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VOLUME:116 No.183, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2019

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

WOMAN: MAKING THE MOST OF CHILD-FREE HOURS

Tent cities for GB and Abaco • MEMORIAL SITE PLAN FOR MUDD AND PIGEON PEAS • SHANTY BUILDINGS ‘PUT LIVES IN DANGER’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE government may create a memorial site where The Mudd and Pigeon Peas once stood as the country’s largest shanty town communities - and is also considering tent cities to get people back to Grand Bahama and Abaco, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.

Cabinet is eying the

solution as a way to pay respects to the people who died there during Hurricane Dorian. Meanwhile, Cabinet is ironing out plans to erect large tent cities on hurricane ravaged islands to faciliate the relocation of evacuees back to their communities.

With debris still widely scattered in the decimated shanty towns, an account of how many bodies lay beneath the rubble remains elusive. A Haitian advocacy group, the United Haitian

Community Front, has said more than 300 people from the communities are listed as missing following the storm.

In the days after Hurricane Dorian, some residents spoke openly about wanting to rebuild the shanty towns, prompting the government to issue a prohibition order on Sunday to prevent construction of residential and business structures for six months.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis pictured yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

SEE PAGE THREE

DEATH TOLL RISES BY ONE POLICE PROBE SPATE OF - BUT MANY STILL MISSING NEW PROVIDENCE KILLINGS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net SEARCH and recovery teams have not yet got to the bottom of mounds of rubble in certain areas of Abaco, including The Mudd, making it more probable for the Hurricane Dorian death toll to substantially increase.

The official death toll

rose to 51 yesterday after the Royal Bahamas Police Force said the remains of a Caucasian man was discovered in the Marsh Harbour area shortly after 10am.

There have been 43 deaths in Abaco and eight in Grand Bahama, according to police. For the past week the official number of casualties stood at 50.

SEE PAGE TWO

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating four new homicides after two men were found with gunshot injuries in a space of 12 hours and a man who was shot on Saturday died in hospital - before a double shooting last night claimed the life of another victim.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

This means there have been ten recorded murders so far this month, doubling the total number of murders police recorded in September 2018, which was five.

A man was found dead on Johnson Road, off Eastern road yesterday morning. The killing came hours after a man was shot SEE PAGE EIGHT

NEMA DELIVERS RELIEF TO GB

PAGE 2, Tuesday, September 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

CLOSE to 100 local and international volunteers showed up at Freeport Ship Services Warehouse on Saturday to unload, repack and load up hurricane relief supplies that were donated to The Bahamas from Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean and other international donors.

Photos: Lisa Davis/BIS

By ANDREW COAKLEY NEMA took hurricane relief supplies directly to the residents of Grand Bahama for an initiative “Operation Relief Saturday”.

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, Minister of State for Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson, president of the Senate and coordinator for NEMA, Senator Kay Forbes-Smith, along with volunteers gathered at Freeport Shipping Services and unpacked large pallets of hurricane relief items, sorted them and put together care packages for Grand Bahama residents.

Once the packages were put together and sorted, they were loaded onto trucks and taken into various neighbourhoods throughout the island.

Escorted by RBDF officers, NEMA representatives went door-to-door, handing

out supplies to each resident in each neighbourhood.

“Instead of having the supplies remain in the warehouse, we want to make sure that once they get in, they are delivered to the communities,” said Senator Thompson.

“These supplies that we see in this warehouse came in last night, so it is critical for us to ensure that if they come in today that by tomorrow they go out.”

Mr Thompson said that while NEMA has set up a number of distribution centres throughout the island, they are aware that a number of people lost their vehicles during the storm as a result of flooding.

“We know that some of the people are unable to make it to one of the distribution points, so we felt it was important for us to take these supplies to the people who may not be able to jump into a vehicle and drive to a distribution point.”

Senator Forbes-Smith said that it was important for NEMA to go door-todoor and give supplies to individuals. Referring to the criticism that was circulating that the supplies were not getting to the people who needed them, Senator Forbes-Smith said such assertions were untrue.

“If we have to walk it and truck it to the people, that’s what we’re going to do,” she said. “We are going to keep doing this so that we ensure that these supplies get into the hands of the people who really need these supplies.

“We ascertain the areas and communities in Grand Bahama that were hardest hit by the hurricane and so we want to get to those people first. This is a disaster, and it takes a lot of organisation and planning and that’s what we’re doing today.

“But the most important thing that we can do is

get these supplies into the hands of the people who need them.”

The effort was a massive operation, with over 100 volunteers who were busy unpacking, sorting, packing and loading up trucks. In addition to local and NEMA volunteers there was also a group of volunteers at the warehouse from K1 Direct, an NGO and a regional response team based in St Martin whose specialty is assisting with distribution during a crisis. They are presently in Grand Bahama to assist NEMA with distributing supplies to victims hit

by Hurricane Dorian.

“The packages include items for a household of four, for four days,” explained Priya Thirumur, the vice-president of K1. “It includes everything from food, to cooking supplies, to hygiene products. From my experience, in a disaster such as this, distribution is the most challenging and

logistically complicated process. One of the things that has really impressed me in coming here to the Bahamas is that NEMA and ESF7 are very proactive. Everything that comes in every day is going out to the community.

With more manpower now, we are able to get more stuff out more quickly.”

Tammy Mitchell from NEMA said that the supplies are going to residents from East End to West End, in every community. She said supplies are even being distributed as far as Abaco and Sweeting’s Cay and that while the intention is to get items out as quickly as possible, there is still a process that must be followed.

“We still have to check items, we still have to ensure that they are safe to go out to the community,” said Ms Mitchell. “As we’re packaging, nothing is being left and no home is being left out.

Every item that we’re taking in, we are trying to get to

the homes. We know that this island has been hit very hard, but we’re doing our best to get all of these items out. But we have to make sure that the process is being followed. We’re working from sun up to sun down.”

As the first truck load of care packages pulled out of the parking lot and headed into Hawksbill, Mr Thompson was there and he assisted the RBDF officers in handing out the supplies.

As one of the hardest hit communities, the residents of Hawksbill expressed gratitude for having the supplies come to them.

Residents in Hawksbill who were busy on Saturday still removing soaked and mildewed furniture and sheet rock from their homes, and dumping them in the front of their yards, stopped their work and made their way to the truck in the streets to collect their relief supplies, thankful that the aid came to them.

DEATH TOLL RISES BY ONE - BUT MANY STILL MISSING from page one

According to Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Anthony Ferguson earlier yesterday, death declarations had stalled because there had been no recovery of bodies.

When asked by The Tribune how much of the island officials had been able to search, the police chief was unable to say. Instead he insisted that the effort would not be completed overnight as crews continued to tackle a vast land mass.

“It stopped because there was no recovery, but I can give you a bit of information that things are looking more hopeful today,” the commissioner said during NEMA’s daily press conference. “I (was) getting information just before I came here that we may have seen some semblance

of body remains and so as they probe today hopefully by this afternoon I’ll be able to give some confirmation as to what that is.”

It was NEMA’s director, Captain Stephen Russell who raised the possibility that there could be more remains discovered. The government has repeatedly said it was their expectation that death numbers as a result of Dorian would be substantial.

Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has said the final death toll could be “staggering”.

Capt Russell said: “There are a number of teams – the USAID is here, a team from Canada likewise is conducting a search for us.

Again we sought to put up a grid so that they can work in varying sections of the island instead of crossing one another.

“The main challenge with the continued search and recovery, it’s quite a bit of

debris, heavy debris, on the island – in The Mudd and other areas.

“You would have seen huge 20ft, 40ft containers spread across the whole community. Again now they have gone as far as they can with the resources…they had the sniffer dogs.

“But we now need to move through lifting those heavy equipment or containers out of the way, cars out of the way so we can really get down to the ground level to see if there are any bodies of deceased persons in those areas.

“That is our main task now moving forward this week here to get to the ground level by simply removing some stuff.

“You saw they had a large huge crane here that we had over the last few months.

That is now in Abaco. It is actually in action helping us to move those containers out of the way so we can get to ground level to see what

may be at the lower level.”

Continued recovery efforts could take several months, he told reporters.

“Recovery can go into another two or three months. It’s a slow process.

A huge portion of debris is in there. It’s a slow process of moving things out of the way and gradually moving forward.”

Commissioner Ferguson also responded to concerns about looting and house burglaries in Abaco.

He insisted that there are sufficient officers on the ground.

“Marsh Harbour, Abaco after the storm is in total disarray,” he said. “You have blockage all over the place and so therefore when we deploy teams into an environment you have to get familiar with the environment and be able to know how to manoeuvre.

“So I just urge those persons to be patient. You had the opportunity to go to

Marsh Harbour and it was total destruction and so really what you have seen with your own two eyes there is really not much of a building there just a whole lot of rubble and so we are committed along with my colleague from the Defence Force, we are committed to making sure that there is safety provided on the islands of Abaco.”

Asked how many officers were on the ground, he said “plenty”.

Earlier this month, officials said a total of 274 Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers were on Abaco.

These officers have made arrests for stealing-related crimes.

“Certainly we have arrested several persons (for looting). We arrested persons last night and I am pretty sure that as long as people continue to go afar of the law we will arrest

them,” Commissioner Ferguson said.

“Let me just say we have adequate officers on the ground.”

Rob Jenkins, team leader for USAID, said there was still much work to do, despite “amazing” efforts that have taken place.

He said: “As mentioned there is the possibility that there are still some people in need of urgent assistance that have not been located yet, but there have been many, many surveys both aerial and on the ground of the cays that people can get out to.

“Just today we have another team that’s visiting various locations looking at water and sanitation and health needs in various places and we will stay here this DART team on the ground in support of your government until the needs have been met and we can see that a recovery is underway.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, PAGE 3

Tent cities for GB and Abaco from page one

“Buildings on The Mudd and Pigeon Peas were inferiorly built and they were not set up for disaster, flooding and hurricanes and they were not built according to safety codes,” Dr Minnis said yesterday.

“Individual’s lives and health were in danger in those facilities.”

Dr Minnis was speaking to reporters following a meeting with Alden McLaughlin, the premier of the Cayman Islands.

“We want to ensure people are properly housed and not exposed to all the elements,” he said. “We’re discussing the matter at Cabinet now and we think it might be appropriate to declare those areas some sort of memorial site in respect for those who would’ve died in those particular areas.”

The urgent need to get storm evacuees back to their islands will spur the temporary creation of tent cities and man camps in Abaco and Grand Bahama, Dr Minnis said.

Cabinet and technocrats are finalising details of the plan but the prime minister suggested moving evacuees back to communities that feature essential services, such as schools, is the main priority of his administration.

“Manpower will be necessary. We must rebuild and they must be a part of that.

They were employed there also,” he said.

Man camps would house contractors and their staff working to rebuild and clean up the islands. Tent

cities featuring bathroom, recreation and cafeteria amenities will be up and available for what he hopes to be no longer than a year, he added.

“That can only remain up for a certain period of time because after six months to a year those individuals will become agitated and want to move into a different type of facility and therefore we would take that into consideration knowing that this is just a transitional phase. We’re hoping to have the man camp and the tent city completed very, very quickly so we can mobilise individuals and return them back,” he said.

Attorney General Carl Bethel said tent cities could feature family-sized tents with internal dividers, communal toilets and shower facilities.

“One tent emplacement will be for single men. The other for families. The intention is to have secured areas, with police law enforcement presence,” he said.

Long-term, he envisions the government constructing basic housing units, “preferably on stilts to give better durability in storm conditions.”

“Such developments will naturally have private sector involvement and the requirement that over time there be some financial contribution towards the cost of the land and the development of new communities,” he said. “But the details of that have yet to be worked out.”

Stressing discussions are preliminary, he said the destruction of The Mudd and Pigeon Peas shows the low-lying areas are unsafe for human habitation in the face of powerful storms.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis with Premier of the Cayman Islands Alden McLaughlin yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff “There is a need to to the Bahamas govern- accounting of the funds central and southern islands build further inland and on ment yesterday. Earlier, distribution. in 2015 and 2016, the Chris“We’ve added an tie administration created a higher ground,” he said. India’s High Commissioner, “I must emphasise that I M. Sevala Naik, presented accountant to NEMA and programme to rebuild and am not making any state- a donation of $1m, with his additional financing staff repair the homes of elderly, ment on the ultimate land country becoming the latest so as to monitor what is disabled and single parents use of those affected areas, among governments and received,” he said. “We whose properties suffered have a private account- substantial damage. whether for residential or celebrities to do so.

It is not clear how ing team that will do the other purposes. That is the Following Hurricane auditing to Irma in 2017, the Minnis job of the minister of envi- much in monetary dona- necessary ronment. Today the central tions the government has ensure transparency and administration gave $4,000 government must decide received. Dr Minnis said accountability and they per household to those how and where to house Cabinet is still discuss- will report directly to the affected in Ragged Island. affected populations in the ing how the funds will be nation on a monthly basis Some officials believe immediate aftermath of a used to help people, saying as to the monies that were the magnitude of destruccatastrophe. It is entirely attention must be given received and spent so we tion from Dorian makes impractical to even look at to building needs and the will have overt accountabil- direct monetary donations disaster zones at this time so psychological welfare of ity because the one thing I impractical and officials don’t want, I don’t want no are discussing various ways we must look elsewhere in affected residents.

Dr Minnis said no matter one calling me no thief.” the short to medium-term.” to incentivise rebuilding After Hurricanes Joaquin on the island, The Tribune The Cayman Islands how the donations are used, donated medical supplies the public will get a proper and Matthew devastated understands.

ACTIVISTS: WE MUST LEARN FROM OIL SPILL THE impact of Hurricane Dorian on Grand Bahama, which caused an oil spill from the South Riding Point storage facility, should teach the government a lesson and lead to a definitive rejection of the Oban refinery proposal, according to one environment group.

Fred Smith, legal director of of Save the Bays, said the government would be “insane” to continue courting another facility of this kind.

“The government will have to ensure Equinor urgently cleans up the South Riding Point and High Rock area,” he said.

“They would be insane to create an even larger threat to the pristine and ecologically invaluable eastern end of the island.”

Mr Smith said oil refineries are bastions of an outdated and defunct form of energy production and produce very few jobs for locals with the profits all being shipped overseas into the bank accounts of foreign owners.

“It is, and has always been a lose-lose scenario for Bahamians and the time has come to put an end to it. The government must tell Oban to take a hike,” he said.

“Climate change means that storms will only get stronger and more frequent; a disaster on the scale of South Riding Point or even greater is not a question of if, only a question of when.”

The Norwegian oil company Equinor has

said it is working to clean up the oil spilled from its terminal when Hurricane Dorian blew the tops off oil storage tanks.

STB Chairman Joseph Darville visited the site of the spill last week and claimed that evidence of the oil contamination was visible at least a mile and a half away.

A STB press release said the roof of the company’s building appeared to have been stained by the oil slick.

He said the canopy of the surrounding pine forest was saturated with oil at the same level for a distance of 400 metres from the oil plant.

“The beach in High Rock, east of the terminal, was befouled with oil for more than a mile and a half,” he said. “I have no idea how far the oil drifted south into the water, but if you consider that the wind was coming from the north and, with gusts well above 200mph, was so strong that it pushed a storm surge over 30 feet high, the consequences for the seabed and marine life on the south side of Grand Bahama are terrifying to contemplate.

“We saw no one doing any kind of clean-up,” he said. “In fact the only people we saw were two security guards, who told us we were not allowed to fly our drone to take aerial shots of the spill.”

Equinor has said clean up of the oil spill is underway.

“It is still Equinor’s assessment that no oil is

leaking from the terminal,” according to the company.

“An area with suspected oil spill in open water has now been confirmed to be a patch of seaweed. Another area with potential product 70-80 kilometres north east of the terminal on the other side of the island has been observed from air and results are being processed.

Currently, there are no indications that the terminal is

the source for this.”

Regarding the proposed Oban oil refinery project in East Grand Bahama, Mr Darville was adamant.

“This is a warning,” he declared, “that we need to permanently shelve this foolish, asinine, ignorant proposal for good. It would be unconscionable for the government to move forward with this proposal now.”

OIL outside the Equinor facility in Grand Bahama.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, September 17, 2019

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Be clear about death toll count AMID the many difficult tasks facing people in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, one of the hardest of all is the most personal: waiting for confirmation of the death of a loved one.

For the past week, the death toll from the storm remained unchanged at 50 only to be updated last night to 51.

It seems almost unimaginable to us that in a whole week only one body was found by relief teams on the ground in Abaco and Grand Bahama.

It seems even less plausible when we think of how, when the count was 45, the Associated Press reported five bodies found in The Mudd, while our own journalist, Brent Stubbs, was on hand when two bodies were found in the Pigeon Pea area. The official count, though, went up to 50, not 52. And it remained unchanged at 50 for a week.

Anecdotally, we hear many other stories of bodies being found, or sightings of bodies in the hurricane-hit areas, but again the count has not shifted.

We do not say this to fuel some of the more outlandish theories being circulated on social media - there is no reason for the government to hide the total as some have suggested - but merely to point out that this process could be conducted more clearly.

According to the official figures, there have been 43 deaths in Abaco and eight in Grand Bahama, but beyond that, there is little detail in the figures that have been released.

No information has been revealed on where bodies were found or which communities have been searched so far.

Health Minister Dr Duane Sands was very clear that a specific process had to be followed to confirm deaths, and his was a very clear voice in this matter.

The police have been less clear since they started providing updates.

Yesterday, Commissioner Anthony Ferguson said the body count had stopped “because there was no recovery”. That may be the case, but why not be specific about it? Give a daily update, saying what areas have been searched that day, and specifying that no bodies were found there. Perhaps too give an indication of the state of the area, so that

people are aware of the level of debris that might be hindering the search.

His comment yesterday that he had a report that “we may have seen some semblance of body remains” is neither comforting in his choice of words nor detailed enough so that people know experts are on the scene and actively engaged in recovery.

Certainly, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames was correct to point out that you cannot just take a bulldozer into an area to clear debris, because there may be bodies within that debris, and remains must be treated carefully and with respect.

What hurts people waiting for news on missing family and friends is the absence of information. So many are hoping for their loved one to come walking back through the door – but so many are also resigned to the worst, but still needing answers.

It has been more than two weeks since the storm now, we have had comments telling us that the loss of life could be “staggering” according to Dr Sands, or “in the hundreds” according to former prime minister Hubert Ingraham, and yet there seems a lack of progress in locating and securing bodies.

Internationally, too, the official death count may be taken by some to represent the total impact of the storm on The Bahamas, not realising it is likely to be so much higher. We hope that doesn’t lead to less of an urge to reach out to help from places that do not realise the scale of the tragedy.

The question in the mind of many is simple: Why is it taking so long?

That question may not be able to be answered directly by increasing the official count - the time the process takes is important. But answer it by explaining what is behind that “why” - what is being done on a daily basis, the hurdles faced by the recovery teams, and give people all the information in the hands of officials. It will, if nothing else, reassure people that everything that can be done is being done. The unknown should only be with regard to the outcome, not the process we are following to get there.

Inadequacy of the GDP measure EDITOR, The Tribune.

THROUGHOUT the world the Gross Domestic product of a country is used as the most important indicator of a country’s economic progress. One shortcoming of GDP is that it uses activities that are detrimental to the longterm economy like over fishing, deforestation, strip mining, and murders. GDP inventor Simon Kuznets was adamant that his measure had nothing to do with well being.

GDP was a measure created in the manufacturing age as a means of fighting the Depression and is not capable of giving sensible signals about complex modern economy.

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy commissioned a panel led by Joseph Stigiltz, a Nobel economist to look at the effectiveness of GDP. Sarkozy concluded, it created a gulf of incomprehension between experts sure of their knowledge and

citizens “whose experiences of life is completely out of sync with the story told by the data.”

GDP is good at quantity and bad at assessing quality. If my food at my restaurant improves it does not affect the GDP. If my car runs good that’s bad for the GDP. It is better for the GDP when I have to pay a mechanic. It increases the GDP if I crash and have to buy a new car or my family has to spend to bury me if I die.

GDP has nothing to say about distribution. Averages are misleading. A rise in GDP can be caused by 1% of the population’s income increasing astronomically and the vast majority of the population’s wages remaining constant. This is a global trend and the Bahamas is not exempt.

GDP measures only cash transactions.

Voluntary work or housework which is invaluable to a society is not measured, but prostitution

and transactions that are a product of drug dealing is measured.

GDP is not a measure of wealth it is a measure of income. It does not indicate whether a country can do the same next year. It lacks a balance sheet. Companies have balance sheets as well as income statements, but nations don’t. Does that make sense?

GDP tell us something about a country’s economy, but other measures are needed. Measures of wealth, equality, leisure, and if needed to be adjusted for negatives like pollution and homicides.

The Bahamas needs a more comprehensive measure of development and economic activities. Bureau crates and politicians are guided by the public acceptance of data so a better measure is needed.

BRIAN ELLIS PLUMMER Nassau, September 15, 2019.

Rebuilding after storm EDITOR, The Tribune.

TODAY, our country stands as a symbol of the extraordinary resilience of its islands, the extraordinary resilience of its people, the extraordinary resilience of the entire commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Our people are examples of what is possible when, in the face of tragedy and in the face of hardship, good people come together to lend a hand, and, brick by brick, block by block, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, you build a better future.

Thousands of people saw their homes destroyed, livelihoods wiped out, hopes and dreams shattered; some lost their lives and then there are some still unaccounted for. Many scattered in exodus to the capital, and other islands and even there in America.

Those who stayed and lived through that epic struggle still feel the trauma sometimes of what happened, even up today. A trauma that they will never forget.

It is sad that Abaco and Grand Bahamam two islands that embodies a celebration of life, suddenly seemed devoid of life. We all watched in horror. We saw those rising waters, families stranded on rooftops. Bodies in the streets.

Children crying, crowded in the shelters; two islands dark and under water.

I believe that we are to a realisation that what started out as a natural disaster became a man-made disaster. A failure of a government to look out for its own people. This storm laid bare a deeper tragedy that had been brewing for decades in Abaco, and especially Grand Bahama.

Just like so many countries and communities around the world, far too long been plagued by structural inequalities.

Many Bahamians had nothing before the hurricane, and now they have less than nothing. This is a big loss, and it pains not to dwell on the past, not to wallow in grief; but now more than ever we need to fortify our commitment and to bolster our hope, to understand what it is that we’ve learned, and how far we’ve come.

This country that is slowly, unmistakably, together, is moving forward.

Because the project of rebuilding here wasn’t just to restore these islands as it had been. It was to build islands as it should be; an island where everyone, no matter what they look like, how much money they’ve got, where they come from, where they’re born has a

LETTERS

letters@tribunemedia.net chance to make it.

It is without question that on a larger project of a better, and stronger Bahamas, the progress that has been made thus far is remarkable. The people of this great country are working together, this let’s us know that we are moving in the right direction. I have never been more confident that together we will get to where we need to go! And no matter how hard it’s been and how hard and how long the road ahead might seem, seeing people working and building and striving for a better tomorrow is an inspiration.

I admonish this government to cut the red tape to help the people in Abaco and Grand Bahama build back even stronger. I hope hurricane Dorian causes us to take the lessons we have learned and apply them across the country!

If Dorian was initially an example of what happens when government fails, the recovery has been an example of what’s possible when government works together, whether internationally, local or community; everybody working together as true partners.

As we rebuild, it is important that we rebuild smarter, doing everything from elevating homes to retrofitting buildings to improving drainage, so that our communities are better prepared for storms even of this great magnitude.

It is time to put politics aside, and we must work together, providing housing assistance to more families today than before the storm, with new apartments and housing vouchers. And we must keep working until everybody who wants to come home can come home.

It is time that we become a model for the nations when it comes to disaster response and resilience.

Dorian has taught us a big lesson. We must revamp the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) into a stronger, more efficient agency. In fact, we must ensure that this agency is on top of things as regards to preventing and recovering from disasters.

We must ensure that our islands are more resilient and doing this is going to be increasingly important, because we’re going to see more extreme weather events as the result of climate change. It is imperative that we invest

in natural systems that are just as critical for storm protection.

We are all aware that we’re moving into the next election cycle and the next political season, and a lot of people will be telling you everything that’s wrong with The Bahamas. That’s okay! That’s a proper part of our democracy. One of the things about Bahamians is we’re never satisfied.

We keep pushing forward.

We keep asking questions.

We keep challenging our government. We keep challenging our leaders. We keep looking for the next set of challenges to tackle.

We find what’s wrong because we have confidence that we can fix it.

It is important that we remember what’s right, and what’s good, and what’s hopeful about this country.

It’s worth remembering that for all the tragedy, for the all images of Dorian in those first few days, look at what’s happened here. We have seen neighbours and friends or strangers in need come to help. And people who today still spend their time every day helping others, rolling up their sleeves, doing the hard work of changing this country without the need for credit or the need for glory; don’t get their name in the papers, don’t see their day in the sun, do it because it’s right.

Bahamians are resilient people. We have a way of making a way out of no way. And I am so glad that the sun comes out after every storm. Which tells us there is hope! We have overcome more than enough of our fair share of challenges, but we are still focused on the future. The basic values that define this country, the value we’ve been reminded of after every hurricane; we’ve come back from a crisis that changed our island and an economic crisis that spread throughout the nation; but the basic notion that I am my brother’s keeper, and I am my sister’s keeper, and that we look out for each other and that we’re all in this together is our humanity anthem!

Bahamas, if we stay focused on that common purpose, if we remember our responsibility to ourselves but also our responsibilities and obligations to one another, we will not just rebuild Abaco and Grand Bahama, we will rebuild this country. We’ll leave behind a city and a nation that’s worthy of generations to come.

DR MATHEO J SMITH Nassau, September 16, 2019.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, PAGE 5

THE EXTENSIVE damage to The Mudd after Hurricane Dorian.

Photo: Gonzalo Gaudenzi/AP

NEMA seeks manpower to enforce shanty town ban

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ADDITIONAL manpower will be requested to monitor Abaco shanty towns to ensure there are no further attempts to build or erect structures for residential or commercial use.

The statement came from Captain Stephen Russell yesterday, a day after government issued a six-month ban on construction in The Mudd, Pigeon Pea, Sand Bank and Farm Road communities of Abaco.

Capt Russell, director of the National Emergency Management Agency, made the statement moments after he said he

had received a call from an island administrator informing him that people had set up tents in the Sand Bank area.

“I advised that that is not to happen at this point, not at all,” he told reporters yesterday during NEMA’s daily press briefing. “So that goes for The Mudd, Pigeon Pea, Sand Banks.

“There is no reconstruction in those areas at all.”

The government issued order says “no person shall erect any new building or development for the purposes of residing or carrying out any commercial activity” in those communities.

Asked if NEMA saw a need to ask for additional

monitoring in those areas, Capt Russell said: “Yes, most certainly. The Ministry of Works and Environment, their task is once debris is clear they would cordon off the area until we have a plan as to how we rebuild those areas.”

Capt Russell further explained that each of the areas will need proper infrastructure before approval is given for construction to begin, adding the order also pertained to tent use in those areas.

“When we decide upon putting up temporary shelters, we would designate the areas where we want our temporary shelters to go for persons who are returning to the area and as persons who move to the

area or are on restoration crews.

“We have set up a designated area where those accommodations will be set up because we need to tie in a sewer system. Likewise an electrical supply and water, but we have to control that before anything goes on in those areas.

“So they can’t just go about anywhere as they wish,” he said.

As it stands, officials are in the process of finalising plans for the affected shanty towns with the aim to properly zone those areas.

But first, mounds of debris have to be cleared away.

“We have to clear everything away first then we

want to do a proper zoning of the areas,” Capt Russell said.

“The intended plan is there is no reconstruction in those areas. The intended plan (is) you’ll find alternate locations to erect temporary housing for those persons who need to work or live in Abaco moving forward.”

Yesterday, Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Tellis Bethel said while the organisation would be guided by NEMA and in collaboration with police, the agency had not received any directives regarding Abaco shanty towns.

The shanty town prohibition order is valid for six months but may be

extended for a further period up to six months as required.

Before the hurricane decimated them, these shanty towns had more than 1,000 homes and an estimated population size of 3,500, according to government reports.

As a result, many have had to seek housing in various shelters in New Providence. According to the latest numbers released

by NEMA, there are 10 shelters in the capital, housing 1,906 people.

In Grand Bahama two shelters are open with 66 people in them.

Three people are in one shelter in Abaco and ten people are in one shelter in Eleuthera.

HEADKNOWLES FOUNDER STEPS BACK FROM FOUNDATION ONE of the founders of the HeadKnowles foundation has announced her separation from the organisation.

In an open letter, Lia Head revealed she was stepping back from the foundation “with a heavy heart”.

She wrote: “I would like to personally thank everyone that has recently donated to the GoFundMe (GFMe) account, you have helped HeadKnowles to make incredible strides with assisting those

devastated by Hurricane Dorian. As a Bahamian living in Orlando, Florida, it has been my position to secure donations and partnerships, global communications and coordinating logistics for HeadKnowles from this end, ensuring that our efforts remain consistent and funded. Recently, due to the influx of donations breaking records at GFMe, the largest collected by HeadKnowles to date, I was asked by GFMe to satisfy paperwork as to why

these funds were raised and also to be IRS-compliant with these donations.

I can say factually, these items were satisfied.”

She continued: “Having said that, I would like to publicly announce that funding collected through Go Fune Me has been, and will continue to be released and turned over to the local branch of HeadKnowles headed by Mrs Gina Knowles.

Additionally, as agreed by the original founders of HeadKnowles (Gina & Lia), as of today

the request to close the GoFundMe HeadKnowles Emergency account has been submitted.”

She added: “Over the last week, I have been disheartened by certain measures to defame my name and reputation as a Bahamian whose only goal has been to assist those devastated from natural disasters. I’ve tried very hard over this time to ensure that I satisfied all request made of me and I am really disappointed that we are on different paths now.

“My goal remains the same since day one, which is loyalty and assistance to any and all Bahamians and residents affected by Hurricane Dorian or any other natural disaster. After much deliberation with my team, it has become our decision to focus our efforts on building global relations, bringing much needed awareness and assistance to The Bahamas to ensure the rebuilding and restoration of our beautiful country. My network continues to reach

out to me and I am grateful for their support.

“Bahamians, I remain committed to you, I have refused to step into the arena and lower my standards with those who question my integrity.

Instead, I will be using all of my energy and efforts to support organisations such as BAARK Bahamas, Our Grand Bahama, Abaco - The Rebuild Fund and others as they come.

I look forward to continually serving you. Stay tuned.”

PAGE 6, Tuesday, September 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

PLP leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis pictured during a tour of Grand Cay recently.

PLP objects to appointees for hurricane relief efforts

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday slammed the government for the appointed coordinators for the hurricane relief effort, saying the “appointments should be reversed and the whole plan reconsidered”.

In a press release issued yesterday, Mr Davis criticised Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for the appointments, claiming they weren’t “in accordance with best practices and violate constitutional norms.”

The statement read: “It is inappropriate for the president of the Senate to work for the executive branch of the government, subject to decisions and orders of the executive. We would not tolerate the Speaker of the House working for the government and so the president of the Senate should not be working for the

CLOTHING items at the PLP headquarters for donations to hurricane relief recently.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff government either, whether separation of powers, again others. Further, Kay Forbes clearly demonstrating that Smith is already in controfor pay or without pay.

“This appointment the rule of law means abso- versy because of her links ignores the salutary and lutely nothing to the FNM, to a commercial venture beneficial importance of the but is meant to apply to in Freeport which requires

government approvals.

“Her appointment causes us to wonder what the other members of the government who are from Freeport are doing: Peter Turnquest, the deputy prime minister and minister of finance; Michael Pintard, the minister for agriculture; and Kwasi Thompson, the minister (of state) for Grand Bahama.”

The statement added: “Is Kay Forbes Smith going to displace these ministers and if so, how so when she has no statutory executive authority?Additionally, Kay Forbes Smith is a known politically controversial figure who invites division and not the unity which is required at a time like this.”

Mr Davis said the prime minister made a mistake appointing Algernon Cargill, adding he “invites controversy” and “adverse commentary” due to his previous role in the service.

“We are of the considered view that these appointments have added

an unnecessary layer to and so elevated the level of bureaucracy that the process of relief and recovery will be significantly slowed down from getting to those who need it, bring political considerations into the relief effort and will simply spread confusion,” the press statement said.

“It was not too long ago that John Michael Clarke along with a permanent secretary were supposed to be managing hurricane relief. How many cooks are required for this proverbial broth?”

Last week, Dr Minnis announced that he appointed Permanent Secretary Jack Thompson and former chairman of the National Insurance Board Algernon Cargill to head hurricane relief and redevelopment efforts on Abaco.

He said Senate President Kay Forbes Smith will lead the effort on Grand Bahama.

NOTICE Due to the untimely death of one our beloved staff member

Miss Winifred Kemp who passed away on September 7th, 2019.

We wish to advise our customers ALL of Sandy’s Branches

WILL CLOSE

on the morning of September 20th and REOPEN at 2pm.

DR DUANE SANDS, Minister of Health.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

RESTORATION UNDER WAY - BUT SEVERAL CLINICS ALREADY OPEN

By LEANDRA ROLLE

RESTORATION efforts of healthcare services in both Abaco and Grand Bahama are currently being carried out.

Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands said several health care facilities in Abaco and Grand Bahama are operational despite the damage brought by Hurricane Dorian.

“With respect to health care services on the island of Abaco, clinics in Marsh

Harbour, Fox Town, Moore’s Island and Sandy Point are all operational.

They are being staffed by local nurses, relief healthcare workers from New Providence and volunteer teams,” he said.

He continued: “For those areas where clinics are partially or non-operational, mobile and fixed volunteer teams have been stationed and are providing care to the general public. This gives our health teams a much-needed break and

assists to compensate for the interruption in services.”

According to Dr Minnis, the Dutch military in coordination with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is establishing a water supply at the Marsh Harbour clinic, the government complex and the Marsh Harbour airport.

Meanwhile, in Grand Bahama, clinics in Eight Mile Rock, Hawksbill and at the Pearce

Plaza are operational.

However, all other clinics in Grand Bahama, as noted by Dr Sands, are either non-operational, destroyed or awaiting to be inspected and therefore deemed as operational or non-operational.

“To assist with the healthcare needs of the northern Bahamas, Samaritan’s Purse has erected a temporary emergency field hospital which caters to multiple health needs,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, PAGE 7

$1m donation from India INDIA High Commissioner M Sevala Naik presented a $1m donation to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for storm relief yesterday.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis accepted a $1m contribution from the government of India that will go towards Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.

India High Commissioner M Sevala Naik presented the donation to Dr Minnis and NEMA Director Captain Stephen Russell at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.

Following the cheque presentation, officials met to discuss rebuilding and resilience efforts.

Dr Minnis thanked the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, and the people of India for their generous contribution.

“These funds will be put to good use in our rebuilding efforts,” Dr Minnis said. “NEMA appreciates

this. All of the checks and balances will be put in place to ensure full accountability.”

High Commissioner Naik expressed his deepest condolences to the Bahamian people for the lives claimed

by Hurricane Dorian and for the devastation in Abaco and Grand Bahama.

High Commissioner Naik is based in Jamaica.

BAHA MAR TO HOST TENNIS TOURNAMENT TO RAISE FUNDS BAHA Mar will host the first-ever Baha Mar Cup, a one-of-a-kind tennis fundraising event planned for November to raise money for Hurricane Dorian victims.

The event will take place from Thursday, November 7, to Sunday, November 10.

Tennis legends Andy Roddick, Mark Knowles, Tommy Haas and James Blake will take the court for a weekend filled with excitement and giving.

The Baha Mar Cup will feature a Pro-Am tournament pitting professional tennis legends against devoted fans, exhibition matches with appearances from surprise celebrities, Baha Mar’s first official UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) tournament, The Baha Mar Futures Cup, and other events held throughout Baha Mar Racquet

Club’s nine tennis courts, including hard, har-tru clay and grass surfaces. The local community, as well as international guests, are encouraged to participate in the festivities to play, spectate and support the cause.

As part of Baha Mar’s ongoing dedication to continued relief efforts, all proceeds and winnings from the Baha Mar Cup will go directly to aid Hurricane Dorian’s victims and support for the long-term recovery.

“Baha Mar is committed to sustained relief and rebuilding efforts for our neighbouring islands,” said Karin Salinas, senior vice president of marketing at Baha Mar. “We are bringing our international network of friends and supporters together at Baha Mar to raise funds,

awareness and champion The Bahamas on a global stage.”

“I am honoured to share the beauty and warmth of my country with the world as we come together to help the people of Abaco and Grand Bahama unite to build an even better Bahamas,” said Mark Knowles, Baha Mar Cup tournament host.

Tommy Haas, former professional tennis champion with 15 career singles titles, will serve as tournament director.

Since Hurricane Dorian’s passage, Baha Mar has encouraged guests, friends and the communities to donate directly at www.

BahaMar.com/Dorian.

To date, Baha Mar has donated $2m in support of immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery for the islands.

AML Foods has donated more than $275,000 to Hurricane Dorian relief.

Of this figure, $200k has been donated to support the company’s employees in Grand Bahama and $25k was donated to both the Bahamas Red Cross and NEMA. Additionally, through partnerships with international vendors, more than $30k in product donations have come in.

Through the Red Cross, the company distributed three containers of ice and two containers of water in Grand Bahama, and a container with baby furniture, diapers, snacks, drinks and other food items are expected to sail in the coming days, along with three containers of fresh produce. A produce container will each be sent to Grand Bahama, Abaco and New Providence to assist with the evacuees

being housed in shelters.

More help is expected over the next few weeks as products are being delivered almost daily to AML’s freight forwarder in Florida.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the persons impacted by Hurricane Dorian,” said Gavin Watchorn, AML president & CEO. “We want to give support and help however we can. Many of our international vendors have committed to sending supplies and products, and as quickly as items are received in our warehouse in the US, we will ship them out so that those persons affected can get the relief they need.”

The company has also been working diligently to restock and get fresh product and general merchandise into Grand Bahama to be able to service the community.

“Containers of fresh

produce, bread and other perishable items have already begun arriving.

We recognise that we have a responsibility to meet the needs of Grand Bahamians,” Mr Watchorn said.

The company through its Domino’s brand has also given support by donating more than 200 pizzas to victims and first responders in both Abaco and Grand Bahama. Both Domino’s Freeport and the deli in Solomon’s Lucaya is providing the 275 AML employees in Grand Bahama with daily hot meals. The company has also made it available for customers to make donations at the registers in their Solomon’s, Solomon’s Fresh Market and Cost Right stores in Nassau, as well as online at www.dominos242.com.

For updates on donations and distribution, visit the company’s website at www. amlfoods.com.

AML FOODS GIVES $275,000 TO RELIEF

PASTOR JOEL OSTEEN OFFERS PRAYERS PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis spoke with Texas-based pastor, televangelist and author Joel Osteen yesterday from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Dr Minnis provided Pastor Osteen with an overview of the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian on Abaco and Grand Bahama.

During the call, the famous pastor led a prayer for the nation - for peace, strength and hope.

“I know that Bahamians will be grateful for your prayers for the government and the entire nation,” Dr Minnis said.

He asked the pastor to continue to pray for the Bahamas.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaks to US pastor Joel Osteen yesterday.

Photo: Yontalay Bowe

MINISTER Kwasi Thompson in Hawksbill on Saturday, helping to lift care boxes and cases of water.

Photo: Lisa Davis/BIS

PAGE 8, Tuesday, September 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Police probe spate of New Providence killings from page one in front of a home on First Street, Coconut Grove and died in the hospital on Sunday night. Police also reported yesterday that a man who had been shot in Chippingham shortly after 7am on Saturday has died in hospital. He has been identified by police as Dencil Gaitor, 45, of Eden Street.

Last night, as The Tribune was going to press, police reported a double shooting on Armbrister Street in Fox Hill, with one victim lifeless at the scene.

The killings pushed the murder count to 73 for the year, according to this newspaper’s records, an increase of four percent compared to this same period last year.

The Tribune’s records show that as of September 16, 2018, the country’s murder count stood at 69.

Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash said shortly after 7am, police responded to reports of gunshots at Johnson Road across from Kelly Lane.

“Once the officers arrived on the scene, they met the lifeless body of a male who was lying in the parking lot of this apartment complex. The officers contacted EMS who came and pronounced the male deceased on scene,” Chief Supt Cash said.

“The only information

JERMAINE EDWARDS, who was reportedly shot dead yesterday in Johnson Road. that we are working with is that shortly after 7am, the male was in this area standing, we suspect he

was waiting on a ride and he was approached by two individuals who were in a Japanese-type vehicle.”

He added: “They emerged from the vehicle and opened fire on him.

We can tell you that we

suspect the victim is a security officer. We don’t know exactly what company he works for.”

CSP Cash could not say whether the victim was known to police. He also made an appeal to the general public to contact police with any information that could help the investigation.

The Tribune understands the deceased is Jermaine Edwards, 45, however, his identity was not released by police.

When asked if police will beef up patrols in the area, CSP Cash said: “That is always (our) strategy. Our patrols are current and in an advanced stage. You see officers up and about in all communities, that is one of our strategies and we don’t relent engaging that strategy.

“We are always concerned about homicides.

One killing is one too many but I can say the more recent ones, we can say there (is) some nexus with four of those particular homicides and we are currently following some significant leads on those ones.”

On Sunday, police received reports of gunshots at First Street, Coconut Grove around 7pm, CSP Cash said.

He added: “A male was standing in that location when he was approached by persons in a (white)

Japanese type vehicle who opened fire on him. That individual was transported to the Accident and Emergency Room at Princess Margaret (Hospital) where he later succumbed to those injuries.”

CSP Cash was unable to say whether the two latest murders were connected.

Police said the victim in Sunday’s shooting is Anthony Anton Wright, 39.

On September 7, police reported that they were investigating four separate shooting incidents from September 6 that left four people dead and eight others in hospital. Police said the four deceased men are Franklyn Antonio Rolle, 32; Dwight Miller, 35; Marcus Sweeting, 41, and Jimmy Augustin, 26. The following day, police also reported that a man who was shot while at St Alban’s Drive had died in hospital. He has been identified as Te’Shaz Michael Cartwright, 27.

Three days later, police confirmed a man was killed in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama on September 4.

He has been identified as Clayton Bannister.

Police said a man, who was killed on August 24 in James Cistern, Eleuthera, is Dwayne Gordon Rolle, 27.

MAN FOUND WITH LOADED GUN IN ABACO IS JAILED

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 27-YEAR-OLD Abaco man was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday for being caught with a loaded gun that he found in the debris left by Hurricane Dorian.

Ted Cornish Jr, of Dundas Town, was sentenced by Magistrate Samuel McKinney after admitting to being caught with a 9mm pistol on September 13.

According to police, while on mobile patrol around 3.45pm in the area of Sweeting Village near New Vision Ministries, Corporal 2691 Durham observed a black Suzuki minivan enter the church’s yard. While passing the minivan in a marked police truck, Cpl Durham saw Cornish—who was driving the minivan–throw an object to the back of the van.

Cpl Durham turned the police truck around and drove to where the minivan was. His partner, Sergeant McDonald, got out and approached the other vehicle. He identified himself as a police officer to Cornish and told the young man to get out of the vehicle.

When Sgt McDonald told Cornish he would like to search the vehicle, Cornish said: “Go ahead, but I know y’all ga lock me up (sic).”

Sgt McDonald asked the young man why he had said what he had said. Cornish

replied by repeating what he had said.

Cpl Durham said he watched as Sgt McDonald searched the minivan while Cornish looked on.

Sgt McDonald eventually discovered a black hoodie, and in its front right pocket was a teal and silver SCCY 9mm, serial number 310214. When Sgt McDonald checked the gun in Cornish’s presence, it was found to have eight live rounds of ammunition in its magazine.

Cornish was subsequently cautioned and arrested, and he and the firearm were taken to the island’s government complex for safe keeping.

At 4.34pm that day, Corporal Desmond Rolle interviewed Cornish about the firearm at the government complex. It was during that interrogation that Cornish admitted to being in possession of the firearm. Cornish further explained that after Hurricane Dorian had passed, he drove around town looking through the piles of debris, when he found the gun.

He said he consequently decided to keep it for his protection.

For his actions, Magistrate McKinney sentenced Cornish to two years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and one year for possession of ammunition.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

Inspector Philip Davis prosecuted the matter.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, PAGE 9

BPL sets sights on two-week deadline on power shortfall

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krusssell@tribunemedia.net IN roughly two weeks, Bahamas Power and Light expects to have fixed existing issues that have led to a 44-megawatt generation shortfall resulting in heavy load shedding.

BPL said a replacement starting engine for unit one at Blue Hills Power Station that produces 23mw of electricity arrived late yesterday and a team immediately prepared it for alignment and installation. There is an expected completion date of the final week of September.

Additionally, two generator specialists arrived at BPL yesterday to assist with addressing problems with unit two. This unit is responsible for putting out 21mw of power.

BPL CEO Whitney Heastie tours station A where the Wärtsilä engines and generators are located.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey Sr/Tribune Staff Load shedding was carried out yesterday in three-hour intervals with a 22.2mw shortfall.

Three-hour load

shedding is also expected today and BPL said there will be an estimated 30mw load shortage.

“We expect the arrival

of the replacement diesel starter engine and the new generation specialists engaged through our US partners to reinvigorate our forward motion on these units,” the company said in its daily fact sheet yesterday.

“We are still looking to have at least one of the two units at Blue Hills Power Station that are the focus of our efforts back in service sometime during the last week in September. This reassessment of our timelines followed a number of setbacks. As a result, the new timeline is being reassessed daily as work progresses. We will continue to update the public as our efforts continue.

“The replacement diesel starting engine for unit one arrived on site late this afternoon, and the

team immediately went to work preparing for alignment and installation of the component, which we anticipate concluding by midweek,” the company also said.

“Once the replacement starter engine has been installed, we intend to restart the unit and resume testing, which we expect to lead to pre-commissioning thereafter. We hope to have the unit back online sometime in the final week of September.”

Regarding unit two, BPL said: “That unit remains the subject of continued troubleshooting today, with the team – comprised of BPL and our US partners, and now the two specialists as well – reviewing a recurrent problem in the interface with the diesel engine.

“Solving this issue will

allow us to get a second set of vibrational readings, which will further the specialist’s analysis of the vibration issue preventing this unit from going on full load. We will assess our September 25 timetable based on the pace of the progress.”

Meanwhile, the successful installation of a third pump was completed on the other Blue Hills Power Station. That completion of the work doubles the output of that unit, BPL said.

“We continue to concentrate efforts on these two units at BHPS because together they have a total output of 44 megawatts, which more than makes up the generation deficit we face during peak energy consumption hours. That generation deficit is what has led to the heavy load shedding.”

EXPERT COULD NOT TELL IF BULLET WAS FIRED BY SUSPECT

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A ROYAL Bahamas Police Force firearms examiner could not say whether a fired bullet submitted for him to analyse was fired by the high-powered weapon a 22-year-old man allegedly used to shoot at two police officers as he tried to evade being captured two years ago.

Charles Bain said due to the bullet’s “severe mutilation”, he could not determine its calibre, “total number of lands and grooves” and whether it was fired by the Zastava 7.62x39 auto-loading pistol Akeem Thompson allegedly used to shoot at Detective Constable Avard Rolle in May 2017.

However, Mr Bain said the gun functioned “satisfactorily” when he examined and tested it out, and was fully capable of firing the 17 unfired rounds of 7.62x39 ammunition found in its detachable box magazine.

Mr Bain also said the pistol in question can easily be mistaken for an AK-47, with the main difference being the length of the gun’s barrel. And just like the AK-47, the rounds from the Zastava pistol can easily pierce a bullet proof vest, despite shooting half as powerfully as the former, Mr Bain said.

Mr Bain’s testimony came yesterday during an inquest into Thompson’s death in the Fire Trail Road area on May 20, 2017. The 22-year-old died at D/C Rolle’s hands after shooting at the officer and his partner after leading them on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle.

According to police reports, shortly after 3pm, police were conducting a traffic stop on Shrimp Road off Carmichael Road, when they saw a dark grey Honda Stream, licence plate number 252587, occupied by two armed male suspects.

D/C Rolle signaled to the driver to stop, but he

refused and sped off, driving recklessly as he tried to evade the officers through several short cuts. A chase followed that ended when the Honda Stream crashed into a fence in the Pride Estates community.

Thompson and another man got out of the vehicle and opened fire at the police, the former with an AK-47 and the other man with a handgun. D/C Rolle consequently returned fire. Thompson and the other man subsequently jumped a nearby fence that led to a track road. However, Thompson, who was dressed in a white t-shirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes, was shot in the process.

Thompson fell and his weapon dropped to the floor. He tried to flee again, but fell a few feet from his weapon. D/C Rolle and another officer subsequently pursued the other man, who was dressed in a green shirt and dark-coloured trousers. However, that man escaped.

Meanwhile, D/C Rolle’s superior, Assistant Superintendent Keith McDonald and another officer, tried to communicate with Thompson, who was conscious at the time, in a bid to ascertain his name and the nature of his injury. However, Thompson only replied “I got shoot”.

Police Control Room was subsequently contacted and an emergency medical person requested.

When the latter arrived on the scene, they attended to Thompson who died some time later on the scene.

According to Dr Caryn Sands, a pathologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Thompson died from two gunshot wounds, one that entered his lower back and passed through his lung before stopping in his lower neck, and one to his left thigh.

Sergeant Laurence Smith, a crime scene investigator, said when he arrived on the scene,

WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER $70,000 COCAINE FOUND A WOMAN was arrested shortly after she arrived in the country on a flight from Panama and nearly $70,000 worth of cocaine was discovered.

Police said the woman, a resident of Suriname, arrived in the Bahamas on Copa Airlines shortly after 11am on Sunday but was denied entry by local immigration officials. She was taken to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre where she was processed and searched, police said.

Officials said they found 11 packages of suspected cocaine in her possession. She is expected to

be charged in Magistrate’s Court later this week.

The drugs weighed 10.4 lbs with a street value of $68,000.

Police on New Providence are also searching for the suspects who robbed a man at gunpoint on Sunday.

Shortly after 11pm, a man was standing in front of a business on Wulff Road near Jerome Avenue, when he was approached by two gunmen who robbed him of cash and other items before getting into his silver coloured 2010 Ford Edge vehicle and speeding away.

Investigations are continuing.

and after having received information, he went over to where the assault weapon was and made a few observations. He said he observed 16 live rounds in the weapon’s magazine, and an additional round in the chamber.

Another officer, Detective Constable Andrew Deveaux, an investigator attached to the Central Detective Unit (CDU),

said when he checked the RBPF’s system, he found that the vehicle was registered to a woman, and was reported stolen some 19 days before the incident on May 1.

During previous proceedings, Corporal Frederick Delancy, a firearms instructor with the RBPF, suggested that D/C Rolle was up against a gun that was three times more

powerful than the service pistol he used to ultimately kill Thompson on the date in question.

Though D/C Rolle ended up killing Thompson, Cpl Delancy said D/C Rolle engaging in a shootout with a gun that shoots some 2,400 feet per second faster than his handgun “wasn’t a fair fight”, due to the sheer “potential for destruction” the AK-47 has.

“Only persons with criminal intent and the intent to deprive people of their lives would be in possession of AK-47’s,” he added, as he agreed with suggestions that the AK-47 is a “weapon of war” that has no place in civilised societies.

He added: “If someone has some degree of training (in using an AK-47), it’s over for the policeman.”

The case continues.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, September 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

All hands on deck to recover from Dorian OLD habits as a diplomat die hard, so even in retirement I shy away from commenting in this column on domestic politics. However, in the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Dorian perhaps, for once, such self-restraint can be put aside temporarily in offering a view following the publicity last week about the involvement of two former Prime Ministers in dealing with the crisis.

In my last column, I suggested that it would be important to establish some sort of structure to coordinate the extraordinary amount and variety of assistance now being organised for the humanitarian relief effort in Abaco and Grand Bahama. My main point was that it would be vital to appoint a strong and experienced individual with the necessary power to act decisively as an official coordinator of the whole operation.

As well as overseeing contributions from local sources, this would include interacting with international relief organisations such as the United Nations World Food Program and with the governments and agencies of donor countries providing aid and material assistance.

Ideally, this would require a person of some stature and experience – perhaps a retired public figure with the appropriate personal authority and influence in handling what has already become a huge job of considerable complexity. The Prime Minister has appointed separate hurricane relief and redevelopment coordinators

THE PETER YOUNG COLUMN for Abaco and Grand Bahama, but what I had in mind was a supremo or someone in overall control who would report directly to the Prime Minister and be accountable to him.

Despite fears about jockeying for position mentioned in Dr Minnis’s recent statement, might it not be beneficial in such a time of crisis to take advantage of the offers of assistance from the former Prime Ministers who could bring to bear their unmatched experience, authority, influence and contacts?

The same could be said of another high-powered public figure with experience, drive and a proven track record like the recently retired Cabinet minister Brent Symonette.

Such people are surely better equipped than anyone else to fulfil such a demanding task.

Others are better qualified to judge than I am, but it seems to me that the way this catastrophe is handled may

FORMER Prime Ministers Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie during a tour of Abaco to survey the damage after Hurricane Dorian. well determine whether the FNM wins the next election.

If - in the coming months and beyond - the operation to clean up after the storm and to provide relief followed by recovery, restoration and rebuilding, is judged to be successful, it is the FNM government itself that will receive the credit in the longer term.

Equally, if the people on the ground fail to deliver, the FNM will receive the blame

rather than those directly responsible.

So, in accordance with the old adage that the art of leadership is the delegation of authority, it surely makes sense to put in place the best individual – someone with real clout and authority and with a track record of getting things done – in order to achieve the full recovery and reconstruction of both Abaco and Grand Bahama.

BRITAIN’S POLITICAL TURMOIL INTESIFYING

I HESITATE to write too much about Brexit because of the risk of overkill. But some comment is needed, I think, as events are moving fast.

During the period up to the UK’s agreed departure from the European Union on October 31, the disruption and chaos are likely to grow worse, with some commentators now saying that, while moving towards an historic constitutional crisis, the country’s political system is in meltdown. The opposition Labour Party wants another referendum and has rejected the offer by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of a General Election while the Liberal Democrats want to stop Brexit altogether.

Since the return of MPs from the summer recess, they have successfully pushed through legislation which effectively rules out the UK leaving on October 31 without a deal by forcing the Prime Minister to seek another three-month extension of the departure deadline unless he can secure a deal before the next EU Summit meeting in mid-October.

This week will be significant because, at the time of writing, Mr Johnson is meeting the European Commission President, together with the EU’s chief negotiator, in Luxembourg for talks about a deal. Presumably, they will be discussing modification of the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by his predecessor.

With only forty-four days to go until departure, Mr Johnson is reportedly concentrating on a new deal to include what has been termed “meaningful change” to the Irish border backstop, since he needs this in order to sell any such fresh deal to the House of Commons.

In addition, this week the UK Supreme Court is due to reach a decision on the legality of the Prime Minister’s prorogation or suspension of the Westminster Parliament. The indications are that the court may conclude that it is a political matter and therefore not a proper issue for it to consider and that there is no legal basis on which to make a judgment. If that turns out to be the case, MPs are due to sit again on October 14 for The Queen’s Speech setting out the Government’s agenda for a new parliamentary session.

The coming weeks will be fraught with uncertainty. But what is for sure – and is sad for the whole country – is that the behaviour of MPs in recent times has precipitated, in a divided country, a furious backlash amongst members of the public who have clearly lost all respect for their representatives at Westminster.

ANNIVERSARY OF DEVASTATING WORLD WAR

WHILE, inevitably, most people remain focused on Dorian – and will surely continue to do so in the foreseeable future – it might be interesting to dwell briefly on an important and historic event earlier this month in the shape of the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War. Some consider that the global warfare from 1939-45 started with Japan’s invasion of China in 1937 or can even be traced back to the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. But most historians agree that the outbreak of the Second World War was Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 and Britain’s and France’s declaration of war in response two days later after Hitler failed to respond to their ultimatum to withdraw his forces.

At the early stages of the conflict Britain experienced one setback after another, including the enforced evacuation of its

expeditionary force from Dunkirk in 1940, though victory in the Battle of Britain fought in the skies that autumn forced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans.

But Prime Minister Winston Churchill realized that American involvement was essential so that, while President Roosevelt described Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941 as “a date which will live in infamy” that brought the US into the war, Churchill declared that that night he “slept the sleep of the saved.”

It was against this background that, while watching President Trump’s sometimes contentious encounters with his fellow leaders at the recent G7 summit in France, I found it interesting to ponder on America’s political and military involvement in the rest of the world.

In creating a nation secure within its own borders and between two oceans, successive US presidents were mindful

of George Washington’s admonition in his farewell presidential address not to become involved in “inveterate antipathies against particular nations and passionate attitudes to others” and to steer clear of permanent alliances internationally – and the nation managed largely to avoid such entanglements and alliances until its late entry in 1917 into the First World War. This was followed by a period of isolationism during the 1930s until the horror of Pearl Harbour.

Once the sleeping giant was aroused the outcome of the conflict could never be in any doubt, however long it took to defeat both Germany and Japan. Not only did the US ensure the rebuilding of a shattered Europe through the Marshall Plan but it has since maintained a military presence in many places around the globe and has consolidated its vast power and influence almost everywhere.

Having won the Cold War, it has now developed valuable traditional alliances for world peace, and Western nations rely on the US’s global involvement for protection of the liberal world order. But, in my view, the policy during the second Bush presidency – after the disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003 – of seeking to spread democracy through nation-building was both misguided and doomed from the start because it was inherently impossible to impose on other countries such a system which was, in many cases, alien to the people concerned. Moreover, the proponents of such a policy grossly underestimated the strength of local history, tribal loyalties and existing systems and values.

Nonetheless, the US is the guarantor of Western security and stability and long may that continue. But it took the bloodiest war in history to change everything.

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THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, PAGE 11

Bahamians will continue to make valuable contributions to the US - if given the chance

THERE was a time when tens of thousands of Bahamians migrated to the United States of America.

It was 1943, and World War II was still raging. Many Americans were drafted to serve in the armed forces.

Others left the farms to work in more profitable war industries. This resulted in a shortage of labour in every sector of the economy, including agriculture. Food security was vital to win the war, and so there was an urgent need for people to work on farms throughout the United States.

The British West Indies Labour Program allowed an estimated 30,000 Bahamian men and women to temporarily migrate to the United States between 1943 and 1965. For 23 years, The Bahamas and the US had a mutually beneficial arrangement. Bahamians were paid; a portion of their earnings was placed in savings and a portion went home to loved ones.

They started out picking oranges in Florida, but eventually the programme grew to include picking beans in Maryland, working on farms in New Jersey or working in packing and processing plants in New York, and so on.

Most Bahamians returned home and were able to start businesses from their savings and be in a better financial position. Others came home to a myriad of family issues which resulted because of their absence. Some Bahamians were regularised and stayed in the US, becoming upstanding members of society. All in all, “the Contract” or “the Project” resulted in Bahamians making a positive impact in all of the states where they were sent to work. Even today, you can find Bahamians who are contributing greatly to the communities in which they live throughout the United States.

Bahamians’ deepest anchor in the US may be in South Florida. In the 1800’s, there were very few permanent residents in the area that is now known as the city of Miami. The first wave of immigration into Coconut Grove started in the 1870s, with settlers coming from the northeast United States as well as white Bahamians. The first hotel in Miami, The Peacock Inn, was established in 1882. It was located where Peacock Park now rests, right in the heart of “The Grove”. The first laborers of the hotel were black Bahamians who came up from Key West and the upper keys. They built their homes in the west grove which is now known to be one of the earliest permanent neighborhoods established in Miami.

These early Bahamian settlers built their homes differently from the other settlers. While simple in design and construction, the homes were built to withstand hurricanes and for that reason, some of them are still standing today while many of the other structures built during that period have disappeared.

Their homes were elevated to prevent flooding, had strong cross-bracing to withstand gale-force winds, and had weatherproofing and shuttered windows to prevent blow outs. You can visit many of these homes

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

in and around Charles and Williams avenues in Coconut Grove. I did so several years ago when I attended the Coconut Grove Festival. It is a delightful affair in Miami in which descendants and Bahamian food and culture lovers from all nationalities descend upon Coconut Grove to enjoy the festival. Bahamian music is played, there is a Junkanoo rush-out, and everything is decorated in Bahamian colours. People come out in droves and tow lines to order scrumptious Bahamian food. One of the homes features a tour inside. There, you can see how Bahamians lived in Miami back then, and the walls are covered with historical photos and information about many of the great people who helped build Miami.

I remember doing a story several years ago about Lemon City, Miami and the discovery of hundreds of Bahamian graves.

A small group of determined citizens agitated for the protection of the cemetery that otherwise would have become a parking lot, six feet under cement.

The land, owned by the YMCA of Greater Miami, was under development in April 2009 by the Carlisle Development Group and the Biscayne Housing Group, when archeological digs required by the City of Miami revealed human bones.

A memorial was erected in 2011, but seeing it is challenging, as the memorial hides behind a high-rise and remains private property.

The land, owned by the YMCA of Greater Miami, was under development in April 2009 by the Carlisle Development Group and the Biscayne Housing Group, when archeological digs required by the City of Miami revealed human bones. Most of the dead hailed from The Bahamas and were buried there between 1911 and 1935.

Numerous infant bones showed that there was a high infant mortality rate among Bahamians in Miami. Today, a memorial is there, which includes the names of more than 500 people, but without any explanation. Local Historian Enid Pinkney led the fight for its preservation.

But the memorial is currently not accessible to the public, as it sits on private property, according to the Biscayne Times.

Before Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler, who were credited as the builders of Miami, black people, mostly Bahamians, were already there as the first settlers, the Miami Herald notes. They were prevalent in Coconut Grove, which is the oldest inhabited neighbourhood in Miami. They were also in Overtown, which was Miami’s Black Wallstreet and the Harlem of the South. Bahamians played a part in Miami’s incorporation in 1896 and helped to sign the city’s charter in order to form a new city.

Even as I write my Face to Face columns, from time to time I come across Bahamians doing outstandingly well in the various states they migrated to in all sectors of the economy. Considering this amicable relationship with the Bahamas and its nearest northern neighbour, cries can be heard for the US administration to consider revisiting its strict immigration policy in the face of one of the worst natural disasters to affect the region in recent history.

Hurricane Dorian has taken life and limb, and has obliterated thousands of homes in two of the most thriving of the Bahamian Family Islands. The capital, New Providence, will now grapple with increased loads on its infrastructure, social service programmes, employment sector, health and educational sectors, and so on. The Bahamas has taken a difficult blow from a powerful Category 5 storm.

On Sunday, US immigration chief Ken Cuccinelli told CBS “Face the Nation” that “The Bahamas is a perfectly legitimate country capable of taking care of their own”. This came as a shock for many because last week, Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, said it would be “appropriate” for Bahamians to receive TPS (temporary protected status) in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. The status would allow Bahamians to temporarily relocate to the US to live and work while recovery efforts continue back at home. Seeing that southern islands are still rebuilding after the devastation caused by Hurricane Joaquin, it is safe to say that a storm of Dorian’s magnitude would require a considerable time for rebuilding.

I believe that just like in the contract days, many Bahamians would return home if granted TPS. Bahamians love their country.

They spend millions of dollars each year travelling to the US to visit family and friends, and to shop or do business.

With such an amicable history, many Bahamians hoped that President Trump’s strict immigration policy would be reconsidered in the aftermath of this natural disaster. However, when the President let the American media know that he doesn’t want “people who weren’t supposed to be in The Bahamas to come into the United States… including some very bad people…”, hopes were dashed. It felt kind of like how the people must have felt in Freeport when they were told to get off the ship headed to America after waiting for hours to board… because their police records were not enough. People are devastated, still reeling from the shock and tragedy of the storm. Bahamians are sincerely grateful for the outpouring of love and

BAHAMIANS disembark from an airline that brought them to the US for work on the Contract and, right, an advert during the Second World War, when Bahamians went to work on American farms to assist in food security.

Photos: Jessica Dawson and Tracey L Thompson/ramblebahamas.org supports from the US and around the world. Now, more than ever, many are hoping to make new lives for themselves.

This weekend, NBA star Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson spoke out, crying “shame on our current administration for not welcoming our Bahamian neighbours in their greatest time of need”.

“I’ve been so lucky to visit my family in Nassau since childhood, and in those times I’ve seen countless Americans use the Bahamian islands as their playground for letting loose and vacationing,” he said, “And now we turn our back on the people who welcomed us with open arms, when they’ve lost everything!?”

Twanette Keyser, a South African who calls Guana Cay home, was given sixmonths entry with her family into the United States. She notes that it will take about a year for power to be restored to her area in Abaco.

“I hope we’re allowed to stay because we don’t have anywhere else to go,” she said. Her brother, Henk Horn, a business owner in West Palm Beach, was a volunteer medical staff member in Freeport after Hurricane Dorian. Seeing the devastation firsthand, he appealed to his government to help

Bahamians so “they can rebuild a life and give back”.

He said that Bahamians are not looking to come to the US to “freeload”, and that instead of forcing Bahamians to live and work illegally, the US government should grant them the opportunity to “become productive, tax-paying members of society”. “All anybody ever needs is an open door and they will make a success of it if they are dedicated and desperate enough,” he said, and “At the end of the day, that’s what humanity is for.”

PAGE 12, Tuesday, September 17, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

AN EMPTY PODIUM FOR JOHNSON AND A LACK OF PROGRESS IN TALKS LUXEMBOURG Associated Press

LUXEMBOURG’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, right, addresses a media conference next to an empty lectern intended for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after a meeting at the prime ministers office in Luxembourg, yesterday.

Photo: Olivier Matthys/AP

BORIS Johnson was booed by protesters and berated by Luxembourg’s leader on a visit to the tiny nation yesterday for his first face-to-face talks with the European Union chief about securing an elusive Brexit deal.

On a day of commotion and conflicting signals, Johnson pulled out of a news conference because of noisy anti-Brexit demonstrators, leaving Luxembourg’s prime minister standing alone next to an empty lectern as he addressed the media.

Still, Johnson insisted there was a strong possibility of securing a divorce agreement before Britain is due to leave the

28-nation bloc in just over six weeks.

“Yes there is a good chance of a deal. Yes, I can see the shape of it,” Johnson asserted at a separate appearance before reporters at the British ambassador’s residence.

EU leaders were far more skeptical.

With the Brexit deadline just 45 days away, the European Commission said the first in-person meeting between Johnson and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker ended with no breakthrough in the impasse over how Britain can leave the EU with a plan in place to manage the divorce.

Britain had yet to offer any “legally operational” solutions to the problem of keeping goods and people

flowing freely across the Irish border, the main roadblock to a deal, it said in a statement.

“Such proposals have not yet been made,” the Commission said, adding that officials “will remain available to work 24/7.”

Johnson insists the U.K. will leave the EU on the scheduled date of October 31 with or without a Brexit deal. He hopes to strike a revised agreement with the bloc at an EU summit on October 17-18, in time for an orderly departure.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said the British leader needed to “stop speaking and act”.

“We need more than just words,” he said. “We need a legally operable text to work on as soon as possible.”

PROSECUTORS SUBPOENA TRUMP TAXES NEW YORK Associated Press

NEW York City prosecutors have subpoenaed President Donald Trump’s tax returns, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press yesterday.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr’s office recently sent a subpoena to Trump’s accounting firm seeking the last eight years of state and federal tax returns for Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, according to the person.

Vance, a Democrat, subpoenaed the Trump Organization last month for records related to payments former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen helped arrange to the porn actress Stormy Daniels after she claimed she had an affair with Trump.

Vance’s office declined to comment on the tax return subpoenas, the news of which was first reported by The New York Times.

The accounting firm, Mazars USA, said in a statement that it “will respect the legal process and fully comply with its legal obligations”.

The firm said it believes strongly in ethical and professional rules and regulations governing the accounting industry and does not comment on work it does for clients.

AN IMAGE from a video broadcast on the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya satellite news channel shows smoke from a fire at the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Buqyaq, Saudi Arabia. The weekend drone attack on one of the world’s largest crude oil processing plants that dramatically cut into global oil supplies is the most visible sign yet of how Aramco’s stability and security is directly linked to that of its owner - the Saudi government and its ruling family.

Photo: Al-Arabiya via AP

US ‘locked and loaded’ if Iran behind drone attack WASHINGTON Associated Press THE US tried to build its case yesterday that Iran was behind the fiery weekend attack on key Saudi Arabian oil facilities that raised new war worries and sent energy prices soaring. Iran denied responsibility, while President Donald Trump said the United States was “locked and loaded” to

respond if necessary.

American officials released satellite images of the damage at the heart of the kingdom’s crucial Abqaiq oil processing plant and a key oil field, and two US officials said the attacker used multiple cruise missiles and drone aircraft.

The Americans alleged the pattern of destruction suggested Saturday’s attack

did not come from neighboring Yemen, as claimed

by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels there. A Saudi military spokesman later made a similar accusation, alleging “Iranian weapons” had been used in the assault.

Iran rejected the allegations, and a government spokesman said there now was “absolutely no chance” of a hoped-for meeting between Iranian

President Hassan Rouhani and Trump at the UN General Assembly next week.

For his part, Trump sent mixed signals, saying his “locked and loaded” government waited for Saudi confirmation of Iran being behind the attack while later tweeting that the US didn’t need Mideast oil “but will help our Allies!”

One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the US was considering dispatching additional military resources to the Gulf but that no decisions had been made. The US already has the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group in the area, as well as fighter jets, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and air defenses.

Downplaying any talk of imminent US military action, Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, told reporters at the White House that the president’s language was “a reflection” that his administration was advancing policies that protect the US “from these sorts of oil shocks”.

“I think that ‘locked and loaded’ is a broad term that talks about the realities

that” the US is “safer and more secure domestically from energy independence,” Short said.

The new violence has led to fears that further action on any side could rapidly escalate a confrontation that’s been raging just below the surface in the wider Persian Gulf in recent months. There already have been mysterious attacks on oil tankers that Washington blames on Tehran, at least one suspected Israeli strike on Shiite forces in Iraq, and the downing of a US military surveillance drone by Iran.

Those tensions have increased ever since Trump pulled the US out of Iran’s 2015 agreement with world powers that curtailed Iranian nuclear activities and the US re-imposed sanctions that sent Iran’s economy into freefall.

Benchmark Brent crude prices gained nearly 20% in the first moments of trading Monday before settling down to over 10% higher as trading continued. A barrel of Brent traded up $6.45 to $66.67.

That spike represented the biggest percentage value jump in Brent crude since the run-up to the 1991 Gulf War.

NETANYAHU PLEDGES TO ANNEX ALL SETTLEMENTS JERUSALEM Associated Press

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed yesterday to annex “all the settlements” in the West Bank, including an enclave deep in the heart of the largest Palestinian city, in a last-ditch move that appeared aimed at shoring up nationalist support the day before a do-over election.

Locked in a razor tight race and with legal woes hanging over him, Netanyahu is fighting for his political survival. In the final weeks of his campaign he has been doling out

hard-line promises meant to draw more voters to his Likud party and re-elect him in today’s unprecedented repeat vote.

“I intend to extend sovereignty on all the settlements and the (settlement) blocs,” including “sites that have security importance or are important to Israel’s heritage,” Netanyahu said in an interview with Israeli Army Radio, part of an eleventhhour media blitz.

Asked if that included the hundreds of Jews who live under heavy military guard amid tens of thousands of Palestinians in the volatile city of Hebron, Netanyahu responded “of course”.