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VOLUME:116 No192, SEPTEMBER 30TH 2019

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BUSINESS: BEWARE OF FLOODED CARS BEING RESOLD PAGES MAN KILLED AS VEHICLE SMASHES INTO POLE

Size of oil leak still a mystery 12,000 barrels recovered so far in clean-up

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FOUR weeks after Hurricane Dorian, Equinor still does not know how much oil was spilled from its South Riding Point facility in East Grand Bahama or the exact parameters of the land area that was affected, an official said.

Equinor has engaged an independent firm to monitor the area near for potential groundwater contamination and officials maintain they are heavily focused on getting clean-up

THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING...

WE’RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS

done right.

On Friday, it was revealed that about 12,000 barrels of oil and water have been recovered by clean-up crews in response to the oil spill triggered by Hurricane Dorian.

Before the storm, the terminal had 1.8 million barrels of crude oil stored.

However at a media briefing onsite nearly a month after the disaster, Equinor Operations Manager Kevin Stuart admitted that they still do not know the full extent of the impact.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

HURRICANE DORIAN DEATH TOLL UP TO 58

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE official death toll from Hurricane Dorian has risen to 58, according to Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson.

He said 49 people have been declared dead in Abaco and nine have been declared dead in Grand Bahama.

During his address to

the United Nations last week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis noted that with more than 600 people still declared missing after the storm, the death toll is expected to rise significantly.

Officials yesterday were not able to say whether there has been a decline in the number of people reported missing.

SEE PAGE THREE

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis addressing a flight of passengers heading into The Bahamas from the United States on Saturday. He urged tourists on the flight to spread the word that the country is open for business. See page two for the full story.

Photo: Yontalay Bowe/OPM

SENATOR: GIVE UNDOCUMENTED THE RIGHT TO WORK FOR A YEAR

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SENATOR Ranard Henfield wants undocumented storm evacuees in shelters to be given freedom to reside and work legally in The Bahamas if they divulge information about their traffickers and comply with other requirements.

“Every adult illegal Haitian national in a shelter would be issued a right to reside and work for one year come November 2 if it were up to me,” he said in a Facebook post that sparked commentary yesterday. “(It would be) renewable (up to one more year) if you can provide me with proof of employment in nine months, NIB

contributions, an apartment rental agreement and a listing of all immediate family members in The Bahamas.

I’d be willing to pay $500$1,000 for information on who trafficked you in under our radars, from what dock in Haiti to which drop off point in The Bahamas and who’s been employing you.”

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

A MAN is dead after crashing into a utility pole on Baillou Hill Road early Sunday morning.

According to Chief Superintendent Craig Stubbs, shortly before 6am, the police control room received reports of a traffic accident on Baillou Hill Road, south of the farmer’s market. Responding officers arrived at the scene and confirmed that a single vehicle had run into a utility pole.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene

by EMS and the car’s passenger was taken to hospital with severe injuries.

CSP Stubbs said: “Our investigation thus far has revealed a Honda Saber was travelling south along the Baillou Hill Road corridor when, for unknown reasons, the driver would have went to the western corridor in the northbound lane and collided with a utility pole.

SEE PAGE 12

SUSPECT PINNED TO FENCE BY VICTIM’S TRUCK A MAN chased a suspected armed robber with his truck before pinning him to a chain link fence with his vehicle, officials said.

According to police, shortly after 9am on Saturday, an armed man entered a business on Spikenard Road and robbed an employee of cash and other items before running from the store.

The employee got into his vehicle and followed the armed suspect, eventually pinning him against a fence.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force said marines observed a suspicious truck in pursuit of a male, who was on foot at the time.

SEE PAGE 12

Insight HOORAY FOR CARNIVAL - BUT WHERE ARE THE LAWS TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT?

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Monday, September 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis addresses a flight of passengers heading into The Bahamas from the United States on Saturday.

Photos: Yontalay Bowe/OPM

MINNIS TELLS TOURISTS: WE’RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS ON his flight back to The Bahamas after addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis took to the plane’s intercom to invite tourists to spread the word that most of the country was still open for business.

Dr Minnis reiterated comments he made at the UN, saying the best way people can assist the

country in rebuilding is by visiting the nation. “. . .Nassau, our economic engine, our touristic centre has not been affected. If they can get the message out that we’re still functional, we’re still open for business, and the more tourists visit our shores, it will put us in a better position so that we can rebuild and get back to normal,” Dr Minnis said on Saturday,

to loud applause from the plane’s passengers.

“So I want to thank you all personally for visiting The Bahamas. . . and I do hope that you have an excellent time in The Bahamas so that you can tell your friends and relatives that The Bahamas is still open, the best place for a tourist destination and they too should visit our shores.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 30, 2019, PAGE 3

HURRICANE DORIAN DEATH TOLL UP TO 58 from page one

Bahamas Power and Light, meanwhile, announced that electricity has been restored to two communities in Abaco over the weekend, the first two to receive power.

Electricity was restored to the South Abaco communities of Winding Bay and Casuarina Point.

“These are the first two communities to be returned to power with the use of the 1.8 megawatt generator shipped to Abaco from Exuma early last week,” BPL said in a statement. “BPL employees on Moore’s Island were able to

bring that community back on shortly after the storm had passed. The main overhead transmission line is powered up, and the team is now continuing restoration in the south with some challenges along the way. We are bringing the communities of the south on as soon after as possible.”

BPL said its main substations in Marsh Harbour sustained major damage, prompting the need for a temporary substation site.

Equipment for the site is being prepped for transport from New Providence to Abaco and it is hoped that when connected, power will be distributed to critical infrastructure in Abaco: the

government complex, the air and sea port, the Water and Sewerage Corporation plant and the clinic.

Algernon Cargill, one of the government’s hurricane relief coordinators for Abaco, said yesterday that the government complex is currently being powered by generators fixed by the Dutch military.

“We are seeking to provide full functionality to the government complex in Marsh Harbour,” he said. “That’s a hub for most activities. Our focus is to bring back the essential services and most of those are centred around the government complex where all the government offices are. In addition, we were

very successful in having the petroleum companies reopen their presence in Abaco. We have fuel for sale, we’re providing water to the essential buildings which is abnormal now, the airport is fully functional and the government complex is fully powered up so after we have the essential services restored in Abaco, we’ll start the clean-up phase and that will be managed by the Ministry of Works and Ministry for Disaster Preparedness. We’ve stabilised on the ground in Abaco.

“The government complex was cleaned by the Dutch military,” he added.

“We’re gonna have it sanitised again. The quicker we can create the feeling

of normalcy, that’s going to spill over. The grounds of the complex were fully cleared by the Jamaican military who have been a great help to the Bahamas. I want to recognise the excellent contribution by them, they’ve cleaned the airport grounds also, moving all the trees, so you can hardly notice from the grounds of the airport that there was a hurricane.”

Yesterday, the Progressive Liberal Party criticised the government’s response to the hurricane, claiming that the people of Moore’s Island feel abandoned by the government and that the Sandy Point water system failed when its

generator malfunctioned.

“The people in the Abaco cays complain that the security situation is deteriorating there,” PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell said in a statement. “There is little indication of a government presence. There are reports of marauding gangs, occupying people’s homes and vandalising and stealing private property throughout the island of Abaco. There is no indication of a government presence in the Abaco Cays. They are crediting the Americans with what aid has reached them. Their main concern now is security and the safety of their person and property.”

CLIMATE CHANGE ‘A THREAT TO EXISTENCE’ OF THE BAHAMAS PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told the United Nations General Assembly last week that the beauty and existence of The Bahamas is under grave threat from climate change, adding that considerably more than 56 people have died in the country because of Hurricane Dorian.

“It is a threat which we did not cause,” he said. “It is a threat which we cannot survive on our own. While many countries have coastal cities or zones, the entire Bahamas is a coastal zone of many cays and islands in an extensive archipelago.

Over the last three decades, hurricanes have grown increasingly lethal throughout our region. In the words of the secretary-general, they have become ‘turbocharged.’ The Bahamas

experienced major hurricanes in 2015, 2016 and 2018. But on the first of this month September, we experienced something way beyond anything we have seen before.”

Dr Minnis said the country’s naturally warm waters have been made warmer by carbon dioxide emissions and were mobilised into instruments of death and destruction.

Although the official death count is 58, Dr Minnis said, “We know that there are considerably more lives lost because there are still 600 missing because the rising then receding water swept away young and old with their homes.

“The picturesque and industrial principal town of Marsh Harbour on Abaco has disappeared,” he said.

“There is nothing left of it but heaps of rubble. East End, Grand Bahama, is in ruins. The hurricane was

a physical apocalypse for some communities.”

Dr Minnis asked world leaders to treat climate change as the greatest challenge facing humanity.

“When one storm can obliterate an island-state or a number of states in one hurricane season: how will we survive, how can we develop, how will we continue to exist?” he asked.

He called for the expansion of the UN Development Programme to include The Bahamas. The programme works to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through sustainable development and currently works with three Caribbean countries: St Lucia, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda.

“For many years,” Dr Minnis said, “The Bahamas and countries with similar characteristics have urged an alternative to per capita gross national income as the sole indicator of a country’s

level of development and eligibility for concessionary financing. When we call for consideration of a country’s unique local circumstances when determining financial worthiness, this is also a condition and requirement for our resilience.”

The prime minister made a plea for people to visit the country.

“Amidst the decimation and devastation, there is a symbol of hope and resilience at Abaco from which we may draw inspiration and renewed energy and hope,” he said. “The red and white striped iconic lighthouse at Hope Town on Elbow Cay, Abaco, which is featured on the back of the Bahamas’ $10 bill, survived Hurricane Dorian.

The 89-foot lighthouse was built in 1863, helping to warn mariners of dangerous reefs. The lighthouse is a symbol of pride for Abaconians and Bahamians. Soon

WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus with Health Minister Dr Duane Sands. was informed by Dr Sands about the damage to the islands, commended the government’s readiness to provide help and healthcare to those affected.

During a press conference held at the Ministry of Health on Friday, Dr Ghebreyesus said WHO remains committed to helping the country in speeding up the recovery process in

the storm damaged islands.

Earlier this month, Dr Sands noted that several health care facilities in Abaco and Grand Bahama suffered structural damage as a result of the storm, rendering them “inoperable.”

Since then, restoration efforts to those health facilities have already started and, according to Dr Ghebreyesus, WHO teams have already been deployed to assist with the recovery process in the storm-impacted islands.

Dr Ghebreyesus also spoke about the impending threat of climate change for small island developing states.

“Climate change for the small islands is a fact and it’s not an issue that you can debate and its impact we have seen it already in the frequency of hurricanes and it’s a matter of survival for the small island nations…so we have to be very serious

in what we’re seeing in the mitigation and manifestation for climate change,” he said.

Dr Sands expressed gratitude to Dr Ghebreyesus and WHO at large for lending their support to the country following the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

“Dr Tedros and his platform would’ve made it clear that he had a commitment to universal healthcare and that he was deeply concerned about the health needs of women, adolescents and children, but very particularly concerned about the impact climate change and environmental change has on the health of the people of the world,” he said.

“It is a privilege to have (Dr Ghebreyesus) here. I believe (he) has demonstrated absolute support, not just for the region of the Americas, but for The Bahamas in particular. “

WHO DIRECTOR PLEDGES SUPPORT DURING VISIT

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE World Health Organisation’s director general paid a courtesy call on Health Minister Dr Duane Sands on Friday to pledge the organisation’s support in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.

WHO drector general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ visit to the Bahamas came nearly four weeks after Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama.

This is the first time that a person holding the position of director general of WHO has visited the Bahamas, Dr Sands said.

“It’s unfortunate,” he said, “that it is under these conditions, but we are appreciative to have our international partners here.”

Dr Ghebreyesus, who

Photo: Richard Drew/AP after Hurricane Dorian, some of the residents of Hope Town placed within the lighthouse a temporary light that shone in the darkness, with few other sources

of light on the horizon. The Bahamas will restore the Hope Town Lighthouse as a symbol of resilience, as a source of unity and as a beacon of hope.”

PAGE 4, Monday, September 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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What are we doing to fight climate change?

THE words were ominous: “How will we continue to exist?”

They were spoken by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly last week, warning that the beauty and the very existence of The Bahamas is under grave threat from climate change.

The truth is that this is not news. It’s certainly not a new line from representatives of The Bahamas at international events.

In 2009, then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told the UN Convention on Climate Change that “Climate change is a serious threat to our economic viability, our social development and our territorial integrity”.

Six years later, the prime minister may have changed, but the message had not.

Perry Christie was the PM when he told the UN in Paris that the world’s nations had to “send a clear message that we will fight for countries like The Bahamas to stay on the map into the next century”.

He spoke of climate change as an “existential threat”.

Well, here we are, in 2019, a full decade on from Mr Ingraham’s warning of a threat to our nation – and in the aftermath of a storm that may well have been made more powerful through the effects of climate change.

“It is a threat which we did not cause,” said Dr Minnis when he addressed the UN last week.

That sounds like there’s nothing we can do about climate change – but is that true? Certainly, our contribution to climate change is dwarfed by that of larger nations, but on a basis per head, is that still the case?

What are we actually doing to avoid being a contributor to climate change?

Last week, it was reported that the government would be purchasing a new 30MW for BPL after a summer plagued by power outages. Now that may be good news for ending the cuts that have made life such a misery this summer but our dependence on fossil fuels, a contributor to climate change emissions, doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon.

In fact, in today’s business section, we report that renewable energy providers are frustrated that new guidelines requiring renewable energy projects to sell all their power to BPL then buy it back is likely to shrink such efforts even further.

Here we sit, in a country famed the

world over for its sunshine, and seemingly completely unable to capitalise on solar power in a significant manner.

Reconstruction in Abaco and Grand Bahama has already had renewable energy ruled out as a replacement power provision too - while the residents of Ragged Island are still waiting for the promised green revolution of renewable energy for its rebuild after Hurricane Irma in 2017.

There is one promising sign - the move to ban single use plastics from the end of this year, with plastics a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions from its production through its refining and in the way it is handled as waste.

But is that it? In the face of a threat that successive prime ministers - no matter what their political leanings - have described as a danger to our existence, is that all we are doing?

Year after year, we have gone to international meetings calling for others to do what must be done in order to tackle climate change. Is it not our responsibility to take such actions here at home too?

There are things we can do. The plastics ban is a good start - but we seem to have taken a long time to start.

We can look wherever possible to reduce emissions - and encouraging consumers away from gas guzzling vehicles to more efficient vehicles.

We can launch a public information campaign on ways to save energy in the home - turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby and adjusting air conditioning settings. This one saves you money too.

We can look to recycle more - rather than everything going into one waste container - and we can seek to reduce the amount of packaging that is used in businesses.

Reducing meat consumption can help - but so can eating local where possible, to reduce the amount of emissions used to transport food to your plate.

All of these are steps we can take even before looking towards such steps as solar power generation or widespread planting of trees - though why not look at those too?

“How will we continue to exist?” was a question about our future existence as a nation - but let’s ask it of our own future behaviour too. How will we? Will we continue to contribute more than we need to greenhouse gases? Or will we make a change here at home too?

Speak up to save us all EDITOR, The Tribune.

CLIMATE change.....in 60 years what might be left of our island nation?

Yesterday, a teenager captured the world of young people and they refused to go to school but went to the streets around the world and protested the fear of Climate Change.

Later this month at the UN-NY the Assembly — Heads of Government are to discuss the current achievement of the Paris Accord on Climate Change and see the evident inadequacies and shortfalls of the majority of countries who promised — who signed to reduce CO2 emissions, etc..

Our experience ten days ago with the horrific — catastrophic hurricane Dorian hurt us but gave us an opportunity to use this catastrophic occurrence to persuade some of the Prime Ministers that time is no

longer on our side — we have to get real and be serious — talk is over.

We presume the Minnis Government will put forward the strongest case but why not let us The People get involved and email a few Prime Ministers demanding action in New York — time is over – waiting is not the question any more..... we saw the violence of a 200 mph hurricane.

US President www. whiteghouse.gov.

UK PM — www.gov.uk — privateoffice@no10x.gsi. gov.uk Norway — postmottak@ smk.dep.no Sweden — anttirinne@ vnk.fi New Zealand- j.arden@ minister.gov.nz Australia — www. pm.gov.au India — www.pmindia. gov Ireland — leo.varadkar@ oireachtas.re

Young people use the power of your protest through sending e-mails to these Prime Ministers showing your concern that if Climate Change is not changed and we stop the polluting your children and grandchildren might –no probably will not – be able to live on certain islands in The Bahamas as many islands will be under water.

The world knows about Dorian — have seen the horrific photographs and heard the interviews..... in memory of those who have been lost might never be found act now — protest to these Prime Ministers asking them to act and act now.....time has run out.

Go for it..... let’s see our young people cause a change! Flood those Prime Ministers with e-mails!

W THOMPSON Nassau, September 24, 2019.

Our past with the Haitians EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT’S heartbreaking in a so-called Christian country, where Bahamians carry their Bibles to church on Sundays to sing Hosanna to their Creator, and yet on Mondays will be shouting hell fire on the heads of less fortunate human beings — the Haitians. Bahamians forget that Haitians are also God’s creation, and in God’s sight they are of equal value.

I would bet my last dollar that on Judgment Day when a Bahamian and Haitian present themselves at the Pearly Gates and beg entrance, St Peter will give the Haitian a pass to compensate for all his suffering on Earth.

As for the Bahamian — why he might be asked to show his papers! Failing to have adequate papers to prove his compassion on Earth, he will probably be directed to the other place to suffer the same hell fire that Haitians were made endure at his hands when on Earth.

Remember, my fellow Bahamians, “You better watch your p’s and q’s ‘cause God don’t like ugly!”

We seem to forget how and why Haitians started to flood our islands.

Remember Sir Lynden Pindling, who told you that during his administration our precious little “Johnnies and Susies” would no longer be “hewers of wood” and “drawers of water” and so Haitians were brought in to do labour that Bahamians were encouraged to dismiss as “ain for us – that’s Haitian work”.

A certain farmer used to boast that during the Pindling administration he could bring in as many Haitian farm labourers as he wanted.

I remember reading in

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net The Tribune his proud boast that be brought in at least a hundred!

In other words human flesh — all Haitians — just to keep Pindling and his “all for me” baby crowd in power!

It soon became a racket where some of the politically favoured got a permit for a Haitian and would then farm him out to someone who had land to till and at the end of the week would collect a portion of the poor Haitian’s salary – usually a salary below a living wage! I wonder how many Bahamians remember those days or even indulged in that evil practice!

Every Bahamian in this country should go through their family tree and try to trace it back to their first ancestor to come here.

In those days, none of our ancestors was a native Bahamian. They were all foreigners in a foreign land.

At the beginning of our history in this country our first descendants were in the same position as today’s Haitians — the native Arawak Indians had already been exterminated.

Each of our histories in this country can be traced to the arrival of a foreigner.

If some of us can go far enough back, they will find that many of their ancestors were either freed or runaway slaves.

These persons settled, worked together and were eventually known as Bahamians inhabiting a British colony, which eventually became independent.

Today’s Haitians are in the same position as were our own ancestors – the

only difference being that they – coming from all parts of the world — were then accepted in this foreign land and eventually formed the beginnings of a mixed Bahamian society.

Stephen Dillett, himself a Haitian, who came here as a child, was recorded as the first black Bahamian to sit in the House of Assembly.

He held several important posts in the then colony. It was even suggested that he was himself a slave owner.

Can you imagine in those far off days when our ancestors were all foreigners, having arrived at different times over the centuries, where would we have been if we were not assimilated and accepted as one people — all Bahamians working together to create a nation?

Up until July 10, 1973, when The Bahamas got its independence any child born in The Bahamas, regardless of their parents’ nationality, was a Bahamian.

Today, a child born in The Bahamas of a foreign parent, having no other home, can’t find work to support himself once he has completed school — because although born and raised in The Bahamas, one or both of his parents is a foreigner, usually a Haitian!

So what is our country encouraging him to do — join the thieves to get a crust of bread!

It is time for all of us to waken up, try to understand our own beginnings and work together — Haitians and all — to make this little country the envy of the world.

A TRUE, TRUE BAHAMIAN Nassau, September 26, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Senator: give undocumented the right to work for a year from page one He said he believes such a move would eradicate Abaco’s shanty town dilemma, address the problem of people not contributing to NIB, provide business to Bahamian owners of apartments, bust human trafficking rings, empty shelters and restore evacuees with dignity.

When one Facebook user urged the country to follow the law by deporting undocumented migrants, Mr Henfield compared the predicament to the web shop industry which was regularised after a long period in the shadows.

“Government realised that the numbers industry, which was illegal, was extracting hundreds of millions from the economy,” he said. “Not a tax dollar was coming out of it to fund Social Services, the Ministry of Education or any other aspect of our government’s expenditure.

One government legalised what was illegal and now it’s paying taxes in the hundreds of millions.

“I’m not suggesting (undocumented migrants) be given citizenship. They are here working now.

Living in and erecting more and more shanty towns.

They are in the schools and hospitals. We have failed to fix the problem at the root.

The root is ‘how they’re getting in.’ I’m proposing incentivising a percentage of them to talk, pay NIB and adhere to the local standards for housing and healthcare.”

The government suspended apprehension and repatriation exercises for people in areas affected

by Hurricane Dorian. Last week, Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson said this does not give illegal evacuees in shelters a free pass. He said to avoid repatriation, they must at least apply for legal status.

Authorities have been on high alert for undocumented migrants returning to Abaco where the country’s largest shanty towns existed before Dorian destroyed them.

Algernon Cargill, the government’s coordinator for relief and recovery on that island, said some who have tried to return to Abaco have been stopped while some have successfully reached the island.

“We’ve encouraged the law enforcement to assist with that because if you don’t have any legal right to be there, there’s no reason to return to Abaco at all,” he said yesterday. “What we’re doing is encouraging people who don’t have a legal right to come to Abaco to don’t come to Abaco. My wish is that we

man the airport and ports and deter people who don’t have a legal right to be here because infrastructure cannot support persons who don’t have a legal reason, such as looking after their property or visiting relatives. To be here so as to resettle is strongly discouraged. If you have a home, coming is fully encouraged. If you want to clear your property, that’s fine. If you don’t have a legal right to be in The Bahamas, there’s no reason to come.”

Last week, former Minister of State for Immigration Branville McCartney said undocumented migrants displaced by Hurricane Dorian should be given provisional status as a way for the government to monitor them. He said the designation should come with an expiration date.

Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell, however, said his party believes such accommodations are not necessary.

“Our position is there is no reason that we see to deviate from standard procedures to deal with any illegal immigrant,” he said yesterday. “Neither is there a reason in immigration enforcement to discriminate or distinguish based on nationality. The only question is are you legal or not and if you are not, home you go.”

Monday, September 30, 2019, PAGE 5

SENATOR RANARD HENFIELD

‘ABSOLUTELY NO TRUTH’ TO RUMOURS OF HAITIAN POLITICAL PARTY

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net A SPOKESPERSON for the United Haitian Community Front said the rumours circulating on social media surrounding a new Haitian political party running for office in The

Bahamas in 2020 are false.

Activist Louby Georges told The Tribune yesterday: “There is absolutely no truth to that.”

He believes the messages are being spread by mischievous people looking to sow discord in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.

Mr Georges added:

“There are some persons in the Haitian or maybe the Bahamian community, I don’t know, being mischievous in this time with heightened tension between Bahamians and Haitians.

Again, there is absolutely no truth to that.”

Messages have been circulating on Facebook and

WhatsApp spreading the rumour. One internet meme in particular said, “Coming soon! New Haitian political party in The Bahamas?

Time to organise ourselves.

2022 is ours. We have the numbers.”

Another message was spread on WhatsApp by an unknown person claiming

to have insider information of a new party being formed by people of Haitian descent.

A photo of leaders in the Haitian community was also circulated with the messages.

“The photo that they circulated was a photo from a meeting that a few

individuals from the community took along with the (Haitian) chargé d’affaires when he first came in, so it was kind of a community courtesy call,” Mr Georges said.

He added that it’s unfortunate at this particular time that persons are spreading false information.

PAGE 6, Monday, September 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

12 AMBULANCES DONATED TO THE BAHAMAS AFTER HURRICANE DORIAN

SOME of the ambulances that have been donated by Global Medical Response.

THE National Emergency Management Services received a boost to its fleet of emergency service vehicles after Global Medical Response donated 12 ambulances in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

The first donation of four

ambulances took place on September 12, the second shipment of four more ambulances on September 24, and an additional four ambulances are expected in approximately two weeks. In addition to new ambulances, Global has

Funeral Service Thelma Harriet (Brown) Knowles, 95

also donated three 40-foot containers of emergency medical equipment and supplies to NEMS. In the coming days, NEMS is expected to receive the equipment and supplies. NEMS Director Dr Alvery Hanna

Due to unforeseen circumstances the time for the Funeral for Mrs. Knowles IS CHANGED TO 4:00 P.M. On Tuesday, 1st October, 2019 The Service will be held at Ebenezer Methodist Church, East Shirley Street, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas Mrs. Knowles was predeceased by her husband, Mr. Arthur Robinson (Jack) Knowles; and is survived by her children, Christine Woodman (Johnny), Anne Lever (Ian), Elizabeth Howard, Arthur Robinson Knowles and many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be sent to Ebenezer Methodist Church Music Board, P.O. Box S.S. 6145, Nassau or to Head Knowles For Hurricane Relief in memory of Mrs. Thelma H. Knowles.

with the government. Global’s contribution to Dorian Relief extends beyond the donation of ground ambulances, equipment and supplies. During the immediate medical response, Global assisted with the helicopter lift of medical

evacuees out of the areas impacted by Dorian.”

Five ambulances will be deployed to Grand Bahama; two will be deployed to Abaco and one will remain in New Providence to serve as a back up emergency vehicle.

Victims urged to come identify rescued dogs

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

CHANGE OF TIME FUNERAL SERVICE

highlighted the friendship between former NEMS paramedic Kevin Bell and Global Medial Response’s regional director which allowed for a direct initial appeal. She added: “Global’s efforts have grown into a significant partnership

THE Bahamas Humane Society currently has about 90 dogs that are Hurricane Dorian victims and the shelter is calling on affected pet owners to identify their animals.

The BHS airlifted more than 200 dogs out of its shelter in New Providence to facilities in the United States to make space for animals displaced by Hurricane Dorian.

In an interview with The Tribune, BHS President Kim Aranha said the facility will keep the pets the owners want back after they are settled and the pets the owners no longer want.

She said: “We will feed them, and we will take care of them medically, but we need to know that’s your dog. Once we know that’s

your dog, we have a special part of the shelter with the other owned dogs who are boarding but there will be no fee for it.

“Owners will still be able to have their animals and we’ll take care of them until they either go back home or find somewhere here they can live here where they can keep a dog.

“I really need the public to be aware that the service is being provided between BAARK and the Bahamas Humane Society. We have an awful lot of animals who have yet to be claimed that we would really like owners to come forward. Owners need to understand that just because they come forward doesn’t mean they have to take their pets.”

She added: “We will still take care of them and so the dogs that are being fostered right now, the foster family will keep them until

the owner is ready. The foster families will like to know ‘hey that’s my dog and thank you for keeping it, we would like to visit it and once we’re sorted out, I’ll be back.’”

Mrs Aranha said the move to airlift animals that were living in the shelter before the storm to the United States to make space for storm affected dogs has been a joint effort between BAARK and the Humane Society.

“Our man Valentino Armaly was on the ground with his ambulance and he went and picked up the dogs,” she said. “And the BAARK flight would bring them in. The animals are between the Humane Society and BAARK. “We have about 90 dogs right now that are Dorian dogs, we only have about five cats and we had five rabbits. Two have gone

back to their owners and believe it or not two pet turtles. Many of these animals are in foster but obviously if the owners come forward, we (would) encourage them to take their pets back. “ She added: “BAARK has been doing a lot of reuniting as well. They have a lot of their dogs in foster care, but the fosters are totally aware that if and when the owners turn up the animals will return to them.

“Now there is a problem with all of this, obviously as more and more animals find their owners there is a limited amount of time that they can just be kept in the Bahamas before they need to go away to find homes because it’s just very expensive.”

Mrs Aranha said if a large number of dogs are surrendered and no one wants to adopt, they’ll be airlifted to shelters in the US.

MICRONESIA DONATES $100,000 IN SUPPORT PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was presented with a $100,000 donation to assist with Hurricane Dorian recovery and reconstruction efforts from Micronesia, a small nation in the western Pacific with a population of just over 100,000.

Dr Minnis received the cheque on Friday, September 27 from the president of Micronesia, David W Panuelo, following Dr Minnis’ address to the General Assembly at the United Nations.

Dr Minnis thanked President Panuelo for the small country’s generous donation to the people of The Bahamas in their time of need.

“This donation means a lot to the people of The Bahamas. You are a small country and your willingness to help is greatly appreciated.

“Your donation will help us to rebuild better and stronger than before. I thank you and the people of Micronesia,” said Dr Minnis.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis receives the donation of $100,000 from Micronesia president David W Panuelo.

Death Notice for

Sylvan Augustine Ramsay, 55 of Foster Street, Boyd Subdivision, died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday, September 22nd, 2019.

He is survived by his son: Sylvan Ramsay Jr.; one granddaughter: Sylvanna; father: Sylvester Ramsay; two sisters: Karen Rolle and Marvette Collie; one brother: Stephen Ramsay; six aunts: Dorothea Strachan, Julia Thompson, Paula Carey, Theresa Bligh, Elouise Archer and Clarissa Neymour; four uncles: John Neymour, Duke Strachan, Edward Carey and Keith Bligh and a host of other relatives and friends including: Rita Ramsay, Kevin Rolle and Alexis Collie.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, September 30, 2019, PAGE 7

Size of oil leak still a mystery from page one Mr Stuart said an “independent certified” Bahamian firm, Geosyntec, has been contracted to investigate by drilling wells in the impacted area to monitor groundwater.

The dome-shaped lids of two storage tanks – numbers six and ten – at the facility were blown off and oil was dispersed in the area as Hurricane Dorian unleashed 185mph winds and pummeled the island for about 40 hours.

Mr Stuart was confident on Friday that there was no spill to the ocean and that the incident occurred onshore, just north of their facility.

The event is being called “the worst disaster” ever in the company’s history.

Equinor’s oil-stained administrative building is no longer able to accommodate its 54 employees, who have been relocated to the Pelican Bay Resort at Port Lucaya.

“We have a situation in front of us; I call it an act of God – we have a spill – and we want to clean it up safely,” Mr Stuart said at the company’s command centre, located on board one of the mega response vessels docked at its terminal, equipped with a heli-pad and a 16-seater helicopter.

He said at the time of the storm, only three tanks contained crude oil. Storage tank number 8, which was not compromised, contained 410,178.91 barrels of oil. Of the two damaged storage tanks, number six contained 729,681.08 barrels and number ten contained 730,707.01 barrels.

“Right now, we cannot speak to volumes that was spilled because we just do not know. Two tanks damaged by tornadic activity, we cannot safely assess them to get volumes.

“We had 1.8 million barrels of product at the facility, and of the three tanks that contained oil, only two were compromised,” he explained. “So, obviously, there was a spill, but for me to see they are saying 1.8 million barrels was spilled, I can’t quantify it. I can only show you the facts. We cannot give out figures, but you can see 1.8 million barrels can’t be what was spilled.”

There are 13 vacuum trucks and a team of 250 responders from both international and local response organisations on the ground, company officials told reporters on Friday.

When The Tribune arrived at the facility, the top layer of the oil-soaked ground in the immediate area had been scraped up into a pile, and men in green florescent vests and suits were busy with clean up and monitoring on the ground.

East End has vast well fields that serve as a water supply to residents on Grand Bahama. Since the storm, however, water quality has been reduced significantly due to the widespread surge of sea water that flooded about 80 percent of the island on September 2.

Mr Stuart indicated that ground water contamination is a concern with any oil spill that occurs on land.

“I know it is a concern for everyone, and to us.

So, we will investigate the groundwater around the area impacted. We have already identified the area of interest where we want to continue to monitor,” he said.

He said the investigation could take between one to three months as

OIL spillage at the Equinor site in Grand Bahama. determined.

“We have an independent contractor Geosyntec from The Bahamas that will drill to investigate groundwater contamination. So, it won’t be us determining that. We have an independent certified Bahamian company that will do that,” said Mr Stuart.

“But our plan is to restore groundwater wells along the areas that were affected.

That is very important; they will... monitor the water all around the area impacted.”

Mr Stuart said that cleanup is paramount to the company.

He assured government that “special waste” - free standing oil - taken up from the road will be exported from the country to a proper disposal facility.

Any contaminated metal will be cleaned on-site, contaminated debris will be shredded, and contaminated water will be held in retention pots, he said.

When questioned about the actual size of the area affected, a response official said: “We do not have the exact kilometres impacted, but we are dealing with it and we will have a better assessment when we go in the air, and as time goes on we will be able to determine that.”

It took Equinor several says after the spill to get to the affected areas.

Mr Stuart said that access by road was impossible right after the storm, but their strike team was able to assess the situation at the facility by helicopter.

Assessments are continuing daily.

“We have constant surveillance going on now by air, ship, and by foot. We have numerous flyovers all across Grand Bahama today (Friday), and there is not any evidence of oil hitting the water. “...We have continued to survey the area, our families live here and this is important to us. The key for us is to get it right,” vowed Mr Stuart.

A Wildlife Response Unit was set up on the compound where an expert reported that they were tending to two birds that were affected by the spill.

The team is still trying to locate and capture five other birds and a goat that were also affected.

A team of expert responders gave a brief update of their findings at the site.

They are only detecting “low levels of

VOCs” (volatile organic compounds). No btex compounds - benzene, toluene, ethyl, or xylene - have been detected, according to an expert at the facility.

“We are not seeing any actionable levels; we are monitoring inside the containment berms of the tanks and the roadway, Grand Bahama Highway, from check point to check point,” said one company representative.

The representative indicated that the substances they were most concerned about are benzene and

volatile hydrocarbons.

“The good thing about the warm weather and the wind is that it tends to evaporate and disappears quickly so the measurements we have done show very favourable outcome,” he reported.

He also said that they have not seen any actionable levels to require respiration protection at this point.

The company has contracted two independent assessment firms as part of the clean-up: Polaris and Oil Spill Responders Ltd.

A WILDLIFE response unit officer explains how birds impacted by the spill are cleaned.

PAGE 8, Monday, September 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

‘We are not allowed to get into our premises at Port Lucaya’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FRUSTRATED store owners at Port Lucaya Marketplace claim they are being prevented from entering the premises to get access to their stores, even though power and water have already been restored there.

Only once have they had access to their businesses since Hurricane Dorian, when insurance adjusters were on property to conduct assessments. However, they claim, management hasn’t allowed them back on the premises since.

Port Lucaya Marketplace, which had some damage from Hurricane Dorian, has about 60 or more stores, including restaurants, bars, souvenir stores, jewellery stores, and

dry goods stores, as well as two straw markets.

The store owners are anxious to get in, clean up, and open for business.

“I understand that some of the metal roof was blown off, and they are waiting on the adjusters,” said one store owner. “We are frustrated about it (the wait) but there is nothing we can about it because there is an insurance claim.”

Other concerned stores owner told The Tribune that the damage at Port Lucaya did not appear to be extensive.

A disgruntled storeowner complained that the delay in opening Port Lucaya Marketplace is affecting their business and their workers who are eager to get back to work and earn an income.

“The marketplace had power restored soon after the storm; and they are not

opened yet. We have bills to pay, we have credit terms, we have staff, and we have rent to pay for our rental space,” said the individual who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation.

“We cannot get into our spaces to see if everything is okay. We were allowed in one time so the adjusters could see inside the space, but after that, we have not been allowed back.”

According to the owner, some of their workers who lost their possessions in East End and Arden Forest want to return to work.

“We have persons who lost their houses and are anxious to get back working to make money,” said the concerned store owner.

When the marketplace was owned by Grand Bahama Port Authority Ltd, the store owner said that they were allowed

access to their businesses after previous storms while assessments were being conducted.

“The former owners (GBPA) understood how important it was for businesses to reopen to make money,” the business owner said.

Another concerned shop owner criticised PLM officials for the lack of communication and the “unkind” attitude of management.

“They have a rotten attitude in how they handle people – they need Bahama host training,” said an upset merchant, who also claimed they are being kept in the dark about the situation at the marketplace.

“We want to know when we can get back in our stores – if it will take a couple months or weeks so we can decide whether to relocate

our businesses. But they don’t tell us what’s going on, and they are handling us like crap like we don’t matter.

Under the former owners, the Port Authority, it was different; they allowed us access to our stores at a reasonable time.”

Another store owner said that getting in to clean up is critical.

“You want to get in there to clean it up and avoid any mould issue,” the owner said. “We basically were only allowed to go in initially, and we sat for fourand-a half hours waiting on the adjusters to come, and we can’t go back in.

“They have been extremely uncommunicative and unresponsive to our questions or providing information of when they will open up. We feel there is an underlying issue.”

Management had initially

sent out an email to store owners, they said, explaining only that they had challenges and obstacles, and that the store owners were not allowed on the premises.

“When we asked them for clarity of those challenges and obstacles they did not respond. It is not so bad that they can’t reopen it. It is pretty frustrating that PLM does not want people back in (their stores). We need to get small business up and running because people need to get back to work,” one of the store owners said. “We know not much visitors are coming to the island, but there are locals who we cater to as well. Local restaurants at PL can open for business, instead they are losing product.”

Attempts to reach an official at PLM was unsuccessful up to press time.

RESTORING WATER AND ELECTRIC TO ABACO TO COST $110M

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

IT will cost about $110m to restore water and electricity services to all of Abaco, Works Minister Desmond Bannister said on Friday.

Of this, the cost to the Water and Sewerage Corporation could range from $15m to $20m while the cost to Bahamas Power and Light will be between $80m to $90m, he said, noting officials haven’t completed their assessments and may find new issues on the ground.

He made the revelation during an event announcing the contract signing between the Ministry of Works and four private companies to clean

up Abaco’s shanty towns, which remain covered in rubble. The value of the contracts was not revealed.

“Before you start asking the director about the amount of the contracts, these contracts are based on rates that are set generally by this ministry,” Mr Bannister said. “They are set for people to work for a specific time, they bring in certain types of equipment and the contracts are based on the rates and the ministry will be supervising and ensuring that persons work for those rates. I don’t want anyone to get the wrong ideas in respect to what we are doing.”

According to Director of Works Melanie Roach, the companies awarded contracts include J&G Pavers to clean up the Sand Bank

shanty town, Big Cat to clean up two Treasure Cay shanty towns, Bill Simmons Construction Heavy Equipment for the Pigeon Peas and Caribbean Pavement for the Mudd.

As the rubble is cleared, Mr Bannister stressed people will have to keep their curiosity at bay.

“The contractors who are here today are highly experienced companies,” he said. “They have equipment that is available and not just one piece of equipment but they have the kind of equipment that is needed. They are highly professional and we need that with the delayering exercise that has to go on. They are going to work in conjunction with the police and the Ministry of the Environment. They will be working professionally,

meticulously and working with sensitivity. All precautions will be taken so that once these areas are cleared nobody will be get back in there. Areas are going to be fenced and all precautions are going to be taken in relation to the public safety issues. We want to urge everybody to understand that their curiosity will not be able to get the better of them and they will not be able to access the work sites and they ought not to try. We have a full time presence in Abaco, Grand Bahama and we expect to have a permanent presence on the ground in Abaco very soon.”

As for the challenges restoring water and electricity services, he said: “Water and Sewerage has been inundated in Abaco with issues in respect to their storage, with respect to production and distribution. They are testing water on a daily basis and there are some challenges as you would expect when you have salt water come up to levels that salt has come up in those communities.

They have to provide safe drinking water. Cabinet has made provision for financing at a particular level that

BPL staff at work in Abaco. they have indicated that they need on a preliminary basis and we anticipate that the funding will be released.

“In Abaco we have a power plant in Wilson City which is south of Marsh Harbour. Much of the damage to the infrastructure, the electrical infrastructure in Abaco came in the central areas.

BPL has brought in a temporary power solution to power south Abaco. They are seeking to have that power turned on today (Friday). They sought to do it yesterday and had a few glitches, but we expect that south of Wilson City will be powered as of today or tomorrow. The challenges to the north are more complex and the challenges in the cays are very complex.

“When one looks at the

grid in Abaco, BPL will be seeking to create a number of mini grids, micro grids so we can seek to power some of the cays. There are some entities in those cays that have pledges to assist the government. In the Marsh Harbour area we will seek to build back with more resilience that involves being able to change the type of poles that we put down. I believe we have class three poles there now and we are going to seek to put class one poles like they did in Grand Bahama.

We are also going to put in a number of other measures from Wilson City to Marsh Harbour and then we are looking from Marsh Harbour to the distribution centres and transmission we’ll be looking at a number of underground conduits to protect the manner in which power is generated.”

Ms Roach said the contractors have a maximum of three months to complete their work.

She said: “We would of course have to re-evaluate that based on what they find when they get on the ground. As we progress, we will determine whether or not it needs to be extended.”

MAJOR DAMAGE TO HALF OF ABACO HOMES

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

FIFTY-ONE percent of residences in assessed Abaco communities sustained major damage from Hurricane Dorian, with nearly half of them not salvageable, works director Melanie Roach said on Friday.

Her revelation about damage to residences in Spring City and Central Pines, both government subdivisions, came as she revealed results of the government’s initial assessment of buildings in Grand Bahama and Abaco.

Works Minister Desmond Bannister has indicated that officials still have thousands more structures to assess.

On Abaco, the 446 residential buildings in Spring City and Central Pines have

been assessed so far, Ms Roach said, noting her ministry is using a web-based assessment software by the United Nations Development Programme to facilitate its work.

“We found that 22 percent of the (residential buildings in Spring City and Central Pines) are nonsalvageable or destroyed, “ she said. “Twenty-nine per cent have major damage, 19 percent have medium damage and 29 per cent have minimal damage.”

On Grand Bahama, officials have completed 1,143 residential building assessments, 71 commercial building assessments, 12 assessments of mixed use buildings and 51 government building assessments, she said.

“What they have found so far is that in Grand Bahama, 16 percent of the

buildings that have been assessed are not salvageable or have been completely destroyed,” she added.

“Another 16 percent have had major damage, 18 percent have medium damage and 50 percent have minimum damage.

“They have completed all of the residential assessments in East End, Grand Bahama, the majority of West End Grand Bahama and then they have done some assessments within the city of Freeport itself.

With regards to the government buildings…the assessment teams last week and this week are going to prepare scope of works for buildings that can be repaired,” she said Friday.

Ms Roach said a nineperson team in Abaco scoped repairs for the high school and primary school in Marsh Harbour and a team will be sent this week to assess the government administrative complex there and schools in north and south Abaco.

All major roads in Abaco have been cleared, she said, with a temporary causeway completed so people can access little Abaco.

“We will be preparing a design for a bridge instead of a causeway for that area,” she said. “The contractors that we had working prior to the hurricane on the highway Earnest Dean and at Stink Pond they will continue to do that work.

“The Ministry of Works is in the process of doing long term assessments,” she added. “We’ll be setting up a man camp and that way we’ll be able to post persons there for at least a five-day periods so that they can continue to do the assessments.”

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

Hooray for Carnival, but where’s our environmental protection laws?

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis at the signing of the heads of agreement with Carnival for a $100m cruise port in Grand Bahama.

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

being tabled in Parliament.

And then Dorian happened. Showing up the IT was just a few systemic issues of The months ago that the MinBahamas, we are left clawister of Environment ing uphill in the aftermath and Housing labelled of Hurricane Dorian.

Carnival Corporation’s Now, with the recovery dumping scandal “environand rebuilding efforts of mental savagery”. And yet Abaco and Grand Bahama all seemed to have been becoming the number one forgiven when Prime Minpriority for the government, ister Dr Hubert Minnis environmental protection was present for the signing seems to be even less of a of a heads of agreement to priority. cement the $100m mega Just over a week ago, cruise port deal in Grand Environmental and HousBahama. ing Minister Romauld Just to give a quick hisFerriera’s declaration of a tory lesson, in February climate crisis, at face value, it was touted as a plan to seemed as if the governconstruct a cruise port that ment finally understood the would lead to 1,000 conimpact of climate change on struction jobs by 2021 – a the region and would have much-needed boost to the the political will to establish hobbled economy of Grand a comprehenBahama. This sive policy to was great news Conduct police hazardfor the commu- sketchy business ous business nity, as well as practices. Howpractices.

Get seeing the govever, the lack ernment follow caught. Cough of any definithrough on one up a fine. Offer tive measure of its campaign coming out of an apology and promises – to the Carnival revitalise the a promise to do dumping scaneconomy of the better. Rinse dal and the nation’s second prime minisand repeat. city. ter’s resolve in After nearly squaring this two decades of deal away without such leglow-to-no economic growth islation could result in the in Grand Bahama, citizens government cutting off its became excited about the nose to spite its face. “magic” returning to the First, we all recognise the nation’s second city. need to assure the internaUnfortunately, though, tional community that The two months later, we were Bahamas is still open for brought back to earth when business. But at the same The Miami Herald broke time, let’s not delude ourthe news of Carnival’s illeselves. What we’ve learned gal dumping in Bahamian about Carnival leaves cause waters. Horrifying reports for great concern. of 500,000 gallons of treated Carnival’s well-docsewage and 11,000 galumented record of lons of food waste mixed environmental degradawith plastics, aluminium, tion is public knowledge. and other physical objects And regardless of any fines – all taking place while the or probation, it has been a cruise company was already repeat offender. on probation for previous Furthermore, the lack of offences – were covered environmental protection extensively in international laws leaves us wide open and local media. to further injustices in the Leading to quite a stir, event Carnival’s bad acting the government, in reaccontinues – which certainly tion to the dismay of the seems possible.

Bahamian people, offered Conduct sketchy busiits usual textbook response. ness practices. Get caught.

In short, they said it took Cough up a fine. Offer an the matter very seriously apology and a promise to and they would investigate do better. Rinse and repeat. the allegations. Obviously, This mode of doing busithis was a strange course ness should heighten the of action, as the allegations discomfort for any country were already investigated doing business with Carniand litigated in a Florida val – a company unhindered court, leading to a $40m by the litany of disciplinary fine for its reprehensible measures levied on it in environmental practices. the US. The fear that CarNevertheless, despite nival may continue on its promises that environmentrack of carelessness is a tal protection laws would real one. And the Bahabe brought to Parliament mian citizenry ought not by the end of summer, the fall asleep on this with the summer came and went fragility of our environment without any such legislation never more evident than it

is today.

While the economic reboot of the affected islands remains a top priority, the directorate should move cautiously to avoid exacerbating environmental issues. What good will 1,000 jobs do when there is nothing left but devastation and the perfect clarity that hindsight brings - where we all mull over what we could have done to avoid another tragedy?

Our government’s response to the Equinor oil spill was another glaring example of the lack of appreciation of the severity of environment hazards and does not engender confidence that these issues are taken seriously.

Nevertheless, Carnival Cruise Lines did not cause Hurricane Dorian, nor are they responsible for the Equinor oil spill.

Additionally, their commitment to The Bahamas amid this period of instability is heartening and should be applauded.

However, we must recognise this isn’t charity.

They are investing in The Bahamas because they see an opportunity. Taking that into account, with the country being the latest casualty of the impact of climate change, the government has to decide which side of the fight it is on. Moreover, they must understand that a hard stance can be taken on preserving the environment without turning away business.

When we look at the devastation suffered at the hands of Hurricane Dorian, much of it is largely due to a lack of preparedness and organisation on the part of the government and NEMA. Surely, they could not prevent the wrath of mother nature. Nor could the government know the level of destruction that would be sustained on Abaco and Grand Bahama.

However, seriously examining the effects of climate change and determining an economic policy that does not exist in a vacuum, separate from a well-thought out environmental policy, perhaps could have mitigated some of the losses we’ve experienced. And going forward, that is what should be considered before entering into deals that potentially make us more vulnerable to climate change.

Carnival, while publicly maintaining it is committed to becoming a better environmental steward, still has a long way to go to earn our trust. In the meantime, the government’s focus needs

to be on protecting the country. How this will be done remains to be seen as talk hasn’t necessarily led to any meaningful action.

Moreover, the urgency by the government to spur economic activity in Grand Bahama after the hurricane may have led them to

surrender any leverage they would have had in previous negotiations. Unlucky for us, the government being mum on Carnival’s bad deeds in recent months certainly indicate its avoidance to ruffle any feathers with our new partners.

While both sides seem

happy that the ink is dry on the deal, the Bahamian people will have to wait until the heads of agreement is tabled in Parliament to see exactly what was negotiated on our behalf.

We certainly hope that the government has acted in our best interest.

PAGE 10 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

TENTS are set up in front of homes destroyed by Hurricane Dorian at a luxury resort in Castaway Cay, Abaco, on Saturday.

Photo: Ramon Espinosa/AP

Onward from Dorian THE physical rebuilding of Abaco and Grand Bahama has already started and will continue. The rubble will be cleared away, businesses reopened, and new houses built. It won’t be easy or quick, but the energy of the Bahamian people, with generous help and expertise from abroad, will prevail.

The toughest task will not be physical but humanitarian: restoring the lives of the several thousand Haitians evacuated from The Mudd, Pigeon Peas, and Sandbanks in Abaco.

The temporary shelters mainly in New Providence

cannot be a permanent solution. But nor can be a restoration of the status quo. Surely these unfortunate non-citizens have no legal or constitutional claim to return to the shattered shanty-towns where they once lived, with

property possession based on nothing but squatters’ rights. Without insurance, the returnees could only rebuild similar shacks, waiting for destruction in a future hurricane.

Government has full sovereign authority to prohibit

return and to undertake an effective reconstruction programme. But equally, Government has the moral duty to provide humane treatment for all those whom it evacuated. Until the evacuees find their own homes and jobs in Nassau or The Family Islands, or are repatriated to Haiti, Government will remain responsible for their basic food and shelter, doubtless imposing a difficult draw on our Treasury for years to come.

But we will have no choice — as a Christian nation we must support the needy within

our borders, particularly as it was our own lax policies that let them in.

Abaco has caught the attention of the international press. The influential Washington Post carried a long story about the megarich foreign householders of the Bakers Bay resort now abruptly at a loss without the thousand Haitian employees who before Dorian boated over daily from mainland Abaco. Just this week the New York Times showed a moving video essay of a Haitian picking for any items to retrieve from his collapsed shack in the total

devastation of the Sandbanks community.

Mayor Gary Shaw of Joplin, Missouri, who supervised its recovery after a 2011 tornado killed 161 people and demolished 7,000 houses in less than an hour, has just sent an inspirational message : “Change is extremely difficult, and many times only comes when it is forced upon us… but communities can turn devastation into tremendous new opportunities to be greater than ever before.” We hope the Mayor can come to Nassau and deliver his message in person.

GRETA VS CLIMATE CHANGE

ENVIRONMENTAL activist Greta Thunberg addressing the UN.

THE destructiveness of Dorian focuses our thoughts on how to minimise future threats to our low-lying, country in the hurricane belt. Nationally, we can take direct measures like enforcing building codes, building seawalls, and assuring drainage from airport runways.

But we can do little directly about controlling the real villain: climate change. An authoritative United Nations report writes “warmer ocean waters, when combined with rising sea levels, threaten to fuel ever more powerful tropical cyclones and floods... the world’s nations must sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions to lessen the severity of

these threats”.

As The Bahamas produce only a minuscule fraction of these emissions, our best course will be to vigorously support international campaigns backing the report — which of course is ignored by the US government under President Trump.

Its sober words are being brought to vivid life by Greta Thunberg, the winsome 16-year-old Swedish school girl who has become a modern Joan of Arc battling with polluters of the atmosphere.

After organising a huge student demonstration outside the Swedish Parliament only a year ago, her determination has led to support from millions

of young people, meetings with world leaders of the European Commission and at annual Davos Economic Forum, culminating with an invitation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York just this September.

Since she never uses aircraft because of their aerial carbon foot-print , she proved her smart salesmanship by announcing a “carbon free” transatlantic sailing passage from England, offered on racing yacht Malizia II, a Monegasque name reflecting ownership by Pierre Casiraghi, an heir to the Monaco throne and grandson of the late Princess Grace Kelly.

Skipper Pierre was on board with a professional captain, as well as Greta’s father, an experienced documentary film-maker and another photographer.

Nevertheless it was a spartan voyage on this 60-foot high-tech speedster; although powered by solar panels and water turbines it’s stripped of galley and even toilet, and offered a bouncy two-week ride while Greta slept in a narrow pipe-berth – without seasickness, she reported.

After arrival on August 18th Greta was kept busy with a presentation to a Congressional committee in Washington and preparing her UN appearance to the Climate Action Summit on September 23rd. Her 14-minute speech delivered forcefully and with trembling sincerity has become a widely displayed international sensation, as she lacerated her seniors with “How dare you” continue to talk about “money and dreams of eternal economic growth…when we are facing mass extinction.”

Critics have pointed out that she failed to provide specific programmes for reducing emissions pollution, but her intention was arousing public awareness, not providing a ten-point action agenda.

“A few days later she spoke at a Global Climate Summit in Montreal, driven there in a volunteered electric car. It’s not clear when or how she will return home to Sweden, but surely her proven publicity leaves her with no lack of financial sponsors eager to provide generous support, like the passage already donated by the Monaco yachting entrepreneur. The next firm fixture on her schedule is a UN climate conference in Santiago,

Chile, in December, which will require a three-week journey from New York by train, boat, and bus. One is entitled to wonder if the emissions and energy consumption may exceed the carbon footprint from an eight-hour round- trip flight.

Facebook shows that Greta is becoming wellknown in The Bahamas.

Hard-headed citizens Robert Sands and Ken Chaplin have expressed admiration, and have suggested that she be invited to address Parliament as well as youth groups. She won’t fly, or book on a fuel-guzzling cruise ship, but a private yachtsman could doubtless be found who would gladly offer to sail her across the Gulf Stream.

Then, what will be her message? To be true to her mission, she should propose that Government sharply reduce in-bound flights from the US as well as cruise- ship arrivals, as they are both major contributors of carbon emissions.

Although tourism may be considered an essentially frivolous industry, it is nevertheless the mainstay of our economy and she will have a tough task convincing the House of Assembly to enact any seriously restrictive measures.

She could make a logical argument that no private vehicles be licensed larger than, say, a Nissan Note, and that the total vehicle population be changed to 50% electric. But one can imagine the howls of dismay that would arise from our automobile dealers and parts purveyors, threatening mass employment reductions or probable bankruptcy.

In short, Greta would learn here — as in many other countries — the practical conflicts in preaching against climate change while facing hard commercial and political objections. She has only been fighting this battle for a year. With her youthful energy, her sincere commitment, and her articulate and attractive presence, she can certainly be a valuable force against reactionary stand-pattism and go-slow gradualism, and always alert to corporate greed. But she will discover that absolute positions do not bring results in the real world and must be tempered with reasonable compromise and negotiation.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

INSIGHT

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 PAGE 11

United Kingdom: Winning elections is everything World View

AS she delivered the unanimous decision of the 11 members of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (UK), on the unlawfulness of Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, advising the Queen to prorogue Par- By SIR RONALD SANDERS liament, I admit to being mesmerised by the startling weeks between the end of judges gave great promibrooch being worn by the the summer recess and exit nence in their thinking to Court’s President, Baroness day on 31st October”. On parliamentary accountBrenda Hale. that question, the Court ability, citing a senior Law It was rather large, very was clear: “The decision Lord, Lord Bingham. “The sparkly and looked like a to advise Her Majesty to conduct of government by a scorpion. I learned later prorogue Parliament was Prime Minister and Cabinet that it was a replica of a unlawful.” collectively responsible and spider. Either way, unaccusThat is a remarkable accountable to Parliament tomed to such extravagant and historic indictment of lies at the heart of Westaccessories for a Judge, usu- a British Prime Minister minster democracy”. ally garbed in sober robes by the highest court in the The same should apply in and a wig, I was taken aback land. Normally, in the Brit- Commonwealth Caribbean at what appeared to be a ish tradition, countries. more casual None of this has taken the Mr Johnson ‘Normally, in the would have matter of the UK’s exit from presentation of a judgment British tradition, made a public the EU any further than it of historic was before Mr. Johnson proapology, Mr Johnson moment. announced his rogued parliament. There is a The appar- would have made resignation and law on the statute books, rapent casualness a public apology, retired quietly idly adopted by both Houses of attire notto write a book of Parliament on September announced his withstanding, in the hope 6, five days before Mr. JohnBaroness Hale resignation and that its expla- son’s prorogation came into read out a retired quietly to nations and force, preventing the UK decision that descriptions of from leaving the EU without write a book in was as stingwhat led to this a withdrawal agreement on ing as the bite the hope that its October 31. constitutional of a scorpion explanations and mess, A further law, passed by would that I wrongly earn him addi- Parliament when Johnson’s descriptions of assumed was tional pension Conservative Party lost its represented what led to this majority, requires the govmoney. by the glitterNot so with ernment to ask for a delay constitutional ing brooch she Johnson. in leaving the EU beyond mess, would earn Mr wore.

Forced to October 31, if it fails to “The Prime him additional return to Par- secure a deal by October Minister’s liament, which 19. Mr. Johnson, even in the advice to Her pension money. resumed in the face of the Supreme Court’s Majesty”, she Not so with wake of the public slapping-down of his said, “was Mr Johnson.’

Court decision, Prime Ministerial overreach, unlawful, void Mr Johnson has adamantly stated that he and of no was extraor- will not seek an extension. effect”. That advice, given dinarily pugnacious, even Mr Johnson failed in to the Queen on August accusing the Court of being his plan to yank the UK 28, was to prorogue parlia- “wrong to pronounce on out of the EU by ignoring ment for an unprecedented what is essentially a politi- parliamentary democracy five weeks from September cal question”. and constitutional barri11. Mr Johnson’s objective Clearly, the Court did ers. Clearly, he will now was to silent belligerent not agree with Mr John- continue to ignore parliamembers of parliament, son or they would not have ment in his overarching including within his own decided that the matter was ambition to tug the UK Conservative Party, from “justiciable”, adding that out of the EU. Not least opposing his withdrawal of “the courts have exercised because, at a looming the UK from the European a supervisory jurisdiction general election, his ConUnion (EU) on October over the lawfulness of acts servative Party will not get 31 - the drop-dead date for of the Government for the votes of the electorate separation with no negoti- centuries”. who wish to remain in the ated deal on the terms of In the context of the Car- EU, and it is in danger of the separation. ibbean, going to the Court losing voters to the extreme The appeals to the for arbitration of a question right-wing Brexit which Supreme Court were regarding a government’s desperately wants the UK made by a combination overreach of its powers has out of Europe. of persons, including par- become common place.

Winning the next election liamentarians and private But, in the Commonwealth is everything. citizens – prominently, Caribbean, where the same • Responses and previGuyanese-born, UK busi- system of representative ous commentaries: www. nesswoman, Gina Miller democracy exists as in the sirronaldsanders.com - who felt their interests UK, the Constitutions are were being suffocated by written. In the UK, the ConThe writer is Ambassador Mr Johnson’s gagging of stitution is not; it consists of of Antigua and Barbuda to parliament at a time when laws passed by parliament the United States and the negotiations between the and customs associated with Organization of American UK and the EU had not them. In this sense, judges States. He is also a Senior been concluded and the UK in Commonwealth Carib- Fellow at the Institute of was facing deep economic bean countries interpret Commonwealth Studies at uncertainty. constitutional requirements the University of London What was on trial was based on a body of written and at Massey College in the the effort of the leader of law; the UK Supreme Court University of Toronto. The a political party in office to was less constrained in this views expressed are entirely impose his desired political case and, together, the 11 his own. agenda by shutting-down the parliamentary system that was created to check the government’s abuse of power.

In their joint decision, the Supreme Court judges pointed out that one of the important questions before them was whether “this prorogation did have the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions, without reasonable justification”.

In their words, the Judges declared that “this was not a normal prorogation in the run-up to a Queen’s Speech. It prevented Parliament from carrying out its constitutional role for five out of the possible eight

IN this image taken from video made available by the Supreme Court in London, senior judge Brenda Hale reads a ruling - with many finding her spider brooch eyecatching and wondering if it held some kind of message.

PAGE 12, Monday, September 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

POLICE investigate the scene of a traffic fatality on Baillou Hill South outside the Sunshine Park community.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Man killed as vehicle smashes into pole from page one “From what we can see on the scene, the seatbelt not being worn, there was no braking marks, so it tells us a lot of mitigating factors as to what caused this accident. In our preliminary investigation and as we go forward, we’ll update the media and give more cautions to the motoring public on safe driving techniques.”

He added: “We know it was an adult male driving the car and it was an adult male passenger. Until we do a positive next of kin at the… lab we will release the name and age of the

deceased when the time comes.”

CSP Stubbs made an appeal to motorists attending functions on the weekend to travel with a designated driver.

Officers from the Traffic Department will continue investigations into this matter.

According to The Tribune’s records, there have been 17 traffic fatalities for the year.

In 2018, a total of 63 accidents resulted in 69 fatalities. According to police, 42 of the traffic incidents occurred in New Providence, while 11 took place in Grand Bahama and ten in the Family Islands.

CHIEF Superintendent Craig Stubbs.

SUSPECT PINNED TO FENCE BY VICTIM’S TRUCK from page one “The driver of the truck had pinned the individual between his truck and a fence when the marines showed up,” the RBDF said. “The driver claimed that he was robbed by the male, who was on foot.”

Police later arrived and took the suspect into custody. A 9 millimeter pistol, cash and a watch were recovered.

The suspect, who received injuries, was transported to hospital and is detained in serious condition.

In another incident, shortly after 9pm on Saturday, two men had just arrived at a home in Sunshine Park, when they were approached by two armed men, who robbed them of a Nissan Note licence # AJ8930.

In a third incident, shortly after 2am on Sunday, a man and woman had just arrived at a residence in Blue Hill Heights, when they were approached by two armed men who robbed them of cash and cell phones before making good their escape.

Investigations are continuing.

THE TRIBUNE

Gibson ‘showed exemplary behaviour’ on contract process

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A SENIOR government official testified on Friday that former Labour Minister Shane Gibson showed exemplary behaviour by trying to make the process by which contractors were paid following Hurricane Matthew in 2016 more transparent, accountable and less costly to taxpayers.

Gibson is standing trial for allegedly soliciting and accepting $610,000 in bribes from Jonathan Ash in order to expedite payments owed to Mr Ash for post-hurricane clean-up efforts.

Jack Thompson, permanent secretary in the new Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, was the administrator of the National Recovery & Reconstruction Unit (NRRU) under the former Christie administration and was responsible for coordinating restoration efforts in New Providence and Andros.

He testified that when he and others became concerned that multiple contractors were submitting bills seeking large payments for their clean-up and clearing work, NRRU officials met three times in late 2016 to discuss bringing order to the chaos.

The first meeting was on October 16, 2016. By the time of the second meeting on November 16, 2016, he said the process was still out of control, prompting officials to stress the need for contracts that would be issued to select contractors and would specify the terms of pay. Gibson, Mr Thompson said, issued stop orders around this time demanding that works be halted until officials better controlled the payment system. Officials met again to discuss the matter on November 21, 2016, he said.

Eventually, the Ministry of Works and Island Dimensions spearheaded the contract process, he said.

“I was pleased by the contracts because people all over were submitting bills and I appreciated the coordinated process,” he said.

As the prosecution’s witness, Mr Thompson was questioned first by James Guthrie, QC, who represents the Crown.

When questioned by

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Keith Knight, Gibson’s lawyer, he accepted Mr Knight’s glowing characterisations about Gibson’s role in bringing order to the chaos.

He agreed he had an excellent working relationship with Gibson, that the former Golden Gates MP insisted he wanted the payment process regularised and that Gibson was concerned the unwieldy process was costly to taxpayers. He agreed that Gibson worked to prevent dishonesty from pervading. He also agreed that Gibson’s issuance of stop orders was admirable, though he acknowledged that the orders were not rigidly obeyed.

A spreadsheet Mr Thompson prepared in 2017 indicating the payments to various contractors was entered into the trial’s exhibit.

Mr Thompson said he was never personally involved with Mr Ash. He acknowledged when questioned by Mr Guthrie that Mr Ash received more money than all other contractors: over sevenand-a-half million dollars.

He said the payments must have been authorised although he could not say by whom.

His role as administrator, he said, was to occasionally vet bills before they were submitted to the Treasury Department. However, he said, Debbie Bastian was the principal person responsible for vetting the bills and connecting them with the Treasury Department.

He agreed with Mr Knight that the spreadsheet showed it was not unusual for a company or individual to receive multiple payments on the same day.

The spreadsheet indicated that multiple contractors received multiple payments in a day or in a short period of time.

Simmons Construction, for instance, received three cheques worth $42,000, $43,000 and $61,000 on April 11, 2017, he noted.

Earlier on Friday, Inspector Shavone Dames testified that her analysis of logs showed Mr Ash made 13 calls to Gibson from January 1 to April 30.

She said Ms Bastian made 126 calls to Mr Gibson and Gibson made 130 calls to her. These did not include WhatsApp calls, only direct calls, she said.

Monday, September 30, 2019, PAGE 13

PAGE 14, Monday, September 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

A last farewell to Chippie

THE STATE-recognised funeral for the late John “Chippie� Chipman was held on Saturday at St Agnes Anglican Church. The icon was famed for his contributions to music and Bahamian culture and tributes were paid to him by family members Kyla Rolle, below left, his great-granddaughter, and his grandson, Reece Chipman MP, below right, among others. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Legislation planned to protect the elderly

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

FRANKIE Campbell, Social Services and Urban Development Minister, said legislation will be drafted by the end of the year prioritising the vulnerable in society, such as the elderly.

During a recent interview, Mr Campbell said the legislation will be benchmarked against neighbouring countries with similar cultural backgrounds as well as more developed nations.

Mr Campbell said: “I can say to you that the legislation will make it against the law for older persons to be mistreated, for older persons to be abused, and it will make it against the law for older persons to be deprived of anything that is rightfully theirs.

“Once they would have gotten to a point of completion, there will be some public consultation and I believe at that time the details will be shared.”

The government has also established an Older Persons National Council, which is headed and chaired by former House of Assembly Speaker Italia Johnson.

In an interview with The Tribune, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development Michael Foulkes spoke of the proposed legislation and the

SOCIAL Services and Urban Development Minister Frankie Campbell. team that is working on it. “(The team) includes people from the Attorney’s General Office, two attorneys from the Attorney’s General Office and almost all of the governmental agencies are represented, and we are going through a process of looking at all of the various sections of the bill that has been proposed.

“In fact, there has been three iterations of a bill, but it was never complete, and it has never come to Parliament. So, we are going through that now in its entirety, line by line, section by section. And, we are making very good progress on it, very good progress. We are intending on having a very good bill that’s going to be brought to Parliament and as the minister said, Mr Frankie Campbell, hopefully before the end of the year.”

He added: “Quite naturally what we have to do as he said we are going to bring it to the public because we want broad consultation and so we

will encourage all persons, organisations and NGOs who assist older persons in our community to come to that meeting when we have it to have their direct input.

“They’ll all have it, the Bill beforehand and they’ll have an opportunity to give input as to what they think we ought to do, or what ought to change and that sort of thing. It’s going very well I must say.”

When asked why this bill is so important, Mr Foulkes said at this time the country doesn’t have a law that “speaks specifically to older persons.”

“There are a lot of issues in terms of how we care for older persons as mentioned…issues about abuse of older persons, earlier in the year we had a seminar on some of their financial arrangements, wills, banking information and how those things are treated,” he said.

“There are a lot of different issues as regards to our older persons. There are concerns about how they are being treated by persons in the community broadly and we don’t want to speak to any group of persons but broadly speaking we are concerned about how our older persons are being treated in some situations.”

He added: “Those are some of the things in the Act we intend to speak to in the Act. Some enforcement, real enforcement, of some of those issues.”

Monday, September 30, 2019, PAGE 15

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PAGE 16, Monday, September 30, 2019

CONCERNS RAISED EIGHT YEARS BEFORE GUN RAMPAGE

POLICE reports describe concerns eight years ago that the gunman who killed seven and wounded 25 last month in West Texas might have been planning an attack.

Officers in Amarillo, Texas, went to the home of Seth Ator’s mother in February 2011 after she told them he had refused to take his mental-health medication and had threatened to end his own life in a shootout with police.

They found a machete hidden in her son’s bed and an underground shelter he had dug in the backyard.

In a recording, her son declared, “911 will bow down before me.”

Police interpreted what they found as preparations for an attack and recorded floor plans of the property and shared the information with the city’s SWAT team.

Officers believed Ator was volatile and might hurt somebody someday.

It’s unclear how Ator acquired the AR-15-style rifle he used in the attack.

Officers killed Ator outside a busy Odessa movie theatre to end the rampage.

THE TRIBUNE

Muddled defence for Trump over whistleblower claims WASHINGTON Associated Press HOUSE Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff said yesterday that he expects the whistleblower at the heart of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump to testify “very soon”.

“All that needs to be done, at this point, is to make sure that the attorneys that represent the whistleblower get the clearances that they need to be able to accompany the whistleblower to testimony,” said Schiff, D-Calif, “and that we figure out the logistics to make sure that we protect the identity of the whistleblower.”

As Democrats and the director of national intelligence worked out key arrangements, Trump’s allies erupted in a surge of second-guessing and conspiracy theorising across the Sunday talk shows, suggesting the White House strategy is unclear against the stiffest challenge to his presidency. One former adviser urged Trump to

confront the crisis at hand and get past his fury over the probe of Russian election interference.

“I honestly believe this president has not gotten his pound of flesh yet from past grievances on the 2016 investigation,” said Tom Bossert, Trump’s former homeland security adviser.

“If he continues to focus on that white whale,” Bossert added, “it’s going to bring him down.”

The Ukraine investigation produced what the Russian probe did not: formal House impeachment proceedings based on the president’s own words and actions.

The White House last week released a rough transcript of Trump’s July 25 call with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as well as the whistleblower’s complaint alleging the US president pressured his counterpart to investigate the family of Joe Biden, the former vice president who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump’s reelection next year.

RUDY GIULIANI, an attorney for President Donald Trump, says he’d only cooperate with the House impeachment inquiry if his client agreed.

Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP Trump has sought to implicate Biden and his son Hunter Biden in the kind of corruption that has long plagued Ukraine. Hunter

Biden served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company at the same time his father was leading the Obama administration’s diplomatic dealings with Kyiv. There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either of the Bidens.

The House forged ahead, with Schiff’s committee leading the investigation.

Democrats are planning a rapid start to their push for impeachment, with hearings and depositions starting this week. Many Democrats are pushing for a vote on articles of impeachment before the end of the year, mindful of the looming 2020 elections.

Schiff has said the whistleblower has agreed to testify. His committee has been negotiating to interview the person, who reported to the inspector general for the intelligence community that Trump had urged Zelenskiy to investigate Biden. The whistleblower also said that White House officials then moved to “lock down” the details by putting all the records of it on a separate computer system.

One of the whistleblower’s lawyers tweeted yesterday that talks were ongoing.

“We continue to work w/both parties in House & Senate and we understand all agree that protecting whistleblower’s identity is paramount,” posted Mark

Zaid.

“Discussions continue to occur to coordinate & finalize logistics but no date/time has yet been set.”

Trump’s allies fanned out across the Sunday talk shows with myriad responses.

Stephen Miller, the president’s senior policy adviser, called the whole inquiry a “partisan hit job” orchestrated by “a deep state operative” who is also “a saboteur”.

“The president of the United States is the whistleblower,” Miller said.

Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, promoted a debunked conspiracy theory, insisting that Ukraine had spread disinformation during the 2016 election.

Bossert advised that Trump drop that defence.

“I am deeply frustrated with what he and the legal team is doing and repeating that debunked theory to the president. It sticks in his mind when he hears it over and over again,” said Bossert, who also was an adviser to President George W Bush. “That conspiracy theory has got to go, they have to stop with that, it cannot continue to be repeated.”

Giuliani not only repeated it but also brandished what he said were affidavits that support them and claimed that Trump “was framed by the Democrats”.

BORIS: NOTHING WRONG WITH LINKS TO BUSINESSWOMAN LONDON Associated Press

BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson denied wrongdoing yesterday over his links to an American businesswoman who allegedly received money and favorable treatment because of their friendship during his time as mayor of London.

Asked during a BBC interview about his ties to tech entrepreneur and model Jennifer Arcuri, 34, Johnson sought to suggest that political motivations were behind the decision on Friday by the Greater London Authority to refer a conduct matter to a police watchdog agency.

The matter arose from a Sunday Times report saying Arcuri was given 126,000 pounds in public money and privileged

access to trade missions to the United States, Israel and Asia that Johnson led as mayor, even though her fledgling business had not yet met eligibility requirements for such trips.

“Everything was done in accordance with the code ... and everything was done with full propriety,” Johnson said yesterday. When pressed again by BBC journalist Andrew Marr, Johnson added: “There was no interest to declare.”

The independent office, which oversees police complaints in England, was asked to consider if there were grounds to investigate Johnson for misconduct in public office. The authority said on Friday it had a “statutory duty” to record the matter because Johnson served as police commissioner during his 2008-2016 tenure as London’s mayor.

US, TURKEY TOLD TO GET OUT UNITED NATIONS Associated Press SYRIA’S top diplomat on Saturday demanded the immediate withdrawal of American and Turkish forces from the country and said his government reserves the right to defend its territory in any way necessary if they remain.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem’s remarks to the United Nations General Assembly were made as Turkey and the United States

press ahead with a deal to create a safe zone along Syria’s border with Turkey.

On the political front, he reaffirmed the government’s support for the recently agreed committee to draft a new constitution for the country. As has been the government’s tone since the start of the 2011 uprising in Syria, the foreign minister took a hard line, stressing there must be no interference from any country or timeline imposed on the process.