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Murder over love triangle?

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Pregnant teacher found dead at her apartment

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  THE murder of pregnant C W Saunders Baptist School teacher Marisha Bowen at her apartment on Friday morning might have been the tragic result of a love triangle in which the 35-year-old Guyanese woman was involved, The Tribune understands.

Investigators are probing this, police sources said, as a possible motive for the mother’s death.

While police have confirmed that a man is assisting police in connection with this murder, The Tribune was told that a woman is also being questioned over the incident. The man

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net  AVIATION and Transport Minister Glenys Hanna Martin has warned the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union that the government will not compromise on the security of the Lynden Pindling International Airport after air traffic controllers protested a new security measure, causing flight delays of up to four hours on Saturday.

SEE PAGE SIX

MINISTER TURNS MUSIC MAKER TO LAUNCH BAND

MARISHA BOWEN, who was found dead at her apartment on Friday morning. helping police is a native of Africa, this newspaper was told.

SEE PAGE THREE

POLICE SEARCH FOR MOTHER OF ABANDONED BABY BOY

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net  POLICE are still searching for the mother of a newborn baby boy found alive in bushes in southwestern New Providence on Friday with its umbilical cord still attached.

Chief Superintendent Kendal Strachan, acting officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit (CDU), told The Tribune that while the baby is currently listed

PLEDGE ON AIR SAFETY AFTER FLIGHT DELAYS OVER PROTEST

in “very good condition,� police still do not have any information regarding the mother’s identity, and neither has anyone presented themselves to police concerning the matter.

Nonetheless, Chief Supt Strachan urged the mother of the child, as well as anyone who might know the child’s mother, to come forward so that police “can bring some understanding to this particular ordeal�.

SEE PAGE FIVE

MINISTER of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage tries out a trombone as he presents musical instruments to Salem Union Baptist Church to help set up a marching band in Grants Town. See page two for more photographs.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

BAMSI MISSES COMPLETION DATE AND NO WORK YET ON DORMITORY

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

CONSTRUCTION at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, expected to be completed by the beginning of this month, will more likely be finished by the end of the year, said Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray.

The reconstruction of the fire-damaged male dormi-

tory has not yet started, but should start “very soon,�

Mr Gray told The Tribune.

He added that he has been advised that a contract has been signed for the rebuilding of that structure and that the reconstruction of the fire-damaged dorm is expected to take some six months, as opposed to the two-year deadline previously suggested by BAMSI President Dr Godfrey Eneas.

The female dorm, Mr Gray said, is about 98 per cent complete, and most of the buildings have reached “near completion.�

As a result of the incomplete dormitories, however, Mr Gray said the government is still renting space in Nicholl’s Town, Andros, to house between 40-45 students enrolled at the institute. Mr Gray also admitted SEE PAGE SIX

ANOTHER CASE OF ZIKA VIRUS IS CONFIRMED

THE number of Zika cases in New Providence has increased to 11, Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez confirmed yesterday.

According to health officials, the person in this latest case is a 46-year-old man who lives in southwest New Providence.

Confirmed Zika cases are expected to increase, SEE PAGE SIX

BEVERLY WALLACE-WHITFIELD BOUND AND ROBBED

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  POLICE have launched an island-wide manhunt for two men responsible for binding, gagging and robbing the former wife of one of the Free National Movement’s founding fathers, the late Sir Cecil WallaceWhitfield.

Beverly Wallace-Whitfield, 89, was terrorised at her home shortly after midnight on Saturday by the men who forced their way inside the house, police said.

They tied her mouth and hands, stealing an assortment of jewellery, cash and a laptop before fleeing the Greenwood Road home, off Village Road on foot,

police said.

Just after their escape, a bloodied and shaken Mrs Wallace-Whitfield sought help at a nearby residence, a neighbour who assisted the victim told The Tribune.

She was unable to phone the police as the robbers disconnected the telephone wires, this neighbour said.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

BEVERLY WALLACE-WHITFIELD, pictured last year.

Minister turns music maker to launch band

PAGE 2, Monday, September 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

MINISTER of National Security Bernard Nottage presents musical instruments to Paster Hunter Rolle, of Salem Union Baptist Church, and band instructor Lenette Justilline. The instruments have been donated to help to establish a marching band in the community of Grants Town.

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

SOME of the musical instruments donated to help set up a marching band in Grants Town.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 12, 2016, PAGE 3

Nightclub shooting victim hurt earlier this month dies in hospital

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE nation’s homicide count increased to 72 over the weekend, according to The Tribune’s records, after a man who was shot in a nightclub earlier this month died while in hospital on Saturday.

A Dominican man, who was also shot during the incident, is in custody assisting with the investigation,

police said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethell said yesterday that investigators were following significant leads and intended to close the case this week.

According to initial police reports, the incident happened on Sunday, September 4, at a nightclub on Woods Rodgers Wharf shortly after midnight.

Police said three men, believed to be Hispanics, were put out of a nightclub after

THE BODY of Marisha Bowen is taken from the scene on Friday.

creating a disturbance.

Shortly after 3am on September 4, one of the men returned to the club armed with a handgun. He then got into an argument with a man identified as the disc jockey, who attempted to disarm him, police said.

This led to the disc jockey, the armed man and a woman at the club being shot.

The armed suspect then fled the scene in a Nissan vehicle. Police later recovered a .40 handgun in the

area, believed to be the weapon used in the shooting. The man and woman were taken to hospital.

Shortly before 7am last week Sunday, police acting on intelligence, went to a home located at Mt Pleasant Avenue, where they arrested the suspect who had been shot.

The suspect was taken to hospital, where he was detained in stable condition under heavy police guard.

Investigations continue.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

MURDER OVER LOVE TRIANGLE? from page one

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Leon Bethell said police were following a number of leads and had spoken to many people as they try to piece together evidence to bring the case to a close.

Police said the victim was found shortly after 8am on Friday in her apartment by other tenants of a complex on Read Sea Road, off Sumner Street, suffering from a single wound to the body. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sources described the wound as a slit to the victim’s throat.

Neighbours were said to have heard screaming from her apartment and it is believed to have led to the discovery of her body, sources said.

SUSPECT SHOT

BY POLICE LAST YEAR DIES IN HOSPITAL AN armed robbery suspect who was shot by police last year died in hospital on Saturday.

Police said they shot the man during an exchange of gunfire a short while after he allegedly committed an armed robbery on Sunday, August 16, 2015.

This encounter resulted in two other suspects being shot and killed by police.

All three of them were shot after leading police on a high-speed chase in a vehicle taken during an armed robbery.

Two illegal handguns were recovered from the suspects during the incident, police said.

Investigations continue.

Yesterday, a relative of the victim said he remained shocked and heartbroken as he questioned how her 16-year-old son and tenyear-old daughter would cope with the sudden loss.

She was three months pregnant at the time of her death, the relative confirmed.

“We are very shocked and hurt by this,” the relative said. “She was loving and caring and this was very unexpected. She will be missed.”

As news spread of her death, condolences and

feelings of disbelief poured in on the victim’s Facebook page.

“Mrs Bowen I could remember when I first walked in your class you said that I’m a gorgeous girl,” one Facebook user wrote. “I said thank you (and) she started her class. She was the most funniest and coolest teacher I could of ever had.

You always used to make me smile and you loved to dance. Sometimes when I was on lunch I used to come in your class and bother you. Now that you’re gone I don’t have no teacher to

bother with. Please come back Mrs Bowen (sic).”

Another Facebook user said: “I just text her to call, please someone tell me this is not true.”

On Friday the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in a statement released just hours after the discovery by police, said school was dismissed early and urged parents to immediately collect students from the school “due to the untimely death of a teacher.”

She had taught at C W Saunders School from 2014.

PAGE 4, Monday, September 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

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Election hacks raise fears of Russian influence WASHINGTON (AP) — Recent hacks of election data systems in at least two states have raised fear among lawmakers and intelligence officials that a foreign government is trying to seed doubt about — or even manipulate — the presidential race, renewing debate over when cyberattacks cross red lines and warrant a US response.

Federal officials already are investigating cyberattacks at the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, believed to be the work of hackers tied to the Russian government. Trolling a private organisation’s emails is one thing, cyberexperts say, but breaching state election systems to undermine the integrity of the November ballot would be quite another.

“The mere access to those systems is incredibly concerning to me,” said Sean Kanuck, former national intelligence officer for cyber issues at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. “I think that the manipulation of election data or voting systems would warrant a national security response.”

No one has yet confirmed that data was actually manipulated. Law enforcement and intelligence officials are investigating the election-related breaches, but also are looking at the extent to which Russia could be involved in a disinformation campaign to diminish US clout worldwide. Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow wasn’t involved in the hacking of emails of the Democratic Party.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said last week he thinks it’s unlikely that Russia is trying to influence the election. “I think maybe the Democrats are putting that out,” he said on RT America, the US partner of Kremlinbacked network Russia Today.

But Defense Secretary Ash Carter issued a public warning to Moscow last week while in Europe. “We will not ignore attempts to interfere with our democratic processes,” Carter said. Asked later to elaborate, Carter said he was referring to Russia’s use of hybrid warfare — “interference in the internal affairs of nations, short of war” — which he said is a concern across Europe.

Late last month, the FBI sent a “flash alert” to warn state officials to strengthen their election systems in light of evidence that hackers targeted data systems in two states. The FBI described a “compromise” of one elections board website and “attempted intrusion activities” in another state’s system. The FBI didn’t name the states, but state election websites in Illinois and Arizona experienced hack-related shutdowns in the parts of the websites that handle online voter registration.

Manipulating an election in the United States would be difficult, officials say, because there are thousands of electoral jurisdictions across the 50 states.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Thursday that the election system is “so decentralised, so vast ... it would very difficult to alter the count”.

FBI Director James Comey agrees.

“The vote counting in this country tends to be kind of clunky,” which is a blessing because it makes harder for hackers to infiltrate, Comey said. “It makes it more resilient and farther away from an

actor who might be looking to crawl down a fiber-optic cable, and find there actually is no fiber optic cable — that it’s actually some woman named Sally and a guy named Joe and they roll the thing (voting machine) over and pull out the punch cards,” Comey said.

Such reassurances have not eased concern on Capitol Hill, yet reaction has been mixed.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada was “deeply shaken” after a half-hour briefing about Russian activities that he received at the FBI office in Las Vegas, according to an individual familiar with the briefing. The individual was not authorised to publicly discuss the briefing and spoke only on condition of anonymity.

An aide to another senator, who also was briefed, said what gave the lawmaker “pause” was that Russia might be meddling in the United States in the same way it has in Eastern Europe where it has a history of using cyberattacks to facilitate their political objectives.

Sen Ron Wyden, D-Ore, member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said there is bipartisan concern about the “Russian government engaging in covert influence activities.” He said a section of this year’s intelligence authorisation bill directs the president to set up an interagency committee to ‘counter active measures by Russia to exert covert influence over peoples and governments’.”

Rep Devin Nunes, R-Calif, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said, however, that he’s not surprised by the hacks.

“I just think people have been asleep,” he said. “This is the challenge of going to digital records, digital voting. This is why it’s imperative to keep paper voting.”

How the US should respond to cyberattacks is the subject of much debate.

John Carlin, assistant attorney general for national security at the Justice Department, described a three-pronged approach: figure out who’s responsible, don’t be afraid to take it public and routinely impose consequences.

Andrew McCabe, deputy director of the FBI, said each one of those steps presents challenges. “In terms of options for action, they are limited — very understandably sometimes — by international policy constraints, diplomatic challenges and the concern about the impact on partners and relationship with partners.”

California Rep Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said each cyberattack will require a different US response. In some cases, it could begin with “naming and shaming” responsible parties, he said.

Other cases call for economic or other sanctions. When it comes to cyberattacks

by North Korea, perhaps the US should consider dropping public leaflets aimed at denouncing the repressive North Korean government, he said.

“I think the failure to act, the failure to establish any deterrent, the failure to even name responsible parties — particularly in the case of Russia — only invites further exploitation, further attacks and further effort to disrupt our elections,” Schiff said.

By Deb Riechmann, Associated Press

Order prevails EDITOR, The Tribune.

OPEN LETTER TO ALFRED SEARS,QC Dear Alfred, I trust that all is well with you and your immediate family.

I note that you will be challenging for the leadership position of the Progressive Liberal Party at the anticipated National Convention. I have already informed both you and the public that I will support your re-election to Fort Charlotte at the next general elections. This has not

changed, at this juncture.

You are also aware of my very public stance as it relates to “‘Brave’” and the succession. This, at this juncture, has also not changed. Whenever the PM decides to step aside or an act of God intervenes, initially, I will push for his ascendancy. If you wish, and I so advise for what it might be worth, you offer to serve as Deputy for a short period. Your day would then be at hand.

I will not support either Brave or yourself, with all due respect, in any on the

floor Don Quixote styled challenge to Christie. At all costs, order and decency must prevail within our party if we are to retain the government in 2017.

It is to be conceded that the party has seemingly intractable issues you deal with but the PLP, traditionally, has always risen to the occasion. This time around will be, God willing, no different. I beg to remain, Your brother in the struggle, ORTLAND H. BODIE JR. September 9, 2016.

Baha Mar settlement committee EDITOR, The Tribune.

EXIM China, the loaner in this commercial private transaction is settling debts which the party they loaned moneys to created, namely BMD Holdings aka Baha Mar Ltd. China State Engineering, America are the General Contractor to the developer, BMD Holdings aka Baha Mar Ltd… Sense indicates therefore that the choice of the Receiver, Deloitte would represent EXIM should Chair the Committee - I honestly do not see any reason for Government to be there; this is a private commercial issue plus Government is a debtor and a creditor.

Others at the table - there was a Mr Rahming engaged

by Government to oversee the project an Independent

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Quantity Surveyor with experience of projects of this complicity - a neutral party probably a retired Justice.

We are dealing with parties who were contracted with BMD Holdings aka Baha Mar Ltd.....not China State Engineering so there is no reason for their presentation they were not the contracting party. BMD Holdings aka Baha Ma Ltd, Sarkis Izmirlian have zero interest in the property so they have no reason to be around the table.

So...Receiver, Raymond Winder - Chairman representing EXIM Mr Rahming, Engineer An international Quantity Surveyor

A retired Judge of the Courts of The Bahamas.

Those who were contracted by the General Contractor - China State Engineering, America need urgently to seek legal advice as you seem not to be covered in any manner by this Settlement Agreement unless EXIM and CSA have an agreement and will settle appropriately with them and then CSA would settle with their subcontractors, the larger Bahamian claims ..... $millions.

It has to be noted that the US Demolition Co have CSA in Court in NY and that’s not getting too far too fast as CSA indicates they do not have access to their computers.

W THOMPSON Nassau, September 8, 2016.

A foolish plan EDITOR, The Tribune.

Re: Employers Could Face Jail if They Fail to Inform Govt of Job Cuts I invite the Department of Labour to identify any country that has enacted such asinine legislation as floated in your publication under the above captioned headline.

What entity in their right mind would invest in a country with this type of dictatorial climate?

The suggestion becomes even more absurd when you consider that everything the government has touched has been a financial disaster.

If Bahamian tax pay-

ers knew what they have forked out over the years in mismanaged, ill-conceived projects – from hotel ownership to the Hatchet Bay farm, BARTAD, Bahamasair, ZNS, BAMSI, BOB, Carnival and everything in between, they would be absolutely stunned.

And let’s not forget the Baha Mar debacle, the estimated $70-plus million owed to Bahamian contractors and the role government interference has played on the whole sad story.

Not one government investment has turned a net profit, but generations of Bahamians have been sad-

dled with the massive resulting debt and heavy taxation. BEC is on the brink of collapse, according to the union leader.

The government has done nothing to deal with the billions of dollars in unfunded public sector pension liabilities and the IMF says this has put the country at “a significant fiscal risk.”

And the Department of Labour thinks the government is qualified to tell private investors how to run their business?

How utterly ludicrous!

M. JOHNSON Nassau, September 9, 2016.

Stupidity at BPL BEC/BPL - RENTAL GENERATOR SITE EDITOR, The Tribune.

Re: ‘Ball dropped’ over preparing site for rental generators – The Tribune, September 8, 2016.

MEMO

to

BPL/BEC:

now that the generators have arrived and consideration is finally being given to preparing the installation site, it might be a good idea to ensure that adequate fuel will be available to actually operate the generators continuously - at least for a week or two.

Furthermore, the imbecile ultimately responsible for this site absurdity has obviously reached the appropriate level of incompetence necessary for promotion.

KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau, September 8, 2016.

BAHA MAR CLAIMS: NO GUARANTEE ON PAYMENTS

THE TRIBUNE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Claims Committee responsible for administrating pay outs to former employees and creditors of Baha Mar updated its website on Friday with additional information about the claims process, including a warning that not every creditor is guaranteed to be paid.

In the updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of the website, claimsspv.net, the committee states: “There

is no assurance that you will receive any payment at all.

“No creditor has any legal entitlement to the funds being administered by the committee. However, the committee has been formed to review claims and offer payments for valid claims at the committee’s absolute discretion. Priority will be given to Bahamian creditors on the basis that the fund has been provided in consideration for concessions and consents from the government which must benefit the Bahamian people.”

James Smith, the former state minister for finance who heads the Claims Committee, said these statements are made to emphasise that pay outs are being made on an ex gratia basis, meaning outside any formal court-supervised liquidation process because the money is a gift from the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM).

The statement is also being made to emphasise that regardless of what one is owed, the amount of money legitimate creditors receive will be determined at the discretion of

the Claims Committee, he explained.

“If you tell me you’re owed $20 and I only get $10 left to give out, then you can’t get the $20,” Mr Smith said in a recent interview.

“If you’re not satisfied with that there’s no recourse for you via this pay out process. You’d have to seek remedy by some other means.”

As for the reference to “concessions and consents from the government,” Mr Smith said he could not elaborate since the details are likely to be contained in the heads of agreement

POLICE SEARCH FOR MOTHER OF ABANDONED BABY BOY from page one

According to police, the infant was found shortly after 7am on Friday by a “good Samaritan” in bushes off Carmichael Road. Area residents reportedly discovered the abandoned baby after they said they heard crying all night through the rain.

Police Superintendent Matthew Edgecombe, the officer-in-charge of the southwestern division, said officers responded to the scene through a dirt road off Golden Isles Road.

Upon their arrival they reportedly saw and spoke to a gentleman, who at the

time was holding a newborn baby wrapped up in a towel in his hands. The baby, who police said was in good health at the time of its discovery, was subsequently taken to hospital.

Since then, however, police have been soliciting the public’s help in finding the child’s mother.

“We don’t have any information regarding anyone surfacing,” Chief Supt Strachan said yesterday. “The baby, last (time we) checked at the hospital, is listed in very good condition, but we do not have anyone currently.

“We do, however, still appeal to anybody with any information regarding

the mother, who definitely needs medical care, or even if she is listening, to avail herself of an opportunity for some assistance.”

He added: “There is a clinic in the area, there is the southwestern police station in the area, and then there’s here at the Central Detective Unit. We really would like to see her and see if we can bring some understanding to this particular ordeal.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

Monday, September 12, 2016, PAGE 5

negotiated by CEXIM and the Christie administration.

Last week, Mr Smith emphasised that pay outs to former employees of Baha Mar will be prioritised over payments to all others.

Former employees, more than 2,000 of them, will receive unpaid salaries, severance pay, accrued vacation pay and notice payments due to termination.

Mr Smith has also said

that creditors who are owed up to half a million dollars will likely be paid in full, whereas the amount of money paid to those owed more than that will depend on how many eligible creditors come forward with claims.

Former employees and those owed up to $500,000 account for 90 to 95 per cent of all people and creditors owed money, Mr Smith said.

PUBLIC NOTICE MR. CARDINAL MARSHALL IS ASKED TO CONTACT

325-0930 URGENTLY!

PAGE 6, Monday, September 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Pledge on air safety after flight delays over protest from page one Two morning flights were cancelled on Saturday as a result of the union’s actions, Mrs Hanna Martin said in a statement.

Yesterday, BATCU President Hinsey McKenzie said there would be no disruption in air traffic operations in the lead up to a meeting with government officials today over the union’s protest of newly implemented security protocols.

Mr McKenzie told The Tribune that air traffic controllers will show up for work as expected today, prior to the union’s meeting with Mrs Hanna Martin at 9.30am over Saturday’s pro-

test. However, Mr McKenzie said the union’s stance, as well as its actions on the matter going forward would depend on the outcome of the meeting, adding that he would likely call a press conference afterwards.

Mr McKenzie said Saturday’s events were the end result of a lack of communication with the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), the Airport Authority and the union over the new policy, which he said the relevant parties previously agreed to review and discuss for 120 days after its implementation.

Mr McKenzie explained that members were protesting the new security policy by the International Civil

Aviation Authority (ICAO) that mandates controllers undergo extensive personal searches at security checkpoints.

Before the policy, controllers were only required to show their work identification card.

Mr McKenzie explained that ICAO, a specialised United Nations agency that sets global standards in the civil aviation industry, had recently conducted an audit, and had presented the increased security measures as critical for the airport to pass the inspection.

The new policy was implemented on May 13, but Mr McKenzie said CAD, the union, as well as the Airport Authority agreed

to a 120-day review period for the relevant parties to discuss and negotiate the particulars of the policy.

“None of (the discussions) occurred between the 120 days from May 13 (when) they instituted it until September 9,” Mr McKenzie said yesterday. “Nobody did anything. We had 120 days of nothing.”

He continued: “We went into a meeting at 9am (on Saturday) with management to see if we can have some resolution but they did not comply, so I agreed with the minister that we’ll have a meeting (Monday) at 9.30. We will continue to work on the weekend until we have the meeting (Monday).”

Nonetheless, Mrs Hanna Martin, in a statement over the weekend, lamented Saturday’s “unjustified industrial action,” the likes of which she said “negatively impacted” national and international commercial air traffic to the country for up to four hours in some cases.

Mrs Hanna Martin said the screening of air traffic controllers is a “direct mandate” by ICAO, which she said had advised the government of its “imminent intent to post globally” that this specific deficiency made LPIA a “vulnerable aerodrome” as it relates to security. She also said government officials were told that it “would seriously and negatively impact the econ-

omy and reputation of the Bahamas” if not corrected.

She also said those concerns were also documented by the United States Transportation Security Administration.

As such, Mrs Hanna Martin cautioned the union to be deliberate and fair in their actions regarding this particular issue.

“I wish to assure the Bahamian people that the government will not compromise on securing LPIA in accordance with international standards and in our own national interest and I am calling on the union to be responsible and proportionate in its actions so as to not cause undue harm to the Bahamian people,” she said.

BAMSI MISSES COMPLETION DATE - AND NO WORK YET ON DORMITORY from page one

that school officials have had to “curtail” enrolment because they “did not want to expand beyond what we are reasonably able to accommodate.”

Nonetheless, the MICAL MP said classes are currently being held at the North Andros site. Mr Gray also said that while progress is being made on the site – although not as fast as officials would like – the mission of the school is underway.

“Most of the buildings have reached near completion, and the total completion of the buildings, I cannot honestly say, will be ready before the end of the month,” Mr Gray told The Tribune during a recent interview. “We thought we would have them ready for the beginning of the school

THE BLAZE in January 2015 which struck the male dormitory at BAMSI. year, but they’re not all all being the way it was ready and so we still have described to me, the buildnot yet been able to occupy ings should all be completthem for the school’s use. ed by the end of the year. I “But I have been assured will go that far. by the Ministry of Works’ “With respect with the people that they are work- burnt building, I’m advised ing assiduously to have the that a contract has been buildings completed in signed for the reconstructhe shortest possible time tion of that building. It has working with the contrac- not yet started but it should tors. So my view is, with certainly start very soon,

and that would take about six months to be completed.”

Mr Gray added: “The farm side has always been progressive without any difficulties (pertaining to) the progress there. And so when you combine the efforts of the commercial farm and the school I would say we have had a very good year last year. Of course we had graduation; everybody knows about that, and we’re looking forward to graduation next year again.”

In January, Mr Gray said BAMSI would be finished by the beginning of the next school year.

At the time, Mr Gray said “all of the kinks” associated with the controversy surrounding BAMSI’s construction and subsequent completion had been “ironed out” and that construction was to be “fastpaced to a conclusion in the

shortest possible time.”

He added that all of the other buildings at the North Andros site are “almost complete in most cases” with “one or two exceptions.”

Then in May, Mr Gray said he expected construction on all but one of the buildings at BAMSI - the burned dorm - was to be completed before the end of that month. He said at the time that the government was planning the construction of a larger building to house twice as many students at the original structure, thus excluding it from the May deadline.

The same was echoed by Dr Eneas towards the end of May, who at the time also expressed optimism in a September 2016 completion date.

BAMSI is a major government initiative established in an effort to reduce

the country’s reliance on food imports. The school opened to students in September 2014 even though the campus was not finished.

The institute held its first graduation ceremony on July 7, graduating some 23 students.

The fire-damaged dorm, which was constructed by contractor Audley Hanna of Paradigm Construction, sparked controversy when Works Minister Philip “Brave” Davis revealed that it was never insured.

Mr Davis had previously said in the House of Assembly that at the time of the fire, the contractor’s all-risk insurance policy had lapsed due to non-payment.

In July 2015, Mr Davis said the destroyed dormitory would not be repaired until all other BAMSI buildings had been completed.

ANOTHER CASE OF ZIKA VIRUS IS CONFIRMED from page one

as officials are awaiting test results from a regional lab regarding dozens of other suspected cases.

Last week, it was announced that the Ministry of Health has allocated what would be a $30 million annual budget to tackle the spread of the virus.

Dr Glen Beneby, the chief medical officer, said the government had allocated some $2.5m per month to combat Zika.

“When situations like this occur they go beyond sometimes what you would expect,” Dr Beneby said last week. “We had looked at doing upgrades to our services in the public health sector before this actually happened, and then on August 9 we got our first case.

“Once that happened we realised that we were going to have to do additional spending. We have teams in the Ministry of Health who were given the specific responsibility to review the situation, particularly in laboratory services, on the ground services and research, and they have developed the first budget.

“It (the budget) is in the region of $2.5m (a) month.

This is going to be subject to variation based on what we find. I would like to believe that we are going to be ahead of the curve, and things are going to be done in such a manner that we

HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez yesterday confirmed a new case of Zika in The Bahamas. will not need any more; indeed, we will need less, but that is optimism.”

And in an effort to educate people about the virus, Minister of Environment Kenred Dorsett, member of Parliament for Southern Shores, recently facilitated a one-day training session with the Department of Environmental Health Services for teams from Southern Shores.

Teams of 25 began canvassing the Southern Shores constituency on Saturday to locate breeding grounds of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, remove them and educate area residents on how to protect themselves from

contracting Zika.

The team consists of area male residents who were once unemployed.

Mr Dorsett said the team, over the next several weeks, will canvass the entire constituency starting with the elderly.

He said once the team gets permission from residents who want their property assessed, prevention team members will then begin “removing tyres, cleaning out yards and doing what we can to keep our community safe”.

“I believe that overcoming fears of Zika begins with us educating ourselves on the life cycle of the Aedes aegypti mosquito,” said Mr Dorsett in a press release.

“When we are familiarised with the breeding patterns we then know how best to stop the transmission of the virus from the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and our fears are alleviated,” he added.

Zika, which has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly in newborn babies, can be transmitted through sex, however it is primarily spread through mosquito bites.

Residents are urged to clear their properties of items that can collect standing water, which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

In order to avoid mosquito bites, the public is also advised to wear bug repellant and long sleeved clothing.

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR SPRING 2017

The public is advised that the deadline for submission of applications to The College of The Bahamas for Spring 2017 admission is Friday, September 30th, 2016.

For further information please contact the Office of Admissions at 302-4499 or email admissions@cob.edu.bs.

Applications may be accessed online at http://www.cob.edu.bs/Admission/Docs.php.

the stories behind the news

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

insight@tribunemedia.net

The tail wagging the dog I t’s been an interesting week watching our Government’s handling of Baha Mar blow up in their face once again.

Every time we make the unorthodox decision to put our “trust” in them, we are left holding a steaming bag of excrement.

Today marks 21 days since the Prime Minister announced to the nation that the Government had reached an historic deal that would secure the rights of all Bahamian creditors who are owed millions of dollars at Baha Mar. The Bahamian people were denied any specifics about this “deal” and learned to their horror that any documentation proving anything the Prime Minister had said was sealed in the courts at the request of both the Government of the Bahamas, and the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM).

Bahamians, knowing their Prime Minister and his propensity for cameras, dismissed his latest tale as yet another example of “Perry crying wolf”. After all, we’ve been promised so much by this Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) on Baha Mar that we have to wait for the other parties involved to say it before we believe it.

And so they did.

On Friday, CEXIM decided that they had had enough of the Government of the Bahamas’ promises and antics. They released, via their Frequently Asked Questions section on the Claims Committee’s website what was tantamount to a complete rebuttal to what the Prime Minister had announced on August 22.

Question 13 on their newly revised list shows who is really in control here. Despite the assurances and the promises from our Government, the Chinese bank, and by default the Government of China, has made it clear that no one, regardless of what the Prime Minister would have said three weeks ago, is guaranteed a red cent!

This question and answer that they freely promoted on their website read: Question: Am I guaranteed a payment?

Answer: No. There is no assurance that you will receive any payment at all. No creditor has any legal entitlement to the funds being administered by the Committee.

When we saw this we had to go back to what our Prime Minister said and compare notes. Surely, someone had us out to be a horse’s ass.

Prime Minister Christie

Questions, more questions.

Malcolm J Strachan pleads for answers from the government over the Baha Mar creditors process.

said, no longer than three weeks ago, that one of his three main objectives had been achieved, namely that this agreement he reached with CEXIM had “ensured” payment for Bahamian creditors and contractors.

So who is lying to us?

Which party should we believe?

But it gets worse.

Their answer to this most basic of questions went on to add that if you were so lucky to receive a payment on monies that you are legitimately owed, it will be dependent upon “consideration for concessions and consents by the Government”.

To put this in laymen’s terms, you will be paid some pennies when the Chinese get their hundreds of millions - if not billions - of dollars in concessions that they have demanded. Failing that, you get nothing. Take it or leave it.

In addition, their tim-

owed unsecured creditors, but rather the Chinese bank and contractors’ efforts to sweep this most major of all issues - the welfare of all Bahamians - aside to continue to promote the Chinese self-economic interest and agenda for the Bahamas.

Specifically, what the FAQs now clarify is that Bahamian unsecured creditors find themselves in a position where they are being strong armed into accepting crumbs for the good faith services, products and labor they provided to Baha Mar. They are being told that they also must give up to the Chinese and the government their ability to rightfully pursue any legitimate fair avenue to realise what they are owed.

Just think about that.

A FAQ section on a website by any definition is meant to provide information that answers questions about uncertainty regarding a particular process or issue.

3. Is there a deal to sell Baha Mar? Is the price greater than the bank’s loan? Or is the bank getting pennies on the dollar for their investment? If there truly is a deal to sell Baha Mar, these answers would be easy to provide and would give the necessary insight into whether the creditors are being fairly compensated for their claims. If the sale is for an amount that is lesser than the loan, then is this a really good deal for Bahamians?

Prime Minister Perry Christie with the rights to pursue this recovery in a fair manner.

2. If Baha Mar is truly insolvent, why isn’t this process moving into a full liquidation so that the assets of Baha Mar (including the litigation in the UK) can be monetised so that the money can be properly distributed by an independent liquidator rather than an ad hoc Chinese committee that provides no rights to creditors and forces them to take this deal or stand to lose their claim?

4. Does this committee being in existence mean that there is no interest in the property? What happened in the Deloitte bidding process?

Why is this fund being contemplated now?

5. How does the government know what the disbursement to creditors should be without monetising or at least evaluating the value of the assets?

6. Is this committee a way for the bank to forward its best interests by buying all of the

outstanding claims on the project? If they were able to find a buyer for the project, the project would be made solvent by default.

7. Why are there no creditors on the committee? Why do they receive no representation?

The real question for all Bahamians, including Baha Mar employees and unsecured creditors, is when will the government come clean on what it is really up to and what it needed to give up to our new Chinese masters in order to secure this inadequate “fund”.

Our Prime Minister has been made to look like a laughing stock for too long in this matter. It would be in his interest, his party’s interest, and more importantly, the country’s interest if they walked away from this deal before we get too deep into a hole from which we cannot escape.

The writing is already on the wall. We would be wise to correct course before we are all doomed.

• Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia. net.

“To put this in laymen’s terms, you will be paid some pennies when the Chinese get their hundreds of millions - if not billions - of dollars in concessions that they have demanded. Failing that, you get nothing. Take it or leave it.” ing to announce this little “tweak” in diplomacy occurred on a Friday - which as we all know is crisis communications 101 i.e. “wait until the weekend to break the bad news”.

Now we see why the Government is spending millions of dollars on three international public relations and image consulting firms to hoodwink us once again.

If these FAQs were really meant to answer and allay concerns of Bahamian unsecured creditors, it should only make everyone that much more doubtful and leery of the ad hoc process that the Government has either joined with the Chinese bank and contractor in perpetrating against the Bahamians or in which the government has been sadly corralled to lending its name to by the Chinese.

What the FAQs make abundantly clear is that this committee and its objectives is not to serve the monies

This FAQ list actually provides questions and answers that only raise more questions about how the Government of the Bahamas and the Chinese are trying to both fool and fleece the people of the Bahamas.

For those who have yet to read this latest version of the website for yourselves (claimsspv.net), here are the takeaways and questions.

1. The assertion that Baha Mar is insolvent completely misses the point at the heart of the matter. The bottom line is that the government sabotaged a chapter 11 process that contemplated full payment to creditors, including unsecured and Bahamian creditors. As part of all chapter 11 proceedings, unsecured creditors are given an opportunity for a recovery through the courts and are provided

YOUR

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY @JOYFMBAHAMAS WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

PAGE 2 MONDAY, September 12, 2016

Email: insight@tribunemedia.net

Goodwill gesture by Chinese is a sideshow L

ast week the Prime Minister proudly announced that he persuaded the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) to contribute about $100 million “as a goodwill gesture” payment to Baha Mar’s Bahamian creditors.

Now that the fine print is appearing underneath this sweeping promise, we can see what a tricky offer it really is, and nothing but a sideshow to the main event.

The hastily-formed, fiveperson Creditors’ Committee faces an overwhelming administrative task with

Richard Coulson explains why the $100m ‘gift’ to Bahamian creditors is doing nothing to advance Baha Mar’s revival major ambiguities in its guidelines - just take a look at the recently published Notice found at the website

www.claimsspv.net. It covers both former employees of Baha Mar (possibly up to 2,000 of them) and other

creditors who performed work or services or sold goods.

Apparently it is intended (although not stated) to pay off employees’ claims 100 per cent and divide the balance available among the other creditors, who may well number in the hundreds. However, since the Notice nowhere states exactly how much money CEXIM is providing, nor how it will be allocated since it will not cover total claims, any estimate of individual payouts can be nothing but the wildest guess.

The procedure for employees is simple: they will be automatically contacted by the Committee and paid

by September 30. But the other creditors must submit the published Claim Form, attaching invoices, work orders or other back-up documentation, plus evidence of majority Bahamian ownership. This paperwork file must be provided as hard copies or computerreadable scans and submitted by September 30. Every claim must be scrutinised by the Committee, and, if approved, then a letter sent out telling where to come to collect a cheque. The Committee “aims to complete” the payout process

by December 31.

The worst shocker found in the Notice excludes a major category of creditors: the many sub-contracting firms who naturally signed up with the prime contractor, the Chinese company known as CCA (China Construction America), rather than directly with

off-stage. $100 million sounds like a lot of money, but it’s peanuts compared to what must be sunk into the vast project to get it open and compared to the contribution it will make to our economy once it’s running. For that, CEXIM, the one secured creditor, must do a deal with an owner/operator, involving complex negotiations for a buy-out, a lease, an operating agreement and all kinds of side arrangements.

On all of this, the Creditors’ Committee is totally out of the picture; even the Bahamian liquidators have nothing much to say.

Negotiations are proceeding, intensely but privately, between CEXIM, its receivers and somebody like the Macao casino group or Albany’s Joe Lewis, with Perry Christie an interested bystander who is given scraps of information while the high-stakes poker game is played out. Legally, the final deal will have to be approved by Government and our Supreme Court, but they will have little choice but to rubber-stamp whatever final solution has been agreed and laid before them.

At present the Baha Mar property held by CEXIM as first mortgagee is not an asset, it’s a liability, costing millions to maintain, with no incoming revenue. It will only become an asset when some party buys and starts to operate it. That’s the event that will truly benefit our country, far more than the paltry $100 million being paid out now.

Of course, we have been

“stay” order, all creditors are held at bay until the reorganisation is complete.

Instead of that orderly procedure, which US bankruptcy courts have handled hundreds of times, we see CEXIM and its receivers still struggling after 15 months to find a buyer, while a hastily-crafted payout scheme to some (not all) categories of creditors is rushed into action by a well-meaning but inexperienced ad hoc Committee.

Of course, the Prime Minister was on the horns of a dilemma. Faced on one side by a feeble economy, a Moody’s downgrade threat and looming elections, and on the other side by the continuing inability of CEXIM to close a deal, he had to do something to sweeten the electorate.

The only method at hand was to squeeze CEXIM out of $100 million that he could publicise as a gift to Bahamians (some of them).

We can rejoice in the happiness of those Bahamians who will receive a payout, even if only partial. But it’s purely a stop-gap, doing nothing to advance the essential revival of Baha Mar. Mr Christie’s dilemma was real, but he has only himself to blame for landing in it. Fifteen months ago, in a fit of irrational pique against Sarkis Izmirlian, he accepted the bad advice of his Attorney-General to brush off Chapter 11 in favour of the “speedy and efficient” local procedures that had never been burdened with a collapse of this magnitude and

“Of course, the Prime Minister was on the horns of a dilemma. The only method at hand was to squeeze the Export-Import Bank of China out of $100 million that he could publicise as a gift to Bahamians (some of them). We can rejoice in the happiness of those Bahamians who will receive a payout, even if only partial. But it’s purely a stop-gap.”

Baha Mar. They now discover that they will get nothing from the Creditors’ Committee, since CCA is said to be a solvent company capable of settling its own debts. But CCA is notorious for its wrangling and slow pay tactics against any legitimate claim, so the only recourse, as suggested by builder/developer Steve Wrinkle, may be consolidated litigation.

Far from making a “goodwill gesture”, CEXIM will simply be purchasing creditors’ claims which will be assigned and added to the $2.5 billion loan that CEXIM expects to recoup when Baha Mar is eventually sold.

Distribution of the (maybe) $100 million gets all the publicity but is only a sideshow to the main event that is still hidden

given no clue when that event might occur.

The split between the Creditors’ Committee and the crucial sale negotiations illustrates the peculiar and dilatory way the entire rescue of Baha Mar has been handled, compared to what would have happened under a Chapter 11 process started nearly 15 months ago. Any Chapter 11 case pursues as its first objective a “plan of reorganisation” to try to keep the bankrupt property in operation by the debtor in possession, or to undertake an immediate search for a new buyer/operator. Any idea of “liquidation” of a hotel project is a nonstarter, since distributing the physical plant among CEXIM and all the junior creditors is a practical impossibility. Under the usual

complexity - and have now proven their impotence.

We must now extend sympathy and best wishes to Creditors’ Committee Chairman James Smith, the good soldier who was staggered by the task thrown at him without warning and who will loyally do his best. If not every payment is made on time, it will not be his fault, but can be laid at the door of the Prime Minister making rash, abrupt promises to escape the consequences of his own errors.

• Richard Coulson is a retired lawyer and investment banker born in Nassau and from a long line of Bahamians. He is a financial consultant and author of A Corkscrew Life - adventures of a travelling financier.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 12, 2016, PAGE 9

The fight for a big bite of Apple’s taxes O

World View

VER the last few weeks, a trans-Atlantic war of words has been going on between the US Treasury and the European Union Commission (EC) over what amounts to ‘harmful tax By SIR RONALD SANDERS competition’.

That’s the infamous phrase coined in the Or- employment and setbacks US company from being taxed unjustly by the EU ganisation for Economic to their economies.

Against this background, since it went into IreCo-operation and Development (OECD) when, the spectacle of the EU land on the basis of a in the late 1990s, over 30 fighting with one of its mem- declared tax structure administration. small states, including ber states, Ireland, over tax and ones in the Caribbean, competition and then the The US government were targeted as ‘tax ha- US weighing-in to protect has warned the EU that vens’. The argument then its own tax revenues, is an any attempt to collect development alleged unpaid back was that countries with low interesting or no tax regimes, in which in the saga of ‘harmful tax taxes not only from Apple but also from two European Union (EU) and competition’.

The cause of it all is that other US companies, US companies operated, were depriving the EU and ubiquitous company, Ap- Starbucks and Amazon, the US of taxes on those ple, whose products adorn would be overstepping its hip pockets and handbags, powers, making it ‘a sucompanies.

Before it was absolutely office desks, home stud- pranational tax authority’. rejected - particularly by ies and even bedrooms in his last statement the George W Bush ad- many parts of the world. To is especially interministration in the US - the minimise its tax payments, esting given that OECD, urged on by its EU Apple established its Euromembers, wanted to set tax pean operations in Ireland, the US has long applied rates globally so as to avoid a member state of the EU, extra-territorial laws in tax competition. Amaz- for several good reasons, pursuit of its own interests, ingly, competition in other principally a low corpo- and its 2010 Federal law, areas where they enjoyed rate tax rate of 12.5 per the Foreign Account Tax cent. How- Compliance Act (FATCA), advantages ever, the enforces the requirement over devel- ‘If the European EU, where for United States persons oping counthe average - including those living outtries was Union proceeds tax rate is side the US - to file yearly promoted, to demand US$19 22 per cent, reports on their non-US but in finan- billion in alleged has been in- financial accounts to the cial services, vestigating Financial Crimes Enforcewhere small unpaid taxes from whether Ap- ment Network. Governcountries Apple, the US share ple’s tax ar- ments are required to sign were beginof taxes from the rangements an Inter-Governmental ning to make with Ire- Agreement with the US to a mark, com- company would land, which make FATCA operational petition was be considerably allowed the or the financial institutions rejected. diminished - if there company in their countries will suffer Small to pay very significant financial reperis any tax left to countries, little tax cussions. around the collect at all.’ on income The US Treasury inworld, had earned tervention, although it is to comply Europe, couched in language that with the OECD’s tax guide- throughout lines, including automatic amounts to state aid. The calls for the preservation provision of tax informa- Irish government denies of certainty and clarity in tion of US and EU compa- that allegation, saying that tax administration from nies and persons, or face its tax structure applies to the EU, really goes beyond sanctions. Those sanctions everyone and is law in Ire- that. It is really concerned with collecting taxes from started with the black-list- land.

This has set-up a major companies, such as Aping of countries described as “unco-operative” but confrontation within the ple and others, that are rethey extended to the threat EU. The first dispute will quired to pay their taxes in of cutting off banking rela- be whether tax competi- the US. While under doutions - something that is be- tion is allowed between ing witnessed now with the members of the EU or so-called ‘de-risking’, a pro- whether they are obliged cess by which US and EU to adhere to a harmonised banks have been withdraw- tax structure. The secing essential correspond- ond argument will centre ent banking relations from on who is the offender if banks in several regions of the rate applied to Apple the world, particularly the amounts to state aid. Was it Apple or the Irish governCaribbean.

Since the late 1990s, ment? Therefore, who has when the OECD intro- to pay the US$19 billion in duced its concept of ‘harm- unpaid taxes that the EU ful tax competition’ and claims is due? Not Apple, created rules that the devel- according to its Chief Exoping world was forced to ecutive Officer, Tim Cook. adopt, the financial services He calls the EU investigasector of the Caribbean, es- tion “political crap”. And, pecially the offshore sector, not the government of has struggled to survive. Ireland, which says it has The offshore sector col- done nothing wrong.

Into this minefield steps lapsed completely in some countries and declined con- the US government in the siderably in others, result- form of the US Treasury, ing in loss of revenues and ostensibly to prevent a

T

TO ADVERTISE IN THE TRIBUNE, CONTACT 502-2394

ble-taxation agreements, companies can offset US taxes against taxes paid in an EU country, if the EU proceeds to demand US$19 billion in alleged unpaid taxes from Apple, the US share of taxes from the company would be considerably diminished - if there is any tax left to collect at all.

So, in the end, this confrontation between two allies in the tax campaigns against everyone else boils down to money. Essentially, to whether the US or the EU gets the bulk of the taxes.

And, then there is another consideration: a US Treasury White Paper says that the EU’s demand for retroactive tax payments “sets an undesirable precedent that could lead other tax authorities, particularly those in developing countries, to seek large and punitive retroactive recoveries from both US and EU companies”. And, of course, that must never be allowed to happen.

In any event, a battle seems to be set up between the EU and US on harmful tax competition. Dwarves have been forced to capitu-

late in similar fights; it will be interesting to see how the giants fare against each other.

Sir Ronald Sanders is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.

The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders. com.

PAGE 10, Monday, September 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Obama on 9/11: Extremists will never defeat the US PRESIDENT Barack Obama marked the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks yesterday by calling on Americans to embrace the nation’s character as a people drawn from every corner of the world, from every religion and from every background. He said extremist groups will never be able to defeat the United States.

Mr Obama spoke to hundreds of service members and relatives and survivors of the attack that occurred at the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Defence Department’s headquarters, killing 184 people. The youngest victim was only three. In all, about 3,000 people lost their lives that day as a result of the planes that crashed into New York City’s World Trade Center and in a Pennsylvania field.

The president said extremist organisations such as the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda know they can never drive down the US so they focus on trying to instill fear in hopes of getting Americans to change how they live.

“We know that our diversity, our patchwork heritage is not a weakness, it is still and always will be one of our greatest strengths,” Mr Obama said. “This is the America that was attacked that September morning.

This is the America that we must remain true to.”

He spoke on warm, mostly sunny morning, noting that the threat that became so evident on September 11 has evolved greatly over the past 15 years. Terrorists, he said, often attempt strikes on a smaller, but still deadly scale. He specifically cited attacks in Boston, San Bernardino and Orlando as examples. In the end, he said, the enduring memorial to those who lost their lives that day is ensuring “that we stay true to ourselves, that we stay true to what’s best in us, that we do not let others divide us ... How we conduct ourselves as individuals and as a nation, we have the opportunity each and every day to live up to the sacrifice of those heroes that we lost.”

Mr Obama’s comments also came in the heat of a presidential election in which voters will weigh which candidate would best keep America safe.

Republican nominee Donald Trump said he would suspend Muslim immigration into the United States, a policy he later amended by saying he would temporarily ban immigration from “areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we fully understand how to end these threats.” Mr Obama’s speech yesterday reinforced themes he has emphasised in recent months when he

THIS WEEK IN The Tribune Today • Business - more questions for the government over concessions and payments in the secret Baha Mar deal. Neil Hartnell reports.

• Sports - home is the hero: Steven Gardiner returns from the Olympics in Rio to Moore’s Island, where it all started for him.

• Plus the latest properties for sale and rent in the Home Buyers’ Guide.

Tuesday • Woman and Health weekly advice on taking care of your mind and body and women making waves in The Bahamas.

• Plus comment from Nicole Burrows and sporting mischief and mayhem with Inigo “Naughty” Zenicazelaya.

Wednesday • Tribune Tech - a weekly look at what’s new in the world of technology.

• Plus Larry Smith’s forthright Tough Call column.

Thursday • Obituaries and Reli-

gion, a weekly review.

• Young Man’s View trenchant opinion from Adrian Gibson on the hot topics in the country.

• ‘On da Hook’, a weekly look at fishing in The Bahamas.

Friday • Weekend - a 28-page section devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness, history and interviews.

• Sports - The Finish Line, a look at the local sports scene, by Brent Stubbs.

• Plus A Comic’s View - Naughty’s unique take on the week in The Bahamas.

Saturday • The Tribune’s Top 5: a special video review of the week’s top stories by Khrisna Virgil on www. tribune242.com.

Every day in The Tribune, news, business, sports, weather and Classifieds Trader.

Plus breaking news and updates on your mobilefriendly tribune242.com.

PRESIDENT Barack Obama bows his head for a moment of silence before delivering remarks at the September 11 memorial observance ceremony at the Pentagon yesterday. has described Trump’s pro- seem like yesterday. He gration announced yester- West changed dramatically posals on Muslim immigra- said he has been inspired by day it was taking the oppor- after that. tion as “not the America we their efforts to start schol- tunity to recall those who “The Bahamas stands arship programs and un- lost their lives tragically firm in its resolve to fight want”.

Behind the president, dertake volunteer work in during the attacks. this evil in all its forms and “This date continues manifestations, and exa US flag stretching some their communities. “In your three stories tall hung on grief and grace, you have to be a sombre occasion presses the hope that this the section of the Pentagon reminded us that, together, for the global community, solemn observance should that was struck on Septem- there’s nothing we Ameri- and especially for those serve as a reminder to all ber 11. The president said cans cannot overcome,” Mr who lost loved ones or persons to be vigilant and were otherwise affected,” committed to the fight for 15 years may seem like a Obama said.

The Bahamas Ministry of a Ministry statement read. peace, democracy and relong time, but he imagined that for the families, it can Foreign Affairs and Immi- “Our way of life in the spect for humanity.”

WOMAN KISSING SAILOR IN ICONIC PHOTO DIES, AGED 92 THE WOMAN in an iconic photo shown kissing an ecstatic sailor in New York’s Times Square celebrating the end of World War II has died.

Greta Zimmer Friedman, who was 92, fled Austria during the war as a 15-yearold and died on Thursday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, from complications of old age, her son, Joshua Friedman, said.

She was a 21-year-old dental assistant in a nurse’s uniform when she became part of one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century.

On August 14, 1945, known as V-J Day, the day Japan surrendered to the United States, people spilled into the New York City streets from restaurants, bars and movie theatres, celebrating the news. That’s when George Mendonsa spotted Friedman, spun her around and planted a kiss. The two had never met. In fact, Mendonsa was on a date with an actual nurse, Rita Petry,

The College of The Bahamas Alumni Society 2016 Annual General Meeting Graduates of The College of The Bahamas your involvement and participation matters so plan to attend!

• Election of Alumni Society Directors • Find out information on the new Alumni Association • President Rodney D. Smith to share updates on the college to university transition.

Tuesday, September 27th, 2016 6:30 p.m.

The College of The Bahamas Oakes Field Campus Harry C. Moore Library & Information Centre, Auditorium Support your Alma Mater!

To read the Alumni Society Charter, visit:

http://www.cob.edu.bs/DOCS/UBALUMNIASSOCIATIONCHARTER.pdf.

For more information on the meeting or becoming a candidate for office, call 302-4303 or email: elvardo.thompson@cob.edu.bs

IN this 1945 photo provided by the US Navy, a sailor and a nurse kiss passionately in Manhattan’s Times Square, as New York City celebrates the end of World War II. The woman, Greta Zimmer Friedman, who was kissed in Times Square II has died at the age of 92. who would later become his wife.

The photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt is called “V-J Day in Times Square” but is known to most simply as “The Kiss”. Mendonsa said that in some photos of the scene, Petry could be seen smiling in the background.

Another image from a different angle was taken

by US Navy photographer Victor Jorgensen but it was Eisenstaedt’s photo that became seared in people’s minds. His photo was first

published in Life magazine, buried deep within its pages. Over the years, the photo gained recognition and several people claimed to be the kissing couple.

In an August 1980 issue of Life, 11 men and three women said they were the subjects. It was years before Mendonsa and Friedman were confirmed to be the couple.

Joshua Friedman said his mother recalled the events happening in an instant. “It wasn’t that much of a kiss,”

Friedman said in an interview with the Veterans History Project in 2005. “It was just somebody celebrating.

It wasn’t a romantic event.”

Both of Friedman’s parents died in the Holocaust, according to Lawrence Verria, co-author of “The Kissing Sailor: The Mystery Behind the Photo that Ended World War II”.

Friedman will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, next to her late husband, Dr Misha Friedman.

Associated Press

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 12, 2016, PAGE 7

EDUCATOR BEVERLY WALLACE-WHITFIELD BOUND AND ROBBED

PM declares ‘a new paradigm’ for Freeport

“I think it was around 12.50am (when she came),” the resident, who requested anonymity, said. “I heard the doorbell ringing and I kind of thought I was dreaming or was that the doorbell ringing.

“She then started banging on my window and then my dogs immediately began barking so that got me up and I looked through the window and I could see her standing there. I asked if she was okay and she said ‘No, no, no, I have been robbed they have taken everything.’

“So I ran to my front door, but another unfortunate thing happened - I had to think about first was she alone (or) were they holding her hostage? So I looked quickly and I could see no one. I then took a chance, opened the door quickly and pulled her in and that was I say at around 10 minutes to 1am,” the neighbour said.

“She had blood…they had tied something around her mouth and she was still holding it because there was blood coming out of her mouth, they had obviously been pulling her mouth.

She was shaken up, but she was a strong lady throughout the ordeal.”

PRIME Minister Perry Christie told Grand Bahamians that they will soon witness “a new paradigm in the operation of Freeport”.

He noted, during a recent visit to the island, that he and several Cabinet ministers went to London recently and met with investors who have major multi-billion dollar investments in Grand Bahama.

“We wanted to continue now with the process that we initiated through Parliament in changing the face of how Freeport is operated,” he said.

“We are about ready, the investors of Hutchison Whampoa, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), the Container Port, the Port Group of Companies and the St George and Hayward families all must be ready to move to a new paradigm in the operation of Freeport, and you will see that happen before your very eyes…. the betterment of Grand Bahama and yourselves in what is going to take place.”

Mr Christie was speaking

from page one

When this newspaper canvased the area yesterday, multiple residents said the incident placed a blemish on the otherwise safe and peaceful community.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be identified said: “It is an unfortunate situation and I can’t imagine going through what she went through especially someone her age. She is an amazingly strong woman.

She is brave to walk out of that. While she made it out, it still gives you a horrible feeling because we all love this neighbourhood.”

“All the neighbours watch out for everyone so I have always felt safe here, but when things like this happen it throws you for a loop. It saddens me really because we live in such a beautiful country. The neighbourhood is so lovely.

We still have children playing in the streets and people that care for each other. So something like that throws you for a curve ball,” another nearby resident said.

Police said while investigations are continuing, members of the public are urged to come forward with any information they might have to assist with this case.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

PM LEADS TRIBUTES TO EDUCATOR AND PIONEER PRIME Minister Perry Christie last night led the tributes to Juliet Barnwell, the first Bahamian Secretary to the Governor General, who has died.

Mr Christie said Mrs Barnwell was “a brilliant educator” who taught several generations of Bahamians. She served in senior professional positions in the Ministry of Education, where she continued in her pursuits to improve the standards of education in The Bahamas.

“She became a senior public administrator and had the distinction of serving as the first Bahamian Secretary to the Governor General,” Mr Christie said. “She displayed much tact and efficiency in this role and set a standard for others to follow. She went on to serve in other senior administrative positions in the public service until her retirement.” He added she had been an early pioneer in the Co-operatives movement in The Bahamas.

Mrs Barnwell was the scion of a very distinguished Bahamian family, whose parents, the late Dr Claudius Walker and Mrs Mable Walker were distinguished in their own rights, Mr Christie said. Dr Walker was noted for his

involvement in the field of medicine and community development and for having served as a member of the House of Assembly.

Mrs Walker, born in the United States, made The Bahamas her home where she became an outstanding educator and a trades union activist. “Both of Mrs Barnwell’s parents have been recognised through the naming of public institutions in their honour.”

On retirement, Mrs Barnwell threw her energies into community and other work and was a part of several non-governmental as well as public boards and committees. Her last such appointment was to have been appointed as Chairman of the National Council for Older Persons.

“Mrs Barnwell was very much involved in the promotion of the legacy of Over the Hill and the Grants Town Community from which she came,” Mr Christie said. “She took great pride as head of the Hospitality Committee of Christ Church Cathedral where she worshipped.

All told, Mrs Juliet Barnwell was a woman of many stripes and her entire life’s work was focused on the upliftment of her beloved Bahamian people.”

US COAST GUARD ENDS SEARCH FOR LOST CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER THE US Coast Guard ended its search on Friday for a New York woman who went overboard while on a cruise in The Bahamas.

Coast Guard ships and air crews spent 43 hours searching nearly 3,000 square miles of ocean southwest of Grand Bahama. Captain Todd Coggeshall said on Friday that they did not find any trace of the woman and had to make the difficult decision

to suspend the search.

Authorities said 32-yearold Rina Patel of Interlaken, New York, went overboard from the 11th deck of the Carnival Ecstasy early on Wednesday as the ship passed near Grand Bahama. Carnival Cruise Line reported that she apparently jumped overboard.

The cruise ship had left Nassau and was heading to Charleston, South Carolina, at the time.

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie at the ground breaking ceremony school in Holmes Rock, Grand Bahama. at the contract signing and When the UBP government ground breaking ceremony created a series of agreements for the new $12m junior high known as the HCA 61 years school in Holmes Rock, West ago…when we had the opporGrand Bahama on Thursday. tunity we examined carefully In May, the government what Freeport is all about, and extended the expiring tax we made a decision to change concessions in the Hawks- it for the better,” he said. bill Creek Agreement He also said the Free(HCA) for additional term port’s airport is starved of of 20 years. But there are private jets. certain stipulations to the “When you land at the agreement that the govern- airport in Freeport it is diffiment feels will help stimu- cult to even see a private jet. late the Freeport economy.

I land in New Providence Mr Christie said the deci- and you see jets there; you sion it made concerning the go to Abaco you see them HCA was in the best inter- there, in North Eleuthera est of Bahamians. and we even see them in “We knew we had to an- Exuma; why not Grand Baswer the question for future hama, why not in Freeport generations of Bahamians. in the second city; where is

last week for a new junior high the impetus for the economy of Grand Bahama?”

Freeport’s economy has been stagnant, with government expenditure exceeding revenue. The Christie administration has sought to establish a new system “to replace and modernise the current framework for tax concessions in Freeport.”

Among this, real property tax would be payable on undeveloped land held by non-Bahamians owning more than five acres.

A memorandum of understanding was also established with the Grand Bahama Port Authority to expand the economy of Freeport.

PAGE 8, Monday, September 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

MINISTER of Environment Kenred Dorsett at the crime forum in Southern Shores.

Forum held for residents to discuss crime issues MINISTER of Environment Kenred Dorsett, member of Parliament for Southern Shores, hosted a crime forum on Thursday in his constituency to address the concerns of area residents.

The forum took place at the Southern Shores Leadership Institute, Carmichael Road west.

Earlier on Thursday there was a shooting on Montgomery Avenue off Carmichael Road and recently there was a shooting in the Miller’s Heights community that left one man in hospital.

Both are Southern Shores neighbourhoods.

“Without safety in our communities, there can be no serenity in our commu-

nities,” Mr Dorsett told the crowd of residents.

He invited Assistant Superintendent Kenred Neely, second-in-charge of the Carmichael Road Police Station, and Assistant Superintendent Virgiles Cenatus, coordinator of Pinewood Urban Renewal, to address residents.

ASP Neely gave a number of tips to residents to avoid being victims of crime.

He added that while the Carmichael Division is the largest on the island, uniformed officers and police reserves have made a considerable dent in crime.

ASP Cenatus also stressed the importance of working together to create crime free neighbourhoods in Southern Shores.

“Urban Renewal is willing to work with each and every one of you in bringing peace to your street,” he said.

ASP Cenatus said: “We will come back here and fix this (crime) for you and I can almost guarantee that 100 per cent.”

During the question and answer period, residents collectively said that their most worrisome issue was extremely slow police response times to crime calls.

The Southern Shores Leadership Institute was formed by Mr Dorsett to promote area businesses, provide advisory services and facilitate important forums on issues that matter to Southern Shores residents.

A RESIDENT gives his view during the Southern Shores crime forum.

73 HAITIAN MIGRANTS DETAINED

THREE HURT IN SHOOTING, STABBING

A GROUP of undocumented Haitian migrants were picked up by Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers near Hope Town, Abaco.

According to the RBDF, a total of 73 migrants - 58

POLICE are investigating separate shooting and stabbing incidents that occurred on the weekend.

According to police reports, shortly after 3am Sunday, an argument occurred at a nightclub on Blue Hill Road that led to two men being stabbed.

The two victims were taken to hospital, where one of them remains in stable condition and the other was treated and discharged.

males and 15 females - were found on an American type sailing vessel Thursday evening.

A thorough search of the vessel was conducted in a joint effort between police and R BDF

officers stationed in Abaco.

The vessel was taken into Marsh Harbour and the migrants were handed over to immigration officials for further processing.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFPs) The College of The Bahamas is seeking competitive proposals from suitably qualified Bahamian contractors to repaint the exterior of the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre at the Oakes Field Campus.

The scope of work to be undertaken is considered nonstructural and requires a pre-construction site visit for review and assessment.

RFP packages should be collected between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from the: Office of the Vice President, Operations Keva M. Bethel Building The College of The Bahamas Oakes Field Campus Nassau, The Bahamas The deadline for the collection of RFP proposals is 5:00 p.m. EST Friday, September 16th, 2016.

Pre-construction inspection date: Monday, September 19th, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre The College of The Bahamas Oakes Field Campus The College of The Bahamas reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

Police are also searching for the suspect responsible for a shooting incident that occurred on Saturday. Officers were told that shortly after 11pm, a man was involved in argument with another man on Commonwealth Boulevard that led to him being shot.

The victim was taken to hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

Investigations are continuing.

Polioe are also looking for two suspected armed robbers who stole a man’s cell phone and a large amount of cash on Sunday.

Officers were told that a man had just arrived at his home in Stapledon Gardens around 12.30am Sunday when two men approached him.

The men robbed the victim before fleeing on foot, police said.

Investigations continue.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 12, 2016, PAGE 9

ROTARY LAUNCHES WHEELCHAIR PROJECT

MINISTER of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe presented the Junior Minister of Tourism, Gabriele Josephs of Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy, with a trophy and plaque during a school Special Assembly, watched by principal Joy Ritchie-Greene, left, and ministry director general Joy Jibrilu.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

STUDENT TO REPRESENT NATION IN ROLE AS JUNIOR MINISTER

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Junior Minister of Tourism 2016 Gabriele Josephs, of Grand Bahama, will represent the country this week in Barbados at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Congress to compete against other junior ministers in the region.

Mr Josephs, an 11th grade student at Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Academy in Freeport, won the national title in April. He is the first person from Grand Bahama to win the national title, and he is now setting his sights on winning the coveted regional title.

On Friday, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe and Tourism Director General Joy Jibrilu visited Mary, Star of the Sea School to officially present both Mr Josephs and the school with a $500 cheque and the Bahamas Junior Minister of Tourism Speech Competition floating trophy.

Mr Wilchcombe commended Mr Josephs and said he believes he will do well representing The Bahamas in Barbados.

“You serve as an ambassador of The Bahamas,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “When you stand in Barbados (this) Friday, you will be representing our country.

So now you have even more at stake, you have the whole country looking up to you.”

Mr Wilchcombe said that the teenager had made a strong impression at the

CTO in New York recently.

“He was invited to say a few words and he blew everyone away. He has a gift; he is a talented young man and he demonstrated that to them, and he will be an outstanding young man one day,” said Mr Wilchcombe.

The tourism minister, who is a 1971 graduate of Mary, Star of the Sea School, reminisced about his days there as a basketball player and encouraged students not to give up on their dreams.

Mr Josephs thanked his mother and teachers for their support and assistance, and extended thanks to Minister Wilchcombe for the Junior Minister of Tourism programme.

He said he enjoyed working at the Ministry of Tourism this summer and visiting the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.

“It enriched my mind and exceeded my expectation.

The industry has hardworking, brilliant and talented people. The tourism industry is a relatively stable, tirelessly resilient, and filled with opportunities to improve yourself and your standards,” he said.

Betty Bethel, director of tourism in Grand Bahama, said Mr Josephs has set a positive example for his peers.

“We wish you well at the competition in Barbados.

We pray you will be victorious and become the first ever junior minister of tourism in The Bahamas to win at the international level.

We know he is very capa-

THE ROTARY Club of East Nassau opened its Wheelchair Distribution Project at the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled yesterday, helping to provide wheelchairs for those in need.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 10, Monday, September 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Keeping your child safe from the bullies

W

HILE the new school year has begun, it is an unfortunate reality that within our school system, bullying has become an epidemic and survival of the strongest.

Although it was once considered a rite of passage, parents, educators, and community leaders now see bullying as a devastating form of abuse that can have long-term effects on youthful victims.

Bullying sometimes leads to death, robs an individual of their self-esteem, isolating them from their peers, causing them to drop out of school, and even prompting health problems and suicide.

For this reason, in an effort to minimise this escalating problem, the Royal

Police advice

By CORPORAL MAKELLE PINDER

Bahamas Police Force National Crime Prevention Office encourages parents and teachers to pay close attention to the safety tips provided.

Why are children bullied?

Some children seem to be bullied all the time, while others rarely get picked on. Why do some children seem to attract all of the bullies? Children who are bullied often • Are different from other kids, whether by size,

race, sex, or have different interests • Seem weak, either physically or emotionally • Are very insecure • Want approval from others • Won’t tell on their bullies When your child is a bully, it usually means that he or she • Lacks empathy and doesn’t sympathise with others • Values aggression • Likes to be in charge

• Is an arrogant winner and a sore loser • Often pick fights with brothers and sisters • Very impulsive • Possesses low self esteem • Have been bullied themselves Warning signs your child is being bullied Many children are embarrassed to be bullied and may not tell their parents or another adult right away.

Therefore, if your child comes to you and asks for help with a bully, take it seriously. Even if your child doesn’t turn to you for help, you can watch for these warning signs: • Withdrawal • A loss of friends • A drop in grades • A loss of interest in activities he or she previously enjoyed

• Torn clothing • Bruises • A need for extra money or supplies • Not interested in attending school Solutions when your child is bullied Parents are often the best resource to build a child’s self-confidence and teach him or her how to solve their problems. Here are a few ways you can help: • Talk to your child’s teacher about it instead of confronting the bully’s parents. If the teacher doesn’t act to stop the bullying, talk to the principal.

•Teach your child nonviolent ways to deal with bullies, like walking away, playing with friends or talking it out.

• Help your child to act with self-confidence. With him or her, practice walk-

ing upright, looking people in the eye and speaking clearly.

• Don’t encourage your child to fight. This will only cause things to become worse than they already are.

• Involve your child in activities outside school. This way he or she can make friends in a different social circle.

Should you need more information on bullying or if you have information pertaining to any crime, please contact the police at ‘919’ or Crime Stoppers at 328-tips (New Providence), 1-300-8476 (Family Islands) or if you know of individuals who may be in need of counselling and emotional support please contact the Crisis Centre Hotline 3280922 or the Department of Social Services hotline 3222763.

FINAL NOMINEES FOR COOPER AWARDS REVEALED THE remaining nine nominees for the 2016 R E Cooper Sr National Meritorious Awards to be honoured at the gala event at the Atlantis Ballroom on October 29 have been released.

They are Basil L Sands, Senator Greg Burrows, Elaine Pinder, Percy “Vola” Francis, Dr Albert Ferguson, Joan Albury, Herbert Brown, Delglanville Panza and Cynthia “Mother”

Pratt, The Awards started 31 years ago seek to honour outstanding Bahamians who, according to the committee, “ have given so much to the development of mankind. These people through service have made a difference in the lives of so many.”

Dr R E Cooper Sr was an educator who gave out hundreds of scholarships to Bahamians to colleges

and universities in Florida.

He was also instrumental in the establishment of Prince William High School, where thousands of Bahamians received a solid education.

Although he is remembered as the keynote speaker at the first Independence Ecumenical Service in 1973, as he was president of the Bahamas Christian Council at the time, his message of “we are a chosen nation, a peculiar people” still reso-

nates today.

Basil Sands, an accountant and recently the first non-American to hold the prestigious Freemasonry high office of Sovereign Grand Commander, has served on many boards and worked with many charitable and civic organisations over the past 50 years.

Senator Greg Burrows has helped build the lives of hundreds of Bahamians through his Freedom Farm Baseball League, which he started 28 years ago.

Hundreds of Bahamians have gotten scholarships to colleges and universities abroad and gone on to meaningful lives. Freedom Farm today is ever growing and teaching and training young Bahamians about baseball and preparing them for college scholarships and a career after college.

Elaine Pinder, the owner of Bamboo Shack, Frankie Gone Bananas, Sapodilla Restaurants and others, is a remarkable woman who has donated time and money to various organizsations and charities. Her support of the Cookie drive through Bamboo Shack outlets is still a major contributor to social services. Recently honoured with a Trumpet Award, Ms Pinder continues to make a difference in the lives of many, employing dozens of Bahamians contributing to their families.

Percy “Vola” Francis is also being recognised for the many outreach programs that he has initiated through the Saxons Junkanoo Group, of which he is the leader. Fully entrenched in the church as well, he does a tremendous amount of work to help others and show them how they can be empowered through junkanoo and other areas.

Dr Albert Ferguson is an educator, an author who just completed his tenth book, a musician, motivational speaker and a re-

BASIL L SANDS

SENATOR GREG BURROWS

ELAINE PINDER

PERCY ‘VOLA’ FRANCIS

DR ALBERT FERGUSON

JOAN ALBURY

HERBERT BROWN cording artist. Dr Ferguson wears many hats, but he has helped so many people through his school and his tutoring.

Starting The Counselors more than 25 years ago as her latest project, Joan Albury has empowered thousands of people through her Business Outlook and bringing revenue and awareness to many of Family Islands. The media professional has made a huge difference in the lives of many Bahamians through the early morning show, Bahamas @ Sunrise. Through these shows, many people got exposure and opportunities are open to them because of that spotlight on the show. She continues to find innovative ways to empower our people and make a difference in their lives.

As the Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority in the Bahamas, Herbert Brown has done so much to help turn around public hospitals in the Bahamas. He is also involved in many outreach programs through church and other organisations.

Delglanville Panza is a former trade unionist with the Stevedoring Union, accomplishing much for his fellow union members.

Before retiring he helped unify the stevedores, which gave them more bargaining power and as a result a better working environment.

CYNTHIA ‘MOTHER’ PRATT Today he is involved in Urban Renewal and community outreach.

Cynthia “Mother” Pratt is a legendary Bahamian in many areas. Although she became known for her athletic abilities, she raised the bar by going to college at a late age, and then helping dozens of other Bahamians get tertiary education through scholarships.

Her role as the first Woman Deputy Prime Minister was just one of many firsts for this tireless woman who loves her country. Now with the Urban Renewal and the outreach programs that include helping young people get an education, especially with the Urban Renewal GED program, Mother Pratt has done so much to help others.

At next month’s gala event, three families are also expected to receive awards posthumously for their fathers - the late Bismark Coakley, Dr H W Brown and King Eric Gibson. Also being recognised and honoured are George Myers, Dr Sidney McPhee, Steve Mckinney, Commissioner Ellison Greenslade, Clinton McKiney, Stephanie Hanna, James Schaeffer III, Alphonso “Boogaloo” Elliott, and the Munnings Brothers, Raphael & Fred Jr. For more information visit www.recooperaward. org.