08132018 NEWS

MONDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 90ºF LOW 80ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

VOLUME:115 No.180, AUGUST 13TH, 2018

HO US E & 16 THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

SPORTS: SILVER MEDAL TRIUMPH FOR BAHAMAS RELAY TEAM PAGES

Band on the run Police hunt four still missing after mass breakout

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THIRTEEN juvenile inmates escaped Simpson Penn Centre for Boys after gaining access to the building’s ceiling on Saturday night, with four of them remaining on the run up to press time last night.

The boys are between 15 and 17, The Tribune was told.

Chief Superintendent of Police Clayton Fernander said the boys were unarmed and no one had been hurt during the escape. The teens reportedly attempted to assimilate within a crowd celebrating Fox Hill Day. Police said in a statement: “According to reports, shortly before 10pm, a supervisor on duty was alerted by noise coming

from one of the colleges.

Upon making checks, he discovered an opening in the roof and a number of inmates were missing. Officers responded to the Fox Hill area, where they captured eight of the inmates and returned them to the school.”

When contacted, Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell said the “ceiling of the building in question is an open ceiling.”

“Once they got into the ceiling, that would give them access through the entire building,” Mr Campbell said, telling The Tribune four of them remained at large yesterday.

He said family and friends harbouring the missing boys should know it is an offence to do so.

SEE PAGE THREE

THE Minnis administration is intent on buying the Grand Lucayan resort, despite objections from former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said on Saturday he will give a detailed address this week explaining the government’s decision.

Last week Mr Ingraham, former leader of the Free National Movement,

became the most prominent critic of the move. In an interview with The Nassau Guardian, he argued that by not meeting face-to-face in Hong Kong with officials of Hutchinson Whampoa, which owns the resort, the administration has not exhausted all options for keeping the development in private hands.

Dr Minnis declined to respond to Mr Ingraham on Saturday.

“I won’t respond to that,” he said.

SEE PAGE 11

NURSES PIN HOPES ON PM AS MEDIATOR

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A FRIDAY meeting with Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has given the Bahamas Nurses Union “high expectation” their concerns will be resolved in their favour, union president Amancha Williams said.

According to her, Dr Minnis said he will take two weeks to consider their concerns and will then meet them to discuss his solutions.

However, when asked about the matter on Saturday, Dr Minnis suggested he gave no indication that he will reverse decisions made by the Public Hospitals Authority, saying: “I’ve asked the nurses, they can commence relevant communications with the relevant ministry authority.”

SEE PAGE SIX

ONLY ONE SCHOOL LATE FOR NEW TERM

MINNIS TO LAY OUT LUCAYAN PROPOSAL

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HOME

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

POACHERS HIT WITH $3M FINES FORTY-SIX Dominican poachers were fined over $3m during a special sitting of the Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The poaching vessel’s captain was also convicted of two additional charges relating to possession of weaponry and sentenced to a total of 30 months in prison. Some of the poachers are pictured above at an earlier court appearance. See page five for the full story.

LAND’OR STAFF: WHERE’S OUR WAGES?

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

EMPLOYEES at Club Land’Or claim they are owed as much as 49 weeks pay according to Labour Director John Pinder, with the resort’s attorney acknowledging the property is having “challenges”.

Mr Pinder told Tribune Business: “Some of the staff have complained to

CLUB LAND’OR the Department of Labour that they are owed as much as 49 weeks in salary and Club Land’Or has not been able to pay. On Friday, we got a call that

some attorneys wanted to meet with them one on one to explain the position in which Club Land’Or finds itself in at this time,” said Mr Pinder.

“Since they weren’t getting any salary no union dues were being deducted but technically they are still under the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU). I had advised them to reach out to the union.”

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

GOVERNMENT officials suspect that only one public school - the Eva Hilton Primary - may not be ready on opening day come next month.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Education Minister Jeff Lloyd toured this and other schools on Saturday.

Arrangements to accommodate students of Eva Hilton have not been finalised, but Mr Lloyd said it is expected they will be accommodated at the Kendal Isaacs Gym. Eva Hilton is a new school.

CH Reeves and Thelma Gibson Primary School also underwent major renovations this year, with the former receiving as many as eight additional classrooms.

SEE PAGE SIX

INSIGHT

THE FAMILIES FIGHTING TO SAVE THEIR HOMES

SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Monday, August 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Chief Justice sworn in

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net JUSTICE Stephen Isaacs was officially sworn in as chief justice in a ceremony held at Government House on Friday.

Chief Justice Isaacs was formally appointed to the substantive post on July 10, after serving as acting chief justice since last December. Prior to his appointment, the country’s last substantive chief justice was Sir Hartman Longley, appointed in 2015.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Justice Isaacs listed better efficiency, an improved judicial complex, and more effective manpower management among his goals for his tenure in this position.

When asked what he hopes to bring to this post, Justice Isaacs first acknowledged that when there is a change in leadership, there is a “change in culture”, adding those who fall below then must adapt to “your style, your drive, your vision”.

While saying the judiciary’s basic function of settling disputes between parties must continue, he pointed to the overall issue of improving efficiency.

“We always try to improve the efficiency in disposing of cases, criminal and civil,” he said. “Our immediate concern has always been that the judges are separated into, in this case, four buildings.

“But we’re getting closer because they’re all on Bank Lane now, instead of scattered all in different locations. So that’ll help us coordinate our efforts. Having a purposebuilt judicial complex is still in the works. It’s been in the works since I was registrar.

And with any luck you may see it before I retire.”

In terms of case load,

Justice Isaacs said, “efficiency goes with volume”.

Pointing to how litigious Bahamian society has become, along with the “social upheaval” caused by crime, Justice Isaacs said the ratio of cases to judges continues to be extremely disproportionate.

“We always try to maintain efficiency, but the number of judges is limited by statute,” he said. “So, let’s say we have 16 judges.

And one year, there are 1,500 cases filed. The next year, there’s 1,700 cases filed, and on and on. But you still have the same 16 judges. That adds to the issue of efficiency.”

“What would be really helpful is, for instance, on the criminal side, in the US, 90 plus per cent of persons who are charged with a crime, plea bargain. They plead out. Only about 5-10 percent go to trial.”

Justice Isaacs said by comparison, The Bahamas has a “fledgling” kind of plea bargain system.

“Our plea bargain is limited to, putting it in simple terms... ‘you take less time for the same crime’.

“Which is different from, ‘well, we’ll charge you with a lesser crime, and you go to prison, and you may get out in three years on a tenyear sentence.’

“Well, we don’t operate that way. So we…have less incentive for persons to plead guilty, because the benefits aren’t as great as those that you’ll have in the US. “On the civil side, because of all the social upheaval that’s been going on, most of the judges are signed to criminal cases.”

Because of this, Justice Isaacs said, the civil judges that are left are “swamped” with the myriad of cases that are piled into the system each year.

“That is something we have to look at, but we’re looking at it, we keep

THE NEW Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs alongside Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling at Government House on Friday. looking at it, we try to distribute the cases a little more evenly, and have the criminal judges hear some civil matters. That’s as far as we’ve gotten so far.”

Justice Isaacs added better distribution is important to avoid judges experiencing “burnout”.

When asked his other goals for his tenure as chief justice, Justice Isaacs said “more of the same” but “with a better result”.

One method to achieve this will be a focus on the administrative staff, he said, adding when they are more efficient, judges are more efficient.

“Having sat as registrar, I have a pretty good feel as to how to motivate the staff. I tend to have an open-door policy — as long as you are doing your work, I will listen to your problems.”

Ultimately, Justice Isaacs said the system has to be run on a merit system.

Otherwise, “it clogs up the whole administrative system”.

He also recommended judges have a

“no-nonsense” attitude with attorneys, which will also cause them to “pick up speed”.

Attorney General Carl Bethel also praised the selection of Justice Isaacs at Friday’s ceremony.

Mr Bethel described him as a jurist of “decades-long experience,” who “came up the hard way”. “(Justice Isaacs) worked his way through the lower levels of judicial experience as a registrar, he then became a puny judge in 2002, and since then has worked his way up to the rank of senior justice, until today, when he’s finally ascended to the pinnacle of the judiciary as our lord chief justice of The Bahamas,” Mr Bethel said.

“We are very, very proud (of) all of his achievements, and we think that he is an excellent jurist, and a man who has dealt with every manner of legal dispute, and has done so efficiently, effectively, fairly, and impartially.

“And we have every confidence that in this…office,

he will maintain the very highest standards to be expected of a chief justice of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

When asked what he would say to those who were critical of how long it took for this selection to be made, Mr Bethel dismissed their critiques and pointed to the “peculiar authority” of both the prime minister and governor general.

“The prime minister felt it was his right to exercise discernment, not to rush to something,” Mr Bethel said.

“Yes, he ended up, really, at a foregone conclusion.

But he did so after due deliberation and careful thought and consultation.

Not only with me, but with the wider legal profession.

With other senior attorneys, and also, I know for a fact, with other members of the judiciary.

“But it took time and it was a process that he went through because he wished to be very careful in what he did.”

Mr Bethel was also asked

by reporters about the passing of the Economic Empowerment Bill in the Senate on Friday, without the opposition’s amendments being adhered to.

Responding to their critiques of the legislation, Mr Bethel said: “In governance, you do nothing, you’re criticised for doing nothing. If you do something, you’re criticised for that.

“My only question to the opposition is this: You don’t like what we’re doing or how we’re doing it, what did you do? Don’t try and pomp style— which (is) what they’re trying to, pomp and style.

“What did they do to empower the ordinary Bahamian?” he continued.

“What did they do to craft laws that were directly aimed at giving economic benefits to ordinary Bahamians? The same benefits a foreign investor could get, an ordinary man and woman, an ordinary Bahamian investor can get, and get it Over-the-Hill. What is wrong with that?”

SIGNATURE WRAPS. Turkey, Bacon & Guacamole

Savory Rotisserie-Style Chicken Caesar

Chipotle Southwest Steak & Cheese

Make any sub a Signature Wrap!

The original, the official Subway® restaurants!

Locations in Nassau • Cable Beach • Charlotte Street North • Marathon Mall - Food Court • Shell Airport Service Station • Palmdale Shopping Center • Old Fort Bay Town Centre – Shell Station • Carmichael Road - Shops at Carmichael Plaza • East Street South – Independence Shopping Plaza Subway® is a Registered Trademark of Subway IP Inc. ©2018 Subway IP Inc. SUBBAH-17114

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 13, 2018, PAGE 3

THE GATE at the entrance to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys yesterday following Saturday night’s escape.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Band on the run from page one

He said officials this week will examine the facility with a view to implementing necessary security measures.

“Moving forward, I will take advantage of my

personal security background and I will use the assistance of the police force and other security forces that have a vested interest in this,” the former police officer said.

Mr Campbell said he is pleased the incident has so far resulted in no harm to

anyone.

“I’m extremely happy about that,” he said.

“The boys who were brought back while we were there, EMS was on the scene and they assisted with checking them out and ensuring they didn’t have any health issue. A parent

brought back one of his sons, so he too should be commended. I’m trusting parents of the other four will take that same example.”

Escapes from the juvenile detention facility are not uncommon. In 2011, five boys escaped on a Saturday evening. Less than

SHOOTING VICTIM IDENTIFIED

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

POLICE have released the identity of the man who was killed on Thursday night in a double shooting that also injured a woman in Bamboo Town.

Superintendent Anton Rahming confirmed to The Tribune yesterday the

murder victim was Jerome Pinder, 66.

According to a Royal Bahamas Police Force press release, shortly after 10pm on August 9, a group of people were playing a board game in front of a home on Taylor Drive off Victoria Boulevard in Bamboo Town, when a white vehicle drove up.

The occupants opened fire in the direction of the group, injuring two of them before speeding away.

Paramedics were called to the scene and attempted to revive the male victim, Pinder, but were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead on scene.

The woman was transported to hospital where she remains in a stable

A BODY is taken from the scene of a suspected suicide in the Blue Hill Heights area.

MAN FOUND IN SUSPECTED SUICIDE A MAN was discovered dead hanging from a pole in his home with a rope around his neck in what police suspect to be a suicide.

The man was found shortly before 6.30pm on Friday and police were called to the home at Mastic Street, Blue

Hill Heights.

Paramedics were also called to the scene, conducted a preliminary examination and pronounced him dead.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

The investigation is ongoing.

condition.

The shooting marked the 61st murder this year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Meanwhile, a man who died on August 6 after being shot two days earlier in the area of Logwood Road in Grand Bahama has been formally identified by police as Henry Johnson, aka “Lil Henry”.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

a year later, seven inmates escaped on a Sunday.

At the time, then Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin spoke of the “lapses in security initiatives” at the facility.

The Tribune understands that although not always reported to the public, one

or two youth occasionally escape from the school.

Problems have also occurred at the Williamae Pratt Centre for Girls over the years, the most infamous of which was a deadly fire in 2003 that led to the death of two girls when an escape attempt went wrong.

PAGE 4,Monday, August 13, 2018

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

THE TRIBUNE

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

US holds its breath to see how mid-terms blow TOO many Americans remain flummoxed about how they wound up with Donald Trump as their president. They can conjure up dozens of reasons why he shouldn’t be president, but how he got elected remains fundamentally mysterious for many. While the Robert Mueller investigation and the evidence of Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election offer a partial explanation, few serious students of American politics believe Russian interference tipped the balance by itself.

In the early months of the Trump administration, shocked Democrats, liberals, moderates, immigrants, women, minorities and others who couldn’t imagine the two words President Trump together in a sentence believed he would soon implode. Trump could surely not last. No one that impulsive, tone-deaf and transparently selfish could survive, many believed.

They thus began to worry about the prospect of a President Pence and his hard conservative right social agenda on abortion and various polarising personal issues that most surveyed Americans believe should never appear on the political agenda.

But Trump endured. He is still the President of the United States, 19 months after a calamitously inauspicious start that featured firings, resignations and withdrawn nominations from some of the nation’s most sensitive positions and the appointment of others who were immediately reviled.

So early planning continued for Trump’s resignation or even impeachment despite Republican majorities in Congress. But that hasn’t happened.

The GOP has cravenly caved to Trump, and bi-elections across the country have exposed the profound vulnerability of any Republican candidate who dares to criticise Trump.

Now Americans seem resigned to the prospect that Trump will in fact serve out his full term until January 2021.

The hopes of some reside in the Mueller investigation, but any belief that its results could lead Trump to resign seems far-fetched at this point. Given Trump’s unwillingness to abide by almost any political convention or societal norm, it is hard to visualise a Richard Nixon scenario whereby Trump would resign, no matter the evidence against him.

With all options for Trump’s early departure from office seemingly off the table, attention has turned to the

upcoming mid-term elections. If Trump will not leave and cannot realistically be forced out of office by traditional means, then opponents must focus on undermining Republican strength in Congress to at least frustrate Trump’s efforts to steer the country in what they see as wrong directions.

The November elections will likely be the most closely watched and intensely analyzed non-presidential vote in recent memory. There have been several primary elections already held during 2017-18 in the run-up to November, and analysts are pouring over the results to see what the future might bring.

Naturally, there are at least two widely divergent perspectives on what has happened so far in this election season.

The conservative Republican view is that while there have been diminished margins for Republicans, they have nonetheless generally prevailed.

This is true. Ohio’s bi-election last week in a traditionally conservative district just north of Columbus reinforced this belief. The Democrat, a 31-year-old newcomer, put a scare into his Republican opponent, whose campaign featured appearances by both Trump and Pence.

The vote was very close and there has still been no concession. But the Republican does appear to have prevailed.

Those opposing Trump believe while there are no moral victories in politics, the erosion of support for Republican candidates is unmistakable. In ten Congressional races contested during the past year, one Republican seat, in a deep red southwest Pennsylvania district, was turned blue by a Democratic victory.

GOP candidates otherwise prevailed.

What gives encouragement to Trump’s opponents is that in eight of the other nine congressional races, the Republican margin of victory was dramatically lower than margins rung up by Trump himself in 2016 or even Mitt Romney four years earlier.

In the Ohio election, for example, the Republican won by 36 percentage points fewer than Trump. The results were similar in races in Arizona (-32%), Alabama (-30%), Georgia (-19%), Kansas (-24%) and South Carolina (-17%).

Analysts point to this as evidence of a potential “blue wave” of Democratic triumphs in November. There are reports of senior Republican national strategists already in full panic mode. Nonetheless, it is much too early to be sure.

Shanty towns EDITOR, The Tribune.

I COMMEND this government on its decision to rid our country of the Shanty Towns, but I respectfully disagree with the methods and action being taken, which is causing the delays being experienced.

I had my doubts when I learned, that a committee was being appointed to deal with this matter, which included contraventions of our laws and criminal activity. It is my opinion, which I had expressed to officials of former government administrations, that the Police, Immigration Department and our Defence Force be instructed to eliminate the Shanty Towns. The entire process to be done humanely.

Firstly - Police investigations to identify the landlords and rent collectors, who must be prosecuted for all of he contraventions and breaches of our law. The Courts to be asked to deal with these persons by imposing heavy fines and where necessary compensation to their victims, government and tenants, They collected millions over the years from

these sub-standard communities, that are health hazards and hideouts for criminal elements in our country. They must not go unpunished. The Courts ordering that they pay for demolition of the buildings and not taxpayers.

Secondly - Police investigation to determine how those buildings with utilities, such as water, electricity and cable TV, were able to acquire these provisions.

Identify the persons responsible for providing the utilities and what is being paid or was paid to acquire these services. In the case of electricity, stealing electricity’s a crime and water should be the same. Who are the persons responsible and how much was being paid. It is amazing, that the utility companies are apparently unconcerned about their employees who may have been involved in the illegal supply of these services. Identify and prosecute the offenders Thirdly - While Police investigations are being conducted Immigration personnel backed by Marines would interrogate residents of the Shanty Towns

regarding their status.

Those persons in contravention of our laws will be arrested and charged before our Courts. Others to be warned, that they must find other accommodation as the buildings in which they reside would be demolished in three months. The visits must be during the hours when residents are expected to be at home.

Decisions regarding ownership of land, illegal construction and other relevant matters would have been made by the court before ordering evictions and demolitions.

In 2008, I wrote about our immigration problems and emphasised the importance of having proper records on immigrants living in our country, as it relates to internal security, peace and good order. The 2008 document was sent to all politicians (PLP, FNM and DNA) and certain heads of our law enforcement agencies.

We served with honour and remember with pride.

PAUL THOMPSON SR, Nassau, August 9, 2018.

Revisiting port authority past EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE following letter was written to Fred Sturrup, Editor Freeport News, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas.

Dear Mr. Editor, I read your editorial in Thursday’s edition of the Freeport News and noted your suggestion that during none of my three non-consecutive terms in office did any of my administrations seek to purchase the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) or put in place new leadership.

I thought a little memory refresher might assist.

When the FNM was first elected to Government in 1992 Grand Bahama was economically in the doldrums. We partnered with the then leaders of the GBPA, Edward St. George and Sir Jack Hayward, to stimulate investment.

We enacted legislation to extend the life of the expired Hawksbill Creek Agreement real property and business licence exemptions for an additional 22 years. We also partnered with the GBPA in a number of investment promotion missions to Europe, Asia and North and South America.

The result of those legislative amendments followed by targeted promotional tours and the good working arms-length relationship we established with the GBPA was the inflow of hundreds of millions of dollars of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the Freeport economy.

Significantly, we facilitated Hutchison-Whampoa’s entry into the Freeport economy in 1995, not only as developers of the Container Transhipment Port but as 50% owners with the St. George and Hayward families in the Grand Bahama Harbour Company, the Grand Bahama Development Company and the Grand Bahama Airport Company.

Over the first two of my administrations (1992-2002) Freeport experienced greater economic expansion than it had seen in a generation.

That economic expansion resulted in Freeport’s unemployment rate drop to below 7%. The developments in Freeport also included the introduction of a world class energy company into ownership of Freeport’s electricity company (with a requirement that opportunity be made available for Bahamian ownership in the company), the development of the Grand Bahama Container Transshipment Port, the Grand Bahama Ship Yard, the Bradford Marine Mega Yacht Repair Facility, the redevelopment of the International Airport, the beginning of the Sea/Air Business Centre,

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net the construction of the 740 room Our Lucaya Resort, the development of the Pelican Bay Marina Village, the redevelopment of the Princess Hotel, the expansion of oil transhipment and storage, the entry of new and additional pharmaceutical companies, the entry of new manufacturing companies including Polymers International, and the expansion of upscale residential developments among other developments.

My Government also oversaw the expansion and upgrade of the Government-operated education footprint in Freeport, the introduction of Local Government and the substantial upgrade of public infrastructure outside of the Port area and eased access to a myriad of public services (passport office, Judicial Services, business licence, car and drivers licencing).

A construction boom resulted from the high FDI entering the Freeport economy which was coupled by new investments by Bahamians and by The Bahamas Government stimulating still more economic activity in Freeport.

My Government was satisfied that the leadership of the GBPA, if not always in sync with the Government, was engaged and determined to continue to expand economic opportunities in Freeport which would grow opportunities for all of Grand Bahama. This was Freeport’s second “economic boom”; employment, incomes and living conditions for Bahamians living in Grand Bahama were all improving. And, unlike the boom of the 1960s, many, many Bahamians were enjoying the benefits of the boom as business-owners and employers. The number of business licences issued to Bahamians in Freeport more than doubled; in fact the proportion of Bahamian licensees moved from 20% to 80%. Under the circumstances, the idea (or need) to seek Government ownership in the Port did not arise. In my view that is not the case now.

Time, health and age have had its impact on the leadership of the GBPA and the company, for whatever reasons, was unable to ensure a strong leadership succession plan. Early in the 2000s, the principal owners St George and Sir Jack began contemplating the sale of the GBPA. Then in 2004 Edward St George passed following complications from surgery.

A nasty court battle ensued over the ownership of the Port. That

court action occupied the attention of the owners during much of the period between 2004 and 2012 and distracted their focus and attention away from the business of Freeport.

The management/leadership of the Port went through a series of transitions none satisfactory to the owners.

By the time the intrafamily court wrangling was settled the health of Sir Jack had begun to deteriorate.

Notwithstanding, the owners of the GBPA entertained a number of proposals for new private sector ownership but the St George’s and Hayward families never reached agreement on a sale.

Also during this period the lack of focus on new and expanded investment by the owners of the Port was compounded by the fallout from the 9/11 terrorists attacks in the United States of America, the series of hurricanes which began impacting Grand Bahama in 2004 and then by the 2007 Great Recession which impacted not just Grand Bahama and The Bahamas but the global economy and hence the global investment climate. Grand Bahama’s “second economic boom” had ended and the international investment climate, like Freeport was in the doldrums.

Then Sir Jack passed in 2015.

Under these very different circumstances and given the known interest of the owners of the GBPA in finding suitable new owners for the Port, it is in my view an opportune time for the Government to consider entering into a public-private arrangement to purchase the interest of the St. George and Hayward families in the Port and in its attendant Group of Companies in which the families hold 50% ownership.

In short, my administrations never sought to purchase the GBPA or to “put new leadership in place” because during my terms in office the Port enjoyed good leadership. My three administrations were able to collaborate with the Port owners in doing the necessary for Freeport and Grand Bahama to prosper.

Today we do not have the benefit of Edward St. George and Sir Jack Hayward as owners, managers and promoters of Grand Bahama. And so I continue to believe The Port Authority needs new leadership. It needs new ownership. And, Freeport needs new and additional investment.

HUBERT A. INGRAHAM Nassau, August 12, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 13, 2018, PAGE 5

POACHERS HIT WITH $3M FINES

HMBS Durward Knowles escorting a previously captured Dominican vessel “Brailyn” on June 18.

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net FORTY-SIX Dominican poachers were fined over $3 million during a special sitting of the Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

The poaching vessel’s captain was also convicted of two additional charges relating to possession of weaponry and sentenced to a total of 30 months in prison.

According to a Royal Bahamas Defence Force statement released on Saturday, all 46 poachers changed their pleas from

“not guilty” to “guilty” on charges relating to illegal fishing in Bahamian waters.

On July 8, the Dominicans were arrested by RBDF vessel HMBS Madeira aboard their vessel “Ronnye”, approximately 20 nautical miles south east of Cay Lobos.

HMBS Madeira was under the command of Senior Lieutenant William Sturrup.

Approximately 33,000 pounds of fishery products were confiscated from the Dominican vessel.

On July 12, the fishermen appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest and were

charged with illegal foreign fishing; possession of a grouper less than three pounds; possession of fresh crawfish during the closed season; possession of undersized crawfish and possession of prohibited apparatus.

Radhames Hernandez, the boat captain, was also charged with possession of an unlicensed shotgun and possession of ammunition.

At the time, the men pleaded not guilty to the charges.

During the hearing on Friday, August 10, all of the Dominicans pleaded “guilty” and were convicted

and fined $53,000 each, the RBDF noted.

According to the RBDF statement, these fines “represented an increase of two and a half times the maximum amount (that is, $20,000) levied against Dominicans apprehended by the (RBDF) earlier in June.”

Hernandez was also convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison for firearm possession and one year for possession of a shot gun and ammunition. Those are to run concurrently.

Another poacher was fined $100,000 due to this being his second conviction

for poaching in Bahamian waters.

“All of the men were remanded in custody at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and will be deported on completion of jail time or payment of fines,” the statement added.

On June 16, four Dominican fishermen aboard a 50ft Dominican fishing vessel, “Brailyn”, were arrested for poaching in the Great Bahama Bank.

They were apprehended

by RBDF vessel HMBS Durward Knowles, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Omarv

Saunders.

These Dominicans were also charged before the courts in Nassau. Three of them were fined $20,000 or eight months in prison, and the fourth was fined $10,000 or four months in prison.

In July, six Americans were arrested after they were found fishing in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, which is a no-take zone.

They were found by the park’s warden, with the support of RBDF marines assigned to the area. The Americans have also since been charged before courts in Nassau.

COMMITTEE TO BE SET UP IN WEEKS ON CANNABIS ISSUE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

WITHIN the next “week or two,” representatives of a cannabis committee that Cabinet has established will receive their terms of references and begin exploring public opinion on the issue, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said on Saturday.

The committee flows from widespread consideration of the impact criminalising the drug has had on Caribbean communities. A

key CARICOM report released last month called for the end of prohibition against the plant.

The commission found that an early 20th century move to designate the drug as dangerous and without value took place absent of scientific or medical data and has since been proven to be inaccurate.

“The analysis of the comprehensive information gathered indicates that the current legal regime for cannabis/marijuana, characterised as it is by prohibition and draconian

criminal penalties, is ineffective, incongruous, obsolete and deeply unjust,” the commission reported.

Asked about the matter on Saturday following his tour of schools in New Providence, Dr Minnis said: “The approval of a marijuana committee has been approved by Cabinet. The make-up of the committee was approved.

We now have to write the various different entities, the Chamber of Commerce, the University of the Bahamas, COBUS, business leagues, various

entities, so they can send their representative, inclusive of the Christian Council.

“I can say that (religious leader) Simeon Hall who has been on the CARICOM marijuana committee will be on such a committee – they should be receiving their letters within the next week or two after which they will be given their terms of references and provided with the CARICOM report and we will hope they will be able to complete their work in three to four months as we have said.”

The committee will host town hall meetings around the country.

Other marijuana related activities are slated for this year.

Dr Lynwood Brown and Dr Marcus Cooper have been given approval from the Ministry of Health to host two medical marijuana conferences.

Dr Brown has told The Tribune he plans to bring experts and industry stakeholders to the Bahamas to educate people on medicinal cannabis products, treatments and modes of delivery.

Though hardly accessed, legal pathways already exist for medicinal uses of cannabis in The Bahamas.

A man who sits and does nothing is wasting his time in life.

Moreover, the man who tries to do something is the one who will help to shape the world so that it becomes a better place.

~Betty Taylor ~

Original Author

PAGE 6, Monday, August 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Nurses pin hopes on PM as mediator from page one

“We would look at the total that’s owed to them.

We will meet again in three weeks so we can come to an amicable resolution so we can agree how we approach a solution moving forward.”

But on Friday, Ms Williams said: “We have high expectations and it will be sad if he (Dr Minnis) doesn’t come through.

The minister of health didn’t carry through. It would be sad to know the prime minister, who is the man in charge, didn’t

carry through.”

The nurses, she said, were left with the impression that Dr Minnis sided with them on perhaps their most contentious point of dispute with the PHA: a move to implement a change in nurses’ work pattern from fouron/four-off to five-on/ two-off. The PHA says the change would increase the number of nurses on duty, reduce the number of hours nurses could work in a day and reduce prospects for accidents and errors. Some government officials also privately acknowledge the

move would cut overtime pay. The BNU claims the shift will cause burnout.

“We got positive feedback (from the prime minister) on that issue,” Ms Williams said.

“He realised the industrial agreement states it must be agreed to, it can’t be no one person, no unilateral decision to change the shift and the prime minister acknowledged that. It has to be made when the two parties sit down and agree on the matter.”

Asked about this Saturday, Dr Minnis said he only called for communication to commence.

In addition to the shift change, which goes into effect September 3, nurses have complained about a number of overdue payments they have not received.

“The prime minister was knowledgeable about what was going on and what’s the concern of nurses in the Bahamas,” Ms Williams said. “We made him aware of all the things we’re not pleased with. We will sit back and wait and will see how the cards will be played. Many times we have been disappointed.

This is our last straw.”

The nurses took a strike

vote on June 7 but the Department of Labour declared that poll null and void, saying ballots were not delivered to Inagua, Mayaguana and San Salvador. Scoffing at this, the BNU has noted those three islands have two nurses each whereas 377 nurses around the country voted in favour of a strike in June.

Ms Williams said the union won’t consider holding another strike vote until Dr Minnis has reported back to them.

Although labour officials insist a letter was sent to the union informing it of the null and void strike poll, Ms

Williams said the union still hasn’t received the letter.

“When we get that official letter, we may just sit down and get the opinion of our lawyer in reference of where we should go,” she said. “People should be sued for these kinds of things.”

She also said: “The prime minister doesn’t just know us, he worked and he’s been through a strike episode and knows at the end of the day the effects of a strike on a hospital. And what a time it would be to have an industrial action, when people are travelling and it is hot.”

ONLY ONE SCHOOL LATE FOR NEW TERM

from page one

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis touring government schools over the weekend to view renovations before the new term.

Funeral Service Michael (Mike) Leo Simms, 74 of Dolphin Drive, Highland Park, Nassau, The Bahamas, who died at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Mankato, Minnesota on Wednesday, 1st August, 2018, will be held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Shirley Street, Nassau, on Saturday, 18th August, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

Officiating will be Father Anselm Russell and interment will follow in the Church Cemetery.

Michael was predeceased by his parents Ivan and Gertrude Simms, brother Martin Simms, and sisters Agnes Lehman and Maria Simms.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife: Sheila Simms; son: Troy Simms; daughters: Tiffany and Tanya Simms; daughter-in-law: Carrie Simms; grandsons: Antonio O’Brien and Rowan Simms, brothers: Larry, Paul (Kathy) and Terry (Linda) Simms; sisters: Elaine Malone, Angela Simms, Rose (Yvon) Dauchot, Gloria (Helmut) Bauer and Alice (Dave) Madeley; brothers-in-law: Larry (Nancy) Russell, Justin (Simone) Russell, Andrew (Erica) Russell; sisters-inlaw: Yvette (Kevin) Albury and Carmella (Ricardo) Scott, and many nieces and nephews. He will also be sadly missed by many close friends including Neville and Barbara Albury, Sean Hall, Jimmie and Lori Lowe & Family, Steve Minns, Samuel “Bookie” Johnson, Wesley and Sylvia Sturrup, Stafford and Delores Munnings, and Kristina and Allan Murray & Family, and neighbors Father Warren and Mrs. Thelma Rolle & Family, Dr. Rhonda Chipman-Johnson, and Mr. and Mrs. Micklewhite.

The Simms family would like to express our gratitude to all who extended love and support during our time of bereavement. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Bahamas Down Syndrome Center, P.O. Box CB-13207, Village Rd, Nassau, Bahamas, in memory of Michael Simms.

Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

“It’s critical that they be ready because those schools have suffered a deprivation of capability over the last few years,” Mr Lloyd said.

It will likely be tough for the AF Adderley Junior High School to be ready for opening day next month as well, but students have not been there for three years as that school undergoes extensive renovations.

Mr Lloyd said: “We have been fortunate that a number of our contractors have been able to mobilise themselves without the mobilisation sums from the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.

In some instances, those works are just about near completion.

In other instances where there are smaller contractors dependent on that mobilisation funds, they have assured us that despite this three or so weeks before school opens up in earnest that they are still going to have school ready on opening day.”

According to Director of Works Melanie Roach, school repairs have involved fixing leaking roofs, addressing damaged ceilings, plumbing repairs, electrical repairs and replacing termite infested cabinets.

School repairs this year will cost about $7m.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PAGE 8 MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2018

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Nothing’s changed - second class citizens in our own country S

By Malcolm Strachan

HOULD we really be surprised by how quickly the government acquiesced to the threats made by the Lyford Cay Association? A letter obtained by local media last weekend that was penned by the association’s chairman, Henry Cabot Lodge III, expressly indicated that homeowners in the exclusive community would sell and leave The Bahamas. These threats were made as a result of what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest called an “unintended impact” of changing the property tax laws.

Indubitably, the haste with which the government – notably Mr Turnquest – backpedaled under the Lyford Cay threats has disturbed many people. The government’s response to the “crack of the whip” has reinvigorated the lingering “white is right” sentiment in The Bahamas.

As Bahamians are still grappling with the increased tax burden, the manner in which the government has bent to the will of a community made up of many wealthy foreigners has left a bitter taste.

While for the purpose of this discussion, we want to focus on the effect this has on working class Bahamians, it must not be ignored that even a wealthy black Bahamian is still not regarded as highly as a wealthy white foreigner in his own country – a 95 percent black country at that.

Case in point, Bahamian businessman Sebas Bastian, though rising to prominence through his ventures in the local gaming industry, does not garner that same level of clout. This much has been seen with the increased taxation on the domestic gaming house operators despite their strong disagreement to the government’s policy shift.

Here, you have a few Bahamian businessmen that have warned the government that hundreds, possibly thousands of Bahamians, may be out of a job due to the increased taxes on the industry, and the government remains steadfast.

The five percent patron tax set to take effect this week is the proof of that.

If a man with the resources that Bastian has can voice his concerns about feeling like a second-class citizen in his own country, then what about Joe Plumber?

What do average Bahamian

BAHAMIANS during a majority rule march in 2017.

PRIME MINISTER HUBERT MINNIS

citizens feel like – the ones that voted this government in and hoisted them on to their high horses?

It is a complete and utter slap in the face.

Whether the impact on Lyford Cay residents was intended or unintended, one thing is for certain: the implication by the government to (as it claimed)

“save The Bahamas even if it meant they lost an election” was clear.

They will run the country as they see fit, despite our feeling like second-class citizens in our own country.

They will make decisions arbitrarily and we will have to suffer the consequences.

They will continue to make us promises with no

intention of keeping them but will bend over backwards to the will of foreign interests.

It is truly upsetting to be a Bahamian living in this perpetual state.

So, if this has been the case for as long as we can remember, should we really be surprised?

Hardly.

Despite the government’s catchy slogan, “It’s the people’s time”, there is no group of Bahamian people, save party-blinded FNM supporters, that agree that it’s their time to do

anything outside of suffer under another disappointing regime.

Granted, it’s still fairly early. However, looking at all of the either parked or strategically unclear projects, minimal gains in overall employment, increased taxes and the like, there is a hardly a Bahamian looking at our prospects for the next few years under the Minnis administration positively.

Many of us have just been doing what our leaders have trained us to do in recent years – surviving. Perhaps

it is why we can all pick up the paper and read a headline from a foreigner making threats to the government, only to read another from the government dancing to their beat and not riot in the streets.

We’ve become so used to poor conditions and treatment from our government that the standards we have in place for our leaders and ourselves are so low.

Where else would a former Deputy Prime Minister in a corrupt party be elevated to leadership of same immediately after being kicked out of office?

Surely, this may not only take place in The Bahamas.

Nonetheless, this is very telling of how much stock these politicians place in the feelings of the Bahamian people.

We’re obviously not taken seriously as a voting body.

It is evident, as both major political parties that have formed the government in the past decade have campaigned on promises that we’ve rarely seen come to fruition. In the most likely case, the Progressive Liberal Party, for all the anguish the Bahamian people experienced under their destructive leadership, will be considered in 2022 if the FNM does not perform.

Certainly, they are betting the government won’t be able to capture the hearts of the people, leaving them a window of opportunity in the next four years.

In reality, as depressing as that may be, the numbers don’t lie. We’ve not had a two-term government since the 90s. And when you’ve had a government as historically bad as the Christie administration was in its last term in office, the current government may feel confident in their chances to break the trend.

While as a people we’ve slowly begun to evolve as voters, we have much more to do as active members of society. Our voices don’t only matter at election time.

Keeping a government accountable is a 365-day job that we must be prepared to do.

Until then, there should be no surprises when the government doesn’t listen to our pleas for equality, engagement and equity in the running of our country. The clear difference between how the government reacted to the Lyford Cay Association and the rest of us is that they have real fears that they mean business and we don’t. They realise fully the power of having that level of access and what it brings. Therefore, as long as we are limited as it relates to having options, as well as limiting ourselves, we will continue to be treated as second-class citizens in our own country.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

F

OUR billion “new minds” will be connected to the world wide web in four to seven years. This means that every person on earth will have access to the world’s information in a split second and at near zero cost. So what?

With the explosive growth of technology, anything is possible. We can disrupt conventional or outdated thinking, particularly in medicine and the healthcare industry.

The Bahamas has one of the highest rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer in the Caribbean and Latin American regions. There are many reasons for these rising rates of chronic diseases in the region including crumbling healthcare infrastructure, outdated administrative systems, geography – small, scattered island nations and by extension little or no information sharing – lack of human resources. We need to re-think how healthcare is provided in the region.

Healthcare innovation can come from anyone, not just healthcare professionals; and it can come from anywhere. We need to empower patients and the wider public to have a greater role in co-creating health by encouraging entrepreneurship; and by educating people about how to take advantage of this unprecedented age so they can convert their health innovation ideas to “start up” that earn good money for themselves and their families.

The Bahamas relies heavily on tourism. The current sun-sea-and-sand tourism product is not enough to create enough jobs for our ever-increasingly unemployed work force. It is time to rebrand The Bahamas as an innovation gateway for the region! We have the potential to lead a change in dynamics of healthcare from a primary focus on treating disease to a focus on reversing, preventing disease and creating optimal health.

The Bahamas is already a place people want to come to, thanks in part to our geographic location, currency, and systems developed in the tourism and banking sectors. We have other

INSIGHT

MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2018 PAGE 9

Jobs for a generation - creating innovation in an age of rising unemployment unique selling points we are not taking advantage of.

Unlike others in the region, in 2013/14 The Bahamas enacted into law its regulatory and ethics process for stem cell therapy, which has the capacity to attract, encourage, oversee and assist in developing associated businesses, providers, entrepreneurs and investors. There are already stem cell therapy and research projects operating in Nassau and the Okyanos Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Freeport, and more coming on stream over the next year or so.

With the Enterprise Bill, the door is now open for other health and biotech business opportunities here. But, are we preparing Bahamians of all social and economic backgrounds to take advantage of opportunities of these extraordinary times for creating new jobs for themselves and their communities?

Changing direction and resetting the course for a country is not easy. It requires a radical shift in our perception if health, healthcare and well-being, access and equity. To achieve this, we need to catalyse a vibrant ecosystem – environment – for future health innovation to thrive. That’s why I created the Health, Self-Efficacy, Analytics and Life-Design Innovation Incubator (The HEALinc): www.thehealinc.com.

This year, October, 7-9, The HEALinc, together with our local and international sponsors and partners, is mounting the

BY DR DESIREE COX, MD, PHD

IMAGE for the HEALinc Future Health Summit created by Bahamian artist Kishan Munroe. inaugural Future Health Innovation Summit at the Melia Resort at Cable Beach, Nassau, as a platform for creating the future of health, now (www.healincfuturehealthsummit. com). The summit is the first-of-its-kind event in the region as it breaks away from conventional conference format, normally limited to one discipline by bringing together experts from many disciplines and areas of interest in this unique collaboration. The event will be under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General of The Bahamas, the Minister of Health, Dr Duane Sands, will deliver opening remarks.

There will be 50+ speakers and experiential workshops in regenerative medicine, AR/VR, IBM Watson, and nutrigenomics.

Featured keynote speakers include pioneers, luminaries and trailblazers such as Peter Diamandis (co-founder of Singularity University, XPrize and Celularity); Dr Bob Hariri (co-founder of Celularity), Dr Kyu Rhee (VP, IBM and lead for IBM Watson), Tanmay Bakshi (a self-taught 14-yearold programmer who is the youngest developer of IBM Watson), Professor Joshua Hare (Longeveron), Dr Marc Penn (Okyanos Centre for Regenerative Medicine), Bill Fields (former VP of

Walmart), Bernie Knobbe (VP Health Benefits at AECOM, one of the largest employers in the US) and more.

The summit is open to all for registration. Healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) will be able to obtain CME points (ACCME, AMA and CNE points) at the summit. However, this summit is not just for healthcare professionals; it is for anyone wanting to learn how to take advantage of these extraordinary times.

Session, panel discussion and workshop topics include: Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Precision Health and Digital Health, Aging Well and Achieving Optimal Health, Nutrigenomics & the Microbiome, Blockchain in Healthcare and more.

The programme format includes: speed-mentoring sessions with Future Health pioneers, leaders, investors and entrepreneurs; experiential workshops; visionaries showcasing pipeline regenerative medicine projects scheduled to come on stream in The Bahamas; as well as social activities that allow investors, providers, payers, researchers and regulators to connect and collaborate about key challenges and ways of creating the future now.

We need to stimulate

hearts and minds to think creatively and strategically about the bigger picture and apply that knowledge to reforming healthcare, its delivery and efficacy. We need to educate healthcare professionals and patients differently.

We must act at once to engage everyone – professionals, patients and families, investors, corporations and entrepreneurs - to join in building a better future for this region, now Register for the summit online at www.healincfuturehealthsummit. com. For more information, contact the summit organising team: USA/Canada (877) 426-5361; Bahamas (855) 826-1165; Worldwide (716) 442-3798.

• Dr Desirée Cox, MD, PhD (www. desireecox.com) is the founder/creator of the 2018 Inaugural HEALinc Future Health Innovation Summit (www.healincfuturehealthsummit.com) and Founder and CEO of The HEALinc Incubator (www.thehealinc. com). She is the first Bahamian Rhodes Scholar and first female British Caribbean Rhodes Scholar, a medical doctor, creative artist and published author, Dr Cox has earned degrees from McGill, Oxford and Cambridge Universities and has recognized by the British Medical Journal as a ‘Renaissance Woman’ for her application of psychological medicine to real world problems. At the 40th Independence celebrations, in 2013, The Bahamas Government honoured her by issuing a 70 cent stamp into circulation bearing her photograph. In October 2017, she was honoured by Oxford University and is one of six Oxford University alumni whose photographic portraits hang in the Great Hall/ Dining Hall at Pembroke College, Oxford University.In April 2018 she was a presenter at the prestigious Fourth Annual Vatican Conference ‘Unite to Cure: A Global Healthcare Initiative’ alongside speakers such as Dr Peter Diamandis (co-founder of Singularity University), Dr Sanjay Gupta, Dr Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins and more.

PAGE 10 MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2018

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Barbados, Dominica and Ross: Debating the wrong issue T

HE debate, particularly on social media, following the decision by Ross University School of Medicine to relocate from Dominica to Barbados, is about the wrong issue.

Instead of focusing, incorrectly as it turns out, on the belief that the Mia Mottley administration poached Ross from Dominica, the debate should centre on yet another disastrous effect of climate change on Caribbean countries – this time on investment.

Ross’ principals made the decision to migrate from Dominica because, unfortunately, whereas that island has suffered repeated and destructive hurricanes, Barbados has remained outside of the main hurricane path for 65 years this year.

Therefore, as an investment decision, if a business is weighing-up options in the Caribbean, it is prudent to opt for a location where hurricanes are less likely.

After 40 years of close association with Dominica in which it benefitted from tax waivers and other incentives, none of which was threatened, Ross had little reason to consider departing Dominica, other than suffering destruction and disruption of hurricanes.

There was no need for the Mottley administration to poach Ross. It is clear Ross itself was looking for a safer home.

If anything, the mistake Ms Mottley made was not explaining the details on August 3 when she and Ross’ representative announced that the University was setting up shop in Barbados.

Had she made the explanation on August 3 that she did on August 7, by which time toxic accusations had poisoned the Caribbean atmosphere, there may have been a clearer understanding by all. On August 7, Ms Mottley said the following: “Barbados came into the picture, only when, for Ross University, returning to Dominica for the start of the January semester in 2019, was not an option… We enquired of Ross, whether all options and scenarios had been explored and fully

exhausted. We spoke with officials of the Dominican Government who were still hopeful of a return of the school, but who conceded that a January start-up was highly unlikely given their circumstances. It was only after Dominica was ruled out for the January start-up of classes and when attention had turned to at least two other potential locations in the region, two sister Caribbean islands, that Barbados then embraced the idea of making itself available as a possible site for relocation.”

Ross was heading out of Dominica because it had already incurred huge expenditure fulfilling its obligations to its clientstudents and others since September last year when the island was devastated, and because it has to hedge its bets in the future against repeated and costly recurrences of hurricane damage and destruction.

In May 2018, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation organised a conference on physical climate risks and opportunities at EBRD’s headquarters in London. Discussions focused on experiences and opportunities associated

with managing these risks and on how to include them in financial disclosures.

The bank released its recommendations for companies in a report titled, “Advancing TCFD Guidance on Physical Climate Risks and Opportunities”. In it, the EBRD recommends companies to perform forward-looking risk assessments and disclose material exposure to climate hazards such as floods, water stress, extreme heat, storms and sea level rise. Publicly traded companies especially were advised to disclose the likely impact of climate change on their investment. Failure to make such a disclosure to their shareholders could result in horrendous law suits.

So, the reality is that investment decisions are now caught-up in climate change. It has joined many others including the creation of refugees, the loss of territory, and threats to the existence of age-old nations.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries should eschew the accusatory and unproductive hullabaloo over Ross’ decision to move from Dominica to Barbados. Instead, focus should turn to the real lesson that emerges from the event which is the imperative of ratcheting up

Caribbean efforts to fight climate change by confronting the governments of the profligate countries that are killing island-states and others by a thousand cuts.

At the 2015 Paris climate summit, small island states raised their voices in unison to pressure big polluting countries to accept the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, rather than two degrees, over the pre-industrial level. But those were words on paper; quickly forgotten and in one case completely abandoned.

Temperatures are already at one degree Celsius and heading rapidly toward two degrees.

I recall well the fretfulness of a former Prime Minister of Kiribati, Sir Ieremia Tabai, who served with me on the Eminent Persons Group that produced a report on Commonwealth reform in 2011. He desperately wanted to find a major investor for a hotel in Kiribati. Today, Kiribati has had to purchase about eight square miles on the Fijian island of Vanua Levu for a little less than $9m, potentially to move its population there one day. Sir Ieremia’s nation is facing extinction.

There has been too much hot air and too little action over climate change. By now every small island state should have had a minister of government and a department dedicated to fighting this issue every day and everywhere. It is the region’s greatest challenge.

The Green Climate Fund has been more a repository of dreams and illusion than of reality and delivery.

Right now, the fund has just

over $1bn left to allocate from its start-up donations.

There is no agreement on how money will be delivered and what its priorities will be.

The World Bank Group delivered $20.5bn in climate-related finance in the last fiscal year, but while that helps to build climate resilience in some states, it does nothing to stop or even to curb the disregard that is driving the destructive forces of Climate Change.

Last September at the United Nations, Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, declared: “We are shouldering the consequences of the actions of others. There is little time left for action. While the big countries talk, the small island nations suffer. We

need action and we need it now.”

Dominica has just experienced yet another blow from climate change – investment, too, is not secure and it has nothing to do with poaching.

There is another climate conference in December in Bangkok. Caribbean countries should raise the banner, bang the drum, and rail against the coming of the night between now and then.

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the OAS, and non-resident High Commissioner to Canada.

The views expressed are his own.

Stay safe on the road and walkways

B

E responsible while driving and walking. For your safety and the safety of others, you must follow these rules.

Never drink & drive

Alcohol causes a number of impairments that lead to car accidents. The consumption of alcohol while driving causes blurred vision and loss of consciousness.

Drinking and driving is an offence and is punishable by law.

Always wear a seat belt Wearing a seatbelt can save your life and it reduces the risk of serious injury during an accident. There is a greater chance of surviving when wearing a seatbelt.

Avoid distractions while driving Distracted driving is any activity that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off your primary task of driving safely.

Pedestrian safety We all are pedestrians from time to time, so it is important to pay attention to what is going on around us. To stay safe walking, follow these rules.

• If there is no sidewalk and you must walk on the side of the road, choose the side where you are facing oncoming traffic. This gives you the best chance to see traffic approaching closest to you.

• Look both ways before crossing any street. Make eye contact with any drivers who may be turning. Give them a wave. Make sure they see you.

• Unless you are on a sidewalk separated from the road or you are in a wide pedestrian lane, you should walk in single file.

This is especially important on a road with curves and where traffic has only a split second chance of seeing you before hitting you.

• Share the road and path with bikes and runners. Bike riders should alert you when approaching from behind with a bike bell. Listen for them, and move to walk single file, allowing them to pass safely. Runners should

also call out for passing.

• Wear bright colours when walking in daytime.

When walking at night, wear light-coloured clothing and reflective clothing or a reflective vest to be visible. Drivers are often not expecting walkers to be out after dark and you need to give them every chance to see you. Be just as cautious at dawn or twilight, as drivers still have limited visibility or may even have the setting or rising sun directly in their eyes.

• Make a practice of staying on one side of the path while walking rather than weaving randomly from side to side. Watch your arm motions, or you may end up giving a black eye to a silently passing walker, runner, or biker.

• Don’t drown out your environment when listening to your headphones. Keep the volume at a level where you can still hear warnings from other walkers, bikers and runners.

• Chatting, texting, or playing games on a mobile device while you walk is as dangerous as doing those things while driving. You are distracted and not as aware of your environment. You are less likely to recognise traffic danger, passing joggers and bikers or tripping hazards.

Potential criminals see you as a distracted easy target.

Adopt habits that can keep your phone in your pocket, or at least stop in a safe place to complete your phone tasks before moving on.

Know when to stop walking Heat sickness, dehydration, heart attack or stroke can strike walkers of any age. Learn the symptoms of medical emergencies and carry a cell phone to dial 919 or 911.

Be aware of stranger danger Choose your walking route for paths frequented by other walkers, joggers, and bikers. If you see someone suspicious, be prepared to alter your course or go into a store or public building to avoid them. Acting alert and aware can convince bad guys to choose an easier target.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 13, 2018, PAGE 11

MINNIS TO LAY OUT LUCAYAN PROPOSAL THE GRAND LUCAYAN RESORT from page one Instead, he said not getting the property re-opened will unleash a ripple effect that forces the closure of stores, barbershops and other small businesses, in addition to the loss of jobs for 400 people employed by the hotel.

As it acts, a key reference point for the Minnis administration has been the Royal Oasis Resort which closed after Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances hit Grand Bahama in 2004.

That affected the International Bazaar, a once bustling Freeport shopping complex the current condition of which is frequently mocked on TripAdvisor and other consumer review websites.

The Grand Lucayan resort, which consists of three properties, has been closed since Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Only the 200-room Lighthouse Point property re-opened in November of that year.

Dr Minnis said: “I think it’s essential for Bahamians especially those in New Providence and through the Family Islands to understand the makeup of the Our Lucaya Hotel.

You have about 400 individuals employed there but it’s not the employed individuals that’s the problem here. You also have

the Our Lucaya strip and therefore the marketplace that would close. That’s hundreds of jobs. The tour buses would not have anywhere to carry their guests if there are any. The taxis would have problems.

The loss of staff from Our Lucaya, the closure of the market place, will have great impact on the supermarket. There would be no persons to purchase from the supermarkets, so subsequently there would be layoffs from the supermarkets. The barbershops would have the same problems, the businesses would close, the beauticians would have the same issues. So it’s not just 400 jobs, we’re looking at the global picture.”

A key FNM policy in the 1990s was selling off government owned hotels; the legacy of such hotels had been waste and mismanagement.

In keeping with his party’s long-held view, Dr Minnis said: “I totally agree government should not be in the business of owning hotel.”

He added: “However, government must look beyond that. Government must look at what will be the impact on Grand Bahama. Do we sit idly and allow Grand Bahama to crash where unemployment will increase dramatically and those

individuals would have to come to New Providence where unemployment will subsequently increase? You have to make a decision.

“We are one Bahamas. We are supposed to be a family of islands and a family of (a) nation. So families look after each other. It’s our job to protect Grand Bahama and every other island that fall in similar situations.

It’s them today and you tomorrow.”

Last week, Mr Ingraham urged the government to buy the Grand Bahama Port Authority rather than the Grand Lucayan.

Asked if he is satisfied that the Port Authority is doing all it can in Freeport, Dr Minnis said “No, I think the port could do a lot more.”

Earlier this month, Paul Wynn, the Wynn Group’s chief executive and the Grand Lucayan’s former prospective buyer, told Tribune Business that Freeport’s anchor property was “not for me” and he “can’t do it”, given that the potential purchase lacked “economic feasibility”.

He argued that any buyer would be seeking the same multi-million dollar taxpayer subsidies that he required to rebuild airlift into Freeport, plus renovate and remediate the existing hotel properties, pegging the latter cost at between $45-$55m.

BIMINI MAN HELD AFTER DRUG FIND A BIMINI man was arrested on Friday night after he was found in possession of a quantity of suspected marijuana after 10pm.

He is expected to be

arraigned early this week.

In a second incident, shortly before noon on Saturday, officers acting on information went to an area near Radio Beach in Alice Town, Bimini where

they discovered in bushes a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana. The estimated street value of the suspected marijuana is $5,000. No one was arrested in this incident.

PAGE 12, Monday, August 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Davis: Govt ditched our plans for BPL

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net IN the face of Bahamas Power and Light’s continued generation instabilities, Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis on Friday criticised the Minnis administration’s decision to “go away from all” the

plans left by the Progressive Liberal Party.

Speaking on the issue on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of Stephen Isaacs as the country’s newest chief justice, Mr Davis insisted the government’s decision to gut critical units at BPL and “torch” sustainability plans introduced by the

Christie administration has led to “mass systematic failures”.

Residents in several areas of New Providence were plunged into darkness on Wednesday night after an engine at the Clifton Pier power plant malfunctioned, resulting in a load shedding exercise – with further

PLP leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. power outages throughout Thursday.

According to BPL there were challenges with the generation plant resulting in an interruption to power supply for customers in Stapleton, portions of Thompson Blvd, portions of Oakes Field, Mackey Street, East Bay Street east of the bridge, Blair Estates, portions of Coral Harbour, Boatswain Hill and Lyford Cay. At the time, it was estimated some customers would be without electricity for two hours.

However, there were some residents outside of the mentioned areas who complained of power disruptions for more than the stated time frame.

On Thursday night, BPL reported a “system disturbance” at about 7.40pm which led to outages in some areas across New Providence.

At about 10pm, BPL said that power was restored to all customers - although some people reported they were still without power.

Addressing these failures on Friday, Mr Davis did not hold back, outright accusing the government of “playing politics with national progress”.

“They went in like a bull in a china closet; gutted all of what we had plans to do,” he told The Tribune.

“If this government had continued on with our plans, what we see today, this would not occur. This

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff is clearly a situation where In recent weeks, a forthey went into this without eign expert has carried out a plan and wanted to do assessments of BPL’s elecaway with all the progress trical service system for we made. potential instabilities.

“They cleared the deck,” In addition to that, Mr Davis asserted, refer- the company has interring to BPL’s voluntary nally executed several separation exercises and strategies geared toward cutbacks, “that didn’t help improving its output and much.” productivity.

“I spent the (previous) There have also been weekend in Cat Island at discussions, both intera resort that was about 40 nally and externally, about percent visitors and there the immediate need for were all sorts of issues updated equipment. with the service. It was Nonetheless, Mr Davis Cat Island’s busiest week- maintained all the recent end because of the regatta, acts have been for nothing but they couldn’t keep the and implored the governpower on. For the entire ment to get serious about weekend, every day, for its promises to fix BPL. “They are now standing about six hours; outages.

In one instance, it was behind the old equipment, off for 12 hours. It was that is nothing new. They’re not the first administration despicable.

“They can tell you how who discovered our need (the plans we left) did for new equipment,” he not service what they are said.

“This is known, the point attempting to do. What they can’t say or will not is working towards new say is how what we did equipment in a financially steadily improved BPL’s prudent manner all while sustaining as reliable a seroutput.

“What I can tell you is the vice as possible.

“What they are doing is plans we left in place were designed to cut the cost for telling us one thing, when electricity for our people, we can see the problem is were designed to ensure getting worse.

“You can’t say to us every that there was a reliable service and were designed day that you are fixing the to ensure that it will be an problem and every day we added value for economic can see it getting more and more severe. growth.”

“Go and look at the “That was the plan we left. It was the plan we record of the PLP, the started. They did not under- bills were starting to come stand the plan or did not down, the supply was improving; we did that care to do so.

“Instead of taking a look as we implemented those and building off of what we same plans this governsidestepped and had, they opted to disman- ment walked over.” tle everything we did.”

GOVERNMENT DENIES IT WILL PAY TEEN’S BILLS

THE Cabinet Office announced on Friday that contrary to comments made by the mother of a stateless teen seeking medical treatment in the United States, the government has made no offer or promise to foot the teen’s bills.

The teen’s mother, Ginette Caty, spoke to The Tribune on Thursday as well as a local television network about the assurances she said she received from a government employee last week.

However, the pledge came as a shock to senior government members who said no assurances had been made to cover the teen’s travel expenses and medical costs.

“The Cabinet Office announces that contrary to the information... (reported

by The Tribune and another outlet) the government of The Bahamas has made no such offer or promise,” the government’s statement read. “The Cabinet Office refutes these claims categorically. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking into the provision of a certificate of identity for Taranique Thurston in accordance with established policy.”

As reported previously, 15-year-old Taranique is scheduled for brain surgery at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital on August 28.

Her citizenship status has

prevented her from gaining a Bahamian passport and American visa needed for travel to the United States to receive life-saving medical treatment.

Due to her mother’s naturalisation process, Taranique is currently registered in the Bahamas as a non-Bahamian born to a foreign mother and Bahamian father, who are unmarried.

Officials were said to be working on obtaining a US visa for Taranique’s certificate of identity under emergency circumstances, Ms Caty told this newspaper last week.

The government issued a certificate of identity for Taranique a week ago, which stated her nationality as Haitian.

Ms Caty, 34, Taranique’s mother, was naturalised as a Bahamian citizen in 2013 – more than a decade after she had applied at the required age of 18. Taranique was born before her mother got her Bahamian citizen.

Taranique was registered as having been born in the Bahamas to a Mexican mother and a Haitian father.

Until recently, Ms Caty had been repeatedly told that her daughter would have to wait until her 18th birthday before she can apply for Bahamian citizenship.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, August 13, 2018, PAGE 13

CONCERN GROWS OVER LIGHTHOUSE POINT PLANS

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net OUTCRY has increased against a proposal for Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera to be developed into a cruise port, with two more activist groups worrying the planned project will have a detrimental effect on the country’s natural resources.

Lighthouse Point is a 700-acre peninsula located at the southern tip of Eleuthera.

Disney Cruise Line is said to be the group behind the potential acquisition and development of the area.

Sam Duncombe, of reEarth, told The Tribune yesterday that a meeting was held in Eleuthera on August 2, during which flyers were distributed detailing Disney’s interest and proposals for the area. Mrs Duncombe shared a copy of the flyer with The Tribune.

“In consultation with community leaders in South Eleuthera, who have expressed their support for the project, Disney Cruise Line is considering a second managed cruise destination in The Bahamas at Lighthouse Point,” the flyer noted.

The flyer also says Disney is committed to “a significantly smaller and less dense development than what others have previously proposed for Lighthouse Point, which is currently privately owned by another developer.”

Previous reports stated local real estate company Bahamas Realty had the property listed for sale.

However, a representative from the company has said Bahamas Realty has never had anything to do with this property’s listing.

Disney’s plan includes implementing “sustainable design and building practices to have as little impact on the natural environment and (maintaining) as much of the existing landscape as possible.”

The flyer also states: “Examples include the construction of an open-trestle pier with a smaller impact on natural ocean currents that requires minimal, if any dredging, and the potential use of a stilt-type design for walkways and structures that would have a smaller impact on the land.”

According to the flyer, more than 100 acres of the property will be allocated

for conservation and public use, including “significant beachfront acreage”, and the cruise line has “proposed providing an access road and amenities”.

“Disney Cruise Line will also work with the community to structure visitation to the broader property and its historic sites by Bahamians,” the flyer said.

Mrs Duncombe said the information in the flyer was presented in the meeting by a representative of the cruise line.

She expressed serious concern about the impact this proposal will have on the environment and said Lighthouse Point should instead be turned into a national park, as has been suggested by the One Eleuthera Foundation.

The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) announced its support for such an endeavour in a statement released on Thursday.

“One Eleuthera is basically the vehicle behind trying to save Lighthouse Point, to purchase it, and to turn it into a natural or national park that would be enjoyed by everybody,” Mrs Duncombe said.

The activist added

Disney’s development would significantly impede Bahamians’ access and ability to enjoy the “spiritual splendour” of the “stunning beautiful” spot.

Describing Lighthouse Point as “the crown jewel of Eleuthera,” Mrs Duncombe said it features over 200 bird species, salt ponds, coral reefs, and a lighthouse.

She added in central Eleuthera, One Eleuthera has been helping the community by creating jobs, giving small grants to help people start businesses, and helping locals develop business plans.

“What One Eleuthera is essentially trying to do is create the same kinds of opportunities in southern Eleuthera, so all those southern communities will benefit by having international and national attention focused on Lighthouse Point to continue to bring travellers (there). “(Additionally) those communities are going to start to feel the benefits of people traveling through there,” she added. “So that will be just one way that

keeping Lighthouse Point accessible to the public is going to help those communities.”

Mrs Duncombe admitted there are some locals who are in support of Disney’s development, saying the whole issue is creating “a lot of anxiety” in south Eleuthera.

“And I think part of the reason for that is for 50 years, we’ve had the same model of development, and I use that ‘development’ word very loosely, that destroys our land, denies us access to our land, and does not empower people in the sense of ownership.”

Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) released a statement on Friday also criticising cruise port development of Lighthouse Point and calling for it to instead become a protected area.

“BREEF opposes the Disney proposal to convert this pristine wilderness at the southernmost tip of the island to a cruise ship port, and calls on Bahamians to reject this plan,” the

group said.

“This proposed cruise ship port development would result in major negative environmental impacts and restricted access for Bahamians and air-arrival visitors to one of the most iconic sites of natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural heritage of land and sea. Lighthouse Point is a pristine site of local and national importance and we must protect it.”

The statement suggested “other sustainable alternatives” that will “allow traditional activities and access, provide more economic benefits to the communities of South Eleuthera, and inspire local entrepreneurship” be implemented instead.

A petition on change.org to save Lighthouse Point had more than 16,800 signatures up to press time.

Requests for responses from the ministers of environment and tourism were unanswered up to press time. Marine Resources and Agriculture Minister Michael Pintard declined to speak on the matter.

PAGE 14, Monday, August 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

OMAROSA CLAIMS TRUMP USED ‘N’ WORD BRIDGEWATER, New Jersey Associated Press

FORMER presidential adviser Omarosa Manigault Newman said on Sunday she secretly recorded conversations she had in the White House, including her firing by chief of staff John Kelly in the high-security Situation Room. It was a highly unusual admission, which drew immediate fire from allies of the president and national security experts.

Parts of her conversation with Kelly were played on the air when she appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” to promote her new book, “Unhinged,” released this week.

In her book, Manigault Newman paints a damning picture of President Donald Trump, including claiming without evidence that tapes exist of him using the N-word as he filmed his “The Apprentice” reality series, on which she co-starred.

WILL ELBA BE THE FIRST BLACK BOND? LONDON Associated Press

BRITISH actor Idris Elba is stoking speculation he may take over the role of James Bond when Daniel Craig steps aside, offering an enigmatic Twitter post that fueled the buzz about him becoming the first black Bond.

The star of shows such as “The Wire” and “Luther” on Sunday posted an artistic selfie under the words “my name’s Elba, Idris Elba”, echoing the spy’s famous catchphrase.

American film producer Antoine Fuqua stoked longrunning speculation about Elba taking on the role last week, when he told Britain’s Daily Star that Bond movie boss Barbara Broccoli had said “it is time” for a non-white actor to play agent 007. But before fans go overboard, Elba posted another tweet a few hours later saying, “Don’t believe the HYPE ...”.

Tension on Charlottesville anniversary A GROUP of anti-fascism demonstrators march in the downtown area in anticipation of the anniversary of last year’s Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia Associated Press THE city of Charlottesville marked the anniversary of last summer’s white supremacist violence that sent ripples through the country with largely peaceful vigils and other events, but police had a brief, tense confrontation with demonstrators angry over the heavy security presence there this weekend.

“Why are you in riot gear? We don’t see no riot here,” activists chanted on Saturday evening.

Shortly before a planned evening rally to mark the anniversary of a campus confrontation between

torch-carrying white nationalists and counterprotesters, activists unfurled a banner that said, “Last year they came w/ torches. This year they come w/ badges.”

A group of more than 200 protesters — students, residents and others — then marched to another part of the University of Virginia’s campus, where many in the crowd shouted at officers in riot gear forming a line.

Kibiriti Majuto, a coordinator for UVA Students United, said the students moved to another part of campus because they didn’t want to be “caged” in the area where the planned rally area. Majuto said police “were not on our side” last year when white supremacists surrounded

counterprotesters on the rotunda.

“Cops and Klan go hand in hand,” he said.

Charlottesville city councilman Wes Bellamy said he tried to diffuse the situation and told the police commander that students were upset by the officers’ tactics, with “over-the-top” riot gear After a few minutes, most demonstrators began walking away. There were no immediate reports of arrests on campus.

At some point after the UVA rally, dozens of demonstrators marched off campus through other parts of the city, chanting “Whose streets? Our streets” and “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?”

The group made its way to downtown before dispersing.

The rest of the day had been much quieter.

In the downtown shopping district Saturday morning, officers outnumbered visitors. Concrete barriers and metal fences had been erected, and police searched bags at two checkpoints.

“It’s nice that they’re here to protect us,” said Lara Mitchell, 66, who works at a shop selling artwork, jewelry, and other items. “It feels good that they’re here in front of our store. Last year was a whole different story. It looked like a war zone last year.”

On August 12, hundreds of white nationalists

— including neo-Nazis, skinheads and Ku Klux Klan members — descended on Charlottesville in part to protest the city’s decision to remove a monument to Confederate Gen Robert E Lee from a park.

Fighting broke out between attendees and counterprotesters that day. Authorities eventually forced the crowd to disperse, but a car later barreled into a crowd of peaceful counterprotesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer.

The death toll rose to three when a state police helicopter that had been monitoring the event and assisting with the governor’s motorcade crashed, killing two troopers.

36 DEAD IN MYSTERY BLAST IN NORTHERN SYRIA BEIRUT Associated Press

AN explosion in northern Syria killed at least 36 people Sunday and wounded many others, but the cause of the blast wasn’t immediately known, opposition activists said.

The opposition-run Syrian Civil Defense, first responders also known as the White Helmets, said the blast occurred in the village of Sarmada near the Turkish border, killing 36 people and wounding many others.

The explosion collapsed two five-story buildings,

- CONVENIENCE, PERFORMANCE & STYLE -

TEMPERATURE-CONTROL DRAWERS

WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS

HOT WATER DISPENSER

AUTOFILL PITCHER

Geoffrey Jones’ fine line of General Electric Refrigerators bring intelligence and style to the centerpiece of your kitchen and raise the bar on freshness. GE refrigerators are full of ingenious ideas that are perfectly in sync with today’s daily routines, complemented by striking design details that answer real-life needs.

good things, for life.

Sales & Full Service Department Rosetta & Montgomery Streets

T: 322-2188/9 E: geoffjones@comcast.net www.geoffreyjonesandco.com

burying many of the victims, it said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 39, including 21 women and children.

An opposition media collective known as the Smart news agency, said the dead included civilians as well as members of the al-Qaidalinked Levant Liberation Committee.

The Observatory said an arms depot in the basement of a building had detonated.

It said the depot was run by an arms dealer close to the Levant Liberation Committee.

Meanwhile, Syrian government forces fighting rebels in Idlib province

have sent more reinforcements ahead of a potential offensive on the last major rebel stronghold in Syria.

The pro-government AlWatan daily said Sunday that huge military reinforcements have reached the outskirts of Idlib province as a preliminary step to launch a wide-scale offensive.

Quoting military sources, the paper said that troops have reached the northern countryside of the neighboring Hama province as part of military preparations to recapture Idlib province.

The expected offensive on Idlib comes after government forces captured

major rebel strongholds earlier this year near the capital Damascus and in the southern provinces of Daraa and Quneitra.

The paper said that the battle would be “comprehensive” starting from Hama’s northern countryside to the southern countryside of Aleppo, adding that the target of the battle is to seize Idlib City.

Government airstrikes on the province on Friday killed dozens.

Pro-government activists said on social media that the elite Tiger Force, led by Brig. Gen. Suheil alHassan, arrived in northern Syria to spearhead what they called the “Dawn of Idlib” operation.

THE TRIBUNE

Shanty town fight to be taken to the UN

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net HUMAN rights group Rights Bahamas is planning to take its shanty town case to the International community, attorney Fred Smith, QC, told The Tribune.

Speaking on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs, Mr Smith described the government’s actions against the shanty towns as an attempt to “ethnically cleanse” the country of these communities.

On August 5, the Supreme Court ordered the government and utility providers to halt any planned service disconnections or evictions in shanty towns pending a judicial review of the Minnis administration’s policy to eradicate those communities.

Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson granted the injunction blocking evictions and service disconnections just days ahead of the government’s August 10 deadline.

On Wednesday, Attorney General Carl Bethel told the Senate the government has hired a team of highpowered lawyers headed by Harvey Tynes, QC, to take on Mr Smith and his team in the matter.

The next day, Rights Bahamas, of which Mr Smith is the former president, released a statement criticising the government’s intention to pay lawyers outside the Office of the Attorney General, calling it a “waste” of money.

When asked what the next steps are regarding this legal action, Mr Smith said: “Rights Bahamas is going to the United Nations Human Rights Council and also to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to also present to the international world this terrible attempt to ethnically cleanse the Bahamas of villages composed mainly of people whose heritage is Haitian.

“It is astounding that in the 21st century, the government of the Bahamas actually thinks that they have the right to destroy the homes of over 7,000 people throughout the Bahamas.

“This is a matter (that)

is going to be of international human rights concern. Because the government is targeting an ethnic community and it… is an international crime to do this.”

Mr Smith said petitions to both the UNCHR and IACHR, in New York and Washington, are already being prepared.

“And in respect to the case here, we are going to move this to trial as soon as possible,” Mr Smith added.

He confirmed that no date has been set as yet, saying the government has eight weeks within which to file affidavit evidence in response.

“We have hundreds of applicants and many affidavits to file,” Mr Smith continued. “And there are many other people who wish to join the action, who are affected by this, and other attorneys who will be joining us as well.”

On Friday Mr Bethel declined to speak on the case itself, but responded to the Rights Bahamas statement that blasted the government for wasting money.

“There’s an old saying: ‘When you throw a stone, the one who gets hit makes all the noise’,” Mr Bethel said.

“I don’t know why they would broadcast their terror at the thought of us having hired esteemed, experienced private sector counsel.

“That’s our right. And we’ve chosen to put the best foot forward that we could find and they all around the place issuing press releases, crying about it. Well, I wish them well.”

When asked for an estimate on how much this will cost the government, Mr Bethel said: “The cost of doing nothing is far greater than the cost of this.”

Mr Bethel previously announced the names of two attorneys for this endeavour.

“They will set their team up. I am not aware of the details of their team. I have announced their names.

They will set their teams,” he said.

The attorney general also declined to speculate on how long the court process will take, saying that is for the attorneys to determine.

STATE-RECOGNISED FUNERAL FOR SENATOR THE Cabinet Office has announced that a state-recognised funeral will be held for former Senator Telator Strachan on Friday at 10am at Faith United Missionary Baptist Church, Faith United Way, off Baillou Hill Road South.

Interment will follow at Woodlawn Gardens

Cemetery, Soldier Road.

Strachan’s body will lie-in-state in the foyer of the Senate in Parliament Square from 9am on Thursday until the body departs for the church on Friday.

The general public is invited to view the body on Thursday between the hours of 1pm - 7pm.

Monday, August 13, 2018, PAGE 15

A BUILDING in a shanty town area with a government notice posted outside.

PAGE 16, Monday, August 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STAR STUDENTS BAHAMIAN students Jasmine Bethel and Ravyn Maycock are the 20182019 recipients of PwC Bahamas’ Remelda Moxey Scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded to Bahamian students pursuing full-time undergraduate or graduate degrees in accounting at any accredited institution.

The scholarship is named after the dean of the Faculty of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies at the University of The Bahamas, Remelda Moxey, a PwC alumnus.

Myra Lundy-Mortimer, human capital partner at PwC Bahamas, said: “Both Jasmine and Ravyn are young, dynamic Bahamians who have, in their short years, exemplified high standards of excellence.”

Ms Bethel, who recently completed her third year at Dalhousie University, is pursuing a bachelor of commerce degree with a major in accounting and a minor in informatics.

For Ms Maycock, a 2018 honour student and graduate of Queen’s College,

the scholarship represents a dream that was almost deferred due to a sudden autoimmune disease that caused her to miss almost a year of high school in 2016.

This fall, she will be enrolling at Florida International University (FIU) to start a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

“My parents are still paying my medical bills, so I am thankful that this scholarship will help to relieve them of the added financial burden,” she said.

FROM left, Carlton Cartwright, assurance partner, PwC Bahamas; Nichelle Bethel, mother of scholarship recipient Jasmine Bethel; Myra Lundy-Mortimer, human capital partner, PwC Bahamas; Remelda Moxey, dean at University of the Bahamas; Ravyn Maycock, scholarship recipient and Kevin Cambridge, advisory partner, PwC Bahamas. Missing from photo is scholarship recipient Jasmine Bethel who is currently at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada.

$50,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES with a

$10,000 PRIZE GRAND

Purchase any qualifying meal and receive a sticker for your vehicle.

The Prize Patrol will be cruising the streets of Nassau again to spot consumers who love KFC and reward them with a chance to Spin and Win Prizes!

Prizes include KFC Gift Cards, $500 cash & 10 Gold Tickets.

The 10 lucky Gold Ticket customers will have a chance to win* $1,000 cash with one Grand Prize Winner of $10,000 cash at the Grand Finale Event. *Certain restrictions apply.

See Facebook or store for details.