08212019 NEWS

WEDNESDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 88ºF LOW 76ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

VOLUME:116 No.164, AUGUST 21ST, 2019

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

BACK TO SCHOOL: 14-PAGE SUPPLEMENT INSIDE

They came to kill

Families mourn best friends shot dead by gunmen

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net RELATIVES of two best friends gunned down at their Pinewood home yesterday described the horror of the attack which has devastated their families.

In interviews with The Tribune yesterday, Davaughnia Adderley, 19, and her mother Elizabeth Gordon, described how a game of dominoes on the porch turned into a horrific nightmare.

The incident unfurled shortly before 11pm.

According to police, a group of men were sitting in a yard on Maple Street, Pinewood Gardens, when they were approached by three armed man who

A DIFFERENT WAY OF EDUCATING CHILDREN

SEE PAGE EIGHT

POLICEMAN ACCUSED OF RAPING GIRL

opened fired in their direction, injuring two of them and a woman, who was inside the home, before running away. The two men were pronounced dead at the scene while the woman was taken to hospital and is in stable condition.

The victims have been identified as 23-year-old Dion Adderley and his best friend Dimetrius Dormeus, 22. The woman victim, 20, was shot in both thighs.

She is one of Adderley’s relatives.

Adderley’s mother, Ms Gordon, described her son as an “amazing person”.

“He was innocent, and (they) just take his life just like it was like nothing,” she told The Tribune through tears.

SEE PAGE THREE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A TEENAGE girl was allegedly raped by a former police reservist at a southern New Providence police station a year ago, jurors heard yesterday.

Superintendent Roberto Goodman said the 13-yearold girl was at the East Street South Police Station for “safe keeping” on July 14, 2018 when Dwayne Decosta allegedly committed the act.

Supt Goodman said it was “peculiar” for Decosta to have been alone with the girl in the station as normally minors would sit in the station’s foyer until officers could contact their parents or guardians.

FIRE-DAMAGED SCHOOL NOT READY FOR TERM

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd said the repairs to the Huntley P Christie High in North Andros won’t be completed before public schools reopen in two weeks.

The school was damaged by fire two months ago.

Speaking to reporters at Cabinet yesterday, Mr Lloyd said fortunately most of the work has been completed on the outside and repairs are being made to the inside.

He said: “You have two classrooms that were

completely damaged so that’s on the way, but it’s not going to be ready.

“You would remember in North Andros the technical block has not been ready for years, that’s going to be ready. It’ll be ready by next month...but the section that had been damaged that’s going to take a while because it has to be reconstructed.”

When asked for the price tag of the renovations of the classrooms, Mr Lloyd said: “It’s not fully scoped out yet because we’ve been working on that technical block to try to get that ready.”

SEE PAGE TEN

SEE PAGE FIVE

MURDER SUSPECT ‘BEATEN’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DIMETRIUS DORMEUS, left, and Dion Adderley, who were shot dead on Monday.

FLOATING PLANT IDEA RESURFACES

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A FLOATING power plant solution to New Providence’s energy crisis has been “dusted off”, with its advocates telling the government yesterday: “Send us a signal if you’re interested.”

John Bostwick II, who acted as legal adviser to the group that first proposed such a plan in 2012,

told Tribune Business that the frequency and severity of power outages “most definitely calls” for such a scheme to be re-floated.

The former FNM senator added that while no formal proposal had been made to the government, he intends to determine if there is any interest from the Minnis administration in reviving an offer that was submitted three times to its predecessor between 2012 and 2014.

“I am at least going to ask the question: Are you interested?”

Mr Bostwick confirmed to this newspaper.

“I think most definitely the situation calls for the re-emergence of the Floating Power Plant idea, and I really don’t know if there’s anything similar that could be such a holistic or complete solution, if only on a temporary basis.”

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

A 22-YEAR-OLD man accused of murdering Transport Minister Renward Wells’ younger brother has claimed he was beaten by police to confess to the crime.

Lynden Williams, also known as “Peanut” of Ridgeland Park, said he was suffocated with plastic bags and kicked about the body by two officers to confess to murdering Cabreo Wells on Sunday, August 4.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

TRIBUNE TECH: NASA OFFICIAL GETS LOOK AT NEXT MOON ROCKET

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

FLOODING in Pinewood yesterday - an issue that has affected the community for many years.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Pinewood still plagued by flooding in community

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net ADMITTING the chronic flooding in Pinewood is a “historic issue”, area MP Reuben Rahming yesterday confirmed additional drains will be placed in the constituency.

While he could not provide a timeline, Mr Rahming noted drains are not a “panacea” for this issue.

He added it could take up to an estimated $10m to address the flooding issue in Pinewood — money which cannot be allocated at this time.

Mr Rahming said this is due to the country’s economic reality and adding he is therefore being “reasonable” about the matter.

Yesterday, The Tribune canvassed the Pinewood community and noticed the significant flooding due to the recent rains.

Pinewood resident Prince Stubbs said he is “frustrated” with the issue.

“I been frustrated from I been living through here over 20-something years,” he said.

When asked if the government has made any improvement to the drainage system, he replied: “Not round here, not what I know about. They need to put in some lift stations - couple of big pumps what pull the water and send it straight to the sea. That’s what they need to put in.

Otherwise, this ain’ ga stop.

And the government ain’ doing nothing.

“I vote FNM all my life

REUBEN RAHMING, MP for Pinewood.

CARS driving through floodwater in Pinewood yesterday.

PINEWOOD resident Prince Stubbs. and right now my mind ain’t to voting for them right now. Until they fix (this) situation and fix the situation with (Bahamas Power and Light) BPL.” Mr Rahming was present in the community during The Tribune’s visit.

When asked about the flooding, he replied: “Yes it is an historic issue and you know sometimes when you get into something you

see the wider scope and it’s not just only impacting Pinewood, it’s impacting a number of areas throughout New Providence.

“I don’t like fanfare with things. I like to do work first. It’s been going on as it relate to real proper assessment and a proper plan for the drainage facility here in Pinewood to address that.”

Mr Rahming noted he discussed this matter in July

during his last address to the House of Assembly.

“One of my chief concerns: I know where we’re at as a country right now and I’ve been hearing estimates of up to $10m just to address this matter. But one of my major concerns was to ensure that in this budget that the monies would have been allotted to complete the survey and the assessment.

“I don’t say too much about it because people have heard survey and assessment before, but we need to know exactly where we are and I’ve stated publicly what my position will be in terms of ensuring that the government does its best to address the overall matter.”

The area MP also noted he engages with the Ministry of Public Works on a regular basis.

“There will be a few additional drains placed in Pinewood. That is being rectified, ratified right now

and I must say it is not a panacea.

“Drains aren’t the ideal thing in this area, because of the height of the water table and other factors, but my concern is if it could help keep the water down one more inch, let’s just do it until we can find a better solution.

“We’ve been following that, making sure that the drains were properly purged and they were blown out within the last 90 days. We follow through with that to make sure the 88 drains in Pinewood have been properly addressed.

“We wanted to make sure that with the new asphalt paving, that the water flows reasonably. There are some areas where (they) are still settling because when you move the road you move the flow.”

“The (Ministry of) Public Works is addressing the concern because I inspect them myself, ensuring that the filter baskets are placed in these wells because none of the wells have filter baskets.

“So those boxes have been ordered, they were constructed (and) they’re here and I’m waiting on a timeline for them to be installed.”

Regarding the $10m, Mr Rahming underscored it cannot be allocated at this time due to the country’s “anaemic” economic reality.

“Right now we need money for every single thing. I try to be a reasonable man. My point is, and I’ve stated this publicly, I understand where we’re at.

I’m fighting for an improved economy, but don’t forget Pinewood. I understand we have to delay some things and so and so forth but in the meantime, alright set the money aside, let’s finish the plan.”

Regarding the additional drains, Mr Rahming said: “Additional (drains) in critical areas are going to be done.”

When asked for a timeline, he said: “That’s (Ministry of) Public Works.

I spoke to him, that’s being allocated.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, August 21, 2019, PAGE 3

They came to kill from page one “I just want know who kill my baby,” Ms Gordon said. “Just getting off from work, coming home, and sitting on the porch to enjoy the rest of the evening with his cousins. I would like to know who took my son’s life.”

His sister, Ms Adderley, said: “Dion was a very loving, kind person. Anything you needed he would give you.”

She added Adderley was the second child and only boy of her mother’s four children. She said Dormeus had lost both his mother and grandmother.

Ms Gordon added Dormeus had been living between their home and his grandaunt’s for the last year.

Neither young man had children, and both worked at different Super Value locations, according to Ms Adderley. She said her brother was the dairy manager at the Market Street location.

Dion Adderley had just come home from work when the incident occurred shortly after 11pm.

Ms Adderley said Dormeus and three of her cousins had been playing games since about 8pm.

This was only their third game night.

Describing the moments that led to the shooting, Ms Adderley said a car pulled up and the gunmen emerged and began shooting from behind the neighbouring fence. She said one gunman eventually hopped the fence.

She added seven people were in her home at the time.

“My cousins was playing dominoes,” Ms Adderley said. “When (my brother) came from work, he walked inside, hailed everyone, and gone back outside and sit down. Two minutes after, the shots just took place.

“After like 10 shots get ring off outside, (one) gunman came inside and he start shooting. But where he noticed everyone run

VICTIMS Dion Adderley, left, and Dimetrius Dormeus.

Ms Adderley described in the room, he run back her brother as a lover and outside.

“He like shoot to the performer of music, who roof, he shoot over there, enjoyed both rap and love and he shoot down in the songs.

“He had books on top hallway,” Ms Adderley said, pointing to the bullet holes of books full of songs he wrote,” she continued. scarring the family’s home.

Ms Adderley was inside “Every time you see him, the house at the time of the you hear his car, music. incident. As the shots fired, Whether it’s an instrumental, he just sitting in his car she ran.

“When he came, eve- free styling or something.”

Of the tragedy, Ms ryone just run,” she said.

“Some run to the road, and Gordon said: “It’s a loss then some made it into the and ain’ like you could ask a question and someroom.

“When I looked back, I one could come right back saw this person dressed in and give you an answer. all black. And something And like anybody who you tell me continue running. speak with in regards to him And when I run, Mitri will tell you a loving person, (Dimetrius), he end up very mannerly person, and coming behind me. And he a hard worker.

“Amazing person and was like ‘open the door’.

And when I open the door an excellent, mannerly he fall on the floor. I get person. He don’t care who the towel to help him and you is, and as simple as a he died right there on the dog - respect is owed to a dog and he’ll give the dog floor.”

Ms Adderley said she was that respect. That’s how my very scared and described baby was. He was innocent, and just take his life just the incident as tragic.

However, she was ada- like it was like nothing.”

When asked if her son was mant her brother was not the target - insisting the ever involved in any trouble gunmen were looking for with the law, she replied: someone who was not “No ma’am. He had one incident before and that was there.

When asked if an auto- something that he bypassed matic weapon was used, Ms that and he was able to just move on. He just moved on Adderley said yes.

“This person came to kill, after that.”

Area MP Reuben to walk into my family’s Rahming was in the neighhome,” she added. when The She also said there was bourhood visited Maple previous shooting incident Tribune at her home, but is unsure if Street yesterday. He said the matters are related. No the quiet area is in shock one was injured in the pre- from the shooting.

“Maple Street is a very, vious shooting, she said.

BULLET holes outside the house where the sister of one of the victims said a gunman entered into the home and opened fire.

THE SISTER of the victim said shooting. very quiet street,” the area MP said. “A very, very quiet street. The good thing with a quiet street is people see when there is a change in the neighbourhood dynamics.

“This is traumatising even from the kids who found it hard to sleep last night and senior people who had to duck on the floor and give stories of the sounds of high powered weapons going off here in Maple Street,” he added.

“The persons here are just very, very shocked, very, very surprised….now we have a whole family in pain, uncles and cousins in shock, young men dead and somebody injured by gunshot.”

Regarding whether an automatic weapon was used, Mr Rahming said: “So I’ve been told, and high powered rounds. And looking at the wall, the concrete pillar that was hit and to see

her brother and his best friend played dominoes just before the Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff the level of penetration into occurring in the residential concrete, I could tell you community, noting there that it was a high powered are propane trucks in the weapon.” area.

Mr Rahming also “Could you imagine the expressed concern about danger if those gas trucks derelict buildings in the which parked in Pinewood area, which he feared could which were suppose to “provide haven” for crimi- evicted were to be hit just by nal activities. He also called an event like this?” he said. for people to be wary of the Monday’s tragedy friendships they maintain. marked the 56th and 57th Mr Rahming also murders for the year, underscored his concern according to The Tribune’s about industrial activities records.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

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

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

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

Trump fulfills goals on religious right wishlist WHEN Donald Trump assumed the presidency, conservative religious leaders drew up “wish lists” of steps they hoped he’d take to oppose abortion and rein in the LGBTQ-rights movement.

With a flurry of recent actions, Trump’s administration is now winning their praise for aggressively fulfilling many of their goals.

Mat Staver, president of the legal advocacy organisation Liberty Counsel, said Trump has fulfilled about 90 percent of the goals on a list that Staver and other conservative leaders compiled.

“In the first two years of his administration, he’s achieved more than all of the presidents combined since Ronald Reagan,” Staver said. “He’s been the most pro-religious freedom and pro-life president in modern history.”

One of the most dramatic steps — hailed by conservatives and decried by liberals — came this week when the Department of Health and Human Services implemented a new rule for the federal family planning program known as Title X. Planned Parenthood, long a target of religious conservatives because of its role as the leading US abortion provider, quit the program — walking away from tens of millions of dollars in grants — rather than comply with a new rule prohibiting clinics from referring women for abortions.

Last week, the Labor Department proposed a rule that is expected to shield federal contractors from discrimination complaints regarding hiring and firing decisions motivated by religious beliefs.

Critics say the rule, if implemented, would enable employers to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

On Friday, the Justice Department filed a brief telling the Supreme Court that federal law allows firing workers for being transgender. The brief is related to three cases that the high court will hear in its upcoming term related to LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace.

Earlier this year, Health and Human Services issued a waiver allowing a statecontracted foster care agency in South Carolina to deny services to same-sex and non-Christian families. HHS also moved to revoke newly won health care discrimination protections for transgender people.

These and other actions aimed at curtailing abortion rights and LGBTQ rights have helped many conservative Christians overlook other aspects of Trump’s presidency, such as his oftendivisive rhetoric on Twitter and at rallies.

The Rev Robert Jeffress, pastor of the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Dallas and a frequent guest at the White House, predicted that Trump would win more evangelical votes in 2020 than he did in 2016, when they helped provide his margin of victory.

“When he ran in 2016 and promised pro-life, pro-religious freedom policies, most evangelicals who voted for him didn’t know whether he would or could fulfill those promises,” Jeffress said.

“When they look back now, they see he checked off all of those goals. ... He’ll win by an even larger margin on basis of promises kept.”

The same phenomenon being celebrated by religious conservatives is viewed with alarm by liberal activists.

For the religious right, “Every day is Christmas,” said Rachel Laser, president & CEO of Americans United for

Separation of Church and State. She worries that the mantra of “religious freedom” is being used to protect some Americans while hurting others.

“It can’t be religious freedom just for white evangelical Christians — it has to be religious freedom for all of us,” she said. “We’re witnessing divisiveness as Trump and his cronies and religious extremists across the country continue to chip away at church-state separation.”

The American Civil Liberties Union is among several organisations seeking to block some of the administration’s moves in court.

“This is essentially the wish list of groups that have a very extreme and discriminatory perspective on what religious liberty means,” said Ian Thompson, the ACLU’s senior legislative representative in Washington.

“It’s important not to see any one of these policies in isolation but to see them as part of a coordinated effort by the administration across agencies,” Thompson said. He urged the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives to go on record against the policies, and investigate those which seem particularly problematic.

From both the right and left, activists noted that Trump’s numerous appointments of federal judges have been welcomed by the religious right as a potential long-term boost to its causes.

“We are heartened by the appointment of constitutionalist judges, including two excellent Supreme Court justices (Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh), and look forward to more such appointments throughout the federal court system,” said Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family.

Peter Montgomery of People for the American Way, which is often critical of religious conservative groups, said their Trump-supported agenda “is bad news for women in the US and around the world, for LGBTQ people, and for the principle that taxpayer money should not be used to fund discrimination.”

“Trump is advancing religious right priorities in the short term through administrative actions and in the long term through his appointment of young, right-wing ideologues to lifetime positions on the federal judiciary,” Montgomery added in an email.

The Trump administration actions represent a sharp turnaround from the presidency of Barack Obama, who supported abortion rights and same-sex marriage, mandated that contraception be covered by the Affordable Care Act, enabled transgender people to serve openly in the military, and issued guidance to school districts that they should let transgender students use the bathrooms of their choice.

Alliance Defending Freedom is among the conservative legal groups that has litigated against numerous Obama-era initiatives and has welcomed Trump’s moves to reverse them.

“The defense of life, free speech, and religious liberty should never be subject to political and cultural whims,” said Kristen Waggoner, an ADF senior vice president. “They are constitutional guarantees, and we are grateful that this administration recognizes that reality and is taking serious steps to correct injustice and protect all Americans.”

By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer

BP&L bills EDITOR, The Tribune.

BEFORE BP&L with the assistance of whoever resolves the current catastrophe which PM Minnis and his Cabinet don’t seem to realise, we the public want some indications as to what will this spending of $95m for new engines do to my BP&L bill?

Mr Heastie I would presume, could that be too much to consider, BP&L

got estimates and a reasonable commitment from Wartsila once the sevenmagnificent engines are operating what cost per KW will BP&L be obtaining. Anything over 14 cents per KW... stop everything and send the engines back immediately.

New Fortress to the Christie Government promised 13-14 cents per KW. That was in 2017.

BP&L have to invest in

“pay-as-you go metering’...... have to collect the enormous arrears hundreds of millions, oh, yes, including from you, Mr Finance - in my opinion you are as bad as those delinquent customers anything from $15-20 plus at any given time. Who refuses publish shame and collect !

MAX HUMES Nassau, August 16, 2019.

Champ sends his regards EDITOR, The Tribune.

I’VE been advised that in order to be considered credible, people that write, speak or make public announcements should at the onset, state their biases, relationships or interests, whether direct or indirect and they should do so early out of an abundance of caution and for the sake of full and frank disclosure.

With that said, I really like Duane Sands. He is a decent guy, competent in his discipline, a real people’s person unlike we had all assumed in his early political years, he’s one of the only three people I think should win in the next general election for the Free National Movement, and certainly one of the few people in cabinet that are performing admirably in their portfolio. Needless to say, he was one of my big three picks for top performers immediately after the 2017 general election. Now that that’s clear, and we know exactly where I stand, I’d like to take this opportunity to shed some light on my experience at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Exactly one month ago, July 18th, any parents’ worst nightmare happened to me. My son suffered trauma so extreme that he needed to be rushed to the hospital. Instantly, my first thought was that I should take him to Doctor’s Hospital because I didn’t want to deal with the bumbling idiots I anticipated I would meet when I got to PMH. I dreaded the idea of having to be in the ER with a fouryear-old in an emergency situation, waiting to see a medical professional.

Certainly, everything in me wished that I could press a button and make this all go away. In the end, I had no choice, Princess Margaret Hospital it was. When I got there at about 10, they were at the change of a shift; “and so the saga begins”, I thought to myself.

Everyone seemed to be so lethargic as I burst in the ER, my son in my arms with blood dripping from his eye. In that moment it seemed as though no one cared. Terrified and possibly feeling the most powerless I’ve ever felt in life, I met the first person in a team of persons that would change my concept on PMH and its care forever; Nurse Pierre.

Nurse Pierre, I later learnt was actually signing in for a double and had already worked her shift when I got there frantic and out of breath. Admittedly, in my very riled up state, it initially seemed to me that she would provide the exact service I

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net expected from PMH. Slow, uninspired, laissez-faire medical care. However, quite to the contrary, she was an amazing Emergency Room nurse. She was well read, communicated well and made the entire process near seamless for when the ER doctor got there. She knew which prep information to take, which questions to ask, and what the anticipated route of care for the doctors would be. She was flawless, actually, and the best ER nurse I think I’ve ever met in my entire life.

Still not completely calm, noticeably shaken and possibly irate at my son’s condition, in walked a team of two super young doctors; Dr Nixon and Dr Lowe (and no, not one of the light skinned ones). Excellent is the only adjective I could think of to describe the way these two doctors carried out their duties. During my six hours in the ER, there isn’t anything that I could think of, that they could have done any better during the entire time. Especially Doctor Nixon, she was incredible.

She was gentle, knowledgeable, she trouble-shooted the issue very well, communicated the best pathway of care, executed the initial phases and lined up an absolutely amazing follow up team for his after ER care.

It must be really difficult to deal with young children that suffer trauma, and I imagine that dealing with their angry screaming dad is much worse, but Dr Nixon never lost her cool.

She maintained control, but more importantly, even through my crazy rants, screams and shouts, she was super nice to me. What she offered to me felt like care, medical care, and her trusty sidekick Dr Lowe, was equally that, nice and caring. They got my son stabilised and moments later, in the wee hours of the morning, Dr Shama, the eye specialist, walked in. He was proficient, sound, and advised on the best route of continued care. He provided great oversight to the team of younger doctors.

Hours in, and a shift change later, in walked Dr Brown, who was clearly advised that there was a child that suffered trauma and she needed to make sure that the parents of this child knew that Dr Brown don’t take no mess. At first she was a little difficult to digest and I remember thinking to myself, why is this woman asking me every single question that I already answered for every other doctor I had met tonight. Who is she,

and where did she just come from? I must admit that by the time that he was placed on the ward, my assessment of her was exactly that of the two doctors I had met earlier. She was in fact, the real deal. She was knowledgeable, and confidently advised what steps were to be taken by me, and what I could anticipate from the ward staff. She knew what medication was needed to immediately help the pain go away, and medicated him enough to finally get him to sleep. Although a little rougher than the first two physicians, Dr Brown was super nice to me and also provided sincere medical care.

Last, bust certainly not least, I would like to mention Doctor Aurora, and his magnificent nurse and releasing doctor, Nurse Lee and Dr Lopez. Dr Aurora was the surgeon, who by my estimation, was more compassionate, caring, and communicated better than any surgeon I had ever met before. I felt like although we were in an entire hospital, my son was his only patient. He left no room for doubt in my mind that he would go in there and do his magic, and that he did. He stitched my boy together so well that less than two days later, he was up and singing “party in the elevator” like he was just as good as new. After it was all said and done, the Champ was back and he was still pretty.

In all, we hear about the horror stories, the absolute disaster and catastrophe that people describe as their experience at PMH; but to the contrary, I thought I’d take this time to testify about the staff of the Paediatric ER on the night of July 18th; Dr Brown, Dr Lowe (not the light skinned ones), Nurse Pierre, and chief among them, my star player, Dr Nixon, who have forever changed my mind on PMH and its healthcare.

Often times we credit the good and the bad in the public hospital to the Minister of Health, but in all honesty, it is professionals with the work ethics like this team of ladies that are truly improving our health care system. In fact, if there was anything in this entire ordeal, that I could credit the minister for, it would be for having such comfortable chairs in the waiting area of the ER. Thanks Dr Sands, I really enjoyed those chairs.

On behalf of my son, (The CHAMP) Leyxanderio Miller, I want to say thank you to them and state that we are forever grateful.

LEYVON MILLER Nassau, August 19, 2019.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, August 21, 2019, PAGE 5

POLICEMAN ACCUSED OF RAPING GIRL from page one

Had the girl been in custody, said Supt Goodman, the officer-in-charge of the East Street South Police Station, only a female officer would have been allowed to physically interact with her.

Supt Goodman’s testimony came during the opening day of Decosta’s unlawful sex trial before Justice Cheryl

Grant-Thompson.

Supt Goodman said he was at home on a day off when he received a call from one of his subordinates, Sergeant 281 Bain, from the East Street South Police Station.

As a result, around 2.25 that afternoon, he went to the station where he again spoke with Sgt Bain who pointed out the young girl.

Supt Goodman said as a result of the information he

received, he, Sgt Bain and the girl went to his office where he had a conversation with her.

Based on what she told him, Supt Goodman said he contacted his superior at the time, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashton Greenslade, and relayed what had allegedly happened.

ACP Greenslade then gave him certain instructions, which led to him contacting Chief

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis pictured during a walkabout at the University of The Bahamas on Monday. He has pledged to fix BPL, saying “whatever BPL needs, BPL will get”.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

A SHORT-LIVED REPRIEVE FROM LOAD SHEDDING

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NEW Providence residents and businesses got a temporary reprieve from power woes yesterday as Bahamas Power & Light avoided load shedding throughout the day - but the power outages returned in the evening.

BPL’s aging equipment held up to meet the day’s peak demand, a company spokesperson said.

At 9.30pm, however, BPL issued a statement announcing the resumption of three-hour rotations of load shedding, affecting areas in the vicinity of West Bay Street and neighbourhoods off JFK. Residents of at least two Family Islands were not as lucky, however, with communities in Acklins suffering a three-hour power cut.

However, this was due to work on BPL’s high voltage power lines on the island.

BPL also announced interruptions in power supply to some parts of Abaco yesterday to replace a high voltage pole.

BPL anticipates a 30 megawatt shortfall today with average power outages lasting three hours, according to its daily fact sheet.

“Our current availability is 200 megawatts against an expected day peak of 21 megawatts and an expected evening peak of 225 megawatts,” the company reported.

On Monday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis pledged to fix BPL and reverse years of neglect.

“We would read quite a bit about ‘oh the technology being archaic’ but when you see it for yourself then you have a better understanding. Can you imagine in the nerve centre, or the operational centre, they’re still using floppy disk? We are now in the technological era, those are things that need to be corrected and those are

things that they are correcting,” he said.

“So we’re looking at more than 20 years of neglect and now we’re correcting those problems and we’re going to correct those once and for all. We’ve had similar problems with the dump and now we’re correcting that.

Energy must be corrected and we will place all our energy, all of our resources to ensure that we have not only short-term solutions, but that we have permanent solutions so you won’t experience this problem and your generation moving forward (won’t experience it either),” Dr Minnis said.

He also said: “Whatever BPL needs, BPL will get.

What we’re experiencing today is an emergency situation as far as I’m concerned and, yes, the government has a budget, but this is an emergency and the government will have to use all its resources and talent and move resources around but this must be fixed and this will be fixed.”

Superintendent Solomon Cash, the officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit (CDU).

After speaking with C/ Supt Cash and receiving certain instructions from him, Supt Goodman said he retrieved surveillance footage from not only the cameras at the police station, but also from the Esso service station across the street. He also said he spoke with a woman inspector at CDU that day.

Supt Goodman said the following day, on July 15, he met Decosta at the station in Sgt Bain’s presence, where he told the man he was suspected of having unlawful sex with a minor. Supt Goodman said Decosta was subsequently cautioned and arrested.

Supt Goodman said Decosta told him that he did interact with the girl because he took down some information about an

unspecified incident from her. Supt Goodman said Decosta also said at the time that he saw the girl outside the station at one point, but told her to go back inside.

Supt Goodman said Decosta was ultimately taken to CDU and turned over to officers there for further investigation.

The teenage girl is expected to take the witness stand when the matter resumes today.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Bar Council: Why hire foreign lawyers for prosecutor posts?

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Bar Council wants the director of public prosecutions to justify the hiring of two foreign lawyers to top-level posts at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and is not inclined to give the lawyers entry into the Bahamas Bar without adequate justification, The Tribune understands.

Nigerian Nikiruka JonesNebo and Ugandan David Bakibinga have been working at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for more than two months as the deputy director of public prosecutions and the assistant director of public prosecutions.

However, to argue cases in court, they must be called to the Bahamas Bar. Their applications were discussed during a recent bar council meeting, but have not been approved or put on the council’s agenda, this newspaper understands.

Mrs Jones-Nebo and Mr Bakibinga’s appointments have upset some lawyers, including those at the Office of the Attorney General who believe Bahamians could have been appointed to the posts.

Wayne Munroe, member of the Bar Council, said yesterday the body should assure itself that the positions were properly advertised to qualified Bahamians and that the applicants have been properly vetted.

“Part of it has to do with whether they are fit and proper persons,” he said when contacted for comment.

“There was a Bahamian chap who we admitted to the Bar because he was admitted to the Bar in England and we came to find out that

ATTORNEY WAYNE MUNROE, QC. there was an issue with his call in England and he was subsequently disbarred in England. Now if something like that could happen and that was a Bahamian from the Bahamas who spent most of his life in the Bahamas, that gave me some kind of pause that when we dealing with people we have to be vigilant.”

The permanent secretary in the Attorney General’s office, Cecilia Strachan, said in June that vacancies for the senior posts were first advertised in local media in January 2017, but the persons who applied did not meet the criteria. She said the positions were subsequently advertised

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff internationally in January 2018 through the Commonwealth Secretariat. Six people applied and were interviewed by senior OAG officials who later made a recommendation to the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

Mr Munroe said: “We have prosecutors

prosecuting every day in the courts, appearing every day in the Court of Appeal. What is so special about these people, other than them being foreigners? How is this supposed to affect the morale of the prosecutors in the Office of the DPP? Why is no one qualified? We know them,

we practice on the other side of them, they’re very capable, and now you’re going to have foreigners coming in who don’t have a clue about the local circumstances.

A lot of prosecutions have to do with things that happen locally. If you hear that somebody walking through a yard in Toote Shop Corner gon’ cause people to wake up in the night, you believe when somebody tell you that but nobody else gon’ believe that, if you know about Toote Shop Corner.

So we will now have two foreigners who have to learn about us in order to function in the factual environment that is litigation in court. I don’t hold the poor view of the Office of the DPP that clearly these other people hold.

I practice on the opposite side of these people and they’ve showed themselves capable.”

Other lawyers, nonetheless, have repeatedly emphasized the OAG’s struggle to retain top talent over the years. Mr Munroe said this raises another issue: the need for the government to be transparent about the terms of employment for foreigners.

“We found out with engineers in the Ministry of Works,” he said, “that they advertise the post locally and let’s say it comes with a renumeration of $75,000. When you hire a foreigner the remuneration is $75,000 but they get housing allowance and children’s school fees covered so when you add it up what you’re paying the foreigner is $150,000. So if you advertised the job as $150,000 to the Bahamians, you might have gotten a better response. That is a notorious thing that happens at the Ministry of Works.”

NEW SCHOOL BAGS FOR 600 GRAND BAHAMA CHILDREN

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SOME 600 young people here in Grand Bahama will receive new school book bags, thanks to a generous donation from the Edwards family, the founders of 242Giveback America.

This is the third year that Jason and Vernetta Edwards have donated boxes of backpacks and school supplies for

distribution to needy children in Grand Bahama.

In a statement, the couple thanked everyone who helped to make the donation possible, including some corporate sponsors Lucayan Technologies and Sisters with a Purpose, of Tampa Bay. “We are very happy that we were able to be a blessing to 11 different organisations and ministries in the Bahamas this year,” the couple said.

Dudley Seide, and his

wife, Katie, of Reach Out Youth Organisation (ROYO), travelled to Florida to collect the boxes of supplies and school bags from the Edwards, who have close ties to Grand Bahama.

The items were distributed to 11 churches and groups, including ROYO. The Edwards usually travel to Freeport to make the donation, but did not make it over this year.

Mr Seide said he and his

wife were happy to assist them in getting the items to Freeport.

“This is the first time they did not come over, and so we met them in Florida to pick up the shipment. They want to continue the connection of 242Giveback America and donate items here in the Bahamas,” he said.

“We are glad that we were able to help the Edwards bless 600 children here,” Mr Seide said.

Deacon Donald

Duncombe, of St Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, said he is quite familiar with the Edwards and their acts of generosity.

His church was a recipient of the donation.

He said: “Mrs Edwards is the daughter of one of our parishioners, and they have been helping since the storms of 2016 by assisting the community, and had made donations to the Lewis Yard School, as well as other schools and places.”

Mr Duncombe said the donation will go a long way in helping young people as they prepare to return to school.

“Most of us know how difficult it is in Grand Bahama,” he said.

“Some say it is not that bad, but I always tell people if you want to see how bad it is in GB you need to go in South Bahamia - places where people should have power and don’t have power and water.”

POLICE HUNT TWO AFTER ARMED RAID POLICE on New Providence are seeking help in identifying and locating the men responsible for an armed robbery which occurred on Monday.

According to a police report, shortly after 3pm two armed men entered a store

on Chesapeake Road, held employees and customers at bay and robbed the establishment and a customer of cash before getting into a brown vehicle and speeding away.

Investigations are ongoing.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, August 21, 2019, PAGE 7

LYNDEN Williams aka “Peanut” outside court yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Murder suspect ‘beaten’ from page one Williams’ attorney, Glendon Rolle, said when Williams told the officers he knew nothing about the crime, the officers told him he would have to confess if he wanted to live.

Mr Rolle said Williams suffered abrasions to his hand, left arm and right shoulder, the pain from which caused officers to pause his record of interview (ROI) so he could go the hospital. Mr Rolle said his client’s injuries were caused by an Officer Brennen and an unnamed “thick, dark” officer.

Mr Rolle said the ROI was supposed to resume

upon his client’s return from the hospital. However, he said no one contacted him when it was supposed to continue. As such, Williams was without any attorney for the remainder of his ROI. Williams and his attorney made their claims during the former’s arraignment before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday in connection with Wells’ murder over the most recent holiday weekend.

According to police, Wells was standing outside a home on Roland Street, Ridgeland Park shortly before 4am on the date in question when he was shot multiple times to the body.

Paramedics responded to

the scene, but were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead.

Williams was not required to enter a plea to the charge yesterday and the matter was adjourned to October 22 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) in the interim.

He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

The chief magistrate, in noting Mr Rolle’s claims of police brutality with regards to his client, ordered that Williams be seen by a physician “as soon as is reasonably practicable” upon being remanded to the BDCS.

HAITIAN RELATIONS STILL ‘STRONG’ DESPITE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

AFTER an investigation into alleged corruption at the Haitian Embassy in Nassau led to the removal of some diplomats, Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield said the relationship between the Bahamas and Haiti still remains “strong”.

Speaking to reporters at Cabinet yesterday, Mr Henfield said he talks regularly with his Haitian counterpart.

He said: “Bocchit (Haiti’s foreign minister) and I talk regularly, in this instance we weren’t able to as we would have hoped...(we) kept missing each other. I think we have a strong relationship, I think the relationship must remain strong in the interest of both of our countries.

“There are strong traditional and strong historical ties between us. Of course, you know we have a large Haitian diaspora in the Bahamas. There’s an embassy here and we have an embassy there, so our relationship is very strong.”

On Monday, The Tribune reported that Haiti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bocchit Edmond told Le Nouvelliste, a Haitian newspaper, the inquiry into corruption at the Haitian embassy here has revealed “unacceptable situations” and “wrongdoing”.

Officials from Haiti arrived in Nassau in July to conduct its investigation.

They focused on claims the embassy was involved in getting visas for Haitians and finding fake partners for them to marry to gain status in The Bahamas.

The Tribune recently reported that since the commission completed its work, five Haitian embassy officials have been transferred out of the country, including former Chargé d’Affaires François Michel.

Another former embassy official, former First Secretary Adras Andirs, has resigned.

Yesterday Mr Henfield said at the earliest opportunity he and Mr Edmond will discuss “ongoing” issues relating to strategic plans left in place by the prime minister following his last visit.

He said: “These are ongoing discussions, how

do we settle limiting our boundaries or how do we come up with a Shiprider Agreement that will allow the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to assist Haitian national police in policing their maritime space? “‘How do we mitigate illegal migration from Haiti to The Bahamas?

How do we come up with a regulated migration programme that will stop Haitians from risking their lives on unseaworthy barks trying to come to The Bahamas to find a better way of life?’”

When asked about the five Haitian embassy officials that were transferred out of the country, Mr Henfield said: “I read the same reports that you did, and I have no other information other than what’s already in the public domain.

“What’s been published in newspapers in Haiti and what’s been published in our papers locally. I was supposed to speak with (Mr) Bocchit who is still the foreign minister for Haiti, and we haven’t been able to connect so I don’t know any more than you do at the moment.”

PAGE 8, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

A friend’s family opened my eyes to a different way to educate children

By Alicia Wallace

T

HIS week, I am catching up with a friend who lives in New York.

She has two children - 13 and ten - who attend the Waldorf school where she works as a teacher.

It is always fun to spend time with this family for a number of reasons. I have observed that everyone is involved in what happens in the house, from cooking dinner to making decisions about how the day will go.

The children know their mother has authority, and they still understand themselves as whole human beings with opinions and ideas they can share with her, with each other and with anyone else. Sometimes they do not like a decision, like starting to go to bed earlier as summer comes to an end, but there is little resistance because they understand the reason.

It has been interesting to hear their thoughts on the way they are being raised, educated and engaged as real people in a changing world.

I did not know much about Waldorf schools before meeting this family.

It sparks my interest every time I spend time with them and hear about what the children are doing. This education system is a form of experiential learning that centres imagination and creativity.

On my second night, the ten-year-old made dinner for five. He cooked ground meat and rice for the tacos as well as beans for his

vegetarian sister. When it was time for us to build our own tacos, he asked guests to be careful not to mix the beans with the meat to ensure his sister’s diet would not be compromised.

After we ate, the siblings argued about which of them would get to make dessert for the other. My friend said if they wanted to argue about this particular issue, she would let them. They eventually decided the ten-year-old would make dessert for everyone, and the 13-year-old could make him a special dessert too.

The 13-year-old and I talked at length about her experience as a student at a Waldorf school. She has a good understanding of the difference between her school and mainstream schools. She noted the small class size in particular as a positive aspect, and likes that each class keeps the same teacher every year. It feels more like a community, and the students get to know each other well enough to realise when someone is having a bad day and be able to offer help.

There seems to be an intentional focus on community-building and empathy, steering clear of the individualism that tends to dominate in mainstream school. She did make a point to tell me they are still competitive and her teacher often takes them to play basketball and do sports drills to use that energy in a different way.

She also told me about the way subjects are combined which makes the

WALDORF schools offer a different approach to education - but at a high cost.

What could we create for ourselves that could offer a different way of teaching our children?

material more practical and interesting. As an example, she talked about the connections between mathematics and art. She said they learn geometry by drawing the shapes and shading each part using a variety of techniques.

At their school, the children learn to knit and crochet from the first grade, and they start by making their own needles by sanding down pieces of wood and making a decorative piece to cover them, largely for identification purposes.

Waldorf school tuition

is very expensive, so not many people have access to it. Parents with appropriate backgrounds sometimes become Waldorf teachers in order to benefit from the significant discount they get on tuition. Some also try to find ways to direct their children’s education in other ways by starting homeschools or exploring unschooling with their children.

We often think the existing system in The Bahamas promotes discipline and children who want to learn simply will. We tend to

think that anything too different would have a negative result, that students would miss something.

After spending time with my friend’s two children and hearing about their educational experience, I’m sure that is not the case.

They are incredibly wellspoken, have interesting ideas and the confidence to share them and understand their responsibility in the learning process.

It is good to be reminded there is more than one way to achieve a goal and that some methods work better

than others. The current education system in The Bahamas does not leave much room for play, curiosity or creativity, but it does not have to be that way. It does not have to be Waldorf either.

Imagine what we can create for ourselves by engaging scholars, advocates and young people in an iterative process to produce a system that responds to the particular needs of Bahamian students. We have to build the systems we need to meet our own needs - and we can.

WE often talk about making sure things look nice for tourists - such as those coming off visiting cruise ships... but don’t we deserve nice surroundings for ourselves?

WHAT ABOUT US? WE PUT significant focus on tourists and their experience of this country. It is not only because tourism is the top industry or our reliance on it for our income.

We feel direct connection between ourselves and this place, and understand people see it as a reflection of us.

For this reason, we are constantly thinking about what they might think when they see, hear, or do certain things.

Unfortunately, it often seems we are far less concerned about ourselves and one another given the long-term effects of our circumstances.

The load shedding we are experiencing on a daily basis is more than an inconvenience. It is a safety issue, an impediment to academic and career progress, and a financial burden among other issues.

We have not yet come to an agreement on whether or not it is a crisis, but it is certainly an ongoing problem affecting all of us.

Even those with generators have seen an increase in their spending on fuel.

We commiserate every time it happens, complain as we make sacrifices to better prepare ourselves for the next occurrence and ask ourselves what we could possibly do about it.

Nothing about the response is particularly surprising or unreasonable until it focuses on tourists.

People sometimes make comments that dismiss our experiences and highlight the plight of the tourist who has come to “paradise”.

When the narrative centres the tourist, residents of The Bahamas are pushed out of the picture. The assumption is we are accustomed to this low level of service, so it is excusable. In the case of the tourist, such negative experiences are inexcusable and must be remedied for their benefit.

It is not inherently bad that we would like people to have positive experiences of the country and be able to recommend it to others, potentially driving more money into the economy. It is, however, an indication of a serious deficiency in care and concern for ourselves as human beings.

We have, for so long, thought of The Bahamas as a product and everything in it - including us - as a service or in service to the image of paradise we sell to nonresidents that our everyday lives become secondary.

People complain about unkempt verges and roundabouts, saying, “It’s the first thing tourists see!” They say there should be more art and entertainment for

visitors to enjoy. They report terrible service they receive while showing visitors around, and they say, “I was so embarrassed!”

Do we not deserve beautiful surroundings? Should we not be able to enjoy a broad range of events all year? Is it too much to ask for us, as residents here, to give and receive excellent customer service at all times?

We reserve far too much for tourists. It is bad enough that we have limited access to certain spaces, and that some people take one look at a person and decide whether or not they are worth any effort.

We need not feed the idea that tourists deserve more or better than we do.

They come for a short time, and yes, they want to have the best possible experience.

We are here every single day, making the most of it, often demanding very little when we deserve much more. How is their short experience more important than ours which generally last a lifetime?

We have to reject the idea The Bahamas is for anyone else. We need to commit to making it the country we want and others can enjoy; not a country others enjoy and we struggle to live in.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, August 21, 2019, PAGE 9

TOP NASA OFFICIAL GETS LOOK AT NEXT MOON ROCKET

THE CORE stage of the Space Launch System, which will power the Artemis 1 lunar mission, at the NASA Michaud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. (AP)

By STACEY PLAISANCE Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — NASA’s top official says the rocket expected to power the next mission to the moon is about 90 percent complete.

NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine spoke during a visit last visit to a facility in New Orleans where the core stage is being built.

The 212-foot-tall (65-metre-tall) core stage is made up of two liquid propellant tanks and four RS-25 engines.

In the months to come, the engine section will be attached to the rest of the core section.

If all goes well, it will power the Artemis 1 test

flight in 2020.

Plans call for the rocket to carry a crewless Orion capsule in a double loop around the moon during 25½ days in flight.

Future missions are expected to carry U.S. astronauts, including the first female astronaut to land on the moon.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine talks to reporters in front of the core stage of the Space Launch System. (AP)

INVENTOR CONCENTRATING ON WIND POWER TECHNOLOGY

ATHENS, Texas (AP) — Some people say a uniquely different invention of George Arthur Spencer on his property in the Cross Roads community near Athens looks like an alien antenna.

The Tyler Morning Telegraph reports Spencer jokes that it is a feeder for giraffes.

In a serious vein, Spencer, who has more than 20 patents, said his latest invention is three-dimensional wind power technology designed to harvest wind energy. In less technical terms, it is a new concept in windmills similar to wind turbines in West Texas.

Hassan El-Kishky, chair of the electrical engineering department at the University of Texas at Tyler, said Spencer’s invention “sounds like a good idea.” There will need to be an analysis to see if it will actually be feasible in terms of cost, and whether it will add to present technology and realise improvement in efficiency as well as reliability, El-Kishky said.

Spencer contends his 3D windpower technology is a major upgrade over traditional wind turbines. He calculates that his 3D wind power will produce much more electricity per acre per hour than a traditional wind turbine — 50 to 100 times more power per acre.

Apart from not being a 24-hoursa-day, seven-days-a week electrical source like nuclear power, Spencer projects his 3D wind-power technology can outproduce a nuclear power plant on an equivalent area of land.

He quickly acknowledged his invention will not replace nuclear plants, which provide a steady source of power, while supplemental energies like wind and solar power can only be used when they are available.

Having built a feasibility model of his 3D wind-power instrument, Spencer next plans a working prototype — a preproduction model. He is looking for a partner for his company, G Sharp Labs, and hopes to find a manufacturer of existing wind turbines — a major corporation — willing to produce his invention using his technology.

Billy Calcote, professor/coordinator of electrical/electronic controls technology at Tyler Junior College’s

A PROTOTYPE of three-dimensional wind power technology created by inventor George Arthur Spencer is seen on his property in the Cross Roads community near Athens, Texas.

(Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP) West Campus, noted there is a hunger for alternative energy sources like wind and solar. He pointed out that wind turbines require a lot of maintenance. If Spencer has a better design, Calcote said, “he may have clinched longevity of wind power generation.”

Maintenance Spencer said the 3D wind-power technology is very user-friendly as far as repair and maintenance. Repairing or replacing a generator on a traditional wind turbine requires a big crane or helicopter, Spencer said, but a generator could be changed out on his windmill with a couple of bucket trucks like those used to service streetlights.

Spencer maintains his invention is environmentally friendly. Although wind turbines spin very fast, his device turns very slowly, which is safer for birds, and it makes virtually no noise, unlike the whistling noise from traditional wind turbines, Spencer said.

His 3D wind power is not as limited as traditional wind turbines, Spencer said.

“They have a narrow band of wind speeds that can produce great amounts of electricity. Mine

is different; I have a lot of design considerations,” Spencer said. His computer will tell what shape of device is needed for a particular wind condition with a certain kind of power, he added.

Also, his 3D wind power technology can be loaded into semitrucks, in contrast to big blades that people see going down the highway for traditional wind turbines, Spencer said.

Spencer spent approximately 18 months working on his 3D windpower technology feasibility model.

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has issued a patent in his name for the concept of his invention and he is pursuing patents for the parts.

Spencer calls his invention 3D wind-power technology because when he visualises the wind, he sees in his mind cubes of wind coming at his invention as opposed to just wind blowing.

Whenever the devices produce excessive electricity, Spencer anticipates he will convert that into hydrogen, which he plans to sell to farmers to run farm equipment at less cost than diesel.

The 3D wind-power technology is the latest in a string of inventions by Spencer, who says he has very little formal education.

Spencer failed first grade. In the

fifth grade, he moved to California and performed on placement tests at the second-grade level in reading and writing, but at the 14th-grade level in mathematics. He quit school after the ninth grade. He said educators can thwart creative thinking.

Spencer got his first taste of problem-solving when he was about 7 and helped his older brother build a gaspowered wooden bicycle to deliver newspapers. His brother needed the bike because his legs were withered from polio. Spencer took no credit for the project and remembers that the bike was his brother’s idea.

Spencer is from a family of migrant workers from Oklahoma. He recalled at times when he was growing up living in ditches beside the road and in houses with dirt floors. He raked leaves to make his bed.

Spencer said, “We did whatever we had to to survive.” Yet he added, “I had a wonderful life and wonderful parents. We all worked together picking cotton.”

After dropping out of school, Spencer lived at a uranium mine and also became a cowboy and did ranching.

When he was 16, he joined the Navy, serving two stints totaling 10 years and received his initial training in electronics, including radios, radar and cryptology.

After his Navy service, Spencer spent more than 18 years in the electronics field, working his way up from junior technician at Texas Instruments to engineer for Teradyne and senior staff engineer for STMicroelectronics.

While associated with Teradyne, Spencer recalls developing offline laser repair, which he described as a major advancement in industry.

He was called in after Japan struggled trying to resolve electronic and laser production issues for memory chips for a miniature semiconductor.

Spencer said he rewrote their laser programmes within six weeks.

Spencer received his first patent in August 1983 for an electrical wiring tester to determine the quality of the wiring installed in a home or building and identifying electrical problems.

(BETTY WATERS , Tyler Morning Telegraph)

TECHTALK • COLORADO tightened its air quality regulations on Friday, requiring that at least 5% of the vehicles sold in the state by 2023 emit zero pollution.

The state Air Quality Control Commission, which passed the rule on an 8-1 vote, said the requirement applies to auto manufacturers, not buyers. It’s intended to boost the number of electric vehicles in a state struggling to control ozone pollution in its most heavily populated area.

The minimum rises to 6.23% in 2025.

Colorado is the 11th state to adopt zero-emission standards, according to Green Car Reports, which tracks developments in low-pollution vehicles.

Two auto industry groups, Global Automakers and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, applauded the rule. They said they had been working with Colorado officials on how to structure the requirement.

John Bozzella, president of Global Automakers, said Colorado had adopted an innovative policy by collaborating with manufacturers.

Environmental groups also welcomed the standards, but the Colorado Freedom to Drive Coalition called them costly and ineffective.

“We believe commissioners did a disservice to all Coloradans, but especially Coloradans of modest means,” coalition spokeswoman Sara Almerri said.

Regulators said the zeroemission standard is aimed at reducing ozone and greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis directed the Air Quality Control Commission to set a zero-emissions standard shortly after he took office in January. In a statement Friday, he said the new rule was “only the beginning” of the state’s work to reduce air pollution.

Excessive ground-level ozone has plagued Colorado’s urban areas for years.

Ozone is the main component of smog and can aggravate asthma and contribute to early deaths from respiratory disease. It’s created from pollution emitted by vehicles, the oil and gas industry and other sources.

• The US National Park Service is creating a digital map of Carlsbad Caverns National Park to help with repairs and maintenance projects.

The agency is using light detection and ranging equipment to digitally map out the entire cave system in southern New Mexico down to the millimetre, the Carlsbad Current-Argus reports .

The Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies at the University of Arkansas is helping with the $186,000 project, which began in 2015. Staff is shooting images and collecting data using laser lights and measuring the reflected light with hundreds of sensors.

The result is supposed to yield a highly-detailed digital three-dimensional map of the cave system.

“It’s like a big 3D set of data,” said Julie McGilvray, cultural resources programme manager at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. “It’s useful for so many things.”

A final draft of the map is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Fire-damaged school not ready for term

from page one When asked if repairs to the Black Point All-Age School in Exuma will be finished in time for school opening, Mr Lloyd said: “(The) school is going to be ready.”

When contacted for comment, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson expressed her concerns relating to the readiness of the classrooms for the upcoming term.

Mrs Wilson said: “Huntley P Christie High School in North Andros is one of the schools that I have been concerned about being ready for September 2019 school opening. As you are aware there were two classroom that were burnt shortly before school closed in June.

“I have been assured that a technical block that has been building for approximately 14 years will be available for the two classroom teachers and students to occupy. I will keep a close eye on the situation once school opens.”

Mrs Wilson noted the Black Point All Age School in Exuma has had many challenges with its physical structure for many years.

She said: “Parents and the union took a stand and brought the

concerns to the attention of Ministry of Education personnel. So, repairs should be underway at that school and are expected to be completed in time for the teachers and students next week. “(I will) continue to monitor the school repairs along with our shop stewards and assistant shop stewards.”

In June, the Ministry of Education launched an investigation to determine the cause of a fire at the Huntley P Christie High School in Andros.

In a press release issued, the Ministry of Education said the school in Nicholls Town sustained fire damage to four classrooms.

According to a police report, shortly after 4pm on June 12, Andros police officers were on patrol in the area of the school when they discovered the centre block of classrooms on fire. Officers and volunteers from the community extinguished the fire, which damaged four singlestory classrooms. No one was injured during the incident.

In January, photos of Black Point All Age School in Exuma were circulated on social media that showed the dilapidated faculty and student restrooms, overgrown grass and a library that appeared also to be used as a MINISTER of Education Jeff Lloyd. messy storage room.

RAND HOSPITAL FACES SHORTAGE OF 40 NURSES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Health Services is facing

a shortage of about 40 registered nurses at the Rand Memorial Hospital, according to acting hospital administrator Sandra

Mortimer-Russell.

She said the entire nursing pool consists of about 295 professionals and assistant nurses. Of that

number, 125 are registered nurses, excluding the nursing officers.

Mrs Russell was speaking at a ceremony for the installation of officers of the Grand Bahama Lucaya Lion’s Club on Saturday.

Mrs Russell said that there is also a nurse shortage in New Providence, where Minister of Health Duane Sands spoke of the inability to open a part of the Critical Care Block at Princess Margaret Hospital due to the shortage of nurses.

She said nurses are retiring from the profession, leaving for personal reasons, for higher pay and relocating to work abroad.

Mrs Russell indicated there are also nursing issues globally.

She reported the World Health Organisation estimates a shortage of almost

4.3 million nurses, physicians and other health care human resources worldwide.

In the USA, roughly 204,000 nurses are needed yearly, Mrs Russell said, adding that healthcare professionals play a very important role in the delivery of quality healthcare to patients.

In Grand Bahama, she said that health services are provided by a cadre of well-trained and experienced professionals through seven community clinics, two satellite clinics, and the Rand Memorial Hospital, with a staff of 770. She also reported that over 659 babies were delivered at RMH in 2018. She also noted that some 4,375 patients were admitted at hospital last year.

This year, she reported that so far, some 2,100 patients have been

admitted.

“That is an average of 325 patients per month admitted to the Rand Hospital,” Mrs Russell said.

Within a 24-hour period, she said the hospital can see 75-150 patients in the emergency room.

Most of those patients, she said, have complications from non-communicable diseases like heart problems, diabetes, circulatory problems.

Mrs Russell reported that 40 to 60 percent of the persons seen at the Accident and Emergency Department don’t have a true emergency. “They could have easily be treated in the clinic somewhere else,” she said, adding that it results in long wait time.

She also reported that on an average, they respond to about 25 ambulance calls in a 24-hour period. Of that, she said only five actually warrant an ambulance.

THE TRIBUNE

OCEAN WARMING HAS FISHERIES ON THE MOVE, HELPING SOME BUT HURTING MORE

Wednesday, August 21, 2019, PAGE 11

By CHRIS FREE University of California Santa Barbara

CLIMATE change has been steadily warming the ocean, which absorbs most of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, for 100 years.

This warming is altering marine ecosystems and having a direct impact on fish populations. About half of the world’s population relies on fish as a vital source of protein, and the fishing industry employs more the 56 million people worldwide.

My recent study with colleagues from Rutgers University and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that ocean warming has already impacted global fish populations. We found that some populations benefited from warming, but more of them suffered.

Overall, ocean warming reduced catch potential – the greatest amount of fish that can be caught year after year – by a net 4% over the past 80 years. In some regions, the effects of warming have been much larger. The North Sea, which has large commercial fisheries, and the seas of East Asia, which support some of the fastest-growing human populations, experienced losses of 15 to 35 percent.

Although ocean warming has already challenged the ability of ocean fisheries to provide food and income, swift reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and reforms to fisheries management could lessen many of the negative impacts of continued warming.

How and why does ocean warming affect fish?

My collaborators and I like to say that fish are like Goldilocks: They don’t want their water too hot or too cold, but just right.

Put another way, most fish species have evolved narrow temperature tolerances. Supporting the cellular machinery necessary to tolerate wider temperatures demands a lot of energy. This evolutionary strategy saves energy when temperatures are “just right,” but it becomes a problem when fish find themselves in warming water. As their bodies begin to fail, they must divert energy from searching for food or avoiding predators to maintaining basic bodily functions and searching for cooler waters.

Thus, as the oceans warm, fish move to track their preferred temperatures.

Most fish are moving poleward or into deeper waters.

For some species, warming expands their ranges.

In other cases it contracts

THE REDDISH and brown circles represent fish populations whose maximum sustainable yields have dropped as the ocean has warmed. The darkest tones represent extremes of 35 percent. Blueish colors represent fish yields that increased in warmer waters.

Photo: Chris Free/CC BY-ND their ranges by reducing the has damaged some fisheries overfished populations catch limits that account for Even the best fishery manamount of ocean they can and benefited others. The will enhance resilience and the effects of climate change agement reforms will be thermally tolerate. These losers outweighed the win- maximise long-term food and establish new interna- unable to compensate for shifts change where fish go, ners, resulting in a net four and income potential. tional institutions to ensure the 4 degree Celsius ocean their abundance and their percent decline in sustainSecond, new research that management remains temperature increase that catch potential. able catch potential over suggests that swift climate- strong as fish migrate pole- scientists project will occur Warming can also modify the last 80 years. This rep- adaptive management ward from one nation’s by the end of this century the availability of key prey resents a cumulative loss of reforms can make it possi- waters into another’s. These if greenhouse gas emissions species. For example, if 1.4 million metric tons pre- ble for fish to feed humans agencies would be similar to are not reduced. warming causes zooplank- viously available for food and generate income into multinational organisations ton – small invertebrates and income. the future. This will require that manage tuna, swordfish • This article is at the bottom of the ocean Some regions have been scientific agencies to work and marlin today. republished from The food web – to bloom early, hit especially hard. The with the fishing industry on Finally, nations will Conversation. Read the they may not be available North Sea, with large com- new methods for assessing have to aggressively curb original article at http:// when juvenile fish need mercial fisheries for species fish populations’ health, set greenhouse gas emissions. theconversation.com/ them most. Alternatively, like Atlantic cod, haddock warming can sometimes and herring, has experienhance the strength of enced a 35 percent loss in zooplankton blooms, sustainable catch potential thereby increasing the pro- since 1930. The waters of ductivity of juvenile fish.

East Asia, neighbored by Understanding how the some of the fastest-growing complex impacts of warm- human populations in the ing on fish populations world, saw losses of eight balance out is crucial for percent to 35 percent across projecting how climate three seas. change could affect the Other species and ocean’s potential to pro- regions benefited from This hurricane season keep your family safe and prepared by vide food and income for warming. Black sea bass, stocking up on Aquapure. Our strict quality controls ensure the people. a popular species among recreational anglers on the purest, safest drinking water, allowing for an indefinite shelf Impacts of historical US East Coast, expanded warming on marine its range and catch potenlife. When it comes to your family’s well-being we don’t take fisheries tial as waters previously Sustainable fisheries are too cool for it warmed. In chances and neither should you. Drink Sure with Aquapure. like healthy bank accounts. the Baltic Sea, juvenile herIf people live off the inter- ring and sprat – another est and don’t overly deplete small herring-like fish – the principal, both people have more food available and the bank thrive. If a fish to them in warm years than population is overfished, in cool years, and have also the population’s “principal” benefited from warming. shrinks too much to gener- However, these climate ate high long-term yields. winners can tolerate only Similarly, stresses on fish so much warming, and may populations from environ- see declines as temperamental change can reduce tures continue to rise. population growth rates, much as an interest rate Management boosts fishes’ reduction reduces the resilience growth rate of savings in a Our work suggests three bank account. encouraging pieces of news In our study we com- for fish populations. bined maps of historical First, well-managed ocean temperatures with fisheries, such as Atlantic estimates of historical fish scallops on the US East abundance and exploita- Coast, were among the tion. This allowed us to most resilient to warming. assess how warming has Others with a history of affected those interest rates overfishing, such as Atlantic and returns from the global cod in the Irish and North fisheries bank account. seas, were among the most vulnerable. These findings Losers outweigh winners suggest that preventing We found that warming overfishing and rebuilding

Safe & Pure.

There’s pure... then there’s AQUAPURE.

The QUDAL ® - QUality meDAL™ accolade is only awarded to those products and services on the market that offer consumers the greatest level of quality – based on scientific market research according to the innovative QUDAL® - Quality – DEEPMA method.

BE SURE. AQUAPURE.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

TRUMP: ANY JEW VOTING DEMOCRAT IS UNINFORMED OR DISLOYAL WASHINGTON Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump says any Jewish people who vote Democratic show “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty”.

Trump commented yesterday amid his ongoing feud with Democratic congresswomen Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Trump has taken several steps favored by Israel, while the Muslim lawmakers are outspoken critics of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.

Trump calls Omar a “disaster” for Jews and says he didn’t “buy” the tears Tlaib shed as she discussed the situation.

At Trump’s urging, Israel last week blocked the pair from entering the country. Israel later agreed to a humanitarian visit for Tlaib to visit her grandmother who lives in the West Bank.

Tlaib declined.

Recent polling shows that a majority of Jews identify as Democrats.

ITALIAN LEADER CONTE RESIGNS AS GOVT FAILS ROME Associated Press ITALIAN Premier Giuseppe Conte resigned Tuesday, blaming the collapse of his 14-month-old populist government on his rebellious, anti-migrant Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who triggered a political crisis to try to force early elections.

Addressing the Senate, Conte blasted Salvini for setting in motion a “dizzying spiral of political and financial instability” by essentially pulling the plug on the government. Salvini’s right-wing League party sought a no-confidence vote against Conte earlier this month, a stunningly bold move for the government’s junior coalition partner.

Conte, a lawyer with no political experience who was tapped to break a postelection stalemate last year, handed his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella at the presidential palace last night.

Mattarella, who is head of state, requested that Conte and the rest of the government stay on in a caretaker role, while he works in the coming days to determine whether to call new elections. Mattarella will first see if another viable coalition can be cobbled together.

THREE WOMEN SUE ESTATE OF EPSTEIN NEW YORK Associated Press THREE women have filed lawsuits accusing Jeffrey Epstein of raping them or subjecting them to other forced sex acts — in one case while he was serving a Florida jail sentence that allowed him out for work during the day.

The lawsuits in Manhattan federal court were filed yesterday on behalf of women who remained anonymous. They sought unspecified damages.

The lawsuits say two women were 17 and the third woman was 20 when they said they were sexually assaulted by Epstein. All said they were also coerced into giving Epstein sexual massages.

One woman maintains Epstein forced her to marry another woman.

A lawyer for Epstein declined to comment on the lawsuits.

Epstein killed himself in his New York prison cell August 10 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.

BRITAIN’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

UK and EU harden positions on Brexit BRUSSELS Associated Press THE European Union and Britain, which are hurtling toward a costly, damaging no-deal split in a little over two months, kicked off a high-wire week of diplomacy yesterday by entrenching themselves deeper in their irreconcilable positions.

Highlighting new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s determination to leave the bloc on Oct. 31 even if no Brexit divorce deal is in place, his government said as of September 1 it would stop attending all EU meetings where its vital interests were not at stake.

Johnson’s Downing Street office doubled down on the message later, stating that unless the trade backstop on the Irish border was abolished “there’s no prospect of a deal”.

The EU, which is not known for its speedy diplomacy, took only half a day to rebuff a four-page proposal

by Johnson on breaking a deadlock over ensuring a transparent border between the EU’s Ireland and the U.K.’s Northern Ireland. The bloc said one key part of the proposal was “incorrect” and another “misleading”.

In the diplomatic note from the

EU Commission and Council to the EU’s remaining 27 nations, which was obtained by The Associated Press, the member states were strongly urged not to give in to Johnson’s demand that the legal withdrawal agreement the EU negotiated with his predecessor, Theresa May, be changed at this late stage.

Johnson demanded late on Monday that the EU re-open Brexit negotiations, scrapping “anti-democratic” provisions for the Irish border that he said would threaten the peace process in Northern Ireland.

European Council chief Donald Tusk responded quickly and vigorously, defending the so-called backstop — an insurance policy meant to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“Those against the backstop and not proposing realistic alternatives in fact support re-establishing a border,” Tusk tweeted yesterday.

“Even if they do not admit it.”

The backstop would keep Britain closely aligned with the European customs union if the two sides can’t agree on other ways to prevent the reintroduction of border checks on people and goods moving between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The EU’s diplomatic note said it needed to counter Johnson’s assertions, insisting “it is incorrect to state that the people of Northern Ireland have no influence over the legislation that would apply to them.”

Similarly, it said “the letter’s suggestion that two separate legal, political, economic, and monetary jurisdictions already exist on the island and can be managed with an open border is misleading.”

Such words left a huge rift between the sides, just as Johnson was preparing to visit German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday. His trips should culminate in more talks at a summit of G-7 leaders this weekend in Biarritz, France.

On a rare note of guarded optimism, Merkel suggested Tuesday that a “practical solution” could still be found for the Irish border issue, making the backstop superfluous. But she said finding such a solution wouldn’t require reopening negotiations on the current Brexit deal.

Johnson has vowed to leave the EU “come what may” on October 31, with or without a deal aimed at softening the transition.

To that effect, UK Secretary of

State Steve Barclay said yesterday that the diplomatic corps “will only go to the (EU) meetings that really matter, reducing attendance by over half and saving hundreds of hours”. He said that would free up time for ministers and staff “to get on with preparing for our departure on October 31 and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead.”

But Johnson is facing rising criticism of his Brexit strategy at home.

A leaked report showed that the British government is preparing for widespread shortages of food, fuel and medicines in the event of a nodeal Brexit.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, vowed late Monday to do “everything necessary” to prevent the UK from leaving the EU without a deal. That includes calling a no-confidence vote in Johnson’s government and, if it succeeds, competing in the ensuing general election with a pledge to hold a second public vote on Brexit.

After a 2016 referendum in which the public voted to leave the EU, May spent more than two years negotiating a Brexit divorce agreement with the bloc. It was repeatedly rejected by British lawmakers, primarily because of concerns about the Irish border.

AT LEAST 2,300 HELD IN LOCKED-DOWN KASHMIR SRINAGAR, India Associated Press AT LEAST 2,300 people, mostly young men, have been detained in Indian-administered Kashmir during a security lockdown and communications blackout imposed to curb unrest after New Delhi stripped the disputed region of statehood, according to top Kashmir police and arrest statistics reviewed by The Associated Press.

Those arrested include anti-India protesters as well as pro-India Kashmiri leaders who have been held in jails and other makeshift facilities, according to three police officials. The officials have access to all police records but spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The crackdown began just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu

nationalist-led government on August 5 stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its semi-autonomy and its statehood, creating two federal territories.

Thousands of additional Indian troops were sent to man checkpoints in the Kashmir Valley, already one of the world’s most militarised regions. Telephone communications, cellphone coverage, broadband internet and cable TV services were cut for the valley’s 7 million people, although some communications have been gradually restored in places.

Kashmiris have staged protests and clashed with police since the crackdown, with about 300 demonstrations against India’s tighter control over Kashmir, the three officials said.

One of the officials said most of the arrests have been in Srinagar,

ULFAT, a Kashmiri woman holds her forty days old daughter Tanzeela, as she waits outside a police station to hear about her husband who was detained during night raids in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir.

Photo: Dar Yasin/AP Kashmir’s main city and the heart of a 30-year-old movement to oust Hindu-majority India from Muslim-majority Kashmir so that it can exist independently or be merged with Pakistan.

Both India and Pakistan claim the disputed territory of Kashmir in its entirety, but each controls only part of it. Kashmir’s special status was instituted shortly after India

achieved independence from Britain in 1947.

The official spokesman in Jammu and Kashmir, Rohit Kansal, has repeatedly refused to give any details about arrests and detentions, saying only that they have been made to prevent anti-India protests and clashes in the region.

He declined questions about specific arrests.

COURT UPHOLDS SEX ABUSE VERDICT OF CARDINAL PELL MELBOURNE, Australia Associated Press AN AUSTRALIAN appeals court has upheld convictions against Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic to be found guilty of sexually abusing children. The decision brought cheers from scores of abuse survivors and victims’ advocates

demonstrating outside court.

The Victoria state Court of Appeal in a 2-1 ruling rejected Pell’s appeal of a unanimous jury verdict in December that Pope Francis’ former finance minister was guilty of molesting two 13-year-old choirboys in Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral more than two decades ago.

Pell’s lawyers will examine the judgment and consider an appeal to the High Court, Australia’s final arbiter, his spokeswoman said in a statement.

“Cardinal Pell is obviously disappointed with the decision today,” the statement said, adding that he maintains his innocence.

He was sentenced to six years in prison in March

and is no longer a member of Pope Francis’ council of cardinals or a Vatican official. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said soon after the appeal was rejected that Pell would be stripped of his Order of Australia honour.

Pell, 78, showed no emotion when Chief Justice Anne Ferguson read the verdict to a packed courtroom but bowed his head

moments later. He wore a cleric’s collar but not his cardinal’s ring. Pell had arrived at the court in a prison van and was handcuffed as he was led away by a guard.

The Vatican is conducting its own investigation into sex abuse allegations against Pell and is expected to comment on the ruling later today.