09232023 NEWS

POLICE ON GUARD AFTER QC THREAT

School says arrests made over comment on social media

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force will provide extra security to Queen’s College today after threats were made against the school on social media.

In a letter sent to parents, the school said the people who made the threats were arrested.

The school said the arrests came after two students from a neighbouring

campus were found on the school’s premises last week before faculty forced them to leave.

It is not clear why the students were on the campus. The school said they were arrested after the police were alerted.

“These developments are a testament to the effectiveness of the close partnership between Queen’s College and our law enforcement agencies,” the school said.

MINISTER ADMITS SOME LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES WITH CUBAN TEACHERS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister

Glenys Hanna-Martin said officials had been informed about a “very small” number of Cuban teachers whose command of the English Language had been a barrier between them and students.

She said this is not unusual in the first few weeks of

school.

Her comments came after Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson claimed that some teachers could not speak English. Some teachers who spoke to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters confirmed this.

$6M TO PAY FOR PROMOTIONS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings @ tribunemedia.net

LABOUR and Public Services Minister Pia Glover-Rolle said a widespread promotional exercise for public servants will begin in October, the first in over nine years. She said hundreds of public servants are awaiting promotion, which will cost about $6m.

“This process will see hundreds of public servants promoted, many of which

BAHAMIAN TAKES ON FTX OVER AIRCRAFT WORTH $28M

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN aviation entrepreneur yesterday launched legal action against FTX’s US chief to safeguard his ownership interest in two aircraft valued at a combined $28m Paul Aranha, founder of Trans-Island Airways, and who described himself as “one of the largest Bahamian victims” of the crypto exchange’s implosion, accused John Ray of exploiting his efforts to amicably resolve the fate of planes acquired with financing from FTX by forcing him to “shoulder all of the risk and expense” associated with maintaining them.

WATCH OUTCANE TOADS ARE BACK

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

have already been doing the work without receiving the titles and increased pay,” she said. “People have waited years for the promotions they earned to be processed. Sadly, some have waited decades. And while we cannot give them back the years they waited, we can ensure that the wait will be over on our watch.”

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources wants the public to beware of venomous cane toads, which have re-emerged in “goodly numbers” in western New Providence near the airport. Cane toads are known for their venom, which causes skin irritation and, if ingested, can be toxic to humans and animals. The ministry has noted increases in the cane toads since August.

Police on guard after QC threat

“To enhance security, the police have generously offered to be present on our campus over the next few days. This additional precautionary measure aims to provide reassurance to our

community.”

“Our internal investigations have been completed, and we have implemented extra security measures.

Queen’s College remains a safe and nurturing environment for your children’s education and well-being.”

“We understand that

these events may have been unsettling for both students and parents, and we appreciate your patience and support throughout this process. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school administration,

who are here to assist you. In challenging times, our community must stand together.”

“Queen’s College continues to be a safe and caring place for all, dedicated to providing a quality education in a secure environment.”

Calls to the school went unanswered up to press time yesterday.

Some parents complained that they could not reach school officials. The nature of the threat against the school was also unclear.

One parent said: “They

have said there was a threat without saying what the threat was.

“They are reassuring about the safety - but if everything is safe, why is there the need for the extra police presence? They could be more forthcoming.”

$1M NATIONAL BREAKFAST PROGRAMME IS LAUNCHED

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minis-

ter Glenys Hanna-Martin announced the launch of a $1m national breakfast programme in eight New Providence and Family Island primary schools. The national breakfast programme will start in October and will cater to 2,500 primary school children.

The primary schools in New Providence include Columbus Primary, Ridgeland Primary, Sandilands Primary and Albury Sayles Primary. Family Island schools include Rolleville Primary in Exuma, Holmes Rock Primary in Grand Bahama, Cherokee Sound Primary in Abaco and Old Bight Primary in Abaco.

Ms Hanna-Martin said the selected schools had populations below 600 students and an attendance

MINISTER ADMITS SOME LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES WITH CUBAN TEACHERS

from page one

During a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, Mrs Hanna Martin expressed confidence that there will not be “continuing barriers”, adding that if the barriers persist, the ministry would fix the problem.

“We have been advised in a very small number of cases in certain schools and that those issues are not unusual in the first few weeks

rate below 89.3 per cent.

“Now research has shown globally that breakfast programmes provide support for struggling families, fuel students’ health and learning, provide nutritional support for children, lead to better attendance rates and fewer missed days, and higher student performance,” she said.

of school, which I’ve said before,” she said.

“We have been advised over the 20 years that initially, it acquired some acclimation between the teacher understanding the Bahamian child and the Bahamian child understanding fully the Cuban teacher in a minority of cases.

“Overwhelmingly, there are no issues, but where there are issues, we will seek to intervene and to ensure that there is a smooth rollout. And if there are issues that

“This pilot programme will allow us in those select schools to be able to monitor and collect data and to test the outcomes, because these are the outcomes that we would anticipate and expect.

“The purpose will be to provide free breakfasts to all students, not a select few. The traditional lunch

are unresolvable, we will step in, but I have been advised that this is not unusual in some instances, that there is a sort of orientation between the new teacher and the student population.”

In defending the Cuban teachers, Ms Hanna-Martin cited a long-standing memorandum of understanding The Bahamas has with the Cuban government, which helps this country meet its teacher deficits.

“The Cuban teachers, from

programme caters to students in need, but the breakfast programme will cater to all students attending a school.

Ms Hanna-Martin said the programme will be closely monitored to test its effectiveness.

Students will be provided with a balanced breakfast on Monday, Thursday and

$6M TO PAY FOR PROMOTIONS

from page one

For the people who have qualified for and earned more than one promotion during the time they waited, they will be double promoted to get them to where they were supposed to be.”

The promotional exercise restarted in April and was halted in 2014.

“The service-wide promotion covers the entire country,” Mrs

Glover Rolle said. “Every ministry, every department, every unit, and that, of course, equates to hundreds of public servants we have been processing.

“The deadline for ministries to submit recommendations to the Ministry of Public Service was on July 1, and on July 1 we started processing. Every day, the Ministry of Public Service and Public Service Commission is processing those files.” She could not say precisely

how many public servants will be processed.

“We will continue working to decrease the decades-long backlog of promotions, regularizations, classifications, and other longstanding matters that our public servants have waited far too long to have resolved,” she said.

“The only way we can have a modern, productive, and efficient public service is if we are taking care of our people.”

what I have been advised, have provided an invaluable input to education,” she said. “And in fact, this year, they have allowed us to extend access to special education for children who have been falling between the cracks.”

“And we are now being able to put them in islands that, you know, that were never here for service with special education teachers. The other area that they’ve brought to the table is technical and vocational.”

Friday. Those days were chosen because many families suffer a food deficit on the weekend, Ms HannaMartin said.

“The government is doing this because there is a commitment to doing whatever is necessary to ensuring first of all that children are in school. That’s a priority - get children in

school,” she added.

“Secondly, to ensure that they receive quality instruction while they’re in school, for their human development and for securing the overall well-being and the future of our nation. And thirdly and importantly, is to ensure that children have access to food as they attend school.”

PRESS SECRETARY AVOIDS IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRESS secretary Keishla Adderley sidestepped questions about the leadership of the Department of Immigration yesterday.

Acting Immigration director Keturah Ferguson is expected to be put on leave and replaced by former director William Pratt.

“I am not able to confirm that,” Ms Adderley said yesterday. “The relevant authorities will make an announcement on that at the appropriate time.”

Former Immigration Minister Keith Bell was criticised after a series of leaks showed top immigration officials were concerned about his alleged intervention in matters related to work permits, citizenship and law enforcement operations.

Branville McCartney, the former minister of state for immigration and past leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), said on Friday that sidelining Ms Ferguson “reeks of victimisation”.

“That stinks,” he said. “I’ve had the good fortune to work with Keturah when I was at immigration and found her to be an excellent, excellent civil servant in the department, someone who is well equipped, who knew her job.”

“As a matter of fact, I mean, when I went there as a minister, she helped to guide me. We all have this concern or thought when you become a minister of a particular ministry, you’re the expert. Well, that’s not the case. I wasn’t an expert in immigration, although I did some of it in my law practice. But I had to be guided. She was the person who guided the situation.”

“With her being asked to resign or step down or retire or whatever it is, it stinks. That I don’t think it bodes well for the government in the circumstances.”

In July, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the government would review how immigration decisions are made to strengthen the process. However, little has been revealed about the purported review, including who is conducting it.

EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin at yesterday’s press conference.

Photo: Moise Amisial

PIA Glover-Rolle speaking yesterday.

Photo: Moise Amisial

Community centre’s construction on track

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE setbacks, construction of the Nassau Village Community Centre is ahead of schedule.

The facility, including a 12-room community centre, is being built through a public-private partnership between the government and the Bahamas Striping Group of Companies

(BSGC). The project is expected to be completed within 14 to 17 months. The current construction team includes 13 Bahamian contractors.

Jamahl Strachan, MP for Nassau Village, said the reception for the community centre has been positive.

“They look forward to it being finished, and we’re just delivering on exactly

WORK TO START ON ABACO POLICE STATION ‘IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FOUR years after Hurricane Dorian ravaged the Marsh Harbour police station in Abaco, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said construction on a new police headquarters should begin before the next budget cycle.

Mr Munroe announced plans for the new facility while addressing the Abaco Business Outlook yesterday.

He said the old police headquarters in Marsh Harbour was not suitable.

“The building was too small. It seemed to be an afterthought,” he said. “One of the things that Abaco has at its disposal is the ability to represent with that building having been destroyed that it is a matter now that the police should get a station that would be appropriate for a divisional headquarters.”

He added: “A plan has been advanced to the commissioner of police. It has been improved and is subject to the agreement of a public-private partnership. The construction of the new divisional headquarters to be based in Marsh Harbour should begin hopefully within the calendar year

from now, before the next budget.”

Mr Munroe said the development works are part of the government’s wider plan to redevelop ageing stations nationwide.

“You would be amazed at the very poor conditions that a police officer discharges their duties in,” he said.

Regarding the lack of police manpower on Abaco, Mr Munroe said his ministry is addressing the issue through aggressive recruitment.

He said efforts are also underway to crack down on illegal maritime operations in Abaco, acknowledging residents’ poaching concerns.

He said the RBDF intends to acquire a coastal radar for Marsh Harbour “so that we may have marine domain awareness of what is passed into our waters”.

He added: “Aligned with the blueprint for change, a new organisation is on the way that would be of particular interest to you here in Abaco, and it’s called the Bahamas Wildlife Enforcement Network, and it is intended to be an armed law enforcement agency to enforce all laws with regard to natural resources.”

what we promised,” he said.

“This edifice is one of one. It’s something that the community has not seen. This is an expression of our government’s commitment to Nassau Villagers and the wider Bahamas.”

BSGC project manager Devon Adderley said despite 21 days of rain in June and July and a change of plans from renovating the existing structure to building

a brand new facility, construction is ahead of schedule because of the construction team’s hard work and strategic planning.

Atario Mitchell, president of BSGC, said: “We’re proud to be a part of this project as well as the benefits that it will bring to this community. It just goes to show that the public-private partnership initiatives are working in the country,

and this is just one of them. We’re looking forward to delivering a state-of-the-art building to the Nassau Village Community.

“With the construction process, once we get past the belt course, then we’re looking at securing the roof, then doing the landscaping, and just finishing up the entire project.”

The environmentally friendly community centre, which officials say will be

similar to the centre in Fox Hill, will have the capacity to be entirely solar powered, with a computer lab, a commercial-grade kitchen, two multi-purpose rooms to allow for social services, a backup generator, a sick bay, conference rooms and family stalls.

The facility will also function as a shelter with a capacity for 120 people during a hurricane or other natural disasters.

WATCH OUT - CANE TOADS ARE BACK

from page one

A joint government task force has been formed between the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environmental Health Services and the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) to address Cane Toads’ proliferation.

In a press release yesterday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources advised the public not

to try to catch the cane toads, but to remove water receptacles instead and use a homemade chemical spray. The chemical spray should include two cups of Dettol, Savlon or any similar antiseptic and one cup of water.

“The best barrier is a chemical barrier. As these animals prefer dark and damp conditions, it is recommended that spraying takes place in the early mornings or late evenings,” the ministry said.

Cane toads, native to Central

America, Mexico and Rio Grande, were purposely introduced into the Caribbean region to control pests. Adult cane toads are roughly the size of an adult male hand with warty, bumpy, dry skin. The colour of the toads can vary from grey, olive, yellow-brown or yellow-red.

Any sightings of cane toads should be reported to the Department of Agriculture at 397-7450 or the Department of Environmental Health at 322-8037

A CANE toad pictured in New Providence in 2021.

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe.

Photo: Moise Amisial

$35m invested by Baha Mar in maintenance

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHA MAR president Graeme Davis said the resort has invested $35m in maintenance this year.

He encouraged local businesses to reinvest in their properties continually.

Mr Davis told The Tribune yesterday the mega-resort is happy with its business volume for this year and that the 2024 projections are positive.

“We’ve had a great year so far. It’s been a very busy summer. It’s been a very busy winter season,” he said. “Of course, September is always a little bit quieter in the fall as children and kids are back to school, and families are back to work from their summer holiday. Typically, it’s a quieter time of year, and it gives us an opportunity to give our staff a break as well as reinvest into the property and maintenance.”

“We invested this year another $35m just in maintaining the property to ensure that it’s exceptional. When we’re as busy as we

are throughout the year, you have to make sure that you’re always reinvesting in your product to make sure that it’s exceptional. I encourage all of our local businesses to keep reinvesting to ensure they’re in the best condition.”

In April, Baha Mar’s president hailed an “extraordinary first quarter” and “record March”, with 2023 business volumes up 20 per cent year-over-year. “We’ve had an extraordinary first quarter here at Baha Mar across all our brands. I’m pleased to announce that, certainly from a first quarter standpoint, we’re up 45 per cent year-over-year,” Baha Mar’s president said in April.

Mr Davis conceded that the first three months of 2023 were up against slightly weaker prior-year comparatives because of the Omicron COVID variant “break-out” that occurred in early 2022. Still, he added that Baha Mar has “seen a significant amount of demand” for each of its Grand Hyatt, Rosewood and SLS resort properties.

RESORT HOPES TO HOST CONFERENCE FOR YEARS

By JADE

BAHA MAR hosted 475 travel agents representing almost $1 billion in travel business sales at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) North America conference this week.

The invitation-only event gathered the best from the luxury travel industry to engage in one-on-one meetings, seminars, and sessions for networking.

He said the resort will host the ILTM North America conference for three years.

“The travel advisors that represent travel agents across North America are very interested in The Bahamas,” Baha Mar President Graeme Davis said.

“This is one of the most exceptional opportunities to showcase The Bahamas, the out islands, certainly Nassau Paradise Island on luxury experiences as we continue to grow and develop the product of tourism here in The Bahamas. Luxury is certainly the leading opportunity for growing the tourism market here.”

Mr Davis said the 475 travel advisors met suppliers that sold luxury hotel experiences worldwide. He said there were 775 “suppliers” who sold and provided information on the travel experiences and hotels they had to offer.

“Some had been here before, and they’re coming back to not only learn about The Bahamas, but also other suppliers of luxury experiences around the world,” Mr Davis added.

The Baha Mar president said the conference had been held in Mexico for the last ten years, and that the opportunity to host the ILTM conference here was monumental.

“There are very few opportunities to have 475 travel agents that are selling, I believe, what is represented here is almost a billion dollars worth of travel business being booked at this event,” he added. “That’s what they represent across the entire globe as far as selling travel.”

He said the resort is hoping to host the luxury travel conference for the next ten years.

“Our expectations are that they’ll be here for many years to come, every year, every September, which is very encouraging to be able to have this type of event coming in

September, which is typically our lower season.”

For her part, Alison Gilmore, who is a portfolio director for ILTM events globally, said The Bahamas was a great choice for this year’s conference.

“We outgrew where we were, and we decided we needed to move somewhere else,” she said. “The Bahamas is the perfect place for us to go for the next ten years and grow the business. Most of our audience on the supplier side or the buyer side, rather, come from North America. So, it’s a nice easy commute for them to come here for a few days.”

RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHA Mar president Graeme Davis.

Photo: Moise Amisial

‘We invested this year another $35m just in maintaining the property to ensure that it’s exceptional. When we’re as busy as we are throughout the year, you have to make sure that you’re always reinvesting in your product to make sure that it’s exceptional.’

ALISON GILMORE, portfolio director of ILTM Global Events.

Photo: Moise Amisial

The Tribune Limited

Shifting tone on issues of concern

THIS week, there have been notable shifts in what ministers have said on issues that have arisen recently.

In yesterday’s Tribune, we reported on how Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe had gone from deriding the police incentive scheme as fake news to defending it now that he knows it exists.

Mr Munroe claimed that when he said the scheme was fake news he was referring to officers getting cash prizes. For the record, that is not what he was asked – he was simply sent a screenshot of the award scheme and asked to comment.

So if he was indeed saying it was fake news that the officers were getting cash prizes, he was answering a question that was not asked.

And today we report on the issue of concerns about some Cuban teachers not being able to speak English well enough to be understood by their students.

When The Tribune reported on the claims by the Bahamas Union of Teachers, the Ministry of Education was terse in its response, saying: “The group of education professionals were recruited as a result of a scrutiny process which involved seasoned public servants from the Public Service Commission, Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training and representatives of the Bahamas Educators, Counsellors and Allied Workers Union (BECAWU). It was unfortunate that the BUT was unable to send a representative for the interview panel.”

The ministry added: “The panel was satisfied that the teachers are highly qualified and have competency in English.”

Yesterday, Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin shifted that tone somewhat, accepting that a “very small” number of those teachers had been a barrier.

Ms Hanna-Martin said it is “not unusual” for there to be a barrier in the first few weeks of school – which if that is the case, it is surprising that was not a part

of the ministry’s earlier response if it is so commonplace.

She said yesterday: “We have been advised in a very small number of cases in certain schools and that those issues are not unusual in the first few weeks of school, which I’ve said before.

“We have been advised over the 20 years that initially it acquired some acclimation between the teacher understanding the Bahamian child and the Bahamian child understanding fully the Cuban teacher in a minority of cases.”

So in other words, yes, there were some issues over clear communication, but they think it will be resolved in weeks as teachers and students learn how to understand one another.

That, of course, does leave the question over whether pupils will lose out in those weeks as they adjust – but more than anything, if this is a regular occurrence, why be so combative about it in the first place?

We should reiterate of course that none of this is any fault of any of the teachers who have been hired – and there should be no criticism of any of those involved, simply because some may not have the needed skills. That is a flaw in the recruitment process, not in the teachers themselves.

In both of these cases, was it a case of being uncertain over the facts in the first place? Or is it just being reluctant to admit the initial response might not have been correct?

If a question is raised over the existence of a police incentive scheme, why feel the need to dismiss it so readily?

If teachers raise concerns over whether students can understand some of their teachers, why not listen to those worries and address them?

What is the initial reluctance to consider that these things may actually be true?

Not all things have to be adversarial. And the problem comes that if these are true, then it casts doubt on other instances where government officials make denials. And that is by far the worst option.

Blowing the whistle on PM Davis?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I TOOK note of a September 20 article on the front page of The Nassau Guardian concerning allegations made by the Free National Movement party that the Davis administration is currently facing a cash crunch crisis. The Nassau Guardian was careful to add that the official opposition offered no proof to substantiate its explosive claims. Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis is the substantive minister of finance. Prominent Progressive Liberal Party supporter Simon Wilson is the financial secretary in the Ministry of Finance -- a post I believe is really a de facto state ministerial position without the said title. Wilson, for all intents and purposes, is a technocrat who, I believe, is running the show in Finance.

Based on the rosy picture Davis painted for the nation in his budget communication in May, it would be downright demoralising if there’s even a grain of truth to what the FNM is alleging. While certain political operatives are acting as if The Bahamas has entered the Millennium promised by the Book of Revelations chapter 20, many Bahamian families have been hard hit by the current inflation crisis. Whatever

prosperity brought on by the ongoing economic boom spurred by the robust tourism sector has been offset by the rising cost of electricity, oil, building supplies and food.

If you earn, say, $2,500 per month, chances are your living expenses exceeds $3,000- plus. The current dilemma has eroded the middle class and has plunged poor Bahamian families deeper into poverty. Individuals who are singing another tone are living in a bubble and are totally oblivious to the extent of the suffering on the ground. Obviously, these are external factors that the PLP government cannot control.

Yet we must bear in mind that the former Minnis administration was held accountable by the media, the political opposition parties and thousands of Bahamians for Hurricane Dorian and the COVID19 pandemic. But I digress.

The point I am clumsily attempting to make is that the FNM might have sympathetic individuals within the Ministry of Finance who are ratting on the Davis administration. This is a possibility, considering all that has transpired over the past twelve months. I

call them whistleblowers. They’re not necessarily FNM supporters. For all we know, they could be disgruntled PLPs or individuals who are politically neutral, but have reached out to the official opposition to voice their concerns. Going to the Coalition of Independents, to them, is a complete waste of time, as this upstart political organisation has no presence in the House of Assembly. These moles within the public sector might be afraid to approach the prime minister, as any negative report regarding the financial state of the Public Treasury could be perceived as an attack on his administration and its handling of the public purse. This is all speculation. Maybe the FNM has made up these allegations to gain political traction. Or maybe they are telling the truth, but will not divulge its source of information in order to protect its whistleblowers. I for one do hope that these allegations are patently false, and that the state is able to meet its financial commitments in a timely manner. As a Bahamian, I am rooting for the Davis administration to succeed in managing our financial affairs.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama September 20, 2023.

Brave new world

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE ARE in a brave new world. Before March, 2020 most people in the western world believed they were part of the free world. The COVID crisis demonstrated once there is an emergency you have no rights; just privileges that the government give and take away. All constitutions of countries of the west have a mechanism where a government can declare a state of emergency. Belize and Jamaica have taken that to the other level where an increase in crime, mainly murder, is a state of emergency. I thought crime was a social ill. If it is and only the symptom is suppressed in the long term it will get worse as it has in both countries. This kind of state of emergency is

palliative and not corrective. Poverty, breakdown of the family and moral decadence has to be fixed.

Now we have climate change emergency and carbon credit to restrict certain people’s activities because you can buy carbon credit which negates its legitimacy. It seems there will always be an emergency and I object to any declaration of state of emergency which makes humans property of the government. Even in a medical emergency, I know it’s immoral to coerce people to undergo chemical or drug treatment. If human beings survived for thousands of years without drugs(pharmaceuticals), I am sure I have and will survive. Privacy does not exist under this new paradigm. Digital programmable money and

digital identification are control mechanism. Tyranny in the form of convenience.

This is a message to whomever supports making human property of the government. It will work for many, but it will not work for everyone. Freedom cannot be denied for long. Slavery for blacks only lasted 500 years after so much effort to alter history and brainwashing. I am sure, no one can take away my rights. They can only violate them; even if it is a government. Rights are inherent, governments or bullies can violate them, but once I am not a believer in their legitimacy it is a mere overpowering of me.

A FIRE department boat sprays water on Lake Union with the Space Needle in the background in Seattle. Seattle Public Utilities is asking about 1.5 million customers in the Seattle area to use less water as drought conditions continue throughout most of the state. Photo: Ted S Warren/AP

BAHAMIAN OFFICERS ASSIST TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force deployed 12 officers and a dog to Turks and Caicos Islands to help with their crime fight, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said yesterday.

According to several media reports, the officers were sworn in on September 5 to help TCI officers crack down on rising gang

violence.

Mr Munroe told The Tribune this is the third deployment of Bahamian officers to that country.

A group of Bahamian officers were first sent to TCI in October 2022 as part of a joint national security operation. Another group was sent in February 2023.

The deployment led to public backlash, with some asking why the government would send police officers abroad while The Bahamas

grapples with rising murders and other violent crimes.

However, Mr Munroe defended the move, saying it was in this country’s best interests.

He said yesterday: “We can be rightfully proud of the Royal Bahamas Police Force because contrary to what people say, when an English colony runs into problems, they call on our police force, and so it’s that level of professionalism that drives it.”

MAN FINED $11,000 AFTER 22 BREACHES OF CURFEW

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on release on a pending murder charge was fined $11,000 after admitting to disobeying his residential curfew 22 times.

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged John Thomas, 33, with 22 counts

of violating his bail conditions.

Alphonso Lewis represented the accused.

Thomas is currently on release for his alleged involvement in the death of Garth Hall in Coconut Grove on March 11, 2022. Hall was shot while cleaning his car.

The accused failed to obey his curfew 22 separate times between April 15 and July 10.

After pleading guilty, Thomas was ordered to pay $2,000 of his $11,000 fine before his release.

He is expected to return to court on October 2 for a payment report.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF USING CAR AS A WEAPON IN ATTACK

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of assaulting someone with her car earlier this year.

Assistant Chief

Magistrate Subusola Swain charged Tasha Murphy, 45, with assault with a dangerous instrument, and assault with threats of harm.

Kebab Johnson represented the accused.

Murphy is accused of assaulting Rita Dalge physically and with her car

around 3.41pm on May 31 on Robinson Road. She is also accused of threatening to harm the same woman. Following her not-guilty plea, Murphy was granted $4,000 bail with one surety. Her trial is to begin on November 21.

COURT HEARS OF FRAUD ALLEGATION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MOTHER and daughter were granted $9,000 bail after they were accused of attempting to defraud an insurance company of almost $50K when they tried to withdraw a fake cheque at First Caribbean in August.

Magistrate Kendra Kelly charged Jeleah Eldora Turnquest, 67, and Jeleah Ingarita Turnquest, 39, with uttering a false document, possession of a forged document and attempt to fraud

by false pretences.

Jeleah Ingarita Turnquest alone faced an additional charge of stealing by reason of employment.

The younger Turnquest is accused of stealing $28,000 in cash from Shanya AnnMiller, which she had access to through her service between August 14, 2020, and January 12, 2021.

Both accused allegedly forged and attempted to cash a fake cheque at the FirstCaribbean in Harbour Bay payable in their names to allegedly take $47,670 from the account of CG Atlantic Medical &

Life Insurance on August 30.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. They were each granted $9,000 bail for the shared charges, with the younger defendant granted bail at an additional $5,000 for the stealing offence.

The mother is expected to sign in at Wulff Road Police Station on the first Monday of every month, while the daughter must sign in at Western Police Station every first and third Monday of each month.

The trial is due to begin on December 4.

ROYAL Bahamas Police Force officers with officials in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Splashdown in the moonlight

By Eric Wiberg

ON the night of Tuesday, October 5, 1943, a pilot from the RAF named Hastie calmly pointed the sizeable B-25 Mitchell bomber towards the dark outline of South Eleuthera, just above Lighthouse Point. Despite losing an engine then the second one overheating, Hastie managed to calmly land his nearly 70ft, 35,000lb airplane a mere 100 feet from the beach gleaming white in the moonlight, without any of his men being killed. However, one of them was trapped unconscious in the back of the plane, which had already filled with water, and all hatches were blocked. Though they were already free from the plane and in inflatible rafts, two of the crewmen swam into the stricken plane which was settling in 10 to 15 feet of water, through the bomb doors, and pulled their unconcious shipmate through a narrow tunnel into the air and safety.

This is the extraordinary story of how a team of RAF pilots on the verge of being sent to Europe to fight Germans in the air found themselves being carried by stretchers organised

by Constable Enoch McPhee of Bannerman Town, Eleuthera, taken by an American Jeep commandeered by Justice of the Peace HH Finley, and tended to by Dr Norman Kerr in Rock Sound Hospital. The crew were led by the pilot, Warrant Officer RN Hastie, Flight Sergeant VA McLennan, Sergeant TW Allen, and Wireless Operator SJ Trusson, all of them in the Royal Air Force.

Overall they were airborne less than four hours, crashed 70 miles from Oakes Field Nassau where they trained with the training unit OTU No 111, were driven 18 miles to the hospital, and then taken by boat another 64 miles to the Air Sea Rescue base at Motague Foreshore, Nassau. Their entire ordeal from liftoff in Nassau on Tuesday to being hospitalised at the RAF base in Nassau took nearly 20 hours.

Members of the hamlet of Bannerman Town have confirmed to me that they played on the remnants of the aircraft, in the area which today is being developed by Disney cruises. Today, Bannerman Town

is the southernmost inhabited enclave of Eleuthera, with a population shared with John Millar of just 65 persons. The most accurate account of events is provided by Search for missing aircraft, from the base record books. It reads: “B-25 FR384 CM was airborne at 5.36 pm upon anti-submarine patrol No 2f. At 5.40pm [four minutes after take-off] the the last W/T [Radio] contact was made with the aircraft. At 7.30pm, a signal was sent to [aircraft] CX requesting news of CM. The aircraft had no news to pass. Three aircraft were then detailed for air search... as far as Rum Cay. The aircraft were... airborne between 9.38pm and 9.42pm. A signal was sent to the RAF detachment at San Salvador, instructing the Widgeon aircraft to search... The Marine craft [ASR fleet], at Harbour Island and at Montague were ordered to stand by for air sea rescue, at

9.47pm.

When pilot officer Thompson, captain of [rescuing] CX, returned from flight, he reported seeing CM jettison its depth chahrges and head for land. At 10.28 pm a signal received from W/O Hastie, captain of CM, via Harbour Island that the aircraft had been ditched on Eleuthera’s East shore. All were safe, one man badly injured. It was requested that the Walrus [one-engine amphibious biplane] be dispatched. A signal was sent... to the effect that the missing aircraft had been found. The [searching] aircraft then returned to base [and] landed between 00.12am and 00.20am.”

The report then focused on what caused the crash: “The port engine of CM had failed to rectify the drag, and the captain had full boost to the starboard engbine. This engine then began to show signs of seizing up. It was then decided to make a forced landing. The depth charges were jettisoned and the aircraft was ditched on a rock, about 100 yards from the shore. The crew were able to leave the aircraft. The rear gunner was unconcious with head injuries, and was extracted from the aircraft by the other members of the crew. The dinghy was launched, and thew crew paddled ashore... The crew were taken to Rock Sound Hospital and there their injuries were attended to.

The Marine craft launch [HMS] P-89 at Harbour Island was instructed to proceed to the scene of the crash and to pick up the airmen. P-191 had proceeded [from Nassau] with a medical officer at Ship Channel Cay to render any assistance necessary.

The HMS P-89 failed to locate the wrecked aircraft. A signal was received at 12.15am that all the crew were comfortable and in hospital at Rock Sound. P- 89 was signalled to proceed to Rock Sound to pick up the crew at 12.25pm. At 12.37pm, it was decided to send P-191 to Rock Sound and if insufficient petrol for the return was to await reloading. The Medical Officer arrived with P-191 and arrangements for the crew to be brought to Nassau were made. At 4.50pm, P-191 left Rock Sound Hospital, one member ingjured, and docked [in Nassau] at 10pm. The crew were taken to the [RAF] Station Hospital, and one member was detained.”

Residents amplify how the plane looked, saying it sat on a rock in just ten feet of water, 100ft from shore. The policeman and justice of the peace arranged use of the truck from a US Navy base in the Governor’s Harbor area, to drive to remote Bannerman town, load the stretcher case into it, and drive to the hospital in Rock Sound, which is a round-trip of some 100 miles.

Two months later the officer commanding OTU No 111 was effusive in his praise of the four men in the aircraft, submitting a report to his seniors which reads, in part: “On 5th October, 1943, RN Hastie was captain of Mitchell aircraft FR384 CM. Owing to loss of oil and the feathering mechanism of the propellor on one engine failed, and the consequent behaviour of the engine made it impossible to maintain height on the remaining engine. Hastie carried out his emergency procedure accurately and thoroughly, in spite of the difficulty in controlling the aircraft, and his crew were at their correct crash stations before the ditching was made. He showed good airmanship and a thorough understanding of the capabilities of his aircraft throughout and made a good touch down on the water.

The gunner, Sgt Allen was in the rear compartment of the aircraft. F/Sgt McLennan and Sgt Trusson, had already escaped, but, on discovering that Sgt Allen was still in the aircraft, they crawled back through the bomb bay tunnel and with great difficulty dragged him out. The task of pulling an unconscious man through this small tunnel required strength and determination. The read end of the aircraft was below water, so the hatches could not be used. McLennan and Trusson stood in grave danger of being trapped and drowned had the aircraft sunk before they had pulled Sgt Allen through the tunnel. Their prompt and gallant action prevented a very successful ditching from becoming a tragedy. The conduct and devition to duty of Hastie, McLennan and Trusson was highly commendable throughout.” Earlier the crew on this aircraft had gone to render search and rescue aid for other aircraft in distress in Castle Island, Acklins Island, and Andros Island.

Interviewed in early 2023, Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Eleanor Rolle and their

neighbor Phillip McPhee fondly remember playing on the plane parts on the airplane, specifically the wings and fuselage. They said it was just off beach about 100 yards, in 15 or so feet of water on the Atlantic Side, less than two miles south of the end of public access to Light House Beach. Phillip McPhee, whose uncle was the assisting constable and Mrs. Rolle said that the men were stretcher cases, and that the vehicle found to move them that night was borrowed from Americans in Governor’s Harbour and was more like a Jeep than a truck. They added that lighter aluminum parts of the plane such as fuselage and wing parts were strewn along the beach and in the dunes on the way to Eleuthera Point.

In January of 2023 myself and colleagues in a scouting trip to find the plane swam on the shores and interviewed nearly a dozen persons in the communities of Bannerman Town, Weymss Bight, John Millar, Deep Creek, Cape Eleuthera, and Green Castle. These included Captain George Bullard, Clem Thompson, teacher Mrs Randa Davis in Rock Sound, Herbert Richards former staff to member of the Cotton Bay Club and owner of a restaurant, hotel, and bar at Green Castle, and Mrs Justine Brown, roughly 90 years old, who welcomed us into her home.

In Deep Creek Germain Pinder of owner of the restaurant and bar as well as a car rental, and Chad and Chris at Cape Eleuthera and Island School were also very helpful, as were the Pinders, owners of a car rental in Hatchet Bay. Altogether this was very much a team effort, with the actual remains of the aircraft yet to reveal themselves – it is the ocean side and in winter it was very rough and the water cloudy. As a footnote, London-born Dr Kerr’s daughter Marilyn rose to social prominence by marrying an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Sir Charles Dundas, governor of the colony up until the Duke of Windsor supplanted him in 1940. Marilyn became Lady Peek (later Quennell), wife of Sir Francis Henry Grenville Peek, fourth Baronet. She and her childrens’ portraits hang in the National Portrait Gallery in London; Sir Francis was a first governor of the Lyford Cay Club on New Providence.

Has Brave gained from a lack of a knockout Punch?

OCTOBER 7 will mark two years since the final edition of The Punch was published. The building where jaw-dropping stories that had the power to change the course of local history were created appears empty. There is little talk now, as there was in the beginning, of trying to revive the tabloid that Bahamians loved or hated but read with equal voraciousness for the oftenscathing, if uncomfortable truths or accusations that came within a millisecond of libel against the rich and mighty. There were those who looked around for another Ivan Johnson, the fearless publisher who became a bi-weekly stalking watchdog for a nation, but even a group could not muster up the doggedness with which Ivan Johnson approached Page 1 or the appetite for scandal and truth that seeded his editorial.

And in that time since the power of The Punch faded into a rear-view memory, another phenomenon occurred.

A prime minister has enjoyed the greatest popularity of any prime minister in Bahamian history since the early days of the late Sir Lynden Pindling or the honeymoon days of Hubert Ingraham three decades ago. A recent poll showed his approval rating was north of 60 percent. Two years in, that is good stuff for any leader in a climate where the temperature of politics is taken on a daily basis.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has earned his popularity.

I say this without partisanship. He is likeable, accessible, a fellow Bahamian who’d be just as much at home in Old Fort Bay as Fowler Street off East Street South. If he is in the mix, you know you are in for a good time and down to earth conversation.

He is a man with a heady title yet no airs and there is a lot to be said for that quality.

He is also a man without The Punch there to look over his shoulder, scrutinize his speeches vs. actions, test his resolve, his patience and potentially interrupt the popularity he and much of the country seem to be enjoying. Ivan Johnson’s untimely death less than three weeks after the election would have been very much in the favour of whatever government came to power.

So the question is – Does the absence of the tabloid that probed where others feared to tread mean

By Diane Phillips

that the PM and his administration are getting a bit more of a free ride because there is no knockout PUNCH?

Not necessarily, but it is an interesting possibility. Here’s what I think the late publisher would have done with regard to the PM’s stance on being strongarmed in financial services. He’d have said, “About dammed time somebody stood up to the EU or the OECD or whatever alphabet soup group thinks they can boss small economies like The Bahamas around.”

Ivan Johnson, whom I only ever met once in person, might have found fault with something the Davis administration has done, or certain antics that have taken place around it, but he would have given the PM full marks for his words at the United Nations in 2022 and again this week.

Last year, the prime minister of one little island nation with a population smaller than that of the city of Fort Lauderdale called the world out on how the Davids get treated by the Goliaths in a world with unfair rules when it comes to financial services.

How dare you, the rich developed nations of the world, especially those in the EU, he said in far more eloquent terms, continue to threaten us, blacklist us, torment us to make us abide by rules which do not seem to apply to you?

No doubt the PM was responding to the thenrecent move by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) dumping The Bahamas back on its blacklist.

“Why is it that European states that

operate frameworks akin to that of high-risk or blacklisted countries are not even eligible for inclusion on these lists?” he asked in a room where every word is recorded and no word should be uttered by accident.

“Why are all countries targeted - all of them - small and vulnerable and former colonies of European states? We find it astounding that the $2-3 trillion estimated to be laundered each year through the developed countries are never flagged as causes for concern.

“And yet my country, which is widely recognized as one of the best-regulated countries in the world and other countries like The Bahamas are singled out for such reputational attacks? The evidence is mounting that the considerations behind these decisions have less to do with compliance and more to do with darker issues of pre-judged, discriminatory perceptions. Black-governed countries also matter.”

During that address, the PM touched on a number of hot button topics – solar energy, guns, embargo on trade with Cuba, even a suggestion that the wealthy financial institutions forgive debt incurred during the COVID lockdown – but what he will be remembered for on that September day at the United Nations Assembly will be the courage he exhibited as he stared down the large European economies and pointed his finger at their hypocrisy.

Maybe he should have provided examples of Bahamian obedience to foreign dictates that cause stumbling blocks for Bahamians trying to do legitimate business, obstacles that make us feel like we are jumping through hoops laced with barbed wire simply to show that The Bahamas is trying to sniff out any attempt at money laundering or terrorist money transfers.

From due diligence on potential investors that reaches into the deepest pockets of their past to obstacles to opening a simple bank account, from what it takes to get a business license to the onerous responsibilities

of reporting for foreign exchange control, The Bahamas financial regulatory process is a bear.

The PM could have asked if it is easier for a stranger to open a bank account with $100,000 in London or a well-established Bahamian to open a new account with $100 in Nassau? Who’s fooling who?

Ivan, you can continue to rest in peace for the moment. The PM who would like to

ditch his nickname is actually living up to it. This is not a deep dive into partisan politics, as I said. I rarely touch the subject. Other people are far better analysts or pundits than I, but when it comes to David and Goliath and David is carrying the sword of “gotcha” on this one, I gotta go with him winning the battle, even if he did get a bit of a free ride with no Punch looking nipping at his heels.

PIG in a pineapple field – literally. This photo captured the moment a pig calmly strolled, or waddled, across the lush grounds of Pineapple Fields, the iconic resort that draws locals and foreigners to Governors Harbour, Eleuthera. Of course, it was a hot September afternoon when the pig decided to approach the pool before being persuaded by a member of the gardening staff to find another place to cool off, like the sea and beach across the street.

GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

THE Government High School Alumni Association is pleased to announce the new executives that will lead the Alumni Association into the 100th year of the illustrious institution in 2025.

The Government High School Alumni Association executive board comprises talented individuals who are passionate about supporting and advancing the goals of their alma mater GHS. These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective roles, and their commitment to fostering a strong alumni community is unparalleled.

Taking the helm as President is Paul Fernander, a distinguished former student of The Government High School. With his networking & leadership skills along with his deep-rooted pride in the institution, Fernander is poised to guide the association towards new heights. His vision for the alumni association includes fostering stronger connections among alumni, promoting educational initiatives, providing mentorship opportunities to current students as well as recognizing and saluting former students with the hope of inspiring present day GHS students.

Assuming the role of Vice President is Vaughn Albury, a respected alumnus who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Albury’s passion for educational development and community engagement will undoubtedly contribute to the association’s mission of supporting the Government High School and its students.

Christine Cooper has been elected as Secretary, bringing her exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail to the forefront. Cooper’s dedication to fostering effective communication and facilitating smooth operations within the association will be instrumental in achieving the organisation’s goals.

Sandra Archer as Assistant Secretary will ensure that the association’s administrative functions are efficiently managed. Her experience in coordinating events and her commitment to collaboration will strengthen the association’s ability to execute its initiatives successfully.

The role of Treasurer will be held by former banker Bernadette Rolle who will oversee the association’s fiscal responsibilities. Mrs. Rolle’s expertise in management and banking plus her dedication to transparency and accountability will be invaluable assets to the Alumni organisation.

Former banker Margaret Hepburn McKay will serve as Assistant Treasurer, working closely with the Treasurer to ensure the association’s financial

operations are handled with utmost precision and integrity.

Xavier Knowles has been appointed as the Public Relations Officer, leveraging his exceptional communication skills and strategic thinking to promote the association’s activities, engage with the media, and enhance its public image.

Doreth Campbell has been appointed as the Alumni’s Chaplin and will head the membership committee. Mrs Campbell responsibilities include advising executives and members of the need to put God first in all their endeavors. She will also lead the committee to increase and maintain a robust membership.

Together, this dynamic team of executives is committed to advancing the goals and objectives of The Government High School Alumni Association. Their collective expertise, shared vision, and unwavering dedication will undoubtedly make a lasting impact on the alumni community and the institution they hold dear.

The Government High School Alumni Association looks forward to working collaboratively with its members, the school administration, and the wider community to foster a vibrant and supportive network that uplifts current students and celebrates the achievements of alumni.

The Government High School Alumni Association has a number of activities planned including an All-GHS Classes reunion Grill and Chill scheduled for Saturday 29th October starting at 11am on the GHS Field. Two dances are also planned; the first is an ‘Old Skool’ dance at the school’s gymnasium scheduled for November and a ‘2000 and Beyond Afro

Beats’ in December (location to be announced).

In 2024 the 2nd Annual Government High School Alumni Association Phoenix Awards is scheduled for Saturday January 27th at UB’s performing Arts Centre, a Shades of Blue Tea Party, a GHS Alumni Golf Tournament and a documentary scheduled for Fusion.

ROTARY CLUB OF NASSAU

THE Rotary Club of Nassau demonstrated service above self by partaking in the coastal cleanup initiative hosted by Blue Lagoon. We have partnered with them in several of the coastal cleanup initiatives. RCN demonstrated President Darren’s motto #Together.

SCOUT ASSOCIATION OF THE BAHAMAS

THIS coming Saturday promises to be a “red letter day” for the Scout Association of The Bahamas. The 110-year-old movement which started in 1913 will host its historic Scout Day. This day which encapsulates various aspects of scouting; knot/pioneering demonstrations, drill training, camping overview and more will be displayed by Cubs and Scouts groups to the enlightenment to the public at large. For the past several years, scouting associations all over the world with a membership of 58 million have been engaged in focal issues pertaining to young people with one in particular entitled “Safety from Harm”

program. These initiatives became paramount for group leaders to ensure protection for our young people in this changing world.

Given the challenges of global warming, there will also be a special presentation on Solar Systems by invited experts that promises to be exciting.

An important aspect of this Scout Day will be to show appreciation to a Scout Legend and hero; Mr John Phillpot. Mr Phillpot, immediate past president, has given more than 60 years of service to the Scout Association of The Bahamas. His legacy has impacted many persons who today sit in positions of decision-making in this country and around the world. The name John Phillpot in the scouting world is synonymous with service of excellence and faithfulness. He has assumed all of the levels of this movement during the past six decades.

The association executives headed by Mr Warren Andrew Pinder; President, Mr Calvin Greene; Vice President, Mr Alexander Gibson; Chief Scout, and Mr Lamar Pinder; Chief Commissioner have decided to name future “Scout Day” events in honour of Mr Phillpot. The leadership of this organisation has also decided to use this event as a “rebranding” for the century plus youth organisation.

A special feature will also include the attendance of Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis, KC, who will bring remarks along other government officials.

The John Phillpot Scout Day event starts at 9am and will conclude at 3pm at the headquarters located Dolphin Drive, Nassau Bahamas.

GOVERNMENT High School Alumni Association has announced its new executives. Pictured from left to right, starting top row, Sandra Archer, Margaret McKay, Christine Rollins, Doreth Campbell, Vaughn Albury, Paul Fernander, Bernadette Rolle and Xavier Knowles.

THE SCOUT Leadership team with John Phillpot sitting in the centre.

coastal clean-up hosted by Blue Lagoon.