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VOLUME:115 No.172, JULY 31st, 2018

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HEALTH: OBESITY - IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING LAZY

NO GOING BACK TWIST AND SMILE

Bethel rejects Smith plea to postpone demolition deadline

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ROHL was formed, according to the letter, with the object of advocating human rights causes of ATTORNEY General the occupants of unreguCarl Bethel yesterday lated communities in The rejected an appeal for the Bahamas.

Residents in New Provigovernment to stall shanty town evictions pending dence were given until looming court action from August 10 to vacate their homes before a group of 200 the structures are residents. bulldozed, while Human rights evictions for attorney Fred those in Abaco Smith, QC, are slated for sent the plea to next year.

Prime Minis“No, the govter Dr Hubert ernment has Minnis, Mr announced a Bethel and other timeline,” Mr senior governBethel said yesment members terday, “we on behalf of resithat dents of shanty ATTORNEY General extended timeline.

That towns in New Carl Bethel. time is up, when Providence and it is up and the governAbaco.

The July 29 letter was sent ment will proceed. And on behalf of approximately any attempts by this so200 residents of “unregu- called company Respect lated communities across Our Homes Limited will the islands of New Provi- be vigorously resisted by dence and Abaco”, and a the state, any attempts to non-governmental organi- seek group or collective sation called Respect Our SEE PAGE SEVEN Homes Limited (ROHL).

A MAN is in custody assisting police with their investigation into a harrowing hit and run incident that resulted in a man’s death on Robinson Road nearly two weeks ago, according to Chief Superintendent of Police Ken Strachan.

The deceased, Andre Sands, was attempting to cross the street when a red F150 truck struck him.

CCTV footage of the incident was viewed and shared hundreds of times on social media, with many commenting on the horrific nature of the accident.

The distressing footage shows Mr Sands carefully SEE PAGE NINE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday questioned how the Minnis administration plans to finance the purchase of the Grand Lucayan hotel if the country is as “broke” as the government maintains.

Mr Davis said it was a “pity” the Minnis administration had not moved with haste to settle a deal to sell the resort based on a memorandum of understanding left in place by the former PLP government.

His criticism came following the prime minister’s assurance to Free National Movement supporters on Friday in Grand Bahama “that under no circumstances will the Grand Lucayan close”.

SEE PAGE SIX

ROAD DEATH TOLL NEARS 2017 TOTAL

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

HIT AND RUN HORROR SUSPECT ARRESTED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

WHERE’S THE MONEY TO BUY GRAND LUCAYAN?

DANCERS take to the stage to entertain visitors to the fourth week of the Junkanoo Summer Festival.

Throughout the summer, a series of events have been held at Arawak Cay, highlighting different aspects of Bahamian culture.

Photo: Kemuel Stubbs

LABOUR DAY TRAGEDY - FAMILIES AWAIT ANSWERS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net MARIO Williams wants to forgive the man whose truck careened down East Street on Labour Day, killing his sister, but first he wants to see the findings of the investigation into the tragedy.

“There might be some things I don’t know that certainly might change my mood,” said Mr Williams, brother of Tammi Gibson, one of four women killed

THE CRASH scene on Labour Day. during the Labour Day parade on June 1.

Nearly two months after the accident, Chief Police Superintendent Ken

Strachan said the investigation’s findings are not yet ready to be made public.

For the victims’ families, closure continues to be delayed, even for people like Mr Williams who is inclined to forgive the person at the centre of the investigation. Mr Williams doesn’t rule out the possibility that a fact might be unearthed during the investigation that changes his attitude, but he is interested in conciliation.

SEE PAGE FIVE

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TWO pedestrians were killed in separate accidents early Monday morning, one of which was a hit-and-run incident.

These fatalities bring the total number of traffic related deaths since Friday up to five.

Yesterday, Chief Superintendent Craig Stubbs, officer-in-charge of the Traffic Division, told The Tribune there have been 50 traffic fatalities for the year.

CSP called this a “definite” increase as it is “basically the total” for all of last year.

According to Royal Bahamas Police Force crime statistics, 54 people died as a result of traffic accidents in 2017 and 44 died in 2016.

SEE PAGE THREE

FELICITY INGRAHAM:

A VOICE FULL OF SOUL AND SPIRIT

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

MORE THAN 200 CARS BURNED IN STRACHAN’S AUTO BLAZE

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

A FIRE erupted at the Strachan’s Auto compound on Soldier Road late Sunday night where more than 200 cars were said to be ablaze.

Yesterday, Police Fire Services chief, Superintendent Walter Evans told The Tribune that officials received reports of the fire shortly after 9pm.

The initial fire truck that responded met a “large number of vehicles” aflame.

Subsequently, all units in New Providence were called to assist with the blaze, including off duty officers.

“We formulated a strategy to prevent the fire from spreading toward the buildings, the homes on eastern side,” Supt Evans said. He added that some of the closest homes were 50 feet away.

Firefighters also had to contend with Bahamas Power and Light electrical lines. Power was turned off, while Water and Sewerage assisted by increasing water pressure in the area.

After about two and a half hours, the flames were brought under control.

According to Supt Evans, approximately 200-250 cars were on fire. When asked for a total number of cars in the compound, he could only estimate “much more than that” figure.

He said the cause of

THE AFTERMATH of the blaze at Strachan’s Auto and, right, firefighters during the fire.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff the blaze is still being determined at this time.

However, there were no reported injuries.

He added that information about the fire is being “transferred to the relevant agencies” on behalf of the effected homes and businesses in the area.

This blaze occurred a little over five years after another “inferno” took place at the junkyard adjacent to the auto shop.

According to police reports, around 4.30pm on June 24, 2013, firefighters found “several areas”

of Strachan’s Auto property, containing a large number of derelict vehicles, engulfed in flames.

Five fire trucks battled the flames which were fed by hundreds of scrap cars in the auto shop’s junkyard and threatened several homes nearby. The fire was brought under control around 11pm.

At the time, residents said the scrap yard, which has been there for over a decade, had caught fire “some two or three years” earlier.

On June 26, 2013,

then-Garden Hills MP and Speaker of the House of Assembly Kendal Major said he was in talks with the owner of Strachan’s Auto.

Dr Major expressed concern about the smoke damage to nearby houses, any health issues caused by the fire and smoke, and said he was planning a meeting with the owner about the possibility of relocating.

At the time, Dr Major said the owner was “very much interested in aligning with the government about possibly relocating”.

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FORMER Senator and Progressive Liberal Party supporter Telator Strachan died yesterday.

Strachan, also a past president of the Straw Vendors Association, was remembered as an activist and mentor.

“I have learned with deep sadness of the death of our stalwart councillor, civic activist, friend, member and supporter of the progressive cause Telator Strachan,” said PLP leader Philip Davis.

“A giant of a lady has passed on. I remember her as a quiet but determined presence in our council meetings and in planning sessions. She always brought reason but a fierce determination to any cause which the party advanced.

“In her own right, she was a leader in the Straw Market. This was part of a significant group of activists in the support of the progressive cause. She was one of the late Sir Lynden Pindling’s armour bearers.

Whenever there was an issue in the market for decades, you could count on Telator Strachan to lead the charge and to settle the issues. You could count her to voice the concerns and to mobilise toward solutions.

She was a good woman.

“She brought her talents to the Women’s Branch of our party and was widely admired by women from across the country. Her leadership skills were unquestioned,” Mr Davis added. “. . . She passed her unquestioned leadership skills on to her children. Most notably, she passed those talents on to her daughter Melanie Griffin who followed in her mother’s footsteps first as a senator and then as a member of Parliament.”

Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin said Strachan was a “giant” of a woman.

“She was a gifted artisan having spent her life in the world famous Straw Market,” Mrs Hanna Martin posted to Facebook.

“She was a most excellent ambassador for

TELATOR Strachan with her daughter, Melanie Griffin. our country in her interactions with visitors from far and wide many of whom she struck up true and lasting friendships. She was ahead of her time. She was among the first women to rush on Bay St breaking a gender and cultural barrier. She was brilliant and articulate, ethical and wise and incredibly decent.

“She was a leader and an advocate for the freedom philosophy of the Progressive Liberal Party, a political warrior. She caught the eye of the late PM Pindling who understood her worth to our national development and appointed her to the Senate. She was one of our nation’s great matriarchs. Authentic, hard-working and old school in her values. She was a wonderful mother and raised wonderful children including my colleague and sister Melanie Griffin. I am grateful that our paths crossed: she was for me a mentor, a rock solid support and a guiding voice.”

Strachan served in the Senate from 1987 to 1992.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 31, 2018, PAGE 3

TRUCK ON TRAILER OVERTURNS A TRUCK overturned on Baillou Hill Road tonight, spilling the load of rubble it was carrying.

The vehicle was being towed on a flatbed truck when it toppled over.

No injuries were reported.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/ Tribune Staff

Road death toll nears 2017 total from page one

In 2015, there were 55 traffic related deaths— the most in a year since 2009, when 56 people were killed.

Monday’s accidents occurred within a minute of each other along Carmichael Road.

According to CSP Stubbs, the first incident happened at 2.40 am on Carmichael and Gladstone Roads.

“A male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene,” he said.

The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He later died.

CSP Stubbs said police have no leads on the driver as yet, and made a plea to the public for assistance.

“Anybody who may have seen a vehicle that was in that area at the time… give us a call at Police Traffic (Division) or call 919 and give us the information,” he requested.

The second incident took place at 2.41am on Carmichael Road in the area of Popeyes.

He said a man who had just left a liquor store, walked onto Carmichael Road where he was struck by a vehicle.

“That vehicle remained on scene, and the driver is assisting with the investigation.”

That pedestrian was also taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where he was listed in critical condition before ultimately dying.

While the victims’ identities were not released up to press time, CSP Stubbs

described them both as adults, and approximately in their early 30s and late 40s respectively.

Monday’s deaths came after a weekend spate of traffic accidents.

Approximately seven hours before, around 9.27pm on Sunday night, a male nurse was killed on the Western road at the entrance to Mount Pleasant Village.

“Two adult males (were) travelling north (on) the southwestern road, when they apparently would have lost control of their vehicle and hit a Poinciana tree located on the western side of the thoroughfare,” CSP Stubbs said.

“From the poinciana tree they went into a concrete wall that was holding a sign for Mount Pleasant Village.

The male driver received some injuries on his shoulder. He was transported to PMH (in) stable (condition)… The passenger died on scene.”

CSP Stubbs identified the deceased as Jeffrey Luna Layosa, 35. A native of the Philippines, Layosa was employed as an Accident and Emergency nurse at PMH. The driver, Santiago Galicia, is also from the Philippines and a nurse at PMH. A colleague of the nurses, Patricia Laing, said last night: “I pray for peace and comfort for their families as well as the A&E family. I pray for courage to face the days ahead. Jeffrey was special to us and his death has left a vacuum. We deeply

mourn his passing. I pray for a speedy recovery of Nurse Santiago.”

Shortly before 10pm on Saturday, a female pedestrian was killed after attempting to walk across Prince Charles Drive.

She was struck by two cars, whose drivers both remained on scene.

On Friday morning at 9am, 18-year-old Achintya Garikaparthi died after being involved in a threecar collision on the Western Road near Mount Pleasant Village.

With two fatal accidents occurring in a three-day span on that south Western Road strip, this newspaper asked CSP Stubbs if officials are investigating whether there is an engineering issue with the street.

“No,” CSP Stubbs said.

“I think based on what we’ve seen so far… Both drivers would have made some manoeuvre, whether it was being distracted in their vehicle, or driving under the influence.”

These “critical errors”, he said, contributed to the accidents. In view of these tragic events, CSP Stubbs made an appeal to the public, asking road users to limit distractions such as using cell phones or eating while driving. He also warned against drinking and driving and asked motorists to be mindful of pedestrians, especially late at night.

CSP Stubbs also described the practice of fleeing the scene of an accident as “inhumane”.

“If you’re involved in an accident and you feel like

you may be in an area (that causes you to) fear for your own safety, we ask you to go to the nearest police station right away, and report the accident.

“The officer will then take you back to the scene, where an investigation will be conducted, and we will determine who is at fault for the accident. It is wrong to (strike) somebody down in the road, in the thoroughfare, and leave the scene, and fail to come to the police to report the matter.

It is wrong and inhumane.”

Former Transport Minister Glenys Hanna Martin yesterday described traffic fatalities as a “global health issue” and one of the “major causes of death” in the Bahamas.

Mrs Hanna Martin told The Tribune yesterday that engineering, education, and enforcement are three of the major components to be considered when addressing this issue.

“Engineering is, you… investigate whether there is something about the road that is lending itself to putting people at risk when they drive it. And that deals with things like potholes… lighting, (etc),” she said.

“The other thing is education, which is really the key.

Even more than enforcement. Because enforcement is important, and it has to be upheld. But you can’t be everywhere all the time.

“And that is where education comes in. And I think that that is probably the most critical component. And I think you have to start with the young

JEFFREY LUNA LAYOSA, who died in a crash on Sunday night. children in primary school, you have to take it into the junior high and into the senior high school; and then, of course, the public at large.”

Mrs Hanna Martin underscored that she was not speaking specifically to any of the factors which might have caused the recent spate of accidents.

However, she regretted the rising cases of such deaths in the country, and particularly the number of young people killed.

“In a lot of countries,

a National Road Safety Committee is formed,” she added. “One was formed when I was there. I know it’s probably in place.”

She noted that the world over, the recommendation is that the prime minister chair that committee.

While admitting that this was not the case during her tenure, Mrs Hanna Martin said it has been found that the prime minister’s involvement helps to “raise the awareness of the serious erosion this is having on our human capital.”

20 ARRESTS IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama police arrested 20 people over the weekend for various offences, including possession of dangerous drugs, among other things.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Terecita Pinder said the arrests were the result of assiduous work by officers of the Rapid Response Unit and a team from the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and uniform branch.

She reported that nine persons were arrested on Friday, July 27, by officers

of the Rapid Response Unit for drug possession, outstanding warrants, and various other offences.

ASP Pinder also said on the same day, officers of DEU launched a special operation in a tourist area of Grand Bahama.

She said the operation targeted persons suspected of soliciting the sale of illegal drugs, unlicensed vendors, and illegal water sports operators.

Eleven people were arrested and taken into custody. They are expected to be formally charged before the Magistrate’s Court early this week.

TWO MEN INJURED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING POLICE are investigating a drive-by shooting which left two men in hospital yesterday.

According to reports, shortly before 3am four men were in a vehicle at the junction of Wulff Road and Market Street, when a white vehicle pulled beside

them. Occupants of this vehicle opened fire in their direction, hitting two of them before speeding away.

The victims were transported to hospital where they are listed in stable condition.

Investigations are ongoing.

N

PAGE 4, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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Lessons to learn from America’s northern neighbour THERE are many who feel the United States is the luckiest nation in modern history. Blessed by benign geography, the distractions of European powers during the nation’s infancy, an abundance of natural resources and the geopolitical latitude to stumble often in establishing a workable democracy, the US can hardly deny its good fortune.

One of the most significant advantages enjoyed by the US is its long peaceful northern border with Canada. While the two nations have mostly acted in concert with each other and developed common objectives toward the rest of the world, there have been bumps in the road.

One large bump might be Donald Trump. His foolish behaviour toward Canada over the NAFTA treaty negotiated 20 years ago and his personal rudeness toward Canada’s charismatic premier Justin Trudeau have roiled the waters, but Trudeau and the Canadian government seem to be adopting the waiting game until Trump leaves or is voted out of office. So far it does not appear the brash American president is doing irreparable damage to a bilateral relationship still hugely important to both countries.

But while most Canadians will admit to at least a partial addiction to American television, music and sports - and are generally very well informed on American politics and international relations - Americans remain startlingly ignorant of their northern neighbour. The notion of taking advice from a Canadian would never cross the mind of most Americans.

Nevertheless, the US has much to learn from Canada and Canadians.

One such person is Canadian Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, a brilliant, articulate speaker and commentator who has closely studied the US Supreme Court and its justices. Abella is the child of Holocaust survivors and was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1992 and to her current position on Canada’s highest court in 2004.

Appearing recently before a largely American audience in New York State, Abella spoke eloquently about the law, justice and democracy. Some of her remarks should serve as a template for America today. Though it is likely futile, one could even hope that Trump and his advisers might listen and take heed.

“The rule of law,” Abella said, “is the holy grail of democracy today. The rule of law provides protection against state power and against rule by whim.

And justice is what laws are designed to promote.”

Abella said “democracy is so much more than merely elections. While democracy has its flaws and inconveniences, it remains the best system of governance man has devised. Still, it needs to be protected and nurtured. Part of that protection is a free press. But we should all actively promote the triumph of democracy and the rule of justice”.

Without naming Trump or even the callow Republican Party that so selfishly props him up, this distinguished Canadian jurist was clearly critical of them.

It is precisely the rule of law that is supposed to protect Americans from state power and rule by whim, both eagerly if clumsily wielded by Trump.

Abella turned to human rights and civil liberties, and pointed to successful multiculturalism as the natural accommodation between the two principles.

“Human rights,” she said, “means treating people as a group in need of state intervention. Civil liberties means treating everyone the same before the law and society.”

In Canada, she explained, the constitution appreciates that, for example, French and English speakers can be of equal worth and entitlement. “As has been shown in Canada, pluralism can be unifying. Canada is probably the most successful practitioner of multiculturalism in the world today.”

On American jurisprudence, Abella said the US legal system is in danger of ignoring 600 years of common law as it veers toward granting to public opinion a veto over justice. “Judges should not be elected as they are in the US, and they should only fearlessly interpret the law.”

Turning to recent history, Abella said the most important lesson of World War II is to prevent injustice. “When we are silent in the face of intolerance and injustice, intolerance wins. And unless we pay attention to intolerance, we will forfeit democracy.”

The lessons for contemporary America are clear. Perhaps a Canadian can lead the way to understanding.

Not our kind of human EDITOR, The Tribune.

The bulldozers are being fuelled up. Mothers are packing up only the priority children items. The kids play as they have always done, as the kids have played for the last four decades. Nothing will change for these children, until the bulldozers are within earshot. Then they will run alongside their mothers, looking back back to get one last glimpse of the only thing they have ever known as home.

The government for the people, of the people, has decided a particular type of human is to be disregarded, cast aside, in favour of the preferred humans. And this is where it becomes a sucker’s game. It is a sucker’s game to participate in favoring one “kind” of human over another, simply because the winds will change and the “type” of human you are may be the next cherry to be picked and discarded.

The government’s function, any government, is to

serve the people and protect the people. To play favorites, to pick winners and losers, that is the role of the people, yes, the humans of the land. Tribalism, heritage, ethnic composition, how that is dealt with is between the humans of the land.

The age old adage of “Don’t tread on me” is being shouted by humans at the government.

It comes down to this - let people live their lives. As long as their behaviors are not harming others, there is no place for the government’s involvement.

The inhumane brutality of what the government plans to do in a mere couple days to a village, a town, a community, is taking us humans so far back that the barbarians of the gilded age would pause and shake their heads in disapproval.

In the late 1930s when Nazi Germany was in full bulldozer mode, it was pristine art clad homes of wealthy Jews they were raiding and seizing. Here,

with the targeting of the Shanty towns, the government is being disgusting - picking on and destroying the communities, the homes, the lives, of the… to be generous, the have-nots.

For demolition machinery to churn forward and over people’s homes, while backed by armed government soldiers should be something that all Bahamians are not only opposed to, but will not let occur.

The time has come to pick sides, and it is an easy choice.

Either be a decent human and not allow this assault to occur or turn a blind eye and hope that your ‘not preferred human’ card doesn’t get pulled too soon.

While you are eating breakfast tomorrow look out the nearest window and imagine seeing the destruction army marching towards your home, with there being nothing you can do. Do something now, while you can.

MICHAEL SMITH Nassau, July 30, 2018.

We must not accept shanty towns EDITOR, The Tribune.

THERE are certain matters that are beyond politics. We are a small country of 350,000 people.

These islands belong to the Bahamian people. These are beautiful islands. We must protect them.

Countries have borders.

There are laws about entry.

There are laws about building. There are sanitation laws. There are laws against stealing electricity.

We Bahamians have to follow these laws. If we don’t, we face penalties.

Mostly undocumented people from Haiti live in shanty towns. If Bahamians have to follow the laws about where and how to build, if Bahamians have to follow the sanitation and public health laws, then these undocumented people should have to, too.

We cannot allow foreigners to invade our land and set up illegal, squalor communities. In doing so they take our territory and lower the standards of our beautiful Bahamas.

Whether PLP or FNM or DNA, all Bahamians should support the Minnis government’s shantytown policy. Look at Marsh Harbor. In the heart of that community is the biggest shantytown in the country.

It has its own rules.

Is that what we want for The Bahamas? To allow spheres of independent

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net shantytown law on our islands?

Once the shantytowns get to a certain size, they fall out of the control of the government. They become no-go zones for police and security forces. We must not get to that place.

The fight to demolish shantytowns is a fight for the sovereignty of our country. There are those who like shantytowns because they want Bahamians to one day be the minority in their own country. They want shantytowns everywhere.

It is important for Bahamians to stand with the Bahamian government in this struggle. Know there are two sides: those who stand with Bahamians, and those who seek to make Bahamians a minority in their own country.

Haitians and Bahamians have equal human worth.

No Bahamian should harbour hatred toward a Haitian just because of where the person is from.

But the reality is quite simple. There are 11 million people in Haiti. It is the poorest country in the hemisphere. If we allow uncontrolled masses of Haitians to come here this will become Little Haiti and the same chaos they

have there will be our fate here.

The Haitian people have to fix their country.

It has a sad history of bad leadership and abuse from the Western powers. We should empathise with Haitians, but our empathy must be mixed with common sense.

There must be controlled migration flows between nations. Each sovereign state has the authority to determine which foreigners it would like to add to its population. A country would destroy itself if it allowed an uncontrolled flow of poor and desperate people.

There has to be work and housing and social support if poor and low-income people are to be welcomed in. Otherwise, they will cause disruption in your country.

Shanty towns are not something we Bahamians can accept. We can’t go to Albany, or Lyford Cay or Old Fort Bay and set up a shantytown. We’d be arrested if we tried. Undocumented Haitians should not have privileges we do not have.

Do not side with those who want to take over your country. Sensible Bahamians should want to see the shantytowns removed.

DARWIN R LUTHER Nassau, July 30, 2018.

Police bullies EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS a Bahamian, I was disgusted and saddened to read that a policeman shot a man’s dog for no reason.

If this is true, the police commissioner himself should investigate and dismiss this officer. If he can shoot a dog for no reason, he can shoot a human for no reason.

When encountering police officers, one can

often detect a sense of hostility from them. Many of them are argumentative, unreasonable and unwilling to explain anything to you. Many of them also feel that they are above the law and that is why they treat people the way they do.

This is also why detectives beat suspects to force confessions out of them.

This method doe not ensure that the right person is caught for a crime.

The time has come for police officers to be held accountable for everything they do. A pet should not be shot for no reason. This is another reason for all of the police force to hang their heads in shame. The more they do things like this, the lower public opinion of them falls.

CONCERNED Nassau, July 26, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 31, 2018, PAGE 5

MARIO WILLIAMS, the eldest brother of Tami Gibson, who died in the Labour Day March accident.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Labour Day tragedy families await answers from page one

THE MOMENT of the crash, as seen on video that circulated on social media.

“There’s a possibility that something else might step in there that for a moment would want you to think differently (about forgiveness),” he said. “There’s different stories I’ve heard at this point about what happened that day. I read some things out there in the media. I still will more or less be on the side that says there’s some forgiveness that needs to be done because it was an accident.

It might hurt to learn some of the truth unfortunately but it might also be what people look for in terms of closure.

“I think forgiveness still has to be there if we want to get over everything.

That’s something I believed from the very beginning without knowing much of the story. It was not a young man who came out there with the intention of harming anybody, because then my feelings would be different.”

Mr Williams isn’t comfortable with the length of the accident investigation.

“I’ve never been in this type of situation before,” he said, “but I would say I think my sister would probably like for somebody to come talk to her and say, ‘this is what we can give you as closure, this is what we can come up with.’ We don’t want things to drag on and on.”

A relative of Kathleen Fernander, another woman killed that day, was more emphatic about her feelings on the police investigation, saying the family feels “it is taking a bit too long.”

“It isn’t easy,” she said, describing Fernander’s death as “fresh like it happened yesterday.”

The relative, who did not want to be named, said: “I still can’t come to grips with what happened. We need some closure. What happened? How did it happen?”

The families want to meet

US EMBASSY REVEALS YOUTH AMBASSADORS THE US Embassy in Nassau is pleased to announce the students selected to participate in the prestigious Youth Ambassadors Programme set for August 7-29 in the United States.

This year, students from New Providence were eligible to apply to participate in the programme. The US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs sponsors the Youth Ambassadors Programme which aims to promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between people in the United States and the Caribbean.

The six students selected to participate in this year’s programme include Karajahyah Forbes, a 9th grader at Temple Christian High School, Alia Heastie and Shappelle Marshall, 9th and 11th graders respectively at

Queen’s College, Carlysle Brown, an 11th grade student at St Anne’s School along with Darnelle Coicous and Durran Thompson, both 11th grade students at CV Bethel High School. The embassy chose Shaquille Sands to accompany the group as the adult mentor. Ms. Sands teaches at CV Bethel Senior High School.

The youth ambassadors recently visited the US Embassy and met with Public Affairs Officer Penny Rechkemmer as part of their predeparture orientation. The students also participated in a volunteer service programme with Hands for Hunger.

Hands for Hunger is a humanitarian organisation committed to the elimination of unnecessary hunger an reduction of food waste through the creation of engaging partnerships with local businesses. The youth

ambassadors also had a unique opportunity to engage US State Department alum, Kerel Pinder, a Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), fellow at the American Corner to discuss leadership development and life skills.

During the three-week programme in the United States, The Bahamas’ youth ambassadors along with other youth leaders from throughout the region will visit Brattleboro, Vermont for orientation and team building. Next, the participants will be divided into groups and travel to various US cities for a homestay experience. The programme will conclude in Washington, DC. Upon their return to New Providence, the youth ambassadors will work together to develop and execute a community service project.

the driver of the truck.

Asked what he would say to him, Mr Williams said: “I might want to say to him be careful in the future. Be more cognizant of the situation around you and the things you do.

“Unfortunately, this is a hard lesson for him but then he has to also sit down and be thankful to God that one, it wasn’t worse because this was bad but in the situation going on it could’ve been worse. From my point of view, I probably would say ‘I can forgive you and you now have to pray to God to forgive you.’”

Mr Williams knows family and friends of the truck driver.

Talking to them has softened his attitude toward the young man, he said.

“I didn’t know him personally but his mom and my sister and other persons who I know were very closely related in terms of their work and environment and them being in the same organisation and the fact that she encouraged him to come and be a part of this by taking them and then this happens,” he said.

“It was tragic for more than a number of people.”

In addition to Gibson, 48, and Fernander, 51, Dianne Elizabeth Ferguson, 55, and Tabitha Charlene Haye, 41, were also killed on Labour Day after a truck ploughed through march participants.

About two dozen others were also injured.

At the time of the incident, police said the tragedy struck when control was lost of a black Ford F150 vehicle.

“The driver of that vehicle was accompanied by three persons on the back and another individual inside the vehicle,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Kendal Strachan said in June. “It is understood that when he got out of it, it went forward colliding first with a child along the side of the street, then descending the hill, continuing north running into several persons who were participating in the Labour Day parade along the eastern side of East Street, coming to rest against a Nissan Micra and the building just at that intersection.”

DEATH NOTICE

JOHN WOODROW WILKINSON, 61 Resident of Edward Avenue, died at his residence on Friday, July 13th, 2018.

He is survived by his wife: Portia; sons: Chrisopher and Teegan Wilkinson, Adrindale Wallace; Daughters: Jamie Watson, Amanda Wilkinson; Three grandchildren: Kristin and Kate-Lynn Watson, Arinae Wallace; Brothers: Wilford and Carlton Wilkinson; Sisters: Ruth Fawkes, Rosemond Bytes, Mary Wilkinson; Aunt: Dr. Carolyn Hanna.

Funeral Arrangment are being made by Bethel Brothers Morticians.

Funeral Service is Friday, August 3rd at 10am at Christ Church Cathedral.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Where’s the money to buy Grand Lucayan? from page one He said the Lucayan jobs must be protected, adding the government will continue to search - and if the need arises - will intervene and purchase the Grand Lucayan. Dr Minnis said people in Nassau did not understand the level of importance the resort held when it came to that island’s economy.

In response Mr Davis said: “It is clear that the government has no plan and had no plan to fix Grand Bahama. Grand Bahama rewarded them with five seats, and there are three ministers of the government from Grand Bahama, yet 15 months into this pitiful administration, they have no solutions to the problems there.

“Now we are told by the prime minister, whose main propaganda line has been that the country is broke and has no money, that he intends to buy Grand Lucayan if no deal can be settled with a private developer. What a pity, the prime minister and his colleagues did not move with alacrity to settle the deal based on the memorandum of understanding, which the PLP left in place when we demitted office. Had they done so, instead of ducking and dodging the investor for months and refusing to meet, perhaps the matter would have been well on its way now.”

He continued: “We make the point that buying the property is one thing.

Where will the money come from? However, buying will not be sufficient. Who

is going to renovate it and pay for those renovations?

Is the owner willing to sell or will it be a compulsory purchase? Who will operate and manage it?

“The Hotel Corporation is a vehicle left in place by the PLP to manage these kinds of difficult projects.

The FNM does not have to invent the wheel. We say fix Grand Bahama. If you need help, the PLP can show you the way.”

PLP chairman Fred Mitchell also attacked the idea of the government buying the resort as “desperate” and questioned whether Dr Minnis and Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest were on the same page.

He said while the prime minister was on the one hand promising to purchase

the hotel, Mr Turnquest previously said he would advise the direction the government was taking in 30 days.

“I must say that I get astounded,” Mr Mitchell said. “First of all, it is interesting to me that a party that is in government and markets the fact according to them that the country is broke - I don’t believe them for one second that that is the case that this country has a money problem.

“They say that the country has a money problem so on what basis are you going to buy a hotel and why has it come to that when they were all boasting that this hotel was going to be opened within a short period of time?

“The second thing that

THE GRAND LUCAYAN RESORT I am amazed about (is) with the whole thing with Grand Bahama was his visit to west Grand Bahama when he said that he was amazed about the level of infrastructure and the development and the size of the development. This is astounding. You wonder where was he when he was the leader of the opposition,” he said, referring to Dr Minnis’ recent tour of the former Ginn development. “Did you not know the country?

“I mean the PLP helped that investment, put a substantial investment in there. The problem is that in all of these things it shows how the FNM simply believe their own propaganda and didn’t know the extent to which the PLP was doing work in

this country for this country and suddenly they have found religion.”

He also said: “I think generally these people were just ill prepared for office.

“I would say (the prime minister’s comments were) ill informed and sound rather desperate because they said this thing was going to be concluded and it doesn’t look like it’s anywhere near being concluded,” Mr Mitchell further said.

Mr Mitchell said there are alternatives to purchasing the Grand Lucayan.

“I have said to them that I know of a property, the gentleman happens to be a friend of mine and so I disclosed that interest.

“In Grand Bahama, they could nix all these discussions with the present

owners of that hotel and they could for I believe less than half of the money they would have to spend to make sure that this thing gets up and running with this new property. Start a whole new thing and put people back to work and start getting people back into Freeport and boosting the tourism economy.

But I’m not sure why they can’t move in that direction because you know the Xanadu hotel is sitting there with a willing seller.

It sits on 21 acres, it’s got 75 marina slips, it’s got a right to ultimately have a casino licence. It sits on a wonderful beach so what’s the issue? They would have none of the problems, which they have on the Lucayan strip,” Mr Mitchell said.

GRAND BAHAMA COLLEAGUES PAY TRIBUTE TO NEYMOUR

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE death of former Free National Movement Cabinet minister Phenton Neymour - who grew up in Grand Bahama and was the son of well-known local contractor the late Basil Neymour - has left many on

the island shocked and saddened.

Neymour, who had battled colon cancer, died last Monday.

On Grand Bahama those saddened to learn of his death include Minister of State for Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson and former Cabinet minister Zhivargo Laing, now a

businessman and radio talk show personality.

Mr Thompson described Mr Neymour as a friend and colleague he was privileged to know and serve with, and extended his condolences to the Neymour family.

“It was sad to hear of the passing of a friend and a colleague, Phenton

Neymour. I (have known) the Neymour family for many years, and his father Basil Neymour was a great Grand Bahamian and Androsian who my family had gotten to know very well,” he said.

Mr Thompson said his colleague had a close connection with the people of Grand Bahama, where he was quite active in his early years and went to school.

The two became parliamentary colleagues in 2007.

“I was privileged to serve with him in 2007 under the FNM government, and he did an excellent job in my view as an MP for South Beach, as well the minister of state for the environment,” Mr Thompson said.

He added that Mr Neymour came along at a time when the country had a number of young, energetic, dynamic young leaders like Charles Maynard, who died in 2012.

Both Maynard and Neymour were once members of the now defunct third party, Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR).

“They added tremendous value to the FNM and also contributed to the victory of the party,” he said.

“He was someone who I looked up to; someone who was really an inspiration. He did an excellent job as a Cabinet minister, but he also was very vocal and active for the party

after he left frontline politics,” recalled Senator Thompson.

“I can remember a number of times him responding to stories, making his contribution in the area of environment, and engineering. And so he made an overall national contribution. I think his voice, his intellect, and passion is going to be missed.”

Mr Laing, former minister of state for finance, said Mr Neymour’s death was a shock.

“When I heard it last (week) it really affected me very strongly as the first time I heard the rumours of it,” Mr Laing said.

“Phenton and I actually grew up in the Caravel Street area together. He was a little older than me, but his younger brother and I were close in age, and we spent some time playing together.

“But Phenton had always been in my mind one of those authentic people who was a straight shooter.

Whatever his thoughts were he was not afraid to share them,” he said.

According to Mr Laing, Neymour was always a thinking person, and as an engineer, a problem-solving person.

“As a colleague he tried to get to the heart of matters, trying to address issues, there no beating around the bush with him,” he said.

Mr Laing described the former politician and friend as an authentic person.

“I respected him and really valued him as a friend. He was someone who you could hang with and really have a nice chat with. His father, Basil Neymour, was a stalwart in the community in Grand Bahama and throughout the country and was a generous soul to know him.

Also similarly, Basil Neymour was a straightforward person, and I think some of that clearly was a part of Phenton’s trait.

Mr Laing extended his condolences to his mother, wife, and family. “I pray God will give them comfort in this difficult hour,” he said.

While serving in the Ingraham administration, Mr Neymour came to Grand Bahama to help launch the government’s energy saving light bulb programme/initiative following complaints about the high-cost of electricity on the island.

Through that programme, residents would bring in regular light bulbs in exchange for government distributed energy saving bulbs.

Mr Neymour was front and centre during the initiative, meeting with residents and distributing the energysaving bulbs to residents at the Christ the King Church in Freeport.

WATER RESTORED AT STRAW MARKET

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net CITY water supply has been restored at the Straw Market in the International Bazaar, according to a spokesperson at the Grand Bahama Port Authority Limited.

Kim Miller, public relations and communications officer, said the water was turned back on around 6.30pm on Thursday.

A concerned citizen

contacted The Tribune on Thursday to report that the vendors did not have access to public restroom facilities because the water had been turned off that morning.

Only seven vendors, mostly elderly persons, remain at the market. They currently pay no rent due to the closure of the International Bazaar.

The number of vendors at the Bazaar significantly declined following a building fire in March that displaced an

additional 11 vendors with shops there.

The burnt-out building – which is owned by the vendors – is considered a danger, and a 30-day notice of demolition was served on them by the Grand Bahama Port Authority last Wednesday.

When The Tribune spoke with Ms Miller last week, she said that the GBPA is waiting for the owners to give them guidance on the next step they would like to take regarding the building.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 31, 2018, PAGE 7

No going back from page one

rights over and above what the law provides for the individual. We will be vigorously defending the right of the committee and government to assert law and order.”

Mr Bethel insisted residents with cogent, legitimate rights or expectations could present their claim to the Shanty Town Action Task Force.

Earlier this month, the government delayed its July 31 deadline for shantytown evictions until August, to ensure that it covered “all legal grounds”, according to Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, who heads the task force.

Mr Foulkes previously said all the properties being used for unregulated communities, with the exception of one, is constituted as Crown land leased by the government to Bahamians for the purpose of farming.

Yesterday, Mr Smith said: “If they’re on government land and the government thinks they’re trespassing, well take them to court and evict them. Just like when you’re a landlord of a property you have to go to court to evict them. They now admit in their public utterances, that most people are tenants of the Crown.

“If they’re tenants of the Crown,” Mr Smith continued, “why not pursue their right to title through the courts? They don’t want to do that because people would have possessory title and adverse title under the Limitation Act. That’s the problem they face, because even if those properties were rented out as farm land, the fact is they have been farmed and as urbanisation expanded to those

FRED Smith QC pictured with shanty town residents recently. areas, the government people to build homes, made them stop. to create a life, to create “And if you go out to communities on these propmany of these shantytowns, erties, you don’t bulldoze they are farming on that them overnight.” land. You can’t stand by In his letter to the govand let somebody break ernment, Mr Smith claims your lease for five, ten, 30, the policy to eradicate 45 years – it’s called acqui- unregulated communities escence, waiver, adverse “is unconstitutional and title.” infringes the guarantee Mr Smith added: “They against freedom from dishave a big problem on their crimination embodied” in hands, and so they should the Constitution. because they’ve allowed However, Mr Bethel

yesterday said he doubts Mr Smith will be able to marshal a specific interest that is common to everybody to satisfy the country’s law on class action suits.

Mr Bethel said: “There may well be legitimate issues that individuals may have. The government is not insensitive to matters that concern individual rights or expectations. If people have legitimate rights or expectations they

are able to make representation or someone may make representation on their behalf. Nobody is insensitive to the rights of individuals.”

He continued: “(The letter) it appears to be a transparent attempt to create some entitlement for this company to enforce group or collective assertion of rights. This letter is an attempt to get around Bahamian law. In my view,

it does not have the merit that it purports to have, that is all.

“Individuals have rights peculiar to themselves, and those rights will not be pushed aside and discounted. Any cogently advanced right that has grounding in law will not be ignored. But this attempt in this letter in my view to get around provisions of law is transparent and in my view, useless.”

TWINS ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING WOMAN AND FLEEING POLICE

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court jury was empanelled yesterday for the trial of twin brothers accused of kidnapping a woman and then pushing her out of a car when intercepted by police.

The trial of Desmond and Dominic Pinder, now 29, got underway yesterday moments after an eightwoman, one man jury was selected.

The two, who have denied the allegations, were scheduled to stand trial on July 23, but the court was unable to hear the matter before yesterday.

The pair face up to ten years in prison if convicted.

The court yesterday heard testimony from Corporal 2550 Jonathan Adderley and Corporal 3881 Archibald Miller, the two officers who reportedly gave chase after attempting to stop a silver coloured Honda Integra allegedly being driven by one of the brothers the wrong-way on Dunmore Street, early on the morning of June 21, 2015.

Both officers testified that shortly after encountering the vehicle, a chase followed after the driver of the vehicle refused to pull over.

Cpl Miller said it was at this time he made a note of the vehicle’s licence plate and recorded it as 199506.

He said police pursued the car through several communities before losing sight of the vehicle in the area of Fritz Lane and Collins Avenue.

He said he and Cpl Adderley patrolled the area until coming across a vehicle fitting the same

description in the area of Collins Avenue and Eighth Terrace.

Cpl Adderley, the driver of the police cruiser involved in the incident, said it was at this time he decided to impede the path of the silver Honda Integra by angling the cruiser across Collins Avenue.

Cpl Miller in his testimony said he used this opportunity to get out of the cruiser and physically signal to the Honda to come to a stop.

He said while standing in the street, he motioned to the driver of the car to halt.

He said the driver refused and attempted to run him over.

Cpl Miller said in being in fear for his life, he withdrew his service weapon and fired three shots at the vehicle, none of which made contact with the vehicle.

The officer said the vehicle swerved to the east of the police car and evaded officers for a second time.

Cpl Miller said he returned to the police cruiser and he, with Cpl Adderley, gave chase.

Both officers testified they again encountered the vehicle in the area of Chesapeake Road.

Officers said an immediate search of the vehicle uncovered two Samsung cell phones, a pair of slippers and pantyhose that were found on the backseat.

During cross-examination, attorneys Keith and Calvin Seymour, who are representing the defendants, accused the officers of falsifying a report to implicate the brothers after they failed to apprehend the occupant/s of the vehicle they chased from Dunmore Street to the Collins Avenue area.

The attorneys further

suggested the officers, upon losing sight of the vehicle they were chasing for a

second time, traversed the immediate and surrounding areas until they stumbled

upon a car that matched the description of the car they were looking for.

Justice Vera Watkins was the judge. The trial continues.

A VOICE FULL OF SOUL AND SPIRIT

PAGE 8, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

W

HEN I sit down face to face with people from all walks of life to interview for this column, the greatest impact usually happens during the interview; some “aha” moment when I understand someone’s purpose or vision, or when I am inspired by their story. With Allison Marette Rolle, the experience was different.

She did share inspirational stories of her journey, both professional and spiritual, but her humble, quiet spirit did not lead on to the power of her gift. It was not until after the interview when I went into the car and played the CD that she graciously gave to me that I was blown away.

Allison Rolle has a voice that carries the spirit and the feeling with it. I experienced her latest project, a pre-release which serves as an intro for her album, which will be released later this year. When it was done, I played it again, and then a third time, singing along this time. I then understood what those who have experienced her in concert spoke about – when she ministers through song, you feel her. Then, I understood her better.

Sitting in her home with her husband Roger did not lead on to the greatness of her spirit as much as her songs did, because she is reserved and polite. However, when she sings, she comes alive and touches hearts in a unique way.

The two tracks, Abide with Me and Just A Closer Walk, were produced and arranged by Antonia N Wilson and were recorded, mixed and mastered by Vanquish Studios in Davie, Florida. Roger, her promoter and marketer, served as executive producer for the project, which gives a glimpse into the anticipated full album.

Allison said: “This project celebrates the faithfulness of God as reflected in John 15:7 which declares, ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire and it will be done for you’. I have witnessed the hand of God in my life throughout the years and my friends, what He has done for me, He can do for you. I am both humbled and honoured to share with you this promotional CD project featuring two captivating hymn arrangements for my upcoming album “Abide”.

Allison was always spiritual, even as a child. She grew up in a Christian home under the Seventh Day Adventist faith with her father, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police

THE TRIBUNE

Face to Face

By FELICITY INGRAHAM

Keith Mason; her mother, States, Canada and the Mable Mason (nee Carroll) Caribbean. The very first a former accounts officer album she participated in with Restaurant Bahamas, was with Centreville Youth Ltd; and her siblings Keith Choir under the direction Jr, Kevin and Marisa. She of Gladstone Adderley, experienced the Advent- who led the young singers ist upbringing not only at to the production of their home and church, but also first full album. She was through her education, as also a member of the Bahashe spent her primary and mas National Youth Choir high school years at Baha- under the direction of the mas Academy. There, she late Cleophas Adderley, graduated president of her where she had the opportuclass and had a strong inter- nity to participate with solo est in music, history and parts from time to time. religion. Her pre-school While attending Oakyears were spent at Miss wood University in Binnie’s on Mackey Street, Huntsville, Alabama, Alliwhich was popular at the son travelled extensively, time and was known for the representing the school nurturing care of the moth- as a member of the then ering owner, the late Vera Oakwood College Choir.

Binnie.

She had the opportunity to “I have been singing for perform at Carnegie Hall, as long as I can remember,” an event still etched in her said Allison. memory. She has performed “At alongside home, greats like music was renowned a constant.

Pastor On weekWintley ends as we Phipps did our (Barichores, I tone) and was probinternaably the tional chief vocal record artists spinner Michael and we Harris would and start the Charles day with HuggaMahahlia brooks.

Jackson, When ROGER and Allison Rolle James her son, CleveTrevor land, Mario Lanza, Voices Anthony Mitchell Jr was of Hope, Consolers and playing baritone in the saxophonist Sil Austin. I Bahamas National Youth enjoyed playing great clas- Orchestra, she was afforded sics by noted orchestras and the opportunity to travel listening to Jim Baker… my with them to South Africa favourite is There is a River. as a chaperone, but ended “I was singing around the up singing for the South house all the time, listening Africans as well. She has to music while working. I been featured as a soloist remember when my par- with the Highgrove Singers, ents bought a piano for my directed by Adrian Archer; sister; when her interest the Breath of Life quarwaned, I took to the piano tet; the Meistersingers; the and I ended up teach- Region Bells; and she was ing myself to play. I took instrumental in reviving the whatever theory I learned Ministry of the Community at school and applied it Choir in North Andros, at home. I would play for now known as the North chapel services and groups Andros United Choir. and I still now play occaBack in 1999, Allison sionally in my church, the recorded the album “My church of my childhood, Faith” on cassette, proCenterville Seventh-day duced by Chris Fox and Adventist church.”

Tight Tunes Inc, featuring This began a lifetime of songs like Battle of Jeriministry that Allison con- cho, My Faith Has Found a tinues today. She went from Resting Place, God Will See playing for church and You Through and March school events to singing all on Bahamaland, the latter over the world, including in being her highly requested Africa, Europe, the United rendition of the national

anthem.

She also produced an album called “Ray of Faith” including her rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, As an produced and arranged

by Edison Rolle and dis- ordained Deaconess in the Adventist tributed by Powerpointe Seventh-day church, Allison has served Management Recording.

She is also featured on in the prayer, women’s and the Legacy album released music ministries. She credin commemoration of the its Lee Callendar, vocal 30th year of Bahamian coach, with guiding her Independence. The album, during the past 12 years as spearheaded by Crea- she progressively honed her tive Soul Entertainment, craft. He has also accompashowcases “thirty years of nied her as a pianist during Bahamian gospel music some of her many charity from 1973–2003” with the concerts and events.

She is a Psalmist who motto: “March on Bahamaland”. Allison appears has spent much of her time along with Bahamian evangelising – working gospel greats such as the along with pastors as they New Inspirational Sons of call on people to accept Joy, Shekinah Bahamas, the Gospel. After the serChristian Massive, the vice, many of them have Gospel Impressions, Marky come up to Allison to let Marx, the Region Bells, the her know that because of Cooling Waters, system 3 her singing, they were even more convinced to make and many others.

Allison remembers the bold step to give their the childhood moment lives to Christ. Allison of epiphany that sparked admires the work of local what would be a lifelong artists like Joann Callenlove of music: “This par- dar, Johnathan Farrington, ticular evening I was lying Kenyatta Taylor, Neheunder the stereo listen- miah Heild and Minister ing to Mahalia Jackson… Emily Williams, formerly there was something about Sweet Emily. She enjoys her music that always reso- Bahamian music, particularly Rake nated with ’n Scrape, me. In my ‘I was lying under the especially mind, her the work work is stereo listening to of Ancient timeless Mahalia Jackson… I and the found myself drenched Man. She considconviction, ers herself in tears under the passion blessed to and rich- stereo. From then have had ness of her on, I knew that I had talented voice, and Bahamians her inter- a call on my life for accompany pretation music ministry.’ her during of songs her performoved me deeply. I found myself mances such as Raymond drenched in tears under the Antonio, Eddie Rolle, stereo. I was about 13 years Nelson Dorsette, and most old, if that much. From then often, Aaron Neely. Outon, I knew that I had a call standing musicians in her on my life for music minis- family include the welltry and I think my parents known steel pan-playing knew it too. I said a prayer and singing family – Komal to G and said ‘Lord, if you Smith and his children Berare going to call me to sing, nadette, Wayne, Romal and I am not asking you for a Megan.

But music and ministry voice like Mahalia’s, but the soul, the spirit’… and is just one aspect of her today many people say to well-fulfilled life. Allison is me that they are reminded a veteran civil servant who will be retiring soon to enter of her through my work.” full time into her singing

RETIRED Deputy Commissioner of Police Keith Mason and Mable Mason, centre, surrounded by their children, Keith Jr, Marisa, Kevin and Allison; and above right, Allison with her son, Trevor, and granddaughter, Lilea.

career, with offers to do work abroad already in the pipeline. Her husband, Roger, will be at her side to promote and support her, noting that thus far, artists like Allison offer much more than they receive in order to sustain a full-time ministry.

He also serves in church ministry and “together with God”, they make a formidable team, encouraging others in the ways of Christian living. Allison has one biological son, Trevor and a granddaughter, Lilea Allyse. Together, she and her husband have nine children and six grandchildren whom they love dearly.

Allison’s career in the Bahamas Public Service began in 1989 after prior experience in Commonwealth Bank, Bahamas Paper Converting Company and a stint in real estate. She was first assigned in government to the Registrar General’s Department. During her time, there she was commissioned to launch the Business Names section of the Business Licencing Unit, becoming the first supervisor of this new area, moving from her position as supervisor of the Documents and Deeds section.

The August 2005 Public Service rotation exercise gave her experience in other arms of government including the Ministries of Education and Public Works, then the Cabinet Office and the Department of Public Service. She was eventually assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where she remains today.

As operations manager/ systems administrator with the Passport Office, Allison played a significant role in the successful upgrade of the office’s electronic system in January, 2017.

“I have experienced that we have very many dedicated and professional employees in the public service,” she said.

“It is true that a few employees sometimes give a poor image to the work of the public service. I just strive to work with an excellent spirit, to call a spade a spade, speak truth to power and remember that we are there to serve the public with professionalism and courtesy.

We should always live with ‘integrity’ as a watchword.”

Allison’s latest CD release can be found at the Adventist Nutrition and Book Centre, Better Living Health Centre and Deli, Healthy Lifestyles Centre and Deli, and Tasty Teas on Delancy Street.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 31, 2018, PAGE 9

Curfew withdrawn for accused in armed robbery case

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net A MAN awaiting trial in the Supreme Court on attempted murder and armed robbery charges was yesterday successful in his application to a judge for a variation of his bail conditions in one of the matters.

Dwight Lloyd, 24, appeared before Justice Bernard Turner seeking to have his 8pm to 6am curfew withdrawn for his armed robbery charge.

Lloyd is accused of the March 16, 2014, armed robbery of Joewell Smith.

It is alleged Lloyd, being concerned with another and armed with a firearm, accosted Mr Smith and robbed him of a white and red 650 Honda motorcycle, valued at $9,500.

The motorcycle was the property of Lawrence Brown.

Attorney Crystal MasonSmith, who is representing Lloyd in the matter, said the accused was seeking to have only his stipulated curfew withdrawn, while having his sign-in days upheld.

Lloyd’s bail agreement called for him to sign in at the East Street south police station three times per week and remain at home between the hours of 8pm and 6am.

Prosecutors sought to have Lloyd sign in with police an additional day, if they were to agree to forgoing the curfew.

However, Justice Turner said the three times per week sign in stipulation was enough.

The curfew was then withdrawn.

Lloyd is expected back in court on September 3 for a pre-trail hearing.

Additionally, Lloyd is also on bail and awaiting trail for the 2017 attempted murders of two police officers.

He is represented by Attorney Ian Cargill in the matter.

On July 12, 2017, Lloyd and his co-accused, who was 17-years-old at the time, were arraigned before the chief magistrate on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and one count each of attempted armed robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

It is alleged the pair, being concerned together on the day in question, attempted to kill Cpl Rolle and Const Newbold.

They were also accused of allegedly using a 9mm Taurus pistol to put the lives of the police officers in danger.

It is also alleged the pair attempted to rob Antonio Denor of a 2007 Honda Accord valued at $8,000 on the same day.

They were also accused of being in possession of the 9mm pistol without holding a licence to possess the weapon.

According to initial reports from police, on the day in question, officers received reports of two armed men in a white Camry in the Carmichael Road area. An all-points bulletin was immediately issued.

A few minutes later, Mobile Division officers spotted the vehicle in the Carmichael area and signalled to the driver to stop. He refused and sped off however, resulting in a high-speed chase that ended when the Camry crashed near the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge on East Bay Street.

The two occupants then left the vehicle and began shooting at the police, according to initial police reports, who returned fire and shot one of the suspects. However, both suspects were eventually arrested.

The bail arrangements in this matter remain the same and Lloyd is due back in court on the charges in May of next year.

HIT AND RUN HORROR SUSPECT ARRESTED from page one watching the road as a number of vehicles drive by.

He begins crossing the carriageway and then looks to his left for oncoming traffic.

Halfway across, he suddenly becomes aware of the

truck speeding towards him to his right and before he can jump out of the way, the vehicle slams into him.

CSP Strachan said: “Once we conclude our enquiries, the necessary actions will be taken.”

He said the police force is making progress with

respect to all the latest traffic fatalities, noting Sands’ death was one of many to occur on the road recently.

Anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call police at 919 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

PAGE 10, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

TRUMP MAKES ‘SHUTDOWN GOVT’ THREAT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday he would have “no problem” shutting down the federal government this year if Congress doesn’t agree to provide additional border security funding.

Trump’s declaration puts him at odds with members of his own party in Congress, where many Republicans are facing tough re-election fights this November.

Government funding expires at the end of September, just weeks before the midterm elections. A shutdown would be the second under unified Republican control of Washington, following an embarrassing weekend stoppage in January.

Asked about specific requirements, Trump said he had no “red line” for what must be approved, and he made no comment on timing — before or after the election.

“I’ll always leave room for negotiation,” he said.

“I would have no problem doing a shutdown,” Trump said during a joint press conference at the White House with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. “It’s time we had border security.”

Asked about specific requirements, he said he had no “red line”.

BISHOP WHO COVERED UP ABUSE QUITS VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis yesterday accepted the resignation of an Australian archbishop convicted in criminal court of covering up the sexual abuse of children by a priest, taking action after coming under mounting pressure from ordinary Catholics, priests and even the Australian prime minister.

It was the second major announcement of a sex abuse-related resignation in as many days, after Francis’ dramatic sanctioning and demotion this weekend of a prominent US cardinal.

The move suggests Francis is keen to clean house before he heads to Dublin next month for a big Catholic family rally were the sex abuse scandal is likely to dominate the agenda given Ireland’s devastating history with predator priests and the bishops who covered for them.

THE TRIBUNE

Athlete’s eye injury among cases probed for racism ROME Associated Press A BLACK Italian athlete was wounded in the eye when an egg was hurled at her yesterday, the latest of at least nine attacks since Italy’s anti-migrant government took power that are being investigated as possible acts of racism.

Asylum-seekers, legal immigrants and others who aren’t ethnic Italians are among the people injured since early June. They include a 13-month-old Roma girl who was shot while she was in her mother’s arms on a Rome street and left partially paralysed.

The egg thrown Monday hit discus thrower Daisy Osakue, who was born in Italy to Nigerian immigrant parents. Osakue holds Italian citizenship and was expected to compete for Italy in the European Athletics Championships next week.

Emerging from a clinic with a bandage over her left eye, Osakue said she thinks she was mistaken for one of the African prostitutes who often work the street on the outskirts of Turin she was crossing.

The athlete, who is also a sprinter and hurdler, said she saw a car speeding toward her while she was in a crosswalk and dashed to the sidewalk to avoid the vehicle. She recalled feeling something strike her eye and falling forward.

“I’m sorry to say it, but I think we’re dealing with racism,” Osakue, who currently trains and studies criminal justice in the US state of Texas, told Italian TV.

Her ability to compete in the track-and-field championships is uncertain because eggshell fragments injured her cornea.

Police were investigating to determine if it was a racially motivated attack.

In the case of the Roma child, police concluded she was shot by an air gun that an Italian man fired from his balcony. The man denied targeting Roma people, saying the pistol misfired while he was trying to adjust it.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the anti-migrant League party that is a partner in the coalition government sworn in June 1, wished Osakue a speedy recovery Monday, but dismissed as “nonsense” concerns about a “racism emergency in Italy”.

Salvini campaigned for the March 4 election with the slogan “Italians first” and accused migrants of robbing Italians of work. His party is soaring in Italian opinion polls.

Opposition leader Maurizio Martina, who heads the center-left Democratic Party, called on Salvini and his allies to denounce the “racist spiral” of violence.

“They are accomplices” if they don’t, Martina said.

The incidents causing worry have occurred throughout Italy, from north to south.

A Cape Verde man with a residency permit was shot in the back on July 26 while working on scaffolding to set up decorative lighting for a town celebration in Italy’s northeast Veneto region, a stronghold for Salvini’s party.

DISCUS thrower Daisy Osakue talks to reporters outside a hospital in Turin, Italy.

Photo: Alessandro Di Marco/ANSA via AP Police said the shot came from a pellet rifle fired from a private terrace. A man told investigators he was aiming at a pigeon.

Near Naples on July 20, two youths allegedly shot a 22-yearold cook from Mali who has lived in Italy for four years. A young man from Senegal was kicked and punched last week by three Italians at a cafe where he worked in Sicily.

Citing the wounding of the Roma child, Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared in a recent speech that “Italy can’t resemble the Wild

West, where someone can buy a rifle and from a balcony shoot, striking a year-old baby, ruining her health and her future.”

Osakue, in an interview with the Italian news agency ANSA, referred to right-wing political rhetoric targeting foreigners.

“They have very strong power of influence on mass media,” she said. “So if they say ‘it’s their (the migrants) fault, they steal our jobs, they come here and they destroy everything ... obviously people will start thinking that they are right,” she said.

ERA AFTER MUGABE BEGINS WITH ZIMBABWE ELECTION HARARE, Zimbabwe Associated Press

WITH hope and pride, millions of Zimbabweans voted peacefully yesterday in an election that many believe is their best chance to escape the toxic politics and deadend economics of the era of Robert Mugabe, who wasn’t on the ballot for the first time in the nation’s nearly four-decade history.

But opposition activists used to the violence, intimidation and votetampering that marred elections under Mugabe called for vigilance against the same kind of skullduggery this time around. Western monitors noted some problems at polling stations, but said it wasn’t yet clear whether they reflected a deliberate effort to manipulate the elections.

“They may be peaceful, but we don’t know how credible they are,” said 51-year-old Classified Chivese, a voter who, like many Zimbabweans, is unemployed.

Zimbabwe’s political climate has opened up since 94-year-old Mugabe, who once said he would rule for life, resigned in November

FORMER Zimbabwean Leader President Robert Mugabe casts his vote at a polling station in Harare, Zimbabwe, yesterday.

Photo: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP nearly 130 political parties vying for after a military takeover and ruling party move to impeach him. parliamentary seats. If no presidenThrongs celebrated the removal of tial candidate wins more than 50 Mugabe, in power since independ- percent of the vote, a runoff will be ence from white minority rule in held September 8.

The two main contenders were 1980, but many Zimbabweans view Monday’s election as an equally 75-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former deputy important milestone.

More than 5.5 million people president and longtime enforcer were registered to vote in an elec- for Mugabe who has reinvented tion featuring a record more than himself as a candidate for 20 presidential candidates and change; and 40-year-old Nelson

Chamisa, a lawyer and pastor who became head of the main opposition party a few months ago after the death of its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

After polls closed at 7pm and vote-counting began, Mnangagwa appealed to Zimbabweans to be patient and wait for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to announce results. The final, official tally is expected within five days.

“Today, Zimbabwe experienced a beautiful expression of freedom & democracy,” Mnangagwa tweeted.

“No matter which way we voted, we are all brothers and sisters.”

Earlier, however, Chamisa said on Twitter that voting delays in urban areas, where his support is strong, were a “deliberate attempt” to undermine his election bid.

The head of the European Union mission monitoring Zimbabwe’s elections said his team saw “huge differences” in the pace of voting at polling stations. Voters at one location waited less than an hour to cast their ballots while others at a nearby station waited more than half the day, Elmar Brok said.

15,000 ORDERED TO FLEE FROM CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES REDDING, California Associated Press THE number of people ordered to flee from two Northern California wildfires has swelled to 15,000, authorities said yesterday as flames rolled toward several small towns in a rural area of lakes, forests and mountains.

Elsewhere in the same region, firefighters were hopeful that the state’s largest and deadliest blaze of the year was slowing down after days of explosive growth.

The twin fires in Mendocino and Lake counties flared up late on Sunday, forcing the new evacuations from the 4,700-resident town of Lakeport and other communities near Clear Lake, about 120 miles (195 kilometers) north of San Francisco. The blazes have destroyed six homes and threaten 10,000 others. So far, the flames have blackened 87 square miles (225 square kilometers), with minimal containment.

Those fires were among 17 burning across the state, where fire crews were stretched to the limit.

At midday yesterday, Lake County Sheriff’s Lt Corey Paulich put the number of people under evacuation orders at 14,000, up from a previous estimate of 10,000.

Another 1,000 people have been displaced in neighbouring Mendocino County.

Paulich said residents

have been heeding evacuation orders because they have seen the destruction caused by past wildfires, which have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least four people since 2015.

To the north, near Redding, California, where an unpredictable blaze killed six people, a man whose wife and two great-grandchildren were among the dead said he did not receive any warning to evacuate.

Ed Bledsoe told CBS News he did not know his home was in danger when he left his wife, Melody, and the four- and five-year-old children to run an errand on Thursday.

“If I’d have any kind of warning, I’d have never, ever left my family in that house,” Bledsoe said.

Bledsoe said he received a phone call from his wife 15 minutes after he left saying he needed to get home because the fire was approaching. He said one of the children told him the blaze was at the back door.

When he tried to return, the road was blocked and flames prevented him from returning on foot.

Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko told the network there’s an investigation into whether the Bledsoe home received a warning call or a knock on the door. The sheriff said there is evidence that doorto-door notifications were made in the area.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 31, 2018, PAGE 11

Farewell to RBDF veteran THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force said a final farewell to Able Seaman Bravado Thompson, who was remembered during a homegoing service on Friday at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church.

Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of National Security Eugene Poitier and Commander of the Defence Force Commodore Tellis Bethel spoke at the service.

Father Oswald Ferguson officiated, along with the Rev Prince Bodie,

the Defence Force’s chaplain.

The 14-year veteran died on July 4. A procession led

by Commodore Bethel, his executive command, the command warrant officer, and Junior Marines marched from the church to the gravesite.

His final resting place was at the Catholic Cemetery, Tyler Street.

Condolences are extended to his parents, his children, Zachary, Shilah and Taraji Thompson, his brothers, sisters and loved ones.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

DORIS SMITH, 96, with her son, Wayne Smith.

Aliv reaches out to help blaze victim ALIV, as part of its duty to the community, stepped up to the plate to donate funds as well as necessary items which included clothes to 96-year-old Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock resident Doris Smith.

Ms Smith is one of Grand Bahama’s oldest inhabitants who nearly lost everything in a recent fire at her home of 80 years.

“Here at ALIV, we always strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us especially those who deserve it like Ms Smith.

It’s heartbreaking that she has to rebuild her life,” ALIV Northern Bahamas General Manager Bahamas Richard Stanton said.

“ALIV is eager to help and we’re looking forward to assisting in any way that we can.”

ALIV donated water, clothing, toiletries among other items including

money to Ms Smith.

“It’s an unfortunate situation to lose everything and nobody should have to face it alone, so we want to ensure that she knows that ALIV cares and we will try to assist where possible as she tries to rebuild her life.”

“You all are the only ones who have come to help so far,” Ms Smith said. “God bless ALIV thank you so much for everything.”

The Tribune reported that Ms Smith was awakened by the sounds of “crackling and smoke” more than a week ago and her quick action helped to save not only herself but her caretaker from a fire at her residence.

The fire started in Ms Smith’s bedroom.

“I heard crackling and smelled smoke,” recalled Ms Smith. “I looked in the kitchen, but there was no light on in there.”

Ms Smith thought it might have been the fan, then she looked at the television.

“I picked up the remote and try to cut off the television, but the remote was not working,” she said.

That’s when Ms Smith called out to the caretaker and alerted her to a fire in her bedroom.

“I said… ‘Get up, the house on fire,’” she said.

Ms Smith was assisted out of the house by her caretaker and is now staying with her grandniece in Eight Mile Rock.

“The bedroom is completely destroyed; everything is burned,” Ms Smith said. “I had a brand-new bedroom set; the mattress, rug, and all my clothes - everything is gone.”

Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the cause of the fire.

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