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VOLUME:116 No.146, JULY 25TH, 2019

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CLASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS

INSIDE

NON-PROFITS FACE CASH CRACKDOWN

New regulations to force disclosures on source of funds

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net UNDER the Non-Profit Organisations Amendment Bill, non-profits that fail to renew registration face having financial accounts frozen and being investigated by authorities, according to Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson.

The bill, passed in the House of Assembly yesterday, also makes provision for churches to keep proper financial records and produce them upon request whereas the previously shelved version of the legislation made declaring this information automatic.

Finance Minister Peter

Turnquest described this as a “lighter touch”, adding it was never the government’s intention to become involved in the affairs of non-profit organisations and portray the characteristics of a “fascist” government.

He explained there was an urgent need to pass this bill and four others to ensure the Bahamas aligned with the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Further, the bill makes it mandatory that organisations must report and disclose the receipt of donations and disbursements of $50,000 or more.

REGULATIONS tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday contain a provision for the public to be notified through the Royal Bahamas Police Force of the release of a sexual offender from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The Registration of Sex Offenders Regulations were tabled by National

SEE PAGE FIVE

RANDY: WE MAY BE AT POINT OF NO RETURN

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SKY Bahamas’ principal last night challenged aviation regulators to clarify whether they want “to shut us down” as the airline “could be at the point of not coming back”.

Captain Randy Butler said that legal action was one of the options after the carrier remained grounded for a 16th day following Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority orders that it not fly because a key permit has expired.

And he called on Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, and the prime minister, to intervene given that another Bahamian-owned company and its 63 employees were now close to going out of business.

EDUCATION BONUS FRAUD: ‘TEN SHOULD FACE ACTION’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE SIX

Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday, however they were not debated or passed and it is unclear when they will come into force.

According to the regulations, the commissioner of corrections has to notify the minister of a release six months before the intended release date of the offender.

However, before determining to give any notification in relation to a

L SOUR CE

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

SEX OFFENDER REGISTER MOVES A STEP CLOSER

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

$1

SHAM MARRIAGE SUSPECTS

JUSTICE of the Peace Bradley Smith, left, and Bernard Musgrove, right, were among five people arraigned yesterday on charges related to fraudulent marriages.

Full story - Page 5 Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

THE Office of the Attorney General recommended that disciplinary action, including dismissal, be taken against ten people involved in a Department of Education scheme that defrauded the government of $450,000.

However, more than six months after the scheme was exposed to the public, it is not clear what action will be taken against the individuals.

In January, The Tribune reported that Auditor General Terrance Bastian found staff had perpetuated a $448,230 fraud by manipulating a system of stipends and honoraria.

SEE PAGE THREE

COP KILLED SUSPECT ARMED WITH KNIFE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN officer testified yesterday about the moment she saw a knife wielding man charge at her partner before he was fatally shot in Pinewood Gardens nearly ten years ago.

Police Constable Jovan Jervis killed Lanes Sylvius on August 23, 2010 and the inquest into that incident began this week. Corporal Angela Johnson testified

LANES SYLVIUS that she and Officer Jervis were on duty that morning when two bus drivers came

to complain that they were victims of an armed robbery on Bay Geranium Avenue. Dressed in their police uniform, she said she and Officer Jervis visited the scene and found the suspect wearing black shorts and a white shirt. Officer Jervis, she said, jumped out of the police vehicle and although he shouted warnings to the suspect, the man ran, prompting the officers to give chase.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE 13

STATESIDE

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A FEW REAL CONTENDERS

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Thursday, July 25, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

MARINE TO FACE MURDER TRIAL NEXT MONTH

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force marine charged with murdering his superior at Government House is set to stand trial in August before the Supreme Court.

Able Seaman Jevon Seymour stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday to receive a voluntary bill of indictment.

Magistrate FergusonPratt gave Seymour the option of presenting his alibi yesterday in court or to submit his alibi within 21 days to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Seymour told the court he has an alibi and wished to submit the details to the DPP’s office.

Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt told Seymour yesterday was his last appearance in Magistrates Court and he will appear before Supreme Court Justice Bernard Turner on August 16 at 10 am to enter a plea.

Seymour was remanded into custody until then. He can apply for bail at the Supreme Court at any time in the interim.

Before the hearing, a small group of people, some of whom wore white t-shirts that read “Justice

for Jevon”, gathered outside the Magistrates Court’s precincts in support of their loved one.

Seymour, 35, is charged with the shooting death of RBDF Petty Officer Percival Perpall, 52, and the attempted murders of two of his colleagues, Calvin Hanna and Ellis Rahming on April 28.

According to initial police reports, the three officers were attacked while on duty at Government House.

Around 2.30am on the date in question, a man accessed Government House, made his way to the guard house where P/O Perpall, the guard commander, and other officers were, police reported.

According to police, P/O Perpall was seated in the administrative area along with another RBDF marine while others were on break in another area.

The male intruder subsequently opened fire on P/O Perpall, hitting him several times to the upper body before fleeing the premises.

He was pursued by alert marines, but escaped.

Paramedics were summoned to the scene where they pronounced P/O Perpall dead.

P/O Perpall enlisted in the RBDF more than 30 years ago and was once a United Nations peacekeeper in Haiti.

CANADIAN BIOMETRICS SERVICE FOR VISAS

THE Canadian government is offering a biometrics collection service in Nassau next week.

The service will be available on July, 29, 30, and on August 1 to those who have applied for a visitor visa, for a study or work permit or for permanent residence.

“Collecting biometrics gives Canada a reliable, accurate tool to establish a traveller’s identity, and it improves the ability to process applications and the entry of people upon arrival in Canada,” officials noted.

“The biometrics collection service is being offered on a pilot basis and will be open to applicants who have paid the biometrics fee and have received a biometrics instruction letter.”

Applicants can book a biometrics appointment by e-mailing the High Commission of Canada in Kingston, Jamaica at the following address: KNGTNTD@ international.gc.ca. The collection service will be held at the Consulate of Canada to the Bahamas in Nassau located in the Shirley Street Plaza and will be by appointment only.

Canada provided similar pilot biometrics collection services in Saint Lucia and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as in the Pacific Islands in March.

Under this new round of the pilot, the Canadian government will be providing biometrics services in eight countries in the Caribbean and the Americas and two in Asia.

“The government of Canada is closely monitoring the impact of the biometrics collection requirement,” the press release noted. “Canada is making the biometrics process as smooth as possible for applicants, through such measures as this pilot project and only requiring biometrics to be given once every 10 years for those coming to visit, study or work temporarily.”

As of December 31, 2018, most foreign nationals need to give their biometrics when applying for a Canadian visitor visa, for a study or work permit or for permanent residence.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 25, 2019, PAGE 3

Messi’s new club LIONEL Messi (bottom left) enjoys the final days of his holiday as he is joined by friends and family. Below, with his partner Antonella as they enjoy a dip in the sea.

Argentine soccer star enjoys a break on Paradise Island LIONEL Messi, according to many experts the finest soccer player in the world, has been relaxing at the luxury Ocean Club resort on Paradise Island this week.

The 32-year-old, who plays for Argentina, right, and Barcelona, is on holiday with his family.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been enjoying a break from football after Argentina were knocked out of the Copa America at the semi-final stage. The star was handed a one-match ban and a £1,200 fine after

he was sent off in Argentina’s Copa America third-place playoff with Chile.

It is not known when Messi will return to Spain to begin preparations for next season but Barcelona have confirmed he will be back to captain the side against Arsenal on August 4.

In July 2016, Messi posed for photographs in Atlantis with fans and was seen on a boat in The Bahamas with his partner Antonella Roccuzzo and their sons.

Education bonus fraud: ‘Ten staff may face action’ from page one In a report dated September 12, 2018, his office revealed there was no accompanying formal approval from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Public Service for the payments. In one instance, an assistant accountant received 43 honoraria payments of $125,505 in 44 months while another accountant received $61,113 in 32 instalments in 20 months.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force was said to be investigating the matter but the results of that probe are unclear. Some public servants, The Tribune understands, are concerned that despite the significance of the fraud, little has been done to hold those responsible accountable.

The Tribune recently obtained a copy of the recommendation from Shane Miller, director of legal affairs in the AG’s Office,

concerning the matter. The document, dated April 29, 2019, was addressed to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Services, who could not be reached yesterday for comment.

Mr Miller wrote: “We have been informed by the treasurer that as a result of the (auditor) report, all of the officers have since been relocated out of the Department of Education and corrective measures have been implemented in the accounting procedures.

Furthermore, the treasurer has a contingency plan to replace relevant officers should dismissals be warranted. The treasurer on behalf of the financial secretary held meetings with the audit department, the department of public personnel and the Office of the Attorney General and requested the OAG to advise on the matters.

“The Ministry of Finance, who has control of all of the accounts officers in the public service, has decided

to take action against some individuals who are employees for misappropriation of funds which occurred during this time. As a result of findings of the report, it was initially decided that action would be taken against 24 persons. However, the Office of the Attorney General advised that the department should ensure that the persons charged have infringed specific law/policies/regulations and that there was substantiating evidence to support the allegations.

As a result, it was decided that action would be taken against ten persons.”

The Public Service Commission Regulations characterises the disciplinary actions public officers could face.

“Upon review of the matter and in accordance with the relevant legislation, we advise that show cause letters be issued to the ten individuals pursuant to regulations 41 and 43 of the Public Service Commission Regulations,” Mr

Miller said in his letter. “We have enclosed drafts of the letters to be reviewed, completed and signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Service and issued to the relevant individuals. In drafting the show cause letters, we have taken into consideration the following legislation: the Public Services Act; the Public Service Commission Regulations, the Financial Regulations; the Manual of Cabinet Proceedings; the Bahamas Government Human Resources Policies Manual March 2017 and the Financial Administration and Audit Act.” Asked whether disciplinary action has been taken against the employees, Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said yesterday the matter is ongoing.

“The matter remains under active consideration and appropriate steps will be taken,” he said.

Attorney General Carl Bethel declined to comment.

PAGE 4, Thursday, July 25, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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A partnership which really would deliver on health THE Democratic National Alliance is, we are sure, well intentioned and wants the best for the Bahamas. It raises its hand to speak every so often, makes a few points which we already pretty much know all about and then disappears back into the shadows.

This week saw a perfect example of this when DNA leader Arinthia Komolafe called on Health Minister Dr Duane Sands to provide the nation with a “comprehensive plan” for the health care system.

Obesity, diabetes and other chronic illnesses were all issues Dr Sands should be shouting out about, said Mrs Komolafe.

At the same time, she told us, the health service was being subjected to a brain drain with nurses, doctors and other health specialists being lured away by higher salaries overseas.

Where on earth has Mrs Komolafe been?

Almost since the moment he stepped into office Dr Sands has been screaming from the rooftops warning that we are in the depths of a health crisis led by obesity and diabetes. We can’t imagine there’s little more he can say to warn the public of the dangerous diets they follow which are devastating families across our nation with little sign of the crisis slowing down.

Brain drain? Just google his name and read the stories where he warns time and again that our medical staff are leaving in droves for the U.S. where salaries, way beyond what we can afford, are readily available.

As for a “comprehensive plan” if Mrs Komolafe wants one - and in this she has a point - achieving it needs us all to accept some hard truths. If we really want to improve the health service to the standard we would like it is going to hurt us all.

The fact is Dr Sands doesn’t have enough money. None of the government departments do. What we raise in revenue through customs duties, VAT, business licences, Property Tax and Gaming doesn’t pay the bills.

For the health service the reality is the vast majority of the money Finance Minister Peter Turnquest allocates to Dr Sands is swallowed up by staff wages - which Dr Sands knows are below what hospitals across the U.S. can easily better.

What money Dr Sands - and the Public Hospitals Authority - has left to play with just about keeps our hospitals and clinics in operation. We’re not being funny but we are literally sticking a plaster over the cracks.

How many times have we had to report on an unrepaired roof, broken

ACs, kitchens and laundries that don’t work, wards closed down, hospital infections rampant through lack of simple hygienic good practices?

Go inside the Princess Margaret Hospital for half an hour and you can see for yourself the problem. It takes your breath away. In the last 18 months there has been some progress led by a few driven individuals who have charged into battle and done what they can, driving change within the institutions and badgering individuals outside in the wealthier communities of The Bahamas to dig into their pockets and help out.

But without real change the “comprehensive plan” Mrs Komolafe demands will never come.

That real change is going to involve things like some form of taxation of both business and individuals, the acceptance that when you receive a service from the government - student loans, water, medical treatment, your National Insurance contributions - you have to pay them.

Remember also in case you missed it the half dozen times Dr Sands has told us: something in the region of $780 million in fees owed to our health service is uncollected.

Some time ago a suggestion was raised which would help the health service take a short cut to the level of care to which we all aspire. This involved partnering with world leading medical providers Johns Hopkins. It’s not that radical an idea as some may think.

Some years ago the PHA handed over the private rooms at the Princess Margaret Hospital to an organisation most readers don’t know of - the Physicians Alliance, a group of local Bahamian health specialists. It runs the private areas of the PMH and shares revenues raised back to the PHA. Clearly looking at the state of the PMH there isn’t enough money being earned to make even a dent in the work that needs to be done in the public areas.

The point here is if we are happy to hand over part of the health service to a private organisation why not do the same with the whole thing, especially when the partner is the world leader in its field?

Isn’t that precisely what the Minnis administration has done in partnering with Global Ports downtown?

Dr Sands said in the budget debate the talks with Johns Hopkins were ongoing. May we suggest a little more effort be put into the negotiations - it’s hard to imagine anyone in the country would want to stand in the way of delivering the health service which we all desire.

Now that would be a comprehensive plan of which to be proud.

Tobacco so illogical EDITOR, The Tribune WORLDWIDE there are generally two legalised drugs. The first is tobacco, Sir Walter Raleigh brought tobacco from the Americas to Europe in 1586. Incredibly it was perceived in its early years as being beneficial to your health.

It does not give you a high (which begs the question why bother?) From a health perspective the statistics on tobacco are truly terrifying. 8,200,000 people worldwide die from tobacco related diseases-TRD. Of these deaths 1,200,000 per year are caused by second hand smoke ie poor souls who don’t even smoke!

That’s a bummer.

The life expectancy of a smoker is 10 years less than a non smoker, when you are 15 and life seems ever ending it’s utterly pointless pointing this out. Stats show us addiction is complete within one month of commencing smoking. Of people who smoke 67% will die of a

TRD. Approximately 14% of worldwide deaths per year are caused by TRD. You could go infinitum pointing out the frightening stats on tobacco such as the $300,000,000,000 it costs in heath care worldwide per year. So much for the devilish tobacco. The next legalised drug used throughout the world is alcohol. This one does give you a high. It ‘s a smaller killer compared to tobacco coming in at 3,000,000 deaths per year which is 5.9% of world wide deaths per year.

So much for the legalised drugs. We then have a host of non legal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, speed, ecstasy and marijuana amongst a plethora of others. Significantly many countries in the world are now legalising marijuana.

Like alcohol it gives a high.

In the USA approximately 70,000 people per year die of drug related issues of which the vast majority are overdoses. Amazingly 55% of these deaths are caused by prescription (LEGAL)

drugs, the often mentioned opioid epidemic. Causes of deaths reported by marijuana abuse/overdose is zero. Health wise good stats for marijuana.

These are the FACTS of the legalised drugs tobacco and alcohol and the illegal drug marijuana. Now marijuana is fully legal in Canada and some US states there is a lot of research going on into the health benefits of marijuana. There is NO research going on for the health benefits of tobacco as there are none! It kills – end of story.

It strikes me Walter Raleigh brought the wrong leaf back from the Americas and if he brought back marijuana in 1586 and now countries were trying to legalise tobacco what would be the reaction? Yes, no chance you don’t get high and it kills you. Utterly illogical drug tobacco.

THE REALIST Nassau, June, 2019.

Collapse is on the cards EDITOR, The Tribune

I AM a life long student of Bahamian politics. Politics here in our wonderful nation is phenomenal and oftentimes perplexing. Everyone, literally, expected the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to have lost the May, 2017 general elections. Few, however, expected the landslide victory of the Free National Movement (FNM). That party declared that it was “the people’s time” and the rest is history.

The Bahamian people were promised much and expected even more from Dr Minnis and his crew.

Sadly to say, the FNM, in my view, has squandered the political goodwill which was given to it on a golden platter. With a huge majority of 35 seats in the bloated House of Assembly, the FNM administration could have/should have immediately brought about fundamental changes in the way we govern our nation and could have/should have by now laid the ground work for the empowerment, socially and economically, of the unwashed masses.

Immediately upon coming to high office, the PM and his government made a series of missteps and terrible policy initiatives. The ongoing saga with Oban comes readily to mind. From the get go, that proposed project for East End Grand Bahama, in my opinion, was pie in the sky 2.0 There is simply no market on the eastern coast of the USA for the products that would have been produced by Oban.

To compound the fiasco, the signatory to the original Heads of Agreement was mot authorised, apparently, to do so. The ‘files’ have gone missing and after a year the Police still say that they are ‘unable’ to locate that file and that ‘investigations’ are continuing.

In opposition the FNM and its leader were all over the place cussing out the then governing PLP over the imposition of Value Added Tax....VAT. Immediately upon coming to high office the ‘champions’ of the people drastically increased the VAT to 12.5% This is a regressive tax in that the lower income citizens are obliged, proportionally, to expend more of their mini

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net

income, where one exists, compared to the upper economic levels. Who cared?

The national economy is in the basket and the bottom may well drop out sooner rather than later.

Several public policy initiatives, like the Freedom of Information Bill; Accountability and Fiscal Responsibility Bill and a host of others have yet to materialise. The size of the cabinet is beyond comprehension. It is obvious that at least five substantive ministers are in over their heads and should be shuffled out of the cabinet altogether.

This administration and its appointed Board of Directors at Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) cannot seem to be able to get it right in terms of generation and distribution of power. In fact, load shedding under the FNM has become the norm. In the process tens of thousands of residents and businesses here in New Providence have suffered massive financial losses and damage to critical equipment and appliances.

BPL advises clients to submit ‘claims’ to its corporate offices but all Bahamians realise that that is just ‘going through the motions’.

The manner in which this administration goes about making, or failing to make, coherent decisions is now, in less than three years, legendary in a negative way.

The communications of the PM, despite having a whole press retinue and Bahamas Information Services, and his administration are the worst that I have seen in decades. It is almost as if they are making every effort to fail. The relocation of the Post Office was badly handled and the fall out from the same may well be fatal to the reelection chances of that party.

There has been no ground breaking of any new investment projects since coming to high office save and except those which would have been approved by the defunct PLP. Brother Christie had to go and the PLP now has a stellar opportunity to

regroup and re-brand under the leadership of the Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC (PLP-Cat Island) but this will not be a cake walk. The PLP will meet in convention within a matter of days.

Will we see the unveiling of a New Deal PLP or a resurrection of Christie 2.0?

The FNM is akin to a house of cards. After awhile stacking cards, the whole house will eventually fall. The biggest problem’ which hinders the success of the administration is the Prime Minister himself.

His lack of clear leadership abilities is like an Albatross retarding the advancement of its agenda. For too long Bahamians have equated professional skills or success as a litmus test for good political leadership. I submit that had our society not been so “anti female” Dr Minnis would have been handily defeated by the Hon Loretta ButlerTurner (who had/has her own political baggage) and he would have been legitimately referred to as “one who also ran.”

Some in the PLP say that they have re-branded and have regrouped. I beg to differ, with all due respect.

For a number of clear reasons, which I will not detail here, the party needs Brave at the helm at this time.

The PLP is in no shape or position to have a public spectacle over the question of the top leader. Alfred Sears, et al, will have to await their time, if and whenever it comes. I have no problem with challenges to the other positions, across the board.

The House of Cards that the FNM hastily built will eventually collapse, sadly.

If, however, there is a timely leadership coup in the FNM (by next year summer) Dr Minnis would have been the shortest termed Prime Minister, ever, in our wonderful nation. Who would I wish to see as the obvious replacement to Dr Minnis?

The Hon Theresa May in the UK in short ordered will demit office and be replaced by “my boy” the Hon Boris Johnson. Who is the Boris Johnson in the FNM cabinet? To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, July 20, 2019.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 25, 2019, PAGE 5

FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING A JP, FACE CHARGES OVER SHAM MARRIAGES

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

ABOVE, Haitian national Willy Exama and, top right, Anslene Nicolas and Bridney Johnson appeared before Magistrate Kara Deveaux-Turnquest yesterday.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

THREE men and two women were arraigned in Magistrates Court yesterday on charges related to fraudulent marriages.

Bradley Smith, 48, of Moncur Alley off Kemp Road, Bernard Musgrove, 19, of Palm Beach Street, Haitian national Willy Exama, 24, of Mackey Street, Haitian national Anslene Nicolas, 23, of Greenwood Road and Bridney Johnson, 19, of Yellow Elder, appeared before Magistrate Kara Deveaux-Turnquest.

Smith, a Justice of the Peace, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences, two counts of attempted fraud by false pretences, two counts of abetment to commit fraud by false pretences, two counts of abetment

to commit fraudulent marriage and two counts of conspiracy to commit a fraudulent marriage.

Smith pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and was denied bail. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until October 3 and 4, when he is set to stand trial.

Exama, Johnson, Nicolas and Musgrove were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences, fraud, attempted fraud by false pretences, fraudulent marriage and conspiracy to commit a fraudulent marriage.

Both couples pleaded not guilty to the five charges and were denied bail.

Exama and Johnson were remanded to the BDCS until October 3 when they are set to stand trial.

Musgrove and Nicolas were remanded to the BDCS until October 4.

Sex offender register moves a step closer from page one particular sex offender, the minister of national security has to, after consultation with the commissioner of police, satisfy himself that “a sex offender presents a risk of significant harm to the health or safety of the public and a disclosure should be made to the public or a part thereof to heighten their awareness of the presence of the sexual offender in or near the area,” the regulations state.

Where the minister is satisfied of this, he must cause notification to be given by police to the public. The regulations suggest that victims can also be notified on an individual basis of a release to heighten their awareness of the presence of the offender in or near their area. However, ultimately the police commissioner has to be satisfied of the need to protect the health and safety of the person.

Additionally, it is proposed that an offender must report to the registry within three days of prison release.

At that time, the offender has to disclose where he/ she lives and official identification for a report to be entered into the register.

Authorised identifying factors include a recent photo of the offender; a name and any aliases or name changes as a result of marriage, dissolution or legally recognised circumstances; race, sex, age and height; distinguishing features such as scars and tattoos; occupation and employment status; the type of sexual offence convicted of and primary and

secondary addresses of the offender.

In cases where the offender is moving and changing names, the register will also have to be updated within seven days.

Addresses are to be verified by the police, the regulations state.

Notification has also to be given in cases where the offender is travelling out of country.

Public officials who are privy to the sex offender register also will be duty bound to uphold a level of secrecy relating to its contents.

The regulations state: “Every person having or having had an official duty or employment in the administration of these regulations shall regard and deal with as secret and confidential all information, books or documents relating to the register and the registry; maintain confidentiality of all information, books, record or other documents relating to the registrar and registry coming to his knowledge as a result of his duties under these regulations.”

Regarding the upkeep of the register, particulars of a conviction are to be provided and will be kept in a computerised database or other form approved by the minister.

In cases where a registration has to be removed from the registry resulting from a person successfully appealing a conviction, the person’s information will be placed in a separate database solely for research and statistical purposes. However, in this instance identities will be disclosed.

Any inaccuracies in the

registry are to be quickly corrected by the registrar.

This comes a month after the country’s leading counselling and advocacy services provider for abuse victims said she does not

want a sex offender register to be made public.

Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson, director of the Bahamas Crisis Centre, said a public register would be ineffective and would lure people into a

false sense of security.

Her comments came when contacted after the government published draft regulations for a sex offender registry earlier on its website.

Many likely assume the sex offender register will be public, but neither the regulations nor the substantive law expressly state that the register would be accessible to the public.

PAGE 6, Thursday, July 25, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

PETER Turnquest told Parliament that there had been wide consultation on the updated bill. from page one Parliamentarians debated this bill and other financial services bills as a compendium in a single sitting yesterday before breaking for summer recess.

The House of Assembly returns on October 2.

It comes months after the Minnis administration abandoned its original non-profit bill after churches criticised it for being too intrusive.

Mr Turnquest told Parliament that there had been wide consultation on the updated bill.

He said there had been some dissenting voices, but ultimately the government had to make a decision.

However he noted that there were many non-profits around the world that had been used for nefarious activities.

For his part, Mr Johnson said yesterday: “Clause 22 of the bill seeks to provide that the registrar give

written notice to require the production of a written notice only where he or she recently requires the records specified in the notice to the extent to which a non-profit organisation is engaged in activities that are identified risks.

“And this is very important, Mr Speaker. It’s not an attempt to go on a witch hunt. The registrar must be motivated by reasonable suspicion in order to ask somebody to bring their records forward.

Non-profits face new regulations to force disclosures on source of funds

“Clause 23 of the bill seeks to provide that the registrar should hold financial records in confidence (and) furthermore the clause seeks to provide that if the registrar has reasonable cause to suspect a non-profit organisation is engaged in any activity, which qualifies as an identified risk, the registrar shall after consultation with the minister provide the financial records and all other relevant information to the commissioner of police or the Financial Intelligence Unit for investigation.”

He continued: “Clause 24 of the bill seeks to provide that non-profit organisations must report to the registrar any donations or disbursements of $50,000 or more made by one person in a year, whether the sum

is paid in lump sum or as an aggregated sum. Clause 24 of the bill provides for financial institutions and designated non-financial business and professions to ensure that non-profit organisations are registered in order to open or maintain bank account or account ledgers.

“Clause 26 provides that where non-profit organisations fail to renew their registration within six months of its expiration, the institution shall freeze all of the non-profit organsation’s accounts.

“And, Mr Speaker, we have had extensive consultation with the industry and civil society and I note that it’s going to be ongoing training in this regard to highlight the significance and why the regulations are extremely necessary.”

The amendment also prescribes provisions for misleading the registrar by providing erroneous information.

Exuma MP Chester Cooper argued that the consultations were not meaningful, adding the Act did not clearly understand how non-profits work.

The opposition MP further questioned how this legislation held priority over the government’s promise to deliver campaign finance reform laws.

He criticised the Minnis administration over its handling of these organisations saying many of them “stood in the gap” for citizens where government failed to fulfil their needs.

The compendium of bills must now be passed in the Senate.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 25, 2019, PAGE 7

PHILIP DAVIS, centre, with young supporters of the Progressive Liberal Party, and Senator Michael Darville, second from left, in Grand Bahama on Tuesday.

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net AS members of the Progressive Liberal Party head into day one of their convention, PLP chairman Fred Mitchell has offered some guidance to candidates running for internal office: be careful what you say and avoid public attacks on colleagues.

In a press release, Mr Mitchell said any member of the party in good standing has the right to enter the race for office, but noted a certain standard of behaviour is expected.

“Candidates for office in the PLP should avoid making public comments which may have the effect of bringing the business of an internal party campaign into the public domain to the detriment of the PLP and bringing party members falsely into disrepute,” the statement read.

“All candidates are reminded that they are to act with decorum. It is inappropriate to lead public attacks on other party members. It does not meet the standard of good conduct.

He also said: “Candidates for office in the PLP where

Mitchell urges members to be on their best behaviour at convention they believe they must speak publicly about their candidacy should speak the truth and avoid slanderous and salacious comments.

“They should avoid appearing to collude with FNM partisans to create problems within the PLP. Their agents should be of good repute and not associated with criminal elements.”

The statement added: “Out of an abundance of caution, it is probably appropriate to avoid discussing party business in the public. There is a special responsibility where senior figures in the PLP are involved who should know better.”

Meanwhile, PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis pivoted on Tuesday night from rhetoric discouraging a challenge to his leadership team at the convention.

He directly acknowledged the looming challenge of Obie Wilchcombe for the first time and said the former West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP should run for the post of chairman if he believes he could offer what the current team cannot.

However, Mr Davis told The Tribune that he does not believe Mr Wilchcombe has wide support.

“I want everyone who is here,” Mr Davis said on

Tuesday, “those who may be supporting Obie, those who may be supporting anyone else, just let me say it clear and loud, whoever wants to run for any position should run. This is the time, at convention, to sort these things out. This team, Brave’s team, we are feeling really good about the party’s progress with the Deputy Leader Chester Cooper, with the chairman, Senator Fred Mitchell and with our Deputy Chairperson Robyn Lynes.

“We feel good about the party’s progress. These are exciting times. We rather not interrupt the momentum of a party that is

growing and is on the move but if Obie wants to make an argument about why that interruption is necessary and worthwhile, he should do so.”

He continued: “(Obie) asked me about running and I told him I don’t see that he has the support and that continues to be the case. I rather spare him another loss but no one is gonna stand in his way of ambition. I just want every PLP and stalwart councilor to realise that the party is progressing, the party is moving and the party is on the way to victory. It is my view, you may have a different

view but it is my view, that it is not time to interrupt that progress, it is not time to interrupt that growth, it is not time to change mates on the SS PLP and that is my view and I wish to persuade you that that is the view that you too should take.”

Mr Davis met with party supporters in Grand Bahama on Tuesday night as he appealed for them to support his team.

Nomination for party positions takes place today with voting and results expected on Friday.

The party’s convention will be held at the Melia resort on Cable Beach.

PAGE 8, Thursday, July 25, 2019

T

In the Democrats ranks a few real contenders stand out maybe even a future president STACEY Abrams is the daughter of two Mississippi Methodist ministers, and it shows in her passion and commitment to social justice.

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

against incumbent Republican senator Cory Gardner.

There are others whom national Democrats hope to recruit. Leading among them is Stacey Abrams. This 45-year-old ran last year for Governor of Georgia. Running against the Republican Secretary of State – who was charged with oversight

of the election! – Abrams threw a real scare into machine politician Brian Kemp and almost defeated him. In the process, Abrams became the first black female candidate of a major political party to ever run for governor in the history of the United States. A lacklustre Republican, David Perdue, is the

FOR SALE

HE field of Democratic contenders for Trump’s throne continues to number more than two dozen. But as the conditions for televised debate participation tighten in September, most observers feel that number will shrink. What cannot be avoided is the fact that for 2020, the Democratic Party desperately needs strong candidates if they have any hope of overturning the current US Senate leadership of Mitch McConnell and Company. It turns out at least three of the present presidential contenders would make good Senate candidates next year, and may actually heed the call to run against entrenched Republican incumbents.

Foremost among these presidential aspirants who might be persuaded to challenge for 2020 Senate seats are former Congressman Beto O’Rourke and former Housing Secretary Julian Castro in Texas, and former Governor John Hickenlooper in Colorado. While Senate majority leader and incumbent GOP Senator John Cornyn doesn’t seem especially vulnerable - and four much less well-known Democrats have already declared for Cornyn’s seat there are many observers who think Texas may become purple - as in mixed red Republican and blue Democratic.

O’Rourke’s only real claim to fame is having scared Ted Cruz for the other Texas Senate seat last year, so perhaps he would try again. And Castro, who did well in the first televised debate last month, would likely get strong support among Texas’ massive Latino population. Hickenlooper, still popular in Colorado, might well win

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GOP incumbent of one of Georgia’s U.S. senate seats, and he is up for re-election next year. But Abrams has already ruled out opposing Perdue in 2020.

Abrams came to town the other day and explained why she won’t run for the Senate next year. But she also demonstrated why she’s such a magnetic

political star. After being introduced, Abrams took in the rapturous applause.

Then she surprised everyone with a sensible suggestion. “Let’s get the cell phone photos out of the way right at the beginning,” she said. Fixing a charming smile on her face, Abrams faced left, centreleft, centre, centre-right and right, allowing the large crowd to snap all the cell phone photos they could manage. The process lasted for more than a minute.

And no one dared to disrupt her remarks with any more photography.

Abrams received more votes for governor last year in Georgia than any Democrat in the history of the state. This is especially significant in view of the fact Democrats were the party of Jim Crow segregation until around 50 years ago. Lyndon Johnson’s civil rights legislation changed all that. She reminded her audience that 2019 is the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first slaves in North America.

Abrams is the daughter of two Mississippi Methodist ministers, and it shows in her passion and commitment to social justice.

Now, after her defeat last year and selection to offer the Democratic rebuttal to Trump’s State of the Union address in January, Abrams said she is now devoted full-time to the fight against voter suppression. “My own grandmother was too

scared to vote,” she said.

“She had heard that local voting supervisors had dogs that would bite if you tried to vote.”

“I want to make voting real for everyone,” Abrams said. “Everyone needs to get on election rolls. But then they need to stay there.” She said there were many 2018 examples of officials closing voting stations in minority precincts. “How can you vote if you don’t have a car and the nearest station is all the way across town?” she asked.

After her defeat last year, Abrams “wept, mourned and then I got back to work.

I ran not because the office is there; I ran because the work is there,” she said. She said her study of voting patterns, particularly among black voters, showed “men don’t vote due to fear of making the wrong decision. Women don’t vote because they don’t want to experience yet another disappointment.”

Abrams said she has resisted repeated entreaties to run for the Senate next year because, after 11 years in the Georgia legislature, “I don’t want to do that again. That doesn’t match with my skill set and aspirations. Everything in the legislature is all about committees and compromise. I’m more for direct action, for management, for accomplishing good things.

I’m about executive positions, like governor.”

Or, perhaps, president.

A little humour can go a long way MOST of us can agree technology is great. It is amazing to think of all the information and connections that are accessible now. But there are downsides to all this progress.

For instance, almost any American with a cell phone now finds that his or her number has been bundled by some villain and sold to telemarketers. At first that meant unfamiliar numbers on your phone could often simply be rejected as “spam calls”. Now, though, the phone villains have figured out if they hijack a number in your local area code, you think it might be important and you’re more likely to answer the call and inflate their connection statistics so they can charge

the next advertiser more.

And so on.

Technology also means ordinary citizens - and manipulative bad actors can retweet or forward emails that may be innocent and may not be so innocent. Licking their wounds after their calamitous 2016 election losses, Democrats in the US sought to blame this email forwarding phenomenon in part for their defeat.

The whole Obama birther nonsense, they believed, emboldened hired Republican consultants and, perhaps, evil Russian agents, to ramp up their efforts against Hillary Clinton and Democratic candidates three years ago.

But sometimes all this

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email forwarding has a bright side. For instance, the other day, a conservative friend forwarded the following set of humorous quotations from famous figures. At the heart of it all is a fundamentally libertarian, anti-government bias ascribed to those whose words are quoted.

But as US.President Trump rattles his sabre at Iran, picks fights with the Squad and continues to dodge the regiment of relentless investigators determined to uncover evidence that will finally convince American voters he is unfit to hold his present office, a little humour can go a long way. See if this list of quotes can put a smile on your face...

Humorist and author P. J. O’Rourke Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.

American humorist Will Rogers I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

Mark Twain No man’s life, liberty or prosperity is safe while the legislature is in session.

American author and humorist Mark Twain (above) Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress… But then, I repeat myself.

40th US President Ronald Reagan (below) Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it.

If it keeps moving, regulate it.

And if it stops moving, subsidise it.

Sir Winston Churchill (below) I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

3rd US President Thomas Jefferson A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.

Playwright George Bernard Shaw A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

2nd US President John Adams In my many years, I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two useless men is a law firm, and three or more useless men is a Congress.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 25, 2019, PAGE 9

AWARDS CEREMONY

GOVERNOR General CA Smith yesterday presented 248 medals to police officers during an awards ceremony at Government House. The single medal for gallantry was presented to WPC 3875 Deshana Burnside. 150 medals for meritorious service and 97 medals for long service and good conduct were presented.

‘Healthcare system is falling apart and we need a plan’

By FARRAH JOHNSON

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Arinthia Komolafe has called for the government and Health Minister Dr Duane Sands to produce a “comprehensive plan” for the nation’s healthcare system to ensure an improved standard of living for Bahamians.

Speaking to reporters at a DNA press conference held outside the Public Hospital’s Authority this week, Mrs Komolafe said the current state of the country’s healthcare system

GB EXPRESS TO STAY IN BUSINESS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GB Express in Freeport will remain in operation, according to co-owner Bob Clutter, who revealed yesterday that Department of Customs officials have now agreed to a system that would reduce costs for the company and their customers.

The company - which has been operating in Freeport for 22 years providing air courier service between Grand Bahama and Fort Lauderdale, Florida - had been losing “gross amounts of money” because of the new Department of Customs policies related to air freight, company officials have said.

Mr Clutter told The Tribune that following discussions, customs officials have implemented a system that now allows air couriers to clear parcels on the same day for their customers.

Under the previous policies, it took about two to three days before a parcel was cleared to leave the air freight area which required more labour, resulting in high costs for the company and its customers. Earlier this month the company said it would be shutting down operation on Grand Bahama on July 31.

Mr Clutter is pleased they are now able to remain in operation in Grand Bahama, where they employ a staff of seven Bahamians. He said: “The system that were able to get (Department of) Customs to agree for us and all couriers to operate with by will now let us get the parcels through to our customers on the same day.

“The customers are not going to have to wait two to three days to get the release from customs. The one thing the customer needs to have is the proper invoice for their product when it arrives at the airport.”

is “falling apart” and is not up to par for a “21st century Bahamas”.

“Healthcare is very important to the Bahamian people. It is very important to the foundation of our society,” she said.

“We have been recorded as being one of the sickest nations in the world because of the chronic illnesses that we have in obesity and diabetes and other types of chronic illness...so we’re calling upon the minister to speak strongly to these issues.”

Mrs Komolafe added one of the biggest challenges the public

healthcare system faces is brain drain.

She insisted the country is losing a significant number of seasoned workers who prefer to work abroad due to the challenges working in the country present.

“We’re losing qualified professionals to developed countries like the United States and Canada and Great Britain because the benefits here, the salaries here, the working conditions here are not up to standard for qualified professionals in the healthcare system to work under.”

DNA Deputy Leader

Buscheme Armbrister also stated that Princess Margaret Hospital was “engulfed in problems” and needed upgrades. “. . .There is no morale within the entire hospital from the janitors all the way up to the senior doctors,” he said.

DNA Chairman Omar Smith added the issues the healthcare system currently face have not just started under the FNM administration.

“These are issues that we’ve been facing in this country over and over again,” he said.

“We’re saying to the Bahamian

people: when are we going to stop accepting incompetence ? When are we going to stop accepting this low level of service from our government “ Insisting the country could not keep “doing the same things” repeatedly and expect a different result he added: “Change is coming and we’re here to tell them shape up or ship out.”

The press conference was part of the DNA’s “ten days of activism” which was launched last week.

Editorial View - Page 4

PAGE 10, Thursday, July 25, 2019

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Thursday, July 25, 2019, PAGE 11

20 beaches in Bahamas awarded the top rating

CORAL HARBOUR BEACH, above, and Saunders Beach, top, are two of the beaches in The Bahamas awarded “green status’ by swimguide.org

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ABOUT 20 beaches in The Bahamas have received a “green status” meeting water quality standards that are safe for swimmers, according to an international swim guide website.

SwimGuide.org - which publishes the status of beaches around the world - released a status report following the latest water sample testings conducted in July by Save the Bays/ Waterkeepers Bahamas.

The summer heat continues to drive people to the beach to cool off. Unfortunately, in Florida, some swimmers have contracted a flesh eating bacteria that has been blamed for recent deaths and severe hospitalisation of individuals in the United States.

To ensure that beaches are safe, Save the Bays/ Waterkeepers Bahamas conduct ongoing monitoring of water quality at nearly 20 beach sites in The Bahamas, including Bimini, Grand Bahama, and in New Providence.

In New Providence, the sites monitored were Montagu Beach, Saunders Beach, Goodman’s Bay Park, Jaws Beach, Clifton Bay, Southern Ocean Beach, and Coral Harbour Beach.

Water samples were taken on July 18, with all sites receiving a green status. The results were posted on Swim Guide on July 19.

In Grand Bahama, water sample testings were also conducted between July 18 and July 20 at several popular beaches frequented by visitors and locals.

Water samples were taken at Taino Beach on July 20, and on July 18 at Coral Beach, Fortune Beach, Xanadu Beach, Silver Point (Williams Town), and Lover’s Beach in Eight Mile Rock.

The results were posted on July 21, and all beach

sites received the green status, which indicate they have met water quality standards which are safe for swimmers.

In Bimini, green statuses were also posted for Shipwreck Point, Radio Beach, Shipwreck, and Blister Bay in Alice Town; Bailey Town beach; and Spook Hill, Porgy Bay. Rashema Ingraham, executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, said they are pleased to see the “consistent favourable results” at the beach sites in The Bahamas.

“As we are at peak of our swim season we are happy to see the consistent favourable results from our testing. We focus sampling on the swim zone on popular beaches on Grand Bahama, Bimini and New Providence,” she said.

Ms Ingraham stated that information is provided to the swimming/recreational bathing public so that persons are aware of the conditions of the water where they choose to go.

She noted that Waterkeepers Bahamas has been conducting water sample monitoring for the past three years now.

“We are going on into our third year of providing this information and while there were some growing pains, especially when favourite beaches may have had high levels of enterococcus(harmful bacteria), the acceptance of our work shows that the Bahamian people are concerned about their health, want to be aware and are appreciative of the fact that an organisation such as our is willfully providing them with the information.”

Last July, Taino Beach) received a red ‘no swim’ alert after water sample testing found that it had failed water quality standards due to high level of fecal coliform sample results showing it contained high levels of fecal coliform.

Taino Beach is a popular

site for swimming and sailing. Each year, the annual regatta and Goombay Summer Festival are held there. It is also a popular site for the holidays and many cook-outs.

Swim Guide delivers free up-to-date water quality information for over 7,000 beaches, lakes, rivers, and swimming holes in Canada, the US, Mexico, The Bahamas, Australia and New Zealand.

According to Swim Guide, sampling is collected all year long, but the frequency of collection is reduced during the colder months.

Water samples are collected every two weeks from April 1 to October 31. From November to March, samples are collected once per month.

Samples are typically collected on Wednesdays or Thursdays.

PAGE 12, Thursday, July 25, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

JOHNSON HAS 99 DAYS TO DELIVER HIS BREXIT PROMISE LONDON Associated Press

BORIS Johnson took over as Britain’s prime minister yesterday, vowing to break the impasse that defeated his predecessor by leading the country out of the European Union and silencing “the doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters” who believe it can’t be done.

But the brash Brexit champion faces the same problems that flummoxed Theresa May during

her three years in office: heading a government without a parliamentary majority and with most lawmakers opposed to leaving the EU without a divorce deal.

Johnson has just 99 days to make good on his promise to deliver Brexit by October 31 after what he called “three years of unfounded self-doubt.”

He optimistically pledged to get “a new deal, a better deal” with the EU than the one secured

by May, which was repeatedly rejected by Britain’s Parliament.

“The people who bet against Britain are going to lose their shirts,” he said, standing outside the shiny black door of 10 Downing St. Trying to avoid the political divisions that plagued May, Johnson swept out many of her ministers to make way for his own team, dominated by loyal Brexiteers. He appointed Sajid Javid to the key role of Treasury chief, named staunch Brexit supporter Dominic Raab as foreign secretary and made Priti Patel the

JOHNSON meets The Queen.

new home secretary, or interior minister. Michael Gove, who ran the 2016 campaign to leave the EU alongside Johnson, also got a Cabinet job.

Over half of May’s Cabinet is gone, including ex-Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Johnson’s defeated rival for the Tory leadership, who said he had turned down the chance to stay in government in a different job.

Judging by his words, Johnson’s approach to the EU will be a mix of charm and threats.

Mueller: Trump was not exonerated by my report WASHINGTON Associated Press ROBERT Mueller, the taciturn lawman at the centre of a polarising American drama, bluntly dismissed President Donald Trump’s claims of “total exoneration” yesterday in the federal probe of Russia’s 2016 election interference. In a long day of congressional testimony, Mueller warned that Moscow’s actions represented — and still represent — a great threat to American democracy.

Mueller’s back-to-back Capitol Hill appearances, his first since wrapping his two-year Russia probe, carried the prospect of a historic climax to a rare criminal investigation into a sitting American president. But his testimony was more likely to reinforce rather than reshape hardened public opinions on impeachment and the future of Trump’s presidency .

With his terse, one-word answers, and a sometimes stilted and halting manner, Mueller made clear his desire to avoid the partisan fray and the deep political divisions roiling Congress and the country.

He delivered neither crisp TV sound bites to fuel a Democratic impeachment push nor comfort to Republicans striving to undermine his investigation’s credibility. But his comments grew more animated by the afternoon, when he sounded

FORMER special counsel Robert Mueller is sworn yesterday. the alarm on future Russian elec- to do it during the next campaign.” tion interference. He said he feared His report, he said, should live on a new normal of American cam- after him and his team.

“We spent substantial time assurpaigns accepting foreign help.

He condemned Trump’s praise of ing the integrity of the report, WikiLeaks, which released Demo- understanding that it would be cratic emails stolen by Russia. And our living message to those who he said of the interference by Rus- come after us,” Mueller said. “But sians and others: “They are doing it it also is a signal, a flag to those of while we sit here. And they expect us who have some responsibility in

this area to exercise those responsibilities swiftly and don’t let this problem continue to linger as it has over so many years.

Trump, claiming vindication despite the renewal of serious allegations, focused on his own political fortunes rather than such broader issues.

“This was a devastating day for the Democrats,” he said. “The Democrats had nothing and now they have less than nothing.”

Mueller was reluctant to stray beyond his lengthy written report, but that didn’t stop Republicans and Democrats from laboring to extract new details.

Trump’s GOP allies tried to cast the former special counsel and his prosecutors as politically motivated. They referred repeatedly to what they consider the improper opening of the investigation.

Democrats, meanwhile, sought to emphasise the most incendiary findings of Mueller’s 448-page report and weaken Trump’s reelection prospects in ways Mueller’s book-length report did not.

They hoped that even if his testimony did not inspire impeachment demands — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made clear she will not pursue impeachment, for now — Mueller could nonetheless unambiguously spell out questionable, norm-shattering actions by the president.

EUROPE HEAT WAVE BREAKS RECORDS BERLIN Associated Press

EUROPEANS cooled off in public fountains yesterday as a new heat wave spread across parts of the continent and was already breaking records.

Belgium and Germany registered their highestever temperatures, while the Netherlands saw its hottest day in 75 years. And the mercury is expected to rise even further.

Paris and other parts of France could see temperatures exceeding 40 C today along with Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

The heat is putting pressure on authorities to help protect the elderly and the sick. Air conditioning is not common at homes, offices, schools or hospitals in European cities.

The weather is also aggravating droughts since it hasn’t rained much in many parts of Europe this summer. The combination of heat, wind and possible lightning from thunderstorms also increases the risk of wildfires.

At the end of June, several countries reported record temperatures, and France hit its all-time heat record: 46 C in Verargues.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 25, 2019, PAGE 13

Cop killed suspect armed with knife from page one

“I then proceeded to turn around the police car and follow right behind them,” she said. “During this time, the suspect would have run on the side of an abandoned house where Officer Jervis was after him. I stopped the car, parked it and as I was proceeding, I heard Officer Jervis instruct the man to stop once again.

“In his hand, the suspect would have had a silver object which I later identified as a knife. He turned around and went to attack Officer Jervis. Being in fear for his life, Officer Jervis pulled his revolver and fired several shots.”

Frederick Delancey, a firearms expert, also testified during yesterday’s inquest.

Officer Delancey spoke passionately about the need for non-lethal weapons in the Royal Bahamas Police Force. “Until we start introducing mace, Tasers, rubber bullets, etc, I really believe some of the challenges officers face may turn out differently should we be given these other resources which we don’t have,” he said. “We need to be better stewards of what the Bahamian people are entrusting us with, which is protecting them as authorities.”

Officer Delancey is attached to the police armory. He taught Officer Jervis about firearm use and safety at the police academy. He said though he is one of a few people certified to use non-lethal weapons, such objects were “never applied widely.”

Those objects, he said, “might break a rib, but you live.”

“If I shoot you with a bean bag or rubber bullet compared to a metal projectile, the metal projectile is going to penetrate, the rubber bullet will take the wind out of you but you’ll end up in custody or prison but still alive, but we’re not given these stuff. Is it fair to put my son and your son in this environment without equipping them and training them with what they need? I will cry on this point until something is done. We owe it to the general public and the persons we send out there, protect the public and protect the public’s interest.”

He raised similar points while testifying in a separate inquest earlier this week.

Nonetheless, Officer Delancey said wielding a knife could lead to situations that would justifiably cause an officer to fear for their life.

“Every time you use this weapon, it has to be based on your perception about what it is you have encountered,” he said. “The police force can’t tell you who to shoot and when to shoot, that’s something based on your perception of the situation you are in.

I want to be very clear, the question has come about ‘why didn’t you shoot the person on their leg or hand?’ I always want to make it clear that unless you could justify causing someone their dear life, do not use your weapon against them. We don’t shoot people because he slap you and run, we don’t shoot people because we don’t like him, we shoot people based on an action they would’ve taken that brings us to the point of having to use our weapon against them, whether to protect our lives or the lives of another individual.

If (an officer) beckons to you and gives instructions and you fail to carry out those instructions and that warrants him using a weapon, he’s not using it to shoot you in your toe or your hand, he is using it to kill you, to deprive you of your life, to take control of the situation, though it has to be warranted and it has to be the last resort.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 25, 2019, PAGE 15

MILLIONAIRE JOHN MCAFEE IS ARRESTED IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

MILLIONAIRE John McAfee said yesterday that he was released from detention in the Dominican Republic along with five others.

The Caribbean island’s armed forces and public ministry said earlier in the day that McAfee was taken into custody along with US citizens Elizabeth McAfee and Richard Alan Gibson, Robert Whitfield of

JOHN MCAFEE

Germany, Oral Thompson of The Bahamas and Vasner Louis of Haiti. They were suspected of travelling on a yacht carrying high-calibre weapons, ammunition and military-style gear, officials said.

McAfee tweeted: “I was well treated. My superiors were friendly and helpful.

In spite of the helpful circumstances, we’ve decided to move on. More later.”