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VOLUME:115 No.191, AUGUST 28TH, 2018

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WOMAN: BAHAMAS PIONEERS BREAST IMPLANT SURGERY

FACE-TO-FACE: SEE PAGE EIGHT

Stranded whale found mutilated

Three-foot gash deliberately cut into animal’s side A LIVE pilot whale was sliced open and left to die on a beach in Abaco by someone suspected to be looking for ambergris, a highly-sought after substance found in the intestines of some sperm whales and used in making perfume.

Pilot whales do not produce ambergris, so it is suspected the animal was attacked in vain by someone ignorant of the law protecting marine mammals as well as how the whale secretion is made.

Although representatives of the Abaco-based

non-profit group Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation responded on Thursday to the report of a live stranded whale on the beach just north of Crossing Rocks, Abaco, they were unsuccessful in saving the marine mammal. It died a day later, last Friday, despite the efforts of more than 20 people over two days, including children, to save the whale.

The perpetrator could face a $25,000 fine and/or up to 18 months in prison for the “despicable act”, the group said.

SEE PAGE TWO

OBAN TECHNICAL REPORT IMMINENT

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNMENT officials expect this week to receive a technical report on the proposed Oban Energies deal for Grand Bahama, The Tribune was told yesterday.

The Minnis administration has been virtually quiet on the deal, leaving many to wonder whether Oban will ever establish itself in the nation’s second city where there is a need for jobs and economic growth.

SEE PAGE FIVE

THE BODY of a pilot whale that had been cut open in Abaco. After efforts to save the animal were unsuccessful, the young adult female pilot whale was laid to rest on the beach.

TARANIQUE STILL TRAPPED IN LIMBO NEMA HANDS

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net SICK, stateless teen Taranique Thurston is still in limbo as her family struggles to secure funding to treat her life-threatening brain cyst.

Her mother, 34-year-old Ginette Caty, yesterday said the lack of funding has presented a roadblock to efforts to obtain an American travel visa.

The teen has secured funding to cover travel costs and an initial consultation at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital from a private donor; however, Ms Caty said

TARANIQUE THURSTON she won’t know how much medical treatment will cost or how long her daughter will need to stay in the US until after that assessment.

Taranique celebrated her 16th birthday on Friday and was issued a certificate of identity earlier this month, which lists her nationality as Haitian.

However, it remains unclear whether she will be able to obtain a US visa for the document.

Taranique’s consultation at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital is slated for September 18 - a date that has been pushed back twice due to her inability to travel.

On Friday, Ms Caty said she was told by an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that she SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

OUT CASH TO RAGGED FAMILIES

WEEKS ahead of the one year anniversary of Hurricane Irma, which devastated Ragged Island, the National Emergency Management Agency issued more than $70,000 in financial assistance to affected residents.

According to a press release, NEMA director Captain Stephen Russell was accompanied SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Tuesday, August 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE BAHAMAS Marine Mammal Research Organisation team and local volunteers helped to hold the pilot whale upright in the water so that it doesn’t drown while keeping a watchful eye out for sharks.

STRANDED WHALE FOUND MUTILATED from page one “With the help of Crossing Rocks community members, BMMRO’s team was able to push the 11-foot young adult female whale back out to sea but had to hold it upright so that it did not drown,” a statement from the group noted.

“Two sharks patrolled nearby. During the rescue, BMMRO scientist Dr Diane Claridge discovered a three-foot long and threeinch deep cut on the whale’s underside, deep enough to have cut into the muscle.”

Dr Claridge said the troubling discovery was not isolated.

“Sadly, this type of body mutilation has been observed previously in the Bahamas on a dead dolphin, but I never imagined anyone cutting into the

body of a live animal,” Dr Claridge said in the group’s statement. “I was horrified. There is absolutely no doubt that a knife was deliberately used to make this laceration. The cut was too straight to have been caused by rocks or coral, and the skin and blubber is not easily cut into, so it had to be done with some force.

“Additionally, the location of the cut on the whale’s underside indicated the person was looking for ambergris. As well as completely lacking compassion, the perpetrator was obviously ignorant of both Bahamian law and how to find ambergris,” the doctor said.

Ambergris is a substance that sperm whales produce in their stomachs to help digest and pass squid beaks.

The BMMRO said only sperm whales produce the

THIS photograph was taken when the 3-foot long cut was discovered. The whale was alive at the time the mutilation occurred. substance; however not all stomach or intestines of a Department of Marine BMMRO conducted of them do, neither do dol- dead sperm whale is worth Resources or Marsh Har- a necropsy – an animal phins or any other whale absolutely nothing (and bour police immediately. autopsy – of the pilot whale species, including the pilot smells awful). Furthermore, The group said when and samples were collected whale which was mutilated. a whale’s stomach is not someone discovers a to determine the initial “Sperm whales def- located on its underside but stranded dolphin or whale, cause of stranding. ecate the ambergris with under the rib cage. Mutilat- whether alive or dead, they BMMRO scientist, Dr the encased squid beaks, ing a whale or dolphin is should immediately call the Charlotte Dunn, noted: occasionally it is vomited not going to result in find- Bahamas Marine Mammal “During the two-day event instead, and the amber- ing ambergris of any value Stranding Network at 242 more than 20 people from gris floats at sea until it but could result in a $5,000 - -366-4155 to initiate the Crossing Rocks, includis washed ashore,” the $25,000 fine and/or up to 18 stranding response team. ing children, assisted us, BMMRO noted. “During months in prison.”

“Assisting a living whale doing what they could to its time at sea and on The BMMRO noted it or dolphin should be done try to save this animal. This the shore, its chemical is against the law to harm with caution because they community support and properties change due to marine mammals in any are large animals and may kindness was uplifting and a oxidation. Ambergris is way in the Bahamas. It has transfer diseases but helping great help.” highly valued for its use in asked anyone with infor- the animal to breathe and BMMRO thanked those the perfume industry, but mation regarding who keeping it wet until experts from the Crossing Rocks only after it has oxidised. conducted “this despic- arrive will sometimes save community who helped “Ambergris in the able act” to contact the its life,” the group said. during the ordeal.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 28, 2018, PAGE 3

Taranique still trapped in limbo from page one could not proceed with her visa application until she secured funding for airfare.

Up to press time, she said she had received no response to her calls to update the ministry.

A Cabinet statement earlier this month stated: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

is looking into the provision of a certificate of identity for Taranique Thurston in accordance with established policy.” The statement also said it had made no offer or promise to pay the teen’s bills.

The ministry has not responded to requests for further details, nor has the Haitian Embassy.

Ms Caty was naturalised

TARANIQUE THURSTON

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 citizenship, and is currently registered in The Bahamas as a non-Bahamian born to a foreign mother and Bahamian father, who are unmarried.

Despite the government’s designation of Taranique as Haitian, it is unclear whether she has any claim to Haitian citizenship.

According to the Haitian constitution (Article 11), “any person born of a Haitian father or Haitian mother who are themselves native-born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality possesses Haitian nationality at the time of birth.”

However, this entitlement is not extended to second or third generation descendants whose parents were not themselves nativeborn Haitians.

Ms Caty was reportedly born in The Bahamas to a Mexican mother and a Haitian father - and would have renounced any claim to Haitian citizenship when she was naturalised.

A VEHICLE on West Bay Street caught on fire yesterday causing several vehicles to detour before the firefighters arrived.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

GROUND BROKEN FOR $2.5M MARITIME CENTRE PROJECT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AFTER ten years in operation, Elnet Maritime Agency Limited broke ground yesterday for construction of its $2.5m maritime centre that will provide about 80 to 100 new jobs on Grand Bahama.

Elbert Hepburn, CEO, along with his mother and business partner, Janet Shepherd, vice president of the company, started the maritime business in 2008.

The duo stepped out on faith, despite critics and many challenges, building the company into a multimillion-dollar business, expanding its operations to Nassau, and now has business interests in three countries, including the US, the Cayman Islands, and St Croix.

Elnet Maritime has acquired land on Queen’s Highway, Freeport. The company presently employs 30 people on Grand Bahama.

Over the past decade, it has serviced over 4,285 vessels in Grand Bahama, Nassau, the Cayman Islands, Florida, and through its sister company, Elite Marine Management Agency, in St Croix.

Mr Hepburn said that becoming a successful businessman in the maritime industry was a long-held

THE GROUNDBREAKING ceremony at the Elnet Maritime Center. dream of his. He started his that glass ceiling that meant career at the age of 16 as a a little black boy from a single-parent family could stevedore.

“Today, ten years after never be a player in a field deciding to pursue this that did not represent his dream, I am much more demographics,” he said.

As a child growing up, Mr than the CEO of a maritime agency, I am a humble and Hepburn said he was the hungry son of the soil,” he “class clown and a problem child” and never thought said.

“The breaking of this that one day he would be ground – this soil repre- sharing a story of success sents more than earth, of a boy who came from steel, and machines. It humble beginnings.

“I am not a trust fund represents the breaking of a mindset, a cycle, and men- baby. There was no silver tality; it is the breaking of a spoon,” he said. “As a system that says success had young boy, I would never to look a certain way, dress dream I would one day a certain way and come have an audience like this from a particular socio-eco- to share my story and that anyone else would care nomic background.

“It is the breaking about hearing. of childhood fear, disappointment, and stereotypes, and mostly the breaking of chains of opinion, oppression, and the glass ceiling;

THREE ACCUSED OVER ARMED ROBBERY

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THREE men including a teenager were yesterday arraigned in Magistrate’s Court in connection with an armed robbery offence.

Teniro Minnis, 20, stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on one count each of armed robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession with ammunition for an unlicensed firearm.

According to prosecutors, Minnis on August 22, while armed with an unlicensed gun, robbed a woman of her vehicle.

It is further alleged that Minnis, on the same date, took the car to Kevin Faustin, 19, and Maxwell Alain, 21.

As a result of the act, Faustin and Alain were charged with separate counts of receiving.

None of the men was required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to October 22 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

However, Minnis pleaded guilty to the firearm offences and will return to court today for sentencing.

None of the men was represented by an attorney.

CUBAN MIGRANTS HELD

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MORE than a dozen Cuban migrants discovered in Bahamian waters were brought to Grand Bahama last week by the

US Coast Guard.

According to reports, the group consisted of 12 men and one woman. They were turned over to Bahamian authorities and transported to the Immigration Department in Freeport for processing.

“I never set out to inspire anyone. The only person I wanted to prove anything to, was to myself.

“It appeared to be a divine assignment was pushing me forward to my dream,” he said. “Today marks the 10th anniversary of Elnet as a company as well as the 10th anniversary we received our very first appointment by JP Morgan.”

Mr Hepburn has made significant contributions of over $1 million in financial investments giving back to the community to help people start their own businesses.

“Despite everything I have told you, I am not special. I am living proof that inspiration is not a skill,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, minister of finance, said that Mr Hepburn is an inspiration to many Bahamians.

“You will be very successful and continue to contribute to this island in a significant way,” he said.

Mr Turnquest noted that Elnet’s groundbreaking demonstrates “that there is life here in GB.” “We have discussions about the future of Grand

Bahama, and what initiatives should we take to help develop the economy on this island. We made a significant step just in the last week which is a demonstration of government’s commitment to growing the economy of GB, and provide opportunity for our people on this island, and throughout the Bahamas,” he said, referring to government’s purchase of the Grand Lucayan Resort.

According to Mr Turnquest, the important thing in Grand Bahama is Bahamians who are investing in their country like Mr Hepburn.

“I am proud to be a Grand Bahamian, and every day we fight to ensure that Grand Bahama gets the resources and attention

it needs. In order for us as a government to be successful, we need the private sector to step up and take its rightful place,” he said.

Minister of State for Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson commended Mr Hepburn for what he is doing on the island.

He indicated that in addition to the employees at Elnet, the company would engage 125 additional persons through sub-contractors during the construction phase.

“If you have not inspired anybody, you certainly inspired me. This young man is a real example of what Grand Bahama is about,” he said. “I believe this venture he is going into is God-inspired.”

PAGE 4, Tuesday, August 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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Bahamas’ adult literacy - where is the help?

AS students return to the classroom in the next several days, government ministers, including the Prime Minister, are doing the annual pre-season dance, visiting premises, talking at back-to-school events, inspiring educators and touting the importance of parenting in the education process.

That is all well and good. Everyone knows how critical the role of the parent is in education. Proof exists.

The most successful schools are those with the most engaged parents. The schools with the highest percentage of parental involvement in their son or daughter’s education register the highest percentage of students who go on to tertiary education and the lowest rate of drop-outs.

We look at physical premises and ignore the basic premise – if the role of parenting is so critical, what happens when the parents are ill-equipped to help their child?

How many well-meaning mothers in The Bahamas struggle to read more than a Bible chapter they memorised as a child?

How many fathers can hardly read a tape measure though they work around tools every day? How many young men pretend they are reading when they really cannot?

There was a time when The Bahamas was among the most literate countries in the world, boasting a literacy rate of close to 98 percent. Today, with a national grade average hovering between a D and D-, commonsense tells us such a high literacy rate can no longer be the reality. But by what yardstick do we measure how far it has fallen? We look online and see figures like 95.6 percent literacy in The Bahamas as of June 30, 2015. Look closer and find the figures were 12 years old, estimated in 2003. In fact, in 1990, The Bahamas had already dropped overall to 22nd out of 121 countries and, worse, in the category of males 15-24 years old, The Bahamas had slipped to 53rd ranking out of 123 countries in literacy.

Given the United Nations bases its definition of literacy on being able to read and write your name, the number of illiterate people in The Bahamas may

be even worse than the percentage rate appears.

UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund) has one of the most comprehensive fact-gathering networks in the world. On its current Bahamas ata-glance page, it lists 15 basic indicators including mortality rate, gross national income, population, and more. Only one category is left blank – adult literacy.

The truth is no one knows the truth.

The rate of adult literacy in The Bahamas is a mystery.

Dr Leon Higgs, veteran educator, warned of the trend years ago calling adult illiteracy “a major problem”.

One organisation has done a yeoman’s job of tackling adult illiteracy.

Project Read, housed in a renovated home on Village Road, founded and initially funded by the Rotary Club of East Nassau, has opened new worlds for hundreds - including prisoners teaching them how to read and write.

Project Read has been a success story on steroids. But where are the churches that could be helping out with evening classes? Where are the volunteers in those few community centres that are operating? What is happening with Urban Renewal version something or other before the next version? Why is it a small meeting room in a police station like those found in every community cannot serve as a makeshift learning centre? Why do we think the only place we can learn is in a classroom in a school? Look at the church that meets every week to share food and fellowship under a gazebo at Eastwood Park?

If we want our children to succeed and we believe their success is tied to their parent or parents’ involvement, then we must start at the beginning and make adult literacy as important a goal as the Minister of Education’s commitment to pre-school availability for all children, a move we applaud.

A nation whose adult population struggles because of the inability to read and write in an age when survival is tied to seeking, absorbing and using information, is a nation doomed.

Let us stop pretending it is someone else’s fault or problem and get on with literacy for all.

Stephen Isaacs EDITOR, The Tribune.

MY wife, Gigi, telephoned me on Friday afternoon to inform me that the late Chief Justice, the Honourable Stephen Isaacs, had passed into eternity.

While I was deeply sadden, Chief Justice Isaacs, lived a full and active life. It was my privilege and pleasure to have known Stephen, if I may refer to him as such, was a life long friend in the true mould... not the “fake” friends which abound in today’s Bahamas.

I was called to the Bar a few years before the late CJ but upon his return home from his legal studies he and I became fast friends.

Many years prior to this, his beloved and treasured sister, Sonya, an acrylic and canvas artist, par excellence, was my friend and societal activist, in her own way, within the wider community. I highly recommend that collectors and would be collectors check out her myriad assortment of water and other colours, while they may still be available.

Stephen was, first and foremost, a Christian lawyer who loved The Lord with an extraordinary passion. Yes, this might seem like an oxymoron but I assure you that he was one of the few legally trained individuals in this nation,

inclusive of myself, who never was ashamed of The Gospel. No, he did not wear it on his shoulders, as he could have, but rather one knew, instinctively, of his adoration and reverence of The Lord. He lived it and not just talked it.

He was witty and the life of any gathering but he was always attuned to the societal nuances of the times. A legal scholar, the late Chief Justice’s rulings and judgments were seldom ever overturned by an appeal court and whenever they were it would have been because of a technicality and not due to his judicial interpretations. He served the nation well as an Acting Magistrate; Registrar of the Supreme Court and, eventually, as a Supreme court Justice with distinction.

The late Chief Justice was also a passionate advocate for the reformation and modernisation of the judiciary and the environment in which it operated. In fact, his dying wish, even though he probably never thought of it as such, was precisely for such modernisation and reforms.

Alas, he will have to return, after the Rapture, I am sure, if and when that occurs, before such changes will happen. Our political directorate always pay no attention to the wish list of

judges and only do so when on the campaign trail.

Stephen was my friend and benefactor. Following my disbarment, decades ago, Stephen owned and operated a private law practice just off Rosetta & Montgomery Streets. He would often give me an assignment... research or service of pleadings... to assist me in putting bread on my table.

Lunch on Fridays, with our good friend, Keith Oliver, was mandatory. I, for one, will miss Stephen greatly... gone so soon... at such a relatively youthful age! Truly, he was a man for all seasons.

He enjoyed and lived a full life, to my knowledge. As long as I live, I will remember him fondly and do all that I am able to perpetuate his memory and efforts at nation building.

I do not wish to dwell on the lateness of his appointment to the substantive post of Chief Justice, but it is all right now.

Rest on my brother and be assured that you ran your race and you ran it well. To God then in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H. BODIE, Jr. Nassau, August 25, 2018.

Deaths of prominent figures EDITOR, The Tribune.

SIR Francis Bacon said that men fear death as children fear to go in the dark. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:26 that the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

As children fear to venture out into the dark alone, the majority of adults instinctively dread the Grim Reaper.

We Christians eagerly await the of fulfilment of the foregoing biblical prophecy at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

This year has witnessed a rash of prominent deaths both locally and internationally, which have come in rapid succession.

On August 25, the US lost a former Republican presidential candidate in the person of Arizona Senator John McCain. The 81-year-old McCain was a Vietnam veteran and served in the Senate for six terms.

It was a mere few days prior to Senator McCain’s passing that The Bahamas lost its newly sworn in Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs. Isaacs was only 63.

Isaacs’ passing has come at a time when Americans are currently mourning the death of Motown icon Aretha Franklin. She died of pancreatic cancer on August 16.

Two days later on the 18th, Bahamian playwright, actor and poet James Catalyn passed away. The originator of James Catalyn and Friends did much to promote dramatic art

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net in Bahamian style, which aptly depicted the ethos and culture of his people.

He was a cultural icon.

On August 20, American musician Eddie Willis died.

Like Franklin, he was also a Motown legend.

Former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Senator Telator Strachan died on July 30. Strachan, who served as president of the Straw Vendors Association, fought hard in the struggle for majority rule during the 1960s. She was the mother of former PLP parliamentarian Melanie Griffin.

The PLP lost another important member in the person of Greg Christie.

The former journalist, who served at Bahamas Information Services, also served as secretary general and president of the Bahamas Softball Federation.

The softball enthusiast was inducted into the International Softball Federation’s World Softball Hall of Fame in 2003.

On July 23, the country lost another prominent citizen: former Free National Movement (FNM) member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister Phenton Neymour.

Mr Neymour succumbed to colon cancer as a valiant fight that spanned some four years.

Coincidentally, former Director General of Tourism David Johnson also lost his battle to colon cancer.

He died on August 13.

The FNM lost another former Cabinet minister this year, when Theresa Moxey Ingraham died in March. In July of 2017, Ingraham was appointed chairperson of the National Training Agency by the Minnis administration.

On July 24, the Christian community lost one of its prominent clergymen: apostle J Rodney Roberts, who served as senior pastor of Five Porches of Deliverance Centre Apostolic Tabernacle.

As I write this letter, the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is currently planning the funeral of former Ghanaian diplomat and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The 80-year-old Noble Peace Prize recipient died on August 18.

In February, famed Christian evangelist Billy Graham passed away at age 99.

The passing of the foregoing prominent Bahamian and foreign persons is a sobering reminder of our own mortality and the universality of death.

Their death should cause us all to put a proper perspective on living –- one that causes us to value eternity more than mere time.

Having said that, I extend sincere condolences to the families of all of the aforementioned who have gone on to their eternal rewards.

May their souls rest in peace!

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, August 26, 2018.

Lighthouse Point EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE very idea of anyone with any soul or brains giving a second thought to handing over the most beautiful place in The

Bahamas to a bunch of money hungry garbage dumping cruise ship companies is disgraceful and disgusting, even for real estate developers.

What possible difference

can the creation of “jobs” make to an area destined to become a wasteland.

CHRISTINA SMITH Nassau, August 10, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 28, 2018, PAGE 5

Bannister tells board: Set the policy, and stay out of running

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net IN his charge to the new Bahamas Power and Light board of directors yesterday, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister told appointees their focus is to implement policy and not to interfere in the day-to-day operations of the electricity provider.

The new board gathered yesterday for an orientation session at a time when questions continue to linger regarding the circumstances surrounding the dissolution of the former board and a serious degree of allegations levelled from many sides.

Mr Bannister’s comments were an apparent swipe at former board members, who he had previously accused of trying to get involved in the day-to-day functions of BPL. The minister’s own admittance last week that he interfered with ex-board members’ work has also shed light on the degree of dysfunction that existed.

Nonetheless, when he spoke to the new board in the conference room of BPL yesterday, Mr Bannister sought to lay out a mandate, stressing the critical need for them to work together, suggesting

THE NEW BPL board. From left, Robyn Lee Ogilivie, Debra Wood, Viana Gardiner, Donovan Moxey, chairman, Stephen Holowesko, vice chairman, James Moss, and Ferron Bethel.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff the “immense” challenges only comment is the prime “Let me say very strongly present could become minister has indicated that that as the minister, my he is investigating it and as portfolio says relations with strenuous.

However, he was tight- his appointee I am not to BPL, but BPL is essentially lipped following these say anything.” an entity that reports to the He had a similar response government of this counremarks and did not say much in response to when he was asked by The try and to the people of this several questions from Tribune whether he regret- country. So when the Cabireporters seeking answers ted making this statement net and the government sets to the many questions that and others. mandates they send them Ahead of the new board’s through the minister and remain.

Asked to respond to crit- first meeting, Mr Bannister that’s why it is important, Mr ics who rebuked him for said there was a critical need Chairman, and Mr Deputy “chauvinist” remarks and a for every member to work for you to have a relationship call for him to apologise together, adding the gov- with the minister because it’s to ex-BPL chair Darnell ernment and the Bahamian important for the mandate Osborne - for his claims he people were counting on of the government to be carinterfered in a bid to block them to resolve BPL’s issues. ried out through BPL.” He said: “I am counting the company from paying The board consists of her personal bills includ- on you and the government chairman Donovan Moxey; ing make-up services and is counting on you to work deputy chairman M Stethe installation of a home the issues out as a team. I phen Holowesko, members security system - he said: want to touch on several James Moss, Debra Wood, “The prime minister has issues and I want to tell you Ferron Bethell and Viana indicated certain things and that the challenges at BPL Gardiner. Mr Bannister I will obey what he said. My are immense. also announced yesterday

a seventh member, Robin Ogilvy.

“It’s also important for you to remember that as a board your job is to implement policy. I want everyone to appreciate that your job is not to delve into the minutiae of operations.

“The CEO Mr Whitney Heastie, who is highly accomplished, he is going to report to you and a number of other people will report to you.

“If they are not performing in a satisfactory manner then there are things that you can do but you are not as board to seek to come into BPL and run the dayto-day operations that is within his portfolio, that is within his job description.

That is something that he has to deal with and, in so far as he performs well, then you are the ones who will judge that and make the determinations.”

Mr Bannister also told members they are to prioritise the Shell North America deal. As this agreement already has Cabinet approval, the minister said this was not something the board could change.

However, he told members it was one month behind, so any work now should be focused on its memorandum of understanding.

“The government of The Bahamas has determined

BPL/BEC will enter an agreement with Shell North America. That is not something that you can change.

That is a Cabinet decision. Your job now is to seek as quickly as possible to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Shell. That was the Cabinet decision.

“It is important for the board to get your legal minds – and you have a wonderful legal mind on the board who can give you guidance with respect to the legal opinions that you get. We are almost a month behind with respect to that MOU and it’s important for you to proceed with that.

That is a decision of the Cabinet of the country.”

However, last week, Mr Moxey told The Tribune a review of the Shell contract was high on the agenda for its new board.

“Presently I have no position on Shell whatsoever,” Mr Moxey said, after his appointment. “I have to learn what that is. As far as I know, there was a RFP (request for proposals) that was put out, a process was followed and as far as I know Shell was awarded the contract. What I’m going to do as a first course is understand the process by which it was selected. I don’t think anything has been signed by the government.”

MOXEY: WE MUST BUILD PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN BPL

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power and Light Chairman Donovan Moxey yesterday said the newly appointed board’s biggest challenge was working to instill public confidence in the company and stabilise operations.

Mr Moxey also tackled controversy surrounding published revelations his software company had submitted a bid to BPL to develop a payment app, insisting there were no current ties and any future engagement would be dictated by good corporate governance.

He would not give an undertaking that his company would not vie for future BPL contracts while he sat as chair, and when questioned further he said he could not speak for his entire board or shareholders, and would not do so.

“My perspective is this,” he said, “wherever there is a potential or existing conflict of interest, the procedure right now within the board is that you declare that. Then in cases where you must recuse yourself if there are decisions to be made then you do that as such.”

Mr Moxey continued: “Just to make it clear, I own a mobile app company and mobile app platform, over two years ago we made a

pitch to BPL and that’s it.

We have no contract with BPL no relationship, nothing of the sort.

“If there is ever an opportunity, obviously I would have to go to my board, my software company, to make the decision whether it makes sense to engage BPL as a customer. And if that is the case I will follow the normal procedures as part of BPL as any board member would, so we don’t violate any of the norms when it comes to good corporate governance.”

When asked why he would not disavow such a practice, he said: “Because when you look at it, you have lawyers, financial services, I have a fiduciary responsibility to my shareholders as well and if everyone does that how do you gain opportunity as a private company. It’s one of those things where it’s not an issue unless someone makes it an issue.

There are normal corporate governance practices that everyone follows.

“I can’t make that decision by myself,” Mr Moxey added.

Board member Stephen Holowesko added: “(Mr Moxey), he shouldn’t have to put aside a company that he’s been working on for the hypothetical possibility that there is some contract with BPL down the road.

His company should be allowed to proceed whether

or not he’s volunteering his time for BPL.” He said the board is in a discovery stage but had identified a need to establish a corporate governance structure that would guide the operations of the body.

The new board fielded questions from the press yesterday afternoon, but remained tightlipped over the caustic allegations surrounding the former board’s dissolution about two weeks ago.

“The biggest challenge for us right now is to make sure we help to instill confidence in BPL and stabilise where things are going,” Mr Moxey said.

“We had a discovery session just understanding where things are with BPL, getting the views of the executive as well as union leaders, and so we’re just coming up to speed and understanding where we are as an organisation.”

Responding to questions over the proposed power generation deal with Shell North America, and scrutiny from the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Moxey said while the board intended to review the technical report evaluating the process, there was no set agenda for decoupling. He stressed the board was focused on learning the elements of the pending Memorandum of Understanding.

OBAN TECHNICAL REPORT IMMINENT from page one However, Progressive Liberal Party chairman, Senator Fred Mitchell told The Tribune even if the government does manage to sign a new heads of agreement with the developer, the hard reality is the deal is “dead on arrival”.

He said it can go nowhere, claiming Grand Bahamians did not support the $5.5bn proposed oil refinery and storage facility.

“I understand that they are working to get a new deal together and they will keep up appearances,” Mr Mitchell said yesterday.

“They will make all the noises and soundings. Perhaps they might even sign a new deal but the hard, cold reality is the deal is dead on arrival. It can go nowhere. Their own people in Grand Bahama don’t support it.”

Asked his views on the government’s communication strategy regarding

the controversial deal, Mr Mitchell said the PLP suspected the government’s strategy was “don’t ask, don’t tell” with the hopes that it goes away and dies a quiet death.

Earlier this month, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes said the report would be complete and given to a Cabinet subcommittee, but The Tribune understands this did not happen.

At the time he said: “That report is due in this week.

The subcommittee of Cabinet which I chair will meet, we will take that report to Cabinet with recommendations to amend the heads of agreement. The Oban group is in agreement with this process and are amicable to making changes to the agreement. We have not proposed the exact changes yet.”

The technical group comprises “three Grand Bahamians who worked in this industry,” he said, “mainly at BORCO now

Buckeye that have given us invaluable information and advice in terms of oil refinery and terminal and storage. We think that we have an opportunity to make the heads of agreement a better agreement for the Bahamas from an economic point of view, an environmental point of view and a legal statutory point of view.”

When it was unveiled nearly five months ago, the Oban Energies initial agreement received intense criticism, including from several environmental organisations.

The fallout prompted an admission from Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis that there were gross missteps in the government process.

Oban Energies has reportedly spent $10m on the project so far, according to its president, Satpal Dhunna, who said a significant amount of those funds were used to nail down the best location.

“No MoU has been signed yet,” he said, “and so what we’re doing now is we’re still learning about the elements of the MoU and we’re making sure we learn enough so when a decision is made to go forth and sign that MoU it is done in the best interest of the Bahamian people.

“We had some discussions around process of RFP, we intend to meet with agency who did the evaluation, and the technical evaluation of the process.”

Mr Moxey said: “Obviously if there are some serious concerns in the marketplace we will listen to those concerns, but one of

the things we want to do is move this forward in a very comprehensive but expeditious manner.”

He added: “We’re focused on being able to profile stable cost-effective electricity and then provide the highest level of service so everyone is happy with what they are paying.”

PAGE 6, Tuesday, August 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE GRAND Lucayan Resort yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Payment details revealed for Grand Lucayan purchase

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net THE government intends to write a promissory note to Hutchinson Whampoa to complete the $65m purchase of the Grand Lucayan, The Tribune was told.

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis revealed the government made a $10m down payment towards the purchase.

The sale is expected to close within 30 days.

A high-level source revealed the schedule for the sale includes another $20m payment when the sale document is completed and the property is conveyed, and then

$5m payments every six months until the balance is settled.

“We’ve agreed to pay $10m at the signing of the letter of intent,” the government insider said, “and another $20m when the sale document is completed and property is conveyed to us. Then, every six months after that pay we’ll pay $5m until the balance is liquidated. I believe there is interest on it, three percent.

“It’s a promissory note.

We’re giving them a promissory note, it’s not a strict loan in a sense. The government is going to borrow money but this whole transaction is an investment so we’re acquiring an asset and it will not count

towards our annual deficit.

Now if the asset is impaired, if the value goes below what we paid for it, the deficit would have to be shown as a recurrent expenditure.

That’s what happened to Resolve (Bahamas).”

Resolve is the special purpose vehicle the Christie administration created in 2015 to clean up Bank of The Bahamas’ balance sheet and go after loans the bank was unable to recover.

Yesterday, concerns over the lack of public information surrounding the Grand Lucayan deal were raised by president of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants Gowon Bowe, who called on the government to make it clear to the public how much it will lose

over the deal, and the supporting documentation.

Mr Bowe called on the government to make public the cost/benefit analysis that led to the decision to purchase the resort, and its exit strategy if a sale is not realised.

He explained the hotel industry was a cut-throat business that did not leave much room for competing interests as potential investors have a significant advantage due to public disclosures.

The BICA president insisted a prudent buyer would not purchase the Grand Lucayan for more than the $65m paid by the government, and interest and operational costs will likely

GN 2083

push the investment into deficit margins.

“If there were imminent parties,” Mr Bowe said, “the reality is as soon as they take on ownership, any operating losses incurred up to that point will be on the account for the government. So if Lighthouse Point is running at a deficit, then those losses are actually going to accumulate on the balance sheet of the SPV board and will immediately impair the value. So we’re effectively taking on operating loss, no buyer is going to say ‘oh you made losses during the time you held it but I will pay for that too.’

“I would expect a clear and honest statement that the government is going to take a loss. Them buying head room is fine, but what they should be articulating is how much this head room is going to cost us.

“While many say we don’t want hotel to close,” Mr Bowe added, “the government owning it but not having capacity to open it in its entirety - does that stymie or prevent the same economic collapse they were trying to prevent?”

Mr Bowe’s observations were echoed by the Official Opposition, which yesterday called for the full enactment of the Freedom of Information Act. The amended law was passed while the Progressive Liberal Party was in office but the party did not fully enact it before losing the 2017 general election.

PLP Deputy Leader and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper questioned why the government moved to insert itself into a private transaction if there are interested buyers, instead of simply facilitating a direct transaction with the seller.

Mr Cooper said he supported the “noble” desire to seek out a Bahamian group to acquire the property but he found the “dripdrip” of information into the public domain “most disconcerting”.

He stressed political maturity in such a critical time should have engendered a formal briefing of the Official Opposition, and then a clear statement to the country given Parliament’s summer recess.

Mr Cooper suggested the lack of clarity raised suspicions that the risky move was done to line up a deal for special interests, adding it did not appear - based on reports - to make a new injection into the island’s economy.

However, he noted the government has already made a commitment, and urged officials to expedite the sale and engage in an investment firm “to offload this resort in the shortest possible time frame with the greatest beneficial impact to the Bahamian people.”

“Failure to do so will undoubtedly result in significant strain on the public purse and put further pressure on our sovereign credit rating, which we cannot bear,” he continued.

Mr Cooper took issue with the reported turnaround by Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar, who initially told The Nassau Guardian the hotel would not be renovated but days later revealed it was under consideration by the government.

Speculating on the purchase timeline, he underscored the plan or costs associated with the deal have not been provided to the PLP or the wider public.

“The Minnis administration owes the public a duty of care to release full the details of the Our Lucaya purchase, its motivation and strategy moving forward,” said Mr Cooper in a statement.

“To date, we have heard only a patchwork of ministers and the chairman of the Hotel Corporation giving sparse information that changes from day to day. The prime minister remains mum on the resort purchase for months until he lets slip during an FNM meeting that the government will explore buying it, then announces that it has already paid $10 million toward its purchase,” Mr Cooper said.

“With all the uncertainty and lack of clarity surrounding what the government is doing,” Mr Cooper added, “I call for the bringing into full force of the Freedom of Information Act that this government marched for.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 28, 2018, PAGE 7

NEMA director Captain Stephen Russell was recently in Ragged Island to issue cheques to assist those affected by Hurricane Irma last September.

Photo: BIS

NEMA hands out cash to Ragged families from page one by assistant accountant at NEMA, Eva Lightbourn, and Family Island Administrator for Exuma and Ragged Island Preston Cunningham.

Captain Russell and his team made the visit on Friday to issue cheques on behalf of the government.

The financial aid was based

on assessments carried out by technical teams of the former National Recovery and Reconstruction Unit, NEMA said.

Following the assessments, 18 households were approved for assistance and received a maximum of $4,000 per household to further assist with post Hurricane Irma recovery efforts.

During the assessments,

it was also discovered that approximately 45 percent of the houses affected were not built in accordance with The Bahamas’ building code, NEMA reported.

Captain Russell reminded members of the Ragged Island District Council that they must ensure what is being constructed on the island is built in accordance with legal standards,

‘WE WANT ANSWERS ON SCHOOL REPAIRS’

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

WITH public schools opening in less than a week, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell yesterday called for the Minnis administration and Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd in particular to “come clean” on the state of school repairs.

In a statement released yesterday, Mr Mitchell predicted there will be “chaos” in schools on opening day, September 3, because the government did not mobilise most contractors to doing repairs until August 23.

Mr Mitchell called this an “unprecedented late start” caused by a “failure of organisation” and a “hands off approach” by the ministers of education and works.

“The government and the minister of education must come clean on what is happening with the opening of schools and their state of readiness,” the statement said.

“We keep hearing as a party that things are not as the government says. That there will be chaos in the schools come opening day because the government did not mobilise many of the contractors to effect repairs until last Thursday, 23 August.

“This is an unprecedented late start. The record will reflect that in the five years under the PLP, repairs commenced in late June or early July.

Repairs generally take six to eight weeks.”

Mr Mitchell added it is “difficult to see” how these repairs can be completed before the first day of school.

Referring to the budget for school repairs, Mr Mitchell said “there was no year” when the PLP

spent less than $10m on school repairs, steadily exceeding the $6m initially budgeted by the Ministry of Finance.

“This apparent mess is the result of the failure of organisation and the handsoff approach by the FNM ministers of education and works,” the statement continues.

“Planning for the opening of schools should begin in March with the ministers of works and education meeting together with their technical teams to develop a clear organisational plan complete with timelines and deadlines. Clearly that did not happen this year.”

Mr Mitchell also claimed that the PLP policy of principals having to sign off on the final two payments for school repairs to “ensure work was actually being done and to avoid corruption and collusion between contractors and Ministry of Works inspectors has been removed.”

He added the PLP is “alarmed” that there was no scope of works done for Hugh Campbell High School in Freeport, which means no repairs may be done before school opens.

Mr Mitchell also said Eva Hilton Primary School may not open on time, which the Minnis administration admitted during a walkabout of public schools held on August 11.

At the time, Mr Lloyd said arrangements to accommodate these students have not been finalised, but it is expected they will be relocated to the Kendal Isaacs Gym. Mr Mitchell said PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has conducted his own investigations.

“When the contractors went to execute the scope of works, they found painters painting areas they were to repair and we now understand the Ministry of Works is deciding now whether to do repairs and come back and repaint or leave it as is,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Contractors who were mobilised earlier in the month are waiting on second payment and some contractors have exhausted all funds and are unable to proceed further without payment,” he also claimed.

Mr Lloyd could not be reached for comment up to press time.

NEMA said.

Last September, Hurricane Irma reduced most structures on Ragged Island to piles of rubble leaving the island unlivable, according to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

In May, frustrated Ragged Islanders demanded the government prioritise critical restoration initiatives as protracted delays had

handicapped local efforts to rebuild and restore normalcy to the hurricaneravaged island.

At the time, the island’s association claimed attempts to rebuild were stalled by the scarcity of potable water and health services.

“They’re talking about making it a green island, which is fine,” said Donovan Moxey in May, a

member of the group’s technical planning committee.

“They’ve done studies to determine what it will take.

But that’s about 12 to 18 to 24 months away, people need to live now. That’s great you want to make this a green island but people aren’t going to leave and come back, that’s not going to work. Get people back to a certain level of sustainable life.”

PAGE 8, Tuesday, August 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Teenage twins on a mission for ‘everyone’s grammy’ D

EACONESS Esther Elizabeth Neely-Brown left such an indelible mark on the lives she touched that her legacy lives on even though she died in November 2016.

Described as “full of life”, “jolly”, “caring” and “giving”, Esther displayed the kind of personality which made her outstanding on the job, a leader in her community and beloved by her many family and friends.

She gave so much of herself during her lifetime that her grandchildren, 18-yearold twins Rico and Ricah Neely, are following in her footsteps and giving back and they are doing it in her name.

Initially, this week’s Face to Face was going to be about Rico Neely, a young chef with great potential who, although he is still in college, is already trying to help other youngsters to realise their goals. However, he pleaded to me for the focus to be shared with his sister and their joint venture, the Queen Esther Foundation, which began in November 2017, a year after her death.

The twins explained the foundation was established to honour their grandmother who was a well-loved and cherished member of the Elizabeth Estates community, known for her “pleasant personality and amazing food”; a woman who was “everyone’s grammy” and a mentor to many, especially young people.

Mrs Brown was born on June 3, 1953 in historic Bain Town to the late Leroy and Erma Neely. She received her early education from St Joseph Catholic all-age School, then went on to AF Adderley where she graduated. She attended the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute before joining the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Later, she moved to the Department of Immigration and finally to the Ministry of Tourism where she was attached to the Bahama Host Training and Education section.

She died on November 6, 2016, at the age of 63 at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, following medical complications. In her obituary, friends noted that “to know

Face to Face

By FELICITY INGRAHAM-DARVILLE

CLOCKWISE from above left, Ricah and Rico Neely; their grandmother, Queen Esther Neely-Brown; below, from left, standing, Synamone Neely, Brandy Miller, Animae Neely, Berkely Neely, Beverly Neely, Sharron Neely, Rico Neely, Esther Neely, Patrick Brown, Tamika Neely, Ricah Neely, Rico Neely, Rayne Miller, (kneeling) Kaleb Neely, Cynae Huyler, Joshua Neely, Khadeshia Neely, Alonzonique Lowe; and the logo for the Queen Esther Foundation.

her was to love her” and that “she made people smile and laugh wherever she went”. She had the support of her husband, Patrick Brown, who enjoyed cooking with her as well as worshipping with her – she was a Deaconess at Epiphany Methodist Church.

Her children refer to her as “affectionate, ambitious and classy” and today, her grandchildren are committed to carrying on her memory.

“Because of my passion and love for Culinary Arts as well as baking and pastry making, I wanted to share the joy my grandmother gave me with others – teaching children to bake and utilise their time wisely, and helping them gain a skill or trade,” said Rico.

Queen Esther’s dishes were not only noteworthy, but often shared with those whom she worked and with those in need in the Elizabeth Estates community where she lived. Ricah

added her grandmother would also offer clothing to people in need and even shelter when necessary.

Ricah, who is currently studying marketing and journalism at the University of The Bahamas, organises and promotes the events and provides support for her brother who leads the classes.

His love for cooking began when he was nine years old, when he cooked Christmas dinner with his father. His father learned from his mother-in-law, Queen Esther. He recalls standing on a five-gallon bucket to see inside the pot and through that father and son bonding session, his love for cooking was born. His favourite dish from his grandmother was her macaroni and cheese, while Ricah described her grandmother’s perfect pineapple upside-down cake. She remembers waiting for her grandmother to pour the cake so she could lick the remnants from the bowl.

Rico started competing when he was in grade nine. He placed 15th out of 15 competitors in his first round. It didn’t deter him, though. The next year he went on to become the Junior Chef of the year for New Providence. That year, he didn’t win the national competition. But the following year when he won for New Providence again, he went on to win and become the Junior Chef of the Year for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The competition was hosted by the Ministry of Education with Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour as sponsors. He won with a dish that consisted of a Bahamian peas ’n riceinspired risotto, a chicken roulade and a mushroom

duxelle garnished with his own green oil. For dessert, he reinvented a baked Alaska using rice pudding and added a touch of Bahamian guava jello.

He went on to be invited to join the Bahamas National Culinary Team as an apprentice or student chef, practicing alongside award winning and worldrenowned chefs including chef Sheldon Tracy Sweeting, chef Ron Johnson and chef Marvelous Cunningham. He recalls observing and learning much while working with these artists in preparation for the 2015 Taste of the Caribbean competition held in Downtown Miami, Florida; the team brought the winning trophy back to The Bahamas, making it an unforgettable experience for Rico, who was 15 at the time.

In 2016, he entered and won the Ministry of Agriculture Food Exposition in three categories where he won “best dish”. Rico was then chosen to participate in Johnson and Wales University’s Wild Cat Weekend with Junior Achievement.

RICO standing on a bucket at home to cook and, above right, with a judo medal as a child with his grandmother Queen Esther at his side.

He was given an annual $10,000 scholarship to attend university.

Last year, he began his journey in tertiary education at Monroe College in the Bronx, New York, and is a part of the Bahamas Public Scholars Programme. He is majoring in culinary art and hospitality management.

Prior to university, he had the opportunity to learn in Italy, travelling to nearby countries to increase his culinary knowledge and taste.

With this kind of experience, Rico decided to share his passion with younger kids and held a summer camp this month.

Classes were held from August 6 to 17 with 22 students enrolled in the camp at Anatol Rodgers High School’s kitchen. The students learned basic kitchen knife skills and benefitted from tutelage from professionals such as chefs Rosemary Sinclair Hepburn, an executive chef at Atlantis Resort and Cacique award winner; Keisha Bonimy, former coach for the National Junior Culinary Team; Shelmerdine Cartwright, sushi chef at Atlantis Resort; and Hazen Rolle, current Junior Chef of the Year for the Caribbean.

At the end of two weeks, the students participated in a culinary competition after learning to make dishes such as pizza and ravioli, and even learned to make non-alchoholic drink mixes.

For their field trip, the kids visited Heaven on Earth Farm to gain an appreciation for how produce is grown and how farm animals are kept before being processed to eat.

The Ministry of Tourism (through Ian Ferguson of Bahama Host) and Junior Achievement along with Gravitas Bahamas helped to make the event possible through significant

sponsorships. However, the Neely twins are appealing for more companies, private and public, to participate in order for the Queen Esther Foundation to reach more children.

Parents were elated and one even said her difficult child seemed to have a new perspective on life and was setting goals.

This is the kind of success Ricah was hoping for. She plans to take the foundation to the next level by creating a club for kids to learn how to become entrepreneurs.

She has her own company, Ricah’s Snaps Photography and has a passion for marketing. Both attended St Anne’s for most of their schooling but transferred to Doris Johnson Senior High where they both graduated with honours.

“I want the Queen Esther Foundation to inspire students to find their career paths and for many to even become entrepreneurs,” Ricah said.

“In government schools, we want kids to do internships every year from grade ten as opposed to waiting for grade 12. Many of them are asking from grade 10, ‘What do I want to do?

Where do I want to go?’

Some persons don’t figure it out until college and then some are still not sure. I want to open that opportunity for them to see where they want to go.

“They may be interested in entrepreneurship but we need a mentoring programme. We need corporate support. We need speakers, we need professionals to give advice in the various fields of work.

“We don’t want companies to just pour out money; we need them to pour out their knowledge to the students so they could be inspired… maybe have a travelling opportunity. We want them to experience things they never dreamed of.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 28, 2018, PAGE 9

OFFICIALS TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT MINISTRY PROJECT OFFICIALS from the National Insurance Board recently conducted a site inspection of the proposed Ministry of National Security Building on John F Kennedy Drive with the new contractor, Inline Project Co Ltd. They said strong emphasis will be placed on quality workmanship and the timely completion of the project, according to a press release from NIB. “This construction project has experienced delays, however, there is mutual agreement and commitment between NIB and Inline Project Co Ltd to complete the building on time and within budget.

The projected completion date for the state of the art building is November 30 and shortly thereafter a NIB/Ministry of National Security handover ceremony will take place.”

In July, The Tribune reported that Holiday Industrial Builders was suing the government for terminating its $20m contract to construct the complex on JFK Drive. This was according to Public Services and National Insurance Minister Brensil Rolle.

It was also previously reported the Minnis administration has awarded a no-bid contract of undisclosed value to Inline

Project Co Ltd to complete the building.

The first Christie administration hired HBI to construct the Paul Adderley Complex on JFK Drive in 2004.

However, the last Ingraham administration terminated that contract and gave it to Jones Construction Company, citing “defective work”.

HBI principal Rev Lloyd Smith then sued the government, eventually winning $700,000 after arbiters concluded his contract was wrongfully terminated.

“There was no finding of sub-standard work made by arbitrators,” said Kelphene

FROM left, Troy Smith, NIB chairman; Dr Nicola Virgil-Rolle, NIB director; Michela Barnett-Ellis, NIB board member; Michael Jones, president Inline Project Co Ltd. Cunningham, Mr Smith’s lawyer, in a legal correspondence written around that time. “Ingraham’s cessation of the contract was purely for political

expediency.”

In opposition, the FNM criticised the second Christie administration for awarding the $20m contract to Mr Lloyd in

2014. This year, the Minnis administration terminated HBI’s contract because of its alleged failure to complete the building by deadline.

Residents alarmed at plan for Soldier Road cemetery

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

SOLDIER Road residents are expressing concern over plans to develop a cemetery in the area.

The cemetery is reportedly to be built immediately northeast of Kennedy Subdivision, next to Superwash on Soldier Road.

Local resident Gloria Wallace expressed grave dismay at the proposal in a letter to The Tribune, citing issues such as property devaluation, ground water contamination, and traffic concerns as reasons why the cemetery should not be built.

Diane Holowesko Dunkley, chair of the Town

Planning Committee, confirmed to The Tribune yesterday that an application for such a proposal was indeed submitted to the committee.

However, Mrs Holowesko Dunkley said the committee strives to “balance” a developer’s right to develop a property while considering what is best for the overall welfare of the larger community.

A town meeting was held last night to allow residents to voice their concerns.

“When (someone) buys a piece of land…by law, they are allowed to submit to Town Planning an application to do absolutely anything with the land,” Mrs Holowesko Dunkley told The Tribune.

“If you’re living or I’m living next to an empty piece of property, the owner…could submit an application to Town Planning to put a nuclear power site on the piece of property next to me.”

Mrs Holowesko Dunkley said whether or not an application is approved is another matter.

“Part of the (committee’s) responsibility, as mandated by the Planning and Subdivision Act 2010 is to ensure the safety, convenience, welfare of both current and future residents in an area. And we take that responsibility very seriously.

“So we need to balance our developer’s right to develop their property with whether or

FOUR YEARS IN JAIL FOR GUN CHARGES

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

A 21-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison after pleading guilty to four firearm-related charges, stemming from the seizure of two unlicensed weapons over the weekend.

Deon Ferguson, of Asphalt Street in Pinewood Gardens, was sentenced by Magistrate Samuel McKinney in connection with the discovery of a .9mm Taurus pistol, a .38 revolver and 13 live rounds of ammunition.

Ferguson had initially faced the charges along with two women who were found in the car with him, however, prosecutors withdrew the charges against his co-accused.

According to police reports, shortly after 3am Sunday, Southern Division officers on patrol in the

area of Nigeria Drive, Flamingo Gardens, observed a vehicle with three occupants - one man and two women.

The male passenger upon seeing the police began to act in a suspicious manner.

Officers approached the vehicle, conducted a search and recovered a .9mm pistol that contained 12 live rounds of ammunition.

A further search of the male passenger produced a .38 revolver which contained one live round of ammunition.

Before sentencing Ferguson, Magistrate McKinney noted that possession of any unlicensed firearm is considered a serious offence given the nature of gun violence in the country.

He further accepted the reasoning provided by Ferguson’s attorney, Lennox Coleby, that the defendant is a misguided youth.

Mr Coleby in his plea for leniency, highlighted that Pinewood Gardens, the community from which the defendant comes, has a history of violence.

Taking into consideration Mr Coleby’s plea for leniency, Ferguson’s age and his decision to immediately plead guilty to the offence, Magistrate McKinney acknowledged the maximum sentence of seven years was not appropriate in the case.

He sentenced Ferguson to four years for possession of the .9mm Taurus pistol, two years for the 12 unfired rounds found with that pistol, two years for possession of the .38 revolver and one year for the unfired round found with that revolver.

The sentences are to run concurrently at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

READERS GIVE VIEWS ON GRAND LUCAYAN THE Grand Lucayan resort has been in the headlines over the past week and readers are posting their views on the matter on tribune242.com.

Yesterday, The Tribune reported that the government has given itself a little over a month to close bids for the sale of the resort – and was prepared to take a hit on the sale in principle.

Joeblow asked: “What sensible person or group of persons buys something for the purpose of selling at a loss? This is dumber than dumb!”

There was this from OldFort2012: “Huh? Why just not give Hutchinson a guarantee and find a buyer and then recompense Hutchinson on any difference?

Why close the whole transaction first? Any buyer and Hutchinson would have been perfectly happy with a government guarantee to fund differences. This makes no sense at all.”

DDK referenced this quote from Hotel Corporation chairman Michael Scott:

“I’m trying to get a handle on the state of the hotel.

I only did my first tour on Wednesday so trying to get handle on operations, trying to get a damage assessment report. I’m meeting with the general manager, head engineer, rooms – we’re just sort of catapulting ourself into action from about 8.30am (Monday)” and asked: “Isn’t this sort of thing usually done BEFORE making an offer on a property, especially when using millions of other people’s money?

These people are getting more and more scary by the minute!”

And Tribune Business said that the new Grand Lucayan Board was due to meet yesterday to determine if a hotel operator was needed.

That prompted this from

Proudloudandfnm: “Would have been nice to be told something. Two years after the closure and 1.5 years of government telling us it’ll be open soon, negotiations are progressing, we find out it’ll now stay closed indefinitely. Imagine the money wasted by store owners paying rent while they wait for the hotel to reopen. The salaries paid out with three to four zero dollar sales days a week.

“Would have been nice had our government kept us in the loop. If it does take two years, no need to sell it.

By then Freeport’s tourism product will be in Nassau, Abaco, Eleuthera, etc.

“I didn’t necessarily want government to own it but damn, man. I figured if they brought in a good manager and marketed it properly they could show its potential and hasten a sale. This plan is just bad. Sell a mold infested, broke down, never made a dime hotel in three months?”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

not the proposed development safeguards the welfare, safety, and convenience of current and future residents.

“To that extent, we decided that the best way to determine that was to have a…town meeting, in that area so that all residents would be able to speak freely, voice any concerns that they might have, and to ask any questions that they might have about the project,” she said.

In the letter, the resident expressed anger at the “industrial nightmare” caused by the current use of the lot as a cement factory.

“For decades, this land had been used as a cement factory,” wrote Ms Wallace.

“Cement factories pollute the air with mercury and other toxins. We have lived next to this industrial nightmare, putting up with the noise and cement dust for decades and now after finally moving to a more appropriate industrial area - where they should have been all along - (the developer) wants to replace the cement factory with a graveyard.

“Like the cement factory, the proposed graveyard would be surrounded on all four sides by residential properties.

The owners of these properties are concerned about groundwater contamination and the impact this may have on our health, as many persons use wells.

Also, we could see our

property values negatively affected by living next to a graveyard.”

The resident added a cemetery will prove little economic benefit to the community, and noted how traffic congestion is already a major issue on Soldier Road, and said the Old Trail Cemetery is already in the area, “less than a mile away”.

“The homeowners of the surrounding Garden Hills, Kennedy Subdivision, Kensington Gardens and Windsor Place communities say no to living next to a graveyard,” Ms Wallace concluded.

“We ask that the Department of Physical Planning and the Ministry of Works deny this proposal on our behalf.”

PAGE 10, Tuesday, August 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

JUDGE RULES 3D GUN PLANS CANNOT BE POSTED ONLINE

A US judge in Seattle blocked the Trump administration yesterday from allowing a Texas company to post online plans for making untraceable 3D guns, agreeing with 19 states and the District of Columbia that such access to the plastic guns would pose a security risk.

The states sued to stop an agreement that the government had reached with Austin, Texas-based Defense Distributed, saying guidelines on how to print undetectable plastic guns could be acquired by felons or terrorists.

US District Judge Robert Lasnik extended a temporary restraining order, and his new decision will last until the case is resolved.

He said Cody Wilson, owner of Defense Distributed, wanted to post the plans online so that citizens can arm themselves without having to deal with licences, serial numbers and registrations.

Wilson has said that “governments should live in fear of their citizenry”.

“It is the untraceable and undetectable nature of these small firearms that poses a unique danger,” Lasnik said. “Promising to detect the undetectable while at the same time removing a significant regulatory hurdle to the proliferation of these weapons rings hollow and in no way ameliorates, much less avoids, the harms that are likely to befall the states if an injunction is not issued.”

The State Department had reached the settlement with the company after the agency removed the 3D gun-making plans from a list of weapons or technical data that cannot be exported overseas. The states argued that the federal agency didn’t follow the law when it removed 3D guns from the munitions list.

A ROHINGYA child stands on a bamboo fence overlooking an expanse of makeshift bamboo and tarp shelters at Kutupalong refugee camp.

Photo: Altaf Qadri/AP

UN: Myanmar military chiefs should face genocide case GENEVA Associated Press INVESTIGATORS working for the UN’s top human rights body said yesterday that Myanmar military leaders should be prosecuted for genocide against Rohingya Muslims, taking the unusual step of identifying by name six of those it says were behind systematic crimes targeting the ethnic minority.

The call, accompanying a first report by the team of investigators, amounts to some of the strongest language yet from UN officials who have denounced alleged human rights violations in Myanmar since a bloody crackdown began last August.

The three-member “factfinding mission” and their team, working under a mandate from the UN-backed Human Rights Council,

meticulously assembled hundreds of accounts from expatriate Rohingya, as well as satellite footage and other information to assemble the report.

“The military’s contempt for human life, dignity and freedom — for international law in general — should be a cause of concern for the entire population of Myanmar, and to the international community as a whole,” said fact-finding mission chair Marzuki Darusman, a former Indonesian attorney-general, at a news conference.

The council created the mission in March last year — nearly six months before a string of deadly rebel attacks on security and police posts set off a crackdown that drove Rohingya to flee into neighbouring Bangladesh.

The UN estimates that more than 700,000 have fled.

The team compiled accounts of crimes including gang rape, the torching of hundreds of villages, enslavement, and killings of children — some before their eyes of their own parents. The team was not granted access to Myanmar and has decried a lack of cooperation or even response from the government, which received an early copy of the report.

The team cited a “conservative” estimate from aid group Reporters Without Borders that some 10,000 people were killed in the violence, but outside investigators have had no access to the affected regions — making a precise accounting elusive, if not impossible.

Above all, the investigators said the situation in Myanmar should be referred to the International Criminal Court, and

if not, to a special tribunal. Last week, Myanmar’s government rejected any cooperation with the ICC, to which it is not a party.

China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power over whether the issue will be brought before the ICC, has been reticent about condemning Myanmar’s government during the crisis.

UN leaders, foreign government officials, and human rights watchers have for months cited evidence of genocide in Myanmar, and the United States late last year said that “ethnic cleansing” was occurring in the country also known as Burma. But few experts have studied the issue as in-depth, and in such an official way, as the fact-finding mission with a mandate from the 46-nation council.

The US State

Department, which has yet to declare a genocide in Myanmar, said the UN report added to a “growing body of information indicating widespread human rights abuses by the Burmese military and other security forces”. A spokesperson, who was not authorised to be quoted by name and requested anonymity, said the United States, with allies and partners, was exploring a “broad range of options” to ensure justice for victims and “appropriate consequences” for perpetrators.

The United Nations does not apply the word “genocide” lightly. The team’s assessment suggests the crimes against the Rohingya could meet the strict legal definition, used to highlight and condemn state-supported abuses in places like Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan’s Darfur region.

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PRESIDENT Donald Trump crosses his arms after speaking with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on the phone yesterday.

Photo: Evan Vucci/AP

UNDER-PRESSURE TRUMP RECOGNISES McCAIN SERVICE WASHINGTON Associated Press

GLOWERING in public and near-silent for two days, President Donald Trump relented under pressure yesterday by tersely recognising Sen John McCain’s “service to our country” and re-lowering the White House flag.

While much of the nation remembered McCain’s record as a war hero, longtime senator and presidential nominee over the weekend, Trump had nursed his grievances.

McCain had been an infuriating foil in a long-running feud over style and policy that did not end with the senator’s illness and death.

Trump’s reluctance to participate in the national remembrance was awkward and uncomfortable, even by the standards of a leader who acknowledges he doesn’t act like a typical president. The episode highlighted the outsider president’s impulse to harbor personal resentments regardless of political repercussions.

Before Trump’s Monday afternoon statement, his only commentary on McCain’s death had been a perfunctory tweet on Saturday. The lack of a formal

statement — combined with the fact that White House flags were flown at half-staff only briefly — drew strong criticism from Republicans and veterans’ groups as well as Democrats.

When he finally did comment, in a printed statement, Trump was sparing with his praise for the sixterm senator: “Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country.”

Later, at an evening dinner honoring evangelical leaders, he said “our hearts and prayers” are going to the family “and we very much appreciate everything that Senator McCain has done for our country”.

Earlier in the day, a stonefaced Trump sat mute as reporters at several photo sessions invited him to comment on McCain. As he was peppered with questions about McCain’s legacy, the usually talkative president made no response.

Publicly, Trump has frequently railed against McCain’s dramatic thumbsdown vote against the president’s efforts to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law. Privately, he has groused about such slights as his belief that McCain did not appreciate

his endorsement in the senator’s 2016 re-election bid. McCain, for his part, recently slammed Trump’s Helsinki meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory”.

Against that backdrop, the flag above the White House spoke volumes.

The Stars and Stripes were briefly lowered to half-staff over the weekend, then went back up to full height yesterday while flags at the US Capitol and elsewhere stayed at halfstaff. Shortly before Trump issued his written statement, the flag was lowered again to half-staff.

That was after complaints had risen all day from both right and left, and then from a group the president does not want to offend.

“On the behalf of The American Legion’s two million wartime veterans, I strongly urge you to make an appropriate presidential proclamation noting Senator McCain’s death and legacy of service to our nation, and that our nation’s flag be half-staffed through his internment,” said a statement directed to him from Denise Rohan, the organisation’s national commander.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 28, 2018, PAGE 11

CHINESE Ambassador Huang Qinguo, centre, with Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jack Thompson, other officials and Bahamian recipients of Chinese scholarships at a recent reception at the Chinese Embassy.

Photo: Eric Rose/BIS

11 Bahamians receive Chinese scholarships

By ERIC ROSE

ELEVEN Bahamian students have received scholarships from the government of the People’s Republic of China for study in that country to pursue various programmes of study.

“These students all are a shining example of high aspirations,” permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jack Thompson said, during a

recent reception held in their honour at the Chinese Embassy on East Shirley Street. “I commend them, and their parents, guardians and others who have helped them in their quest for higher education.”

Among those present for the ceremony included Chinese Ambassador Huang Qinguo and other embassy officials; Ministry of Foreign Affairs director general Sharon Brennen-Haylock; first assistant secretary and

head of the Honorary Consul Unit and Technical Assistance Division Meryl Deveaux, other ministry staff and others.

Scholarship recipients from The Bahamas are Asher Jewell Percentie, Valencia Runell Laroda, Antoniqua Cephanette Pinder, Garnece Anrielle Ferguson, Ricardo Antonio Jacques, Ronnel Armbrister, Dawnique Maycock, Rubyn Newton, Cherika Johnson, Danielle Smith, and Kemie Jones.

After bringing greetings and best wishes on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield, who was off island at that time, Mr Thompson noted that The Bahamas and China have enjoyed diplomatic relations since May 1997. Since then, he added, the government of China has graciously awarded scholarships to a multitude of Bahamian students.

“The awarding of these scholarships, yet again,

demonstrates that the bond between the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China continues to be strengthened and fortified,” Mr Thompson said.

He pointed out that, like previous award recipients, the recipients of this cycle will undertake studies in a range of disciplines from accounting to communication, economics, international business management, finance, and marketing.

“In the process, they will also obtain a keen appreciation understanding of the culture, language and people of China,” Mr Thompson said.

To the awardees, Mr Thompson said that he was “truly delighted” that they had been afforded “this grand opportunity.”

He also said: “Upon completion of your studies, you will not doubt play pivotal roles in the continuous development of beloved Bahamaland.”

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