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VOLUME:115 No.201, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2018

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

WOMAN: BEAUTY - BUT WITH WHICH PRICE TAG?

BPL fires ‘could cost firm $150m’ Union boss claims blazes caused massive damage

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power and Light Company could be facing a colossal $150m price tag to replace damaged equipment after recent fires over the weekend wiped out one engine and “compromised” infrastructure at the Clifton Pier Power Plant, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Paul Maynard estimated yesterday.

Three fires, the latest yesterday morning, caused damage to two engines at the plant, rendering one of these “shot”, Mr Maynard told The Tribune. The other, he said, will have

to undergo an insurance adjustment.

In an interview yesterday, the union chief explained that not only were the engines damaged, but the foundation to which one is bolted was also “compromised” due to the severe heat the fires caused. As a result, he said officials are faced with between $100m to $150m to replace the engine and make additional repairs.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Desmond Bannister had very little to say of the situation at BPL other than telling The Tribune that an investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the fires.

SEE PAGE SIX

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Deputy Leader Chester Cooper yesterday called for an independent probe into Bahamas Power and Light, which has been saddled by controversy in recent weeks.

In the aftermath of three fires at the company’s Clifton Pier Power Plant and infighting among members of BPL’s former board of directors, the

PLP yesterday demanded full and frank disclosure of BPL’s operations.

The fires further called into question power security in the country, said PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis.

“The Prime Minister (Dr Hubert Minnis) promised an investigation into BPL,” Mr Cooper told The Tribune. “Reports are that it hasn’t begun. I call on the government to appoint an independent probe.

SEE PAGE SIX

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY Fred Smith yesterday warned the government that it was treading on the “thin ice of contempt” for pressing ahead with efforts to eradicate shanty towns in the Family Islands despite the pending judicial review.

The government’s position, according to Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, is the court injunction blocking evictions and demolition in New Providence was not extended to other islands, and enables the government to forge ahead with mobilising efforts in the Family Islands. Mr Foulkes is also chairman of the government’s Shanty Town Action Task Force.

However, Mr Smith said 88 of the 177 shanty town residents seeking judicial SEE PAGE THREE

NO ‘WHITE SMOKE’ ON MARIJUANA STUDY TEAM

...AS DAVIS DEMANDS: WHAT’S GOING ON?

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

‘ACTIONS ON FAMILY ISLANDS MUST STOP’

‘I DIDN’T SEND $1.9M DEAL TO CABINET’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE government committee to review marijuana criminalisation laws in The Bahamas has not yet been appointed.

Bishop Simon Hall, one of the persons Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has said will be appointed to the committee, told The Tribune yesterday he has not received any official instructions from the government.

“I’m still waiting the formal indication as to the formation of that committee,” Bishop Hall said.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

DR DUANE SANDS outside court yesterday. During the Frank Smith corruption trial yesterday, Dr Sands admitted to not formally presenting Cabinet with a $1.9m contract he approved for a cleaning company owned by a key witness. See page five for the full story. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

‘STAY OUT OF THE WATER’

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

WEATHER experts are continuing to warn residents of The Bahamas about the sea swells Hurricane Florence will generate this week.

AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Kottlowski told The Tribune seas are going

WAVES at Sandyport during a previous storm. to be “extremely rough” and advised boaters in particular to stay out of the water.

Up to press time, Hurricane Florence was a Category Three storm that is expected to develop into a Category Four hurricane today.

The storm is expected to make landfall between North and South Carolina, with Mr Kottlowski predicting that it will cause

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE TWO

FACE-TO-FACE: I’LL BURY MY HEART IN FOX HILL

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Tuesday, September 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

‘Stay out of the water’ from page one “devastation” when it does hit land.

Another storm, Hurricane Isaac, however, is expected to hit the Lesser Antilles as a “minimal” Category One storm or “strong tropical storm” on Thursday.

Regarding The Bahamas, the American meteorologist said Hurricane Florence is going to take a track that will keep it east and northeast of the country.

“However, as it continues

to intensify, it’s going to create large swells that will propagate into The Bahamas and create much higher than normal surf,” Mr Kottlowski said. “There’s already an increase in surf right now, over the Turks and Caicos and over the southern islands.

“The rest of the islands will see an increase in surf as we head through later today (Monday), tonight, tomorrow (Tuesday).

And then very rough surf is expected all the way through until probably the end of the week.

“Anybody thinking about boating anywhere north and east of The Bahamas should not, should not do any boating, should stay out of the water,” Mr Kottlowski warned.

“The seas are going to get extremely rough and so any boating should be discouraged until this thing moves inland and the seas drop off this coming weekend.

“That’s going to be the main issue in The Bahamas, as far as anything from Florence. Then Florence is still expected to make landfall along the Carolina

coast somewhere roughly between the northeast coast of South Carolina to maybe the outer banks in that general area right there.”

Mr Kottlowski said the areas that are going to be most vulnerable will be Myrtle Beach and Wilmington, North Carolina — the two areas where the centre of the storm could make landfall. The storm is expected to be a Category Four storm at landfall, where it will be a “huge rain producer.” He said it is expected to produce two to three feet of rain, mostly

THE GRAND Lucayan Resort.

centred on North Carolina, Virginia, and the northern sections of South Carolina.

“The coastal area is going to get slammed.

This is going to cause devastation wherever it does make landfall. No coastal area has ever experienced a Category Four along the Carolina coast before like this. So this is, again, we are just hoping people take heed and do not underestimate this storm.”

Isaac is now a Category One hurricane. Mr Kottlowski said the storm is heading due west, and

the islands it will affect the most are Martinique, Dominica, and “the Saints through Guadeloupe.”

He added islands to the south such as Barbados and St Lucia are expected to experience some wind from the storm.

“But we think the worst conditions will be over generally the northern Windward and the southern Leeward Islands. That will be during the day Thursday.

So we expect very rough surf to affect those islands on the east side starting Wednesday.”

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

MIXED FEELINGS FOR MPS ON GRAND LUCAYAN PURCHASE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net CENTREVILLE MP Reece Chipman has expressed mixed feelings about the government’s multi-million-dollar purchase of the Grand Lucayan resort in Grand Bahama.

In response to a question from The Tribune, he said while he understands the need to jump start Grand Bahama’s economy, he thinks the matter should have been brought

to Parliament for a debate before the government forged ahead. Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller agreed.

While in Freeport on Monday, Mr Chipman said: “I have mixed feelings about the purchase and the reason is that I don’t think government should be in the hotel business. However, I do understand the need for the Grand Bahama economy to be stimulated, and so my feelings about the purchase is somewhat mixed.”

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and members of his

Cabinet toured the hotel property on Grand Bahama on August 22, and later announced that the government had made a $10m deposit to buy the property at a price tag of $65m.

Many have criticised the Minnis administration’s decision to buy the threehotel property, even though it would provide over 1,000 jobs for unemployed Bahamians.

The resort closed in October 2016 after significant damage following Hurricane Matthew. Only

one property, the 196-room Lighthouse Pointe, has since reopened.

The Tribune spoke with Mr Chipman on the sidelines of an event for the opening of the Pineridge Education Centre on Monday.

“I have mixed feelings about the purchase,” the Free National Movement MP repeated. “The only thing I can do is encourage and support my colleagues regarding their understanding in what it is they intend to do.”

When asked if he thought that the matter should have been brought to Parliament for debate first, Mr Chipman said absolutely.

“It is my opinion, of course, when we start to get into $10m, $20m, $60m worth of purchase, I think at the very least the team should have been, not involved to an extent where they make a decision, but involved to the extent that we understand the project.

How it will be funded and the stages of the project, what is the action plan, and,

of course, what is the intention with regards to not only jobs, but careers, and opportunities,” Mr Chipman said.

For his part, Mr Miller also felt that the matter should have been brought to Parliament first.

“I think it should have been brought to Parliament for debate, absolutely that’s for sure. But until I know all of the intricacies and details, and I can not speak to it from an informed position and would not want to comment,” Mr Miller said.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 11, 2018, PAGE 3

‘Fix local govt in Family Islands before bringing it to the capital’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net RETIRED Abaco publisher David Ralph is asking the government to take a closer look at the successes and frustrations of the Family Island local government system before it moves ahead with its implementation in the capital.

Mr Ralph, in response to recent government pronouncements over the status of New Providence consultations, stressed the current system has frustrated many qualified and motivated professionals to withdraw their service.

He said the local government system’s extension to New Providence was only a matter of time, and posed great opportunity, but stressed the system would be easier to adopt if meaningful changes were enacted ahead of implementation.

He noted high expectations will quickly deflate once officials begin to grapple with local issues in view of how central government

functions, and how funding is allocated.

“After serving a three-year term in local government,” Mr Ralph wrote in a letter sent to The Tribune, “those with ideas and initiative frequently quit in frustration. Various administrators have confirmed that the first term of local government in 1996 as the best as it was motivated individuals who took part.

“All administrators that I have met said the system has gone downhill following that first term. The system still works, but it is often less qualified persons who are involved.”

Mr Ralph is the former publisher of The Abaconian, and has covered local government meetings in Central Abaco and the Hope Town district regularly over the past 25 years.

He said he attended a major local government meeting for Central Abaco last week, which saw Abaco’s two members of Parliament, roughly ten heads of various government departments on Abaco, the town committee chairmen for Murphy

Town, Dundas Town, Marsh Harbour and Spring City along with the chief councillor and council members for the district.

“It was a three-hour session voicing complaints on government indifference to Abaco’s local issues,” Mr Ralph wrote.

One example of government indifference raised by Mr Ralph, was the common practice of withholding 12 percent of each district’s budget.

“Each month’s available funds have been reduced by 12 percent,” he said.

“The withheld amount is released at the end of the fiscal year next June when local government councils must justify its use. It is a futile attempt to cause local government councils to be frugal with less money.

“In mid-June the money is released with no forewarning,” Mr Ralph continued, “and the local government councils scramble to spend it legally before July 1. If it is not spent, it reverts to the Treasury.

That is to be avoided as it tells officials that the district can get by with less money

for the following year.”

Mr Ralph pointed to two more examples of indifference: in the first, Hope Town residents donated an automobile to be used by the area police, but placed the title in Hope Town’s name so it could not be transferred elsewhere by police. However, he said, challenges arose because the police department cannot buy fuel for a vehicle it does not own.

In the second instance, a Man-O-War resident donated a residence for use by the Ministry of Health and the government nurse, but could not obtain medical equipment because the ministry cannot provide items to facilities they do not own.

“These are examples of central government’s indifference or lack of understanding that illustrate the frustrations of communities trying to be helpful but being rebuffed by government regulations,” Mr Ralph wrote.

“Somehow the government’s different elements need to work together more closely. For local

government to succeed in New Providence, this gap of indifference must be overcome.”

Senator Ranard Henfield - who chairs a National Advisory Committee on local government - in a recent press release had praised the introduction of a strong local government system that would empower residents in New Providence to resolve such local issues as traffic congestion.

In his written response, Mr Ralph pointed to local traffic issues in Abaco as an example of frustrations that can arise.

“Local people trying to implement local traffic issues is not a simple matter,” he said.

“Hope Town has been trying for years to get local traffic rules in place but finds it frustrating to get Nassau’s cooperation.”

Mr Ralph wrote: “Although local input is encouraged, the actual process is long and cumbersome.

The Local Government Act gives local government the authority to create traffic patterns. However, there

is no help given on how to navigate the cumbersome process through the required Nassau agencies.”

Mr Ralph suggested candid meetings with Family Island councils and town committees to glean institutional knowledge of the more than 20-year-old system, underscoring the list of people reportedly targeted by the planning committee did not have actual working knowledge.

“Persons at the top of government’s hierarchical chain are not the ones to consult with. Candid talks should be held with actual Family Island persons who serve but are constrained by the system,” he wrote.

“Earlier mention was made of 24 distinct areas suitable for local government in New Providence. It is not practical to think of 24 mini-works departments that would be needed for local government to fix potholes and traffic lights.

This is where there needs to be improved efficiency within existing government departments, requiring them to cooperate with the local government groups.”

spouses of Bahamians, and worst of all, simply poor people. What’s most ironic, the FNM doesn’t seem to understand that

every single shanty town is in an FNM constituency, so they are hounding their own voters out of their homes.”

‘ACTIONS ON FAMILY ISLANDS MUST STOP’ from page one review of the government’s decision are from Abaco, and questioned why the government hasn’t opted to halt the process completely as it has done with the gaming taxes on web shops, which was halted pending the outcome of court action.

Mr Smith, who is representing the group, said: “To continue I think it is appalling of the government, and shows no respect for the rule of law to continue to terrorise the Family Island Haitian ethnic communities with this inhumane and degrading threat to demolish their homes.

Because that’s in fact what it is, to continue to parade the might of the state and proclaim their intention to demolish homes whether or not there is an injunction, the matter is before the courts.

“So just like the Attorney General (Carl Bethel) has put the increase in the gaming tax in abeyance pending the determination of court case brought by Wayne Munroe and Alfred Sears, a civilised government would stop abusing the population until this is determined. Why should I have to go and get another injunction?”

Mr Smith added: “That is only going to increase costs unnecessarily and waste judicial time. They haven’t even applied to set aside

the injunction we got for 88 residents in Abaco and those in New Providence.

“I urge Minister Foulkes to remember that the injunction does indeed apply to over 88 homes in Pigeon Peas and the Mud and so he is treading on a thin ice of contempt if he doesn’t stop terrorising these citizens, Bahamian citizens most of them, in Abaco.”

Mr Foulkes led closed door meetings with Abaco’s task force over the weekend, and established sub-committees to coordinate efforts that will affect approximately 912 households.

Yesterday, Mr Smith said human rights group Rights Bahamas and plaintiff Respect Our Homes Ltd plan to visit more Family Island shanty towns to get more residents to join their suit against the government.

He underscored all shanty towns in the country were located in constituencies held by the Free National Movement, adding he found it ironic the Minnis-led administration had taken the stance to hound its own voters out of their homes.

“I just don’t understand where the government thinks these human beings are going to go,” Mr Smith said, “especially in the Family Islands where alternative affordable housing is non-existent.

“The continued insistence on harassing human

SURGERY RESUMES AT HOSPITAL SURGERY schedules at the Princess Margaret Hospital have reconvened as scheduled maintenance of the air-conditioning systems in the operating theatres have concluded.

A statement from the Public Hospitals Authority noted the routine maintenance procedure was conducted over the weekend and resulted in

the hospital staggering surgeries as these works were being carried out. As of yesterday, all surgery schedules were re-established, the statement added.

PHA said management apologises for any inconvenience caused and assured the public that it continues to work to deliver the best in quality healthcare.

FRED SMITH QC, previously pictured with shanty town residents. beings in the Family Islands under the Progressive Libis a manifestation of insti- eral Party. tutionalised state terrorism “It is psychological just like (former Minister of warfare on Bahamian citiImmigration) Fred Mitchell zens, citizens in waiting,

PAGE 4, Tuesday, September 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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

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

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A firestorm of its own making AS the world marks the horrific events of 9/11 yet again, the government of The Bahamas finds itself in a political firestorm of its own making – the promise to rid the country of shanty towns. It is not a new goal. Bran McCartney, late of the DNA, first identified 39 shanty towns under the former Ingraham administration. The pronouncement was met with shock at the extent and puzzlement as to what to do about the situation.

A decade later, and after the Christie administration came and went, the Minnis government swept into office with the promise of finally dealing with the issue of substandard housing, poor health conditions, entire communities with buildings linked by drop cords to ill-gotten and dangerous BEC/BPL connections and outdoor toilets.

But in between those ramshackle, lean-to structures were others that were concrete block, some on land where owners or residents said their families had lived for generations.

While the Minnis administration tried to make good on its promise, appointing a Shanty Town Action Task Force, the voices of protest by some gained the support of a legal action task force of its own in New Providence, the Save Our Homes association represented by a tiger in the court room, Fred Smith, QC. No one questions Fred Smith’s honourable intent. He certainly does not stand to gain financially from the legal battle.

The real issue is what to do with the thousands of people who will be displaced?

Attorney Smith’s action has, at a minimum, stalled the demolition of shanty towns in New Providence. But when the Task Force - reinforced by the words of Attorney General Carl Bethel - said they would continue to mount their mission in the Family Islands, the government ran into another road block.

Determined to clear the shanty towns in Abaco on or before July 31 next year, the already-strapped government now finds itself in the untenable position of having to find housing for nearly 1,000 households that currently dwell in Pigeon Pea and the Mud, communities that comprise 62 percent of Abaco’s unregulated communities. And that figure may be low. According to SATF Abaco chairperson Maxine Duncombe, data was

still incomplete on 52 households.

Meantime, conservative Abaconians are frustrated at the pace of dismantling.

So while Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes held closed door meetings with Abaco’s task force on Saturday at the government complex in Marsh Harbour and established sub-committees to coordinate alternative housing and relocation, demolition works, special needs assistance, animal rescue, legal matters and public relations, the reality of alternative housing looms.

No matter how it looks at the problem there is no 20-20 eyesight that identifies a plausible answer. Not only is there a shortage of reasonably priced low cost rental housing, the government is not in a position to subsidise those who would have to be relocated. The political backlash of such a move especially by the Opposition - were it undertaken - would be greater than allowing the existing conditions to remain with a promise that future action would be forthcoming.

Just over one month ago, The Tribune editorial of August 7 recommended taking a new look at shanty towns. The government can ill afford a total relocation housing exercise, but what it could do is task architects, builders, developers and the University of The Bahamas to tackle the problem with imagination, creating new towns based on the heart and those sound structures that do exist.

Such a model is not unrealistic. As the editorial pointed out, that is how Foggy Bottom in Washington, D. C. was created and today it is home to the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and upscale neighbourhoods.

They did not destroy. They built from the rubble. Such a design competition could test the talent, skills and imagination of Bahamians. Works could be funded in part from the new Small Business Development Centre headed by Davinia Blair.

With the Shanty Town Task Force in New Providence disbanded pending court action, there is time for a fresh look at an old problem and a public-private partnership to preserve that which is worthy, demolish that which is not and create new communities which could serve as a model going forward.

On this day, 9/11 remember that for which we all stand – the principles of respect, tolerance and creative collaboration in the name of decency.

The real Dr Minnis EDITOR, The Tribune.

WILL the real Hubert Minnis please stand up!

At the funeral of the late Stephen Isaacs, Chief Justice of The Bahamas, the Prime Minister, the Hon Hubert Minnis made very interesting remarks concerning the Rule of Law, noting that it is needed in an orderly society, and the role of the Judiciary in preserving the Rule of Law. It was also mentioned that the Judiciary is the third arm of the government designed to protect

the country from anarchy, However, it was seven months before the Prime Minister saw fit to appoint a substantive Chief Justice after the previous holder was made President of the Court of Appeal, and the Chief Justice is head of the Judiciary which is the third arm of the government. Further, he has been recorded as saying that he is in no hurry to appoint a new Chief Justice.

Am I missing something here? I am sure that if something happened to a Minister of Government it would not take the Prime

Minister seven months to appoint another. Yet a Minister is only one of many members of the Executive, another branch of government, and the Chief Justice is the head of the Judiciary, the third arm of the government.

Situations of this kind show us that if we really want an independent Judiciary, the method of appointment of Judges and the Chief Justice in particular should be changed.

JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau, September 10, 2018.

Cruise port bids EDITOR, The Tribune.

CONGRATS Claude Hanna your letter on the pre-RFP Nassau Cruise Port is absolutely correct. This should not be happening.

It is against the longestablished process and legal format to have parties who might bid lobbying everyone from Office of the Prime Minister down and including all relevant

agencies whose ear you have to obtain a positive support. Wrong, Mr Minister of Tourism - wrong Director of Bahamas Investment Authority wrong, OPM and all other Agencies-Ministries the parties have been lobbying.

Since May, 2017 we have become accustomed to the Government not going by the long established practice and staying legally supportive of the rule of the

road for Tenders RFP’s.

Wasn’t it a plank of the FNM in election 2017 to ensure a clean process?

Oban - BP&L with URCA - BP&L with Shell we all thought things would change under the FNM but what happened and happens every time seemingly we do not follow the book?

W THOMPSON Nassau, September 8, 2018.

A man of distinction EDITOR, The Tribune,

WE have lost a man of distinguished masculinity. We have enjoyed his company for a few years, and now, his time has come to leave us with his wisdom, ease and grace. It is now our responsibility to use his model to bring a sharper focus onto positive masculinity.

Stephen Isaacs gave us so much that we could learn from, and yet we see the loss and not the gain of having had him here as a part of our lives for these few days. I thought I would not celebrate so much as remember and focus on how he held up a torch in the darkness of harmful and poisoned masculine behaviour to show that one can offer a positive example even if it be unappreciated by public discourse.

We often define Bahamian masculinity through an extremely negative frame. This is the model open to more people because it is the public performance of tough and hardboiled masculinity we so often see in politics and public discourse. We rarely see gentlemanly composure; that seems too staid, too dull, too boring. We rarely hear lucid, calm, speech delivered in standard non-partisan language.

We hear about violence and the encouragement of law-breaking through manipulation, misrepresentation, and misinterpretation, and always the insistence on bigity rightness. There is no longer a culture of respect or deference for good, nor is there a culture of thoughtful leadership with regard and consideration for the long term greatness, only the short-term benefit of my aggressive masculinity overshadowing any other presence. These are unfortunate times where it seems to pay to be criminal and corrupt. Men with steady, soft-spoken integrity are overshadowed by a media focus on thugstyle hypermasculinity.

We more often hear someone cussing off someone else through the press and encouraging deep cronyism and divided loyalty that will be rewarded through contracts and kickbacks. Sadly, the public discord of masculinity means that no behaviour except boisterous womanizing and murderous violence can be appreciated, no polite, diplomatic intelligent behaviour will be tolerated. The world

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net has slipped into decline.

We more often regard bad behaviour, and deride those who follow the lawful way.

As a child growing up, I was surrounded by a boatload of cousins, most if not all were older than me, they were all characters, well spoken, great sportsmen; I learned a great deal from them. It seemed that all my cousins were athletic and outgoing: that was the way of my family.

In those days a very tightly knit group that gathered often, it seemed that there would always be cousins around. Perhaps this image came from fathers, uncles and other elders who were deeply involved in their children’s lives.

As we very publicly mourn the passing of one of these cousins this week, I thought I would remember a little bit of the impact he and others of his ilk had on me.

He walked softly, but had no big stick. He did not need one. He brought light and joy to a room, and encouraged people to see the best in themselves and others.

There was no overshadowing presence, but a being whom, though huge in presence, did not dominate. Steven like many of our cousins had a strong yet gentle masculinity. They could be tough and rough, but they were also well acquainted with the behaviour appropriate for place and time. There was no question about being strong, yet he was also calming and measured. One also knew where one stood with him. No fool, but also not interested in making a fool of any other soul; he spoke with kindness and respect.

I was awed by my big cousins’ sporting nature and their easy smiles and quick laughter.

As I move around the various events, read and listened to the tributes of Steven, I can’t help but miss those times, not for what we have left there, but for what we seem to have lost nationally. We seem to have lost our tough and fair masculinity. We seem to have let go of strong character, indomitable pride in self and country and strength of conviction to truth and integrity.

We have come to a place where we define masculinity as some beastly behviour that knows no bounds and can insult openly and with impunity. There was no question about my uncles

and cousins’ masculinity yet they possessed such calm and measured exteriors.

They could be raucous and sporty as much as they could be astute and sharp with polite comment and kind grace. We have given all of this over in favour of the crass masculinity of bling and bop, where the man walks in and rules the place not through dignified occupation of space, but through loud imposing aggression.

There might be a place for both, but that the latter has consumed the former, says a great deal about our development.

As Stephen ends his journey here with us, it is only fitting to focus on what we can learn from him. He has left us so much better off. I hear far too often that we do not offer solutions to problems, but only highlight those problems. I am offering a kind of character that I see as human yet remarkable. I have known him for most of my life, and I have seen the wonder of life flow through him. This is not to say that he, like all of us, did not have his flaws, but that he knew how to develop his strengths.

An avid tennis player, he like his uncles and cousins, would spend hours out chasing that green ball. He was a man of honour and commitment, and played his role with equanimity and strength, as well as great and deep humanity.

He, I think, is an example of masculinity to emulate.

He stood for ethical behaviour and carried out his labour in the law by justly imposing it. We too often see the ugly partiality of life as males stand up in public and use their presumed power to berate and debase rather than to build.

I see him as a builder. His clarity of vision and selfawareness meant that his behaviour would not be corrupted by follies and fancies. As we move forward, we must take up a part of his strength and quality of being and pass it on so that the world is as bright and joyful as we can make it. There maybe many negative influences that darken positive light, but there is no blanket that can extinguish it. Such good as has been left here by Stephen can only grow larger and spread wider. He has touched many lives, and we are the better for having shared in his journey.

IAN BETHELL-BENNETT Nassau, September 11, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 11, 2018, PAGE 5

Sands: I did not send $1.9m cleaning contract to Cabinet’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday admitted to not formally presenting Cabinet with the $1.9m contract he approved for a local cleaning company owned by the key witness in former PLP Senator Frank Smith’s criminal trial, despite conceding that the practice is customary for contracts exceeding $1m.

Dr Sands, taking the witness stand before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, told the court that the reason he did not formally present the $1,862,978.16 contract to Cabinet for its consideration was because “there was no need” to do so.

And that came after the health minister admitted to having deviated from normal procedure when he approved the near $2m contract for Barbara Hanna’s Magic Touch Cleaning Company ahead of the approval of the Public Hospitals Authority’s board of directors.

Dr Sands, in response to questions put to him by lead defense attorney Keith Knight, QC, further acknowledged that where there is deviation from standard procedure, motives for said deviation, irregularity and inappropriateness, as well as “political patronage” can come into play.

However, during reexamination by lead Crown attorney Edward Jenkins, QC, Dr Sands suggested that there is no set procedure on taking contracts before Cabinet, and claimed that the procedure for taking such matters to Cabinet varies depending on whether the contract in question is “ministerial” in nature or a contract concerning one of the quasigovernment agencies.

Thus, according to Dr

Sands, the rules that would apply to a ministerial contract wouldn’t apply to contracts for quasi-government agencies.

Dr Sands said that with contracts similar in size to that awarded to Magic Touch, he would “sometimes” take it to Cabinet.

In the present case, he said a formal paper was not presented to Cabinet, but the group had an “at the table discussion”.

Dr Sands ultimately maintained that based on his understanding of the PHA Act, there is no requirement of the PHA to take such matters, financial in nature, to Cabinet.

According to the evidence led at trial, on August 9, 2017, Dr Sands held a meeting with then PHA managing director Herbert Brown and incoming PHA chairman Julian Rolle subsequent to a “crisis” that had arisen at the Princess Margaret Hospital where the contractor at the time was underperforming.

Dr Sands also said serious concerns were being expressed by executive management in the hospital on the issue, as well as by the administrative heads of the departments affected.

As a result, Dr Sands said the issue needed to be dealt with.

During the August 9 meeting, Dr Sands said he, Mr Brown, and Mr Rolle discussed the decision that needed to be made as a result of the recommendation of the PHA’s Tender Evaluations Committee concerning the contract for the cleaning/janitorial services at PMH. According to Dr Sands, the result of that meeting was that the matter would be placed on the agenda for the first substantive board meeting, and that notwithstanding the committee’s recommendation, because it was a controversial issue, the matter should be transferred to the Office of the

Attorney General in a bid to obtain legal advice.

Yesterday, Dr Sands said he gave instructions for the issue to be placed on the board’s agenda for discussion during its initial business meeting, and having given those instructions, he expected that it would be done and that he had no reason to believe that it would not happen.

“Certainly, there would have been no way for me to go back and verify that the board had not considered it as they were meant to consider it on the basis of the agenda that had been created,” he said.

Dr Sands said he was present at the subsequent August 16 meeting — which he said was a “social event” primarily — but only during the introductory part; he said he gave a charge to the board and then left.

Additionally, Dr Sands said he did not see any board agenda for that date.

Dr Sands was also shown a copy of a Tribune report dated June 16, 2017, in which he addressed “sickening” levels of alleged malfeasance and “improper behaviour” at the Ministry of Health at the time.

Mr Knight in particular read the portion where Dr Sands was quoted as saying: “I think what is different this time is there is truly the political will to find the evidence and adhere to the rule of law, but at the same time eradicate that culture that says you can take liberties with the people’s money and get away with it.”

Linking his statements then to the present matter, Mr Knight asked Dr Sands if he had the “political will” to go and find evidence concerning the trial. Dr Sands replied by stating no, and that it’s “not my job”.

Mr Knight then asked Dr Sands if he would be surprised to hear that as opposed to him telling the court that Mrs Hanna didn’t go to the police concerning

FRANK Smith outside court yesterday. the allegations against Smith because she was afraid for her safety and dealing with “very powerful people,” when Mrs Hanna gave evidence, she said she called Smith and warned him to “be careful, they are out to get you.”

Dr Sands said “no” in response.

Additionally, Dr Sands denied being one of those people allegedly “out to get” Smith.

“I’m not out to get

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

anybody,” the minister said.

Smith is facing 15 criminal charges concerning his alleged solicitation of $65,000 in bribes from a woman he is said to have assisted in getting a contract. He is currently out on $50,000 bail.

It is alleged the former PHA chairman, between April 2016 and April 2017, demanded and obtained $5,000 per month from Mrs Hanna, knowing he was not lawfully

authorised to do so.

He is also alleged to have attempted to extort another $5,000 from Mrs Hanna.

Concerning the bribery charge, it is alleged that he solicited $5,000 a month from Mrs Hanna for helping her to get a PHA contract.

Smith pleaded not guilty to all the allegations during his arraignment in July 2017.

The case continues on November 13.

PINERIDGE EDUCATION CENTRE OPENS IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE REV Frederick McAlpine, MP for Pineridge, officially opened the Pineridge Education Centre in the Kipling Building in Grand Bahama on Monday, delivering on a promise he made to his constituents.

The centre, which has an enrolment of 50, allows students to learn in a “technology rich” environment. On completion of their studies, the students will receive a high school diploma.

Attending the opening ceremony were Reese Chipman, MP for Centreville, and Vaughn Miller, MP for Golden Isles; former Ambassador Maurice Moore, former Free National Movement MP David Thompson, and Ministry of Education officials.

Although Rev McAlpine had sent invitations to all FNM MPs on Grand Bahama, none had attended the event.

“I am so glad that my brothers flew from Nassau,” he said. “I want to go on record, I invited every MP in GB and senator, but all happen to be extremely busy, but I want to thank them for giving me a 1,000 more votes,” he said.

“But I want to say the only reason that Travis (Robinson) is not here is because since he was terminated he decided to go back

THE Rev Frederick McAlpine, MP for Pineridge, and his wife Tracey in one of the classrooms at his recently opened Pineridge Education Centre. to school, and he had two exams that he really could not get out of.”

The Pineridge Education Centre was a vision that Rev McAlpine had shared with constituents a year ago during a constituency meeting last September after he first broke ranks with his party.

Mr Chipman commended Rev McAlpine for standing up for the people of Pineridge and for what he is doing to transform the lives of people in his constituency.

“Today, I am here to support the efforts of my colleagues and his team with regards to his thrust for education, his working toward a unified Grand Bahama and a unified Bahamas, and more importantly, I want to support him, and encourage him in his progressive politics,” he said.

TEEN ACCUSED OF MURDER

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday accused of murdering a man earlier this year.

The teenager was arraigned in the juvenile’s court on a single count of

murder stemming from the February 3 shooting death of Okell Sullivan.

He was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the matter was adjourned to December 11 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

He was remanded into custody in the interim.

“As we moved forward in this country, we would need to appreciate each other, respect each other, and understand that no, we all are not here to think the same way. God gave all of us talents and all of us ought to use those talents.”

Acknowledging the presence of former Ambassador Moore and Mr Thompson, the MP for Centreville said: “I singled them out for a minute because Sir Cecil

Wallace-Whitfield spoke of this many years ago: the right to be an individual, the right to be independent, the right to express your vision, however and in whatever way your vision is. But most importantly the right and privileges of democracy.”

Mr Chipman noted that he and Rev McAlpine now share a connection.

“When this young gentleman stood in Parliament seven seats to my right and stood for the people of Pineridge and stood for the people of the Bahamas, that meant a lot to me. I wasn’t sure whether the connection was in his independence, his ability to represent people, or in the no vote that we did in the value added taxation. I voted no to VAT taxation and I will stand on that,” he said.

Mr Chipman noted that he also asked for a Select Committee of the House of Assembly to investigate the country’s natural resources and the funding that should be going into the Sovereign Fund.

“With this in mind, we strive towards a country that is self-sufficient. Parents should not be holding three jobs in order to put their children through school,” He stated that many students are out of the school system without a diploma because parents are out working three jobs to make sure they are able to feed their children.

“Today with visionaries like McAlpine we have the opportunity to bring back those things that we lost and were not be able to provide for our children.”

When asked about absences of four FNM MPs in Grand Bahama at the opening of the centre, Mr Chipman said: “The thing is we all have our way of politics, and I can only assume that they are very busy and not able to attend due to their busy schedules.

“I would not want to make any comments as to why they are not here.

What’s important is that I am here to represent what is referred to as progressive

politics, thinking outside of the box to be more creative in terms of what we can do to make this country a better place,” he said.

When he spoke, Mr Miller said he believes the opening of the Pineridge Education Centre is significant.

“I am honoured to be part of historic gathering, It is a momentous occasion when all of us as Bahamians in general, Grand Bahamians particularly, should be proud,” he said.

The facility prepares students to sit the national BJC and BGCSE exams.

Classes are Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm.

There are five core subjects: bible, science, history and geography, mathematics and language arts. Students must complete 21 credits to receive their diploma.

Jeffrey Jervis is the principal. Other staff members are educator Doris Kellman and administrator Denay Bullard. Rev McAlpine also opened his Pineridge constituency office in the Kipling Building.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, September 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

SUPERINTENDENT Thomas Lightbourne and Chief Superintendent Walter Evans at the scene of a fire at Bahamas Power and Light’s Clifton Pier plant on Sunday night. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

BPL fires ‘could cost firm $150m’ from page one The first fire broke out at the plant around 10.30pm Friday, according to BPL’s CEO Whitney Heastie, who has since appealed to the public to assist the electricity provider by conserving energy so it can meet energy demands.

The second blaze erupted Sunday night shortly before 10pm - and Fire Services said that three units were on the scene.

Another fire erupted yesterday morning, around 8am. The damage to which Mr Maynard was referring happened after the first two fires.

It is unclear how this third blaze would have affected already compromised infrastructure and equipment. Mr Maynard

suspected this happened because foam was not used to put out the previous fires. He said fire officials used foam the third time, which he said should do enough to keep future fires from igniting.

He rejected the assertion the situation was the result of sabotage, adding it was neither the result of employee negligence.

Officials said Saturday load shedding is expected to last throughout the week.

Asked to reveal the extent of the damage based on his walk through of the facility at Clifton on Sunday, Mr Maynard said: “I think one of them is shot.

No one is worrying about that any more.

“The other, the insurance will have to do an adjustment on it. The thing about

it is the building is finished.

The building has seen a lot of heat and there are a lot of cracks in the foundation.

It took a year to pour the floor, the engine is bolted down to the floor so the floor, because of the heat, is compromised.

“And so if you could imagine if you start it again it would shake that place to pieces.

“It’ll be $100m to replace one including the building, $100m-$150m, with longterm impact,” he said of the mountainous cost the day after the fires.

“But I say we use it as an opportunity. Clifton has not produced more than 50 to 60 megawatts of power consistently in the last 18 months.

“So whoever we deal with needs to be told that we need 120 megawatts

of temporary power right away. They can install that while they doing what they have to do. They can install it within three to six months.

“That will take the load off the people with the diesel premium they are paying. That way you are now on propane.”

He continued: “You have two companies, either Shell (North America) or New Fortress that can move the world. They have plenty, plenty power. When I say power, I mean they have the capacity to do what needs to be done. That’s how we see it.”

During Saturday’s press conference at BPL’s headquarters, Mr Bannister explained why BPL would not announce in advance which areas will experience load shedding. He stressed

there have been numerous incidents in the past where the broadcast of scheduled outages has endangered customers.

“It’s important to appreciate the advice that the safety authorities give to BPL,” Mr Bannister said.

“If you tell someone the power is going to be off, if you tell the nation power is going to be off in a particular neighbourhood and a particular time, then those people in that neighbourhood could be in danger.

“Over the years we’ve had too many incidents where people have been endangered; BPL doesn’t want to be responsible for that so we have to be very careful,” Mr Bannister said.

For his part, Mr Heastie added: “We do understand certainly there may be

damage to people’s property or appliances as a result of just abruptly shutting off power. We think that pales in comparison to someone doing some other harm as a result of knowing or targeting an area that may be out of power.”

On Saturday, Mr Heastie explained a technician was making adjustments at a major diesel engine deck while bringing an out of service generator online when the first fire started and quickly spread down to a basement and throughout the station.

While there were no injuries, BPL officials said Saturday they could not assess the damage to ascertain how much money or manpower will be needed to effect repairs until the area is deemed safe enough to traverse.

...AS DAVIS DEMANDS: WHAT’S GOING ON? from page one “This cannot be one of these Cabinet sub-committees. We cannot trust this government to investigate themselves. There is too much going on with BPL to take lightly; from the allegations and counter allegations of the board to the downsizing of Bahamians and replacement by foreigners; the new Shell deal, to the fire incidences at Clifton.

“The Bahamian people want the truth. Provision of reliable power is a national security issue. Reducing the costs of electricity is critical to the fundamentals of the economy. This is all too

important to ignore.”

More than two weeks ago, Dr Minnis said a formal investigation would be launched into the saga at BPL and the circumstances that led to the shock dissolution of its board of directors and a bitter war of words with top officials. Up to last week, press secretary Anthony Newbold said no team had been appointed for this investigation.

For his part, Mr Davis said the challenge the PLP has is the government’s failure to comprehensively speak to issues affecting the power provider.

He said: “Power is the life blood of the economy.

If you don’t have it, what will you have? In all aspects

Notice

MR. DONALD BAIN Please contact: Mrs. Tanya Hepburn tanyh1@yahoo.com 1(954) 709-9178

in our daily lives power is a necessary component.

“What is happening at BPL? What is happening with the Shell (North America) arrangement? What is happening with providing reliable electricity and the unanswered allegations in respect to corruption as was revealed when the board members were fired and or not appointed.”

“There is a necessity for the government to bring clarity and we need to know where we are headed,” he continued. “Their silence is telling and alarming and also hypocritical given their mantra is transparency and accountability. They need to account and tell the Bahamian people what is happening.”

Last month, Mr Davis said issues at BPL were proof the government had failed to firmly implement a plan for BPL or tackle its power generation challenges.

Mr Davis at the time maintained the former Christie administration’s plan for BPL was superior to this government’s intentions for the company.

“We set up a structure that was going to deliver in the shortest possible time new generation, reliable and affordable services to the Bahamian people. In fact if you were to check your bill in May of 2017 you would note that your bill was in the neighbourhood of 30 cents per kilowatt

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hour,” he said previously.

“I think if you look at it today, it is back to pre2012 rates and so it tells you within a very short period of time this government and through its board was not at least appreciating that there was a system in place, a structure in place to address what I call the legacy issues that impacted BEC and it was a complete answer to it.

“They scrapped it.

Having scrapped it they had no alternative plan in place.

So at the very least if they

were going to employ their own policy of stop, review and cancel perhaps they ought to reverse it and just review first before stopping, but they are just stopping and moving on without their own plan.”

He continued: “This is of concern because we are hearing about the number of consultants that are being brought in, the kind of salaries that’s being expended on these consultants and what they are being brought for.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 11, 2018, PAGE 7

High school activists take on Disney over Lighthouse Point

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THREE Central Eleuthera High School students have taken on the mantle of activism as they join scores of environmentalists in the fight to prevent Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera from being developed into a cruise port.

Eleventh grade students Wadainya Weinburger, 16, Franchesca Hanna, 16, and Kristman Moss, 15, sat down with The Tribune yesterday during a visit to Nassau to discuss their hopes for Lighthouse Point and why they want it to be more than a “playground for the wealthy”.

Renowned for its beauty, Lighthouse Point is a privately owned 700-acre peninsula at the southern tip of Eleuthera.

Earlier this month, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation confirmed that Disney Cruise Lines made presentation to the Chamber regarding the company’s proposal to develop a destination at the site.

In March, the students visited the site with classmates. “Words can’t explain the way it felt when we were there,” Wadainya said, recounting the beauty of the ponds, foliage, engraved rocks, sand, and sea. “It just was jaw-dropping, amazing, gorgeous.” “(It felt) like our heart and our soul automatically connected with nature,” Franchesca added.

In contrast, Franchesca “And we’re trying to said she was “heartbroken” speak on it because we don’t when she learned of the want it to be (broken) down, Disney proposal. destroyed. Because Disney, Like most teenagers, they’re going to destroy the the students expressed environment and everything great affection for the else that is there to build Walt Disney Company, its what they have to build,” amusement parks, and its she continued. merchandise.

However, “So, yes there are going they were concerned about to be jobs, but is everyLighthouse Point being body going to be able to barricaded from locals, go there? That’s a definite the environmental impact no. The people of the comof another munity are cruise port on ‘We don’t want to going to be their island, discriminate (against) shut off and the sustainwe want it to ability of the Disney. We love be open to Disney, you know endeavour, the people. and whether — the movies and Also, we they will everything, it’s very want to give be able to them jobs.” share Light- exciting. And we She added house Point love their theme creating with their of Disney in the sustainable own future States. But when you jobs is a goal children. of the One “We don’t come to an island, Eleuthera want to dis- especially the island Foundation, criminate of freedom, we have one of the (against) to understand that we organisations Disney,” at the forehave our rights and Wadainya front of the said. “We love the freedom to roam mission to Disney, you about Eleuthera.’ save Lightknow — the house Point movies and from comeverything, it’s very exciting. mercial development.

And we love their theme of Along with the Bahamas Disney in the States.

National Trust, sustainable “But when you come to alternatives One Eleuthera is an island, especially the proposing for the site develisland of freedom, we have opment include a national to understand that we have park component, a research our rights and the freedom facility, and a small eco-lodge. to roam about Eleuthera Kristman said his dream and visit the different is for Lighthouse Point to beaches on the island to see be accessible for future genhow amazing it is and how erations of Bahamians, and it uplifts the people in the not become a “memory”. community. “(My dream is) to be able

to share it with the future generations,” he said. “(For it) to stay with the Bahamian people who inhabit the land, not to any foreigner who goes and comes as they (please). Because too many times we have to live off of a memory — somebody before us remembers what it (was) like, but we don’t know what it’s like… And we can’t experience it fully.

“If you sell Lighthouse Point to Disney, then they make a profit but we don’t.

“What One Eleuthera is proposing is we’re going to keep our property.”

The students excitedly described how this experience has been their first foray into activism.

“This opportunity helped me to find my voice,” Franchesca said. “I didn’t know I had this voice to speak up (with)…If it could happen for me, it could happen for anyone else.

“Lighthouse Beach definitely helped me find myself,” she said. “If it stays with One Eleuthera (OE), it could help many other young people and they could see (why) we fight for this.”

She said even if OE loses their fight, she’ll know they did their best and the outcome was simply “beyond their control”.

“We don’t want to put all this work in for us to leave,” Kristman added. Regarding Lighthouse Point itself, Wadainya said: “You just have to go and experience it so that you could feel the way that we feel. It’s a treasure to everyone when you go there.”

FROM left, Tammy Weinberger, students Wadainya Weinburger, 16, Franchesca Hanna, 16, and Kristman Moss, 15, along with environmentalist Sam Duncombe (second from right) outside The Tribune yesterday.

Photo: Morgan Adderley/Tribune Staff

NO ‘WHITE SMOKE’ ON MARIJUANA STUDY TEAM

from page one

“I’m waiting on government. The wheels of government move slow. I see the doctors’ fraternity is having something on medicinal marijuana and I think the way it is that the whole Caribbean is moving in that direction. We should be the headlight, not the taillight.”

Bishop Hall did not call on the government to move faster on the matter, but he said: “I’m not sure what is their pace, their hesitancy

or what it is they are doing.

I don’t want to preempt them but I know the rest of the Caribbean is moving forthwith with this matter.”

More than four weeks ago, Dr Minnis told the press members of the cannabis committee would receive their terms of references and begin exploring public opinion on the issue within a “week or two.”

The committee follows the July release of a CARICOM report that called for the end of prohibition against the plant. That

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

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

unjust,” the commission reported.

Asked about the matter last month, Dr Minnis said: “The approval of a marijuana committee has been approved by Cabinet.

The make-up of the committee was approved. We now have to write the various different entities, the Chamber of Commerce, the University of The Bahamas, COBUS, business leagues, various entities, so they can send their representative, inclusive of the Christian Council.

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

Other marijuana related activities are slated for this year.

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

Dr Brown has told The Tribune he plans to bring experts and industry stakeholders to The Bahamas to educate people on medicinal cannabis products, treatments and modes of delivery. Though hardly accessed, legal pathways already exist for medicinal uses of cannabis in The Bahamas.

READERS ON VAT EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS TRIBUNE Business reported yesterday that food stores’ early 12 percent VAT collections have exceeded predictions by double digits – with Super Value’s owner Rupert Roberts admitting: “We were all wrong about breadbasket sales.”

Readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com.

DDK said: “I am so glad the 1% is happy!”

Geostorm had this to say: “So glad that Mr Roberts was big enough to admit that they were wrong about the VAT increase. Now just hope the rest of the country can allow the government to do its job and stop being so overly critical. It took the previous government 10 years to mess up the economy, we should at least give the current administration an opportunity to fix it.”

Quoting “tax revenues collected from consumers during the first two weeks of August, after the VAT exemption took effect, were 33 percent up yearover-year,” ThisIsOurs said: “Duh . . . VAT increased by 60% and one apple went from 99c to 1.67. Too simplistic. Consider a few things, VAT went up 60%, the lower priced items were excluded, the price was increased on the regularly priced items. People have to eat. Super Value’s base prices went up dramatically in the run up to and, post VAT. So you have a base price increase added to a VAT increase. The real question is, are you collecting what you projected? I notice he said there’s a 33%

increase in collections, but the VAT rate was increased by 60%. Are these in line with projections? This government is doing nothing to fix the economy, you can see that clearly from the Oban fiasco, and the human resource selections being made to head finance. More of the same.”

John offered this detailed explanation: “Obviously Mr Roberts and his crew made two crucial mistakes when attempting to calculate the net effect of the cero rating of bread basket items. Firstly while the breadbasket items may make up a large percentage of what Super Value sells by number of items, the value of the goods compared to other items is far less. For example, the average price of breadbasket items may be a can of corned beef at around $2.00. But Super Value sells steaks for an average of $20.00 a pack, detergents for average of $8.00, other cleaning items and dry items that sell for upwards of $10.00 per item.

And secondly, while government is removing the VAT off the lower priced bread basket items, it is increasing the VAT on the higher priced non-bread basket items by 60 percent. So the net result is an increase in the amount

of VAT collected and not a decrease as Roberts predicted.

“Now with the smaller mom and pop shops it is a little different. Since most of what they sell are bread basket items there will be a net decrease in the amount of VAT they charge. BUT also remember two things: While smaller stores pay VAT when they purchase goods and supplies, they do not revert VAT to the government like Super Value.

So they wouldn’t really be able to say how much impact the cero rated items had on their tax returns, except if they were keeping records on their purchases.

“Maybe the wholesalers will be more able to give the information. ALSO since the smaller stores do not get a VAT return on their inputs, like store supplies and utilities, they have to factor them in to their prices and to compensate for the 60% increase on their inputs they must now pro rate this cost, either all over the VAT items or some on the zero rated items. This may mean that their prices will be a few cents higher than Super Value because Mr Roberts will have his VAT returned directly from the government. And if they fail to account for these increases in costs they will either consume their profits or even, inadvertently, sell at a loss. So while most stores were adding an additional 10-12% to cover for the 7.5% VAT, so now they will have to add 15-18% for the 12% VAT. Remember they

have to pay this money out up front so it does add to their cost of doing business.”

Dawes posted this comment: “All this means is Mr Roberts let his emotions do the talking back in June/ July. I am sure his systems should have been able to tell him what % of his sales are breadbasket and what $ value of those are, so he could then extrapolate the effect of the changes

in VAT on his expected August sales.”

That prompted this response from ThisIsOurs: “I shop at Super Value. I don’t buy sugar, corn beef, tuna, baby food, pampers, butter, milk or sardines. I do buy apples. He’s talking about ‘total’ VAT. To really understand the impact we’d have to know what percentage of his sales are bread basket vs not. Have buying patterns changed?

And how much did the base price increase? Without that information just saying you’re collecting 33% more is meaningless. If prices went up, you increased VAT, you’d expect ‘some’ increase, the real issue is are you getting the amount you expected and how much is due to increased base price?”

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

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PAGE 8, Tuesday, September 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Jacinta’s pulled by her African heritage but will bury her heart in Fox Hill AS A child, she would play school with her dolls and teach them things she had learnt. Her navel string is planted in Fox Hill and there, she grew up practicing on family and friends at home, putting them in school for fun, too. Now that she is grown and has her own school located in the heart of Fox Hill, she is taking on a new responsibility; one that requires her to champion the rights of men, women, boys and girls throughout the country.

When former Senator Dr Jacinta Marie Higgs (nee Mackey) was born, most Fox Hillians carried out the old tradition where a young woman would return to the home of her parents after giving birth to a child. For the first two or three months, maternal grandparents, aunts and uncles would assist the new mother in caring for the infant. This practice is very similar to Biblical as well African and other ethnic traditions. Her mother, Coral Marie Mackey (nee Ferguson-Davis), went to stay with her parents on Step Street in Fox Hill, and they helped her with their newborn grandchild.

Fox Hill historical village in New Providence was once called “New Guinea” – a place where liberated Africans lived. New Guinea consisted of Congo and Nango Towns and were populated as early as the 1600s by Africans of the Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani and Hausa tribes.

A few months after her birth, Jacinta left Fox Hill and was taken home to her parents’ house in The Grove community, in what was known as Mr Carey’s yard to be with her father Benjamin Mannasseh Mackey and her older brother, Stephen. Shortly after, her brother Mannaseh was born.

Benjamin, a native of Wemyss Bight, Eleuthera, had several skills; he was a carpenter, farmer and fisherman, and also worked as an officer for the Boys Industrial School (now Simpson C Penn Centre for Boys). Coral was a sought after seamstress and home designer, who would make curtains and draperies, bed spreads and pillow cases for her clients.

She, like her husband, also got to serve the nation in the area of steering wayward teens towards a better future as she was employed as a matron supervisor for the Girls Industrial School (now the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls).

In a few short years, however, the couple separated and Coral and the children returned to historic Fox Hill. Her love of sewing

Photo: Roger D

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

showed in the numerous Benjamin apprenticed outfits that Fox Hillians under his father-in-law and wore – everything from developed great skill. school and work uniforms When Jacinta was to outstanding apparel for about nine years old, her wedding and funerals, to grandfather built a bigger the popular Fox Hill Day two-bedroom wooden outfits and other commu- home for his daughter so nity and family events. She that she could stop paying would eventually meet rent.

Edward Flowers and have “We built it on Step three more children: Lil- Street in Fox Hill and that lian, Frederick and Ryan. house still stands and is still Jacinta referred to her step- in use today,” Jacinta said. father as “a gentle, wise and “It was a family venture; generous spirit”. we used the ancient Afri“We moved to Gun Hill can principle of collective Road, Fox Hill, in a two- family responsibility. My bedroom clapboard house grandfather, along with where the front room family and members of the served as a bedroom at community came together night, the study area during to build it. We all had to the day if you help build it. had to do ‘I was born and I remember homework, we would raised in Fox Hill, and a dining have to tote room at attended school rocks in dinner time,” and reside in Fox buckets and Jacinta had blisters; Hill, and my burial Imy remembers. hands plot is in Fox Hill; “The tell the tale kitchen was I celebrate its to this day. a table on We used the outside powerful legacy the African with tin pots, and its lineage of principle of a tin dish- great leaders.’

Asue, compan and tin munity dishes which collective were covered with a thick, sharing, to fund it so there plastic sheet when not in was no mortgage on it. This use. About 20 feet from the was a powerful African back door was an outside financial lesson of not gettoilet… I remember using ting something until you the toilet. It was very fright- could afford to purchase it ening. There were frogs and outright.” insects that used it as their The entire family home. It was dark when the attended St Anslem’s cathodoor was closed, and then lic church and here, Jacinta there was the smell and the attended prep and primary fear that you would drop in schools. In the 1970s, the that deep hole.” She chuck- school closed down and she led to recall it, noting the was transferred to Sandisimplicity of island life for land’s Primary School. many back then.

When she completed the Jacinta would grow up 6th grade, she took the test in a “culturally rich” envi- for St Anne’s high school, ronment surrounded by but was not accepted, grandparents, aunts and resulting in a lesson that uncles and in a tightly-knit stayed with her: “It was a community. Her maternal devastating experience for grandmother Lillian Fergu- me. Everyone in the village son (nee Davis) was one of knew your business for evethe first Bahamian women ryone knew that I had not to create a straw market in passed. I had to be strong down town, Nassau. She as an 11-year-old child and was also a homemaker and maintain the understanding a very good cook, a skill of my worth in spite of not which Lillian and her sis- passing the exam.” ters inherited. Jacinta’s She attended LW Young grandfather, Clarence Wil- and in the last two years of liam (Buddy) Ferguson, her education, she attended a native of Snub Corner, St Augustine’s College, Acklins was a commu- graduating in 1983. She nity leader in Fox Hill and appreciated both of these former Superintendent of schools, located in Fox Hill, the then Boys Industrial realising that “the dualSchool. He was also the ity” of being drenched in leader of several lodges the Catholic system as well during his time including St as the government school Mark’s Burial Society. As a system provided her with carpenter, Jacinta’s father “powerful experiences and powerful mentors”.

“I attribute much of my success, talents, character formation, and my community and national leadership to persons such as Elma Garraway, Maxine Ritchie, Maryann Demeritte, Sheila Rolle, Mary Sweetnam and my mothers and aunts,” she said.

Mrs Garraway, who led Jacinta’s Girl Guides group when she attended LW Young, came to speak at St. Augustine’s during her

JACINTA aged one with her brother, Stephen.

graduating year. She appealed to students to consider becoming a teacher, as there were scholarships available at the College of The Bahamas for this vocation. Jacinta applied, was accepted and four years later, graduated as a 21-year-old certified teacher. Her public school teaching career began at

SC McPherson High School and spanned 13 years. She left Nassau to attend the University of St Thomas in Minnesota obtaining her Doctorate degree and she then returned to serve as Director of Education for Omega College (also in Fox Hill).

“Even as a little girl I just loved to take the opportunity to teach, train and guide,” she beamed, adding that she began teaching Sunday School at St Anslem’s as a teenager.

She was 17 years old when she first met her husband, Dwight Higgs.

The 23-year-old from St Francis Cathedral helped to facilitate the weekend church retreat that Jacinta attended. Four months after she graduated from the COB - at the age of 21 - Jacinta was married to Dwight and they have been together ever since.

JACINTA with her parents as she graduated with her doctorate.

statement that now precedes her.

In this way, she set up a school with a curriculum based on “an Afro-centric curriculum and very Together, diverse programmes”. they have three chilJacinta explains: “My dren – Dwina, Cecilia and love for Africa came, in Christopher and a grand- part from my cousin Lionel daughter, Chioma, and Davis, who was an MP for their homestead is still in Fox Hill who would wear the Fox Hill area today. African attire, especially When they met, Dwight for Fox Hill Day; from my was part owner of Higgs mother, who would always wear beautiful headscarves; and also from the late Dr. Thaddeus McDonald (former COB professor) who always wore a dashiki when I was a student at COB. “My love and passion for and study of Africa was sealed when I went to university in Minnesota where the largest population of African migrants lived. I saw the beauty of the parallel of the two cultures (African and Bahamian), the way they danced, dressed and cooked. It was penetratingly impactful upon me.”

“We will be required to return one day, to reach out to Africa culturally, socially, economically, intellectually and spiritually. Our children will be confronted with the depth of their identity as they go off to college and university and I want to be present for when they return to ask questions.

I serve as a symbol and I have created a sacred space (AIA) as they return to ask questions.”

Her family trip to Ghana earlier this year solidified her perspective and her purpose as a symbol for the culture and ancestry of the majority of the Bahamian population. She resides in an area which still honours Africa today with Fox Hill Day, a week after Emancipation day, yet the most outstanding and FROM top, receiving long-standing celher Senate appointebration on the ment from then island for the holGovernor General iday, drawing AD Hanna, with the thousands from FNM campaign in around the & Son 2007, and taking island. conpart in the 2004 “I was born and tractors UNESCO visit to Fox raised in Fox Hill, along with Hill. attended school and his father reside in Fox Hill, and and brothers, and was an excellent my burial plot is in Fox heavy equipment opera- Hill; I celebrate its powertor. He later formed his ful legacy and its lineage of own company, Superior great leaders,” she said.

Just weeks after her Maintenance, a construction management company return from Africa, Jacinta which successfully super- received a new appointvised projects for The One ment as the Director of and Only Ocean Club, the Gender and Family Affairs three phases of the Atlantis in the Ministry of Social Resort, Aquinas College, Services and Community Veteran and the new Holy Family Development. and St Anslem’s Catholic Educator Joan Rolle has Churches. Through her hus- filled her post as Presiband, she said, she is able dent of AIA, with Rhonda to “describe God” because Wright serving as principal.

Speaking face-to-face of his “generosity, wisdom, compassion for others, and with her last week, she said: unconditional, infinite love “In the past four weeks, I have had the awesome and forgiveness”.

When Jacinta returned opportunity to merge my home, she became involved professional training as an in front line politics and educator with my passion, became the FNM candidate which is to serve people. for Fox Hill for the 2007 I recognise the planetary, general elections. She did providential, divine purpose not win her seat but was for which I was born, which appointed as a Senator, a is to bring value, decency position she held for five and divinity to every person I meet in this appointment.” years.

She sees the post as an In 2011, Jacinta’s dream of having her own school opportunity to focus on became a reality when she the cause of human rights opened Akhepran Inter- and will head to Geneva, national Academy (AIA). Switzerland next month The school is unique as with a team to present she is. Jacinta is known The Bahamas’ report on for her African outfits and CEDAW (Convention on for being outspoken about the Elimination of all forms the need for Bahamians of of Discrimination Against African descent to discover Women), a United Nation’s their roots. Her elaborate international Bill of Rights headpieces have made a for women.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 11, 2018, PAGE 9

Murder conviction quashed - and judge sends case back for retrial

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has quashed the murder conviction of a man sentenced to life in prison for murdering a cashier at his family’s food store in the course of an armed robbery, and has ordered a retrial.

In an 18-page ruling published to the court’s website this week, acting Justice Milton Evans concluded that an order for a retrial in the case of Lavardo Rahming would be in the interest of justice.

While the ruling remitted the murder case back to the Supreme Court for retrial, it also affirmed Rahming’s conviction and eight-year sentence related to the offence of armed robbery.

Earlier this year, the court heard arguments on two grounds: whether Rahming’s confession should have been excluded as evidence in view of his claims of being tortured and whether the alternative verdict of manslaughter should have been left to the jury.

However, the court reserved its decision and adjourned the matter to a later date.

According to previous reports, Dion Strachan was a cashier at the family’s M&R Food Store when he was shot inside the storeroom.

According to a Privy Council ruling, the robbery was carried out at the food store in question by two men, each armed with a handgun, in the late

afternoon of November 27, 2008.

They demanded the contents of the register from Strachan. However, when Strachan did not cooperate, he was chased into a rear storeroom where he was shot.

The two gunmen then escaped with the contents of the register, estimated by the storeowner to be some $1,300. Later, with the assistance of the accomplice, the police recovered two handguns, a 9 mm and a .38.

Four spent ammunition casings were also found near Strachan’s body in the storeroom, and were matched to the recovered firearms. Three bullets came from the .38, while one came from the 9 mm.

Strachan had two gunshot wounds, both apparently sustained at close range.

One was a graze across the right chest, and the other, which was the cause of death, entered his left lower abdomen and “traversed” his body before exiting in the area of his right shoulder blade.

The Crown’s case at the time was that the two gunmen were Rahming and his friend Shavargo McPhee.

In his appeal submission, Rahming claimed he confessed to the offences after being beaten with a piece of 2x4 wood, suffocated with a plastic bag and tased by police officers.

Rahming had contended through counsel and in an unsworn statement from the dock that he was beaten and tased in an upstairs

room of the police station, further alleging that his co-accused, McPhee, was beaten in front of the appellant.

The Court of Appeal’s ruling noted that these occurrences led the appellant to confess.

It read: “Once the appellant was remanded he complained to the prison doctor that he was experiencing chest pain stemming from police brutality and he was prescribed 600 mg dosage of painkillers after he made the complaint of chest pain. Dr Johnson, the prison doctor, gave evidence that although the appellant’s medical report indicated that there were no visible signs of abuse on the appellant’s person the fact that a plastic bag was placed over one’s head would be difficult to prove or disprove.

“The appellant also stated that he was denied opportunity to contact his attorney prior to the time the interview and statement were signed. He contended that this was a violation to his constitutional right under Article 19(2) of the Constitution of The Bahamas to instruct a legal representative of his own choice and to have private communication with him.

“The appellant elected not to support his allegations by sworn evidence in the ‘voir dire’, but made an unsworn statement from the dock. The principal police officers concerned gave evidence before the judge and were cross-examined. The judge rejected the

account of torture on the facts, and allowed the statements to be admitted into evidence.”

The ruling also noted that in his record of interview, Rahming did admit that he and McPhee robbed the store, but denied shooting the deceased.

The ruling said Rahming in his statement also admitted to robbing the deceased with a Glock 40, but insisted it was McPhee who ran behind the man.

In his account, Rahming said that it was at this point he heard a shot.

Rahming claimed that when he went to the back, he found McPhee holding the man who was bleeding.

When they left, according to Rahming, the man fell to the ground bleeding.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the trial judge erred by admitting the appellant’s confession statement into evidence after a ‘voir dire’ was held and by failing to address whether the confession should be excluded by possible undisclosed interrogation prior to the appellant’s formal interview.

On the other ground being considered, whether the alternative verdict of manslaughter should have been left to the jury, the Crown’s case was that the two men went into the store both armed with guns to rob the store but prepared to use whatever force was necessary to accomplish that goal.

The court ruled that the trial judge erred by not leaving the alternative

the ultimate result of this process: “A PFM Bill that aligns with standards such as the International Monetary Fund Regional’s Code of Fiscal Transparency; and is supportive of the other body of legislation aimed at securing the proper management of the country’s public finances and promoting fiscal discipline.”

Mr Turnquest said the PFM bill will help to develop a new institutional and regulatory framework for managing public finances.

He said the bill would aim to provide the coherent legal framework necessary to support the broader introduction of the Integrated Financial Management Information System, inclusive of process improvements that will strengthen accountability, oversight, management and control of public funds.

“In a material respect, the PFM Bill will seek to: enhance, clarify and adequately specify the roles and responsibility of persons/positions entrusted with management and control of public funds, assets, liabilities and other resources; build out provisions related to financial management, including the requirements for the preparation of cash flow forecasts and enhance adequacy of reporting provisions, especially in-year reporting of fiscal information.”

Additionally, Mr Turnquest said the bill would also look to specify accountability expectations for government agencies; include provisions related to sanctions for financial misconduct, financial crimes, institutional sanctions, recovery of losses other than by surcharge and

publication of offences; consider improved oversight provisions for government agencies and expand provisions related to annual budget information disclosure requirements.

Mr Turnquest said the PFM law, when introduced, will set new standards and hold civic servants, to a higher standard of accountability, including those elected by the people.

He added: “No matter how bad it is needed, the change, progress is often a difficult one. But I have every confidence that the changes we are proposing are the kind we can all get behind and support.”

“The Bahamian public deserves a government that understands its responsibility to be accountable.

To fulfil this obligation, we need the tools to support our work, and the legislative reform is all about that.

These changes will create tools for you to use, for us all to use, to serve the Bahamian people better.

“This project is important for the Ministry of Finance and the government, at large,” he said.

CARTAC, which is one of ten IMF Technical Assistance Centres, works to help countries strengthen their human and institutional capacity to design and implement sound macroeconomic policies that promote growth and reduce poverty.

The unit, over the course of the review and drafting process, will be represented in The Bahamas by its legal consultant, Lynne McKenzie, who drafted the initial Public Financial Management Bill, and CARTAC’s public finance management adviser, Bruce Stacey.

FINANCE BILLS ARE ‘MOVING CLOSER’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE government’s bundle of public finance management bills has advanced even closer to the Minnis administration’s intended targets, as the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) yesterday launched its introductory session on the draft Public Financial Management Bill.

The meetings, which are arranged over a threeweek period, represent the start of an intensive, interactive consultative process with key stakeholders — government financial staff — that will culminate in the complete revamp of the Financial Administration and Audit Act (FAAA).

Speaking at the seminar’s opening ceremony yesterday, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest said through the initiative, officials will facilitate the critical review and drafting exercise for the bill.

Mr Turnquest has said the bill could be introduced to Parliament as soon as next week.

That is in line with his indication that the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, another of the touted public finance management bills, must be “top of the docket” when the House of Assembly resumes on September 19.

The East Grand Bahama MP yesterday said the government, in its continued push toward the modernisation of the public service, has made it a priority of the Ministry of Finance to shape a new culture of

transparency and accountability in public finances.

“The Public Financial Management (PFM) Bill will do just that,” he told those in attendance, “along with the soon to be enacted Fiscal Responsibility Bill, and proposed Public Debt Management Bill and Public Procurement Bill.”

For much of the summer, Mr Turnquest has talked of the Minnis administration’s plans to completely overhaul the country’s standard metric of public finance management and reporting.

Continuing the narrative yesterday, Mr Turnquest said the bills represent key pillars in the broader public financial management reform agenda.

Moreover, he said the legislation will reinforce the government’s commitment to the promotion of efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and comprehensive financial reporting, while also bringing the country in line with international best practices governing public financial management.

“In reality, our current legal framework for public financial management is outdated and inadequate to meet the demands of good governance,” he said.

“Pushing forward with this major legislative overhaul is, therefore, a must.”

He continued: “Some of you may recall that during the preparation of the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, numerous shortcomings were identified in the FAAA. “Because of the need for extensive revisions, we made a decision to replace the FAAA with a more modern and appropriate legislation, which will be

verdict of manslaughter to the jury.

The Crown, during its case, contended that as it was a joint enterprise it did not matter which of them did the shooting.

The jury convicted both men of murder but the appellant now submits that an alternate verdict of manslaughter should have been left to the jury, the ruling noted.

The ruling noted that based on the accounts of both men, it is clear that McPhee was indicating that he was not the only person who fired shots that day as he speaks about walking to the front after his altercation with the deceased and hearing a shot go off.

On the evidence, the only other person in the store was the appellant, Rahming.

However, the ruling pointed out that based on the forensic reports, the Crown asserted that it was the gun carried by McPhee which inflicted the fatal wound.

It read: “The appellant at no time admits to seeing the shooting only hearing shots and then seeing the deceased and McPhee entangled together when he went into the back.

“It is also clear that he does not admit taking part in the actual shooting.

As noted, however, the Crown’s position is that who fired the shots is irrelevant as this was a joint enterprise which extended to the murder of the deceased in order to execute the robbery.

“Mr Humes (Rahming’s attorney) submitted that on the evidence it was possible for the jury to find that the gun carried by McPhee went off during the struggle with the deceased and that there was no intention to kill.

“He contended that as it was open to the jury to accept or reject facts they would have had to decide whether the trigger was squeezed intentionally or by accident.

“He says that without the requisite intent the verdict of manslaughter should have been left for them to consider. In these circumstances, he contends that the learned judge was wrong not to have left the alternative verdict of manslaughter to the jury.”

Reflecting on the claims, the Court of Appeal’s ruling noted that, “so clearly” the trial judge did not provide the jury with any options.

“It clearly was possible for the jury to find that the actual shooting took place during the struggle which McPhee claimed took place.

If they were to take that view of the evidence then a verdict of manslaughter would have been appropriate,” the ruling said.

The ruling said the jury could have also refused to believe that there was a struggle or even take the view that the deceased was struggling in an attempt to avoid being shot in which case a murder verdict would be appropriate.

However, the court said the final decision should have been left to the jury.

DEPUTY Prime Minister Peter Turnquest.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

PAGE 10, Tuesday, September 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

HURRICANE Florence - as seen from the International Space Station - yesterday, headed for the US East Coast.

Photo: NASA via AP

l i a t e h t n i s g t i n i h t s e e n a h c T i r r u h a n e h w

By JUNIA HOWELL Professor of Sociology; Rice University Kinder Institute Scholar, University of Pittsburgh

HURRICANE Lane, which drenched Hawaii with four feet of rain, is a reminder of the devastation hurricane season can bring.

Only one year ago, Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston, followed closely

by Irma and Maria, which left a trail of destruction across Florida and Puerto Rico. Despite the private and government aid provided after these disasters, thousands continue to struggle even today.

However, not everyone is struggling. In fact, some actually benefit economically from these extreme weather events.

In a new study I coauthored with James Elliott, a fellow sociologist at Rice University, we found populations that are privileged in terms of education, race or homeownership gain wealth in the aftermath of natural disasters, exacerbating already wide economic inequities.

Not only that, how the government delivers aid is partly to blame.

Natural disasters from hurricanes to wildfires are on the rise, both in terms of frequency and severity.

And they take a heavy toll. Last year alone, the United States suffered $260bn in direct damages from natural disasters.

While that’s a devastating figure, it fails to encompass the full extent of the impact – such as a loss in income or uncovered expenses such as medical bills – that can last for months and even years after cleanup begins.

Previous research has shown the aftermath of disasters is more devastating for less privileged residents as they are more likely to lose their job, have to relocate and pay higher rents due to reduced housing availability.

In our recent paper in the journal Social Problems, we found that the effects are even more profound, with whites, the highly educated and homeowners actually improving their relative financial situation after a disaster, while blacks, those with less education and renters are worse off compared with their peers.

We combined nationally representative data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics on nearly 3,500 families with government figures on natural hazard damages, Federal Emergency Management

EFRAIN DIAZ FIGUEROA, right, walks by his sister’s home destroyed in the passing of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, last year while, right, members of a team taking part in recovery efforts in Puerto Rico hold a prayer circle.

Photo: Ramon Espinosa/AP Aid and local population demographics in every US county.

We then explored how extreme natural disasters influenced changes in family wealth from 1999 to 2013. Throughout our analysis, we controlled for race, education, age, homeownership, family status, residential mobility as well as neighbourhood and county demographics with the aim of comparing households that were similar. We also only compared families who started out with similar wealth in 1999.

Overall, we found a surprisingly strong correlation between the scale of damage a county experienced and an increase in average wealth. That is, people who lived in counties that suffered extreme disasters tended to accumulate more wealth over the period than those who lived in mostly unaffected parts of the country. And the more damage a county experienced, the more pronounced the relative gains in wealth.

Greater wealth, however, was not experienced by everyone. Using a statistical technique called interactions, we were able to see how these changes affected different segments of the population depending on race, education and homeownership.

First, we considered the effects of race and found that whites who lived in counties that experienced extreme natural disasters accumulated $100,000 more wealth than their peers with

similar characteristics who did not.

For people of color, on the other hand, this effect was reversed. Specifically, black residents living in disaster-prone counties lost $46,000 in wealth compared with their counterparts elsewhere.

And Latino residents in affected counties lost $101,000 relative to similar peers.

In other words, while whites benefitted financially by living in areas hit by hurricanes and other disasters, people of colour were clobbered.

We then examined the impact of education, holding other factors constant.

We found higher levels of education were also associated with a tendency to benefit from natural disasters, while those with less experienced devastating losses.

Finally we focused on homeownership. Similarly, our results showed that those who owned emerged a lot better off than those who rented.

Our findings suggest that natural disasters are worsening wealth inequality, especially along racial lines. For example, in Monmouth, New Jersey – a New York City suburb that experienced the most natural disaster damage in the US from 1999 to 2013 – $111,000 of the increase in the white-black wealth gap during the period can be attributed to the impact of the disasters.

This evidence is depressing in its own right. Yet, what is arguably even more

patdisturbing is Federal Emergency Management Aid is further exacerbating these inequalities.

FEMA aid is distributed to mitigate the negative repercussions of hazards.

In the best of worlds this federal assistance would reduce inequality – or at least curtail its expansion.

What we found is quite the opposite.

Unlike what you might think, FEMA aid is not distributed solely based on damage or need. In fact, when we compared the amount of natural disaster damage in counties across the US from 1999 to 2013 with how much aid FEMA allocated to them, the correlation is weak. This suggests factors other than need, such as politics, are primarily driving FEMA aid decisions.

However, statistically, this means we can isolate the effect of FEMA aid from natural hazards. When we did this, we found that FEMA aid also exacerbated inequalities. In New York County, for example, which received nearly $8bn in FEMA aid from 1999 to 2013, we found that $105,000 of the increase in the white-black wealth gap is attributable to FEMA aid.

In short, much like natural disasters themselves, FEMA aid is exasperating wealth inequality.

The obvious question after all this of course is why?

In this particular study, our aim was to identify the

terns of inequality and thus we are unable to specify the reasons why natural disasters and FEMA aid are exacerbating inequality.

That said, we do know from previous research that privatised aid as well as community reinvestment efforts are disproportionately concentrated in privileged communities, especially those that are white and middle-class.

Given the increasing frequency of natural disasters and their role in exacerbating wealth inequality, it is imperative the US reconsiders its responses to them. Immediate recovery aid is essential but equally important is ensuring this aid does not worsen entrenched inequities.

• This article was first published on theconversation.com

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 11, 2018, PAGE 11

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THE TRIBUNE

FOSSIL FUEL POWER TO BE MADE EXTINCT IN CALIFORNIA SACRAMENTO, California Associated Press

CALIFORNIA has set a goal of phasing out electricity produced by fossil fuels by 2045 under legislation signed Monday by Governor Jerry Brown, who said the policy should serve as a model for other states and nations.

Brown approved the measure as he prepares to host a summit in San Francisco of climate change leaders from around the world starting on Wednesday.

The new law, along with an executive order Brown signed directing California to take as much carbon dioxide out of the air as it emits, represent the latest in a string of ambitious environmental initiatives as California seeks to fill a void left by President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord and his efforts to boost the coal industry.

“We want others to do likewise, and if enough people often enough do what is needed we will curb global warming,” Brown said. “But we’re definitely at the beginning of what’s going to be a long and difficult and contentious journey.”

The state is pushing to rapidly expand adoption of electric vehicles and has created a “cap and trade” program to put a price on carbon emissions, creating incentives to reduce them.

It’s working toward a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent over the next 12 years.

SWEDEN JOINS EUROPE’S FAR RIGHT DRIFT STOCKHOLM Associated Press SWEDEN has become the latest European country to have its political order shaken by a backlash against large-scale immigration, with voters giving a boost to a far-right party and weakening the more established ones.

Sunday’s election left the two rival blocs — a centerleft group and a center-right alliance — with roughly 40 percent of the vote each, portending what is likely to be weeks of uncertainty and complex coalition talks before a new government can be formed.

The Sweden Democrats, which has roots in a neo-Nazi movement but has worked to soften its image, won 17.6 percent, up from 13 percent in 2014, for a third-place finish.

That showing is not strong enough for it to lead a government, but it reflects how deeply that Sweden, famous for its progressive policies, is being transformed by migration.

Sunday’s general election was the first since Sweden, with a population of 10 million, took in a record 163,000 migrants in 2015 — the highest per capita of any European country.

KNIFE ATTACK STOPPED BY BALL PLAYERS PARIS Associated Press

THEY only went out to play a calm game of petanque and enjoy some late summer warmth by a Parisian canal. By the end of the evening, the three friends had neutralised a knife-wielding attacker who had stabbed seven people, with an unlikely weapon: the game’s clanking — and hefty — metal balls.

Lobbing them in their dozens at the attacker and whacking him on the head with a wooden plank, they managed to bring the horror on Sunday night to an end. The attacker is now in custody.

A SOUTHERN right whale glides in the waters off El Doradillo Beach, Patagonia, Argentina, during the annual whale migration from Antarctica to Argentina’s Patagonia to give birth and feed their offspring.

Photo: Maxi Jonas/AP

JAPAN SEEKS TO END BAN ON WHALING FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil Associated Press

JAPAN proposed an end to a decades-old ban on commercial whaling at an international conference yesterday, arguing there is no longer a scientific reason for what was supposed to be a temporary measure.

But the proposal faces stiff opposition from countries that argue that many whale populations are still vulnerable or, even more

broadly, that the killing of whales is increasingly seen as unacceptable.

Japan currently kills whales under a provision that allows hunting for research purposes.

“Science is clear: there are certain species of whales whose population is healthy enough to be harvested sustainably,” reads the Japanese proposal, presented at the biannual International Whaling Commission meetings taking place this week in Florianopolis, Brazil. “Japan proposes to establish a committee

dedicated to sustainable whaling (including commercial whaling and aboriginal subsistence whaling).”

Japan’s proposal would also change how the international body operates, reflecting its frustration with an organisation that it says has become “intolerant” and a “mere forum for confrontation”.

While Japan argues that whale stocks have recovered sufficiently to allow for commercial hunting, conservationists contend whaling on the high seas has proven difficult

to manage.

“Time and again, species after species has been driven to near extinction,” said Patrick Ramage, director of marine conservation at the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

It’s not clear when the vote will happen; the meeting lasts until Friday. It’s also possible that the Japanese could pull back the proposal — or attempt to negotiate the inclusion of parts of it in other proposals.

US threatens sanctions on international court WASHINGTON Associated Press

AMERICA’S longrunning reluctant relationship with the International Criminal Court came to a crashing halt on Monday as decades of US suspicions about the tribunal and its global jurisdiction spilled into open hostility, amid threats of sanctions if it investigates US troops in Afghanistan.

National security adviser John Bolton denounced the legitimacy of The Haguebased court, which was created in 2002 to prosecute war crimes and crimes of humanity and genocide in areas where perpetrators might not otherwise face justice. It has 123 state parties that recognise its jurisdiction.

Bolton’s speech, on the eve of the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, came as an ICC judge was expected to soon announce a decision on a

request from prosecutors to formally open an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed

by Afghan national security forces, Taliban and Haqqani network militants, and US forces and intelligence in Afghanistan since May 2003. The accusations against US personnel include torture and illegal imprisonment.

“The International Criminal Court unacceptably threatens American sovereignty and US national security interests,” Bolton told the Federalist Society, a conservative Washingtonbased think tank. Bolton also took aim at Palestinian efforts to press war crime charges against Israel for its policies in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza.

He said the US would use “any means necessary” to protect Americans and citizens of allied countries, like Israel, “from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court”. The White

House said that to the extent permitted by US law, the Trump administration would ban ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the United States, sanction their funds in the US financial system and prosecute them in the US criminal system.

“We will not cooperate with the ICC,” Bolton said, adding that “for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us.”

It was an extraordinary rebuke decried by human rights groups who complained it was another Trump administration rollback of US leadership in demanding accountability for gross abuses.

“Any US action to scuttle ICC inquiries on Afghanistan and Palestine would demonstrate that the administration was more concerned with coddling serial rights abusers — and deflecting scrutiny of US conduct in Afghanistan — than supporting impartial

justice,” said Human Rights Watch.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents several people who claim they were detained and tortured in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2008 and could be victims or witnesses in any ICC prosecution, said Bolton’s threats were “straight out of an authoritarian playbook”.

“This misguided and harmful policy will only further isolate the United States from its closest allies and give solace to war criminals and authoritarian regimes seeking to evade international accountability,” the ACLU said.

Since its creation, the court has filed charges against dozens of suspects including former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was killed by rebels before he could be arrested, and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is accused of charges including genocide in

Darfur. Al-Bashir remains at large, as does Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, who was among the first rebels charged by the court in 2005. The court has convicted just eight defendants.

The Clinton administration in 2000 signed the Rome Statute that created the ICC but had serious reservations about the scope of the court’s jurisdiction and never submitted it for ratification to the Senate, where there was broad bipartisan opposition to what lawmakers saw as a threat to US sovereignty.

When George W Bush took office in 2001, his administration promoted and passed the American Service Members Protection Act, which sought to immunise US troops from potential prosecution by the ICC. In 2002, Bolton, then a State Department official, traveled to New York to ceremonially “unsign” the Rome Statute at the United Nations.

WINNER ‘GLAD NOT TO WEAR SWIMSUIT FOR PAGEANT’ ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey Associated Press THE first woman to win the Miss America crown without having to don a swimsuit says she’s glad she didn’t have to.

Nia Imani Franklin, who won the title on Sunday in Atlantic City while competing as Miss New York, said the changes in the 98-yearold pageant are a welcome modernisation.

Meeting reporters soon after winning the crown, Franklin said she’s glad there was no swimsuit competition because it enabled her to eat a little more.

“These changes, I think, will be great for our organisation,” she said. “I’ve already seen so many young women reaching out to me personally as Miss New York asking how they can get involved because I think they feel more empowered

that they don’t have to do things such as walk in a swimsuit for a scholarship.

“And I’m happy that I didn’t have to do so to win this title tonight because I’m more than just that,” Franklin said. “And all these women onstage are more than just that.”

Her victory on Sunday resurrected a string of successes the Empire State has had in the pageant in recent years. Mallory Hagan, Nina Davuluri and Kira Kazantsev won the title from 2013 to 2015 competing as Miss New York.

A classical vocalist whose pageant platform is “advocating for the arts,” Franklin sang an operatic selection from the opera La Boheme on Sunday night.

She wrote her first song at age five. It went “Love, love, love, love, is the only thing that matters to me, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.”

At the prompting of an

Associated Press reporter, she sang the song at her post-victory press conference as audience members snapped their fingers.

Franklin won a $50,000 scholarship along with the crown in the first Miss America pageant to be held without a swimsuit competition.

She said during her onstage interview that she was one of only a small number of minority students in school growing up, but used her love for music and the arts to grow and fit in.

The decision to drop the swimsuit competition created a good deal of controversy and criticism of current Miss America leadership. Minutes before the nationally televised broadcast began, a comedian warming up the crowd mentioned that there would be no swimsuit competition this year, and was met with loud boos in the hall.

MISS New York Nia Franklin reacts after being named Miss America on Sunday.

Photo: Noah K Murray/AP