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By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday revealed that the Free National Movement) has presented several offers to her, including a promotion to Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly, in an effort to “buy her off� to step away from the plethora of issues she has with the organisation.

The MP rejected FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ declaration that he was again extending the olive branch to her and suggested that this was no more than a sham to entice supporters to step away from their principal reservations with the party.

Central Grand Ba-

hama MP Neko Grant currently holds the post of Leader of Opposition Business in the House.

Mrs Butler-Turner, the former FNM leadership hopeful, further confirmed that the FNM has also offered a ratification for her constituency, a prominent role on the party’s general election campaign team and a senior Cabinet post should the party defeat the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in 2017. “Did they even tell Neko Grant that this is a consideration? I am not for sale,� Mrs ButlerTurner told The Tribune. “They are not going to offer me anything without the inclusion of the other members of Parliament.�

SEE PAGE FIVE

Helping youngsters to soar

Supreme Court rules against Jerome Fitzgerald IN A landmark ruling yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles declared that Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald was not legally justified when he tabled the private emails of environmental action group Save The Bays in Parliament, and therefore could not be protected by parliamentary privilege.

Justice Charles, who presided over an historic constitutional motion, ruled that the Marathon MP’s actions

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were an infringement of the constitutional rights of the applicants and ordered Mr Fitzgerald to pay $150,000 in damages for the breach.

Mr Fitzgerald was permanently banned from disclosure and publication of any further material belonging to Save The Bays and was ordered to delete all electronic and hard copy material within 14 days.

The Office of the Attorney General said that it would appeal the ruling and was granted a stay pending the appeal.

SEE PAGE SIX

MURDERED STABBING VICTIM HEARD BEGGING FOR HIS LIFE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A MAN fatally stabbed in Grand Bahama yesterday begged for his life moments before he was killed, according to neighbours in the Drake Avenue area of Freeport.

Barry Thompson Jr, 46,

pleaded with his attacker not to kill him, The Tribune was told.

A 45-year-old man, also of Drake Avenue, is in custody assisting police with their investigations into the ninth homicide on the island in 2016.

According to police SEE PAGE FIVE

YOUNGSTERS taking part in the Nassau Nastics summer camp yesterday. For more photographs from the summer camp, see page two today.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

MP WHO JOKED ABOUT ABUSING WOMAN SAYS LIGHTBOURN IS IN THE STONE AGE

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday said he was “shocked� to learn of Richard Lightbourn’s “tube tying� comments, as he criticised the Montagu MP, insisting that to make such

a proposal revealed the inner workings of an “evil and twisted mind�. Mr Miller, who has also been the subject of intense backlash after claiming to joke about abusing a former lover, said for a “white man� to utter such comments about “black women� left much to be desired

and raised questions about his mental state and how he perceived race relations.

He predicted that Mr Lightbourn was likely to face irreparable damage to his political career over the controversial remarks.

SEE PAGE THREE

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  FORT CHARLOTTE MP Dr Rollins will reportedly be running as an independent candidate for the Long Island constituency

in the next general election, The Tribune understands.

According to a high ranking source within the Free National Movement (FNM), Dr Rollins had been trying for several months to get the party’s support to secure the con-

stituency nomination.

Since announcing on Monday that he will not be seeking a FNM constituency nomination in the next general election, The Tribune has been informed that Dr Rollins will now run in the area as an independent

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THE TRIBUNE THE NASSAU Nastics summer gymnastics camp, where youngsters have been spending time developing their skills.

Photos: Tim Clarke/ Tribune Staff

Nassau Nastics Summer Camp

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, August 3, 2016, PAGE 3

Miller tells Minnis: Don’t let rival back into your bosom

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday warned Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis not to allow Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner “back into his bosom,” saying he is “likely to get the heck bitten out him” should she get too close to the party’s leadership.

Mr Miller suggested that Mrs Butler-Turner, who has twice unsuccessfully challenged Dr Minnis for the FNM’s leadership post, could not be trusted.

He went on to castigate the Long Island MP and her former running mate Senator Dr Duane Sands, calling the duo “chickens” who “ran for the hills” knowing

defeat was the only ending for them at the party’s national convention last week.

Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Duane Sands last Friday, at around 2am, withdrew from the leadership race they once lobbied for prematurely before delegates went to the polls to cast ballots for all executive positions of the party.

“I think Dr Minnis’ heart is in the right place,” Mr Miller told The Tribune when he was contacted.

“That is why the people and the delegates supported him. They knew Dr Minnis was genuine and I believe they didn’t get that from Butler or Sands. Bahamians know love and they felt it from Minnis.

“Them two chickened out, but what choice did they have but to run for the hills?”

FORMER SPEAKER ‘SADDENED AND DISMAYED’ BY MP’S COMMENTS

MP WHO JOKED ABOUT ABUSING WOMAN SAYS LIGHTBOURN IS IN THE STONE AGE from page one

ITALIA JOHNSON FORMER Speaker of the House of Assembly Italia Johnson has joined the growing condemnation of Richard Lightbourn for his comments last week about sterilisation of unwed mothers, describing them as “historically incorrect and extremely insensitive”.

Mrs Johnson said she was “saddened and dismayed” by the Montagu MP’s remarks at the recent Free National Movement Convention. In a statement the former Speaker “strongly” condemned Mr Lightbourn.

“The long historical contribution of Bahamian women to every sphere of development in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has been heralded and recorded for decades,” Mrs Johnson said. “Therefore, I am saddened and dismayed by the historically incorrect and extremely insensitive remarks by the Honourable Richard Lightbourn Member of Parliament for Montagu.

“I trust that these unfortunate remarks cause a greater awareness of respect for and appreciation of all Bahamian women.

Moreover, all intelligent ‘developing countries‘ plan for the full inclusion of all of its citizens and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas should be no different.”

Meanwhile, former Free National Movement (FNM) deputy Leader Frank Watson said he believes the party now has to evaluate to what extent the comments have affected it in the public’s view.

He said this was likely to “come back to bite” the party during the impending campaign season.

“It makes me wonder where his head is as a member of Parliament,” Mr Miller told The Tribune yesterday. “I guess he is still in the Stone Age. “In this day and age to say that you should cut a woman’s reproductive organs is shocking. He has an evil and twisted mind and I think he has done himself irreparable harm.”

He added: “I can’t say I am sorry for him. To make an outrageous statement to women in a country where there is 85 per cent black, there is no doubt that he was referring to poor black women. For a white man to get on stage and say this it leaves a lot to be desired about his mental state regarding race.

“He didn’t see anything wrong with it and he will pay a hell of a huge price politically.”

However, Mr Miller said he doubted the party would face any implications because the organisation distanced itself from the highly criticised comments.

On Thursday night, during the FNM’s second night in convention, Mr Lightbourn proposed that the country adopt legislation that mandates unwed mothers with more than two children have their “tubes tied”

He continued: “I trust that doc (Dr Minnis) won’t put her back in his bosom again. He is likely to get the heck bitten out of him if he does that again. He needs to be cautions.”

On Friday, hours after it was reported that Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands had pulled out from the FNM’s leadership race, for the posts of leader and deputy leader respectively, the Long Island MP shed light on what led to this decision.

She said FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest’s public rebuke of her on Thursday night was the final straw. Mrs Butler-Turner added that she and Dr Sands believed they would never be able to resolve the problems in the party if they allowed the process to continue, hence their deci-

in an effort to curtail the country’s social ills.

Mr Lightbourn indicated that children born in unstable family situations often grow up to participate in criminal activities. To offset that occurrence, the shadow attorney general suggested that it was necessary to consider “adopting the lead of several countries in the world”, the result of which he said would be fewer children, essentially reducing the burden of the state in terms of social care, education and employment.

Two local advocacy groups have since condemned Mr Lightbourn’s proposal as “archaic, barbaric and dangerous”, charging that the suggestion is “frighteningly reminiscent” of sterilisation policies used against black people internationally in the 1960s.

On Monday, Citizens for Constitutional Equality (CCE), in a statement, said Mr Lightbourn’s proposal to “target young, black, poor women” in order to reduce the number of children being born is akin to “policies used against black South Africans under apartheid and AfricanAmericans in Mississippi and Alabama” at the height of racial tensions in the 1960s.

The group also said Mr Lightbourn’s proposed policy is “state enforced violence against women,” which the group said is a “perverse violation of human rights” that demonstrates Mr Lightbourn’s “utter lack of understanding and awareness of what gender equality, women’s empowerment, agency and human rights really means”.

Meanwhile, non-profit or-

sion to drop out.

In an explanation to supporters on Friday in a room at the Meliá Nassau Beach Resort she said: “After seven weeks of campaigning and trying to ensure a level and fair playing field we came to the realisation that the process was in fact full of some irregularities and deep structural problems. This included, but was not limited to, irregularities with the delegate list and the election of delegates.

We concluded after consultation and deep reflection, prayer and discernment that we could not go forward in good conscience with a process that proved undemocratic on a number of levels.”

At the time she did not elaborate on the irregularities with the delegate selec-

members and all of those who vyed against us to come together.

“Those who were successful and those who weren’t. We need everyone on board. We are working to ensure that all members recognise they have a role to play and it is important to present a full team to the public,” Mr Turnquest said.

“As leaders who have a large role to play, the rest of the party is watching us to see what we do. Dr Minnis made significant steps to unite the party and we recognise it will not be easy but those with hurt feelings need to put their feelings aside.

“We aren’t perfect but we have been given a mandate to lead this party and we cannot fall apart now because we have a country to save.”

On the second night of the FNM’s convention, Mr Turnquest took an angry swipe at Mrs Butler-Turner amid fractious scenes at the party’s convention, insisting “respect must be earned”.

In the keynote address on Thursday, Mr Turnquest targeted the Long Island MP, reprimanding her for

far exceeding her allocated 25-minute time slot.

In a two-minute diatribe preceding his prepared speech, the East Grand Bahama MP said the FNM was not built on the chaotic and fractured practices on display so far at the convention.

“If you want respect, you must first show respect. Respect must be earned,” he shouted to resounding applause by hundreds of delegates. “The party I knew way before I knew what politics was is nothing like this.”

Mrs Butler-Turner later told the press that Mr Turnquest’s public rebuke was the final straw that prompted her to withdraw from the leadership race.

On Friday, while addressing supporters and delegates, Dr Minnis hinted that he would not purge the party of the high-profile members who have publicly criticised his leadership and help expose the party’s bitter divisions.

Mrs Butler-Turner was noticeably absent while Dr Minnis delivered his remarks on the final day of the three-day convention.

night and, because of the fact, we had a disruption.”

“We have the man who wants to be deputy leader of this party just talk about unification, getting up and rebuking me so publicly?

Where is the unification?

That was the tipping point,” she said.

However on Monday, Mr Collie rejected Mrs ButlerTurner’s assertions saying she did not withdraw from the FNM’s leadership race because the process was “corrupt” but because she knew “the tide was against her” and she could not win.

He said while Mrs Butler-Turner put on the “best show that she could”, she knew after giving her speech on the second night of the FNM’s convention “her leadership race was over”.

RICHARD LIGHTBOURN, MP for Montagu, whose comments about tying the tubes of unwed mothers saw the FNM issue a statement distancing themselves from his comments.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff ganisation Bahamas Wom- Mr Miller said he was criti“But seriously I had one en’s Watch (BWW) said Mr cising the FNM for what he like that. I had one. She Lightbourn’s proposed pol- described as them not look- used to tell me...” icy “highlights an absolute ing out for the best interests At that moment, House disrespect and contempt for of fishermen while they Speaker Dr Kendal Major women’s rights” and serves were in government. He interjected stating: “We “to explain the lack of ad- said he likened the previous know that you are joking vancement on core women’s Ingraham administration’s with that.” empowerment issues” in relationship with fishermen However Mr Miller conthe country. to a woman being abused. tinued: “No I serious with In March 2014, Mr Mill- The comments were cir- that. I tell her I get tired er appeared to backpedal culated on social media in man. My hands hurting a from comments he made audio recordings of the MP. little bit, give me a break. about abusing a former In that audio, Mr Miller “I am telling you the lover after it attracted fierce said: “That’s like beating truth. One thing I don’t do criticism from women’s your wife or your girlfriend is lie.” rights advocates. every time you go home.

At the time he was ada- You just beat her for lookmant that “I have never ing at her. I love you. Boom, abused a woman in my en- boom, boom. I had a girltire life”and claimed that friend like that. When I his comments in Parliament didn’t beat her she used to were spoken in “jest”. tell me I ain’t love her no Insisting that most of his more cause I don’t hit her. 3rd August 2016 Wednesday, political career has been spent defending women, especially single mothers, Mr Miller attempted to add "Watch and learn. Make context to his comments which sparked a backlash sure you catch tonight's following publication in a 'Castrol Car Care Minute' local newspaper. on the 'Our News' At the time of his comments on February 20, 2014, broadcast at 7:30. 9:30 &

TURNQUEST: IT WILL NOT BE EASY TO UNITE PARTY

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FREE NATIONAL Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said yesterday he realises it “will not be easy” to unite the party after last weekend’s convention but he said those with “hurt feelings” need to put them aside “for the good of the party and the country”.

Mr Turnquest told The Tribune that what happened before and during the convention is “now irrelevant” and in order for the FNM to be successful they need everyone onboard – including Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and Senator Dr Duane Sands, who ran a failed leadership campaign against Dr Hubert Minnis and Mr Turnquest.

“From Dr Minnis and I, we have moved past it,” he said.

“We have one party with one common goal - and that is to remove the PLP government. I think once we all focus on that goal and the principle this party will be able to move forward.

We welcome all of our team

tion process and the final listing of those with voting power, but she described a series of perceived slights against herself and Dr Sands from Dr Minnis’s team that seemed to play a large role in her decision to quit the race.

Chief among these was Mr Turnquest’s criticism of her for extending beyond her allotted 25 minutes time during her speech Thursday night.

“I think the worst treatment was probably when we had the incumbent deputy get on stage to rebuke me for something that we had already started to discuss,” she said, referring to the time-limit for her speech.

“There has never been a time when the FNM has held a convention that they have not gone beyond 11 at

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THE TRIBUNE

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Trump is ‘unfit’, Obama says WASHINGTON (AP) — In a searing denouncement, President Barack Obama castigated Donald Trump as “unfit” and “woefully unprepared” to serve in the White House. He challenged Republicans to withdraw their support for their party’s nominee, declaring “There has to come a point at which you say ‘enough.’”

While Obama has long been critical of Trump, his blistering condemnation Tuesday was a notable escalation of his involvement in the presidential race.

Obama questioned whether Trump would “observe basic decency” as president, argued he lacks elementary knowledge about domestic and international affairs and condemned his disparagement of an American Muslim couple whose son was killed while serving the US Army in Iraq.

A chorus of Republicans has disavowed Trump’s criticism of Khizr and Ghazala Khan and the Republican nominee’s calls to temporarily ban Muslims from coming to the US. But Obama argued that isn’t enough.

“If you are repeatedly having to say, in very strong terms, that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?” Obama asked during a White House news conference. “What does this say about your party that this is your standard-bearer?” No prominent Republican lawmaker responded to Obama’s challenge.

Instead, it was Trump stunningly withholding his support from top GOP lawmakers, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. In an affront to his party’s top elected official, Trump told The Washington Post he wasn’t “quite there yet” on an endorsement for Ryan in his primary next week.

Trump’s refusal to back Ryan exposed anew the deep divisions within the GOP and underscored that the businessman rarely plays by the traditional political playbook. Ryan has been among those urging Republicans to rally around Trump, despite concerns about his candidacy.

Ryan’s campaign said, “Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump’s endorsement.

And we are confident in a victory next week regardless.”

Trump also said he was not supporting Sen John McCain in his primary in Arizona, and he dismissed Sen. Kelly Ayotte as a weak and disloyal leader in New Hampshire Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton sees those GOP concerns about Trump as an opportunity to reach out to party moderates — particularly women — who may be so upset by the nominee that they’re willing to look past policy differences and questions about Clinton’s character.

The president — who is enjoying heightened popularity in his eighth and

final year in office — plans to campaign robustly for Clinton through Election Day. He and first lady Michelle Obama spoke at last week’s Democratic convention in Philadelphia.

The Khans also appeared at the convention, with Khizr Khan telling the story of his son, US Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart after his death in 2004. Khan criticized Trump’s position on Muslims and asked whether the real estate mogul had read the Constitution.

For most politicians, tangling with a bereaved military family would be out of bounds. But Trump dove in, questioning why Ghazala Khan did not speak, implying her religion prevented her from doing so, and saying he was “viciously attacked”

by Khizr Khan.

Trump’s criticism was part of a familiar pattern: He can’t let go of a perceived slight, no matter the potential damage to his presidential campaign or political reputation.

Those who have worked with him say that in private meetings he can often appear amenable to putting a controversy aside. But the businessman can quickly be drawn back in by an interview, especially if he believes he’s already answered a question, or if he grows irritated by commentary on cable television.

Trump’s unwillingness to let the matter subside sparked outrage Monday from several Republicans.

Sen John McCain, R-Arizona, a former prisoner of war, said Trump did not have “unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us.” Rep Mike Coffman, a vulnerable Republican in a competitive Colorado district, said he was “deeply offended when Donald Trump fails to honour the sacrifices of all of our brave soldiers who were lost in that war.”

Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said the Khans “deserve to be heard and respected.”

Obama argued those denunciations “ring hollow” as long as Republicans continue to back Trump in the White House race.

Trump’s response? On Twitter, he said, “President Obama will go down as perhaps one of the worst president in the history of the United States!”

Sen Mark Kirk, who is facing a tough re-election fight in Illinois, rescinded his endorsement of Trump in June after the GOP nominee criticized an Americanborn judge’s Mexican heritage. Others, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Ryan, have broken with the nominee on individual issues but continue to back his candidacy.

By Julie Pace, AP White House Correspondent

Why I support Christie EDIOR, The Tribune THERE has been much commentary regarding Prime Minister Perry Christie’s decision to remain as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party and the validity of his statement that he was encouraged to do so by the younger members of his parliamentary caucus.

For the record I support Prime Minister Christie.

I was one of the New Generation Leaders who approached him about remaining as leader. While my rationale was extensive, allow me to share a few noteworthy reasons which I expressed to him during our conversation: 1. We needed certainty going into the general election and the country required continued political stability; 2. While the PLP enjoys the good fortune of having a deep bench with a cadre of party leaders who are able to successfully carry on the baton, I was confident having spoken to many of the New Generation Leaders, that we did not want the dis-

traction of a leadership battle or a split in the party at a time such as this, particularly witnessing what was happening within the ranks of the Official Opposition; 3. The country had just gone through a rough economic period and as the economy and our financial position began to stabilise it would be unwise both nationally and internationally for there to be political unrest or uncertainty over the leadership of the governing party. He had guided the country through a financially perilous time with a steady hand but we were not out of the woods yet; 4. He had made some very tough decisions since 2012 on issues which past Prime Ministers knew were necessary but didn’t possess the political courage or security to make. Namely VAT, Regularisation of Gaming, Immigration Reform, Review and Amendment of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and National Health Insurance. The introduction of any one of these Agenda items could be viewed as a major mile-

stone by any government during a single term, but to accomplish all required focus, strategy, courage and political will - all of which he ably demonstrated; 5. As Prime Minister he had guided, advised and supported all New Generation Cabinet Ministers and I pointed to our successes at the Ministries of Finance, Investments, Financial Services, Environment, Grand Bahama, Youth Sports and Culture, Education as well as the transformation of BAIC. As a further indication of his leadership and support, I reminded him that many of us now sit at the head of various international organisations (Finance, Environment and Education).

I concluded by assuring him of my support and that, if he decided to stay as Leader of the Party, the overwhelming majority of New Generation Leaders supported him for the reasons I stated above.

JEROME FITZGERALD Nassau July 31, 2016

Butler-Turner deserted by fellow MPs EDITOR, The Tribune FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has extended the olive branch to Loretta Butler-Turner and her large group of senior supporters as well as members of the media who have been busy undermining him over the last three plus years.

It remains to be seen if the group of FNM elitists who have been working behind the scenes to destroy Minnis will finally accept reality that he is going nowhere anytime soon.

If nothing else came out of the recent FNM convention, it is that politics is a cutthroat blood-sport. It was an embarrassing spectacle to watch Butler-Turner being ignored by FNM parliamentarians, including the other five members of the Gang of Six, after calling for them to join her on stage after her convention speech on Thursday night.

Only Dr Duane Sands had the courage to support her, even though it was evident to him at that point that Butler-Turner did not stand a snowball’s chance in hell of defeating Minnis based on the dele-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net gates’ constant heckling of Butler-Turner during her speech.

Obviously someone within the Butler-Turner camp has been giving her bad advice. They grossly misread the mood of FNM delegates, who they could have sworn wanted desperately to see the back of Minnis based on the newspaper write-ups of a small group of Butler-Turner supporters.

The following questions now beg an answer: Where was Neko Grant? Where was Dr Andre Rollins?

Where was Richard Lightbourn? Where was Hubert Chipman? Where was Theo Neilly? Where was Monique Gomez? Where was Heather Hunt? Where was Lynn Holowesko? Where was Frank Watson? Where was Darron Cash? Where was Brensil Rolle? Where was Brent Symonette?

All of these prominent FNMs left Butler-Turner hanging high and dry on Thursday night. After all of the noise in the market from this group, not one of

them had the testicular fortitude to go up on stage with their candidate in a show of solidarity.

With respect to the five members of the Gang of Six, their abandonment of Butler-Turner in her hour of greatest need may have stemmed from their sense of self preservation. They want to be renominated by the FNM, despite Rollins’ declaration that they should not seek renomination in the event Minnis wins.

How can MPs such as Grant and Rollins run on Minnis’ ticket after essentially calling him a lousy, incompetent leader? This was the same group which prodded Butler-Turner in forcing Minnis’ hand in calling for an early convention.

This was the same group that did everything possible to embarrass and hurt Minnis in public.

Butler-Turner has been embarrassed on national TV and is now $100,000 out of pocket, thanks to her supporters. The least this group can do is to refund her the money she wasted on a failed venture.

THE MINNISITES Nassau, August 1, 2016

What next for Minnis?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHAT really are Hon. Hubert Minnis’ plans for the FNM? He seems to be willing to risk losing out seriously by putting at risk the assured vote of the middle class and ex-UBP segment, of the sure vote of the FNM electorate, in favour of the grass-root exceptionally annoyed PLPs. Seems someone sold him of this theory that to win you have to get a 4-5 per cent switch vote from the PLP. Is the CV he is putting over really accurate? His father was one of the Market Street merchants when the young Minnis was born... well established with his gas station. One could say Dr. Minnis was to an extent, certainly for a black Bahamian, born with a silver

spoon in his mouth.

There is little unique in what we have heard from the Minnis side - the Urban Renewal of Grants Town through Centreville is as old as 40 years. What we are hearing from the #2 of the FNM, their finance man is laughable on aragonite, salt, crabs, etc. So we are going back to fishing village economics?

Since 2012 when did the FNM abstain from voting in Parliament? Certainly they voted for the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Budgets. So do not blame anyone else than yourselves.

Perhaps it is time that the Minnis’ people say what is really needed, to fundamentally improve the cash liquidity of the Utility Cost positive - the Accounts Receivable, money owed, have to be brought in line

and customers start paying in full their bills starting with Government. Get Real Property Taxes paid in full no discount for not paying.

Will the obvious breach of party loyalty, see the chances of a potential victory go by the side?

The PLP is not stupid one slip and they will take all the advantages to win. If “Roc wit Doc” does not resonate across the electorate, watch for an early election in 2017. Baha Ma resolved or not, as today few expect any resolution soon, as they simply no longer believe the Prime Minister, so that is no longer an important issue.

Doc have you written your own epitaph prematurely?

PATRICIA SAWYER Nassau, July 29, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Butler-Turner: I can’t be bought from page one

“They can’t just try to buy the people off. I am for the Bahamian people and will remain a voice of the people.”

Meanwhile, a senior FNM who requested anonymity told this newspaper that the offers presented to the MP raised serious questions regarding the party’s election process in addition to the motives of those at the helm of the organisation.

“If she is so bad and after lambasting her and dragging her through the mud, why now are they coming with offers? I find it a bit curious given all of the issues she’s had with how the process itself went. One would begin to wonder if the process was really rigged from the beginning in an effort to ensure that Dr Minnis did remain party leader because he is power hungry.”

Both Mrs Butler-Turner and former running mate Senator Duane Sands withdrew from the leadership race last Friday morning before party delegates went to cast votes for all executive posts of the FNM. It was reported that the pair and several highranking FNMs – including the party leader – that day engaged in several hours of negotiations, but no resolution was agreed.

She later told the media that apart from Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest’s harsh critique of her on Thursday night, which she said was the last straw, there had been serious challenges with the overall process.

This included issues with the selection of the delegates and the final list of those persons. Her “Forward-Together” campaign also complained that the list was not readily available upon their requests.

“I did not accept any offer. I am not for sale. I am standing up for the Bahamian people. I withdrew because the process was flawed,” she said.

LORETTA BUTLER-TURNER “Now they want to offer me gifts? I am a voice of the people and there is nothing they can offer. They can offer whatever and I am not going to accept. I am not for sale.

She went on: “I will continue to fight for the Bahamian people and stand on the principles I believe in.

They are still negotiating, but they are not going to offer me anything without the inclusion of the other MPs. Don’t try to buy the people off.

“What they are trying to do is not extend the olive branch, but trying to make offers to make people step away from their principled positions.”

She insisted that Bahamians, especially those in her constituency, would be “disappointed” should she accept any offers.

“The people and my constituents will be disappointed and saddened in me if I accept those things. They can’t offer me anything.

The people are the ones who’ll make the decision on who stays and who goes.”

In another instance, the former deputy leader also sounded off on social media site Facebook, accusing Dr Minnis of attempting to steal the convention and silence her voice by engaging in undemocratic practices.

However, many speculated that the mortician and the surgeon ultimately made the decision to pull out from the race after she struggled to present her platform during an hourlong speech which was met by Dr Minnis’ supporters who chanted “Roc

Wit Doc” as she tried to speak.

After surviving a second attempt in two years to thwart his leadership, Dr Minnis signalled on Friday evening that he would not purge the party of the highprofile members who have publicly criticised his leadership and help expose the party’s bitter divisions.

They were his first public remarks following Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands’ withdrawal from the leadership race.

During this speech, he confirmed that significant concessions were offered to Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands, but he did not reveal what they were.

“Tonight we offer the olive branch once again to our sister Loretta ButlerTurner, who I’m certain will be our candidate in Long Island with my full support,” he said.

“We have undergone a lot over the last few years,” he added. “Our internal politics have been laid bare for all the world to see and it’s not been pretty, but through it all we have maintained our integrity and focused on the points that unite us.”

Regarding Dr Sands, he said: “My medical colleague and political colleague, we work close together in the hospital and I must say that on many occasions when I ran into surgical difficulties in areas that are outside my domain, Sands was there for me.

“Each of these worthy leaders are qualified and possess the experience to rescue this nation and to contribute mightily to its future success. It is our hope that they will accept our offer to continue being a valuable part of this leadership team. We have made significant offers to both to demonstrate our commitment to them and we earnestly hope they accept.”

Dr Sands did not offer comment yesterday when he was contacted, saying he was out of the country and would not make any public comment until his return.

ROLLINS ‘TO RUN AS INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN LONG ISLAND’ from page one

Earlier this year, Dr Rollins was seen making the rounds in Long Island with party leader Dr Hubert Minnis. The visit came amid speculation that a certain faction within the FNM was backing Dr Rollins to run as the party’s candidate for Long Island next year.

However, the party’s chairman at the time, Michael Pintard, said there was no truth in the rumour that the party is seeking to hold a meeting in Long Island to support, promote or ratify Dr Rollins.

He said Loretta Butler-

Turner, who has worked tirelessly on behalf of her constituents, has the support of the party.

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, former Long Island Constituency Association Member, Bernard Adderley said that Dr Rollins was indeed in Long Island “several times this year, testing the waters” to see if “it made sense” for him to run there.

While he may have gained some support at the time, Mr Adderley said now the people “do not want him”.

“We don’t want him down here,” Mr Adderley said.

“He isn’t welcome here, he

does not stand a chance.

If we’re going to vote for anyone other than Loretta Butler-Turner, it wouldn’t be him, he can’t even handle his business in Nassau.

He needs to stay there.”

Last month, residents in Fort Charlotte insisted that Dr Rollins had already “sealed” his fate as the worst MP in the history of the area.

Those constituents took Dr Rollins to task over several failed promises, forcing Dr Rollins to fire back with claims that the Christie administration should carry the brunt of the blame for the reported failures in Fort Charlotte.

MURDERED STABBING VICTIM HEARD BEGGING FOR HIS LIFE from page one

reports, shortly after 3am, officers were called to an apartment complex on Drake Avenue where a man was found lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds to the body.

The Tribune understands his throat had also been cut.

EMS personnel responded, but the victim had died of his injuries at the scene.

When The Tribune arrived, neighbours were outside discussing the incident. They said that Mr Thompson lived alone in a unit at the apartment

complex.

“The neighbours heard a man saying, ‘please, don’t kill me’,” one man said. Another said that Mr Thompson had a twin brother.

Officers arrested a man a short time later in connection with the incident.

Before yesterday Grand Bahama had had eight murders this year.

On January 5, 23-yearold Eleazor Louis was shot outside a residence on Bass Lane and Murchison Drive.

On February 21, 35-yearold Johnson ‘Johnny Quest’ Laguerre was gunned down on Weddell Avenue.

A month later, police were called to a double

homicide in the Bruce Avenue area. Jacqueline Armbrister, 55, and Noel Hamilton, 57, were the victims.

A week after that, 20-year-old Tremecco ‘Bam Bam’ Johnson was shot to death at the Fish Fry in Smith’s Point. Later that day, Customs Officer Kevin Hanna, 49, was shot at his home in South Bahamia.

On April 3, a 23-yearold resident of Hanna Hill, Eight Mile Rock, Sanchez Ferguson Bethel, was shot dead in his vehicle near Rigby Plaza. And on May 3 Pedro Anthony McKenzie, 43, was murdered at Man-oWar Circle, off East Indianman Road.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016, PAGE 5

SUSPECTS FREED FROM CRASH AFTER POLICE CHASE

THE WRECKAGE of the crashed vehicle last night.

TWO suspects involved Princess Margaret Hospital in a police chase crashed at the time of going to press into a house on Pineyard last night.

Road and had to be rescued Both were extracted from from the vehicle. the vehicle using the jaws of Both suspects were in life. custody and en route to The conditions of the sus-

pects was unknown.

The chase passed through Fox Hill, Lilly Drive and Pineyard Rd. The pair were suspected of robbing a store on Soldier Rd.

SUSPECT IN MURDER CASE IS REMANDED TO PRISON

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after he was arraigned on charges of murder and armed robbery.

Charlton Williamson, 24, appeared before Magistrate Constance Delancy accused of intentionally causing the death of Paul Butler, whom he allegedly robbed of an undetermined amount of cash on April 6.

Williamson was charged with murder under Section 291 (1B) of the Penal Code, Chapter 84 concerning Butler’s death.

A charge under this section does not attract the discretionary death penalty a Supreme Court judge is given by law, if a jury finds the pair guilty of murder.

The single charge of armed robbery also carries up to life imprisonment if convicted.

On the night in question, police were summoned to the scene of an apparent homicide in the Yellow Elder Gardens community where the victim was the proprietor of a convenience store on Melvern Road.

According to reports, a lone gunman came into the store, approached the proprietor and demanded cash.

The gunman shot him, took some cash and fled on foot.

Williamson was informed yesterday that he would not be required to enter a plea to the allegations until he is formally arraigned in the Supreme Court before a judge due to the nature of the offences.

Williams is expected to return to Magistrate’s Court on September 28 where prosecutors will present him with a Voluntary

24-YEAR-OLD Charlton Williamson arrives at court yesterday.

Bill of Indictment facilitating the transfer of the case to the Supreme Court.

Magistrate Delancy told Williamson that she did not have the jurisdiction to grant or consider bail because he was charged with murder and armed robbery.

He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until he is tried in the Supreme Court or granted bail by the

higher court, for which he has a legal right to apply.

The accused has retained attorney Tai Pinder to defend him.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, August 3, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

$150,000 FINE FOR MP IN EMAIL ROW from page one

Justice Charles said it was unquestionable that a resident’s private and confident correspondence should not be the subject of public discussion and scrutiny, let alone in the House of Assembly.

“The Courts are given an exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate in and to supervise breaches of the Constitution by the Executive and the Legislature,” Justice Charles said.

“Parliament cannot change the scope or divest the Court of its ‘original jurisdiction’ by legislation. In addition, it is for the Court and not Parliament to decide on the scope and application of parliamentary privilege,” she added.

“As a general rule, the Court should not meddle in the internal affairs of Parliament and should leave it to regulate its own internal affairs. The Court also recognises that the authority and dignity of Parliament would be seriously compromised if it were to interfere arbitrarily in the internal procedures of Parliament.

“But if a person alleges that his/her constitutional rights have been or are being infringed in order to establish that infringement, the court would be entitled to carry out an inquiry to determine whether there was indeed a breach.”

“It is axiomatic that, a man’s private and confidential correspondence, precious to his heart, should not be the subject of public discussion and scrutiny.

The second respondent (Fitzgerald) made unsubstantiated allegations about the first Applicant (STB) which he portrayed as a money-laundering organisation.

“These statements are regrettable since it had nothing to do with the mid-term budget debates which were ongoing at the time,” the judge stressed.

JEROME FITZGERALD, Minister of Education, speaking in the House of Assembly.

Fred Smith, QC, Feron Bethel and Camille Cleare hailed yesterday’s ruling as “a vindication of the rule of law in the Bahamas”.

“The Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay and Zach Bacon are extremely happy with this result,” Mr Smith said.

“It was a very hard fought case, very well prepared by both sides. You can see this (in the) over 95-page judgment. The judge as well obviously spent a considerable amount of time writing this judgment. It’s a very important judgment for constitutional jurisprudence through the British Commonwealth and ,of course, this is the first time in the Bahamas that vindicatory damages have been awarded for $150,000.

“That’s even higher than Tamara Merson or Harvey Tynes’ case and I think it is a recognition by the court of how important the right to privacy in the Bahamas is (and) she was very clear that parliamentary privilege does not trump the supremacy of the Constitution or the rule of law or the courts. The courts are Supreme in the Bahamas, not parliamentarians.”

“We have a Constitution and the Constitution trumps politics – and thank God. This is something I’ve been fighting (for) over 40 years in the Bahamas. The

courts of the Bahamas have repeatedly demonstrated that they are independent and that they stand for the rule of law and for the Constitution.

“And so on behalf of my clients, and the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association that has been fighting for constitutional rights for decades, I’m so very pleased that Justice Charles has delivered this judgment in favour of the Coalition and Mr Bacon.

“It is a vindication of the rule of law in the Bahamas and what it will do is also send a clear message to the international financial world that has been waiting, you know, on tenterhooks for this judgment.

“What it means is that the government of the Bahamas cannot hack into your emails or get them somehow and when you challenge them (and) they don’t explain how they got them, so this is going to help to prevent the financial services industry fleeing the Bahamas.”

Mr Smith said they are not concerned by the Crown’s indication that it would appeal the ruling against Mr Fitzgerald.

“We are as confident that the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council will uphold this as we were when we brought the case before Justice Charles and

the Supreme Court in the first place. Throughout the British Commonwealth, the Constitution is repeatedly reaffirmed as being supreme and I don’t know why the government of the Bahamas, in this case, tried to take us up some garden path to suggest that the Constitution is not the supreme law of the land in the Bahamas,” he concluded.

Dr Lloyd Barnett, Loren Klein, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs Franklyn Williams, Darcell SmithWilliamson and Hyacinth Smith appeared for Mr Fitzgerald, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell (first respondent) and Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson (third respondent) in an action brought by the Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay (Save The Bays); Zachary Bacon, the brother of hedge fund billionaire Louis Bacon, a resident of Lyford Cay, Fred Smith and Ferron Bethell.

In March, Mr Fitzgerald, the Minister of Education, accused STB of being a political organisation seeking to “overthrow” the Progressive Liberal Party government under the guise of an environmental group.

In the House of Assembly, Mr Fitzgerald read private emails from STB members and others, which he said bolstered his claims.

Speaking outside Parliament, Mr Fitzgerald later warned members of the environmental group to “batten down” because a “category five” hurricane was on its way, as he threatened to table “every single” email and bank statement in his possession if needed to protect his integrity and parliamentary privilege.

Additionally, Mr Mitchell claimed in Parliament in March that some $8.25m has been filtered through various organisations connected with STB – locally and internationally - from 2013 to 2015.

Those details were high-

lighted in an affidavit filed

by STB’s Communications Director, Paco Nunez, on which the applicants have relied to prove that the respondents were, in fact, in possession of private emails.

Mr Nunez noted that the tabled documents did not disclose “how, or when, or the identity of the person from whom the second respondent obtained the tabled documents.”

However, Justice Charles found against Save The Bays in its case against Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell concerning breach of the group’s constitutional rights, ruling that it had not made out a case.

In April, Justice Charles granted the injunction barring MPs from disclosing STB’s emails in Parliament.

The Office of the Attorney General wants the injunction set aside.

Justice Charles ruled yesterday that: “In the Bahamas, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the Court is the guardian of the Constitution.

“Parliamentary privilege is trumped by breaches of the Constitution and although Parliament is supreme, it is not as supreme as the Constitution. “Therefore, Parliament cannot use its privileges to trample on the constitutional rights of an individual. In construing constitutional provisions, a broad and generous approach is required to give individuals the full measure of the rights and freedoms referred to in the Constitution.

“The acts and statements made by the first and second respondents are attributable to the Government.

The concept of ‘government’ of ‘executive’ is a legal fiction since it can only act through the Prime Minister and the members of the Cabinet; see Article 72 of the Constitution.

“Article 15 is a preambulatory section and is not given enforceability status

by Article 28, which effectively provides for the enforcement of fundamental rights. Therefore Article 15 creates no free-standing rights under the Constitution.

“As a condition precedent to asserting a claim for constitutional protection and redress, an applicant has to make good his factual allegations of constitutional abuse. In analysing the case against each respondent separately, the applicants have failed to make out a case against the first respondent for any breaches of their fundamental rights either under Article 21 and/

or Article 23 of the Constitution.

“The applicants have made out a case against the second respondent. The second respondent has acted in breach of Article 23 of the Constitution which contains an inextricable link between freedom of expression and privacy, per Newbold v Commissioner of Police 92014 - UKPC by obtaining possessing reviewing and subsequently making disclosures from the applicant’s private and confidential disclosures both inside and outside of Parliament.

“The saving provision at Article 23 (2) does not justify these interferences since they were not made ‘under the authority of any law’, the second respondent not having put forward any potential legal basis for the seizure and review of the private and confidential documents.”

“The second respondent has breached Article 21 of the Constitution which prohibits, inter alia, the search of any legal or natural person’s property without that person’s consent except where this is being done under the authority of law (as) per Attorney General of Jamaica v Williams (1988).

“In the present case, the applicant’s consent had at no stage been given for transmission to third parties let alone publication and the second respondent had not provided any argument or evidence at trial that they had obtained the private and confidential documents as a consequence of a search ‘justified by law’.

“As such, all of the second respondent’s dealings with the applicants’ correspondence, including their search and seizure or obtaining possession and perusal thereof, was in breach of the applicants’ right to protection from search and seizure of their property as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution.”

“The savings clause at Article 30 of the Constitution does not save the Powers and Privileges (Senate and House of Assembly) Act 1969. On any view, the PPA only applies to what was said in parliament and has no applicability to what was said outside of parliament.”

Although the Office of the Attorney General was granted a stay pending said appeal, the status quo of the previous injunction remains in place. No orders were made by the court regarding costs against either parties for the constitutional motion.

FITZGERALD SAYS HE PLANS TO APPEAL

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald says he plans to appeal the ruling handed down by Supreme Court judge Justice Indra Charles in the Save The Bays email hacking scandal yesterday.

Insisting on his innocence, the Marathon MP said he is eager to see the judge’s written ruling on what grounds she ruled he breached the constitutional rights of environmental advocacy group Save The Bays by disclosing private emails in Parliament.

“I want to read the judgment to see what evidence was put forth by those who brought the claim and based on that, I would be in a better position to respond,” Mr Fitzgerald said outside yesterday’s Cabinet session.

“I have been informed about the ruling. I haven’t actually seen the ruling yet, (but) I am interested to find out what basis the court found that I obtained information illegally. I have maintained all along I did not obtain any information illegally.

“We will see where it goes. I will review it and the AG’s office is reviewing it.

But, at the end of the day, it seems to me that there has been a lot of trouble and money spent to keep me quiet and it is going to be curious to see what the reasons behind all of that is.

We will see how it goes.

“Well, I think I have

made point clear that I have said what I had to say, it is before the House and we will see where it goes from here,” he added.

Refusing to speculate on the matter further, Mr Fitzgerald contended that the Save The Bays organisation spent a lot of money to keep him quiet, adding that he was “curious to see what the reasons behind all of that is”.

He alleged that in excess of $1million was spent by the Save The Bays organisation to pursue the matter in court.

Justice Charles in her ruling yesterday, found that Mr Fitzgerald’s actions in acquiring, disclosing and releasing specifically Save The Bays internal emails were not legally justified and therefore he cannot be protected by parliamentary privilege.

As a result, she ordered that he pay $150,000 in damages for the breach and barred him from any further disclosures or publications of information belonging to the Save The Bays organisation.

Mr Fitzgerald was also ordered to delete all materials in his possession within 14 days.

Following Justice Charles’ decision, a document disseminated by Bahamas Information Services verified that at the request of the Attorney General, a stay of her entire decision was granted by the Supreme Court maintaining the “status quo” pending a hearing and determination of an appeal.

The document further stated: “While due respect must be given to the role of the Courts to adjudicate fundamental rights, the privilege of Parliamentarians to speak freely within Parliament is inviolate, and it is the intention of the Government to seek to defend the law which now obtains on the subject and to preserve the freedom of Members of Parliament to speak freely in the Houses of Parliament.”

In April a writ was filed

by Save The Bays, Coalition to Save Clifton and Zachary Hampton Bacon in the Supreme Court, claiming that the government, acting through Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, Mr Fitzgerald and Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, obtained private and confidential emails and attachments belonging to the applicants and disclosed confidential information contained in this correspondence during the course of parliamentary proceedings on March 15 and 17.

The email scandal became national news after Mr Fitzgerald accused the environmental organisation of attempting to “overthrow” the Progressive Liberal Party government.

Mr Fitzgerald, at the time, warned members of Save The Bays to “batten down” because a “category five” hurricane was on its way, as he threatened to table “every single” email and bank statement in his possession if needed to protect his integrity and parliamentary privilege.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, August 3, 2016, PAGE 7

Fitzgerald explains why he’s backing Christie to stay as PM

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

A DAY after identifying himself as one of the “new generational leaders” petitioning Prime Minister Perry Christie to stay on as PLP Leader ahead of the 2017 general election, Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald said the FNM’s recent convention inspired him to come forward.

Mr Fitzgerald said after witnessing the way the Official Opposition’s convention transpired, he was certain that it would not be a “good idea” to put the PLP “through that type of ordeal”.

In a letter to the media on Monday, the Marathon MP

detailed five reasons why he and several of his Parliamentary colleagues implored Mr Christie to stay on as leader.

Mr Fitzgerald in the letter claimed the PLP needed “certainty” if it intended to offer the country “continued political stability.”

He suggested that the party didn’t need the “distraction” of a leadership challenge as it works to state its claim as the best political option for voters.

Mr Fitzgerald also argued that the country had just gone through a rough economic period and that it would be “unwise” for any “political unrest or uncertainty over the leadership of the governing party” to ensue.

Mr Fitzgerald indicated

that the political will shown

by Mr Christie when the party implemented value added tax (VAT), illustrated that “tough” decision making needed to lead the country moving forward.

He further claimed that as Prime Minister, Mr Christie has “guided, advised and supported” all the PLP’s new generational Cabinet Ministers.

Attempting to clarify these claims, Mr Fitzgerald on Tuesday stated: “Those are my reasons, there are those who will agree and those who will disagree with me; but as you can see my comments and conversations were well thought out; I didn’t just come to that conclusion and I wanted to share my reasons so

that those who would hear it would have an understanding of how I came to that conclusion and make what they want of it.”

He continued: “Again, witnessing what happened last week, it is just not something I think a governing party should be embroiled in at this point in time; that was my only point and then I gave other reasons as to why I thought it would (not) be a good idea to put the Progressive Liberal Party through that type of ordeal.”

“I made (these points) primarily because there was a lot of talk about (who supported Mr Christie) and no one had actually spoken to me with regard to it, so I thought it was important, once the statement was

made, that I make a statement to identify myself as one of those persons and given the reason why and I did,” he said.

“I am never one to run way from what I say and what my views are, and those are my views; and so I have no problems sharing them.”

In mid-July, Mr Christie said he would seek to continue leading the Progressive Liberal Party because several young members of his government had urged him to do so.

He also suggested that instability would arise in the party if he were no longer leader, similar to what is occurring in the Official Opposition.

Despite his stance, how-

ever, Mr Christie received harsh criticism for his refusal to step away from the reigns of leadership.

Former PLP MP Philip Galanis chastised the Centreville MP, saying Mr Christie’s claims were at the “height of nonsense” and bordered on “delusional”.

Mr Galanis insisted that there were many people in the party capable and able to lead the party.

Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis also rejected the idea that the PLP would become unstable if Mr Christie, 72, retired.

To date, Mr Fitzgerald has been the only PLP parliamentarian to come forward to support Mr Christie’s claims.

RUN FOR POMPEY EVENT EXPECTED TO HAVE BIGGER TURNOUT

By ALEXANDER HAWKINS

GOING into its second year, more participants are expected to hit the roads for Run for Pompey in October in Exuma, an event which celebrates Bahamian history, culture and sport, according to organisers and tourism officials yesterday.

More than 200 people from several countries took part in the inaugural Run for Pompey last year and officials believe this year’s event, set for October 7 for 9 and expected to add at least 600 room nights during Exuma’s typically slow period, will draw even more. BAF Financial & Insurance Ltd will again be the title sponsor.

Run for Pompey sees runners compete in six distance races - 2km ‘Georgetown Dash’, 5km, 10km, half marathon, marathon and the gruelling ultra marathon (50km), the only one

AT yesterday’s press conference are, from left, Dianne Philips, Managing Director BAF Sandy Morley, Pauline Davis Thompson, Deputy Director General Ministry of Tourism Ellison Thompson and Sherial Mortimer.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff in The Bahamas - to raise money for a scholarship for Exuma’s best and brightest students.

The racers run in the footsteps of Pompey, the slave who risked his life to sail to New Providence to

PROUD ‘PAPA’ SHOWS OFF HIS 5LB MANGO

LLOYD Higgs, 72, of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, is one proud ‘papa’ after a mango tree in his yard bore a 5lb mango.

The fruit, is the largest he has seen from this year’s harvest.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

convince the Governor of The Bahamas not to allow the splitting up of slave families with whom he lived.

In 1830, the then 32-yearold Pompey led a rebellion against his British plantation owner, Lord John Rolle, who had declared that Pompey and 76 other slaves would be moved from Exuma to Cat Island. Local historians have said that Pompey’s rebellion marked the birth of the “freedom fight” that concluded with the emancipation of local slaves in 1838.

Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Chester Cooper, the president of BAF, and Pauline DavisThompson, the Bahamas’ Olympic gold medal winner descended from Exuma, attended the launch.

Mr Cooper said of Pompey that he “symbolises the spirit of fighting for what you believe in”. All proceeds from the event are channelled into an educational scholarship for

young Exumians, which last year sent one young lady to Acadia University, Canada.

The Ministry of Tourism also believes that this event can be a boon for the economy of Exuma. “Pompey is one of our first national heroes, so it’s appropriate that this Run will be held on National Heroes Day,” Mr Thompson said. “Run for Pompey has all the elements of a tourism winner, opportunities to bring visitors and locals together for a weekend of activities that brings focus to Exuma’s unique history and stunning beauty.”

The Run for Pompey luring guests to Exuma in October also coincides with the Ministry’s “Bahamas Love” calendar, a year of romance with a different focus each month, noted Mr Thompson.

• For details and registration visit www. runforpompey.com.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, August 3, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Reviving Downtown is more talk, less action A

RECENT comment by veteran columnist Nicki Kelly is worth repeating.

“All the Bahamas ever does is talk about what it is going to do, but somehow never manages to actually get anything done,” she said.

I will cite one clear example to document this comment. But there are many others – energy reform and waste disposal spring first to mind.

My example is the revitalisation of the city of Nassau. Once the centre of commerce and life for the entire country, the capital has been in a state of decline since at least the early 1980s.

Based on my writing over the past decade, here is a summary timeline: 1980s - Downtown interests (led by Norman Solomon) hired a US-based community developer, the Rouse Company, to draw up suggestions for the revitalisation of Nassau. They did not have enough political capital to get to first base.

Early 1990s - Architects

Jackson Burnside and Pat Rahming proposed designs for five public waterfront sites on the island’s north shore “as a catalyst (for) the redevelopment of the city”.

Late 1990s - The Nassau Tourism Development Board focused on the redevelopment of “Historic Nassau” and Jackson Burnside produced another planning study.

Early 2000s - A private sector downtown improvement programme was launched to build on Burnside’s recommendations, and workshops were held on the benefits of heritage tourism.

Mid-2000s - The Nassau Economic Development Commission (a publicprivate partnership) was formed and US design firm, EDAW, hired to develop a master plan for the city.

The Hotel Corporation was to become a Tourism Development Corporation to guide the whole process, and shipping operations were to be removed from Bay Street. Consultants were hired by the private sector to develop a business

PRIME Minister Perry Christie at the Central Nassau Urban Regeneration Plan launch last week. plan for the city.

Late 2000s - In one of the few achievements of this saga, container shipping was finally moved from the congested downtown area to Arawak Cay. The new port was set up as a publicprivate partnership and by all accounts has been a great success.

2014 - The government reveals that Chinese interests are acquiring downtown property and will produce a new master plan

for the city. Nothing more has been heard of this plan.

2015 - The government launched “Sustainable Nassau Initiative” with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank.

Today - Perry Christie (who commissioned the EDAW master plan in 2004) says this new “plan of action” will not just sit on a shelf. “This plan represents the first step in the formation of creative solutions to

our urban environment.”

According to Jackson Burnside’s widow, Pam, despite all this planning and talking “nobody is looking at the bigger picture. It is up to us, the people, to become the real stakeholders and agitate for action to make it happen.”

Pam is one of the leading lights in an initiative called Creative Nassau that was formed in 2008 by her late husband. Nassau has been designated as a Crea-

tive City of Crafts and Folk Arts by UNESCO. And the group’s goal is to enhance “awareness, appreciation and celebration of Bahamian art, culture and heritage.”

But as far as planning goes, Pam says “nothing will be achieved until the needs of the people are met, so that we have a reason to return to the downtown.

Then we invite visitors to come and celebrate with us.”

From the ‘Crazy Hill’ to Sandilands I

F you’ve ever been curious about the history of mental health in the Bahamas, pick up a copy of Dr John Spencer’s new book ‘From the Crazy Hill to Sandilands’.

I should add that it’s not a history - although it includes a lot of historical background. And neither is it an autobiography – although it recounts personal stories.

The book records some of the experiences of a young doctor in the Bahamian health services half a century ago, first as a medical officer at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and later as a psychiatrist at Sandilands.

Now in his 80s, John Spencer qualified as a physician in 1960 and married his high school sweetheart, Pat Denison, in their home town of Sheffield, England.

Within weeks they were in Nassau, after he was recruited by Chief Medical

Officer E H Murcott. But in 1964, at the PMH outpatient department, he had an epiphany, after witnessing the arrival of 20 mental patients from Sandilands for routine chest x-rays.

“It was at this moment that I first became acutely aware of that unexplored and neglected branch of medicine called psychiatry,” he wrote. “As I helped each patient in front of the x-ray machine, I was suddenly possessed by an intense curiosity to know more about those who were afflicted by these strange illnesses.”

A few months later he left Nassau for postgraduate training in psychiatry at the University of Sheffield. He returned in 1969 to work with the legendary Dr Henryk Podlewski at Sandilands Hospital.

Podlewski (who died last year at the age of 94) was a fascinating character and a true medical pioneer in

the Bahamas. As a student in Warsaw, he experienced first-hand the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, which started the Second World War. He and many others fled the country to join the free Polish forces led by General Władysław Sikorski in France. Podlewski and other Polish troops were deployed to the Middle East, under French and later British command.

Later in the war, the Polish government-in-exile encouraged young professionals to finish their university training, and Podlewski ended up at the University of Edinburgh as the war came to an end, rooming with a friend, Stan Pogonoski.

After the war, Pogonoski’s English wife became secretary to Sir Robert Neville, who was then Governor of the Bahamas.

And in 1956 Pogonoski invited Henry to join him in

Nassau.

This was a marvellously serendipitous event for the Bahamas. Podlewski was the first qualified psychiatrist ever to practice in the Bahamas. And he was instrumental in transforming mental health treatment in the country and planning the first psychiatric hospital, in eastern New Providence.

Before 1956, disturbed patients were confined to a prison-like compound on a rise adjacent to the old Bahamas General Hospital.

At the time, it was a popular pastime to climb to the top of the water tower for a good view of the lunatics on the ‘Crazy Hill’ below.

Another of Spencer’s psychiatric colleagues then was Dr Tim McCartney, who wrote a popular book in the 1970s, ‘Neuroses in the Sun’. It contained his personal recollection of the ‘Crazy Hill’ as a teenager, which Spencer repeats in

his book. “They were nearly always screaming, hurling obscenities, banging their heads against the bars, or pathetically shouting for help and imploring people to release them. Occasionally boys would throw rocks at them, egged on by amused onlookers.”

It was Podlewski who almost single-handedly changed all this - supervising the transfer of 140 ‘Crazy Hill’ patients to the new 200-bed Sandilands Hospital at Fox Hill. The move coincided with the advent of new drugs for mental illness, and the introduction of psychiatric training for local nurses.

According to Spencer, “Henry exercised great patience and skill to gradually transform the old asylumstyle practices into a modern psychiatric service.

He educated the public to regard patients as curable rather than lunatics who had to be locked up forev-

er. He also played a major role in drafting new mental health legislation.”

One of Spencer’s most intriguing tales about Sandilands features a delusional Haitian migrant who believed he was possessed by an evil spirit sent by a powerful zombie in Haiti.

In April 1971 something unusual happened: for no apparent reason his Haitian patient made a sudden overnight recovery, assuring everyone that something “very good” had happened.

Newspaper headlines the next day reported the death of President François Duvalier, or Papa Doc as he was called, at the relatively young age of 64. Duvalier had ruled Haiti for 14 years with the help of voodoo priests.

“He had actually died on the very day of Willie’s unexplained recovery,” Spencer wrote. “This was an incredible coincidence, and when I showed him the newspaper headlines, he grasped my hands and said: ‘Oui, oui. I know. Very good, very good’.”

Spencer left the Bahamas just prior to Independence, and practised in Canada, France, England and Australia, where he eventually settled. He has published widely in medical journals and is the author of two books on psycho-social topics.

He contributed to the development of mental health services in rural areas of Western Australia and for indigenous communities.

He has also been a hospital superintendent, director of the Western Australia Alcohol and Drug Committee and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Western Australia.

Until recently, one of his three adult children Matthew, who is a Bahamian - was a teacher at St Andrew’s School. He now works in Thailand.

• From the Crazy Hill to Sandilands: Reflections & Memories of a Psychiatrist in The Bahamas, by Dr John Spencer. Published by Media Enterprises, 2016.

100 pages.

• What do you think?

Send comments to lsmith@ tribunemedia.net or visit www.bahamapundit.com

THE THETRIBUNE TRIBUNE

WHEN seconds count, the right clothing matters for Olympic athletes competing in Brazil and competition has been hot between leading manufacturers for the Rio de Janeiro Games, which open on Friday.

Nike used 3-D printing technology to develop small silicone protrusions for redirecting air flow around the runner. Body scanners helped Adidas design suits to keep swimmers in ideal form. Swiss cycling specialist Assos turned to wind tunnels to craft custom, form-fitting suits for the US cycling team.

Innovations in suits and shoes have speeded up, thanks to advancements in how clothing is designed and tested, all as manufacturers get creative in working around rules enacted to prevent the apparel equivalent of doping.

“We make sure we stay inside those rules, but we will get to the very edge of them if we can,” said Adam Clement, senior creative director for team sports at Under Armour. “Our goal is to innovate in a way that ultimately makes the Olympic rules change. We’ll adjust, but we’ll feel proud of that accomplishment.”

Wednesday, August 2016, PAGE Wednesday, August 3rd, 3, 2016, PAGE A99

DRESSED FOR

SUCCESS HIGH-TECH OLYMPIC WEAR CAN SAVE VITAL SECONDS IN RIO

WHY IT MATTERS Clothing needs to be form-fitting to minimise air resistance, especially for speed events in cycling, swimming and track.

But the wrong materials or designs could mean discomfort and unnecessary weight, counteracting the gains from drag reduction. Clothing also promises to reduce irritations such as sweat and heat.

PREVENTING PROBLEMS Clothing alone won’t make up for years of training, good coaching and the right body mechanics, but the wrong kind can hurt.

“You’re not going to catch magic on race day from magic shoes,” US marathoner Desiree Linden said.

“But if I train really hard and I get a blister or don’t step on my foot right, the race doesn’t matter any more.”

For Rio, US cyclists got their Assos suits two weeks ago and will have the option of wearing their regular outfits if they don’t like the fit.

US SPRINTER Trayvon Bromell. For the New Balance track shoes that Bromell will wear during the Olympics, the company turned to 3-D printing technology to test multiple configurations to improve traction and energy transfer. (AP) THE OUTFITS Athletes typically get clothing and shoes as part of brand-sponsorship deals. Running specialist Brooks turned to Linden to help design her Hyperion shoes. The shoe fabric eliminates seams to reduce the risk of blisters, while rubber rings on the bottom boost traction in slippery terrains and serve as barriers to contain and propel energy back up, according to the company.

Under Armour uniforms for the Canadian rugby and the Swiss and Dutch beach volleyball teams borrow NASA spacesuit technology to reduce body temperature. The insides have crystal-pattern sheets to absorb heat from the body.

Nike is embedding air-resistance protrusions in track suits for 24 teams and will also make them available as a tape for runners to stick on their arms and legs.

SAMSUNG’S NEW JUMBO PHONE UNLOCKS WITH IRIS SCANNER SAMSUNG’S new Galaxy Note 7 phone can be unlocked by just looking at it.

It will come with an iris sca nner, which matches patterns in your eyes with what was detected by your phone during setup. It offers an alternative to fingerprint ID, which doesn’t work well when fingers are wet. Of course, the four-digit passcode will still work.

“We challenged our engineers to design a security system that’s convenient and safe at the same time,” said Justin Denison, a senior vice president for product strategy at Samsung. “It took five years to perfect, but it only takes a glance to unlock your phone.” Microsoft’s Lumia 950 phones were first to have iris scanners.

The updates otherwise in the Note 7 are mostly enhancements, such as a stronger glass screen and double the amount of storage - 64 gigabytes, plus a slot to add more.

The Note 7 comes with the enhanced camera the smaller Galaxy S7 phones got in March apart from interface enhancements to access settings and switch between the front and rear cameras more easily.

The new phone comes weeks before Apple is expected to announce new

THE BOUNDARIES Swimming has among the toughest guidelines after Speedo’s fullbody suits - which are no longer permitted - were developed with NASA to boost buoyancy and reduce drag.

Adidas’ Adizero XVI swimsuits for Britain’s Chris Walker-Hebborn and other swimmers have elasticlike bands meant to keep bodies in streamlined positions.

That minimises drag and propels swimmers in the pool. Because the rules allow Adidas to place the bands only over seams where pieces of fabric meet, Adidas moved the seams over to where it wanted the bands to be.

Adidas also took the unusual step of designing a model just for the breaststroke to account for the way a swimmer’s legs move outward in the frog kick, rather than up and down in the more traditional flutter kick.

IN THE LABS Omar Visentin, chief operating officer and former research chief at Assos, said clothing manufacturers now have more sophisticated ways to tests fabrics and the way they are cut and measure minute differences in performance. Other companies even use computer modelling to design that perfect suit with fewer prototypes.

For the Vazee Sigma track shoes that US sprinter Trayvon Bromell will wear, New Balance turned to 3-D printing technology to test multiple configurations to improve traction and energy transfer.

Nike also used 3-D printing and wind tunnels to improve its air-resistance protrusions, which worked only for sprints during the 2012 Olympics. Miller said prototypes from 3-D printing allowed Nike to find a shape that works for longer distances, too.

Adidas designed its Adizero MD mid-distance shoes to account for the bends on the track, rather than just the straight portions of races. It tested various combinations of stiffness and thinness to keep runners like Kenya’s David Rudisha stabilised so they don’t slow down on the curves.

ANICK JESDANUN Associated Press

POKEMON GO CHANGES SPARK

CRITICISM

models. This time, Samsung has just one large model, which stays at 5.7 inches. It will have curved edges - a well-liked feature limited to a special “Edge” model before. The Note 7 will be available in the US from August 19.

The Note 7 comes with a stylus, which expands on a feature that lets you magnify text and images by hovering the pen over it. With the pen, people will have ways to easily create and share GIF animations.

The Note 7 also expands on a feature to give sensitive files an additional layer of security. You’ll be asked for an iris scan, fingerprint or passcode to access documents you place in a Secure Folder.

This way, if you’re handing the phone to friends to browse pictures, you are not inadvertently giving them access to confidential work documents.

ANICK JESDANUN Associated Press

CHANGES made by developers of ‘Pokemon Go’ at the weekend have brought a storm of criticism from players of what is being described as the hottest mobile game ever.

The game, released on July 6, has shattered download records, been used more than Twitter or Facebook and sparked fever across the globe.

‘Pokemon Go’ encourages players to walk around in the real world with their phone and find mythical creatures called Pokemon.

When they do, they leap onto the screen, where they appear to be sitting on a stoop or standing in the middle of the street in the real world. Just swipe on the screen to throw a ball to “catch” and collect them all.

But with no warning, ‘Pokemon Go’ developer Niantic removed a key feature that helps players track how close Pokemon are to their location and reportedly told other app

makers to shut down apps designed to help people identify Pokemon in their neighbourhood.

That means apps like Poke Radar, which help people more easily find special monsters hanging out nearby in the quest to catch them all.

It means players currently have very few ways to track down wild Pokemon.

Many of the game’s more dedicated players are unhappy and have taken to social media.

As of Monday, ratings for ‘Pokemon Go’ had dropped to 1.5 (out of 5) stars on the iTunes App Store in the US and UK, and two stars in Australia and Japan.

TECHTALK • VIRGIN Galactic says it has received an operating licence for its space tourism rocket from the Federal Aviation Administration which will ultimately permit commercial operations.

The company said the licensing process involved a review of the system’s design, safety analysis and flight trajectory analysis.

Virgin Galatic’s first spaceship broke apart in 2014 during its fourth rocket-powered test flight when the co-pilot prematurely unlocked a key system. The first taxi test of the the company’s SpaceShipTwo new spacecraft took place on Monday morning at the Mojave, California, airport.

• THE first wave of genetically modified mosquitoes have been released in the Cayman Islands as part of a new effort to control the insect that spreads Zika and other viruses.

Genetically altered male mosquitoes, which don’t bite but are expected to mate with females to produce offspring that die before reaching adulthood, were released in the West Bay area of Grand Cayman Island, according to a joint statement from the Cayman Islands Mosquito Research and Control Unit and British biotech firm Oxitec.

The mosquitoes will be released over nine months in an area known to be a hot spot for the Aedes aegypti species, which are not native to the Cayman Islands and are the main vector for Zika as well as other viruses, including chikingunya and dengue. Oxitec has deployed its mosquitoes to fight Zika in Brazil following initial trials there and previously conducted tests in the Cayman Islands and Panama.

• TESLA wants to put its car and energy storage businesses under one solar-powered roof by buying solar panel maker SolarCity Corp in an all-stock deal worth $2.6 billion.

Thirteen-year-old Tesla currently makes two luxury vehicles - the Model S sedan and Model X SUV - as well as Powerwall and Powerpack energy storage units for homes and businesses.

The company said that a tieup with SolarCity would create a one-stop shop for cleaner energy.

With one service call, customers could get their solar panels installed and connected to a Powerwall, which preserves energy for later use. Users could also get the system hooked up to chargers for one of Tesla’s vehicles. The deal must still be approved by the government and shareholders at both companies.

• A University of Washington biology professor leading an ambitious project to scan and digitise all of more than 25,000 species of fish in the world is making progress.

Adam Summers has a small computed tomography (CT) to visualise the inner structures of stingray and other fish with the idea to have one clearinghouse of CT scan data freely available to researchers anywhere to analyse the morphology, or structure, of particular species. So far, he and others have digitised images of more than 500 species, from poachers to sculpins, from museum collections around the globe.

He plans to add thousands more and has invited other scientists to use the CT scanner, or add their own scans to the open-access database.

“We have folks coming from all over the world to use this machine,” said Summers, who advised Pixar on how fish move for its hit animated films “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory” and is dubbed “fabulous fish guy” on the credits for “Nemo”.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, August 3, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

AT LEAST SIX KILLED AS TROPICAL STORM HITS DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TROPICAL STORM Earl formed yesterday morning in the Caribbean Sea as the strengthening system tracked west towards Central America.

The fast-moving storm brought heavy rains and strong winds to the Dominican Republic on Monday and caused at least six deaths in the country.

The system, which was

moving south of the country in the Caribbean Sea, knocked down power lines on Sunday near the northeastern town of Nagua and started a fire that killed six passengers on a bus filled with people returning from a beach excursion. At least 12 others on board were injured, according to Diego Pesqueira, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transpor-

tation Authority in Santo Domingo.

Conditions from the system may have also caused a tour boat to overturn near the Samana Peninsula on Sunday. Authorities recovered the bodies of three people and said four others were still missing. Military spokesman Arsenio Maldonado said a small craft advisory was in effect at the

time but a cause of the incident has not yet been determined.

The Dominican Emergency Operations Centre said that 19 of the 32 provinces were on alert for potential flooding as the system continued to pass south of the country.

The Jamaica Meteorological Service advised small vessels to return to shore as

the storm moved west with strong winds and heavy rain. It said that flash flooding is likely across the island as a result of the storm, especially in low-lying areas in southern Jamaica.

Last night, the storm was centred about 395 miles east of Belize City and expected to reach the coast of Honduras overnight. It had top sustained winds of 60mph

and was speeding west at 16mph. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said that Earl was threatening to bring heavy rains, flooding and high winds to Mexico, Belize and Honduras. All three countries issued Tropical Storm warnings for some areas, and a hurricane watch was issued for part of the Mexican coast.

DANCERS celebrating at the closing ceremony for the Urban Renewal Summer Camp.

Urban Renewal marks end of summer camp HUNDREDS of children from nine Urban Renewal 2.0 Centres came together for the official closing ceremony for Summer Camp 2016 on Collins Estates Grounds on Friday.

The programme included performances by students representing various camp centres in drama, song, dance, Junkanoo, testimo-

nials, modelling and exhibits of the students’ work during the five-week camp.

The Urban Renewal Band and Super Me participants were also featured.

Philip Davis, Minister of Works and Urban Development, encouraged the children to exercise discipline and obey and listen to their teachers while also present

were Ruby Ann Darling, Co-ordinator, Peace Ambassadors; Algernon Allen, Co-Chair, Urban Renewal Commission; Diana Lightbourne, Permanent Secretary, Urban Renewal Commission; and Patricia Francis, First Assistant Secretary, Urban Renewal Commission and members of the Urban Renewal team.

THE URBAN Renewal Youth Band in action.

SOME of those attending the Urban Renewal Summer Camp closing ceremony on Friday.

Photos: Letisha Henderson/BIS

READERS SPEAK OUT OVER LIGHTBOURN’S COMMENTS MONTAGU MP Richard Lightbourn’s highlycriticised proposal for state-sponsored sterilisation sparked a heated debate among commenters on tribune242.com.

Proudloudandfnm thought the MP had to go: “I know one thing. If I was leader the party would have to live without his seat until next election. I would have ejected him from the party by now.”

DillyTree offered these ideas: “This is an outrageous suggestion, Mr. Lightbourn! Women have the right to control their

own bodies, and sterilisation should never be forced upon anyone. This has shades of Nazi Germany all over it.

“That said, Mr. Lightbourn acknowledges the stunning fact that so many children in the Bahamas are born out of wedlock to mothers who cannot sup-

port or nurture them – perhaps leading to a variety of the social ills we face today – crime, gangs, overcrowded schools, socially inept children, youth unemployment, etc. Clearly something must be done. How about this solution?

“1. Two children max will be supported by the government. After that, you’re on your own. Why should the public pay for your indiscretions? Assistance to be contingent on finding a job within 1 year, with job training available if needed.

No working, no pay. Simple.

“2. Birth control must be

made available to women free of charge (remember this amazing National Health Insurance programme we’re supposed to be getting?) Tubal sterilisation would also be available to women who request it at a modest cost. Ditto on young men opting for vasectomies. But NEVER forced!”

Jackbnimble had this to say: “I see his point, although the delivery may have been off. Why have a bunch of children that you can’t feed and then constantly run to social services or your MP for help?

“He should have suggested stronger education or birth control but I do see his point.”

DreamerX had this suggestion: “Legalising abortion with ease of access is a better alternative. There are purported studies showing some correlation between the prevalence of abortion clinics to the overall reduction in crime with some communities receiving a spike.”

Bahamianpride said: “Vasectomies on men would be the quickest way because the procedure is quick, easy, and more effective on population control.

One man can impregnate many women at a time so I would suggest we encourage men to get vasectomies if they keep having kids they don’t want or cannot afford to care for.”

And in The Tribune’s online poll, we asked readers if they thought Mr Lightbourn should resign over his comments.

At the time of going to press, the majority of those voting - 53 per cent - thought he should stay on as MP. • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

Wednesday, August 3, 2016, PAGE 11