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VOLUME:116 No.178, SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2019
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Tribune journalist Brent Stubbs stumbled on these two bodies being recovered in the Pigeon Peas yesterday morning. At The Mudd nearby, the Associated Press reported five more bodies found. The official death toll stands at 50. • TRUMP: WE DON’T WANT ‘VERY BAD’ PEOPLE • SHELTERS NEARING CAPACITY AS EVACUEES TOTAL REACHES 4,800 • ABACO POWER GRID VIRTUALLY ERADICATED
• GG’S MESSAGE OF THANKS AND SADNESS • GOVT URGED: GIVE PAPERLESS HAITIANS TEMPORARY ASYLUM • INSURANCE PAYOUTS COULD TAKE A YEAR
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
PAGE 2, Tuesday, September 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Fighting for survival By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
ROBERT MCKINNEY, 72, who has vowed to stay in Marsh Harbour until the end.
THE chaos that gripped Marsh Harbour in the wake of Hurricane Dorian has subsided, and for those who remain, a new fight for survival begins. For some, remaining on the island is a testament of their heritage and resilience, but for others it’s just a balance of odds for survival. In Marsh Harbour, work crews continue to clear the roads while officers from various agencies conduct search and recovery missions. According to Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson last night, the official death toll stands at 50: 42 victims from Abaco and eight from Grand Bahama. Five bodies were recovered from Abaco yesterday as crews were in The Mudd shanty town, according to reports. At her home opposite the Pigeon Peas, an adjacent shanty town, Patricia Kemp, 54, said she has seen crews recover at least 17 bodies. Most of them were from an unfinished church where shanty town residents fled as surge waters burst through their homes. “People were in (the
church) for safety because it’s on a high hill, the roof and everything came off of it and it collapsed on top of them. They found over 17 bodies and they keep finding more during the week,” she claimed. “I see them taking them out.” Ms Kemp insisted she and her husband would stay and rebuild their home, despite the destruction. “People going because they ain’t got nowhere to stay. I lived here all my life,” Ms Kemp said. “It’s my place, I have food and water from preparing for the storm. I’m going to stay. I’m going to rebuild.” Ms Kemp spent the hurricane in her roof along with her husband and four dogs. She lost her 78-year-old father, Ralph Kemp, who attempted to go outside during the storm. “He tried to come out (during the storm), he tried to come out and do little things. “The water came up in the roof and get ready to come into the ceiling, but it stopped. We were in the ceiling and still sitting in water in the ceiling. If it raised little higher we would have died in the ceiling, because we had no way to get out.” Andrew Bowe, 50, of Big Cat Heavy Equipment, weathered the storm and
told The Tribune he had no plans to move to the capital, not even for a break from the devastation. “I’m not going nowhere,” Mr Bowe said. “I have to get this stuff together. We’ve been clearing the road from after the hurricane. Making sure roads were drivable (sic), rescuing couple people.” Mr Bowe had several workers with him, all of whom told The Tribune they would stay on the island as long as there was paid work. But despite the severity of the devastation, Haitian Eignace Joseph, 39, said yesterday “Abaco is very dry”. Mr Joseph made the decision to stay behind in Abaco to search for poststorm work to provide for his seven children – six of whom were evacuated. He was sceptical of how the government would handle the exodus of longtime residents of the Mudd and Pigeon Peas shanty towns, and the availability of jobs given that more than 3,000 people have already been evacuated to the capital from the devastated islands. “We are not ready to move yet,” Mr Joseph said, referring to his friend and one of his sons who stayed behind.
EIGNACE JOSEPH, 39, who said he is not ready to move yet, and his friend, below, showing off injuries he suffered escaping from the Mudd.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 10, 2019, PAGE 3
in Marsh Harbour “What happen is we think Nassau very difficult for us to go on. I got seven kids to take care of so I don’t know exactly what part I would go in or if government decide to do something with us. So that’s why we not move yet. “We still here to watch before we move. I send altogether six to Nassau but they told me they don’t live too good, they don’t eat good. “All the money I have is gone, my passport gone, so I can’t travel to the US, and my kids are school kids.” Mr Joseph continued: “I’m worried about school for my kids, I’m worried for my food, how can I take care of them. “If (government) decide to deport me whatever, I can’t do nothing, if I find some job to do in Nassau much better, but my family they don’t know Haiti, they’re all born here, so if they want to deport me no problem, but I’m worried about my family. Everything I have in Mudd is gone.” Mr Joseph’s children are aged 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4-years-old. They escaped the Mudd during the storm as rising waters and gale force winds lashed the shanty town. First, they ran to a nearby church, International Mission Gospel, just a few steps over from the church that collapsed on the hilltop. But parts of it began to crumble, forcing them to the government complex. During this time, his four-year-old was injured by debris that hit his foot. Mr Joseph and his family spent two days there before they were kicked out by an angry official. He said: “We were kicked out of complex - Wednesday - she say everybody out because we nasty, we steal something inside, so I take all my kids to move back here (to the church). I sent (my children) to the mailboat.” Yesterday, Mr Joseph said while he did not like the insensitive treatment he endured in the aftermath of the storm, he could not call
AN UNFINISHED church in Marsh Harbour that collapsed. Bahamians hateful people. Relief Committee, which He underscored posi- travelled from hard-hit tive experiences with two Marsh Harbour, through former employers over the to Spring City and Sandy last 23 years. Point. In Sandy Point, the “I don’t go political,” contrast is staggering. Mr Joseph said, “too While some people in much people hurt me, the fishing village have had but what some people major damage from tornadoing I don’t like, but that does, the settlement was make me scared if govern- mostly spared Dorian’s ment decide to keep me in wrath. Nassau, I think if they could There, Bahamians like push me the same way they 72-year-old Robert McKinwas doing at the complex, ney say they will stay on the push me out, take my bag island to the end. and push out. “Everything I own is “I don’t like that happen right here,” said 54-year-old to me,” he added. Calvin Edgecombe, “I can’t The Tribune travelled to leave. We will be in pretty Abaco with the Progres- good shape once we get the sive Liberal Party’s Disaster power going.”
PATRICIA KEMP, who lives opposite the Pigeon Peas and says she has seen crews recover at least 17 bodies.
4,800 NOW EVACUATED - WITH 1,600 IN SHELTERS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
MORE than 1,600 people are in emergency shelters in New Providence, according to the National Emergency Management Agency, as Hurricane Dorian’s decimation forced 4,800 people to be evacuated to the capital. Earlier Monday officials said there are six shelters in Nassau with a total capacity of 1,202. However last night, NEMA said in the aftermath of Dorian, 1,676 people have had to utilise shelters in New Providence. NEMA did not make clear if additional shelter space was brought online to address the need. Up to press time, officials said at the Kendal Isaacs Gym proper, 1,224 people are being sheltered. Two tents set up there are housing 194 people. Fox Hill Community Centre now has 202 evacuees, while Calvary Haitian Baptist Church is housing 94 people. In the Salvation Army, which can hold 40 people, so far 30 people have gone there. Pilgrim Baptist Temple can house 100 people, but up to this point only 95 evacuees are there, while
Grants Town Seventh Day Adventist Church is housing 29 people. It has a capacity of 40. The immediate needs of evacuees have largely been tended to by groups of private citizens in a coordinated effort to provide relief. The Tribune visited a large-scale relief operation at Odyssey Aviation yesterday. Stocked in its hangar were a large variety of items like generators, gasoline containers, flashlights, food, beverages and clothing. Medical professionals were also on hand to attend to the needs of the sick. Odyssey President Steven Kelly said around 2,000 people had been processed through his facility. Given the magnitude of these efforts, he urged people to give their time and whatever else they could to assist evacuees. He said: “All of this facility you see here is owned and operated by Odyssey Aviation. All of the folks you see in here are volunteers from the local community from the civic organisations like Rotary, Kiwanis - HeadKnowles is a big charity group that has been providing a lot of the food stuff and stuff you see. “All of this has been coming from all over the
world. There is stuff from Canada, stuff from America and local stuff that’s being donated. It’s just a community effort plain and simple,” he said. The hangar also has a “comfort station”.
“They come off of the plane. They are immediately provided with water or Gatorade or some sort of nutrition. There are sandwiches and other stuff that are manned all day long,” Mr Kelly said.
“Then they are processed through the evacuee arrival desk if they have passports or identification we are scanning all of that in for social services. So we will have a huge database that social services will use.”
Personnel also separate evacuees based on whether they have relatives in New Providence and whether they need shelter and/or transportation. Hundreds of volunteers are manning the centre.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, September 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Is BPL up to task of reparing Abaco? ALONG with everything else in Abaco, the power grid has suffered catastrophic damage. Step forward Bahamas Power and Light, which faces the challenging task of trying to reconnect an island that has precious few electricity poles standing and perhaps even fewer buildings left to reconnect them to. That’s the size of the task - but here’s the good news: assistance is coming. BPL has received offers of help with the task from both the United States and Canada. Now for the bad news: there’s nothing left standing for crews to stay in if they do come to help. The situation both illustrates the magnitude of the destruction that has affected Abaco, and the task that lies before BPL. One 16-mile stretch of road from Marsh Harbour to Treasure Cay, for example, doesn’t have a single electricity pole left standing. Buildings that have power restored will also have to be checked to make sure they have not sustained damage that could trigger a fire once electricity is reconnected. It is a logistical challenge that would challenge the best of organisations. Which leads us to a question: is BPL up to the job? Already struggling with finances as it tries to install new engines in New Providence, while continuing to conduct load shedding that has blighted the capital all summer long, it’s not surprising to feel a little wary as to whether BPL is up to the task. After all, the company said it was ready for the summer. It wasn’t. It said it was ready for the effects of the storm. It wasn’t - New Providence felt only a brush from Hurricane Dorian and it left our power supply knocked out in numerous areas. So is the company ready for the next challenge? Restoring Abaco? For that matter, will it have the money to pay for the cost of these repairs? If the management of BPL felt they had a difficult task ahead of them before Hurricane Dorian, we do not envy them as they look at the mountainous challenge ahead. The first step is to make a plan. Draw on the available expertise that is being
offered from overseas, and create a plan to cover the whole process from start to finish. If accommodation is an issue for overseas workers, it will be an issue for local workers too. Fix that hurdle as quickly and as cheaply as possible and then get to work, planting new poles and reconnecting the areas by priority medical facilities first and then on from there. In the long-term, we might hope they consider another plan - to reconsider whether this disaster might bring a solution that is based on renewable energy for the future. But for now, it is time to be meticulous, and get the lights back on. Those residents have suffered enough - let’s give them the power they need as they start to rebuild.
Don’t take eye off murders We quite understand that the authorities have a lot on their plate amid the response to Hurricane Dorian - but we find it disturbing that five murders have occurred with hardly anything having been revealed about them by the police. It is unheard of for police not to pass on information about killings. Five died and eight more were injured in five separate shootings, but if it was just down to police, we would know almost nothing about them. The original police statement didn’t even say where the shootings took place, let alone the circumstances. For all we know from the information provided, they could have been police shootings and we’d never know. How are we to know otherwise? This is a time of great national crisis - but we must not take our eye off the challenges that face us day in, day out at the same time. If we are evacuating people to New Providence, we cannot lose our focus on fighting crime in the island we are bringing them to. The police force should be more than capable of providing the public and the press with details of murders on our streets. We often hear the police say that they need the public as partners in the battle to reduce crime. Well, how can the public be partners and provide information if they don’t even know where the crimes took place? We need to remedy this - and swiftly.
Rebuilding our islands EDITOR, The Tribune.
I HAVE been trying to find a reliable, qualified person to fix our roof since hurricane Michael. We called the Labour board to find out what is the going rate for a qualified worker and we were told they have no guideline, it is up to us and the worker. I am a woman in my 60s and I have no idea what to pay, without a labour guideline on the cost for repair workers, we have experienced, even the inexperienced worker expecting anything from 15 to 100 plus dollars per hour. Also the lack of requirement for a licence, the bad work that is done and no one to inspect and approve the work done. As we cannot climb onto our roof to see first hand what had been done, I can tell you by the number of bowls and buckets I had to place in my home during our end of this storm, tells me, the work was not
done properly. I had a contractor that gave me an estimate for $1600.00 to patch one hole on my second story side – $800.00 for materials and $800.00 for labour. I ended up buying the materials myself, which came to $200.00, saving $600.00. I had a man doing some other work for me and he went on the roof and told me this was not an $800 job, maybe $200 at the most. I settled with the roofer for $300, it took him around two hours to do the job, so I saved $1,100 on a job that wasn’t even done properly as the next rain, I had the same leak. After having another person fix my roof, it was discovered the hole had never been patched! I am asking the government to now place a cap on what can be charged. Let the public know what to pay per hour and have the proper inspections done before the
contractor gets paid. These workers should be licenced, because most of these workers that call themselves builders don’t even have any tools! We need to know they are licenced and qualified to do the work. This needs regulations and fast. The public needs more protection from the government. Any carpenter’s helper claims he knows what he is doing and passes himself off as a qualified builder. He does not want to work by the hour or day, he wants a contract for the entire job. Even though he doesn’t have a truck or tools. With the devastation in Abaco and Freeport we will be needing hundreds of qualified carpenters, masons, etc, this could be the proper time for the government to place regulations on this industry protecting all Bahamians. MRS THOMPSON Nassau, September 9, 2019.
Death, destruction & recovery EDITOR, The Tribune. HURRICANE Dorian will long be remembered by this generation as the most destructive one ever experienced since the Great Hurricane of 1932. Our sister islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama bore the full brunt of Dorian and, while on the ground assessments are still going on it is a given that the death and destruction wrought by Dorian will be beyond imagination. This is no time for the political games and name calling. Dr Minnis and the FNM are not to be blamed for the arrival of Dorian much less the damages and loss of life. Let all Bahamians be perfectly clear on this point. We will learn much from Dorian and its passage. Our national building codes will be revisited. The Mudd and Pigeon Hole, along with other shanty towns, especially in Abaco and Grand Bahama, have been utterly wiped out and should not be allowed to rebuild as one sees fit. Those areas were long a blight on their respective communities. Now, in the aftermath of this “killer” hurricane the orderly rebuilding of these areas will be a hidden blessing in disguise for many. Clean-up jobs will be immediately created. In short order, hundreds of construction jobs and opportunities will come on stream once plans are drawn and approved. Building supply and shipping companies will thrive in what will be a robust rebuilding effort. Modern and even more hurricane resilient buildings and structures will be built. I wish to publicly thank all of the individuals who first responded when some of our sister islands took a
The recently passed National Budget for the fiscal year 2019 to 2020 has been shot out of whack. letters@tribunemedia.net All of the rosy figures direct hit and heroic vol- and projections therein are unteers throughout the like water under the bridge. The other month some nation. agency, Truly, we are ‘Bahamas governmental Strong’ and despite the best which, clearly, is disconefforts of Dorian we will nected from the ‘real’ rise from the abject death world, opined that unemand destruction of that ployment was down! I never subscribed to that killer storm. Those persons who have/ bogus position. Up or down were engaged in looting, does not really matter now. Unemployment will please do better than this in explode as thousand a time of national tragedy. There is no need to migrate from Abaco and steal someone else’s prop- Grand Bahama into an erty and God forbid that already stressed out and any Bahamian would buy crowed New Providence. Our tourism goose has looted or stolen items no matter the greed and cooked to a crisp. Our desire to get something for Lucaya’s sale, no doubt, will be pushed back for nothing. The mental and financial yet more due diligence well being of thousands of and water damage to the our fellow Bahamians have structure. Hundreds of homes have been negatively impacted by Dorian. Some have lost been extensively damaged all of their visible material and scores of our schools will not be reopening for a possessions. Where they would have long time to come. National had a few dollars in the recovery will take some bank or credit union, they time and all political parties will now be obliged to must come together for the deplete those funds. The common cause of all. Dorian just swept pass Minnis administration, no doubt, will step in with our wonderful nation and waiving duties, etc., but it is far too early to start it will also have to make cussing out the Most Honother concessions, like ourable Prime Minister and Crown Land for residential the initial responses of the administration. purposes. My profound conIn Abaco, the Marsh Harbour Airport and Har- dolences go out to the bour should be placed in survivors of any storm a public/private sector related deceased persons and I’d hope that funeral vehicle. This would allow for the operators will donate their rapid rebuilding of those services, on a case by case facilities with the least basis. Despite the death and amount of governmental intervention. The people destruction, however, to of Abaco are hard nosed God be the glory in all individuals and they pos- things. sess the “work” ethic which ORTLAND H BODIE, is absent in so many other Bahamians. My greatest Jr Nassau, fears revolve around Grand September 9, 2019. Bahama.
LETTERS
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 10, 2019, PAGE 5
‘We face one of our greatest challenges’ By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas faces one of the greatest challenges in its history in trying to rebuild lives and infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Dorian’s unprecedented destruction, Governor General CA Smith said last night. Mr Smith spoke during a national address that aired on ZNS. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is expected
to address the country tomorrow night. “There is no question that our people and our country, have suffered a most grievous blow at the hands of nature. We all know that from time to time throughout our history, we have had encounters with hurricanes of varying magnitudes but none like Dorian. I remember a previous generation telling stories of the great storms of 1929 and 1932 but it is painfully clear that never
before have we experienced such a destructive force as hurricane Dorian,” Mr Smith said. The 1929 hurricane stalled over The Bahamas for an extended time, causing 48 deaths. The 1932 category five hurricane devastated Abaco in particular, killing 16 people in the country. Mr Smith said: “For what must have seemed like an eternity to those in its path, this hurricane hovered over the northern Bahamas
wreaking immeasurable havoc on Abaco, Grand Bahama and their surrounding cays while some of its effects were felt much further south. As we continue to progress toward a full assessment it is clear that the devastation is unprecedented in our history. Many lives have been lost. Our sincere condolences go to the families an friends of those who have lost their loves ones. I know your grief knows no bounds and words are useless, but
we as a country and as your countrymen grieve with you.” The death toll from Dorian stands at 45. The Ministry of Social Services has not said how many people have been reported missing. “My thoughts and prayers are with the thousands of families whose homes and properties have been severely damaged or destroyed and whose lives are now shattered,” Mr Smith said.
“This is a dark and joyless time for those who have lost, but we pledge to you that there will be light and hope again. Our public infrastructure has been degraded and in many instances is now non-existent. We face one of the greatest challenges in our history - that of rebuilding the lives of our people and our country but in the midst of all this we are inspired by the performance of those who were and are still on the frontline.”
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House yesterday. Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP Affairs investigate this Rick Scott asked President representatives said Trump to waive some visa Balearia forced passenmatter.” Bahamians travelling requirements for Bahami- gers off without prodding to the US can do so with a ans following Hurricane by them. One said: “We passport and a clean police Dorian and to make it would’ve basically made record once they transit easier for them to seek shel- sure that everyone was through a pre-clearance ter with their families in the properly documented point. However, a visa is US. and facilitate that proSenator Scott, in a state- cess working with the required for travel by sea, though this requirement ment yesterday, called on cruise lines so why they was reportedly waived this the US Customs and Border said that I wouldn’t know weekend when the Paradise Protection to work with the and it’s really heartbreakCruise Line’s Grand Cel- Bahamian government to ing for them to say that ebration arrived at the port clarify rules regarding visas to these people who have of West Palm Beach with in The Bahamas so confu- really suffered beyond nearly 1,500 passengers sion does not occur. comprehension.” In an interview with from the country. Another official said had Last week, US Sena- Mr Entin, US Customs the passengers arrived to tors Marco Rubio and Border and Protection US borders, they would
have been processed and vetted in accordance with US laws. “I think it was a business decision by Balearia to remove them, they were not ordered off the boat by any US government entity,” the officer said, adding they would have been allowed to enter the country on a passport and police record. The officers recommended that transportation companies coordinate with the Bahamas government and the US embassy in Nassau to make sure the process is orderly and that expectations are not unreasonably raised. In a statement released last night, Baleària apologised for the ferry situation. “We continue to maintain a policy to transport at no charge those affected citizens of The Bahamas who are in need of such transportation to Florida or between Freeport and Bimini,” the company said. “We regret and apologise for the hardship and inconvenience experienced by the 119 passengers who are residents from Grand Bahama Island who could not be transported yesterday, Sunday, September 8. We boarded these passengers with the understanding that they could travel to the United States without visas, only to later having been advised that in order to travel to Ft Lauderdale they required prior in-person authorisation from the immigration authorities in Nassau. “In coordination with US Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP), our company is informing all Bahamian residents of the required travel documentation necessary for travel to Ft Lauderdale.”
TRUMP: WE DON’T WANT ‘VERY BAD’ PEOPLE By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
AS weary storm survivors seek refuge in the United States, President Donald Trump said his country must be careful not to let “very bad” people from The Bahamas through its borders. He was responding yesterday to the outrage that emerged when the crew of the Balearia Caribbean Ferry demanded that passengers without a US visa disembark the vessel on Sunday night, prompting the exodus of more than 100 people in Grand Bahama. One person told Brian Entin, a reporter for Miami TV station WSVN who was on board the vessel, that leaving was painful because he had to watch his daughter cry. President Trump said his administration is looking into the matter and talking to “lots of different people on that.” “We’re recovering from the hurricane also,” Mr Trump told reporters on Monday. “Florida did get hit, not as hard as we anticipated and if you look at Georgia, you look at South Carolina, North Carolina… we’re also recovering from a hurricane. But we have to be very careful. Everybody needs totally proper documentation because look, The Bahamas has some tremendous problems with people going to The Bahamas that weren’t supposed to be there.” Mr Trump also said: “I don’t want to allow people that weren’t supposed to be in The Bahamas to come into the United States,
including some very bad people, some very bad gang members and some very, very bad drug leaders, so we’re going to be very, very strong with that. Let me just explain. Large sections of The Bahamas, believe it or not, were not hit and what we’re doing is bringing the people to those sections of The Bahamas that have not been hit. We’ve done a lot of the USAID, we’ve done work with our Coast Guard, our FEMA people, they’ve been phenomenal.” National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials emphasised yesterday that no special arrangements have been made to facilitate the entry of Bahamians affected by Hurricane Dorian into the United States. NEMA spokesman Carl Smith said during a press conference: “NEMA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to advise the public that there are no new arrangements that have been established to facilitate entry of Bahamians into the United States or Canada. Bahamians interested in travelling to the United States or Canada should ensure that they have all of the usual immigration documents required by those countries for entry. While most inquiries have come in respect to movement to the United States or Canada, NEMA can confirm that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not aware of any new arrangements for any other country. We are aware of an incident reported on a large passenger vessel headed to the United States from Florida. NEMA has requested that the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign
PAGE 6, Tuesday, September 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Abaco power grid virtually eradicated By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ‘DIRE’ was how Bahamas Power and Light yesterday described the electricity situation in North Abaco following Hurricane Dorian, which completely “obliterated” infrastructure. In a press statement yesterday, BPL said there are no standing electricity poles along the 16-mile stretch of road from Marsh Harbour to Treasure Cay. Additionally, one of two power lines running from Wilson City to Marsh Harbour is a total loss, while the other will have to be rebuilt as a great portion of it was damaged. Given the extent of the damage, the power provider said rebuilding the network in Abaco will require a massive level of effort. As a result, the company plans to utilise relationships with partners in CARICOM through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC). BPL has also received offers of assistance from the United States and Canada. However, this illuminates concerns regarding housing for crews, with BPL noting there was nothing left standing in Central and North Abaco that
STORM damage from Hurricane Dorian in Abaco. can house the number of people required to do the work. BPL said it was working to solve this logistical problem and will update the public when a solution has been identified. “Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd has completed an assessment of
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
our system in Abaco from Sandy Point in the south as far north as Treasure Cay. We could go no further,” BPL said. “The situation in the north of Abaco is dire. There are no standing electricity poles along the 16-mile stretch from Marsh Harbour to Treasure Cay.
Our infrastructure along that stretch has been obliterated. “From our power station at Wilson City to Marsh Harbour, there are two power lines. One of these lines is a total loss. Forty to 60 percent of the other line will have to be rebuilt. “In Marsh Harbour, our
entire distribution network – that is the infrastructure that gets power from the long transmission lines into the communities, such as is seen on the side of the street – has to be rebuilt all the way out to the eastern shores. “From Marsh Harbour to Treasure Cay, the entire transmission grid – which transports electricity long distances with higher voltage, such as can be seen along highways – will also have to be rebuilt.” In Treasure Cay, the entire distribution network has to be rebuilt, BPL said. “No one from our team has yet been able to go north to Crown Haven. We surmise that the transmission grid from Treasure Cay to Crown Haven will also have to be rebuilt. “There is better news in the south. From our Wilson City Power Station to the main road, there (are) two lines, one of which is in good condition. Less than 100 poles are needed between Sandy Point and Wilson City, which can be replaced within weeks.” BPL noted the international response to Hurricane Dorian has been overwhelmingly positive on the humanitarian front and had been no less positive with regard to our efforts to restore power to the island of Abaco. “The needed poles for
the south and a digger have already landed and are at Wilson City Power Station now, transported by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Teams are ready to move out starting tomorrow, and by mid-week we expect the reconstruction can begin. “The rebuilding of our network in Abaco will require a massive level of effort. To that end, BPL will take advantage of our CARICOM relationships through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation. In addition to CARILEC, an association of electric energy solutions providers and other stakeholders operating in the electricity industry in the Caribbean region, we have also had contact from US and Canadian companies that have reached out to us with offers of assistance.” BPL said the main concern for the reconstruction effort will be housing: there is nothing left standing in the Central and North Abaco that can house the number of people required to do the work. “We are working to solve that logistical problem and will update the public when a solution has been identified. “Our hearts and prayers continue to be with Abaco, and our commitment to rebuild better and stronger remains firm,” BPL said.
“In fact, I am not telling them not to arrest those who are illegal in Nassau or wherever else. This is the right of the government. But those who have been victims the government need to do something for them right now or give them some years or whatever else until they regularise themselves.” Asked if he was referring to a temporary asylum, he said: “Yes, especially for those registered at NEMA as the victims. This will give them time to rebuild their lives.” He also made another appeal: “I suggest all the Haitians around the world come and invest in housing in the Bahamas to help them get back on their feet. This is what I promote right now for all the Haitians with money. (They) can invest in the Bahamas especially for those in Abaco and Freeport.” This comes as some Haitians have told the South Florida paper the Sun Sentinel they don’t feel safe or welcome in Nassau after being evacuated to the capital. It has illuminated a longstanding rift between the Haitian community and some Bahamians. Jocelyn Arty, of the United Haitian Association told the paper it seemed as though the displaced Haitians from Abaco were coming in
under the “radar”. “I don’t feel good. I don’t feel comfortable,” Quetelie Decius told the Sun Sentinel after disembarking a mailboat over the weekend at Potter’s Cay Dock. Their comments triggered a tongue lashing from Mr Johnson who was at the site. He was captured on video by the Sun Sentinel. “I represent the government,” he said. “There, what you doing, is not the truth. You should have gone to the shelter and you should have stayed there, don’t come back out here and paint these pictures because what y’all are saying is not the truth. “We give y’all everything possible, we went above and beyond to take care of y’all and you’re here complaining. What y’all want? Y’all want live in Baha Mar? Don’t do that. That’s wrong.” He added: “There is no division here. It’s not division. Everyone is being treated accordingly. Some Bahamians are financially better off than others are able to provide for themselves. They’re doing that. Some of these people are not able to provide for themselves so we are rendering the assistance.” Mr Darlier was also there and was reported as saying even though there were some irregularities, he wanted things to go smoothly.
‘GIVE PAPERLESS HAITIANS TEMPORARY ASYLUM’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
HAITIAN Chargé d’Affaires Dorval Darlier wants the Bahamas government to grant temporary
Funeral Service For Mrs. Linda Anne Elza passed away on Friday, 6th September, 2019 at the home of her parents on the Eastern Road, New Providence, The Bahamas. Mrs. Elza is survived by her daughter, Ms Katherine Elza and her parents, Godfrey K. Kelly, C.M.G., and his wife Mrs. Sonia Kelly. A Funeral Service for Mrs. Elza will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas on Friday, 13th September, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited, 19 Palmdale Avenue, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas.
asylum to undocumented migrants affected by Hurricane Dorian. This, he asserted yesterday, was the best way to assist devastated Haitians living in Grand Bahama and Abaco to rebuild their lives after losing everything to Dorian’s destruction. His comments came days after North Eleuthera MP Hank Johnson was caught on video by a Florida reporter arguing about the picture being painted of how the Bahamas government is treating Haitian evacuees. Mr Johnson insisted migrant storm victims are being treated fairly and accused a group of Haitians evacuees of complaining. Meanwhile, Mr Darlier appealed to the government yesterday to enforce a mandatory evacuation in Abaco, telling The Tribune some storm victims were refusing to leave despite mounting health concerns. However, the chargé said he had no idea just how many people from various Abaco shanty towns were still alive or dead in the aftermath of the storm as the government had
not yet communicated its findings regarding those communities. But what he was certain of yesterday was the larger communities - the Mudd and Pigeon Peas were completely wiped out, leaving many missing and families desperate to find loved ones. “I’ve been to the Mudd and Pigeon Peas, that does not exist anymore. There is no Mudd, there is no Pigeon Peas,” Mr Darlier said. “I go around down there. The reason I went is because they say Haitians shooting at people. It’s not true. I go around but I don’t see no one. “It’s like a ghost town. My major concern is how are all those people going to be relocated? Some who have insurance, it’s easy for them to get back, but those who don’t, what is going to happen to them? What is the plan for them? “I think both governments have to sit together to see what plan they can do just for them, especially for those who have nowhere to go. “I cannot tell the government how to do their job. The Bahamas is a country no one can tell them how to run their country, but what I can suggest for those who are illegal, I think a moratorium is better for them right now especially for those who has been affected by the hurricane.
Love & Sympathy MEMORIAL SERVICE for
JUSTICE EMMANUEL ENEBELI OSADEBAY
will be held on Wednesday, September 11th at 7:00 p.m. at St. Agnes Anglican Church.
FUNERAL SERVICE
will be held on Friday, September 13th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Agnes Anglican Church.
May his soul rest in peace.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 10, 2019, PAGE 7
‘We climbed into bathtub to ride out the hurricane’ By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net DREXEL Bootle rode out Hurricane Dorian in the bathtub with his wife. The Treasure Cay resident survived Hurricane Floyd, a Category 4 storm that devastated Abaco 20 years ago, but he told The Tribune that storm was “child’s play” compared with Hurricane Dorian. Mr Bootle said he always told people he would never want to experience anything like Floyd again in his life. “Seriously, in Floyd I had 40 inches of rain in my house; this time it was like seven feet of water. I have nine-feet ceilings in my house. About a foot or two from the ceiling the ocean came and knocked all my doors in, blew out windows... it was an experience,” he said. Mr Bootle said the strong winds, with gusts over 200mph, ripped shutters off the windows. “It was scary. At one point, the front end of the storm, when my wife told me it looked like water was coming in, I told her to get towels and I heard when she screamed. The doors upstairs blew so I ran from the front door, which was about to cave in, and on my way up (to) my master bedroom a door flew off and caught me (behind my neck) and knocked me down the steps. I was able to catch up with (my wife) and we went back (down) the stairs and that’s where we spent three hours holding on with everything I had. It was scary, we had no place to go. Everyone was affected in Treasure Cay. “ He added: “After the eye passed over, the roof was still on the house but there was plenty water outside. We went into the master bathroom and got into the bathtub and I had to get an office chair and a vanity chair to put over us with the sheets. There was...
LAKIA THOMPSON, centre, talking to The Tribune yesterday. Sheetrock coming down winds sounding like the and that’s where we spent strength of 15 men; it was that night...in pouring rain crazy,” she said. “There was a lot of and with the wind blowing. It was scary. Something hit damage, everything is gone. me, I don’t know what it The only thing I have left is was, but it hit me, had my in this garbage bag. Everylip split for a minute, so thing; I lost everything. I’m I see why you have to be thankful for life, honestly, because I could have been careful in the storm.” Mr Bootle said every dead, too. My mom is here, time he thinks about the so hopefully I can start hurricane and his experi- over,” she said. Neil Bootle, a Murphy ence, he cries. “One of my neighbours, Town resident, said if somea good of friend of mine, one had told him before his mom drowned right in the storm that Hurricane front of him. He also lost Dorian would turn out to be his arm trying to save his this catastrophic, he would mom because she panicked. have never believed it. “It was disastrous. I had She ran out and he went out behind her and a plywood to run with my four chilflew and... severed (his dren, my wife, and even hand) right off. His mom took in someone else who fell down and drowned couldn’t talk or hear. The right in front of him,” he whole house just tore apart. I had to run for my said. Meanwhile, Marsh life. Thank God for nextHarbour resident Lakia door neighbours; I was Thompson told The Trib- able to run to their house,” une she had lost all of her he said. “We lost everything. I’m belongings, but is thankful grateful to have made it and she survived. Ms Thompson’s eyes I’m very sad for those who filled with tears and her had lost their family and voice started to crack as she loved ones.” A glossy-eyed Mr Bootle described the harrowing said he is sad to leave his experience. “During the storm, win- Abaco home, not knowing dows started breaking, the when he’ll be able to return. ceiling started falling, water was coming down the walls coming through the windows. I couldn’t get out, all I could hear was loud objects outside moving,
FREE TUITION OFFER FOR DISPLACED STUDENTS By LEANDRA ROLLE
IN the wake of Hurricane Dorian, Hampton University in Virginia is offering free tuition, room and board to displaced students at the University of The Bahamas’ Northern Campus for the upcoming fall semester. UB released a statement on Sunday, expressing gratitude for Hampton University’s generous offer while also noting several university presidents have also pledged to offer their assistance in providing relief for UB students. “Some students have expressed a desire to explore the study abroad offer which has been extended. Yet, many others want to remain to provide emotional support for their families, friends and communities. They are eager to be a part of the healing and rebuilding that will take shape and help reactivate UB-North operations. This is the goal we working to achieve,” UB said. Hampton University is a historically black institution located in the US, with more than 4,300 students enrolled for the fall semester. As noted by UB, students interested in studying at Hampton for the upcoming semester would have to follow certain procedures and protocols in ensuring that courses taken abroad are geared toward the completion of their respective degrees. The statement read: “UB students would need to contact the schools abroad directly and have course descriptions for desired courses evaluated by faculty at UB through the Office of Academic Affairs in
conjunction with the respective academic units prior to approval; UB students must have a valid passport; UB students would have to secure I-20 Forms from the institution prior to applying for a US student visa, unless granted a temporary longer stay visitor’s visa from the US Embassy.” In regard to the restoration of university operations in Grand Bahama, UB noted that steps have already been taken to relocate teaching and administrative and resume classes by the end of September. This initiative is currently being led by Vice President of UBNorth Dr Ian Strachan. When The Tribune visited the UB North Campus last Thursday, Mr Strachan was at the facility, where massive damage was visible. At the time, Mr Strachan said UB North officials were concerned about employees still unaccounted for following the storm. He said while it is a “major setback” for UB, officials are determined to resume classes and complete the semester off campus, not only at UB’s downtown centre but by utilising classroom space at other institutions in Freeport. “Our goal is not to cancel any classes. Our goal is to complete the semester,” he said, adding a meeting was planned to discuss the way forward. Dr Strachan said some 500 students were enrolled at the campus and school officials were concerned about their welfare. When asked about rebuilding, Mr Strachan said discussions must take place about a possible relocation of the main campus to Freeport.
HURRICANE Dorian survivor Drexel Bootle at Odyssey Airport.
Photos: Donavan McIntosh
PAGE 8, Tuesday, September 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Florida man buys 100 generators for relief By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net A FLORIDA man has purchased 100 generators to help Bahamians in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. His generous donation, worth over $49,000, is one of several relief efforts to aid Grand Bahama and Abaco after these islands were devastated by the monster storm last week. Yesterday, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced the company will be sending two Amazon Air planes packed with “tens of thousands” of supplies to the Bahamas. The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) also said yesterday it will be establishing a “transparent fundraising mechanism”, known as the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation (BGDRF), to assist the island. Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane, made landfall over Abaco and Grand Bahama on September 1 and 2, leaving unprecedented destruction in its wake.
AMAZON workers have loaded two planes with tens of thousands of relief items. Yesterday, the National Emergency Management Agency stated 4,800 people from the affected islands have been evacuated to New Providence thus far. In the wake of these horrific circumstances, the local and international communities have stepped up to assist. The generous Florida donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased the generators from
a Costco in Jacksonville, Florida last Wednesday, according to CNN. The 100 generators cost $450 each. He also purchased food items such as peas and beans - resulting in a final purchase cost of $49,285.70. “About 100 generators and a truck load of food and chainsaws are all going over by boat on Thursday to Marsh Harbour in The Bahamas. It’s terrible and I’m sure you’ve seen the
REPLACEMENT PASSPORTS AT NEW PROVIDENCE STORM victims of Grand Bahama and Abaco who need to renew or replace their passport which was damaged or lost during Hurricane Dorian can do so by visiting the Passport Office in New Providence. Fees for the renewal or replacement of passports for storm victims from the affected areas will be waived. The Passport Office in Grand Bahama
is currently closed due to the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. “Persons whose passports were damaged are asked to bring the damaged passport and two passport size photographs when applying for a replacement passport,” a statement from the government advised. “Persons whose passports were lost during the hurricane are
asked to bring two passport size photographs. Of note, fees to expedite the renewal or replacement of passports will be waived for applicants from the aforementioned islands. Application forms will be provided at the Passport Offices.” First time applicants will have to produce relevant documentation in order to procure an e-passport.
photos,” the farmer told CNN at the time. His good deed was publicised after another shopper spotted the transaction and snapped photos of the donor and the generators from behind. Errol Thurston, an Abaco resident and “longtime friend” of the farmer, is assisting in helping the generators get to The Bahamas. “We are trying to book a slot on a container ship that regularly services the Abacos and Grand Bahama,” Mr Thurston informed CNN. “The guys
are doing everything in their power to get us in a slot there. They know the desperation the people really need these items.” If the wait time for this takes too long, Mr Thurston also outlined his second option to CNN. “We have a lot of guys with planes to take it over. There are hundreds of local captains with boats who are ready on standby to take the generators and chainsaws by boat,” he said. Meanwhile, yesterday Mr Bezos also pledged his support for the island nation. “We’re sending two Amazon Air planes packed with tens of thousands of Amazon-donated and customer-donated relief items to support those impacted by #HurricaneDorian in the Bahamas,” he tweeted. “Thanks to all the teams who are making this possible. http://amazon.com/ disasterrelief.” As the GBPA announced its own initiative to help the battered island, it underscored the importance of this “fundraising mechanism” in a statement released yesterday. “What we have seen thus far is truly an outpouring of concern for the people of Grand Bahama, and it is our intention to ensure that
all of that aid is being distributed in ways that it can provide the most impact for those affected,” said GBPA executive director Rupert Hayward. According to the statement, the GBPA established the GBDRF as “a transparent fundraising mechanism designed to specifically receive and distribute donations to the relief effort in the nation’s second city now and into the future”. “Already, the GBDRF has provided first responder services and headed search and rescue missions into East Grand Bahama which bore the brunt of Dorian’s wrath,” the statement continues. “Over the past week, the foundation has been working to improve its logistics capacity, setting up work stations on both the local and international fronts as a means of raising awareness about the needs of those impacted on Grand Bahama Island.” Mr Hayward also noted the organisation has been “working tirelessly” with the GBPA, GB Utilities, and the Grand Bahama Power Company “to ensure that essential services such as water and electricity can be restored to the island quickly and safely”.
BAHA MAR TO GIVE $2M IN AID BAHA Mar has committed $2m in financial aid to support immediate disaster relief and longterm recovery for our fellow Bahamians severely impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Baha Mar’s commitment will go directly to partner relief organisations in The Bahamas as well as Baha Mar’s own work in delivering emergency relief to volunteers and disaster victims. A statement from the company said the donation
is part of Baha Mar’s ongoing devotion to a series of continued relief efforts. “Our hearts are heavy with sadness and loss over Hurricane Dorian’s path of destruction and damage to our beloved nation and its people,” said Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar. “Now is the time to come together and support those who need our help, especially in The Abacos and Grand Bahama. Baha Mar is spearheading ongoing recovery efforts to aid today’s victims while
working towards strengthening our nation to come back stronger than ever.” In addition, the Baha Mar Foundation is collecting financial support from guests, partners, and the community with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to those in need, as well as partnering to distribute daily food, medicine, supplies, and other necessities to volunteers and disaster victims. People can make a donation at BahaMar.com/ Dorian.
TEACHERS CONTINUE PROTEST OVER CARLTON FRANCIS PRINCIPAL By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THE first day of school at Carlton Francis Primary School was marred by further tensions between the school’s principal and the 30 teachers who protested on the school’s grounds yesterday. Vernon Rodgers, Bahamas Union of Teachers area vice-president for New Providence schools, told The Tribune the teachers - who two weeks ago signed a petition calling for the removal of the school’s principal - were initially not allowed on the school’s grounds to continue their protest. He added they were “eventually” allowed on the property, where they sat underneath a tree and continued their protest until noon. Education Minister Jeff Lloyd stressed how deeply disappointed he is by these actions, which are occurring as the country is facing the “catastrophic event” caused by Hurricane Dorian. Mr Lloyd also said he is still awaiting a formal report regarding the teacher’s grievances. In a video, which circulated on social media yesterday, a woman alleged that Carlton Francis principal, Olivia Daxon, was “refusing to let teachers in the gate to sign in”. Mr Rodgers supported this statement yesterday. “They weren’t allowed inside the gate,” he said. “About the same 30 teachers who signed the petition against her. She was handpicking who she wanted to come inside the gate.
“They were eventually on the school grounds but they (sat) underneath the tree,” he continued. He said this protest lasted until noon and added some parents joined in. Mr Rodgers said there was “no reason” why the teachers should have been blocked from the premises. “This is just the stupidity and the pettiness these teachers have (had) to deal with for the past two years, going on year three,” he said. He added only new teachers taught yesterday, as they are discouraged from participating in union actions until they are “confirmed”. “Tomorrow I will be at Carlton Francis,” Mr Rodgers said. “Our protest will continue until she’s gone. We are no longer working with the principal. “They were not going to teach…Not unless the principal is removed, the teachers will no longer teach at that school.” When asked if the union has any concerns as to how this action will affect the children, Mr Rodgers replied: “That’s the concern right there. If the ministry cares, the parents care, and the country cares, they will get rid of that principal.” When asked about this matter, Mr Lloyd said: “I asked for a report as to what the concerns are. I’m advised that the issue is again surrounding the presence of the principal and that nothing concrete has been brought to my attention as to what their grievance is with the principal. “I haven’t seen anything written…There’s a process. There’s a procedure.
These industrial agreements are very clearly laid out, processes with regard to grievances.” He also contextualised this situation within the larger national tragedy occurring in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the monster Category 5 storm that devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama last week. The first day of school was pushed back one week in aftermath of the hurricane. “This is not a usual circumstance, situation, atmosphere in this country….This is a country that is reeling from a most catastrophic event in its history, which has visited utter despair upon our land. And we have, at the beginning of school, in already severely compromised mental atmosphere, this to be confronted (with). “I cannot address more emphatically how disappointed I am. And I invite our people to exercise a greater sense of sensitivity and compassion for the environment in which we live. “And this is after school has been pushed back, again, to give accommodation to this most unfortunate situation.” He added that in New Providence from last Wednesday there have been opportunities for “anyone who may feel a sense of grief with regard to the potential opening of school” to submit these grievances. “I’ve had several meetings today with our executives over a host of matters and not one single report about a situation of grief was brought to my attention,” Mr Lloyd said.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 10, 2019, PAGE 9
LEGENDARY ENTERTAINER ‘CHIPPIE’ CHIPMAN DIES, AGED 90 MAN FACES By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
JOHN “Chippie” Chipman, the iconic Bahamian entertainer, died yesterday at 90, his family said. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis hailed Mr Chipman as “legendary”. He said: “On behalf of the Government and people of The Bahamas, and on my own behalf and that of my wife Patricia, I offer condolences to the entire Chipman family on the death of John “Chippie” Chipman. “The legendary drummer
and entertainer was an ambassador of Bahamian music and culture. He travelled the world in promotion of his beloved Bahamas, always proud of his people and their traditions. “John Chipman loved performing for Bahamian and foreign audiences. Listeners were often entranced by the rhythmic sounds of the master drummer. “John Chipman passed on his love of music, Junjkanoo and Bahamian culture to his family and countless younger Bahamians. He was an outstanding Bahamian.
“John Chipman may have passed on, but his gift of music will live on to inspre us all. May he rest in peace.” Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis also offered condolences. “The great drummer’s drum is now silent,” he said in a statement. “The shake of the cowbells is stilled. The Bahamas will not be the same. “John Chipman lived a long and fruitful life. He helped to define the modern Bahamas through the sound and beat of his drum and his pioneering contribution to Junkanoo. He and his wife,
the great Becky Chipman, were cultural icons separately and as a couple. They are now joined together for the ages. Thankfully, John Chipman left a cultural legacy for this country by passing on his great talents to his children and grand and great grand. He mentored so many others. He was a great Bahamian. Now he joins those other legends like Count Bernardino, George Symonette, Maureen Duvalier and Ronnie Butler into the pantheon of our cultural heroes.” John Chipman is the father of Centreville MP Reece Chipman.
MURDER CHARGE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
JOHN ‘CHIPPIE’ CHIPMAN
Families left in mourning after series of shootings By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net SEVERAL families are grieving after their loved ones were murdered in five separate shootings over the weekend. While police have released scant details about the spate of violence, The Tribune spoke to relatives of the deceased who are trying to understand the motives for the killings. On Saturday, police police reported that they were investigating four separate shooting incidents that left four people dead and eight others in hospital. Police have also reported that a man who was shot while on St Alban’s Drive on Sunday later died in hospital. The Tribune understands three of the deceased men are Antonio Rolle, 32, Dwight Miller, 35, and Marcus Sweeting, 41, however their identities were not released by police. Outside of his Fox Hill home yesterday, Alfred Rolle described his nephew Antonio as a “nice person.” Mr Rolle said: “We are taking it hard, yeah we feel that. He was an all right man. His girlfriend and his stepson taking it hard too. He used to provide for his girlfriend’s son too. He was
she would run some of his SYLVIA MUSGROVE, mother of shooting victim Dwight Miller. Photo: Terrel W. Carey Sr/Tribune Staff a nice person but sometimes he got into little arguments, but he was an al lright person. He was cool with all people in the area. “I really hope the police find the person who did this because my mommy, that’s her grandson… her favourite grandson, she is taking it hard. He doesn’t stay out late, he stop staying out late because he has three kids.” Mr Rolle said he suspects his nephew’s shooting may have been gang-related. “I feel like this is some kind of gang to do and the type of person he was, he wasn’t into those kinds of things. He knows how it is with us, we grew up under a Christian mother and she don’t be into all of that badness. She didn’t like people cursing and carrying on in her yard, sometimes
friends,” he explained. “She told him all of the people he around isn’t his friends. Some of them was against him and hating on him on the low. He was humble, he would help anyone, an old person, boy or girl. He would help he was that kind of person.” The Tribune canvassed Key West Street yesterday and found the mother of another man who was shot dead on Friday. Sylvia Musgrove, mother of Dwight Miller, said her son was a “quiet person, but loved to laugh.” Ms Musgrove said: “We laughed plenty. My family is not doing too well but I cope because I believe in the Bible, I walk with the Bible so I can cope. I’m 76 years of age and I don’t fall for
nothing. I have nine living children, now when they do wrong, I say in the name of Jesus y’all stop because it’s not right. I don’t compromise, I tell you like it is. I feel it but I trying to stay calm.” Ms Musgrove said she believed the father-ofone died because he was envied by many. She said: “My son was humble and quiet. No matter how quiet you are, people still hate you. People envied my son and anytime you be a person of standards and you stand for what you mean, people hate you.” Marsha Woodside the aunt of Marcus Sweeting told The Tribune outside of their Pinewood home, he was a “humble man.” Ms Woodside said: “He was one of my favourite nephews...I basically was one of the people who took care of him because his mother was living in the States. Marcus was a humble soul, everyone around here knew him. He had a little disability with his foot. Everyone through here knows him.” She fought back the tears and said: “It’s hard because it was me and him who took care of his mother. His mom had a stroke last year and she is paralysed on one side and it’s really hard because I miss him. He was like my hand and foot.”
With tears in her eyes, Ms Woodside shared her last encounter with her nephew, adding, the way he died was tragic, but she is at “peace.” “He went to work with my brother and that evening Marcus came home I told Marcus I was going to cook shrimp fettuccini for him... I said please don’t go nowhere out the yard this evening. I went in my room and dropped sleep when I got up about 8.30pm and I went to his mommy room and I asked for Marcus,” she explained. “(His mom) said he went (down the road to a friend.) ... His mother said he was coming right back... That was the last time I saw him... until about five minutes after the shooting. I was on the floor, scared to even get up.” She added: “I know he was murdered but I know he wasn’t the person they were after. He has an old soul; he wasn’t a troublesome person and he doesn’t get into any conflicts. He was never locked up or never in jail. God has his timing and I have to respect that, and I have to respect that’s how he had to go.” On Wednesday, police confirmed a man was killed in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama. These killings bring the murder toll to 69 for the year, according to this newspaper’s records.
SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING AFTER HURRICANE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
EZRIN Green outside court.
A MAN was arraigned in Grand Bahama yesterday accused of killing another man last Wednesday when the island was reeling from the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. The Freeport resident was brought into a makeshift court at the new Sir Albert Miller fire station
complex on Settler’s Way shortly after 10am. The arraignment was held in the building’s garage - normally used as a holding area for fire trucks - where Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson sat behind a table, instead of her usual court bench. The Garnett Levarity Justice Centre sustained severe flood damage as a result of storm surge during Hurricane Dorian, hence
Magistrate Ferguson was relocated to the fire station to hear court matters. Yesterday Ezrin Green was led into the garage to face the charge of murder. Green, a 36-year-old resident of Shackelton Lane, did not have an attorney present. It is alleged he, being concerned with others, caused the death of Clayton Bannister on September 4 at Eight Mile Rock. He was not required to
enter a plea to the charge and a preliminary inquiry will be held to determine if he will stand trial in the Supreme Court for murder. Bail was denied but Green has the right to apply to the Supreme Court for pre-trial release. The matter was adjourned to January 29, 2020. Green was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in New Providence.
A 27-YEAR-OLD man was charged yesterday with murdering another man two weeks ago. Hugh Tyler-Bowe was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt over allegations he murdered Jarvis Butler on August 30. Bowe was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to a later date for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
MAN DROWNS AT SEA BREEZE A MAN reportedly drowned in the Sea Breeze Canal on Sunday. According to police, shortly after 6pm a group of males were sitting on the edge of the Sea Breeze Canal when another male came there and dove into the water. After he had not surfaced, the men became concerned and called to a boater, who made checks of the water and discovered the male lying at the bottom of the canal. The victim was retrieved from the water and transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death. Investigations are ongoing.
TWO INJURED AFTER SHOOTING TWO men are in hospital after they were shot on Sunday night. Shortly after 10pm, two men were standing outside a home on First Street, Coconut Grove, when occupants of a silver Honda vehicle opened fire in their direction, hitting both of them before speeding away. Police said the two injured men were transported to hospital and are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
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POLICE RESERVES DENIES RAPING GIRL AT POLICE STATION By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
RESERVE Sergeant Dwayne Decosta denied raping a teenage girl over four times his junior during his initial record of interview with police last year, jurors heard yesterday. The 56-year-old denied assertions by Inspector Altida Bowles at the time that he penetrated the 13-year-old digitally and made her perform oral sex on him on July 14, 2018 at the South Beach Police Station. Decosta also denied taking the girl to where the alleged incident took place — a room upstairs in the station’s fire services garage. He said he never went to that area on the date in question, and has never been there in his entire life. Additionally, Decosta denied taking the girl outside of the police station’s precincts. He admitted to attempting to assist her in getting something to eat from the Esso gas station across the street, but that never materialised. Besides that, and taking down an incident report from the girl when she
arrived at the station that day, Decosta maintained he had no other interaction with the girl, who is now 14. “At no time did I touch the subject,” Decosta told the interviewing officer during his record of interview. The evidence was led during Decosta’s trial before Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson over allegations he had unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl while working the 1am to noon shift at the South Beach Police Station. Based on the evidence led thus far, the allegations against Decosta are founded in a statement the girl gave to Insp Bowles in her mother’s presence on the same date of the incident. However, the girl has since said in open court that she could not remember if her mother was present during the interview. Additionally, the girl denied telling police about any sexual acts allegedly committed by Decosta, and in fact said the contents of her statement are “incorrect”. The teenager said although she signed her statement, she did not read it over before she signed, and neither was it
read back to her by the interviewing officer. She also said she didn’t sign the document truthfully. And that admission came moments after she doubled down on her previous testimony that “nothing” happened between her and Decosta at the South Beach Police Station. Insp Bowles has since said that not only did she read the 14-year-old’s statement back to her, but the eighth grader signed it “in four places” along with her mother before she herself signed it. It is alleged that after being taken to the police station by her father’s neighbour on the date in question, and while sitting in the foyer, Decosta, called the girl from the foyer and directed her to a room upstairs at the rear of the building. Based on a video that was shown to Decosta during his ROI, Decosta beckoned for the girl to come outside at 11.53am. While there, it is alleged Decosta forced the girl to commit sex acts. He is also alleged to have told the girl he would pay her to have sex with him, a proposal she denied. Afterwards, Decosta is alleged to
have instructed the girl to return to where she was sitting in the foyer area. According to the evidence, the girl returned back to the foyer at 12.21pm. Decosta, in his ROI, said he was off duty by that time, having clocked out at noon. However, Decosta’s attorney Murrio Ducille suggested to Insp Bowles that it was “impossible” for what allegedly occurred to have taken place during roughly six minutes and 27 seconds. A recording of the ROI was also played in court yesterday for the jury to see. Insp Bowles conducted the interview with Decosta in the presence of his lawyer, Crystal Rolle. When Insp Bowles asked him what the extent of his contact with the girl was, Decosta said the girl told him she was dropped off by her father’s house earlier that morning, but he was out of town on a cruise and she feared for her safety, hence her showing up at the station. In response to a question by Insp Bowles, Decosta said he wrote up an incident report. Sometime afterwards, he said he told the girl to
sit in the station’s foyer. During that time, he said the girl said she was hungry, so he attempted to assist her across the street to the gas station for something to eat. Decosta said he did beckon for the girl to come outside, but it was not to speak to her alone, and neither did he speak to her alone. Rather, he said he did so in reference to her complaints of being hungry and “going across the street to get a snack”. Decosta subsequently denied all of the allegations pertaining to any sexual activities between the two. In the video, Insp Bowles subsequently showed Decosta a video purporting to feature both him and the eighth grader. The video that was shown to Decosta was not visible to the jury, however, Decosta admitted that the video showed him calling the girl outside to assist her in going to Esso. The time stamp on that video was 11.53am on July 14. He was also shown another video that purported to show the little girl walking back into the station on that same date at 12.21pm.
Insp Bowles suggested to Decosta during the ROI that the reason the girl did not get back to the foyer until 12.21pm is because he allegedly took her to the rear of the building and had unlawful sexual intercourse with her. When Insp Bowles suggested that the only time the teenager left the foyer was to talk to him, Decosta said he couldn’t say. When asked if he had anything else to say about the matter, Decosta said as a point of clarification, when he called the girl outside to escort her to Esso, she went towards a gate that faces the gas station, while he ventured away from her. He said he ended up walking over to another part of the station’s yard where a Nassau Flight Services bus was parked, where a male was standing. Decosta said he questioned that male about who he was and why he was just standing there. He said when he turned back around, the girl was still where he left her. He said he walked back towards her and ultimately told her she needs to go back into the police station. The case continues today.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, September 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
The rescue and the rebuild need a strong hand at the helm SO MUCH has been written already about the catastrophe of Dorian that it is hard to find further words to describe its deadly effects and the horrors inflicted on people in Abaco and Grand Bahama. The destruction and loss of life is almost beyond belief and the extent of the suffering unimaginable. So it is heartening that the worldwide publicity has produced an extraordinarily positive response from other countries and that an international humanitarian aid operation is now under way. Despite the naysayers - those who will criticise everyone from the Prime Minister to NEMA, the Defence Force and the Red Cross and others for not taking the right action or for not doing enough to help those in Abaco, in particular, who have lost everything - there is plenty of evidence of the superhuman efforts of so many, both officially and privately, to conduct search and rescue operations and to bring relief. They have done sterling and heroic work. According to the UN, some 70,000 people have been affected and it remains a top priority to evacuate displaced survivors from Abaco which has been flattened and is ceasing to function. But it strikes me the offers of help, both financial and practical hands-on involvement, have come from so many varied sources – other
MUGABE - PASSING OF A DESPOT
THE PETER YOUNG COLUMN
governments, official and non-governmental organisations, aid agencies, banks and corporate bodies, Rotarians, charities and individuals - that some sort of structure to direct and coordinate the plethora of donations and contributions needs to be put into place. I have not seen any announcement about that, but it seems to me there should be an official coordinator on the ground who is responsible and accountable for the whole operation of cleaning-up and recovering what is left of Abaco and starting to restore and rebuild it. Presumably, this ought to be the task initially of NEMA, but it is surely unlikely that this organisation, as presently constituted, will have the resources or capacity to handle such an enormous undertaking. In the longer term it is clearly essential for the Bahamian economy as a whole to restore
AN EMOTIONAL volunteer embracing an evacuee after Hurricane Dorian. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff and rebuild to the greatest commitment who is given extent possible both Grand the authority to lead and Bahama and Abaco. coordinate in the shortAt the risk of stating the term a mission of immense obvious, strong leadership scope and vital importance will be required as well as to the nation. There will an effective structure. Per- be a need as well to control haps the government will and oversee the emergency have to seek outside help funding and offers of cash in from an individual who order to eliminate corruphas the right qualifications tion. The initial task will be and experience for such a to recover and restore, but job. It will require someone the harsh truth is rebuilding with imagination, drive and could take years.
IT COMES as no surprise that news of the death of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe last week at the age of 95 in Singapore, where he was apparently receiving medical treatment, has resulted in mixed reactions. He was Africa’s infamous and longest serving dictator who ruled his nation for 37 years and destroyed the lives of so many Zimbabweans during a reign of terror while almost ruining his own country. Finally forced out of office in 2017, at the time there were also accusations that he was preparing the ground for his much younger wife, who was seen to be pulling the strings in support of her ailing husband as well as pursuing a lavish life style in the midst of a failed economy, to succeed him as president. So, a colossus (for the wrong reasons) of Africa has finally departed the scene, and many will shed no tears. Nonetheless, Mugabe has always been hailed as a hero who played a major role in the armed struggle and bush war against white minority rule in Rhodesia and as the founding father of the newly-independent nation of Zimbabwe. But his legacy as a nation-builder in his early days was damaged irreparably, in the eyes of so many, after he turned from liberator to tyrant and a ruthless despot who persecuted his own people. Despite this, he continued to be revered elsewhere in Africa as a towering figure in the continent’s liberation movement against white colonial rule even though no less a figure than Nelson Mandela famously criticised African leaders who, he said, “once commanded liberation armies… and despise the very people who put them in power and think it’s a privilege to be there for eternity. Everybody well knows whom I am talking about.” The history of Mugabe’s chequered rule makes sorry reading. He came to power after the 1979 Lancaster House conference in London when Britain brokered a deal to impose black majority rule in the former colony of Southern Rhodesia. Its white minority government had proceeded in 1965 with its illegal declaration of independence after having had a degree of self-rule since 1923. It then became the unrecognised country of Rhodesia. To those like myself working on the subject in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the 1970s, it was only a matter of time before Britain succeeded in bringing this rebellion to an end because of the importance of establishing majority rule in all of its former colonies in Africa; and it was clear that the white Rhodesian leaders concerned had not taken proper account of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan’s ‘Wind of Change’ speech in Cape Town in 1960. Mugabe won the elections that followed the Lancaster House agreement by a landslide, though some observers accused his supporters of intimidation. At first, he preached peace, reconciliation and national unity and he pointedly asked white Zimbabweans to stay on and build a new nation. He supported a free market economy and introduced welcome reforms, and the country prospered as a result. But this did not last. He soon turned into a despot who launched a campaign of terror in order to stay in power - particularly after the switch from a Britishstyle prime-ministership to an executive presidency and, in effect, a one-party state.
FORMER Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who has died, age 95. His brutal oppression of political opponents and perceived enemies – involving rigged elections, harassment and intimidation, torture, abduction and murder – is well documented, not least the tribal massacres in Matabeleland during the 1980s in which as many as 20,000 civilians died because it was seen as the tribal powerbase of his main political opponent Joshua Nkomo and his ZAPU party. In addition, the forcible eviction of white farmers from their land without compensation resulted in unspeakable violence and killing and also severely damaged the nation’s thriving agricultural sector. The results of all this, and the social and economic turmoil that followed, turned Zimbabwe, effectively, into a failed state. It was no longer the breadbasket of Africa and its natural resources were also squandered so that, with rampant inflation and the currency severely devalued, the economy collapsed. The nation was suspended from the Commonwealth, international sanctions were imposed and Mugabe was stripped by The Queen of his honorary knighthood. As has been said, the old adage “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” sums up the long rule of a president eventually deposed as recently as two years ago. Many ask how such a tyrant was able to cling on to power as long as he did in the face of widespread opposition among his own people. It is claimed he suffered from a personality disorder, one feature of which prevented him from telling the difference between right and wrong; and, clearly, he relied on loyal security forces and the power of the gun to the extent that his rule has been described as the savage gangster world of Zimbabwe. In one of the many books written about Mugabe, former British Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington, who presided over the Lancaster House meeting, was reported to have described him as formidable but “rather sinister” while the leader of the official opposition within Zimbabwe called him a “deranged despot”, and the former Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith, labelled him “the apostle of Satan”. Mugabe’s horrendously long spell as the tyrannical and murderous leader of a previously thriving and successful nation surely ought to be a cautionary tale for smaller countries. Lacking the well-established checks and balances of older and larger democratic countries, they need to be on their guard constantly against the forces of corruption, the abuse of power and violation of human rights. For those interested in Zimbabwe, I commend several books about the country by Peter Godwin who was brought up in Rhodesia in the 1960s and was conscripted to do military service there. He now lives in New York. He is an award-winning author described by the Times of London as the pre-eminent chronicler of his country’s recent tragic past. His writing is well worth a Google search.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 10, 2019, PAGE 11
We don’t give these storms the respect they deserve I HAD a chat about Hurricane Dorian with 29-year veteran meteorologist Wayne Neely, who has spent most of his professional life writing books with detailed accounts of hurricanes that have affected The Bahamas. I worked with him on two of them in the past. I notice that as the tales of storms, their passage through the archipelago, and the devastating aftermath are accounted, each time the country bounces back from formidable odds. This signifies a resilient people who must now pull together more than ever and stand the test of time and mother nature. Wayne says: “Well first of all, my heart felt condolences goes out to the victims of Hurricane Dorian and to the many persons on both Abaco and Grand Bahama. It was a very powerful hurricane and one for the record books… being perhaps the strongest hurricane to impact The Bahamas. Having written 14 bestselling books, mostly on Bahamian hurricanes, I saw the great impact that the storms historically had on
WAYNE NEELY
The Bahamas. But, I never imagined that Hurricane Dorian would devastate The Bahamas like it did.” Q: “Tell me about Hurricane Dorian.” A: “Dorian was a unique, very powerful, and devastating hurricane. Watching it, I was amazed at it from a meteorological standpoint because of how all the atmospheric conditions it encountered, came together to almost make it a perfect storm. Initially no one, not even the experts, predicted how powerful it would have become and having one of the strongest wind speeds on record in the North Atlantic, it only made the devastation worse. “As a meteorologist, I simply stood in awe of this hurricane. It was a sad experience because I knew that I was watching
THE GREAT Abaco Hurricane of 1932
a storm with almost perfect conditions descend on Abaco and Grand Bahama. There was a possibility that people were going to die, that homes and businesses would be destroyed, and that these islands could be devastated. Not only did my members of my immediate family lose homes, but my people of The Bahamas did also… and we are all Bahamians. If one of us is hurting, we owe it to ourselves and our countrymen to lend them a hand until they are able to stand on their own.” Q: “What was it like at the Met Office when Hurricane Dorian was passing?” A: “Well, working at the Met Office, it was extremely busy. Many calls are coming in constantly and it is the hub of activity. All eyes were on the Met Office for the latest alert. People were constantly calling in about the storm asking questions such as, ‘when and if to close their businesses’ and ‘what time will the storm impact us’ and so on. “I was working at the upper air section and I was busy helping to deploy weather balloons to measure atmospheric conditions of the storm.” Q: “What do your books teach us about the major hurricanes that affected The Bahamas?” A: “Over the years, I often told my readers that it would only be a matter of time before the next big
ones impact The Bahamas in a significant way. Well, it is safe to say, the next big one was here a week ago. “I stated that Bahamians on the whole don’t give hurricanes the respect that they deserve. By not evacuating when ordered to do so, they make little or no preparations for an impending storm. Or, they take a lackadaisical attitude towards hurricanes, don’t insure their homes in the event a major hurricane impacts their homes. That is simply due to the fact that Bahamians prior to Matthew, Joaquin and other recent storms, have very little to go on as a template storm, so they lack hurricane experience. The only way Bahamians will give hurricanes the respect they deserve is by experiencing a major hurricane and now I think it is fair to say the powerful category 5 Hurricane changed that in a significant way. “I mention this in by books: “The Great Bahamian Hurricanes of 1926”;
“The Great Bahamas Hurricane of 1929”; “The great Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928” and others.” Q: “As you recorded the history of the hurricanes that have affected The Bahamas, which of the storms stood out?” A: “There are two… the great Bahamas of 1866 and the Great Abaco Hurricane of 1932. The great hurricane of 1866 killed 387 persons in The Bahamas. It impacted and devastated every single island in The Bahamas because it went directly up the island chain, leaving no island unscathed. Over 600 homes in Nassau were destroyed. The storm sunk just about every boat in The Bahamas. This resulted in massive economic losses for The Bahamas because it was the peak of the sponging era. “Now the Great Abaco Hurricane was perhaps one of the more notable storms, because it was the first documented hurricane to impact The Bahamas at Category Five intensity. It is
also one of only four - Category Five hurricanes to hit The Bahamas at that intensity. You have the Great Abaco hurricane of 1932; the great Cuba - Brownsville Hurricane of 1933; hurricane Andrew in 1992 and now hurricane Dorian of 2019. “To give you some idea how rare that is, since official records have been kept since 1851, there have only been 35 - Category Five hurricanes to hit the region. This storm devastated Abaco and Freeport. It levelled most communities like Green Turtle Cay, Hope Town, Marsh Harbour and killed 18 persons… and strangely enough it had a similar track like hurricane Dorian.” Q: “Should we be looking at Tropical Storm Humberto?” A: “That storm is quite a distance away so it is too early to tell, but it does have the ability to impact The Bahamas… so Bahamians should pay attention to this storm.”
PAGE 12, Tuesday, September 10, 2019
TALKS WITH TALIBAN ‘DEAD’ SAYS TRUMP WASHINGTON Associated Press
US PEACE talks with the Taliban are now “dead”, President Donald Trump declared yesterday, one day after he abruptly canceled a secret meeting he had arranged with Taliban and Afghan leaders aimed at ending America’s longest war. Trump’s remark to reporters at the White House suggested he sees no point in resuming a nearly year-long effort to reach a political settlement with the Taliban, whose protection of al-Qaida extremists in Afghanistan prompted the US to invade after the 9/11 attacks. Asked about the peace talks, Trump said, “They’re dead. They’re dead. As far as I’m concerned, they’re dead.” It’s unclear whether Trump will go ahead with planned US troop cuts and how the collapse of his talks will play out in deeply divided Afghanistan. Trump said his administration is “looking at” whether to proceed with troop reductions that had been one element of the preliminary deal.
THE TRIBUNE
Crew members pulled from capsized cargo ship JEKYLL ISLAND, Georgia Associated Press COAST Guard rescuers began pulling trapped crew members from a capsized cargo ship yesterday, finding them alive more than a day after the vessel overturned while leaving a port on the Georgia coast. But the exhilaration of rescuing three South Korean crew members was tempered by the realisation that a fourth person was still trapped behind glass in an engineering compartment on a separate deck. That fourth person was recovered last night. The rescue followed nearly 36 hours of work after the Golden Ray, a giant ship that carries automobiles, rolled onto its side early on Sunday as it was leaving Brunswick, bound for Baltimore. In the hours immediately after the accident, the Coast Guard lifted 20 crew members into helicopters before determining that smoke and flames and unstable cargo
RESCUERS work near the stern of the vessel Golden Ray as it lays on its side near the Moran tug boat Dorothy Moran yesterday off Jekyll Island, Georgia. Photo: Stephen B Morton/AP made it too risky to venture said, rescuers were not sure I heard the news this morn- alive,” Reed said. Yesterday morning, rescufurther inside the vessel. whether the noises they were ing that we had taps back Officials were also con- hearing inside were some of throughout the night,” said ers landed on the side of the cerned about the stability of the vehicles crashing around. Coast Guard Capt John Golden Ray and rappelled the ship, which was carrying But by dawn Monday, they Reed, saying it helped lead down the hull. Lt Lloyd 4,000 vehicles, some of which had grown confident that the rescuers to the right place Heflin, who was coordinattaps were responses to their on the 656ft vessel, and pro- ing the search, said they may have broken loose. found three men in a room That left responders look- own taps, indicating some- vided motivation. “They were charged up close to the propeller shaft, ing for the remaining four one was alive inside. “It was outstanding when knowing the people were near the bottom of the stern. crew members. At first, Reed
NOAA ‘LIKELY VIOLATED INTEGRITY RULES’ IN BACKING TRUMP OVER SCIENTISTS HUNTSVILLE, Alabama Associated Press
THE acting chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said his agency likely violated its scientific integrity rules last week when it publicly chastised a weather office that contradicted President Donald Trump’s claim that Hurricane Dorian threatened Alabama. Two top NOAA civil servants not so quietly revolted against an unsigned agency press release issued late Friday rebuking the Birmingham weather office for saying Alabama was safe. The agency’s top scientist called Friday’s release “political” and the head of the National Weather Service said the Alabama office “did what any office would do to protect the public”. “My understanding is that this intervention to contradict the forecaster was not based on science but on external factors including reputation and appearance, or simply put, political,” acting chief
scientist and assistant administrator for ocean and atmospheric research Craig McLean wrote to staffers on Sunday night. In the email, first reported by The Washington Post, McLean said he is “pursuing the potential violations” of the agency’s science integrity policy. NOAA spokesman Scott Smullen said on Monday, “NOAA’s policies on scientific integrity and communications are among the strongest in the federal government, and get high marks from third party observers. The agency’s senior career leaders are free to express their opinions about matters of agency operations and science. The agency will not be providing further official comment, and will not speculate on internal reviews.” Meanwhile, another career civil servant, National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini said forecasters in Birmingham did the right thing when they tried to combat public panic and rumors that Dorian posed a threat to Alabama.
KOREA WILLING TO START NUKE TALKS SEOUL, South Korea Associated Press
NORTH Korea said yesterday it is willing to resume nuclear diplomacy with the United States in late September but that Washington must come to the negotiating table with acceptable new proposals.
If the proposals don’t satisfy North Korea, dealings between the two countries may come to an end, First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said. Choe’s statement was apparently aimed at pressuring the United States to make concessions when the North Korea-US talks restart.