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VOLUME:115 No.212, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2018

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

ALICIA WALLACE: LIFE’S A MINEFIELD FOR WOMEN

Corruption trial witness’ payments

JUST OLD DEBTS Bethel insists money to contractor Ash ‘all above board’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel confirmed instalment payments from the government are still being made to “whistleblower” Jonathan Ash for a debt the Minnis administration found on the books upon taking office.

“There is nothing untoward about these payments,” Mr Bethel said in response to a question from reporters yesterday outside Cabinet Office.

Mr Ash is the key witness for the crown in separate bribery cases against former Labour Minister Shane Gibson and former Housing and Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett.

Mr Bethel’s comments come after an alleged document purported to belong

to Ash Enterprises went viral on social media. The document itemised five payments of $30,000 to Mr Ash, totalling $150,000.

The payments are alleged to have dated back to April 2018; however, it is unclear whether any payment was made this month.

While the document did not name Mr Ash nor his company, and does not say what any of the payments were for, Mr Bethel yesterday confirmed its contents.

The Tribune asked Finance Minister K Peter Turnquest to reveal the works for which Mr Ash was still being paid. He said these were “old bills”, but referred this newspaper to put the question to Mr Bethel who made the confirmation.

SEE PAGE THREE

HUTCHISON Whampoa is demanding that the government honours a $300,000 monthly rental fee for the Grand Lucayan resort guaranteed by the Christie administration.

Tribune Business can reveal that, as part of the deal with Sunwing to open the Memories resort, the former government agreed to guarantee its monthly lease payments to the Hong Kong-based conglomerate.

After Hutchison Whampoa, as landlord, failed to repair Hurricane Matthewrelated damage, Memories closed its doors in January 2017.

Following the pull-out, the Christie administration honoured the guarantee by paying $300,000 per month from January 2017 - and Hutchison Whampoa wants the Minnis administration, which has continued the payments, to pay rent it deems owed as part of the purchase deal.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net A MASSACHUSETTS woman, who was airlifted to Florida after a shark attack in Abaco over the weekend, is reportedly recovering in hospital after successful surgery to save her fingers.

Maggie Ewing, a 34-year-old part-time resident of Abaco, was reportedly coming to the surface of the water just off Treasure Cay on Sunday when a black-tip reef shark bit her hand.

SEE PAGE FIVE

COPS GRAB 26 IN HUGE ABACO RAID

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN and American law enforcement officers teamed up for massive, surprise operation in Abaco yesterday, uncovering drugs and illegal weapons while arresting 26 people.

Flanked by dozens of officers when the group arrived at Odyssey Airport yesterday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said police are intent on finishing the year strong.

SEE PAGE SIX

HUTCHISON DEMANDS $300K LEASE PAYMENT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

US DIVER BITTEN BY REEF SHARK

LABOUR DAY DRIVER CHARGED TRAVIS LAMAR SAWYER, 23, of Silver Gates, outside court yesterday. He is accused of manslaughter by negligence following the deaths of four women at the Labour Day parade in June. See page three for the full story.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

COSBY - THE ‘SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR’ NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA Associated Press

HIS Hollywood career and good-guy image in ruins, Bill Cosby was led away to prison in handcuffs yesterday at age 81 for perhaps the rest of his days, sentenced to three to ten years behind bars for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his gated estate.

The punishment made him the first celebrity of the #MeToo era to be sent

BILL Cosby at court yesterday. to prison and completed the dizzying, late-in-life fall from grace for the comedian, TV star and breaker of racial barriers.

“It is time for justice.

Mr Cosby, this has all circled back to you. The time has come,” Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill said. He quoted from victim Andrea Constand’s statement to the court, in which she said Cosby took her “beautiful, young spirit and crushed it”.

Cosby declined the opportunity to speak before the sentence came down, and afterward sat SEE PAGE TWO

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

BEACH BODY IS MISSING VICTIM OF ‘SHOOTING’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A DECOMPOSING body was found on a beach in Abaco Monday evening.

Police yesterday said they believe it is the body of Mario Sawyer, a young man who went missing after he was reportedly shot after an altercation outside a nightclub.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, briefing the press following an operation in Abaco over the past several days, said the body was recovered from a beach in Crossing Rock.

The body had been there decomposing for a few days he said, adding preliminary investigation lead police to believe the body was placed there. He said police will await the results of an autopsy report.

PAGE 2, Wednesday, September 26, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Cosby - the ‘sexually violent predator’ from page one laughing and chatting with his defence team. His wife of 54 years, Camille, was not in court. Constand smiled broadly upon hearing the punishment and was hugged by others in the courtroom. a blistering statement, Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt said the comic was subjected to “most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States”.

Among other things, Wyatt said all three of the psychologists who testified against Cosby were “white women who make money off of accusing black men of being sexual predators”, and he accused prosecutors of using a doctored recording of a telephone conversation between Constand’s mother and Cosby.

Cosby’s lawyers asked that he be allowed to remain free on bail while he appeals his conviction, but the judge appeared incredulous over the request and ordered him locked up immediately, saying that “he could quite possibly be a danger to the community”.

The comedian — who is legally blind and uses a cane — removed his watch, tie and jacket and walked out in a white dress shirt and red suspenders, his hands cuffed in front of him. He must serve the minimum of three years before becoming eligible for parole.

“For decades, the defendant has been able to hide his true self and hide his crimes using his fame and fortune. He’s hidden behind a character created, Dr. Cliff Huxtable,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said at a news conference, referring to Cosby’s best-known role. But “now, finally, Bill Cosby has been unmasked, and we have seen the real man as he is headed off to prison”.

Constand stood at Steele’s side but shook her head to say she had no comment.

Former model Janice Dickinson, who was among the 60 or so women who have come forward to accuse Cosby of drugging and violating them over the past five decades, looked at him in the courtroom and said: “Here’s the last laugh, pal.”

Another accuser in the courtroom, Lili Bernard, said: “There is solace, absolutely. It is his fame and his fortune and his phony philanthropy that has allowed him to get away with impunity.

Maybe this will send a message to other powerful perpetrators that they will be caught and punished.”

The punishment, which also included a $25,000 fine, came at the end of a two-day hearing at which the judge declared Cosby a “sexually violent predator” — a modern-day scarlet letter that subjects him to monthly counseling for the rest of his life and requires that neighbors and schools be notified of his whereabouts.

The comic once known as America’s Dad for his role on the top-rated “Cosby Show” in the 1980s was convicted in April of violating Constand, Temple University women’s basketball administrator, at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004. It was the first celebrity trial of the #MeToo era.

Constand testified that Cosby gave her what she thought were herbal pills to ease stress, then penetrated her with his fingers as she lay immobilised on a couch. Cosby claimed the encounter was consensual, and his lawyers branded her a “con artist” who framed the comedian to get a big payday — a $3.4m settlement she received over a decade ago.

Five other accusers took the stand at the trial as part of an effort by prosecutors to portray him as a predator.

Cosby faced anywhere from probation to ten years in prison. His lawyers asked for house arrest, saying Cosby is too old and vulnerable to do time in prison.

Prosecutors asked for five to ten years behind bars, saying he could still pose a threat to women.

The sentencing came as another extraordinary #MeToo drama unfolded on Capitol Hill, where Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh stands accused of sexual misconduct more than three decades ago.

Sonia Ossorio, president of the National Organization for Women of New York, credited Cosby’s accusers with helping pave

BILL Cosby leaves the courtroom in handcuffs after he was sentenced to three to ten years for sexual assault.

Photo: Mark Makela/Pool Photo via AP the way for the #MeToo movement.

“Bill Cosby seeing the inside of a prison cell sends a strong message that predators — no matter who they are, from Hollywood to Wall Street to the Supreme Court — can no longer be protected at the expense of victims,” she said.

The judge ruled on Cosby’s “sexually violent predator” status after a psychologist for the state testified that the entertainer appears to have a mental disorder that gives him an uncontrollable urge to have sex with women without their consent.

Steele said Cosby could be sent to Laurel Highlands, a state prison for lower-risk inmates on the other side of the state, about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It

serves inmates with special needs and has separate housing units for geriatric prisoners and programs for sex offenders.

In a statement submitted to the court and released Tuesday, Constand, 45, said that she has had to cope with years of anxiety and self-doubt. She said she now lives alone with her two dogs and has trouble trusting people.

“When the sexual assault happened, I was a young woman brimming with confidence and looking forward to a future bright with possibilities,” she wrote in her five-page statement. “Now, almost 15 years later, I’m a middle-aged woman who’s been stuck in a holding pattern for most of her adult life, unable to heal fully or to move forward.”

She also wrote of Cosby: “We may never know the full extent of his double life as a sexual predator, but his decades-long reign of terror as a serial rapist is over.”

Constand went to police a year after waking up in a fog at Cosby’s estate, her clothes askew, only to have the district attorney pass on the case. Another DA reopened the file a decade later and charged the TV star after stand-up comic Hannibal Buress’ riff about Cosby being a rapist prompted other women to come forward and after a federal judge, acting on a request from The Associated Press, unsealed some of Cosby’s startling, decadeold testimony in Constand’s related civil suit.

In his testimony, Cosby described sexual encounters

with a string of actresses, models and other young women and talked about obtaining quaaludes to give to those he wanted to sleep with.

Cosby’s first trial in 2017 ended with a hung jury. He was convicted at a retrial that opened months after the #MeToo movement had taken down such figures as Hollywood studio boss Harvey Weinstein, NBC’s Matt Lauer, actor Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.

Cosby, whose estimated fortune once topped $400m, broke barriers in the 1960s as the first black actor to star in a network show, I Spy. He went on to superstardom as wise and understanding Dr Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 26, 2018, PAGE 3

Corruption trial witness’ payments just old debts from page one Mr Bethel said: “I have seen and heard (about) a post on social media calling into question certain instalment payments being made to Jonathan Ash who is a whistleblower and I have to say that there is nothing untoward about these payments. They are instalment payments on an acknowledged debt that the Ministry of Finance met on its books when we came to office.”

However, Mr Bethel said this matter gave rise to a wider question the country must come to grips with.

He was referring to the treatment of whistleblowers and a decision as to what should happen to these people who rely on

government contracts as a way of life.

Recognising present legislation does not go far enough in protecting these people, Mr Bethel said the government intends to bring forward a full Whistleblowers Protection Act. He further insisted these comments were general and not regarding Mr Ash’s role in an open case involving former Labour Minister Shane Gibson, or any other controversial matter being adjudicated.

Mr Bethel continued: “How do we treat whistleblowers?

The whistleblowers protection provision in the Freedom of Information Act provides a measure of protection for those who are in some kind of gainful employment,

settled employment.

“We have to decide what we do with persons who are whistleblowers who may have a different employment method whether it is by contracting with the government or otherwise.”

“The government will bring forward a full Whistleblowers Protection Act to clarify this because we have to decide as a people what society you want to live in. If we say that we are opposed to corruption then whistleblowers should not be given an economic death sentence when they step forward and reveal alleged acts of corruption, they have to live to.

“What I say is not directly related to Mr Ash or any matter of controversy in any court in this country it is a general statement gleaned

from dealings in terms of experience in seeing what has happened to persons who have stepped forward broadly in our society.

“There have been persons who have been driven to the point of bankruptcy because once they reveal an alleged act of corruption they have been unable to secure any kind of contract or remunerative employment in this society.

“We can be judgmental as a people some times and this has adversely affected and proves to be a real disincentive in the effort to fight against corruption at all levels of our society.”

“So there has to be a clear signal by the government that we as a society must do what is necessary not to provide a disincentive to people who want to

be honest and who want to help in creating we hope a more civil and just society.

He continued: “So those are my comments and I hope they will be understood as being necessary for us to have a reasoned mature and progressive view as to how we would wish to see the further development of Bahamian society.

“If we want to engage in a fight against corruption we must not make it absolutely impossible for persons who reveal it to survive,” he added.

The public first became aware of substantial payments Ms Ash was receiving ahead of the 2017 general election last year in a riveting speech by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in the House of Assembly.

Dr Minnis at the time revealed he was “astonished” to learn that not only did Mr Ash receive more than $8m to clean up New Providence in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, but that he was able to receive multiple cheques in one day on two separate occasions.

There were 46 transactions made to this vendor through several of his companies and he also received $151,000 on May 9, just one day before the election, Dr Minnis said.

At the time he said this along with other “shocking” information, would be passed on to Auditor General Terrance Bastian for investigation. It is unclear if this actually happened.

Dr Minnis said Mr Ash pocketed a total of $8,113,908.24.

LABOUR DAY DRIVER CHARGED

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE 23-year-old driver of the truck that mowed through a crowd during the Labour Day Parade was remanded to prison yesterday after being charged with negligently causing the deaths of four women.

Travis Lamar Sawyer, of Silver Gates, was charged before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain with four counts of manslaughter by negligence stemming from the June 1 incident, which also injured 24 people.

It is alleged that on the Friday in question, Sawyer, by means of unlawful harm, negligently caused the deaths of 41-year-old Tabitha Haye, 48-year-old Tami Patrice Gibson, 51-yearold Kathleen Fernander and 55-year-old Dianna Gray-Ferguson.

Shortly after 10am on June 1 the annual Labour Day parade was walking north on East Street in the vicinity of Shirley Street, when a green Ford F150 truck, which was a part of the parade, descended the

YOUR

hill towards Shirley Street.

The vehicle, which at the time had no driver, ran into a number of people who were a part of the parade, resulting in them receiving injuries. The vehicle came to a stop on hitting a Nissan vehicle, parked in a nearby parking lot.

Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, while 26 others were taken to hospital. Two women later died at the hospital, which was forced into mass casualty mode.

The driver of the truck was subsequently taken into custody.

Sawyer was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the case was adjourned to November 13 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Corrections in the interim.

Up to press time, Sawyer’s attorney, Barry Sawyer, was at the Supreme Court yesterday seeking to apply for bail for his client. However, The Tribune understands he was not successful in having the bail application heard.

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

TRAVIS LAMAR SAWYER, 23, of Silver Gates at court yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 4, Wednesday, September 26, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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UN laughs at Trump as he boasts of achievements UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Donald Trump poured scorn on the “ideology of globalism” and heaped praise on his own administration’s achievements yesterday in a speech to the UN General Assembly that drew headshakes and even mocking laughter from his audience of fellow world leaders.

“The US will not tell you how to live and work or worship,” Trump said as he unapologetically promoted his “America First” agenda. “We only ask that you honor our sovereignty in return.”

Speaking in triumphal terms, Trump approached his address to the world body as something of an annual report to the world on his country’s progress since his inauguration. He showcased strong economic numbers, declared that the US military is “more powerful than it has ever been before” and crowed that in “less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country”.

Just sentences into the president’s remarks, the audience began to chuckle and some leaders broke into outright laughter, suggesting the one-time reality television star’s puffery is as familiar abroad as it is at home. Trump appeared briefly flustered, then smiled and said it was not the reaction he expected “but that’s all right”.

Later he brushed off the episode, telling reporters, “Oh it was great. Well, that was meant to get some laughter so it was great.”

The leaders’ spontaneous response to Trump’s address only reinforced the American president’s isolation among allies and foes alike, as his nationalistic policies have created rifts with erstwhile partners and cast doubt in some circles about the reliability of American commitments around the world.

Barely an hour before he spoke, in fact, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared to the assembly that global cooperation is the world’s best hope and “multilateralism is under fire precisely when we need it most”.

Since taking office, Trump has removed the US from the Paris climate accord, promoted protectionist tariffs and questioned the value of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other alliances in furtherance of what he termed on Tuesday a strategy of “principled realism”.

To that end, Trump flaunted his embrace of negotiations with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un just a year after he had warned of raining down “total destruction” on a leader he branded “Little Rocket Man”. As Trump praised Kim’s “courage” yesterday, he unloaded harsh rhetoric on nuclear-aspirant Iran as a persistent malign influence across the Middle East.

“We ask all nations to isolate Iran’s regime as long as its aggression continues,” said Trump. The president has removed the US from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, citing the country’s destabilising actions throughout the region and support for terrorist groups

like Hezbollah, and he accused its leaders on Tuesday of sowing “chaos, death and destruction”.

His national security adviser, John Bolton, was to go even further in a speech yesterday, issuing a dire warning to Iran: “If you cross us, our allies or our partners; if you harm our citizens; if you continue to lie, cheat and deceive, yes, there will indeed be hell to pay,” Bolton said, according to prepared remarks released by the White House.

In addition to his keynote speech, Trump is to chair a meeting of the UN Security Council about nuclear proliferation today.

Trump seized his opportunity to assert American independence from the international body. He showcased his decisions to engage with the erstwhile pariah North Korea, remove the US from the international Iran nuclear accord and object to UN programmes he believes are contrary to American interests.

“We reject the ideology of globalism and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism,” Trump said.

He referenced a list of UN bodies, from the International Criminal Court to the Human Rights Council, that his administration is working to undermine.

“America will always choose independence and cooperation over global governance, control and domination,” Trump declared. His denunciations of globalism drew murmurs from other members of the organisation that stands as the very embodiment of the notion.

Shortly before he spoke, in fact, UN Secretary-General Guterres had defended international cooperation as the only way to tackle the challenges and threats of increasingly chaotic times.

“Democratic principles are under siege,” Guterres said. “The world is more connected, yet societies are becoming more fragmented. Challenges are growing outward, while many people are turning inward.”

On other tense subjects, Trump’s criticism of Germany’s pursuit of a direct energy pipeline from Russia drew a dismissive headshake from a member of the US ally’s delegation, and his mention of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar all in one breath was received with stone-faced expressions

by Saudi officials. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have been boycotting Doha since last year as part of a dispute tearing apart the typically clubby Gulf Arab nations.

The laughter in the first moments of Trump’s address evoked a campaign line Trump frequently deployed against his predecessor Barack Obama — who embraced international engagement — suggesting that due to weak American leadership, “the world is laughing at us”.

In 2014, Trump tweeted “We need a President who isn’t a laughingstock to the entire World. We need a truly great leader, a genius at strategy and winning.

Respect!”

By Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller, Associated Press

Lighthouse Point park plan ideal EDITOR, The Tribune.

ONE Eleuthera Foundation’s proposal to turn Lighthouse Point into a national park with gateway economic zones fits perfectly with the government’s push to empower small Bahamian business.

The foundation is confidant its model will rival a cruise ship port in terms of jobs, offering more fulfilling work to Bahamians with openings in park management, environmental research and education, small retail and eco-lodging and so on.

Anyone who has visited national park systems abroad will have no problem understanding and embracing the concept.

At home, Exuma’s famous swimming pigs are an excellent example of how Bahamians have harnessed natural resources to successful and sustainable businesses.

The spin-off benefits from the shark and swimming pig excursions in the

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Exumas have been nothing short of phenomenal.

Anyone who’s in doubt should visit Staniel and Compass Cays and other areas of the Exumas to see the amazing success stories first hand.

In this age of eco travel and Airbnb, Lighthouse Point holds tremendous potential for Bahamians and an opportunity to keep visitor revenue at home instead of enriching the Mouse’s coffers.

A staggering 28,000 people have petitioned the government to allow for Lighthouse Point to be turned into a national park, protected for future generations of Bahamians and visitors and from exploitation by the cruise ship industry.

One Eleuthera says a national park will create 190 full time Bahamian jobs and real ownership

interests. It’s pushing to break the cycle of poverty on the island with opportunity for growth and advancement.

And it shouldn’t be taken lightly, having reportedly invested nearly $20m in job-oriented projects to date.

The foundation ought to be commended for taking the initiative concerning the responsible development of their island. How refreshing!

This is exactly what the country needs.

The national park proposal is firmly backed by The Bahamas National Trust, which has vast experience in park management, Re-Earth, BREEF and the Bahamas Architects Association.

With vast resources of persuasion at the Mouse’s disposal, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

ATHENA DAMIANOS Nassau, September 25, 2018

Do better Grand Lucayan consultation? than Disney EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT might be too late, in fact it is but what if Cabinet had consulted with a few knowledgeable business folk on the Lucaya deal we might have saved ourselves what on the face of things is a raw deal. Sorry, since coming to office the FNM don’t consult!

So Hutchinson - Whampoa warned in January they would close the hotel… congrats, you got a stay till September but

in the meantime as a result of media stories so the PM Minnis says “new investors came along” - so Mr Prime Minister one call to Hutchinson surely you could have got them to hold off for three-four weeks and Government work day and night to cause a direct sale?

There are very serious problems with Lucaya open from the 2000s - has never made a profit - losses in excess of $8-10m annually possibly over time $130m+

and Hutchinson kept the hole in the ocean open (thanks Li!) 400 plus jobs.

So the plan is to develop Grand Bahama as an EcoGreen destination - how does your Oban Energy play into that?

PLP - Christie-Wilchcombe no better if the Wynn proposal was supported by them. You would fly to Beijing for that?

W THOMPSON Nassau, September 22, 2018.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

TO think God gave us this place of untold beauty....and for the love of money we were prepared to spit in his face, there is no greater shame.

I believe as the inhabitants of one of the earth’s most pristine and beautiful countries we Bahamians have a grave responsibility to protect what we have been entrusted with and sustainably harness this natural wealth.

When your country is this

special the practice of environmental conscience is basic civics. Don’t insult us by pretending this is about jobs... this is about payoffs.

Furthermore, this is about cowardice in the face of the cruise industry, a predatory and exploitative form of tourism that has done harm across the Caribbean region. This is about an astonishing LACK of creativity and innovation.

The political establishment of this country has become a spiritual and intellectual cesspool of

unfathomable ignorance and greed. Time to get it together.

There are literally dozens of other more economically, socially and environmentally better models...

Eleuthera deserves more. Period. #DoBetterMinnis #BeBetterBahamas #SaveLighthousePoint #SayNoToDisney, WALTER SIMMONS Eleuthera resident, Nassau, September 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 26, 2018, PAGE 5

US DIVER BITTEN BY REEF SHARK from page one

The shark was attempting to snag a hog fish from the tip of her spear.

After assessing the scene, local officials determined that Ms Ewing’s condition was critical and required

major medical services.

A Florida air ambulance service was contacted and Ms Ewing was airlifted to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

She underwent successful surgery on Monday.

Surgeons removed a

shark tooth from her hand and was successful in saving her fingers in the process.

Colin Albury, Abaco Fire and Rescue Chief, a family friend of Ms Ewing and a first responder on Sunday, said that while he was surprised by the attack, he understands that things

ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna Martin.

like that can happen at any moment.

“It is just one of those things and it happened,” he said. “She isn’t mad at the shark because getting attacked is a common risk with spearfishing . It can happen at anytime. We must learn to respect the

sea when we’re in (the sea).

“A lot of people don’t realize that when you are spearfishing grouper or hogfish give off a sound when they are injured and that sound is like ringing the dinner bell for the sharks.”

He said when he saw Ms

Ewing after the attack, she was lying on the floor with her hand elevated trying to control the bleeding. She was in obvious pain.

“She’s a real tough lady, but in severe - naturally because of the mutilation of her hand,” he added, “She pulled through it.”

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Glenys: Cat Island airport handling unacceptable

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net FORMER Transport Minister Glenys Hanna Martin described the Minnis Administration’s treatment of the Arthur’s Town, Cat Island airport as “unacceptable” in a statement released yesterday.

She was responding to comments by Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar, who revealed the government is at a “crossroads” over whether it will repair or permanently close the airport.

On Monday, Sky Bahamas announced it was immediately suspending flights to the Arthur Town airport over runway safety concerns.

Mrs Hanna Martin, Opposition Shadow Minister, questioned the government’s handling of this issue, particularly why repairs were delayed, whether the community had been addressed, and the importance of air connectivity to economic development.

Mr D’Aguilar referenced a 2013 Christie administration report, which assessed the economic viability of all 28 Family Island airports and recommended the Arthur’s Town airport not be refurbished or repaired.

Instead, the report concluded the airport be permanently closed and the New Bight, Cat Island airport be upgraded and

used to service the entire island.

Mr D’Aguilar said the government “hasn’t made a decision on what to do”.

“There are just simply too many problems and not enough money,” he said, “... and given the priority of this government to focus on airports that will yield substantial investments, such as Exuma and North Eleuthera, it is truly hard to say.”

In her statement, Mrs Hanna Martin asked why the government has neglected the repair of that active runway, knowing “the obvious implications” to aviation safety.

“Secondly, has the Minister considered that that airport services a community who have come to rely on air connectivity to sustain their way of life and that any decision made whether actual or by default should only be made after having due consideration to the needs of that community and only after dialogue and consultation with that community?” she continued.

“Thirdly, is the Minister suggesting that the decision not to repair is being influenced by a Consultant’s report recommending that airport be shut down for economic reasons?”

“Fourthly,” she said, “is the Minister aware that air connectivity is essential to economic development and not necessarily the other way around and

that any decision made relative to this and any other of the many airports throughout the archipelago should be on a considered basis having regard to our national development aims and objectives and in particular those of people of Cat Island?

“That comparison to other airport(s) such as North Eleuthera and Exuma is erroneous and is akin to comparing apples and oranges.”

Mrs Hanna-Martin said: “Finally, it is unacceptable that the government has failed to address the safety issues at that airport and has failed to provide a more comprehensive response to the fate of that airport but has instead put into the public domain comments which may only increase the anxiety of the Cat Island community.

“Of course, serious questions now arise as to the current state of safety at that airport for all other air traffic.”

In April, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis addressed the issue of the San Salvador airport during a town hall meeting on the island, saying at this time, the only upgrade he can promise is a new terminal.

Dr Minnis said with the $30m to $33m allotted for the 28 airports throughout the country, it would be more beneficial to focus on airports with bigger markets such as Exuma and North Eleuthera.

TEENAGER HURT IN SHOOTING

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating an early morning shooting yesterday that left a teenager in hospital.

According to reports, the 18-year-old was walking on McCullough Corner shortly after 7am when he heard the sound of gunshots and felt a burning sensation around his legs.

Police said the victim, upon realising he had been

shot, saw an armed man running away from the scene.

The victim was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Meanwhile, police are investigating a stabbing incident at Farrington Road on Monday.

According to reports, a woman was standing at a bus stop when she was approached by a man who stabbed her about the body and ran off.

She was listed in stable condition at hospital.

A short time after the stabbing a man handed himself in at the Central Detective Unit.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Police also issued a missing bulletin for 64-year-old Alberto Joseph yesterday.

Mr Joseph’s last known address is listed as Gleniston Gardens, Prince Charles Drive.

Investigations into all matters are continuing.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, September 26, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

ACP Clayton Fernander along with a team of officers including RBDF and US officers, arrive at Oydssey Airport yesterday afternoon following an overnight operation on the island of Abaco.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Cops grab 26 in huge Abaco raid from page one

ACP Clayton Fernander speaking to the media yesterday.

“This is one of many to be continued,” he said of the operation. “We are not just focusing on New Providence. Crime trends in Abaco continues with a number of shootings at various nightclubs.”

ACP Fernander said the operation started 5pm Sunday with a sea campaign. Those officers were joined yesterday by a team that arrived by air.

Of the 26 people arrested, 21 were men and five were women, he said.

Two pistols with ammunition were recovered, with four people expected to be charged in connection with those weapons.

“We also recovered a goodly amount of marijuana,” ACP Fernander said. “Two individuals were arrested with a large sum of money totalling $100,000 and they can’t give a satisfactory account for that.

Others were arrested for various offences.”

Massive, random joint operations have become a feature under Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson.

In January, 30 people were arrested during an operation in southern New Providence. In March, 51 people were arrested in Grand Bahama. Last month, 21 people were arrested in New Providence.

ACP Fernander could

not say how many of these people are ultimately charged with a crime.

Not everyone was happy with the police’s latest operation, however.

Shawn Roberts, a government employee who serves as a deacon at Mount Zion Baptist in Sandy Point, Abaco, complained to The Tribune yesterday that police arrested him yesterday in a case of mistaken identity around 2am in the presence of his “shaken” family.

They took his electronic devices and handcuffed his hands “tightly” and “painfully,” he said. He estimated that he was in custody for several hours before an Abaco police officer convinced officers from New Providence that he was unlikely to be their target.

“I was very upset but I tried to be patient,” he said.

“At one point when I was trying to walk to the bus, one of the fellas turned to me and told me ‘don’t walk to fast because I might try run and then he gon’ have to shoot me.’ I was hot.”

Asked why he decided to talk publicly about the episode, Mr Roberts said: “I hope they would have their information correct before they go to someone’s house 2am in the morning with foolishness.”

Mr Roberts said police did not apologise to him for the arrest.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 26, 2018, PAGE 7

Suspect ‘accused cousin’ of killing man and taking cash

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN accused of perverting the course of justice in a murder trial admitted to police that it was his cousin who killed the deceased near Woods Alley two years ago for cash, then used some of the blood money to buy a car.

Carlderon Brown, 27, told police some two years ago that his cousin Jahmaro Edgecombe killed Kenyari Lightbourne on June 21, 2016, for some $5,000, then used $3,000 of that sum to buy a Nissan Primera.

Brown further claimed that Daran Neely, who allegedly put out the hit, found out he gave a statement to police incriminating him and, while in prison, subsequently initiated a series of events to have Brown withdraw himself as a witness in the matter.

The revelations were made during Brown’s trial before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on two counts of perverting the course of justice in Lightbourne’s murder trial at the Supreme Court.

On June 21, 2016, Lightbourne was shot multiple times while walking through his Woods Alley neighbourhood off Market Street. He died at the scene.

Neely and Edgecombe, the alleged gunman, were arraigned within months of each other in 2016 in connection with Lightbourne’s death. A third individual, Sean Brown aka Fire, is charged with accessory

after the fact.

A month prior to the date the trial was initially due to commence, Brown, a key witness, was charged with perverting the course of justice after he claimed his statements to police were given by force.

In a video on social media, Brown, of Spice Street, Pinewood Gardens - and whose identity was protected by an anonymity order at the time - claimed police beat him and forced him to give a false statement to implicate Edgecombe and Neely.

Police allege this occurred sometime between December 15, 2016, and July 19, 2017.

According to the July 8, 2016 statement he gave to Detective Corporal 2735 Raphael Miller, Brown claimed that sometime in June 2016 he was sitting at the rear of the yard under a mango tree smoking with Edgecombe when Neely and Rashad Laroda aka Rat stopped in front of his yard in a Honda vehicle.

Brown said when he saw them, he hailed them and Neely subsequently called him out to the road. Edgecombe, he said, walked out to the road with him.

Brown said Neely then asked Edgecombe, “Bey what you good for, you know where Eyes, Spider and Yari does be?” In response, Brown said Edgecombe said “Yeah, I know where they does be.”

Brown said when Neely asked if he thinks he can get to them, Edgecombe replied by saying “yeah”.

Brown then claimed Neely said he had $6,000 on Eyes’ head and that he would pay $5,000 for each of them to be killed.

Brown said he heard when his cousin said “yeah that straight that straight”, before Neely and Laroda pulled off. Brown said he was shocked, because while he knew Edgecombe liked guns, he didn’t know he was into killing. Nonetheless, he said he didn’t ask his cousin about it because he hoped he was joking.

About two or three days later, Brown said Edgecombe asked him to be let out of the house because he wanted to go by his girlfriend.

Brown said Edgecombe left early that morning and didn’t return until around one that afternoon.

Brown said when Edgecombe returned, sat down with him and told him he had just bought a silver Nissan Primera for $3,000.

Brown said when he asked his cousin where he got the money to buy a car, Edgecombe called Neely’s name. Brown said Edgecombe then pulled a large amount of cash, full of $100 bills out of his pocket, then told him it was about $2,000 he had left.

Brown said his cousin told him, “Bey, I had to do what I had to do, I kill that bey Kenyari.” Brown said when he asked Edgecombe why he did it, he replied: “Bey I broke and I need the money”.

Brown said Edgecombe explained how he hid and waited through a short cut

PARTICIPANTS at the event to distribute hurricane preparedness boxes.

LAWYER FIRM HELPING TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANES ASSOCIATES at McKinney, Bancroft and Hughes partnered with the Red Cross to package and distribute one hundred hurricane preparedness boxes for the Fort Charlotte community last week.

The hurricane season spans from June to November; however, the law firm noted the most volatile period in The Bahamas is between September and October.

Each box contained water, flashlights and

batteries, hydrogen peroxide, band-aids, trash bags, canned goods and many other items and were packaged at St. Michael’s Methodist Church.

While the lawyers distributed their hurricane preparation boxes, the team from the Red Cross distributed pamphlets on hurricane preparedness, meals to persons within the community and also distributed canned goods and other hurricane preparation supplies.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

off Woods Alley, and when he saw Lightbourne walking towards the shortcut, he ran up to him and shot him in the head and the chest with his black and chrome .40 pistol, before running off and catching a bus out of the area.

In a later statement to police, Brown claimed that on December 13 of that year, he was at home when he received a phone call from Edgecombe whom he knew was in jail. He said Edgecombe asked him what he told the police, and because he wasn’t sure what his cousin knew, said he told Edgecombe he didn’t tell the police anything.

The following day, Brown said he received another phone call, this time from Neely whom he knew was also incarcerated. Brown said Neely told him “bey come to court Friday, Naldo ga come for you”. Brown said he didn’t reply, and neither did he have a chance to, because Neely hung up the phone.

Brown said later that afternoon, he got a third call from someone he knew as Renaldo Adderley, whom he said has a close relationship with Neely.

Brown said Adderley told him he was coming for him

the following day, and to be ready.

Brown said he was very scared and didn’t know what to do, so he agreed and told Adderley to pick him up by the graveyard off Cowpen Road. After being picked up, Brown said Adderley took him to a Justice of the Peace and to the Office of the Attorney General in a bid to get Brown to change the statement he gave to police.

The following morning, Brown said Adderley called him again and told him he would pick him up to take him to Court. Brown said he didn’t want to go, but figured they would not leave him alone until he did, and probably try to kill him if he didn’t cooperate.

Brown said Adderley picked him up from the same spot on Cowpen Road and drove to the Supreme Court on Bank Lane.

Brown said he was told Neely was in a certain court and that Adderley wanted him to go in to Court and tell the judge he no longer wished to be a witness.

Brown said he didn’t want to but he was unsure of Adderley’s intention. He said he went to the Court door and waited, but as he stood there he saw a police

officer who was attached to the Central Detective Unit (CDU). Brown said he was “relieved” to see the officer and told him that he needed to speak with him, but not around the Court.

Brown said he subsequently asked the officer to take him to CDU, which the officer did. And it was at that facility that Brown revealed all that had happened.

Det Cpl Miller testified that as far as he knew, Brown was not in custody during the time the statements were recorded, and stressed he spoke to Brown as a witness, and not a suspect, on those occasions.

During cross-examination, however, Brown’s attorney Geoffrey Farquharson suggested to Det Cpl Miller that Brown was beaten “within an inch of his life” to give the statements, and that he was only assigned to record the statement after Brown was beaten.

Mr Farquharson further question Det Cpl Miller, much to the Crown’s disapproval, how the statement he recorded from Brown, and the particulars thereof, came to be known by people in jail, namely Edgecombe and Neely.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, September 26, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Living in the minefield of how women are expected to behave

By Alicia Wallace

A

FTER being found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault of Andrea Constand, Bill Cosby was sentenced to three to ten years yesterday. Prosecutors and defence attorneys agreed to merge the three counts to one sentence.

Cosby’s attorney had asked for house arrest given his age and legal blindness.

Judge Steven O’Neill said: “No one is above the law, and no one should be treated differently or disproportionally.” He noted “great weight” was given to the victim impact statement which he called powerful.

This case has been watched by people all over the world, many of us wondering if Bill Cosby or Heathcliff Huxtable would be sentenced. His celebrity status and the role he played for years on The Cosby Show led people to conflate his character with that of a “America’s dad”, believing it is impossible for Cosby to have drugged and sexually assaulted one woman, much less 60. The phenomenon is not, however, limited to celebrities.

People view their own fathers, husbands, sons and friends in the same way, thinking these relationships prove they can do no harm.

The public response to reports of sexual violence is, more often than not, disappointing and harmful to survivors. From the questions we all know too well — about what she was wearing and why she was there — to attempts to minimise, it is clear far too many people are inclined to question and blame the survivor and protect the perpetrator. It is easy to chalk this up to misogyny, but there is more to it than that.

Expectations of women are high. We are supposed to put time and effort into looking attractive, but maintain some amount of modesty. We should be friendly, smiling and passive, but not too forward or trusting. We need to lean in and put in extra effort to get along with co-workers, supervisors

and managers in the interest of our professional success, but draw a clear line, subtly communicating it to workplace superiors who approach it. We are told to be open-minded and to avoid judging people, but expected to use our intuition to get out of crisis.

Comparatively, expectations of men are below sea level. They are rarely seen to be responsible for their actions, frequently excused by their “nature” and the “seduction” of women who are given the responsibility of moderating men’s behaviour. In many cases, men known to be predatory, intrusive, or inappropriate are excused by reason of age, seniority, class, or just being himself (which everyone else should recognise and work around).

BILL Cosby departs in handcuffs to begin serving three to ten years in prison for sexual assault.

Last week, it was reported a young woman incident were confirmed, and embarrassing. One of funeral, Bishop Charles attending the University of but different perspectives the only ways to quickly H Ellis III called Ariana The Bahamas was sexually were shared. One com- move on from this kind of Grande to the front and, harassed by a lecturer. She ment in particular noted incident is to treat it like his arm around her, fonwas speaking in class when the student “laughed it off, a joke so the moment can dled her breast. He did she was interrupted by the and covered her body with past and, hopefully, be this in front of a packed lecturer who made sev- her jacket”, as though this forgotten. Unfortunately, church and on camera. eral comments about her meant it was a non-issue. violence does not end with Ariana looked uncomfortbreasts and the way they The comment called the the interaction. The experi- able, awkwardly holding moved as she spoke and student “overly sensitive” ence is harmful not only in her body away from him gestured with her hands. and implored students to the moment when it is hap- and laughed at his terrible Uncomfortable with what leave their “personal bag- pening, but in memory and joke comparing her Italian name to Taco Bell menu gage” outside reflection. happened, the Why did this happen? items. This is another student spoke ‘Sexual harassment of UB. It also asked why the What could I have done to example of a young woman to the lecturer is often laughed student would prevent it? What does it moving through an uncomafter class, register for mean that this happened? fortable situation, trying to off, not because explaining this lecturer’s Does this person view me in laugh it off in hopes that how she felt it is funny, but class when he a particular way? What do it would end sooner. The and was told because it is is “known for the witnesses think about it bishop later apologised, it would be in admitting he “may have the way he and about me? uncomfortable and her best interThe barrage of questions crossed the border”. conducts his est to drop the embarrassing.’ can be overwhelming, and I imagine the “border” classroom”. class. In other There are it is difficult to face the is drawn similarly to the words, the lecturer had no intentions of numerous issues with the person, name or describe line women are supposed apologising or changing his comment that beg to be the behaviour, and explain to keep our eyes on and behaviour and put the onus addressed, but as a starting why it is not okay. To hint at so that men do not on the student to prevent point, it is important that ignore or ridicule a person “accidentally” cross it. We further (inappropriate) we read it as an indicator for taking this step is vio- are supposed to keep a of the mindset of people lence. To push past the fair distance from the line interaction with him.

The University of The where sexual violence is ridicule to escalate and ourselves. It is fine to meet seek redress, exposing with someone who can help Bahamas claims it is inves- concerned. yourself and the incident to to advance our careers and Sexual violence is a tigating the incident, but has not pointed to any code spectrum with sexual har- even more people, is a cou- it is fine to consume bevof conduct, policy protect- assment on one end and rageous act. On the other erages, but only at certain ing students from sexual rape on the other. When hand, to accept the lec- locations, only a certain harassment, or steps to be sexual harassment is verbal, turer just is who he is and number of times and only taken in the interim, espe- it is often dismissed, seen as everyone knows it is to be if we accept that “things cially given the student’s trivial, but it can easily esca- complicit in the inappro- happen”.

It is fine to participate in registration in the class late and is part of the larger priate behaviour that can cause trauma, be triggering class, but it may be advisproblem.

As seen in the taught by this lecturer.

Other students have comment, sexual harass- to survivors, or become an able to sit on our hands and taken to social media to ment is often laughed off, obstacle to completing a hold tension in our bodies to prevent the movement share their thoughts on the not because it is funny, but degree.

At Aretha Franklin’s of any body parts we do because it is uncomfortable incident. Details about the not want brought into the discussion.

This is the line many of us already know, either because of terrible experiences or warnings about the potential for terrible experiences. What is less obvious is the expectation that women research the men we may have to

Photo: Matt Slocum/AP interact with before we agree to participate in a class, meeting, interview, audition, business venture, performance, or just about any other activity.

It is difficult to find the words that will stand up against the respected and respectable man’s age, seniority, assumed character and other factors that translate to power.

It is difficult to be vulnerable and admit that we have failed to do all the things expected of women in an effort to protect ourselves, but more precisely, to protect men from their unguarded, uncontrollable, animalistic urges to violate us.

Is the victim a failure because she has worn the wrong thing, gone the wrong place, had the wrong company, and drew the line in the wrong place? Is the survivor a nuisance because she talks about what happened and dares to seek redress through the channels available to her? Must the perpetrator always be left to occupy his position, knowing he, given his longevity and relationships, will not be unseated because the fighter will tire before initial investigation is completed?

We must be mindful about where we put our support, how we frame our responses, and the underpinnings of our positions on issues of sexual violence.

Cosby is sentenced to prison, University of The Bahamas has gone quiet on its investigation and the bishop has apologised. Is it finally time to rethink the border?

Notice The Offices of the Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited will be cLoSeD on FRiDAY, September 28th, 2018, for the Annual FUN DAY! We apologize for any inconvenience caused!

THE TRIBUNE

NEW YORK Associated Press THE $1,100 price tag on Apple’s latest iPhone turned heads when the company announced it last week. But for less than half as much, you can still get a good camera, a decent-sized screen and other popular features.

Just buy a two-year-old iPhone 7.

That phone was Apple’s first to come with water resistance and its first to lose the standard headphone jack. Its 4.7-inch screen is adequate and on par with other smartphones, even though its resolution falls short of high definition. And the phone still has a fingerprint sensor and a home button, both of which have vanished in the latest iPhones.

Or, if you want to pay more for wireless charging, there’s the iPhone 8.

An edge-to-edge screen?

You’ll need the upcoming budget iPhone XR or one of its more expensive siblings.

And if you want a supersized display, that’s where the $1,100 iPhone XS Max comes in. That model and a smaller version start selling in the US and several other countries on Friday.

If you’re shopping for a new phone, it pays to think hard about what you really want and what you’re willing to pay for it.

Improvements over the previous generation tend to be incremental, but can add up over time — and so do the sums you’ll pay for them.

Here’s what to consider if you’re thinking of bargain-hunting in the iPhone history bin.

IPHONE 7 ($449) The big jump in iPhone cameras came a generation

Wednesday, September 26, 2018, PAGE 9

Is $1,100 too much for an iPhone? Get an older one for less

THE IPHONE 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. earlier with the iPhone 6S, when Apple went from 8 megapixels to 12 megapixels in resolution. With the iPhone 7, the front camera goes from five megapixels to seven megapixels, so selfies don’t feel as inferior. Headphones go into its Lightning port, which is used for both charging and data transfer.

It’s a pain when you want to listen to music while recharging the phone. For that, you need $159 wireless earphones called AirPods.

Apple no longer includes an adapter for standard headphones; one will set you back $9 if you need it.

IPHONE 7 PLUS ($569) This larger version of the iPhone 7 has a second camera lens in the back, allowing for twice the magnification without any degradation in image quality. It also lets the camera gauge depth and blur backgrounds in portrait shots, something once limited to

THE IPHONE XS, right, and XS Max.

full-featured SLR cameras.

The dual-lens camera alone is a good reason to go for a Plus, though the larger size isn’t a good fit for those with small hands or small pockets.

IPHONE 8 ($599) New colour filters in the camera produce truer and richer colours, while a new flash technique tries to light the foreground and background more evenly.

Differences are subtle, though.

The year-old model, similar in size to the iPhone 7, restores a glass back found in the earliest iPhones. That’s done so you can charge it on a wirelesscharging mat, which also solves the problem of listening to music while charging.

But with more glass, it’s even more important to get a case and perhaps a service plan.

IPHONE 8 PLUS ($699) Again, the Plus version has a larger screen and a

second lens. For those shots with blurred backgrounds, a new feature lets you add filters to mimic studio and other lighting conditions.

IPHONE XS ($999) As with the iPhone X it replaces, the new XS has a display that largely runs from edge to edge, getting rid of the surrounding bezel along with the home button. Many tasks now require swipes rather than presses. The fingerprint ID sensor is replaced with facial recognition to unlock the phone. The display has about the same surface area as the iPhone 7 Plus and 8 Plus, while the phone itself is only slightly larger than the regular iPhone 7 and 8.

Improved display technology means vivid colours and better contrasts, including black that is black rather than simply dark. You also get a dual-lens camera and software improvements for regular shots.

IPHONE XS MAX ($1,099) This is essentially the “Plus” version of the iPhone XS. The phone itself is about the size of the Plus, but with more room for the display. This phone won’t feel big for existing Plus users, but think twice if you have small hands or small pockets.

COMING SOON Consider waiting a month for the iPhone XR. Its display lacks the vivid colours, contrast quality and resolution of the XS, but the price tag is nicer at $749. As with the XS models, you’ll get an edge-to-edge screen to minimise wasted space. There’s more display than the regular XS, but the phone itself is also larger — just not as large as the Max. The XR won’t have the dual-lens camera, though Apple says it can offer the blurredbackground effect with software.

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST Apple quietly discontinued the iPhone SE, which is essentially a three-year-old iPhone 6S, packed in a body that’s smaller but thicker than the iPhone 7 and 8.

Though the trend in phones has been to go bigger, some people preferred the smaller size — and the $350 price tag. Apple no longer sells it, though you can get it from some wireless carriers and other retailers, at least for now.

ALL IN THE MEMORY If you get an SE, 7 or 7 Plus, consider spending another $100 to quadruple the storage. Those phones come with a paltry 32 gigabytes, just half of what’s standard these days. If you don’t upgrade, you risk filling up your phone quickly with photos, video, songs and podcasts.

JAPAN PRESCHOOLS USING TABLETS TO PREP TOTS FOR DIGITAL AGE YOSHIKAWA, JAPAN Associated Press IT’S DRAWING time at this suburban nursery school in Japan, but instead of crayons, tiny fingers are tapping on colours on iPad screens and taking selfies. Digital schooling has arrived in this nation long known for its zealous commitment to “three R’s” education.

Coby Preschool, in a small town northeast of Tokyo, is among nearly 400 kindergartens and nursery schools in Japan that are using smartphone software applications designed especially for preschoolers called KitS. That’s only about 1 percent of this nation’s kindergartens and nursery schools. But it’s a start.

Coby is helping lead a national initiative in “digital play”.

Parents everywhere worry their children might fall behind, and Japan is no exception.

The government has recently made strengthening technology education national policy even as it struggles to meet its goal of supplying one digital device

CHILDREN work on a digital program at Coby Preschool in Yoshikawa, suburban Tokyo, on an assignment, which was to draw on a triangle on an iPad. For the kids, it’s all about having fun.

Japanese preschool programmes equipped with tablet computers aim to prepare kids for the digital age. Photo: Yuri Kageyama/AP — computer or tablet — for every three children.

DIGITAL PLAY With KitS, developed

by Tokyo-based startup SmartEducation, children colour birds and flowers that appear to come alive as three-dimensional computer graphics. Children also draw various creatures that, when captured as computer images, swim or float around in virtual landscapes.

In a recent session, children got a triangle image on their iPads and were asked to draw on it with digital colours, store that image,

and draw another one to create a two-screen story.

The usually shy children burst into an uproar, brainstorming happily about what the triangle might represent: a sandwich, a rice ball, a dolphin, a roof, a mountain.

The children were then encouraged to come to the front of the class and explain what they had drawn as the images were shown on a large screen.

“There is no right or wrong answer,” said Akihito Minabe, the preschool principal leading the session.

The point is to nurture

creativity, focus and leadership skills.

“They think on their own, they learn it’s OK to think freely, and it’s fun to come up with ideas,” said Minabe.

In the US, 98 percent of children age eight and under have a mobile device in their homes, while 43 percent have their own tablet, according to The Genius of Play, a US programme that researches education and play.

That’s similar to Japan, where each adult has an average of more than one smartphone and about half of preschoolers have access to a mobile device, according to Japanese government data.

In many US, Asian and European preschools and elementary schools, teachers use technology to present stories, music and other information. Educators are also studying children’s social development through how they learn to share digital devices.

GETTING SMARTER? Much of what’s driving the adoption of tablets in US preschools is a belief, founded or not, that an early start will make kids smarter at technology, said Patricia

Cantor, a professor of early childhood education at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

However, early research into how tablets and apps affect learning for kids ages two to five is inconclusive.

“Touchscreen stuff is pretty intuitive. They don’t need training,” Cantor said.

Some studies show positive outcomes among young children using mobile devices to improve their literacy, science or math skills, but there’s little research comparing tablet-assisted learning to more conventional teaching approaches, according to a review of 19 studies by Christothea Herodotou, a lecturer at The Open University in the United Kingdom.

Herodotou said it’s unclear which features might help or hinder learning. Devices and apps can also be misused — for instance, to keep children occupied so teachers can do other things.

“Even if it’s designed to encourage learning or exploration or curiosity, it may not be used in that way,” said Cantor. “There’s so much junk out there.”

• NASA’s Mars rover, Opportunity, has been seen, but still not heard.

A spacecraft around Mars has sent back a photo of Opportunity, which has been silent ever since a massive dust storm engulfed the red planet in late spring.

The rover appears in the photo as a pale dot.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took the picture last week from 166 miles (267 kilometres) up.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory released the photo Tuesday.

The global dust storm prevented sunlight from reaching Opportunity’s solar panels, and the rover fell silent in June. Although the skies have cleared considerably, Opportunity has yet to send word to flight controllers. NASA has stepped up efforts to contact Opportunity, but acknowledge the nearly 15-year-old rover may not have survived the prolonged power outage.

• CENTRAL New York’s drone technology industry is growing.

Six companies announced plans to open or expand offices in central New York and the Mohawk Valley.

The announcements came after state officials set aside $30m in incentives to support the burgeoning field.

State economic development officials this week announced another $10m for a business competition for drone manufacturers and developers.

The six companies include a European defence contractor, a cybersecurity startup and a Belgian drone software developer.

All told, the companies say the expansions in New York will create nearly 200 new jobs.

• TWO New Mexico companies are hoping to use solar-powered, fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles to create a service that gathers data from the sky.

Wildflower International’s CEO Kimberly deCastro sees the future of information technology taking off to the skies, and the company has partnered with Silent Falcon, which monitors wildfires for the US Forest Service with its solar-powered, fixed-wing UAV to get there, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported earlier this month.

“Data is the new oil.

Period,” she said.

Her company specialises in providing information technology services and hardware for the federal government.

The first project the two will work on is a programme with Pojoaque Pueblo that gives the Wildflower flight team needed experience.

“They have wide-open ground where we can start to really understand what we can do,” deCastro said.

Their aircrafts will fly over areas of the pueblo and find and count bison.

They will also help provide emergency services, such as lost hiker searches, and identify archaeological sites.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, September 26, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Beijing and The Bahamas - a developing story YOUR SAY

By HE Huang Qinguo, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas AS important members of emerging economies and the developing world, Latin American and Caribbean countries play major roles in safeguarding world peace and development. Though far apart from each other, China and Latin America and Caribbean countries have a long history of friendship, dating back to the 16th century - by means of “The Manila Galleon” - when China started trade exchange with Latin America and the Caribbean countries.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and The Republic of Cuba in 1960 started a new era in China-Latin America relations. China has established diplomatic relations with majority countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For over half a century, the Chinese government has attached great importance to building friendly cooperative relations with Latin American and the Caribbean countries.

In 2008 and 2016, the Chinese government issued two policy papers on Latin America and the Caribbean successively, providing a comprehensive explanation of the new ideas, proposals and initiatives of China’s Latin America and Caribbean policies for the new era.

China-Latin America relations have stood the ordeal of various changes and made substantial progress. As Chinese President Xi Jinping said: “Since the beginning of the new century, China and Latin American and the Caribbean countries, focusing on the theme of common development, have deepened mutual trust in the political field, expanded cooperation in economy and trade, learned from

GN 2104

each other in cultural and people-to-people exchanges and coordinated closely in international affairs. This has made it possible for us to make big strides in our relations and set a model for South-South cooperation.”

Firstly, frequent high level exchanges between China and Latin American and the Caribbean countries have deepened political mutual trust constantly.

Since 2013, President Xi Jinping has visited Latin America and the Caribbean three times, visited ten countries, and met with Latin American and the Caribbean countries leaders in bilateral or multilateral occasions, which is unprecedented in the history of China-Latin American relations. Other Chinese leaders have also paid frequent visits to Latin America.

Leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and The Bahamas have visited China. High-level visits promote mutual understanding and trust, and point the direction for development of bilateral relations.

China and Latin America understand and support each other on issues relevant to their core interests and major concern and maintain good communications and coordination on regional and international key issues.

Secondly, practical cooperation has been advanced with mutually beneficial results.

The economies of China and Latin America countries are highly complementary to each other, and have huge potential for cooperation. In 2017, trade between China and Latin American and the Caribbean countries reached $257.85bn, which went up 18.8 percent from 2016.

China has become the second largest trading partner of Latin America while Latin American exports to China increased rapidly.

Unique agricultural and

THE THOMAS A Robinson National Stadium - which has boosted The Bahamas’ ability to host events.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff marine products from Latin America deep-rooted in the Mexico, Cuba, Panama etc, which will facilitate more America can be tasted in hearts of the two peoples.

While visiting Latin Chinese tourists to travel the restaurants in China, while Chinese brands are America, President Xi Jin- to the Latin American becoming popular among ping stressed several times countries. the key to sound relations Fourthly, the joint efforts Latin-American people.

More and more Chinese between countries lied in of building the “Belt and companies are viewing amity between the peoples. Road” initiative (BRI) Latin America as a prom- With interwoven interests, provides new prospects ising land, where 2000 mutual understanding and for the China-LAC comcooperative businesses have been set up friendliness among Chinese prehensive with a total investment of and Latin American people partnership. In January 2018, a Special Statement $207.15bn. Chinese enter- have been enhanced.

Thirty nine Confucius on the “Belt and Road” prises uphold the right approach to justice and Institutes have been set up was adopted and pubby China in Latin America lished at the Second interests with a priority to so far, and more and more Ministerial Meeting of the justice, and create millions local people are becomof jobs for local people ing interested in learning China-CELAC Forum.

Among Caribbean counand spending hundreds of Chinese language and tries, China has signed millions of dollars on envi- culture. During the Chinaronmental protection and Latin America Cultural Memorandum of Underpublic welfare. These Chi- Exchanges Year of 2016, a standing on cooperation nese companies are widely series of colourful cultural within the framework of welcomed by the local exchange activities were Belt and Road Initiative society while they make held by both sides, in which with Trinidad and Tobago, positive contributions to over six million people Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth promoting local economic participated. of Dominica. The broad growth, social developChina has listed more consensus on Belt and ment and people’s living than 20 Latin American Road cooperation reached standards. countries as the tourist by China and LAC Thirdly, people-to-people destinations for Chinese cit- countries, reflects their exchanges in varied forms izens and direct flight routes willingness of deepening have made friendliness have been operated cooperation and seeking between China and Latin between China and Brazil, common development, which will inject powerful energy to the China-LAC cooperation.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the “Belt and Road” initiative. The past five years have witnessed this Initiative producing fruitful outcomes, and China has signed 103 BRI agreements with 88 countries and organisations.

As a natural extension of the 21st Century maritime Silk Road, the LAC region is indispensable to the development of the BRI. China is committed to coordinating its development strategies with LAC countries, and advances pragmatic cooperation with these countries in all fields, including infrastructural construction, production capacity, ecological and environmental protection, as well as culture. China and LAC countries expand common interests based on the BRI thoughts, principles and approaches.

The Bahamas is an important partner of China in Latin America and Caribbean region. Since China and The Bahamas established diplomatic relations 21 years ago, there have been frequent high-level visits from both governments and parliaments, and the mutual political trust of two sides have been deepened.

The trade between China and The Bahamas has increased remarkably and joint projects have been built. Baha Mar opened successfully and attracted a large number of tourists, created thousands of jobs and made significant contribution to the economic growth of The Bahamas.

The Thomas Robinson National Stadium built by China has boosted The Bahamas’ capability in hosting international sports events and other important activities. With China’s concessional loans, the Nassau

Airport Expressway and North Abaco Port Project have upgraded the infrastructure level of The Bahamas.

The exchanges and cooperation in fields of education, culture, sports and health have been deepened continuously. China has provided government scholarships for nearly one hundred Bahamian young people and has funded hundreds of Bahamians to attend short-term training and degree programmes in China so far.

The Confucius Institute established jointly by China and the University of The Bahamas, has met the demands of the Bahamian people who wants to learn Chinese and understand China’s culture and history. The Bahamian art groups like Junkanoo troupes performed in China several times and Chinese art troupes also visited The Bahamas. Both of them were warmly welcomed by the peoples respectively.

The past 21 years marks a journey of steady development of ChinaBahamas relations, which brings tangible benefits to the two peoples and sets up a model of treating each other as equals and conducting win-win cooperation between developing countries regardless of their sizes.

The Bahamas is wellplaced geographically with abundant marine resources, and has unique advantages in terms of tourism and financial services.

The Belt and Road Initiative will provide a rare opportunity for enhancing comprehensive cooperation and development between China and The Bahamas.

The cooperation between our two countries will certainly enjoy a brighter future.

Firstly, we should further enhance high-level visits and exchanges between our governments, legislatures and political parties, and exchange governance experiences with each other. We should continue to support each other on major issues of common concern and strengthen political mutual trust, which will serve as the foundation of our bilateral relations as always.

The two sides should enhance communication and coordination on issues like global economic governance, climate change and China-CELAC cooperation, so as to jointly build a harmonious and mutually beneficial community of common interests.

Secondly, we should deepen our cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, information technology, tourism, agriculture and new energy, and expand bilateral trade and financial cooperation on the basis of the platform of the BRI. This November, the Chinese government will host the first China International Import Expo. We are glad the government of The Bahamas and the Chamber of Commerce of The Bahamas will participate in the Expo. This Expo will not only facilitate our economic and trade cooperation, but also provide an good opportunity for The Bahamas to demonstrate its national image and advantages on this international platform.

Thirdly, we should deepen people to people exchanges and promote our cooperation in the areas of culture, education, science and technology.

In order to enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples, the Chinese Government is willing to provide more scholarships and training opportunities to the Bahamians, support exchange and cooperation between think tanks, academic institutions, experts and scholars, and encourage the exchange of visits of cultural, educational and art groups.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 26, 2018, PAGE 11

‘UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF CASCARILLA’ THE Bahamas Development Bank is moving ahead with its programme to industrialise cascarilla in Acklins, Crooked Island and Samana Cay. A town hall meeting will be held in Acklins on Friday at 6:30pm in the Spring Point Community Centre, according to a release issued yesterday.

“Participants will be invited to explore the potential of cascarilla and advised of the possible assistance the Bahamas Development Bank can

‘WE NEED MORE PEOPLE’ IN DIVING INDUSTRY

By RIEL MAJOR

MINISTER of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard yesterday issued a call for all young Bahamians interested in a diving career to contact his ministry.

Michael Pintard stressed the need for more Bahamians in this industry, and invited interested people to make inquiries to the permanent secretary, and the acting director of the marine resources unit.

The incoming minister said he was still new to the post, but was working diligently to put in place recruiting exercises along with training exercises to increase opportunities for Bahamians in the industry.

Mr Pintard said: “There are a tremendous amount of opportunities particularly during the lobster season for families to do very well. If young Bahamians are engaged in this industry that are unfortunately are dominated by foreigners who are working on Bahamian vessels.

“We wish to increase the degree to ‘Bahamianise’ the dive component of that sector.”

“It is our intention over time to ensure that persons who are engaged in commercial fishing who are claiming they are unable to find Bahamians that they themselves will become more active.”

Mr Pintard told media outside Cabinet there was a harmful perception in farming and diving particularly with compressors that Bahamians are unavailable for those jobs.

“The anecdotal stories that are told is that Bahamians are unprepared to go out for three weeks and four weeks and I’m certain you have heard… the media has heard that before,” he said.

“I am not convinced which is precisely why we are going to be working with the NTA. They have already committed to working with us to put together a comprehensive dive training programme.”

offer,” according to the statement.

“Residents of Acklins have expressed their eagerness to participate in the programme and their gratitude for the Bank’s consideration for the development of the island’s economy.”

The cascarilla plant is used in the production of Campari and can be used in essential oils, medicine and perfumes. According to the bank, the Bahamas is exporting only the cascarilla bark to the United Kingdom, Italy, France,

THE BAHAMAS Development Bank is urging cascarilla farmers to industrialise production.

The United States of America and Germany.

The BDB initiative will seek to facilitate on-island value added production, with key objectives to: increase export; foster the sustainability of the cascarilla through organized

propagation of the plant; facilitate at least two commercially viable cascarilla oil processing facilities; enable the creation of five new ancillary businesses; support expansion of Family Island economies; and support job creation.

The release stated: “The BDB continues to collaborate with various Bahamas Government ministries, statutory bodies and multilateral agencies to execute its principle functions which include: promotion of industrial, agricultural

and commercial development via financing and investing in approved enterprises, encouraging citizens of The Bahamas to participate in business ownership, and promoting economic development of The Bahamas.”

LET’S GET TO THE POINT FORWARD TOGETHER ELEUTHERA

$

ECONOMIC

+

+

SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

=

EMPOWERING PEOPLE & BUILDING STRONGER C O M M U N I T I E S

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS One Eleuthera Foundation and its partners have invested close to $20 million in education, hospitality, training, art, health and wellness and entrepreneurship.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CULTURE & W E L L N E S S ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION HERITAGE

PAT H WAY T O

S U S TA I N A B L E

PA R N T E R S I N

DEVELOPMENT

ONE ELEUTHERA FOUNDATION (OEF)

SEEP~SOUTH ELEUTHERA EMERGENCY PARTNERS

ONE ELEUTHERA FOUNDATION & PARTNERS

Access to Financial Services Opened a CREDIT UNION (OECCUL) Created Jobs Renovated old Rock Sound Club Opened Centre for Training & Innovation (CTI) Hotel Developed Entrepreneurs Training through CTI holdings, financial services and counselling & encouraging Eleutherans to become owners & operators of their own business.

South Eleuthera Emergency Partners is a community-led volunteer-based organization that provides

Provided training in Solar Installation

OEF’s Shared Vision is simple.

STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONS & PEOPLE CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES PLAN THE FUTURE

MEDICAL EMERGENCY TRANSPORT FIRE STATION FIRE RESPONSE UNITS EMERGENCY OPERATING CENTRES DISASTER MANAGEMENT SERVICES & OUTREACH RECYCLING FACILITIES BREAST CANCER OUTREACH 60k people in Exuma, Long Island, Cat Island and Eleuthera Supported by Susan G Komen

INSTALLED SOLAR SYSTEM ON CENTRE FOR TRAINING & INNOVATION(CTI)

REMOVED INVASIVE SPECIES CREATED SIGNAGE RECYCLES BOTTLE TO MAKE TERRAZZO FLOORS

CTI~CENTRE FOR TRAINING & INNOVATION

ELEUTHERA ARTS & CULTURAL CENTRE

After organizing a General Maintenance training programme in Eleuthera, non-profit partners, One Eleuthera Foundation and The South Eleuthera Mission saw the need for a

Created HERITAGE TRAILS

ART EXHIBITION & SHOWS HANDICRAFT TRAINING

TERTIARY LEVEL INSTITUTION

K through GRADE 12 MATH & ENGLISH PROGRAMMES TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMMES

JOIN THE MOVEMENT oneeleuthera.org #MoreJobs #BetterPay

PAGE 12, Wednesday, September 26, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Lighthouse Point petition nears 30,000 signatures NEARLY 30,000 people have signed onto the petition launched by three Central Eleuthera High School students to “Save Lighthouse Point”, according to organisers.

Wadainya Weinberger, Franchesca Hanna and Kristman Moss were presented with Good Citizenship awards to celebrate their activism as part of the annual Character Day celebrations.

Bahamas National Trust executive director Eric Carey said: “We couldn’t be prouder of these three amazing teenagers. They are passionate and knowledgeable and are using their influence to affect real change, which is what we want to see all the youth of this country do.”

Lighthouse Point, a privately owned 700-acre peninsula comprising the southern tip of Eleuthera, has remained in the public spotlight for much of the past three months, with conservation groups launching a massive preservation campaign for the property.

Disney Cruise Lines has proposed to develop a destination at the site.

Since joining the

FRANCHESCA HANNA, Wadainya Weinberger and Kristman Moss receive Good Citizenship awards. campaign for a more sus- campaign statement, tainable development “an additional ten thoumodel, the teenagers from sand persons have added James Cistern, Hatchet Bay their names to the petiand Palmetto Point, respec- tion taking the figure to tively, were said to have more than twenty-nine successfully encouraged thousand signatures. Now, thousands of Bahamians to their efforts have been sign the online petition to recognised by the very protect their island’s sacred community they are workspace. ing to defend.”

“Lighthouse Beach is It continued: “The trio beautiful and picturesque, was recently presented and we believe it is impor- with awards to celebrate tant to speak out if we want their activism, becomto save it,” said 16-year-old ing recipients of the Good Franchesca.

Citizenship Award as part The students first visited of the annual Character the famed Lighthouse Point Day celebrations.

The along with their classmates event, a collaborative effort from the Central Eleuthera between various NGO’s High School, and were fea- and sponsorship partners, tured as part of a video to honours young men and raise awareness about the women who prove, through cause. their actions, that they are “Because of their prepared to impact the way advocacy,” read a recent their society functions.”

THE CEREMONY in Freeport.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH TRAINING COMPLETED

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 60 residents in Grand Bahama have completed their training for the National Neighbourhood Watch Council to help reduce crime in communities throughout the island.

National Security Minister Marvin Dames told some 65 graduates assembled at the Police Training College in Freeport on Friday that they will work together with the police to help take back neighbourhoods from the hands of the criminals.

“We will show the criminal element that there ain’t no place in any of our communities for them, he said.

So we are going to do it by way of effective networking between communities and the police, and by way of education and use of technology to assist in crime prevention.”

“We will do it because this programme will allow us to assert ourselves in neighbourhoods and take control of them once again to wrest them out of the hands of those who are hell bent on causing the problems,” said Minister Dames.

He noted that housebreaking’s have been a major problem in Grand Bahama, but the establishment of the NNWC in communities is expected to significantly decrease such incidents.

“There is no reason why we can’t wipe it out. If we have effective communication between the police, residents, and communities in an organised way, we can shut down almost every neighbourhood on this island and reduce housebreaking and stealing significantly, and that is what we are seeking with the establishment of NWC,” said Mr Dames.

He indicated that there are many groups in Nassau that are affiliated with the neighbourhood watch council.

Mr Dames noted that

over the past years a number of neighbourhood watch groups that were created throughout the Bahamas have fallen along the wayside.

The minister said putting up neighbourhood watch signs is not going to keep people safe and stop criminals.

“There are sign saying this area is protect by a crime watch group. Too often we see it throughout this country and then when you look at statistics the police are reporting breaking after breaking, and stealing after stealing – no, we are putting something in place in this nation that will protect neighbourhoods for years to come,” he said.

“What we are seeking to achieve is simple, we want to bring the police and the community together. We are all Bahamians working towards a common goal, but for some reason over the decades we continue to move further apart,” he said.

Mr Dames said Bahamians have become too selfish and now criminals are taking over.

“The reality is that we are talking about a small group of individuals, but they are more organized, and more efficient in their operations.

“When you live in communities that is inundated with breakins… you try to figure out how is this happening; and it is happening because there is no organization and team work.

Criminals capitalize on our disjointedness, and are not being able to network and come together to find solutions to the problems that impact the community,” he emphasised.

Mr Dames said the graduates will go back and form crime watch groups in their community. A police officer will be assigned as a community liaison who will be responsible to appraise them of crime activity in their area and discuss issues affecting their community, and work on measures related to crime

prevention and apprehending perpetrators.

“We will use technology. Imagine you have a small command room in your neighbourhood that is equipped with communication and CCTV, and every home is connected by way of that,” he said.

Mr Dames commended graduates for becoming a part of something that will benefit their community and by extension the nation.

He noted that as the RBPF work towards restructuring the police reserves, they will look at an opportunity of inviting many of them to become a part of the new RBPF Reserve they are working to rebuild.

“The idea is that we only have room for people who are willing to make a difference. This is not the kind of business for spectators, you can’t be a spectator when fighting the criminal element. We all have a vested interest to keep our community safe, and by extension our nation.

“Let us get the notion out of our head, oh what the police doing? You cannot speak about success in crime fighting without highlighting the important role of a community watch.

In my mind the role of the community is equally important, and in some cases even more important to the prevention of crime,” he said.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean, NNWC coordinator, said the programme is very ambitious.

“It is one of the greatest crime prevention strategies that we have embarked on in this country,” he said.

“It is all about community empowerment and restoring peace.”

Mr Dean said even with all the technology in the world and all the equipment for crime fighting, the best defence against crime are people.

“Nothing can substitute for that,” he said.