have sozzled too many kegs of his own Kool-Aid. Currently, to use the words of Sam Tenanhaus, the PLP has become “trapped in postures of frozen light, clenched in the rigor mortis of a defunct ideology”.

We have a Constitution that effectively makes a Prime Minister king. Given that, our only saving grace thus far is that we haven’t had an absolute lunatic sit in that seat. The powers of the Prime Minister must be curtailed. There’s no wonder that Mr Christie in love with the pomp and pageantry, the power, the

ability to make or break, the notion of being referred to as PM and Mr PM and, in some cases, Bahamians grovelling at his feet for jobs and favours - will not voluntarily leave.

Of course, not willing to silently allow Mr Christie’s frantic efforts to slyly hang on to power at all costs, Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis fired a shot, politically clapping back at Mr Christie, and rejecting the idea that the A UNITED front by members of the PLP on budget day - but is the party united behind Perry Christie for the future?

PLP would become unstable if the PM chose to step that Mr Christie remain ting around the Cabinet ta- vincingly as effective back- hamas. Referred to by some ups to Bozo the Clown. of his Cabinet colleagues as onboard. He is a forward ble, right Marathon? down as leader.

In the Bahamas, we have And so, in anticipation of Mr Mumble, Mr Davis - I Mr Davis was undoubt- thinker and one of few PLP not seen smooth transitions the back stabbing in No- am told - does not pack the edly rebuking Mr Christie. MPs who I hold in esteem.

I need to see a show of of power from one politi- vember, some have perhaps political power punch that Unlike others, he seemingly found his voice and doesn’t hands of all those young cal leader to another. The already begun to sharpen he thinks he does. Time will certainly tell. appear keen for Mr Chris- members that Mr Christie FNM is facing challenges their political knives.

As it stands, the peoThat said, he is well-contie to remain. Frankly, Mr is referring to? I’d also like and we will soon see the Christie must be politically to know how many of these same in the PLP. Whatever ple who will likely vie for nected, wealthy and is an tone deaf, given the state of young members are 45 or happened to succession the top post are Mr Davis, experienced attorney with planning?

Mr Sears, Tourism Minis- an impressive track record. under. the country and While in opposition, ter Obie Wilchcombe, Mr I have been Obie Wilchcombe is a the fact that ‘In the Bahamas, reliably in- Mr Christie said he would Fitzgerald and Foreign Af- bombastic talker. These - if one reads we have not formed that consider stepping down as fairs Minister Fred Mitch- days, he generates about as the papers, Marathon MP party leader mid-term and ell. All are often mentioned much political excitement listens to the seen smooth and Educa- name a successor. However, as potential leaders of the as a damp fire cracker. He talk shows and transitions of tion Minis- he later said those com- party. The apparent front has a little fizzle, a little takes note of power from one ter Jerome ments were misconstrued runner is Mr Sears. spark and then he peters conversations Mr Sears has the intel- out and goes dark.

Fitzgerald is and he intended to serve a in barbershops, political leader one of the per- full term if elected as Prime lectual capital. He is a deep The Central Bank’s refamily gather- to another. The thinker. There is no ques- ports reveal that his persons leading Minister in 2012. ings and elseFNM is facing In January, 2015, he said tion that he has the intellect formance at tourism can the so-called where - Bahait would take a “compelling, that qualifies him as a can- be described as ineffeccommittee mians want to challenges and to retain Per- tangible” reason for him to didate for leadership. tive. Having had the most see the back of we will soon see I have his plan. I was im- important part of our ecory Christie. lead his party into the next him. We thank Why? Could general election. But last pressed and pleased to see nomic survival entrusted to him for his ser- the same in the it be for self- September, in the face of him espouse a vision for the his stewardship, he has been vice but, it’s PLP. Whatever serving rea- speculation that Mr Davis Bahamas. I endorse that weighed in the balance and time to go. Mr happened to sons?

After was eyeing a leadership run, vision as I enunciated and found wanting. Our tourism Christie, please succession all, we know Mr Christie declared that share much of the same. arrivals are down across the leave Sir! There are those detrac- board. Cuba is opening and that he already he would go into the PLP’s I spoke to a planning?’ has expressed convention as leader and tors who will say that Mr Mr Wilchcombe’s only recurrent PLP Sears has been missing in sponse is to attract visitors MP recently. I am certain his yearning to retain his emerge as leader. action; that he chose to by arranging a two-for-one that he did not request job because he enjoys sitfter several be a vehicle for the local deal with the Cuban govdelays, the gaming industry; that he ernment. Hmm. PLP’s conven- is, in part, responsible for Mr Wilchcombe has demtion is set for the setting up of number onstrated that he talks a November of this year. The houses in every nook and good game but he is unable last time the PLP held a cranny of our archipelago to deliver the goods. Moreconvention was in 2009, al- and that he must share the over, he has shown that he is though the party’s constitu- blame for any societal nega- either afraid or unwilling to tion mandates that it holds a tive that might result from challenge the leadership of convention every year. their legalisation. Frankly, I his party. One can only likWe are watching the start have thought that the local en such behaviour to that of of an explosion. A rumpus gaming industry should be the fabled mouse that roars. is about to break out in the regularised. However, I am Jerome Fitzgerald is poPLP; it is about to break out disappointed with the way litically dead on arrival. He into a full blown war. the issue was handled in the would have been a favourFormer Minister of Edu- wake of the gaming referen- ite, a shoo-in in either one cation/Attorney General dum and the fact that num- of the two leadership post, and ratified candidate for ber houses are not being were it not for three words Fort Charlotte Alfred Sears taxed nearly enough.

Rubis gas leak. recently stated that he is I also feel that a national Mr Fitzgerald has been open to running for the lottery should have been trusted with significant asposition of leader of the implemented. What’s more, pects of the revamping of PLP when the party holds I do not yet know of mecha- Bahamian society as Minits convention. He is not a nisms in place to assist peo- ister of Education. He has political coward and has ple who develop gambling led a bipartisan committee valiantly stated that, in a addictions. That said, if Mr to formulate a plan to overdemocratic institution, “no- Sears bears any responsi- haul our failing education body should be afraid” to bility for the legalisation of system. As a former teachTHURSDAY, JULY 21, 2016 AT 6:00PM / DOCTORS HOSPITAL CONFERENCE ROOM, DOWDESWELL STREET say whether they intend to the local gaming industry, er, I respect that. contest the party’s top post. so does Mr Wilchcombe, He has also been charged I could not agree more. who is currently the miniswith re-introducing FreeImmunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment designed to SPEAKER As it stands, the internal ter with oversight and who dom of Information legislaboost the body’s natural defenses to ght the cancer. It friction in the PLP - includ- led the charge in pushing tion. It is ironic that his sining the opposition to Mr legislation through though gle most significant decision helps to improve or restore the patient’s immune system Christie remaining - has the public had rejected the - or lack thereof - is a demfunction, and can help stop or slow the growth of cancer been suppressed for so long referendum. onstration of suppression or that when it actually ignites, Mr Sears has articulated withholding of information cells, stop cancer from spreading to other parts of the it will explode. a vision which is different from a constituency at risk, body, and help your body destroy cancer cells.

The PLP pretends to from the classical, 50-year- the very one he represents.

Immunotherapy is being hailed as the most promising have it all together but it old PLP playbook. He tackNo amount of political has done a superb job at inles serious issues of reform re-engineering will save new cancer treatment since chemotherapy was ternalising and repressing and demonstrates, in his him. He has a politically DR introduced in the late 1940s. Although it is believed that conversations that, if held, plan, a level of fluidity and a fatal flaw that is unforgiveTEDDY would make it a far better breadth of knowledge that I able.

Immunotherapy can help in the ght against most types TURNQUEST organisation. Of course, the find refreshing. Indeed, his Additionally, the potenof cancer, it recently made headlines globally for its fact that Mr Christie serves ideas reveal that he is one tial violation and/or use of HEMATOLOGIST as PM has quelled much op- of only a few PLPs who are confidential information for effectiveness in ghting lung cancer. The FDA decided to position, particularly from both progressive and lib- political gain and his past end a trial early when it was determined the treatment those who seek positions eral. association with the City and/or enjoy drinking from That said, he will have a Markets fiasco makes him worked so well on a group of lung cancer patients that it a very beneficial political rough journey to the top. the PLP’s poster child for would be wrong not to offer it to all patients in the trial. trough. Similarly, the FNM He is the antithesis of what politically-damaged goods.

Join us July 21 as Dr Teddy Turnquest discusses acted in a like manner for the PLP has become. There Mr Fitzgerald would be too long and today that par- will be countless attempts well advised to seek anImmunotherapy. ty is on the brink of splin- to assassinate him politi- other profession ... unless tering. cally. I think he is the PLP’s he gets a crash course from Any time free and open greatest hope and, I believe, Donald Trump on how to discussion is not fostered he would attract a cross- re-engineer one’s self. within an organisation, section of voters.

Fred Mitchell is a poDon’t miss next month’s lecture when Dr Corrine Sin Quee-Brown, what you wind up with is Brave Davis has had most litical write-off. He is a Dr Teddy Turnquest and Dr G. Ashaini Knowles will offer a comprehensive less than ideal and negates controversy in his ministe- no-hoper in any leadership any option for spirited, co- rial portfolio. Thus far, he race. He has lost credibility look at ‘Sickle Cell Disease’. Thursday, August 18, 2016 operative development. has not demonstrated much and people fear him. People Mr Christie is a walking competence given the is- fear that he is too haughty relic. He is a leader devoid sues arising from BAMSI, and that he does not listen. of fresh ideas - and it shows. the BEC/BPL disaster, the I do credit him with being a This is said, but it is what it unanswered ‘letter of in- good MP. is. tent’ questions, the Renew As for the younger PLPs, I am hopeful of a leader- Bahamas controversy and will Michael Halkitis, ship showdown in the PLP so on.

Khaalis Rolle and all you at the next convention. No I have met Mr Davis. I other young and relatively doubt, the line-up will fea- think he is an easy-going, young brothers please stand www.doctorshosp.com I (242) 302-4600 ture contenders, pretenders straightforward chap. How- up (Danny Johnson, I don’t and a number of wannabes ever, I am unconvinced that mean you though).

Isn’t Your Health Worth It? vying for the leadership he possesses the necessary Comments and responses who could not serve con- skills needed to lead the Bato ajbahama@hotmail.com

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, Thursday, July July 21,21, 2016, 2016, PAGE PAGE 9 9

Alfred Sears - “one of a few PLPs who are both progressive and liberal”

Obie Wilchcombe - “generates about as much political excitement as a damp fire cracker”

Philip ‘Brave’ Davis - “does not pack the political power punch that he thinks he does”

Jerome Fitzgerald - “the PLP’s poster child for politicallydamaged goods”

Fred Mitchell - “lost credibility, too haughty and does not listen”

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Jury hears evidence in drive-by shooting case

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A JURY yesterday listened to nearly two hours of closing arguments from Crown and defence counsel on whether two accused men were the shooters or at least played a role in the drive-by shooting of a man at a funeral repast.

The 12-member jury has been listening to evidence for the past month concerning Garvin Pratt, 21, and Eduardo Carey, 36, who are on trial before Justice Bernard Turner in connection with the shooting death of Delano Brice.

Brice, 29, was shot during a drive-by shooting at Quakoo Street where a repast was held on August 23, 2014. He died in hospital four days later.

Pratt and Carey pleaded not guilty to the murder charge they face when they were formally arraigned in the Supreme Court on January 16, 2015.

Pratt’s lawyer, Romona Farquharson-Seymour, invited the jury to acquit her client of murder. The lawyer said there is no contention that Delano Brice was murdered in an apparent drive-by shooting.

However, she said the dispute concerned the culprit(s) and whether a person’s presence at the scene meant they had a role in the killing.

“Based on his statement, Garvin Pratt was in a vehicle, merely there. A ‘Carson’, another occupant of the car, shot at a man in the road who was later identified as Delano Brice. We’re saying to you, he did not know about any planned shooting. He was merely there.

“But the Crown wants

you to believe he was involved, being concerned together based on the charge,” the lawyer said.

Mrs Farquharson-Seymour said the jury heard the evidence of anonymous witness “Bravo” who they were unable to see and therefore unable to assess his demeanour.

“You have to treat that evidence with care,” Pratt’s lawyer said.

“The anonymous witness said they knew my client but I could only go so far in cross-examination because I don’t know who they are to verify whether or not that is the truth. And on September 10, 2014, this witness gave a statement to police about what he saw and did. However, what he stated on that screen during testimony took us by surprise because it was not in his statement.”

“He says (in court) I didn’t see the shooting. I heard shots. I saw Garvin Pratt. He’s the person I saw with a gun. But I’m ask- GARVIN Pratt at a previous court appearance. ing you, ladies and gentle- that police were rushing gator who said he was able men of the jury to reject him. Is an hour of giving to independently able to that. You honestly believe a statement being rushed? corroborate the statement he (Bravo) told police the Bear in mind, he’s the only her client gave to police. identity of the shooter and witness who claimed to see “What Garvin Pratt says they did not include it in the Garvin Pratt leaning out of and what Alpha says are statement? It doesn’t make this speeding car,” Mrs Far- basically the same. Garvin sense,” the lawyer said. quharson-Seymour said.

Pratt cooperated with po“Also, he’s an anonymous Pratt’s lawyer said the lice. Garvin Pratt, in his witness whose identity we jury also had the statement statement, said what he do not know. There’s no of witness “Alpha” to con- saw. How would you react reason to withhold this in- sider as that witness had not if somebody is in your car, formation in your posses- given testimony in court. in the back seat, pulls out a sion. What this evidence “The statement given to gun and shoots somebody?” of ‘Bravo’ amounts to is an police on August 30, 2014, the lawyer said. inconsistent statement,” the Alpha saw what took place She said there is no finjury was told. and stated that Garvin gerprint evidence or DNA “If my statement is miss- Pratt was not the person(s) evidence to connect her cliing out something impor- involved.” ent to the killing. tant and crucial to the inKeran Humes, another “The only evidence here cident, I would think that prosecution witness, said for you to make a deterduring the two-year period the same thing, the lawyer mination is eye witness before the matter came to further highlighted. evidence of ‘Bravo’, ‘Alpha’ court I would seek to have Mrs Farquharson-Sey- and the statement of Garvin it included. But he didn’t. mour also told the jury that Pratt himself.”

‘Bravo’ explained it away they heard from an investiTonique Lewis, lawyer for Eduardo Carey, said the case brought by the prosecution is confusing.

“What we all agree on is that there is no direct evidence on who shot Delano Brice. However it’s a circumstantial case full of confusion,” Ms Lewis said. “‘Bravo’ said he knew Mr

Carey all of his life but said he only saw him once in a blue moon and on the day in question only saw him for one minute because it happened so fast. They hardly ever had a conversation according to him,” she added.

Ms Lewis said that her client was wearing an ankle-monitoring bracelet for which a report was produced showing his movements on that day.

“Bravo said he saw Carey after the funeral by Our Lady’s School. Our Lady’s School is on Deveaux Street and the longest time he’s at Deveaux Street, according to the monitor report, is 45 minutes. However, based on that same report, the subject remained in this area,” the court heard.

“Later on, Bravo said Carey was seated in the front seat of this vehicle that sped through Quakoo Street. If this case is purely circumstantial, shouldn’t the evidence be consistent with your only two witnesses? Bravo says front seat, no gun - Alpha back seat, handgun. It’s confusing,”

THE TRIBUNE

Carey’s lawyer said.

Ms Lewis asked the jury to bear in mind that the ankle monitor report showed that for the one minute her client was shown on Quakoo Street, he had only been moving at 15 mph.

“The investigator himself said 15mph is practically crawling and not speeding.

But yet these witnesses are saying he was in the car that was speeding through Quakoo Street. Time is very important in relation to this because Bravo said this incident occurred between 4.30pm and 4.40pm,” the lawyer said.

Ms Lewis said the Crown’s case was simply confusing as she pointed other apparent inconsistencies with the prosecution’s witnesses.

Anthony Delaney, trial prosecutor, said the case was not confusing at all and asked the jury not to be distracted by the defence counsel’s manoeuvring around the evidence.

He said that both men were charged with murder and being concerned together.

“Did they shoot or not shoot? And if they didn’t, did they lend assistance in the drive by shooting?

All persons involved in this matter, including the accused men themselves agree there was a funeral service,” he said. “There was a repast, in fact there was two according to Carey, one at Our Lady’s and the other at Quakoo Street.

Carey said he was at Deveaux Street for approximately an hour.”

“Alpha, who was there, said she heard a conversation where Carey said certain things to the occupants in this car. Then, a car comes through a corner, Quakoo Street where a peaceful repast is being held and then someone is shot. There’s no question who ends up wounded. One of the participants, according to Bravo, was Garvin Pratt and, if you accept the evidence of Alpha, another was Carey,” the prosecutor said.

KILLER NAMED BY DYING VICTIM SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN JAIL from page one

Justice Watkins, in sentencing Morley to 40 years imprisonment yesterday, quoted sentiments of former Court of Appeal Justice Stanley John in the case of Raphael Neymour v The Attorney General (2010) who stressed the need to reflect society’s disdain of violent crimes.

“The Bahamas is facing a wave of uncharacteristic and unprecedented violence. The court has a duty to send out a strong message to the community at large and particularly to those involved in disruptive behaviour, that as society advances a higher measure of self-control is called for. The sentence in our view ought to serve as a deterrent to the appellant and those minded to act in a similar manner,” the former appellate judge said in 2010.

Justice Watkins yesterday said: “Unfortunately, the wave of uncharacteristic and unprecedented violence in The Bahamas continues today.

“This is evidence by the facts of the present case,” the judge added.

Wilson was walking with two friends when Morley approached and asked, before shooting him, why Wilson had come into his yard.

Wilson was still conscious when police arrived. When asked how he was injured, he told officers: “Gargamel shoot me.”

Wilson stated that “Gargamel” was Morley and pointed in the direction of the Morley’s home before he became unresponsive.

One of the men who was

with Wilson picked out Morley during an identification parade and in court.

Another witness did not make a facial recognition, but said that he recognised the shooter’s voice as that of Morley.

In a record of an interview with police, Morley denied involvement in the murder, but acknowledged he was known as “Gargamel”.

Morley, giving sworn testimony, said he had told police that he was one of two persons in the area who was known by the same nickname.

“A young man was shot and killed for no apparent reason other than he may have entered Morley’s property,” the judge said.

“Morley’s response to the deceased entering his property is indicative of the fact that he exercised no self control on this occasion. It is also an indication that the trend of disruptive behaviour continues in The Bahamas today and the court must continue to impose sentences that will serve as a deterrent to Morley and to those who are minded to behave in a similar manner.”

“As indicated earlier, the evidence presented by the prosecution does not disclose a motive for the killing save that Morley asked the deceased why he was in his (Morley’s) yard. Morley has not admitted any wrongdoing and as such he has provided no explanation for shooting the deceased. Based on information available, it is reasonable to infer that Morley shot the deceased because the deceased had been in Morley’s yard.”

“Surely there must have been another way for Morley to resolve any issues concerning his property.

The shooting of the deceased was by no means a rational way of addressing the issue. This behaviour is unacceptable and the sentence of the court must reflect society’s disapproval of such anti-social behaviour,” the judge stressed.

Justice Watkins noted that Morley had a number of mitigating factors in his favour, namely his gainful employment prior to the incident, expression of sorrow for the murder, his assistance in raising his children and no prior convictions for violent crimes.

However, Justice Watkins said the aggravating factors far outweigh the positive given that murder “is a serious offence (and) there has been a tragic loss of life.”

The judge, again, underscored the apparent reason for the unprovoked killing and noted that “the offence involved the use of a firearm” and there was no indication that the firearm has been found.

“The shooting was a callous act and Morley has expressed no remorse for his actions,” the judge said.

The judge expressed hope that he would use the time at the Department of Correctional Services to improve his skills in construction given his former work as a carpenter’s helper.

“This would no doubt assist him with reintegration into society upon his release from prison,” Justice Watkins said.

Keith Seymour defended Morley at trial. Laneil Williams prosecuted the Crown.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2016, PAGE 11

PM called on to release review of Rubis leak MORE than a year since the government promised them a full and frank explanation, Marathon residents are no closer to understanding why they were left in the dark about a dangerous toxic fuel spill in the centre of their community, according to environmental advocacy group Save The Bays (STB).

A press release from STB said Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, who first announced the review in May 2015, insists that only the person who conducted the investigation can speak to its results.

But retired Justice Joseph Strachan, appointed to undertake the review, has appeared to have washed his hands of the matter, STB said.

For Joseph Darville,

STB, the uncertainty surrounding this issue is totally unacceptable in light of the grave danger faced by that community.

“Rubis and our elected officials knew for more than two years that Marathon residents had potentially been exposed to very dangerous chemicals, but made no public announcement about the leak,” Mr Darville said. “When the truth finally came out, the attorney general apologised and promised a full explanation of her government’s actions. Instead of providing answers, officials have done nothing but sow further confusion.”

Mr Darville said that if both Justice Strachan and Mrs Maynard-Gibson refuse to bring some clarity to the matter, Prime Minister

Perry Christie must step in and explain what has happened to the results of the review.

“Enough is enough – the public is tired of excuses.

The buck stops with the prime minister and he must ensure that the residents of Marathon get the justice they deserve.

“I have been fighting for the victims of chemical pollution for more than four decades and have seen firsthand the terrible consequences – from respiratory problems and skin irritation, to birth defects and outbreaks of cancer.

“As principal of Grand Bahama Catholic High School, I fought to protect the health of my students from the communities of Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard and Hawksbill in the face

of heavy pollution from nearby industrial plants.

Oil spills and chemical emissions continue to cause health issues and even deaths in that area to this day. Meanwhile, reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO) have been kept under wraps.

“In Marathon, as in Grand Bahama, it is the government’s job to protect the public and report such threats as they arise. Both these communities deserve to know why they were abandoned.”

Mr Darville noted that in addition to the release of the review, Marathon residents are still waiting for followup medical tests, with many unable to get hold of their results from the first round

of health screenings.

STB members have repeatedly spoken out in support of those affected by the leak, taking part in a silent protest in July 2015 outside the Rubis station in question. The chairman said the group will continue to fight for the rights of the victims of this leak and all others who are adversely affected by pollution, unregulated development and other environmental hazards.

“The government is sorely mistaken if it believes official silence will make the Rubis affair and others like it simply disappear. Save The Bays, its community partners, and concerned citizens across the length and breadth of The Bahamas will continue to fight to ensure that the truth, justice and the rule of law

prevail for the people of Marathon.”

In late 2012, there was an underground fuel leak at Rubis’ Robinson Road station.

Last year, the company insisted that area tests have found no free hydrocarbons in the soil, and reduced hydrocarbon levels in the ground water. Hydrocarbons are made up of compounds such as benzene, a cancer-causing compound found in fuel, and methane.

Last May, the government appointed retired Justice Strachan to conduct a “thorough” independent review into the cause of the delay in the release of an independent report on the ramifications of the Rubis gas leak. The results of that review have not been released.

‘DOCTOR WAS WITH ME ON DAY OF SUPPOSED RAPE’ from page one

Forbes denies the allegations and during court testimony claimed that in February he and the complainant drank rum, smoked marijuana, and had consensual sex at his home.

He further claimed that he did not rape the complainant on March 2 because he was not at his clinic on the day in question.

Mrs Mathieu, a witness for the accused, told the court that she worked at Forbes’ clinic for two years.

She said that she, along with her husband of 15 years and three kids, also lived next door to the doctor and rented a unit at his duplex in the Mayfield Park area.

She described Forbes as a good person and said that they had a close friendly relationship.

According to Mrs Mathieu, on March 2, she picked up Forbes around 7.30am from the airport and they went to open the office at Carico Medical Clinic.

They then went to Sawyer’s Fresh Food Mart, and then drove home, where she and Dr Forbes had allegedly stayed the rest of the day.

Mrs Mathieu said she cooked and cleaned his house, while Dr Forbes was doing some repair work at the home. Mrs Mathieu said Forbes paid her to cook and clean for him.

She said that Forbes

DR Gerald Forbes at court.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn stayed at the house the entire time.

Forbes’ lawyer Osman Johnson asked: “Did the complainant visit him anytime at his home on that day?” “No,” she replied.

At 5.30pm, Mrs Mathieu said they went to lock the office and returned home again. Mrs Mathieu said they never saw the complainant at the clinic when they went there on March 2.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Erica Kemp asked Mrs Mathieu if she was also employed full-time at another job in addition to being employed full-time at Forbes’ clinic.

The witness said that she was also worked at GLC Seafood from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The job was seasonal and she worked during the lobster season from August 1 to March 1.

The prosecutor asked: “Would you be surprised that the lobster season closes at March 31 every year?

When do you go to work at Carico?”

Mrs Mathieu said she opens the office at 7am and then she goes to work at GLC at 8am on Peter’s Street, near the harbour.

She said that she leaves GLC at 5pm and then goes to Carico around 5.20pm to clean and close.

The prosecutor asked: “When you come in at 7am and at 5.20pm, no one is there when you get to the office?”

“No,” the witness replied.

“So you don’t see nobody and hear nobody?” Asked Mrs Kemp.

“Yes, ma’am,” she said.

When asked where she lived, Mrs Mathieu told Mrs Kemp that she had been renting from Forbes since 2015. She said she was grateful to the doctor for helping her and her husband in their time of need by offering them a place to say at his duplex.

She recalled seeing the complainant at Forbes’ house on February 3 sometime around 3.45pm after arriving home early from her job at GLC Seafood.

Mrs Mathieu said she knocked on Forbes’s door and went inside to get her plate because she would often bring him food when she cooked. As she was walking

CARMICHAEL HOPEFUL AS MP DECIDES NOT TO STAND from page one According to one party insider, despite Dr Johnson’s statement that his decision is based on “personal reasons,” constituents had long complained that he did not make himself available to meet them, among other reasons, leading the branch association to decide on new representation.

“The Carmichael Branch Association doesn’t want him,” the insider said.

“There were complaints, too numerous to mention, that he continuously ducked and avoided his constituents who needed help.

“He has also failed to assist one or two youth sports teams with trips and the like. He is just really not that good of an MP and Carmichael is just not impressed, they want better.

“Generally, PLPs in Carmichael are happy to have a new candidate. We believe he is what the area needs.

Everyone is optimistic about what Senator Keith Bell brings to the table, especially with his expertise in (the Ministry of) National Security and tackling the crime issue.”

The constituency endorsed Senator Bell to represent them on Tuesday night, however the party’s Candidate’s Committee has to make the final decision on the matter.

Another insider insisted that Dr Johnson was really facing personal is-

sues, which were sufficient enough reason for him to make the decision to bow out of politics.

When contacted, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said he was not aware of any complaints or concerns from constituents.

“In my more than a decade as an MP, experience tells me that you can never ever please everyone. Some constituents will swear they never saw the MP after seeing him Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and on and on. That’s just the way it is.

“I am not aware of any other issues other than what he said in his statement.”

In a speech before the Progressive Liberal Party’s Carmichael Branch Tuesday night, Dr Johnson said because of “personal reasons” he will not run in the next general election.

His recommendation that Senator Bell be considered by the PLP’s Candidates Committee, a move that was seconded by PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts, was endorsed by those in attendance Tuesday night.

“Carmichael, being your servant leader, sounding board, messenger, confidant and, yes, social partner was a joy and privilege that few Bahamians get to enjoy,” Dr Johnson said earlier this week. “You reposed your confidence in me to carry your collective aspirations to the halls of Parliament and I did my best to represent your concerns.

“We have accomplished

much together. The constituency based sports academy and programmes allowed for lasting friendships and I have grown as a person and a leader as a result of our relationship. “ . . . It is with mixed feelings however that I advise you the great people of Carmichael, after meeting with the Candidate’s Committee and its chair, the party’s leader and prime minister, that because of personal reasons, I will not seek the PLP’s nomination for the Carmichael constituency for the 2017 general election.

“As a matter of fact, I will not be seeking a nomination for any constituency. It was a long and thoughtful process that brought me to this decision. I will return to private practice but I will continue to be an activist for youth empowerment and sports development in this country. I intend to fully participate in the process of informing public policy through social advocacy,” Dr Johnson said.

He added: “My Cabinet colleague and friend Senator Keith Bell who is a good friend of Carmichael has expressed an interest in working with you and representing your interest at the highest level. I am sure others may emerge but I trust and support Senator Bell’s candidacy and I am confident that if afforded the same privilege as you have afforded me, Senator Bell will not let you down.”

to the kitchen, she claimed that she saw the complainant in the bedroom and smelled smoke.

“The complainant was smoking marijuana,” she said.

“How do you know it was marijuana?” asked Mrs Kemp.

Mrs Mathieu said she knew it was marijuana because her husband smokes marijuana. She said the complainant was wearing beige pants and a yellow shirt and had a beige bag.

“I put it to you that you did not see the complainant at Dr Forbes’ house,” said Mrs Kemp.

“You are here today to help your friend out….in his case. He is one of your source income,” said the prosecutor.

“No, ma’am,” Mrs Mathieu replied.

The prosecutor then said: “You saw the complainant at the office when you went to drop off lunch for Dr Forbes. You and Dr Forbes are lovers and you were jealous… when the complainant was hired?”

Mrs Mathieu denied the assertions, and said that she was married to her husband for 15 years with whom she has three children.

The prosecutor then suggested to Mrs Mathieu that she agreed with the doctor to come to court with a story.

“He is your loyal customer and you want to return the favour by coming to court and lie,” Mrs Kemp said.

Mrs Mathieu again de-

nied her assertions and said she was telling the truth.

During re-examination, Mr Johnson asked the witness on what occasions did she see the complainant at Forbes’ house. Mrs Mathieu said she first saw the complainant in February, and again after March 2 when the complainant came to Dr Forbes’ house with her boyfriend asking for money he owed her.

Mrs Mathieu said Forbes had given her $50 and told her to follow the complainant to her house to collect his office keys, which she did.

The trial resumes Thursday at 11.30am when Forbes’ attorney is expected to call two more witnesses.

Justice Estelle Gray Evans is presiding over the trial.

PAGE 12,Thursday, July 21, 2016

SIR DURWARD KNOWLES, aged 98, helps the Rotary Club of South East Nassau celebrate their 40th anniversary at East Villa restaurant yesterday.

OLYMPIAN HELPS ROTARY CELEBRATE 40TH ANNIVERSARY THE groundbreaking Rotary Club of South East Nassau is celebrating 40 years of existence this week, with Sir Durward Knowles, 98, who played a part in the founding of the organisation, joining an anniversary lunch yesterday.

Charter president Edwin Deal spearheaded the formation of the club in 1976, sponsored by the Rotary Club of East Nassau, and Judy Reiach, daughter of the Charter president, was at the East Villa restaurant on East Bay Street yester-

THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

day to present awards at a lunch.

The Rotary Club of South East Nassau has made great contributions to the community and to the lives of many during its 40 years.

It was the first club in New Providence to induct women, with Azaleta IshmaelNewry the longest serving female Rotarian in Nassau, and the first to have a female president. It has made great contributions to the community and to the lives of many. It has sponsored two Family Island clubs.

SIR Durward Knowles at yesterday’s event and, left, the cake prepared for the anniversary.

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I

I

I

READERS DOUBT END TO BAHA MAR DEBACLE PRIME Minister Perry Christie said this week that a resolution to the Baha Mar debacle is “imminent”, but those commenting on tribune242.com were sceptical.

Tarzan said: “Pure fiction. This speech will be given serially for the next twelve months until the election is concluded.”

There was this from Honestman: “‘Mr Christie said: ‘I think we are closer to a resolution than we’ve ever been before.’ Well if there is in fact to be a resolution then that statement would obviously be true. It would be true whether the resolution is five months away or five years away! Typical Christie speak.”

TalRussell raised concerns over the cost of the project: “To date this white elephant has cost the state in excess of $1 billion dollars in cash, lands and concessions. The damage to the nation’s tourism industry will run in the billions and billions of dollars. NO more, NOT A RED PENNY in state monies should be spent on Baha Mar, regardless of what is proposed by its new owners.”

Islandlad said: “I think that the PM needs to invest (of his personal money and not that which continues to be of Bahamian tax payers) in a copy of Websters dictionary and look up the word ‘imminent’ as he has used this word soooo many times in the last year in regards to a resolution that it

is clear he does not know the meaning of the word.”

Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner also made the news yesterday, after claiming that the FNM is at the “weakest” point in its history.

This prompted Lkalikl to say: “It’s LBT or bust. The Bahamas better choose smart.”

Economist also backed the MP: “The facts are the facts. Minnis has failed for four long years, he must go.”

DillyTree said: “Minnis has had 4 1/2 years to prove his leadership abilities. What has he done? The party has fallen around him and he can’t even manage his own party. How the hell does he think he’s going to manage a country? Minnis, if you have any shred of decency or brains – step down now. You’re the albatross that will sink the ship for good. No wonder the PLP is campaigning for him.

SMT!” • Do you agree with Mrs Butler-Turner on the current state of the FNM? Don’t miss your chance to vote in our latest online poll on tribune242.com. At the time of going to press, 83.78% of those voting shared the MP’s view.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2016, PAGE 13

RADIO HOST CALLS ON YOUNG BAHAMIANS TO DESTROY STATUS QUO

LAWYER and radio show host Jeff Lloyd impressed upon a group of young Toastmasters this week that they must help to destroy the status quo that is causing The Bahamas to slip into a failed state.

Speaking to Club 7108 at Luciano’s of Chicago recently, Mr Lloyd impressed upon the group that the central institutions of governance in this country are not functioning properly and are therefore no benefit to its citizens.

“We are never to become adjusted to the status quo,” he said. “We should be at war with the status quo. We are failing in every subdivision of statistical measurement in this country.”

Mr Lloyd offered several remedies to get the country on the right track. Education topped his list of cor-

rective measures essential to improving the lives of Bahamians. He suggested discipline and integrity from the political and economic elite, and trust in the government and system of governance, as paramount to moving the country forward.

“The elementary discussions about nation building cannot be engaged by the uneducated population because they are blinded by their inability to process basic information,” Mr Lloyd said.

“No wonder we have had a catastrophic failure of a referendum system. Social promotion must end and we must build a society based on merit. An educated society means you are going to have a competent bureaucracy.

“When there is no trust

between the government and its people you will end up in a pretty bad state.

When you don’t have a trust system, the rule of law becomes worthless and toothless.”

Mr Lloyd has been a passionate critic of the governance of the country under the current administration - including the Official Opposition. During his lecture he cited corruption, theft and wastage as reasons for the floundering public service sector, and the stagnant promises of upgrades to the bus system, Passport Office and vehicle licensing office.

He has also frequently lambasted the government for what he sees as its mishandling of the Baha Mar shutdown, which has kept thousands of Bahamians out of work.

“We are today worse

off than we were 50 years ago,” he said. “Why aren’t we inviting and encouraging people with integrity to step in?”

Mr Lloyd told the Toastmasters that true change in this country would hurt the privileged few if proper measures are enacted to run the government properly and efficiently. However, he alluded to the pervasive problem of having an uneducated electorate who vote based on social promotion and not merit. He urged the group to get out and begin to help make small social changes in The Bahamas.

“You don’t have the luxury of not getting involved anymore,” said Mr Lloyd.

“This country can only be saved by young people. What I do now is not enough. I must become involved on a greater level.”

JEFF Lloyd at the Toastmasters event.

Environment group puts forward FOI amendments THE environmental movement Save The Bays has submitted several recommendations for amendments to the proposed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), including what it considers the most critical change to the draft legislation - establishment of an apolitical, independent Information Commissioner and unit.

“We are grateful to the government for inviting public input on this important draft Bill,” said Save The Bays Chairman Joseph Darville. “We submitted our recommendations by hand on June 21 along with a letter reflecting support for those submitted and shared with us by the Organisation for Responsible Government and we believe that with the considered contributions made by both groups along with consulting attorneys and students of transparencyrelated legislation, the Bill with recommended amendments could be one of the strongest anywhere, something The Bahamas could be proud of for many decades to come.”

In the letter submitted to Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald, under whose portfolio the pending legislation falls, Save The Bays called freedom of information “the bedrock

of democracy” and a basic tenet of the organisation’s platform, adding that it was the absence of transparency that led to environmental threats throughout the islands, in turn triggering the filing of numerous legal cases by the environmental group. Two years ago, Save The Bays led a large demonstration in Rawson Square that brought together groups representing more than 35,000 members calling for freedom of information and the organisation has campaigned “tirelessly” for the legislation that it says will enable communities to contribute to development plans that will impact them and will allow everyone to see the public’s business, including environmental impact assessments while there is still time to amend.

Nearly 100 countries have passed some form of legislation allowing the public access to records, public contracts and fees with The Bahamas in the minority of those still cloaked in secrecy with confidentiality taking priority over transparency. It has been more than 30 years since the United Nations called for all countries to abide by the Transnational Corporation agreement that declared the right to know a basic consumer right. Last year, the

world body strengthened its call, trying to take politics out of the equation of open and transparent business deals as well as allowing consumers the right to know what ingredients were used in products.

“The world is moving toward openness and yet the draft legislation that we have waited so long for in The Bahamas states that the Information Commissioner would be appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister following the consultation with the Leader of the Opposition,” said Save The Bays’ statement.

“We recommend that final legislation provide for an Information Commissioner with no political affiliation be appointed by a process used by other jurisdictions that requires public involvement in the nomination and appointment of an Information Commissioner.”

Save The Bays said the same independence should be afforded to the budget.

According to the draft legislation, Parliament would appropriate funding for the Freedom of Information Unit. The group also recommended extensive training abroad with a careful and deliberate rollout following the completion of team members’ experience

JOB OPPORTUNITY A specialist international boutique law firm is looking for a young ambitious graduate calibre secretary/paralegal who has been working as a secretary /paralegal in either another law firm or other professional services environment for at least one year.

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This role is ideal for a law graduate with some secretarial experience or a secretary looking to take on more paralegal duties. It is essential that you are proactive, dynamic and flexible to help out with anything and everything. There will be extensive liaison with clients so you must also have exceptional communication and Microsoft Office Suite skills.

This is a great opportunity for someone to gain solid corporate legal experience in a well rounded position.

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THE TRIBUNE DA # 1110 9 0 P. O . B O X N - 3 2 0 7 NASSAU, BAHAMAS

in a well-functioning Freedom of Information office.

And they recommended slicing the time for an initial response from 30 to 20 days except where certain conditions exist.

“Freedom of information is the bedrock of democracy,” said Fred Smith, QC, Director of Legal Affairs for Save The Bays and its former chairman. “Almost every other civilised nation in the world has a Freedom of Information Act. They have it in England, throughout the UK, throughout the US, throughout Europe and the Caribbean. It is time for The Bahamas to lock step with other democratic nations. This is a great opportunity to make a real difference.”

Mr Smith, along with attorney Romauld Ferreira,

has filed several legal actions where the environment is threatened by unregulated development or lack of permits.

“Critical to the process of “Government in The Sunshine” is transparency, prevention of corruption, promotion of equal opportunity to Bahamians and accountable governance for a small nation like The Bahamas,” said Mr Smith.

“This will lead to a transparent and accountable FOIA statutory process on direct foreign investment preventing the secret Heads of Agreements on anchor projects.

“Our concern over a lack of Freedom of Information in The Bahamas has only been heightened and validated by the propagation of contentious and controver-

sial projects such as Nygard Cay, a private resort located on Clifton Bay built on $35m worth of Crown Land that began construction before permits were in place; Blackbeard’s Cay, a tourist attraction just north of Nassau which imported dolphins from Honduras in 2014 without following proper planning and permitting procedures under the Marine Mammal Protection Act; Great Guana Cay, in which citizens were abruptly displaced in 2005 after a developer was given the green light to develop 650 acres with no public consultation; and the land deals of Mayaguana, the Ginn Project in Grand Bahama and Baha Mar in New Providence which featured secret heads of agreements and tax concessions.”

Career Opportunity Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited – Marsh Harbour is seeking the services of a

Personal Banking Officer Position Summary: The Personal Banking Officer is a member of the branch team and is responsible for contributing to the overall success of the branch at which they are assigned by meeting negotiated goals through the identification and satisfaction of customer needs. Success will be achieved through meeting the goals negotiated with the branch manager. These assigned goals include specific personal sales goals, sales activity goals, along with other objectives relating to teamwork, customer service and personal development.

Key Accountabilities for this role: • Identifying and satisfying the financial needs of potential customers; • Listening to and fully identifying the customer’s needs to link the identified need to appropriate solutions; • Using the Bank’s referral process when a referral opportunity is identified; • Initiating calls to a predetermined group of customers to retain and expand banking relationships, by offering customized solutions to customers; • Developing new customer opportunities through referrals from existing, satisfied clients and other sources; • Consistently delivering the desired customer experience during every customer interaction; • Applying the Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements including verifying and documenting Customer identity, source(s) of funds and the nature of the activity that is to be undertaken.

Educational Requirements: • Two years of related experience within the finance industry, in a Lending capacity; • Undergraduate Degree in Banking, Marketing or General Business

Functional Competencies: • • • • • • • •

Strong sales ability; Thorough knowledge of all Commercial Banking products and services; Excellent written and oral communication skills, negotiation and analytical skills; Good technical knowledge of Banking Systems and platforms; Strong Relationship Management Skills; Strong Customer Service Skills; Strong networking and interpersonal skills; Goal oriented and a self-starter

Qualified candidates should submit C.V. via email to: hrbahamas@scotiabank.com on or before Friday, July 29, 2016.

Please note: Only candidates short-listed will be contacted.

®Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence (where applicable).

PAGE 14,Thursday, July 21, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

MINALEE Hanchell (left), executive director of Great Commission Ministries and a Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) partner, BFN Executive Director Philip Smith (second from left) and Lessie Smith (second from right) of The Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel joined Ortland Bodie (right) on “Real Talk Live” on Monday morning where BFN presented a $1,000 donation to The Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel.

Photo: Cay Focus Photography

FEEDING NETWORK HELPS CHILDREN’S HOSTEL THE Bahamas Feeding Network recently made a donation to the Children’s Emergency Hostel as the group called attention to country’s hunger crisis among children younger than 14.

“Our youngest are

our most vulnerable because they’re powerless to change their circumstance,” said Philip Smith, executive director of BFN, a non-profit organisation that distributes food to feeding centres and churches throughout the

country.

To raise awareness about the constant peril the hunger crisis poses to the country’s most helpless citizens, BFN presented a $1,000 donation to Lessie Smith of The Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel on Mon-

day, during an appearance on the “Real Talk Live” radio show.

This donation will aid some 30 children at the short-term residential childcare facility in Nassau that provides food, clothing, medical care and

other necessities to abandoned and neglected children.

Like all of those who receive help from BF N, the hostel survives solely on charitable donations.

In the nearly three

years since BFN has been distributing food and funding to feeding centres in the Bahamas, the programme has donated more than $350,000 to its 110 partners with the aid of public and private contributions.

Including all Bahamians the key to moving forward together Your Say

By LORETTA BUTLER-TURNER

AN economy that leaves no one behind is the only way we as a nation can move forward, together.

Isn’t Your Health Worth It?

Career Opportunity

Systems Administrator in the Management Information Systems Department

Position Summary •

Responsible for all problems logged at the Helpdesk in the MIS Department

•

Oversees implementation of new technology

•

Research and develop new technology as they unfold that fits the strategic plan of Doctors Hospital Health System and the MIS Department

•

Administer and maintain Information Technology Systems as required

•

Administers, monitors, and safeguards MIS Systems

•

Assist with other projects on as needed basis

Personal Attributes Analytical and skilled at problem solving • Keen attention to details •

High energy and able to work under pressure

•

Must be a team player

Qualifications •

Associates degree in the Information Technology field

•

A minimum of three-five years experience in a similar role

•

System Administration/System Engineer certification in Microsoft, VMWare and/or SQL.

•

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. Application deadline: Friday, July 29, 2016 Email resume to hr@doctorshosp.com with subject line: Systems Administrator

Please submit resume to: The Human Resources Department Doctors Hospital P.O. Box N-3018 Nassau, Bahamas Fax us at: (242) 302-4738 Email: hr@doctorshosp.com Website: www.doctorshosp.com

I

I

I

With almost 16 per cent unemployment, many Bahamians are already being excluded.

However, the economic challenges that we face cannot be corrected with any one specific measure. To grow an inclusive economy for all, our policies in regulation, trade, crime and education must be re-evaluated.

Our economic security and future success depend on our ability to compete in a global economy, but our government must deliver real change for this to happen. We deserve trade policies that invite foreign investment; crime policies that demonstrate to the world The Bahamas are a safe place to do business; education policies that provide all children equal access to a good education; and a regulatory framework that nurtures innovation, not stifles it.

Recognising that our approaches to crime and edu-

cation are interconnected with the economy is critical to achieving the opportunity and economic growth we deserve. Equal access to a quality education ensures that every hard working student, whether in New Providence or the Family Islands, will have the opportunity to succeed. Direct reforms to our education system, including curriculum standards, are necessary to improving graduation rates and transitioning students from school into fulfilling careers. What good are new jobs if we do not have a workforce with the skills and education needed to fill those jobs?

When students leave school early, they turn to crime or find themselves entering into the cycle of poverty that leads to crime.

Crime presents a drain on our greatest asset in the Bahamas - our human capital. Rather than festering in or justice system, our people should be starting

businesses and innovating.

Too many young men and women are disappearing from our society only to reemerge in a jail cell.

The growth of crime, violent crime in particular, presents another economic challenge - it causes our business community to lose confidence in The Bahamas as a place to do business.

Violence, theft and narcotics not only unravel our societal fabric, they block investment at home and from abroad. If we want to participate in the global marketplace, then the world cannot view our nation as a market for drugs. Stiffer penalties for our most dangerous crimes; a zero-tolerance policy towards police corruption; and a move toward paperless money are a few ways to begin this process.

Investing in our people through education and restoring order to our communities through real action on crime, will en-

courage growth at home and begin to attract business from outside The Bahamas; however, our government must also evaluate how it can move out of the way of investment. According to the World Economic Freedom Index, The Bahamas are at the bottom of the list internationally in regards to trade and investment freedom. Through high tariffs, we are signalling to other countries that we do not want to trade with them and telling foreign companies that we are not open for business.

If we want outside investment and the jobs that come with global commerce, then our government needs to rethink its relationship with the world.

But entering into global commerce will require innovation, entrepreneurship and disruption of our regulatory scheme. We have hardworking, young Bahamian innovators and entrepreneurs who have the skills and ideas to grow successful businesses, but our financial system cannot support them. For businesses to grow, they must have access to capital and our banks are not lending. The government and regulators must work hand-in-hand with our banking system to ensure that entrepreneurs can acquire the financing they need to grow their businessed and to create jobs.

We deserve a healthy economy and while we have struggled through a global recession, if we move the Bahamas forward, together, our best days are still to come.

Loretta Butler-Turner is the Free National Movement’s Member of Parliament for Long Island. She is also the former minister of state for social development.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2016, PAGE 15

COUSINS Scott and Chad Thompson were on the ‘Hog’ hunt at the weekend in Abaco.

SCOTT Thompson and Emma with a nice ‘Hog’ in Abaco.

ASHLEY Thompson with a nice Queen Snapper at Hope Town, Abaco.

LOCAL boy Adrian Phillips with a 19.6lb Dog Tooth Snapper.

BAHAMAS Sport Fishing Network (BSFN) expert David Rees had a close encounter with an angry 14-foot shark after taking its dinner while fishing for Tuna in Abaco at the weekend.

Thought to be a Mako, the shark came charging in, biting down on the lower unit of his 19-foot fishing machine. A scary moment but a great fishing story for years to come.

Keep checking the BSFN expert page for fishing reports throughout the Ba-

hamas: this will be helpful in tracking the “hot spots” and providing advice on gear and fishing methods being used.

For a sample of the spectacular fishing to be had in The Bahamas, expert advice, tournament dates and

results, informative features and photo galleries visit the BSFN page at tribune242. com or www.bsfn.biz.

BSFN slideshows can be found on USA Today’s website in the Travel section at experience.usatoday.com.

PAGE 16,Thursday, July 21, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Groups handed $70,000

by Lyford Cay Foundation DURING the Lyford Cay Foundations’ most recent grants awards cycle, a total of $70,500 was awarded to 15 non-profit organisations, the majority of which provide summer enrichment activities for young Bahamians.

Among these were two environmentally focused non-profits, Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO) and Bahamas Plastics Movement, which were each awarded $4,000.

BMMRO, based in Abaco, has a goal of increasing awareness and stewardship of marine mammals in The Bahamas by exposing students to the diversity of animals living in our waters and the importance of our ecosystem.

According to BMMRO, The Bahamas is extremely vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels that can impact tourism and the economy, as well as our environment. The Foundations’ grant allows BMMRO to run two weeklong whale camps for Bahamian high school and college students for the cost of one camp and make campers aware of how these issues affect the country.

Dr Charlotte Dunn, a lead researcher with BMMRO, explained the importance of the whale camp.

“Our goal is to engage students in science and conservation - this is our measure of success,” she said.

“Capacity building of Bahamians in marine sciences will be key to reducing the impacts we as humans are placing on our marine life.”

BMMRO hopes to not only raise awareness about the marine environment, but also inspire Bahamian students to study disciplines within the marine science

AMONG the recipients of grants from the Lyford Cay Foundation was the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation, above. ciated with the camp.

“We’re pleased that our dofield on a collegiate level.

“Our main goal is to help nors see the important conThe Foundations are also proud to note that alum Bahamian youth under- nection between educating scholar Felice Knowles, a full stand the role they play in young people about marine time biologist specialising in solving the issue of plastic conservation and the conmanatees, leads the camp pollution on the marine en- tinued prosperity of our and serves as BMMRO’s vironment,” noted Ms Am- beautiful country.” brose. “The grant allows us Other non-profits who stranding coordinator.

Current Lyford Cay to offer a complimentary were awarded grants this scholar Kristal Ambrose environmental programme summer include: Bahamas National Trust is the founder of Baha- inclusive of lunch and transmas Plastic Movement and portation to students of Eco Camp, BREEF, Bahaserves as the project coordi- South Eleuthera. In a com- mas Youth Network, The nator for the organisation’s munity that is economically Butterfly Club D-Squad camp, Plastic Pollution Ed- depressed, there would be Summer Basketball Camp, ucation and Ocean Conser- no way to offer free summer Full Life Outreach Cenprogramming to students in tre, Grand Bahama Sailing vation Summer Camp.

The camp, which was need without the help of the Club, International Creative Arts Initiative, Jude’s conducted from June 27- Lyford Cay Foundation.”

“Our mission at work is Bridge of Hope, Montell July 1, is a tuition-free, fiveday intensive programme to invest in diverse learn- Heights Community Cenfor students of South ing opportunities for the tre Programme, NAGB Art Eleuthera between the ages Bahamian who will benefit Summer Camp, REACH 9 and 15-years-old. The the most,” said Maureen Summer Camp and Weygrant from the Foundations French, managing director mss Bight Community Lihelped to offset costs asso- of Lyford Cay Foundations. brary.

THE BAHAMAS Plastics Movement received a $4,000 grant.

FROM left, back row, head coach Michael Demeritte, (front) assistant coach Damian Nixon with the DADS Basketball Youth Club members and marketing manager for Sun Oil Limited Rufus Johnson and DADS club secretary Kevan Dean.

Photo: TCLGroup

SUN OIL SUPPORTS BASKETBALL CLUB SUN Oil Limited recently made a donation to DADS (Defenders Against Delinquency Support) Youth Basketball Club.

DADS was established out of concern for the emo-

tional, as well as the athletic development deficiencies of young Bahamian men, primarily between the ages of 13-15. The club has been in existence for a year and a half. In that time the club has

had the privilege of mentoring and developing at least 100 young men of varying backgrounds. Sun Oil Limited is pleased to contribute to the progress of developing the youth of the nation.

RISE IN POPULATION OF TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THE population of the Turks and Caicos Islands could top 55,000 by 2027 with citizens of the islands, formerly called Belongers, declining as a proportion to less than a quarter according to a new report.

The medium projection in a joint report launched yesterday by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Statistics Department of the Turks and Caicos Government is for the population to reach 55,498 - compared with 32,199 in 2012.

Net migration accounts for 68 per cent of this projected increase with natural change (births less deaths) accounting for the remaining 32 per cent. Immigration of people from neighbouring countries seeking employment created by the development of tourism has been the main driver

of population growth in the Turks and Caicos Islands since 1980, when the population was just 7,413.

Citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands, formerly called Belongers, represented 69 per cent of the total in 1990, falling to 37 per cent in 2012 and, if current trends continue, could represent less than a quarter of the population by 2027.

The Turks and Caicos Islands currently have one of the youngest populations in the Caribbean, partly because immigrants tend to be younger working age people. In 2012, the most populous age group was that between 25 and 44 years (comprising 39 per cent of the population).

However, the population is ageing; by 2027 the most populous age group will be those between 35 and 54 years (again 39 per cent of the total). The propor-

tion of people over 65 will remain relatively low, increasing from 3.5 per cent to 7 per cent over this period, but continuing to increase rapidly after 2027.

The projections are based on census data, vital statistics and assumptions about future patterns of fertility, mortality and international migration. Population projections are used by policymakers and planners to analyse population trends and their implications for social and economic development including the future demand for resources and services.

ECLAC worked in collaboration with the Turks and Caicos Government to develop the population projections and also provided training to the staff of the Statistics Department in the methods and software used to produce the projections.

PAGE 18,Thursday, July 21, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

BRITISH PM VISITS GERMAN LEADER AHEAD OF BREXIT TALKS BERLIN Associated Press

PRIME Minister Theresa May made her first overseas trip as Britain’s leader on Wednesday to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will be a key figure in negotiating Britain’s exit from the European Union.

May was greeted by a military band as she arrived at the Chancellery in Berlin for getting-to-knowyou talks with the German leader.

A week ago, May replaced David Cameron, who resigned in the wake of

Britain’s decision to leave the 28-nation bloc.

May’s office says the trip, which also includes a visit to French President Francois Hollande, will help forge “the personal relations that will pave the way for open and frank discussions in the months ahead”.

May is likely to be asked when she will invoke Article 50 of the EU’s constitution, which triggers a two-year process of quitting the bloc. She has said she does not plan to do that before the end of the year, but EU leaders say there can’t be any substantive talks about future re-

lations until Britain does that.

Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said talks with Britain over leaving the EU can only begin once Article 50 is activated, and there will be no “pre-negotiations” between Merkel and May. May said Wednesday that while she doesn’t underestimate the challenge of negotiating the British exit, she firmly believes “that being able to talk frankly and openly about the issues we face will be an important part of a successful negotiation”.

The thorniest issue is

likely to be the trade-off between access to Europe’s single market — which the British economy relies on — and control of immigration. EU leaders are unlikely to give Britain full access to the market unless it accepts the EU principle of free movement of people among member states.

Facing her first weekly prime minister’s question session in the House of Commons Wednesday, May did not answer directly when asked if Britain would be willing to leave the single market in order to guarantee migration

controls.

She said the referendum result made clear that “people want control of free movement from the European Union.” But, she said, “we must also negotiate the right deal and the best deal on trade in goods and services for the British people.”

May has also announced that Britain is relinquishing its turn at holding the EU presidency in the second half of 2017.

May’s office said the prime minister spoke to European Council President Donald Tusk on Tuesday evening and told him Brit-

ain would give up the rotating six-month presidency — held by EU member states in turn — so it could prioritize exit negotiations.

After a working dinner with Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday, May will travel to Paris on Thursday to meet Hollande in Paris. As well as talking about the EU, they will discuss counterterrorism cooperation in the wake of last week’s deadly truck attack in Nice.

May said she wanted to send a message to Britain’s European allies that “these relationships have been vital in the past and they will be vital in the future”.

TURKEY DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY

PEOPLE wave Turkish flags as they gather in Taksim Square in Istanbul, protesting against the attempted coup, Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a threemonth state of emergency after a failed coup.

ANKARA, Turkey Associated Press TURKEY’S president on Wednesday declared a three-month state of emergency following a botched coup attempt, declaring he would rid the military of the “virus” of subversion and giving the government sweeping powers to expand a crackdown that has already included mass arrests and the closure of hundreds of schools.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was accused of autocratic conduct before the insurrection, said

the measure would counter threats to Turkish democracy. Possibly anticipating investor jitters, Erdogan criticized Standard & Poor’s for downgrading its credit rating for Turkey deeper into “junk” status and said the country would remain financially disciplined.

The president did not announce details, but the security measure could facilitate longer detentions for many of the nearly 10,000 people who have been rounded up since loyalist security forces and protesters quashed the rebellion that started Friday night and was over by

Saturday.

“This measure is in no way against democracy, the law and freedoms,” Erdogan said in a national televised address after a meeting with Cabinet ministers and security advisers.

The state of emergency announcement needs to be published in a state gazette and lawmakers have to approve it for it to take effect, according to analysts.

Turkey imposed emergency rule in the southeast of Turkey in 1987, allowing officials to set curfews, issue search and arrest warrants and restrict gatherings as

the security forces fought Kurdish rebels. The emergency rule was gradually lifted by 2002.

The president suggested military purges would continue.

“As the commander in chief, I will also attend to it so that all the viruses within the armed forces will be cleansed,” Erdogan said.

In an apparent attempt to calm fears that the military’s powers will be increased, the president said the military will be under the government-appointed governors’ command and work closely with the re-

GN 1779

gional governors.

The pro-government death toll in the botched coup was 246. At least 24 coup plotters were also killed.

Turkey also said it would close more than 600 private schools and dormitories following the attempted coup, spurring fears that the state’s move against perceived enemies is undermining key institutions in the country.

Erdogan’s government said it has fired nearly 22,000 education ministry workers, mostly teachers, taken steps to revoke the licenses of 21,000 other teachers at private schools and sacked or detained half a dozen university presidents in a campaign to root out alleged supporters of a US-based Muslim cleric blamed for the failed insurrection.

The targeting of education ties in with Erdogan’s belief that the cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whose followers run a network of schools worldwide, seeks to infiltrate the Turkish education system and other institutions in order to bend the country to his will. The cleric’s movement, which espouses moderation and multi-faith harmony, says it is a scapegoat.

While Erdogan is seeking to consolidate the power of his elected government after the rebellion, his crackdown could further polarize a country that once enjoyed a reputation for relative stability in the turbulent Middle East region. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the military, courts and other institutions being purged.

“The fact that so many judges have been detained, never mind the workload at the courthouses, will render them inoperable,” said Vildan Yirmibesoglu, a human rights lawyer.

The education ministry said it decided to close 626 private schools and other establishments under investigation for “crimes against the constitutional order and the running of that order,” the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The agency said the schools are linked to Gulen, a former ally of Erdogan who lives in Pennsylvania and has denied accusations that he engineered the coup attempt.

Turkey has demanded Gulen’s extradition from the United States. US Secretary of State John Kerry says Turkey must provide hard evidence that Gulen was behind the foiled coup, and that mere allegations of wrongdoing wouldn’t suffice.

The two allies cooperate in the US-led war against the Islamic State group, with American military planes flying missions from Turkey’s Incirlik air base into neighboring Iraq and Syria.

Turkey’s domestic situation is increasingly a concern as the crackdown widens. Huseyin Ozev, an education union leader in Istanbul, said state education workers who were reported to have been fired had not received notices and that employees were “waiting at home or on vacation, anxiously,” to see if they had lost their jobs.

The fight against coup plotters “should not be turned into a witch hunt,” Ozev said.

In other moves, Turkey demanded the resignations of 1,577 university deans and halted foreign assignments for state-employed academics. A total of 50,000 civil service employees have been fired in the purges, which have reached Turkey’s national intelligence service and the prime minister’s office.

The government has also revoked the press credentials of 34 journalists because of alleged ties to Gulen’s movement, Turkish media reported.

Authorities have rounded up about 9,000 people — including 115 generals, 350 officers, 4,800 other military personnel and 60 military high school students — for alleged involvement in the coup attempt. Turkey’s defense ministry has also sacked at least 262 military court judges and prosecutors, according to Turkish media reports.

Saban Ceylan, a taxi driver in Istanbul, said he expected his income to drop because of the state of emergency.

“Nothing is going to happen if I don’t take money home during three months,” Ceylan said. In a reference to the coup plotters, he said: “I just want this country to be rescued from those dishonorable people.”