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VOLUME:116 No.149, JULY 30TH, 2019

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WOMAN: SCHOLARSHIP FOR SISTER I’LL NEVER FORGET

No-confidence vote? Bring it on

Minnis welcomes challenge from opposition party

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday welcomed the Official Opposition’s pledge to move a no-confidence motion against him in the House of Assembly but sidestepped questions about the Town Centre Mall lease that form the basis of the opposition’s threat.

He did not directly answer questions about St Annes MP Brent

DISNEY PETITION HITS 30K

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

THE petition against the development of a Disney Cruise Lines port at Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera has garnered over 30,000 signatures.

The “Stop Disney - Last Chance for Lighthouse SEE PAGE 10

NOW THAT’S WORTH A TWEET

Symonette’s claim that the pair discussed mall lease details before the parliamentary resolution permitting the lease was passed. Critics, including former Attorney General Alfred Sears, QC, believe Mr Symonette’s revelation calls into question the legitimacy of the resolution. The mall was leased to house the General Post Office.

Dr Minnis, in one of his first interviews with reporters in weeks, also said little about the inflammatory SEE PAGE FIVE

SHARK FEEDING FACES TOTAL BAN

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

AGRICULTURE and Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard yesterday said he believes The Bahamas will get to the point of “completely banning chumming in Bahamian waters”.

The announcement came as Mr Pintard opened a two-day international shark

symposium which features major international experts who will discuss a wide range of issues relative to sharks, their handling and protection.

The symposium comes on the heels of the recent horrific shark attack which claimed the life of 21-yearold American college student Jordan Lindsey.

Mr Pintard told the SEE PAGE THREE

THE KIRTLAND’S WARBLER, a bird that spends half its year in The Bahamas, is about to come off the endangered species list.

Full story - Page 2

LIGHTNING STRIKE AND DROWNINGS CLAIM THREE

By AVA TURNQUEST & DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporters

POLICE are investigating two more drownings and the death of a man struck by lightning yesterday.

A group of boys were swimming at Long Wharf Beach when one of them became distressed and submerged in the water shortly after 3pm, according reports.

The boy was unconscious when pulled from the water and taken to hospital. However, he was pronounced dead a short

A BODY is brought ashore at Lovers Beach, Grand Bahama time later. Family members have identified the victim as 15-year-old Ethan Miller.

Less than two hours later, another young man was pulled from waters at Lovers

Beach, Hepburn Town in Grand Bahama. According to reports, shortly after 4pm police were called to an area where two men had been riding a jet ski and lost control.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Terecita Pinder reported that one of the men was able to swim to shore but the second, who was 20 years old, did not make it.

ASP Pinder appealed to parents and beachgoers to exercise caution. “We’re reminding the parents that

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

FACE-TO-FACE HOW MARSHA IS KEEPING OUR CULTURE ALIVE THROUGH HER ART

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Tuesday, July 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

A handsome little devil now off the endangered species list IN late September or early October, the Kirtland’s Warbler relocates to The Bahamas, making the 1,500-mile trip in as little as eight days.

By TRIBUNE REPORTER A BIRD that spends half its year in The Bahamas is about to come off the endangered species list.

The Kirtland’s Warbler has been considered endangered since 1967, and spends half the year in northern Michigan, and half the year in its preferred Bahamian home of Eleuthera.

Campaigners in Michigan have been encouraged by the bird’s progress

– nesting in the pine barrens of the northern part of the state – but it is not out of the woods yet. There are even calls to make the bird the new state bird, replacing the robin.

Bill Rapai, of the Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance, warned that the bird falls into the category of “conservation-reliant species”.

In other words, it needs a continued help from humans monitoring the ground-nesting warblers.

It helps, Rapai says, that

the bird is “a handsome little devil”.

The more colourful male is six inches long, with a bright yellow breast and a bluish-gray back. “When he sings,” Rapai said, “he throws his head up. You can see his throat and chest just pulsing.”

In late September or early October, the warblers relocate to The Bahamas, making the 1,500-mile trip in as little as eight days.

Then by May, they head back north.

“We don’t really know” why they choose The Bahamas, says David Ewert, director of the Kirtland’s Warbler Programme for the American Bird Conservancy.

Mostly, he says, they prefer the island of Eleuthera, with its pine forest and dense shrubbery. Given the possibility of frost in the Carolinas and Florida, “it might be the nearest spot where they can find a predictable supply of insects”.

The Kirtland’s warbler wasn’t discovered in the United States until 1851.

Six years later, a naturalist at the Smithsonian Institution named the bird for Jared Kirtland, the Ohio doctor who presented that first specimen to the museum.

By the 1940s, researchers realized the population was faltering, and a survey in 1951 counted only 432 males singing their distinctive song. Figuring that warblers come in

twosomes, they estimated a total of about 1,000.

As recently as 1987, the number of pairs was 167.

The last tally was about 2,400 of them, enough to prompt the US Fish & Wildlife Service to begin the process of delisting.

The warbler’s friends had hoped to see the announcement in June.

The forecast now is for late July, or even August – just before the bird heads back to The Bahamas for the winter.

SANDS PLAYS DOWN DANGERS OF MOSQUITO VIRUS

By FARRAH JOHNSON

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday said the public should not be alarmed by reports of an increase of a potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus present in central Florida.

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County released a statement last Thursday advising the public of the rise of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV), which can cause brain swelling

and infections in humans.

Pictures of that report were circulated on social media yesterday.

According to Florida health officials, a number of Sentinel chickens in Orange County tested positive for the virus, which can be transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes.

When asked if Bahamians should be concerned due to the country’s close proximity to the state, Mr Sands insisted the nation has nothing to worry about.

“Bear in mind that there have been no reports of this mosquito-borne virus in anything other than chickens,” he said.

“And so, while theoretically there’s a potential issue, there have been no reports at all in Florida or elsewhere of any human cases.”

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone who is infected with the EEE virus usually develops symptoms four to ten days after they

are bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.

An infected person may suffer from high fever, chills, nausea and in extreme cases, disorientation and even seizures.

The virus can be deadly.

However, the CDC also revealed that only about seven cases of the EEE virus in humans are reported in the United States annually.

Given these statistics, Mr Sands insisted The Bahamas has more pressing health issues to be

HEALTH Minister Sands concerned about. “There are bigger fish to fry right now,” he said.

“The question is whether or not Bahamians are

availing themselves of measles immunization and trying to deal with a threat which is real and deadly, as opposed to going after something that is of hypothetical concern only.

“You’re talking about a disease of less than a handful of cases per year in the United States, whereas we’ve had hundreds of measles cases -hundreds of thousands around the world with many, many deaths.

“So let’s focus our attention on those things,” he added.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 30, 2019, PAGE 3

SHARK FEEDING FACES TOTAL BAN

from page one

meeting: “We have a very serious concern about the increase feeding of sharks - particularly in residential areas on the periphery of restaurants to attract customers - that to us is posing a problem given where it is occurring.

“In addition, we believe it is important that fishermen that are cleaning fish to discontinue discarding the waste portion of the fish

water in close proximity to where persons are swimming. We are absolutely clear that is a disaster that is waiting to happen and we wish to move definitively decisively to address this issue.

“We are in the process of requiring those that are running tour operations, hoteliers and others who benefit commercially from any shark viewing interaction initiatives, that they have in place appropriate protocols.

That is equipment that they

themselves, the persons who are engaged are properly trained that they know exactly what to do in the rare event of incidents.

“It’s also important - and (I) strongly recommend and will take advice possibly encoding it in law - that we have a guide that are a part of these expeditions who will be on the lookout for sharks.”

The minister said they are in the process of introducing an amendment to the Bahamas legislation.

“We do not believe it is appropriate to criminalize an individual who is under threat of harm or death from a shark if they were to defend themselves and kill a shark. We are not going to go to the opposite extreme and maintain a law that works against the preservation of human life,” he said.

“We certainly don’t intend to do that, but I want to emphasize that we stand in solidarity with you in the important work that you are doing and as we build

MICHAEL PINTARD the capacity of those persons both in government and the private sector.”

He added: “We look forward to fruitful discussions about international funding opportunities that will allow us to do the proper work particularly since the Bahamas plays a pivotal role in where we are located and the work that we do and how that impacts, we believe, the rest of the region.”

Ms Lindsey died after a shark attack near Rose Island last month.

Editorial View - Page 4

THE SCENE at Lovers Beach, Hepburn Town in Grand Bahama where, according to reports, shortly after 4pm yesterday police were called to an area where two men had been riding a jet ski and lost control.

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

Lightning strike and drownings claim three from page one

during this summer break,” she said, “this is a time when we spend a lot of time on our beaches or in our pools. We’re just appealing to parents to watch their children properly, supervise their children.

She continued: “For young persons to be mindful of the fact if you’re going to be using a jetski or in a boat on the waters, and you’re not a strong swimmer or can’t swim, to wear a life vest because it can save your life.”

In the third incident, a man was caught in an

electrical storm while fishing with a woman shortly after noon off Red Bays, Andros.

“The male was allegedly struck by lightning and fell into the water and became unconscious,” read a police report. “The woman was able to call for assistance and was assisted by persons in the community, who retrieved the man from was the water and transported him to the community clinic, where he was pronounced dead.

“The woman was not injured,” the statement added.

Police will await the results of autopsies before classifying the deaths.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, July 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

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Civil war in the PLP?

WITH the fanfare of the Progressive Liberal Party convention barely over, former MP Leslie Miller is already warning of civil war in the party.

If party leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis wanted a show of unity on the back of the convention, then it hasn’t lasted long.

The issue is candidate selection for the next election. Old warhorses want to ride again, while Mr Davis is eyeing a new stable of candidates. Yesterday he told The Tribune he “expects to have a slate of new candidates”.

PLP officials say they are trying to avoid running losing candidates in the next election – after all, the PLP were roundly drubbed out of office at the last vote. Even so, it is widely expected that Fred Mitchell, who won the chairman post over challenger Obie Wilchcombe, will be picked as a candidate again despite being voted out of his Fox Hill seat.

That doesn’t sit well with the likes of Mr Miller – or his colleagues, so he says. He says he and “about ten” other former candidates want to run again.

And he’s threatening to run even if he doesn’t get a nomination, which could

take votes away from the PLP at the ballot box.

So what is Mr Davis’ plan? Has he lost faith in his former colleagues? Is he trying to sweep away the candidates that ran under former leader Perry Christie? Is he trying to shape the party in his mold? And in doing so, is he going to create a rift in the party that could last all the way to election day?

Mr Miller points to the likes of Alfred Sears, Michael Halkitis, Damian Gomez and Alfred Gray as defeated candidates that should be chosen to run for the PLP next time. The same old faces, some might say. Mr Miller complains they have been sidelined as chairman Mitchell “don’t look out for his former colleagues”.

Meanwhile, party leader Davis has previously pledged that 40 percent of his party’s candidates will be women – while at the same time not having a single woman in the top posts of his party – leader, deputy leader, chairman or deputy chairman.

A convention is supposed to bring a party together – it looks like the PLP has a long way to go for that to be true.

THEY called it the year of the shark.

It was 2011 – and The Bahamas had declared a shark sanctuary.

Fast forward to today – and incidents involving sharks in our waters, including the death of 21-year-old American Jordan Lindsey off Rose Island.

There have, justifiably, been questions raised about whether The Bahamas is following the right path. Just last week, Bahamas National Trust executive Eric Carey warned there were “back channel” efforts to permit the killing of sharks, to take sharks off the protected list, or even to allow Chinese fishermen to come in and cull sharks down to “manageable levels”.

Let us be clear – there is a lot of money in sharks. From those killed for the shark fin trade – which has pushed shark populations elsewhere to dangerously low levels – to the money made here taking tourists on shark dives.

The path The Bahamas has taken has been a model of eco-tourism, putting the nation at the forefront of shark

conservation, but do we need to make course corrections?

Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard yesterday opened a shark symposium with talk of trying to limit chumming - the practice of putting bloody bait into the water to attract sharks. You can see why businesses do it – if they’ve promised visitors they’ll get to see sharks, they want to make sure the sharks show up. The ocean is not a farm with gates and fences – sharks swim where they want, and if they are sure they’ll get food, they’ll return to chumming spots regularly.

The trouble is, that can put hungry sharks right in the vicinity of swimmers and that, as Mr Pintard rightly says, “is a disaster that is waiting to happen”.

Worse, it could be a disaster that has already happened given recent incidents.

We lead the way in the world over shark conservation – let’s keep leading the way and ensure we protect both sharks and those who come to see them in their Bahamian habitat.

Is it time to stop chumming?

Don’t over-tax our visitors EDITOR, The Tribune EVERY year my son takes his family to one of the Family Islands for about ten days. His mother and I tag along.

The children have caught crabs in Andros, watched the majestic Flamingoes in Inagua, trekked to the top of Mount Alvernia in Cat Island, ventured into Preacher’s Cave in North Eleuthera, stood on the beach in San Salvador where Columbus landed in 1492, swam with the pigs in Exuma, and toured the Exuma Cays with “Capt. Jerry”.

This year we went to San Salvador. Not only being the land where Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, there are miles of beautiful sandy beaches, lakes that serve as the nurseries for all kinds of fish, turtles, and breeding grounds for birds. The island is breathtaking and the people are helpful and wonderful. It’s a place where you don’t lock your doors.

The main employer is Club Med, an all-inclusive hotel. They own and manage all the water sports, the restaurants, the shops.

This is for their guests, but outsiders can, at a per head fee, spend the day there with all the facilities at their disposal. It’s impressive.

They have done what they

committed to do and they do it well.

Guests who are registered there are not encouraged to venture outside the property. The Bahamian taxpayer maintains the airport on which their guests land. The Bahamian taxpayer paves the roads on which their guests travel. In turn Club Med hires our people.

That’s good. But it is not good enough for the government now to sit on its hands and be content to stop there. What do the people who don’t work at Club Med do? Where are their opportunities?

There is a whole market out there that the Government says should be taxed and that’s the “home away from home”. I, on the other hand, say that they should be given all the rights the “Hotel Encouragement Act” provides.

There is a large group of people who travel with their families and thus cannot afford the rates a hotel charges. My family is a typical example. When we travel there are a minimum of eight people. We rent a house; we could not afford to stay in a hotel.

Locals and foreigners should be encouraged to build small and large houses outside of Club Med to serve this new, large market.

Now what is the advantage? We visited a restaurant on three occasions while we were there.

The food was mouth-watering, the service was good, the owners were friendly, and the prices were low.

The only problem is that we were the only people there.

With more single family homes there would be a demand for more restaurants, a larger food store, a barber shop, gift shops, etc. In short, there would be more money spent with those outside the walls of the “all inclusive”, more money that will stay in the local market and a whole new market of visitors would have been created.

So rather than the Minister suggesting that “home away from home” be taxed, the Ministry of Tourism should be encouraging investment in this market, putting these homes under the “Hotels Encouragement Act” and using its world-wide advertising budget to promote and market this enterprise.

The members of Government must understand that the end run is “the good of the people”, not themselves.

Former MP Pierre Dupuch Nassau July 29, 2019

Mitchell, rank opportunist & chameleon EDITOR, The Tribune LIKE a chameleon, Frederick Mitchell changes his colours and political stripes depending on the needs of the moment and his selfserving political survival and relevance. His principles seem to change as fast as a growing child changes his shoe-size.

Many years ago, some people admired his activism. That now seems like centuries ago. Today, he is widely seen as a rank opportunist who will seemingly change his positions and principles depending on who and what he needs to aggrandize himself.

Today, he styles himself as Mr Caribbean because he wants to be seen as a player or big man in Caricom, although his campaigning to make another opportunist, Baroness Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General, revealed his chameleon instincts.

Baroness Scotland previously served as Attorney General for England and Wales. She left Dominica as a toddler and spent her life in the United Kingdom as a loyal British subject. She had very little attachment to the Caribbean.

Yet Mitchell supported her over the decidedly more capable champion and son of the Caribbean, Sir Ronald Sanders of Antigua and Barbuda.

Baroness Scotland’s tenure has been unremarkable but has been dogged by a number of complaints about her management style and spending habits as Secretary-General, which have been widely reported on in the British press.

In aggressively promoting Baroness Scotland, Mitchell showed greater loyalty to the interests of others over the Caribbean.

But that should not have come as a surprise.

Almost 40 years ago in a December 3, 1981, newspaper story under the title, “Mitchell Calls for Pindling’s Resignation”, Mitchell, the political chameleon blasted the Caribbean.

He said, “Pindling continues to want us to associate

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net with these regimes down in the Caribbean. He is always talking about white people are trying to do us one thing or the next to us.

“So instead of strengthening ties with the United States of America, he is talking about us joining up with these broke countries in the Caribbean.”

At one time, the young Mitchell was Sir Lynden’s blue-eyed wonder boy. He was large and in charge at ZNS. He was the spinmeister at the station and did the bidding of Pindling, who he was happy to serve like a servant to a grand political master. He was giddy and gleeful at ZNS, serving as a PLP henchman.

Then Mitchell fell out with his political masters.

It was a nasty falling out, with all manner of threats and insults flying back and forth.

In that same December, 1981, newspaper story, Mitchell, the former political lackey turned against the Pindlings: “Fred Mitchell, Leader of the People’s Democratic Force (PDF) called last night for an emergency meeting of the country’s major church leaders to persuade Prime Minister Pindling to resign from office and leave the country with his wife.”

Not only did he want Sir Lynden to step down, he wanted both Sir Lynden and Lady Pindling to leave the country! No other opponent of Sir Lynden ever went that far.

Mitchell has said many other nasty things about Pindling. A whole decade later in a Tribune story of July 16, 1991, Mitchell showed that he was still determined to attack Sir Lynden at every turn: “One would expect that the Prime Minister of The Bahamas should spend the national day of The Bahamas with his people and not in another man’s country.

The fact that surgery was performed on his bad eye is irrelevant. The eye was bad

for years. The surgery was elective surgery.”

He went on to say that, “Sir Lynden’s absence showed nothing but contempt for the Bahamian people.”

With no real political home and the FNM ascendant, he begged Hubert Ingraham to put him in the Senate. He also used that platform to pursue his selfserving agenda. But the FNM was wise not to give him a nomination. They knew his political nature.

As the political weather changed again and Mitchell needed a political base, he went back to the PLP. Then he started to accompany other officials at the side of Dame Marguerite for her annual visits to Sir Lynden’s grave to commemorate his life.

Fred Mitchell has no shame. He will use anyone, living or dead, in pursuit of his political survival.

He seems to have no other existence than politics.

This is quite sad as his political career may well be approaching its end.

He will never become prime minister because most in the country have made up their minds as to who Frederick Mitchell really is.

He now serves Brave Davis, his newest political master. But he will turn on Davis with lightning speed if Brave begins to falter.

Frederick Mitchell has loyalty to no one and to no cause save himself.

This is one of the reasons that his political career is coming to an end.

If the PLP loses this election Mitchell will go into a meltdown that will make a nuclear plant meltdown look like a picnic.

Sir Lynden’s daughter Monique Pindling said at a PLP convention after the party lost the last election: “Some in our Party became anti-Pindling but quick to quote or call his name when it was politically expedient to do so.”

Though she did not say so, Fred Mitchell fits that bill exactly.

BC Nassau, July 28, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 30, 2019, PAGE 5

No-confidence vote?

Bring it on, says Minnis from page one comments of the Water & Sewerage Corporation board director Bennett Minnis who recently called the PLP a party of “corrupt, thieving, no good, bastard, homosexual, African monkeys.” Critics have called for Mr Minnis’ resignation but the administration has not said whether he will be kept or removed from his role.

Speaking to reporters after an Over-the-Hill graduation event yesterday, the prime minister responded to Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis’ recent pledge to bring a no-confidence motion against him at the earliest opportunity.

“We welcome it,” he said. “I hope Davis will not change his mind. We look forward to it on October 2nd when we return to Parliament and we will give him an opportunity to see how strong the FNM is, how together we are and how we are a team and the Bahamian people will make their final determination in 2022 when we will defeat the PLP and on the 15th and the 16th of August the Bahamian people will have an opportunity to hear from the young people who are the leaders and future of this country when the FNM has its youth convention. We are on the right track. The economy is growing and in two weeks at the convention you will hear more about ideas and our vision moving forward.”

When he resigned from cabinet earlier this month, Mr Symonette reignited controversy by saying Dr Minnis and he discussed mall renting

details last year when he was still Minister of Financial Services and Immigration.

Asked about Mr Symonette’s revelation yesterday, Dr Minnis said: “The beauty about the Town Centre Mall is that matter was addressed in Parliament and you can pull all about what we said, the entire discussions, debates etc; it was an overt, complete transparent procedure, unlike the PLP what they have done in the past.”

When told the debate did not address Mr Symonette’s comments, which were made almost nine months after the resolution was passed, Dr Minnis repeated his line: “The entire matter was addressed in Parliament in a transparent manner.”

Asked about calls for the resignation of WSC’s Board Director Mr Minnis, the prime minister said: “I think that was addressed by many members of my party, I don’t think I have to say anything about it, they have dealt with it.”

Asked if Mr Minnis remains director of WSC’s board, he said: “He’s not the director of a board, he’s on a board, but that has been addressed and I don’t need to elaborate on that.”

The government has not announced Mr Minnis’ removal as WSC board director. Works Minister Desmond Bannister has said the matter will be dealt with at the cabinet level but it is not known if the matter has come up. FNM Chairman Carl Culmer has neither condemned nor defended Mr Minnis’ comments but has said the PLP should “clean their own doorstep.”

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in defiant mood last night.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

...BUT SPEAKER DOESN’T RATE PLP CHANCES OF SUCCESS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie said yesterday the chance of a no confidence vote in Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis succeeding is “negligible”.

Nonetheless, he said the Official Opposition would be allowed to move such a motion once they meet the requirements laid down in parliamentary guidelines.

Mr Moultrie told The Tribune while it is obvious the Opposition doesn’t have the numbers to back its motion, exercises of this nature are democratic and politically “symbolic” in nature.

This comes after Deputy Prime Minister Peter

Turnquest was reported on Sunday as saying a no confidence vote is a fool’s errand.

Mr Moultrie said he doesn’t agree with this position because this is the Opposition’s right.

As it stands, the Speaker said he has yet to receive official notice of a no confidence vote, but according to House rules they would need to give a one-day notice of their intention.

Once this is done, he said, Parliament would make arrangements for the vote to supersede the normal agenda.

“It could always be argued that the motion would not be successful, but that doesn’t and should not prevent a party from

proceeding with the motion.

Even though it may be symbolic in nature knowing that it is likely that it would be defeated, because - particularly in politics - some times decisions are made to make symbolic gestures to drive a point home knowing that it would not be successful because you don’t have the numbers,” said Speaker Moultrie.

“So the Opposition shouldn’t be denied that right simply because they don’t have the numbers.

“But it would be similar to the vote of no confidence in the Speaker (in February 2018). It was unlikely that it would not succeed, but they should not be denied the democratic and parliamentary right to bring such a motion.

“If they meet the requirements the Parliament is obliged to accommodate them.

“Usually with a substantive motion of that nature that would supersede the regular agenda and that would become the order of the day, but once we get sufficient notice it is likely that would be dealt with at the opening or the very next sitting of Parliament.”

Regarding Mr Turnquest’s remarks, Mr Moultrie said: “I wouldn’t say it’s a fool’s errand because like I said they have the democratic right and they are within their rights with respect to the rules of procedure to bring such a motion.

“The success of it is

negligible but they still have the right to bring the motion and in bringing the motion they will be able to debate matters relevant to the motion, so they will be able to air their views as opposed to what they tried to do the last time we met when they came without notice and tried to raise an issue to basically ambush the Parliament with a debate on a matter that was not on the agenda. What they are doing now is the proper way to do it.”

On Sunday. Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine said he will likely vote to abstain if the Opposition brings the no-confidence resolution to the assembly, signalling he will not show public support for the leader of his party.

For his part, Centreville MP Reece Chipman appears undecided on the matter while Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller said he has to weigh the various factors involved before making a decision.

During the final night of the PLP’s convention on Friday, Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis announced he will bring a no-confidence motion at the earliest opportunity and require Free National Movement parliamentarians to “go on the record and vote”.

He cited the controversial Town Centre Mall lease as rationale for such a move.

The House of Assembly is currently on summer recess until October 2.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, July 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

BPL EYES A ‘BEFORE CHRISTMAS’ DEADLINE FOR NEW PLANT

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

GENERATION shortfalls continue at Bahamas Power and Light Company as the electricity provider eyes a “before Christmas” deadline for the commissioning of its new plant.

Load shedding was initiated on Friday and persisted over the weekend because of a higher demand than BPL could meet, according to Quincy Parker, the power provider’s director of public relations.

By Saturday, Mr Parker said a problem

developed that forced BPL to take an engine offline.

While this asset was returned to service on Sunday, load shedding in some areas spilled into yesterday morning.

Load shedding activities initally ended at 3.55pm yesterday; however, the company later announced it would resume load shedding from 8pm to 11pm.

Scheduled affected areas were: the national stadium, portions of Yellow Elder, Claridge Road and the Mall at Marathon, as well as areas surrounding the Town Centre Mall.

In an earlier interview, Mr Parker underscored BPL

officials are really excited about station A’s $95m upgrades.

“It is a really big deal because it means we will have reliable, steady low cost, high efficiency power pumping into the grid. All these engines which need months in some cases and weeks in other cases can get proper maintenance especially on machines that have been in constant demand. That maintenance can be done and they can be returned to the best possible condition,” he told The Tribune.

Mr Parker was asked if BPL was still on course to have the new station up and

running by the fall. He said: “Late fall…I would say before Christmas because what is happening is a construction project. You never know what you are going to find, but to be on the safe side I would say before Christmas.”

The company has repeatedly said the fall is the planned timeline.

BPL further announced yesterday a planned outage at Infant View Road as BPL would be making improvements to its overhead infrastructure tomorrow beginning at 9am. The outage is expected to last four hours.

The promises of a new

‘Fred dissed me so I backed Obie’

FRED MITCHELL

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net LESLIE Miller says he supported Obie Wilchcombe in last week’s PLP chairmanship contest because he believes Mr Wilchcombe would look out for past candidates who feel neglected and shut out from seeking nominations in 2022.

In March The Tribune reported Mr Miller’s insistence on securing a nomination despite desire among PLP officials to mostly avoid running former losing candidates in the next election.

PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis, in an interview yesterday, reiterated that he “expects to

have a slate of new candidates” in 2022, adding: “Everyone who runs will have the opportunity once they apply to make a case to their branch. Even if the branch does not recommend them, they will have an opportunity to make a case to the candidates committee when we interview them and if the candidates committee does not recommend them they have an option to make a case to the national general council, which has the final say.”

PLP chairman Fred Mitchell defeated Mr Wilchcombe by nearly 500 votes last week, strengthening Mr Davis’ hand in the organisation.

But Mr Miller said yesterday: “I supported Fred the last

time but Fred don’t look out for his former colleagues. I had a beef with Fred because of that because when you’ve been together with people you should look out for them and make sure that they don’t be sidelined. I voted for Obie because I wanted to send Fred a message that you don’t diss your colleagues. But Obie problem was this: people was waiting to get him again because Obie made a lot of promises to all the people and didn’t come through for them.”

Mr Miller said Mr Davis must soon meet with him and “about ten” other former candidates who want to run again. He said failing to address them and their concerns risks sparking a civil war

station have done little to comfort consumers, many posting on BPL’s Facebook page.

“If we do the calculation, BPL has taken about 21-24 hrs a week from consumers for the last 2 months, which means the average consumer has gotten 6 days of electricity per week and has lost almost a weeks supply of electricity per month... unbelievable! I hope bonus is not based upon performance! This is the worst year ever,” one consumer posted.

Another said: “Don’t y’all dear frig with the switch for Golden Gates #2 today!

Y’all had us off Friday

night straight into yesterday morning and again today! I don’t give a crap bout what was unforeseen!”

Power cuts have occurred this year as far back as mid-April and regular load shedding since June 19.

BPL has been unable to definitively say when the situation is expected to get better.

Earlier this month, Bishop Simeon Hall called the situation a “crisis” and urged BPL to “fix the light before darkness causes someone’s death”.

The prominent religious leader said officials need to make fixing the problem a national priority.

OBIE WILCHCOMBE

in the party. “I want be MP, that’s all I want to be,” he said when asked if he would accept another role. “I have every intention of running and if they don’t nominate me I still gon’ run. But the night Mr Davis gets his nomination I expect to get mine. I will be a candidate in the next election if God spare my life, I promise you that. What party could find 30-plus new candidates? It’s asinine to even think about it.

“The last election loss didn’t go on any particular candidate we had. People went after Mr Christie and we got caught up in the fallout but what’s the big deal? We won before, we lost before. Let me give you a good example of why this makes no

sense. Alfred Sears, I don’t think you could find a better candidate than him, could you, yet they would try to go after him if they could. Why would anyone in their right mind wouldn’t want to see Alfred Sears run and be in their cabinet? We have many others in our organisation who may want to do that. Damian Gomez is cut from the same cloth; Michael Halkitis, Alfred Gray was a first class MP. No party has ever thrown out most of their former candidates.”

Mr Miller has had little success assembling his former colleagues for a meeting with Mr Davis, The Tribune understands.

Editorial View - Page 4

‘WE’LL JUST HAVE TO TRUST GOVT OVER NON-PROFIT ACT’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Christian Council president Delton Fernander said the organisation would have preferred to police itself when it came

to financial regulations, but will ultimately have to trust the government.

The Non-Profit Organisation Act was passed along

with four other financial services acts in the Senate yesterday.

Bishop Fernander acknowledged the act was less intrusive, adding the organisation will work with the framework it was given, and monitor how the BCC is handled moving forward.

He said while the BCC put forth its own recommendations, the version of the Act passed was the best “compromise” that could be met.

“We met with the Attorney General and we were in negotiations now from (former president Ranford) Patterson’s term under the former AG and two years under my leadership and there is substantial difference than what we started off with,” Bishop Fernander told The Tribune yesterday. “It is the best we could have negotiated and wait to make sure that the government comes through with this lighter touch and not a strong one.

So we’ll be watching.”

Asked if he felt churches should be exempted from the provisions of this Act, he said: “That was our initial argument and we felt that there should be a special category for churches.

We weren’t able to win that battle and subsequently the bill is passed and so we will see how the church will be treated and we will respond in kind.”

“Well we have to trust the government,” he also said, “This is where we are.

The council will just wait to see how the government enforces it.

“What we have understood it to be is it is not intrusive any more accept if something comes up

BAHAMAS Christian Council president Delton Fernander. untoward and that is what we were fighting for that accept you have something going on in churches, that you know we shouldn’t be treated like we have already committed crimes of any sort.”

“We would have preferred that the Christian Council do the policing of the churches and we still wait to see how that will be handled because the bill does give some leeway that some things can be done and we want to see after its enacted what takes place and that’s when we really can say where we go from there,” Bishop Fernander said.

In the Senate yesterday, Attorney General Carl Bethel said it was not generally accepted that NPOs are wide ranging. He said there were different risks posed by different entities.

Mr Bethel said: “To have the same regulatory framework for all NPOs there was a failure to recognise the enormous diversity of the NPO sector whether it’s purely charitable matters, whether it’s a mix, whether it’s advocacy, whether it’s just social groupings that do their own thing and occasionally have a charitable aspect, etcetera.

“There is a total mix right across the board and the basis of regulation has moved from a one-size-fits all approach to the principle of what they call risk based regulation,” Mr Bethel continued.

“That principle is that regulators have to be empowered by the law to be intelligent enough to say this type of activity causes a far less risk of harmful activity than the other type.

“So, for example. one could say that unlicensed gaming could pose a quite high risk of all sorts of things and therefore one would see that in the gaming bill we have now given the gaming board authority to take quite harsh measures in respect to unlicensed gaming since we have a framework that permits regularised and regulated gaming. Therefore the hammer should fall on those who continue to breach the framework because there is an avenue for them to be regulated and registered.”

Opposition Senator Fred Mitchell added that he believed political parties and churches should have been excluded from the NPO’s provisions.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 30, 2019, PAGE 7

ALLEGED CHILD ABDUCTOR BACK IN COURT TOMORROW

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DE’EDRA Michelle Gibson outside court at a previous hearing.

THE Crown is expected to serve alleged child abductor De’Edra Michelle Gibson with her voluntary bill of indictment tomorrow.

The VBI, which is a bundle of documents that makes up the Crown’s case against an accused person, was supposed to be served yesterday, but was not ready.

Gibson, who is on $20,000 bail, returns to court at that time.

In April, Gibson was charged before Magistrate Samuel McKinney with abducting three eight-yearold boys and a three-year-old between February 16 and March 29.

During her initial arraignment, her attorney Howard Thompson Jr told Magistrate McKinney that his client has

a history of mental health issues. In fact, he said just last October, Gibson spent some time in the psychiatric ward of the Brookdale University Hospital in New York.

At the time, Mr Thompson said he had also received legal instructions from Gibson that ranged from “incomprehensible” to “bizarre”.

As a result, Magistrate McKinney remanded the woman to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) and adjourned the matter to have a psychiatric report on her mental fitness to plea presented to the court.

That psychiatric report revealed she is in fact fit to plea to the charges. She subsequently elected to be tried in the Supreme Court.

At the time however, Gibson appeared initially not to want her matter to be tried in the Supreme Court, and at the very least, seemed to be

opposed to her family having a part in the decision making, as she could be overheard telling her attorney that “they don’t have no say”.

Nonetheless, after she told the magistrate of her selection, and he remanded her to the BDCS to await service of a VBI, she said in a disgusted voice: “I hope they happy.”

Gibson was later granted $20,000 bail with two sureties

by Justice Gregory Hilton.

As part of her bail conditions, Gibson must have regular check-ups at the SRC every two months, follow her treatment plan and provide proof of compliance to the court.

She was also ordered to surrender her passport, and wear an ankle bracelet. She is also ordered to report to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Man who ran up a tree to evade capture denies groping 18-year-old girl

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 43-YEAR-OLD man lewdly taunted an 18-yearold woman, her mother and a female police officer in court yesterday when he stood trial over allegations he grabbed the young girl’s buttocks and ran away laughing while her mother gave chase.

Sidney Cooper, of Exuma Street, made a disgusting remark to the girl and shouted out his address, seconds after finished giving evidence against him over allegations he indecently assaulted her on June 12.

When the victim’s mother took the stand, he called her a “big p***y” and likened her to a snake. When she completed her evidence and was walking out of court, he shouted: “That’s a fat a** though”.

Finally, when the female officer who arrested him took the stand, and reluctantly recounted how he told her how “sweet” she looked, the man shouted out: “All the time, all day!”

And when that officer left the court, Cooper told her: “Don’t worry, you next though. I been watching you a little while now. You next. Yeah, baby.”

Cooper’s outbursts came during trial in open court he groped the 18-year-old while her mother was dropping her off to work.

Cooper is charged with one count each of indecent assault and causing harm. He has denied the allegations.

The victim’s mother said on the date in question, she was on Victoria Avenue headed on to Shirley Street, and in the process of dropping her daughter off for work. She said when she pulled the car to a stop, her

daughter got out and proceeded to fix her clothes.

Meanwhile, the mother said she looked down for a “split second” for her daughter’s bag on the floor of the passenger’s side.

The mother said as she did so, she noticed Cooper on the opposite side of the road coming towards her daughter, whose back was to him; she was facing the car as she fixed her clothes. The mother said when the man reached where they were, he took his took his two hands and grabbed her daughter’s buttocks.

The mother said her daughter spun around and tried to lunge at her assailant in a bid to hold him, but Cooper in turn pushed her, causing her to fall to the ground. The mother said Cooper subsequently walked away briskly from them. She said she then put the car in park, got out and started to go after him whilst yelling: “You touched my daughter!”

She said upon seeing her coming after him, the man’s brisk pace turned into him running gait, and he fled towards Bay Street from Victoria Avenue. She said while she chased him, Cooper kept looking back and laughing at her.

The mother said she continued to give chase, and before long Cooper jumped a wall in the area. She said because of what she was wearing, she was unable to jump the wall, so she decided to go around it.

The mother said while she pursued her daughter’s assailant, she continuously yelled: “You groped my daughter, you touched my daughter!” She said her ranting caught the attention to various persons in the area, who in turn joined her in chasing Cooper.

The group subsequently

chased the 43-year-old east on Bay Street. She said the chase ultimately came to a stop at a tree opposite the Rum Cake Factory, which the man had scrambled into to evade capture.

Once she had caught up with the group, the mother said she observed a number of spectators recording the incident. She said she then told them to call the police.

About 10 minutes later, the police arrived.

Constable Sharain Brown said testified that at around 8am on the date in question, she got a call from the Tourism Police Station about a disturbance near the Rum Cake Factory. As a result, she said she and another officer went to that location.

She said when she got there, she observed a few people standing around on the side of the road, and others who were gathered around a tree. She said some of the bystanders pointed out a man in the tree, and told her how he had groped a woman a few blocks back.

P/C Brown identified Cooper as the man she saw in the tree, and when she did saw, the man likened himself to the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus, who climbed up a sycamore tree to have a better view of Jesus Christ as the prophet passed through the city of Jericho.

As a result, P/C Brown said she and her colleague ordered the man to come down out of the tree, which she said took a few minutes.

When he came down, P/C Brown said he was handcuffed for safety.

A few minutes later, P/C Brown said a lady approached her and told her that the man she handcuffed moments prior assaulted her. PC Brown said she noticed that the

INQUEST TO START INTO APPARENT SUICIDE OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

EVIDENCE is expected to be presented today to reveal the circumstances surrounding the alleged suicide of a South African woman at the Atlantis resort last year.

The inquest into 25-yearold Carla Van Eeden’s death is due to commence before Her Majesty’s Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez.

The matter was set to commence yesterday, but was adjourned to today to give Ms Van Eeden’s brother, Johann, an opportunity to review certain documents pertaining to the inquest.

Ms Van Eeden’s body was reportedly found hanging by a cord at the back of her bathroom door in her room at Atlantis’ Royal Towers.

At the time, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash

said police were called to the resort around 5am. Ms Van Eeden was discovered with a rope around her neck.

It was unclear who found the body or how long she had been hanging.

Mr Van Eeden represents the estate of the deceased.

Attorneys Giselle Pyfrom and Jeffrey Maltzman represent Atlantis.

Anishka Missick is marshalling the evidence in the matter.

woman making the complaint had swelling and blood to the right side of her face.

As a result, P/C Brown said she cautioned and arrested Cooper in reference to causing harm and indecent assault.

The prosecutor, Inspector Philip Davis, questioned P/C Brown if Cooper said anything when she cautioned him. However, P/C Brown appeared hesitant to answer the question.

Upon being prodded by

the prosecutor, P/C Brown revealed Cooper told her “Officer, you look sweet” at which point in court he shouted: “All the time, all day!”

The matter is adjourned.

Cooper remains in custody until that time.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, July 30, 2019

B

AHAMIAN art and culture means the world to Marsha B. Knowles Adderley. The colours, sounds and vibrancy of Bahamian life are lived through Marsha. She is full of life. From her bold hair colours and apparel to her jolly laugh and many stories, Marsha is what you would call “a true true Bahamian”. She has captured her love for her country in a unique way – folk art. Marsha’s beautiful collection of paintings are testament to her love of her country. She has painted scenes that are a part of Bahamian culture; some of them are disappearing and will only be remembered if we capture them.

A visit to her home is like a walk through Bahamian history. Seeing her painting of children kneeling at mama’s bedside for prayer reminds me of days with my own precious grandmother in Long Island. The men climbing the greasy pole is a scene you may only see on Fox Hill Day or at a Family Island regatta. Her painting of a woman washing outside in a tin tub with a scrub board is a dying past time. She has captured boys playing marbles, men cracking conch shells, a rake n’ scrape band, native fruits and flowers - so many scenes of Bahamian folk life worth cherishing.

“The new generation… like my grandsons… some of them don’t know anything about shooting marbles, playing hop scotch, climbing the coconut tree, and spinning top,” Marsha says of her decision to focus on folk art.

“I want them to know of our Bahamian traditions.

This is our heritage and we

THE TRIBUNE

TOP: Marsha with her two daughters Antonia and Marsha Renae; above, her father Edmund Knowles, deceased, and mother Ruth Charlotte Fernander Knowles; left: her son, Anthony and grandson, Amez; top left and right: two examples of her work.

Marsha’s keeping our culture alive through her art should keep it in our Bahamian culture before it dies out. It makes me feel proud to be a Bahamian. I love to be able to paint and draw Bahamian scenes. Lots of people who view my paintings are proud that someone is going back to the past to see how we live, how we eat, how we enjoy life. They even enjoy my paintings such as the Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Force pop bands performing and appreciate them as a part of Bahamian culture.

“Without our culture, we will be doing what Americans do, what Jamaicans do… people of other cultures and the next generation will end up with nothing to fall back on and no reason to be proud to be a Bahamian.”

Marsha grew up in Fox Hill and has strong Long Island roots. She cherishes her memories of barking almonds in the back of her grandmother’s yard. She climbed many dilly and tamarind trees as Fox Hill is loaded with them, and she enjoyed her days playing with all the neighbourhood children.

At the age of six Marsha entered an art competition while she attended St. Anslem’s Primary School.

She won with her rendition of a lady wearing old fashioned clothing standing by her bed. Her drawing made it to the newspaper and in return, her proud father bought her a drawing book, pencils, erasers and crayons.

This, Marsha says, is how her love for art was born.

Her parents, Edmund and Ruth Charlotte Knowles were always supportive of her craft, while her father became her biggest inspiration as she grew. She and her four siblings enjoyed growing up and playing together but Marsha always found time to spend by herself doing her art. She attended C.I. Gibson where she came under the tutelage of art teacher, Harry Rolle.

“To this very day, Mr. Rolle is still my art teacher and mentor and I still get input from him on my work,” she said, adding one day they plan to host a student/ teacher art exhibition.

With Mr. Rolle’s guidance, she took the art BJC and received special credit for her work. Marsha then went on to A.F. Adderley for high school where her budding art talent continued. She took art at the BGCSE level and earned a distinction. While at A.F. Adderley, she entered one of her pieces into an exhibition and it was purchased – a proud moment and one that showed her the value of her work.

“I eat, sleep, drink and enjoy art,” says Marsha. “It’s something that connects people from all walks of life.”

When Marsha left high school, she worked at Solomon’s Mines for a while and gave birth to her first child, Antonia. She went on to work at the Cable Beach Hotel, where she served as a waitress and had the opportunity to meet and interact with numerous stars and famous people.

After the birth of her second child, Anthony, Marsha took a year off from work. When she entered the work force again in 1986, she joined what was then BatelCo, where she spent a little over 24 years. While at BTC, she had her third child, Marsha Renae and earned her first class Pitman certificate in typing.

All along, she kept art as a hobby. One day while on lunch break at BTC, James Thompson, former senior manager of training noticed her sketching a portrait for a correspondence course she was taking.

He struck up a conversation, explaining he had a portrait done for him that he did not like. The next day, Mr. Thompson

returned to Marsha with the portrait and the photograph from which the sketch was derived. He told her if she could sketch a portrait of him that he was pleased with, he would pay her for it. Marsha went to work, and in 25 minutes, her version was done. Mr. Thompson immediately tore up the previous portrait and paid Marsha for her work. He advised her to buy art supplies and continue the course. She says that inspired her to continue in her craft, and she successfully completed a Diploma in Master Art from International Correspondence Schools in 1994.

Marsha joined BTC as a janitor at the company’s Perpall Tract location.

She knew she was qualified to do more, but there were no other openings.

She took pride in her job and persisted until she was assigned to the Training Department. During the more than two decades of dedicated service to BTC, she worked as an operator, clerk, receptionist and assistant secretary supervised by Marsha Taylor. She retired as a customer service representative for all areas, residential and commercial, for installation, repair and maintenance. She thanks coworkers like Ricardo Thompson, Val Cargill, and Andre Neely, as well as her family and close friends for encouraging her in her career at BTC. When a serious car accident left Marsha with shoulder and knee injuries in 2010, she ended up having to retire from the workforce. However, the hobby she loved so much turned into her full time endeavour. Art was always an escape for Marsha, who was married to her children’s father but is now a divorcee. She enjoys employing four art techniques – ink drawing, water colours, pastel chalk and oil painting.

“Art makes me relaxed, it helps me enjoy life better and it keeps me happy,” Marsha said.

She thanks God for her many blessings including her children and grandchildren Zion and Amez, and she believes in taking one day at a time. She thanks the Bahamas National Trust for always giving her a platform to showcase her art throughout the years.

“I eat, sleep, drink and enjoy art. It’s something that connects people from all walks of life.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 30, 2019, PAGE 9

‘POLITICAL PARTY SYMBOLS NEED TO BE PROTECTED’

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

PROTECTION for political party symbols need to be “expanded” to prevent people from using party symbols to send “negative messages”, Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Bethel said the government is looking at “several models” for regulating the political sector – including finance reform and party symbols.

When asked if legislation for political party regulation and protection will be introduced when the House of Assembly returns in October, Mr Bethel replied: “We are looking at several models of regulation of the political sector, including finance reform- we’re looking intensely at that issue.”

“One of the aspects may also be the fact that once a political symbol is recorded with the parliamentary commissioner and accepted as the symbol, certainly for the purpose of the election, that symbol cannot be used by

any candidate without a letter from the party chairman or the party leader, period.

He continued: “Now that’s only for the purpose of election. Well that protection needs to be expanded to prevent people from using party symbols to send negative messages under the guise of being a party statement. If you look at the recent PLP convention, there were a host of very negative, very damaging, very malicious and I’d say almost libelous memes that went out against one particular candidate, all under

the guise of the PLP symbol.

That was inappropriate.”

Progressive Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell yesterday said the Opposition would “like to see what they propose”.

Mr Mitchell was asked

by The Tribune yesterday to provide the Opposition’s position,on this matter and respond to reports that the PLP had previously considered making strides to protect its symbol.

“We have taken no official policy position,” Mr Mitchell said. “What we

have is an application now before the (AG) which he refuses to sign off on under the Companies Act to incorporate the PLP as a company by guarantee with non profit status.

“We would then vest all property, including intellectual property like the symbol, in that company.”

“In the meantime we have also said we would consider a special Act to create a statutory Corporation which would do the same thing,” Mr Mitchell continued. “Neither has moved forward.”

“In the last parliament both sides had agreed in a select committee to fund political parties in their administrative work with an annual subvention paid by the state provided they were in the House of Assembly... it was only if the parties accepted the funding that they had to affirm annually that the money was spent for the purpose.

“The general regulation of political parties is not a matter that goes down very well…” Mr Mitchell added.

We need people to get our words down, says Bethel

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THE government is considering hiring new staff in their bid to resolve the long-standing issue of the lack of stenographers in the Magistrate’s Court, Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Bethel said he is in discussion with the Chief Justice over the matter, adding the use of voice recognition technology is also being considered.

“Yes, there haven’t been stenographers in the Magistrate’s Court for quite some time,” Mr Bethel said.

“Recently a voice-activated recording system has been installed in every court, inclusive of the Magistrate’s Court, so there is (an) audio record of everything that goes on…in the court.

“And what we hope to do is to begin the process of advertising and engaging persons who are prepared to be trained not as stenographers but as transcriptionists, meaning that they will be able to listen to the recording and transcribe it into a printed format.

He continued: “Failing which, we are also looking at the latest in voice recognition technology…

Since over the last decade or so voice recognition technology with the use of (Artificial Intelligence) AI, no doubt and all these other things, has dramatically improved and so the CJ and I had a discussion about this last week or the week before -we meet every week- and so it’s a part of our discussions to identify voice recognition technology.”

While noting his

preference would be the option which involves hiring and training Bahamians, Mr Bethel underscored his job as Attorney General is to “facilitate” the ultimate goals of the Chief Justice and Judiciary.

“I prefer if we could hire and train some Bahamians. I don’t like automation taking over everything that ordinarily one would look for human beings to do,” he said.

“And if it’s possible for us to find persons interested in a career in being transcriptionists, we would be more than happy to let them undergo the training.

In the absence though of any interest in the rigours of such a system, we would have to look to voice recognition technology.

“But we do want to address the difficulty in having a firm record - and unfortunately in the state

of our law right now, a record is something that is in writing, something that the witness signs on, something that the court seals, et cetera et cetera.

“And so we may have to look at the laws of admissibility in terms of perhaps of oral testimony et cetera in the Magistrate’s Court… that may be backed up by a transcript but that the oral record, the recorded record, and the transcript would all be admissible.”

When asked when the advertisement for such a position could begin, Mr Bethel said it’s a question of “mobilizing the bureaucracy” and “settling on a firm strategy”.

“The Chief Justice and I are still in discussion. Bear it in mind that I can’t- he is independent of me, he and the judiciary are independent of me. My job is merely to facilitate their decisions,”

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel he said. “So my preference for hiring human beings may not ultimately be the Chief Justice’s and the Judiciary’s preference.

Mr Bethel added: But my

job as Attorney General is to work with the head of the judicial system in The Bahamas, who is the Chief Justice, to achieve his goals that he sets.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, July 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Disney petition hits 30,000 from page one

Point” campaign yesterday said this massive support is evidence of “growing global opposition” to Disney’s plans for the development of a “massive cruise port” at the iconic site located at the southern tip of Eleuthera. The campaign made these remarks in a statement released yesterday.

“Leading Bahamian and international environmental groups released today (Monday) a full-page advertisement in The Tribune newspaper on their new petition calling upon Disney to select an alternative site for their cruise port and instead to work with local groups on a win-win alternative that would protect this unique site and secure sustainable economic opportunities for the communities in South Eleuthera,” the statement reads.

“The ad calls attention to the

more than 20,000 people who had signed the petition within just 12 days after its public launch on July 15th. Since the ad was submitted for publication to the Tribune just 4 days ago, another 10,000 people have signed on.

“Of these 30,000 people, scores took the time to jot down their reasons for asking Disney to back off its port plans at the Point; and others have reached out to the campaign to become engaged.”

The statement notes people in the Bahamas, United States, and around the world “treasure” the site and are “worried” about the pressures coral reefs and oceans are currently facing.

“Some Last Chance for Lighthouse Point campaign supporters love Disney and are puzzled by why Disney would pick a place like Lighthouse Point to build a port that would tarnish and degrade the area.

“The launch of the campaign

MARIJUANA COMMISSION MAY NOT HIT DEADLINE

By FARRAH JOHNSON

LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Eleuthera has received media attention from all major Bahamian news outlets.

“For the first time, Disney has felt compelled to respond publicly to the Bahamian environmental groups, but Disney still does not address the fundamental issues set out in the campaign’s website: StopDisney.com.”

Campaign Director Phoebe Shaw underscored “it’s not too late” for Disney to “change course and find a different site” for its port.

“At the same time, the groups

are eager to see Disney stay at Lighthouse Point and cooperate with local groups on a sustainable development alternative. Disney has a chance to set a new precedent for sustainable development and the protection of global oceans,” she said.

Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF), EARTHCARE, reEarth, Save the Bays, and Waterkeepers Bahamas are all local organisations involved in the campaign. The Waterkeeper Alliance, based in New York, has also signed onto it.

BAHAMAS National Commission on Marijuana co-chair Quinn McCartney yesterday said there is no guarantee the body will be able to submit their findings to the government on schedule.

Mr McCartney said while commission members are “pushing” to meet the August deadline they did not want to compromise the integrity of their report.

The commission was initially expected to present a comprehensive report on the public’s perception of cannabis by April, but requested a six-month extension to carry out more research.

To date, Mr McCartney said the BMC has not started its national public survey, but plans to meet today to finalise the procedure.

“We are still in the process of gathering information so we are trying to push but I can’t guarantee,” Mr McCartney told The Tribune.

“But we’re certainly trying to make sure that we have a comprehensive review and we look at the holistic approach to this.”

Mr McCartney said while the Cabinet-appointed body is making every effort to meet the deadline, they do not want to risk “compromising the integrity value” of the survey due to “time constraints”.

BMC’s commission’s report will address the medical, economic, industrial and religious use of cannabis.

It will also cover the recreational use of cannabis and regulatory issues related to cannabis regarding age restrictions, legislative framework and other issues.

DISABILITY ACCESS POOR AT PARLIAMENT, SAYS HENFIELD

By FARRAH JOHNSON SENATOR Ranard Henfield yesterday hit out at the government’s failure to make parliament more inclusive for people with disabilities.

Mr Henfield noted parliametarians in both the Lower and Upper Houses were not required to “upload their contributions” to a website that is accessible for the disabled.

He also pointed out that both buildings were still inaccessible to people with mobility issues.

“Throughout my contributions you would have heard me referring to the listening public and the persons reading along,” Mr Henfield said.

“I do so because I have to keep reminding parliament that not every Bahamian can hear these parliamentary debates if there is no interpreter for the deaf or HOH in the house or in the senate, and we have been here two years.

“There isn’t even handicapped parking reserved

for members of the public Parliament in the House of that may wish to attend Assembly. these national debates on “I’d wish I would have matters that will affect their been successful in convincdaily lives.” ing the powers that be… I Mr Henfield asserted that may not have gotten far so all citizens have the right to far, but as certain as this be aware of the laws being table needs to be replaced I passed in the country and intend to resume that once insisted legislators must we return in October,” he “take the initiative” to said. ensure these processes are He also spoke to Our more inclusive.

Carmichael’s fourth He made the remarks annual back to school iniin the Senate as the upper tiative, which provides chamber passed legisla- “hundreds of uniforms tion to regulate non-profit for students in the Carorganisations . michael area. The event Senator Henfield further will be staged on August advocated for parliament to 17. Mr Henfield said “engage the public more”. the organisation usually “Once school opens in purchases the uniforms September,” he said, “I through partnerships believe it would be a good with local retailers. Howmove for parliament - espe- ever, this year it will seek cially the senate - to engage to empower students by the public more via talk purchasing professional shows and interviews in the sewing machines to teach role of both the house and 10 students. the senate, the bills passed He added: “So that thus far and the legislative come next year rather than agenda for the remainder of spending over $20,000 dolthe year.” lars with the big names like Mr Henfield said he is Sandy’s, we will be able to also pushing for the Senate purchase those uniforms for to be opened to youth the community from those debates, similar to Youth in students.”

HAITIAN INQUIRY GETS UNDERWAY THE Haitian Commission of Inquiry formed to investigate concerns of corruption at its Nassau embassy began its work yesterday.

The commission met with Charge d’Affaires M.Francois Michel and plans to meet with diplomatic staff today.

In a statement yesterday, Chargé Michel confirmed the commission’s mission

was to investigate concerns the embassy was involved in getting visas for Haitians and finding fake partners for them to marry to gain status in The Bahamas.

The claim was printed in a local tabloid last week and followed the arraignment of two Haitians on charges related to marriage fraud.

Commission members include: M.Madsen

Cherubin,Ambassador; M.Greny Antoine,Minister Counsellor; and Ms.Marie Francoise Henry Joseph, Inspector.

Foreign Affairs minister Darren Henfield yesterday confirmed his ministry received a diplomatic note on the inquiry, and will facilitate Haiti’s commission as a fellow CARICOM member state.

SMITH’S POINT TO HOST FESTIVAL

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a successful kick-off of Junkanoo Summer Festival last week in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, the festival will continue at Smith’s Point for the next few Saturdays.

According to tourism officials, residents and visitors can expect to see six junkanoo groups battle it

out for best music, choreography and costume on August 3, 10, and 17.

The festival is a way for locals and visitors to experience the culture of junkanoo.

Additionally, they will experience great food and native drinks, conch cracking and coconut husking demonstrations and Rake and Scrape entertainment.

According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Tourism, Grand Bahama

is showing a 16.5 percent overall decrease year to date in foreign arrivals in May 2019.

The May 2019 preliminary report show air arrivals are down 2.4 percent year to date. There were 31,743 arrivals recorded, compared with 32,519 in 2018.

Sea arrivals were down 18.1 percent, with some 268,314 arrivals in 2019 year to date, compared with 321,441 in 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 30, 2019, PAGE 11

IN this July 22 photo, signs warn about trespassing at an entrance to the Nevada Test and Training Range near Area 51 outside Rachel, Nevada. The U.S. Air Force has warned people against participating in an internet joke suggesting a large crowd of people “storm Area 51,” the top-secret Cold War test site in the Nevada desert.

Yes, I am searching for aliens but not in Area 51 Editor’s note: What started as an internet joke has generated a stern military warning after more than a million people “signed up” to “raid” Area 51 – a secretive military installation in Southern Nevada long fancied by conspiracy theorists to be hiding evidence of a crashed UFO with aliens. The purpose of the planned raid is in order to “see them aliens.” In the following Q&A, Jason Wright, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University, discusses the public’s interest in answering the age-old question: Are we alone?

Q. Since you have a longstanding scholarly interest in extraterrestrial life – and even wrote about the possibility of advanced civilizations in the distant past on Mars or Venus – I presume you’ve cancelled your classes for September 20 and signed up to go to the “raid” on Area 51?

A. To be honest, I was completely unaware of this “raid” until you brought it to my attention! I work in SETI, the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and believe me, no one wants to find evidence of extraterrestrial life more than those of us in this field. We scour the skies for evidence of such extraterrestrial technologies with some of the most advanced equipment in the world for understanding

what’s going on in the sky, and we haven’t found anything compelling yet. But we’re not paying much attention to what happens in Area 51.

Q. Do you think the public knows enough about Area 51? Or is the widespread interest in this raid a good barometric read on how frustrated people are that the government appears to be hiding something there?

A. I don’t know very much about Area 51, but I can say that the intense interest in the goings on there related to aliens reveals a deep public interest in what kinds of life might exist elsewhere in the universe.

Q. Have you yourself ever tried to do any real research into the happenings in Area 51?

A. Not Area 51, exactly. The closest I’ve come was a talk I heard by a physicist describing the fascinating science carried out by the military back in the late 1940s, especially Project Mogul, which launched microphones on balloons to see if they could detect nuclear testing going on in the Soviet Union.

It’s an amazing story of physics and engineering ingenuity.

When one of those balloons with its disc microphones and radar reflectors landed in a farm in Roswell, New Mexico it helped fuel the whole alien craze we’re still living with today. It’s a shame, because the science-fiction-inspired “aliens” conspiracy theory is – from my standpoint – so much less fascinating than the story of the research that was going on then.

Q. There was a time when the federal government provided researchers with money to search for – and teach about the search for – extraterrestrial life. And you’ve lamented that that is no longer the case. If you had your way, how much money do you think the federal government

should give America’s researchers to search for aliens or evidence of aliens?

it, and what do you plan to do in order to advance what the award is about?

A. The search for life in the universe is a major priority for NASA and American science.

Many of our missions to Mars and our space telescopes are designed with the detection of biosignatures in mind – “biosignatures” being signs of life like microfossils or evidence of metabolism in the atmospheres of distant planets. But despite the billions of dollars spent on these missions, I think many members of the public would be surprised to learn that NASA and the National Science Foundation spend next to nothing looking for intelligent life in the universe, including technological life that might, after all, be easier to find. I think the level of funding for the field should be determined the way the rest of science is, by competitive peer review of proposals for research. So, I don’t know what the “right” level is, but I know it’s not zero.

A. The Drake Award is named after its first recipient, Frank Drake, who more than anyone launched the field of SETI in the early 1960s with his pioneering radio experiments. He also made the first calculation – using what today we call the Drake Equation – of the number of alien civilizations in the Milky Way that might be trying to contact us. The Drake Award is awarded occasionally by the SETI Institute, a research centre dedicated to understanding humanity’s place in the universe. I see this award as validation of my work to help elevate the field of SETI as an academic discipline, and to persuade Congress, NASA and the public that it is worthy of public investment. It is, after all, the scientific approach to answering one of the most profound questions ever asked: Is Earth life unique? Or are there other beings like us out there in the universe?

Q. You’re the winner of the 2019 Drake Award. What is the Drake Award, why did you win

theconversation.com

PAGE 12, Tuesday, July 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

PUERTO RICANS ANXIOUS FOR LEADER AMID POLITICAL CRISIS

‘THE IRISHMAN’ TO PREMIERE IN NEW YORK NEW YORK Associated Press MARTIN Scorsese’s mafia epic The Irishman will premiere as the opening night film at the 57th New York Film Festival. The film is Scorsese’s $125m Netflix film about the reflections of a former Jimmy Hoffa associate and hit man. Its genre and cast — including Robert De Niro as Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa and Joe Pesci as Russell Bufalino — have long tantalized fans of the 76-year-old filmmaker. “It’s in the milieu of the pictures we’ve done together and are known for, in a sense, but I hope from a different vantage point,” Scorsese said.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Associated Press

JOE PESCI, left, and Robert De Niro in a scene from The Irishman.

52 dead in prison riot; 16 decapitated RIO DE JANEIRO Associated Press AT LEAST 52 prisoners were killed by other inmates during clashes between organised crime groups at the Altamira prison in northern Brazil yesterday, according to prison officials.

Para state prison authorities said 16 of the victims were decapitated while others were asphyxiated.

The count of victims potentially could rise when authorities have searched all areas involved, state prisons chief Jarbas

Vasconcelos said at a news conference.

Prison authorities said a fight erupted around 7 a.m., between the Rio de Janeiro-based Comando Vermelho and another group, Comando Classe A. “Leaders of the (Comando Classe A) set fire to a cell belonging to one of the prison’s pavilions, where members of the (Comando Vermelho) were located,” the statement read.

Vasconcelos said the fire had spread rapidly, with inmates held in old container units that had been

THE SCENE outside the prison yesterday adapted for the prison while another building is under construction.

The fire prevented police forces from entering the

building for about five hours, he said.

Two prison staff members were held hostage, but eventually released.

“It was a targeted attack.

The aim was to show that it was a settling of accounts between the two groups, not a protest or rebellion against the prison system,” Vasconcelos said.

Authorities have not found any firearms following the riot, only makeshift knives.

Prison authorities said they were still trying to determine who were the leaders behind Monday’s attack, and those men will be transferred to federal prisons.

President Jair Bolsonaro was elected on the promise of curbing widespread violence in Brazil, including

in the country’s often overcrowded, out-of-control prisons.

State authorities deny the facility was overcrowded.

But The Associated Press obtained a July 2019 report from the National Justice Council that it says was filed by a local judge in charge of the facility, showing that the prison had 343 detainees for a maximum capacity of 163.

He described the state of the prison in the city of Altamira as “terrible”.

In many of Brazil’s prisons, badly outnumbered guards struggle to retain power over an ever-growing population of inmates who are able to run criminal activities from behind bars.

The killings echoed those of 55 inmates who died in a series of riots in May in several prisons in the neighboring state of Amazonas.

In early 2017, more than 120 inmates died in prisons across several northern states when rival gangs clashed over control of drug-trafficking routes in the region. The violence lasted several weeks, spreading to various states.

Prison authorities said they had not received any prior intelligence reports of an upcoming attack.

THE unprecedented resignation of Puerto Rico’s governor after days of massive island-wide protests has thrown the US territory into a full-blown political crisis.

Less than four days before Gov. Ricardo Rosselló steps down, no one knows who will take his place. Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez, his constitutional successor, said that she didn’t want the job. The next in line would be Education Secretary Eligio Hernández, a largely unknown bureaucrat with little political experience.

Rosselló’s party says it wants him to nominate a successor before he steps down, but Rosselló has said nothing about his plans, time is running out and some on the island are even talking about the need for more federal control over a territory whose finances are already overseen from Washington.

Rosselló resigned following nearly two weeks of daily protests in which hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans took to the streets, mounted horses and jet skis, organised a twerkathon and came up with other creative ways to demand his ouster. On Monday, protesters were to gather once again, but this time to demand that Vázquez not assume the governorship. Under normal circumstances, Rosselló’s successor would be the territory’s secretary of state, but veteran politician Luis Rivera Marín resigned from that post on July 13 as part of the scandal that toppled the governor.

Vázquez, a 59-year-old prosecutor who worked as a district attorney and was later director of the Office for Women’s Rights, does not have widespread support among Puerto Ricans.

Many have criticized her for not being aggressive enough in investigating cases involving members of the party that she and Rosselló belong to, and of not prioritizing gender violence as justice secretary. She also has been accused of not pursuing the alleged mismanagement of supplies for victims of Hurricane Maria.

Facing a new wave of protests, Vázquez tweeted Sunday that she had no desire to succeed Rosselló.

“I have no interest in the governor’s office,” she wrote. “I hope the governor nominates a secretary of state before Aug. 2.”

POLICE escort people from Christmas Hill Park following the deadly shooting GILROY, California Associated Press AUTHORITIES were yesterday searching for answers to why a 19-yearold opened fire on a popular food festival less than a mile from his parents’ home in California, killing two children and another young man, but believe many more people would have died if officers patrolling the event had not stopped the gunman so quickly.

Santino William Legan, 19, cut through a fence and appeared to randomly target people with an “assault-type rifle” on Sunday, the end of the three-day Gilroy Garlic Festival that attracts about 100,000 people to the city known as the “Garlic Capital of the World,” Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said.

GUNMAN KILLS TWO KIDS, ONE OTHER AT FOOD FESTIVAL Police responded in less than a minute, and Legan turned his “AK-47-type” gun on them, Smithee said. Three officers fired back and killed Legan, who legally purchased the weapon this month in Nevada, where his last address is listed.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the officers who were able to engage this guy as quickly as they did,” the police chief said.

“We had thousands of

people there. It could have gone so much worse so fast. ... There absolutely would have been more bloodshed.”

Legan’s motive wasn’t known, Smithee said.

Legan’s since-deleted Instagram account says he is Italian and Iranian.

Minutes before the shooting, he had posted a photo from the festival saying, “Ayyy garlic festival time” and “come get wasted on overpriced (stuff).”