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VOLUME:115 No.221, OCTOBER 11TH, 2018

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER:$1

INSIDE: THE PEOPLE’S STATION CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

‘Please, I pray you forgive me’

Marine’s sorrow as she apologises for double death crash

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force marine Christin Reckley is a free woman after paying a $20,000 fine as her punishment for hitting and killing two people in her uninsured car in the Marathon area last month.

After her sentencing, Reckley read an apology to the victims’ relatives, saying she hopes they can find it in their hearts to forgive her one day, adding she will forever live with the reality that she killed two people. Meanwhile, during

Reckley’s sentencing and the case of a man convicted of a fatal hit-and-run, the sitting judge spoke of the need for “greater” penalties for such crimes, saying the court hands out fines in these cases because that is what the law dictates.

Reckley’s attorney Bjorn Ferguson confirmed to The Tribune that shortly after being convicted and sentenced by Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans, Reckley satisfied the fine of just over $20,000 for killing Stevan Devallon and Maude Augustin on September 16.

SEE PAGE NINE

THE argument that Disney’s proposed Lighthouse Point project could damage the environment of the 700acre peninsula in South Eleuthera will not sway the government as it weighs approving the project, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said during a town hall meeting on the island last night.

This is because a more damaging project – one that never materialised – was approved for the area in 2008 under the FNM government of Hubert Ingraham, he said.

“In 2008, a project was approved for South Eleuthera which allowed dredging and multiple canal networks in that same property,” he said, “dredging of the salt pond SEE PAGE FIVE

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net PHOENIX Suns centre, Bahamian Deandre Ayton, has been named as one of several current or former players to receive improper benefits at a federal trial into NCAA corruption.

According to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, Adidas AAU coach and consultant TJ Gassnola, who previously plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in April testified that he made payments to Ayton’s family during the recruitment process.

Ayton eventually decided on the Wildcats, a Nike school and was formerly a member of the Under Armour grassroots circuit.

Ayton’s family attorney, Lynden B Rose, previously issued a statement denying any illegal or prohibited activities.

FULL STORY - SEE PAGE 13

JOURNAL’S PUBLISHER IN SMEAR CAMPAIGN

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

MINNIS DEALS BLOW TO DISNEY CRITICS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS STAR IN BASKETBALL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION

CHRISTIN RECKLEY, 26, at an earlier court appearance over a double traffic fatality on Marathon Road last month.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

A SUPREME Court judge has ruled media boss Wendell Jones was involved in a smear campaign against Lyford Cay billionaire Louis Bacon, pointing to a cache of email correspondence between Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard and the Bahama Journal publisher.

Copies of email correspondence between Mr Jones, Mr Nygard, Keod Smith, Mr Nygard’s former attorney, and others were submitted in an affidavit by Jenny Afia, who stated there were a total of 47 chains of emails and documents sent to or by Mr Jones concerning the “smear campaign”.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

IF HAITI NEEDS AID, CHURCHES WILL HELP

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander says the body plans to offer aid to Haiti as that nation now looks to begin restoration following a magnitude 5.9 earthquake.

According to Bishop Fernander, the council is waiting for assessments to be completed before aid is sent.

A COLLAPSED school in Haiti after the weekend’s earthquake.

“Oh definitely,” he said when he was contacted

by The Tribune and asked whether the BCC was set to

give aid to Haiti.

He explained: “All of the denominations, we are a part of an international body, so any denomination that is a part of the council Baptist, Catholic, Anglican, Seventh-Day Adventist…

“Say I speak for my denomination, we will have a representational group that will go from my denomination internationally and assess Haiti and when they assess Haiti they SEE PAGE SIX

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

DIANE PHILLIPS: QUESTIONS FOR US ALL IN QUAKE RESPONSE

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Thursday, October 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

PLP: We were voted out before we could regulate water sports

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Christie administration drafted amendments to laws governing water sport activities in the Bahamas but was voted from office before tabling the amendments in the House of Assembly.

The proposed revisions,

obtained by The Tribune, take on relevance following the Bahamas Maritime Authority’s report into the deadly Exuma 4C’s accident.

The bills partially address loopholes that were highlighted by the report, though they do not solve a central problem facing the industry:

www.dunkinbahamas.com @dunkinbahamas

the lack of resources the Port Authority requires to enforce its rules and regulations.

It is not clear whether the Minnis administration will take up the bills, which include amendments to the Commercial Recreational Watercraft Act and the Water Skiing and Motor Boat Control Act, along

THE BLAZE that struck the 4C’s boat at Exuma. with their accompanying regulations.

The Commercial

Recreational Watercraft Act governs the activities of boats like the 37ft 4C’s vessel, that had an onboard explosion on June 30. The PLP’s amendment to the law would have required such vessels to present a “safety case” to port officials, a “written document prepared by or on behalf of an owner to demonstrate the major hazards arising from the operation of a craft has been reduced to risk levels that are within acceptable industry standards and will be managed effectively”.

The licensing of a craft would have been partially contingent on the presentation of a safety case under the PLP’s bill.

The BMC raised concerns in its report that 4C’s did not ensure that its self-built vessel had been surveyed by a recognised organisation. The existing law already requires that applicants for craft licences submit “plans, specifications and inventories” and produce for inspection the “machinery, gear, fixtures and equipment used in connection with the craft”.

But the Christie administration’s amendment to the Commercial Recreational Watercraft Act would have gone further in specifying the requirements of owners of boats with respect to this.

Under the bills, it would be required that the safety case include “details of any significant hazards, a description of the principal features of the design of the craft machinery and systems and the particulars of its construction, outfit and inspection that are intended to ensure that hazards are minimised”.

The bills would require that the case include “results of any practical demonstration or test to determine whether the

plant, systems or equipment essential for the safety of personnel or controlling the consequences of an accident, will be capable of function in conditions of fire, flooding, adverse heel, adverse trim and climatic conditions” and “any limitations in the specification of the design of the craft and its equipment in relation to the area, depth or height of operation, climatic conditions, sea state or other limit for safe operation and use” as well as the “particulars of applicable requirements of national, international or classification society standards, regulations or codes of practice.”

The safety case would also require that operators provide “proposed crewing and qualification” and “details of specific crew training requirements appropriate to the nature of the ship,” a potentially relevant issue after the BMC’s report noted that the first mate on the destroyed 4C’s vessel was a 12-year-old boy, the son of 4C’s owner Patterson Smith.

A main purpose of the PLP’s proposed amendments was to regulate under-regulated parts of the water sports industry, including novelty crafts, which are new and rare but intended for commercial use, submersible crafts, which are capable of navigation when totally submerged, and wings-inground crafts, which are “multimodal crafts that fly by using ground effect above the water or some other surface, without constant contact with such a surface and supported in the air mainly by an aerodynamic lift generated on a wing or wings, hull, or their parts, which are intended to utilise the ground effect action”.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 11, 2018, PAGE 3

DORIAN Carter looks under furniture for a missing cat after several trees fell on their home during Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Florida, yesterday.

Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP

Bahamians face up to hurricane as it batters Florida

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net AS Hurricane Michael battered the Florida Panhandle yesterday, some Bahamian students studying in Florida evacuated affected areas, while others bunkered down through what Florida governor Rick Scott has described as the worst storm to hit the area in a century.

The Bahamian Consulate General in Georgia advised Bahamian students to be “vigilant” as the category four hurricane churns across the southeastern United States.

D’Mitry Charlton and Ian Johnson are both Bahamian students attending universities in the Florida Panhandle.

Mr Charlton, a senior at Florida State University in Tallahassee, chose not to evacuate and remain near extended family in the city.

Speaking to The Tribune from Florida yesterday, he described conditions leading up to and during the storm’s landfall.

“People were scrambling to get gas, lots of gas stations ran out of gas and places like Walmart and Publix were crowded with students trying to get water and hurricane items,” Mr Charlton said.

He added that school is closed for the rest of the week and students living off campus were given the option to stay in a hurricane shelter on school grounds.

A member of the track team, Mr Charlton said some of his teammates chose to relocate to Miami and Tampa for the duration of the storm.

Mr Charlton stayed in his apartment, adding his experience with hurricanes from growing up in the Bahamas contributed to his lack of nerves.

Mr Johnson, a senior at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, also chose to remain in the city.

“I did not feel the need to evacuate as I felt my school’s emergency policies were good,” he told The Tribune.

“They kept us informed…throughout the day.

“To my understanding, the hurricane was not directly in our path, but we would experience some heavy winds and rains which we did. (I) know that I felt I’ve been through worse growing up in The Bahamas.”

Mr Johnson said to his knowledge,

IAN JOHNSON, a student at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida.

D’MITRY CHARLTON, a student at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

the other Bahamian students also stayed on campus.

Describing his experience with the storm, Mr Johnson said: “I went to bed and I was (awoken) by the announcement over our PA system at about 8.30am saying the storm had shifted and we were no longer on lockdown.

“We were then allowed to go outside and eat as normal in the cafeteria or purchase food from the restaurants on campus. They did, however, advise us that there were strong winds and said that we should not go off campus today and if we did we should proceed with caution.”

Yesterday, Vice Consul Charlene Johnson told The Tribune the Consulate General is taking the storm very seriously.

“We’ve instructed our students to follow the instructions of the local authorities and to just be vigilant during the storm,” Ms Johnson said.

“We are used to hurricanes in the Bahamas so we take them very seriously. This isn’t something that any of us

are taking lightly. In the Atlanta metro area, we are expecting heavy winds and rain starting this (Wednesday) evening and into tomorrow (Thursday).”

Ms Johnson added the consulate closed yesterday evening and will resume office hours on Friday, to ensure the safety of the staff.

According to AccuWeather, Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, yesterday afternoon with maximum sustained winds of 155mph.

“The Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region, southeast Alabama and parts of Georgia could receive four to eight inches of rain, with some spots getting as much as a foot,” the New York Times reported, adding flash flooding is also a concern.

The governors of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and North and South Carolina have declared emergencies for at least parts of their states, the New York Times said.

• Hurricane Michael slams into Florida coastline, see page 12

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THREE ACCUSED OVER AMMUNITION

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THREE people were charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court this week with possession of ammunition, while two of them were also charged with possession of dangerous drugs.

Sandra Burkhart, 60, of Erickson Drive, Jessica Wallace-Whitfield, 29, of Cadney Avenue, and Joseph Wallace-Whitfield, 26, of Erickson Drive, appeared on Tuesday before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson on ammunition possession charges.

They were not required to enter a plea.

Joseph Wallace-Whitfield and Sandra Burkhart were

also charged with possession of dangerous drugs.

They both pleaded not guilty to the drug charge.

Paul Wallace-Whitfield represented them.

Mr Whitfield expressed his frustration with the police for holding his clients longer than required, adding that the three had been custody since Friday.

He also noted that the two women had medical issues, and complained that they were subjected to filthy and unacceptable conditions in the restroom facilities while in police custody.

The cases were adjourned to February 27, 2019 for trial.

• AN Eight Mile Rock man was charged with attempted armed

robbery and causing harm in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Cody Rahming, 33, of Hepburn Town, EMR, appeared before Magistrate Rengin Johnson. He was not required to enter a plea to the charges.

It is alleged that on October 2, at Freeport, the

accused attempted to rob the occupants of a residence at Waterfall Drive. It also alleged that he caused damage to property at the residence.

The matter was adjourned to February 5, 2019. Rahming was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 11, 2018, PAGE 5

‘Residents back plan for Lighthouse Point’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net DISNEY Cruise Lines has already “won out” in its bid to gain the support of residents in Eleuthera, according to representatives from the Community Support Group (CSG).

The organisation, whose members include the wife of Central and South Eleuthera MP Hank Johnson, Shelly Johnson, and bonefishing guide and former Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association board member Denny Rankin, was established this past spring to best convey the “unfiltered voices” of local residents in Eleuthera.

Mr Rankin, who now serves as CSG chairman, yesterday claimed 80 percent to 90 percent of residents in Eleuthera are in support of Disney’s proposal for the property.

“This is not the couple of people the groups in Nassau reach over the phone or by accident,” he said. “This is our group going door-todoor and face-to-face with our people here in Central

and South Eleuthera.”

CSG, according to its representatives, remained neutral in the Lighthouse Point saga until it was presented with proposals from both the One Eleuthera Foundation and Disney Cruise Lines.

The group said once the determination was made to back Disney, One Eleuthera launched a campaign which gave the perception that it had the full support of residents.

Mr Rankin said: “We had to come together to make it clear where we stood.”

He said the organisation has attempted to stay out of the fray surrounding the national debate over the property.

He insisted the group has remained true to its intent of ensuring the residents in Central and South Eleuthera remain informed throughout the process and reflected in the media as accurately as possible.

Mr Rankin said in recent months, his organisation has watched while its stance has been dismissed as “a small group or a small percentage.”

He said: “This thing is going all around and up and down, but if you stop and pay attention, you would see clearly that Eleuthera is behind what Disney is proposing to do.

“I been in conservation all of my life; in the BNT and in BREEF. When I saw what Disney had proposed, I was onboard because they made their intentions clear.

I’ve visited Castaway Cay – Disney is not trying to disturb our ecosystem and environment,” Mr Rankin added.

“The economy of our community is dead - Central and South Eleuthera has nothing going for it.

This is the perfect opportunity to give it a rise and really empower the residents down here.”

Referring to the recent Public Domain poll carried out on the development, which was commissioned

by Disney, he said: “I’m not talking polls and all of that. I am talking about the persons that could stand up and be counted.

It is them that want this. It is them that will come out whenever the need arises

to stand for this project because they know what it would mean to them to have this kind of development in their community.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Johnson, another spokesperson for the group, took direct aim at One Eleuthera for what she described as “false representations of the truth.”

“This is not a political affair,” she told The Tribune. “One Eleuthera needs to understand that. This is about changing lives for the residents of Central and South Eleuthera.”

When asked what was the basis of her frustration with the One Eleuthera Foundation, Mrs Johnson added: “One Eleuthera is fighting us to give us something we don’t want and they refuse to accept that Eleuthera doesn’t want their pie in the sky idea.

“When we made our decision to support Disney, it was them that made this into a back and forth thing.

“Like Disney, One Eleuthera had its chance to present plans; the people were not interested and we said to them that we would go with Disney. They

couldn’t accept that.”

She added: “All Disney did was speak to us. This is not a fight between Disney and One Eleuthera, this is a fight between One Eleuthera and the people of Eleuthera.”

Expressing a clear disdain for One Eleuthera’s action in recent weeks, Mrs Johnson asserted: “They want to give us corn beef and we want the lobster. It isn’t out of our reach. We can see it and touch it.

“Why get mad at us because we want better?” she asked.

Lighthouse Point is a 700-acre peninsula located at the southern tip of Eleuthera. Disney’s proposal is being opposed by environmental activists.

In a letter to the editor released yesterday, BREEF executive director Casuarina McKinney-Lambert said the important area is under “immediate threat”.

“There are numerous irrevocable environmental impacts that would be caused by the construction and operation of a cruise ship port in such a pristine location. Dredging

for construction would result in sedimentation on nearby coral reefs and sea grass beds, killing fish, corals, and other marine life, and regular ship docking would cause air pollution and further sedimentation on a daily basis. Cruise ship groundings and everyday anchor damage have destroyed huge areas of live coral reef around the world. In 2012, a cruise ship pulverised the reef in The Bahamas off of Freeport and left scars of toxic bottom paint to contaminate the waters.

Construction on land would destroy sensitive ecosystems and archaeological sites, impact turtle nesting beaches, and cause more run-off into the sea.

“The construction of a cruise ship port at Lighthouse Point would also restrict local access and contribute only minimal economic benefits to local communities,” she wrote.

Disney has taken preparatory steps to acquire the historic site for the construction of multimillion-dollar cruise port, promising a $400m spend.

MINNIS DEALS BLOW TO DISNEY CRITICS from page one

into the ocean, creation of marinas for mega yachts, provision of land for different homes, boutiques, etc, and this was what was approved for that property and some may argue that the land will be destroyed but this project which was approved would’ve caused more destruction than what is being looked at today.” “...The argument about the destruction of the land will hold no water,” he said Dr Minnis’ statement is a blow to environmental groups like the Bahamas National Trust, reEarth and Waterkeepers Bahamas which have sought to block Disney’s development and promote efforts to preserve the Lighthouse Point property. In 2008, a joint venture between The Related Group and Mortgage Hospitality Group for an 884-acre site in south Eleuthera was approved in principle. That proposed project, which came amid the recession, never took off.

Dr Minnis also sought to diminish expectations that the government could intervene to preserve the Lighthouse Point property.

“The other thing which is very significant which is important for you to recognise is that the property in question is not owned by government,” he said.

“It’s private property, one private investor selling to another. The government’s responsibility is to ensure its people get the maximum benefit.”

Dr Minnis said cabinet will decide whether to approve Disney’s project next week. He said the One Eleuthera Foundation, a group trying to block Disney’s deal, has made its own offer for the property. He said his team will consider that proposal when the group makes a presentation to it on Friday.

He made it clear, however, that the opinion of residents at last night’s town hall will factor greatly into cabinet’s decision.

“I am your employee,” he said. “You employ me. You are the employer. I am your servant, whether some may like it or not, it’s the facts and I come to hear tonight as an employee how my employer feels so I can take it back to my colleagues and make a definitive decision by next week.”

The views of most of those attending were overwhelmingly supportive of Disney’s project.

Dozens wore T-shirts reading “We Love Disney”, “Disney Loves Eleuthera,” “Eleuthera loves Disney” and “Disney Respects Me” when they greeted Dr Minnis’ delegation at the island’s airport and during the town hall meeting that followed.

The few at the town hall who opposed Disney’s project were often drowned out by jeers when they expressed their view.

Supporters derided the project’s critics, characterising them as out of touch with the needs and desires of south Eleuthera residents.

While he avoided voicing outright support for

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in Eleuthera last night. the Disney deal, Dr Minnis foreshadowed job opportunities will be coming to South Eleuthera soon.

“We recognise that for all the suffering that you have had and experienced in Eleuthera, many of the young people are leaving Eleuthera and going to Nassau,” he said. “That cannot continue to happen.

Once we make that decision and jobs are provided, then it’s essential for you to have proper accommodations and that is why we have already identified proper land within the south so we could ensure you have proper infrastructure and even young people can purchase such facilities. With employment, you must have an opportunity to build your home.”

THE CROWD at last night’s town hall meeting in Eleuthera to discuss the Lighthouse Point plan.

Photos: Yontalay Bowe/BIS

PAGE 6, Thursday, October 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Minnis is hypocritical over Haiti, says St Fleur

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net IN a stinging condemnation of the government, Rights Bahamas President Stephanie St Fleur branded Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ suggestion the country would not offer aid to Haiti in the aftermath of an earthquake over the weekend as “hypocritical” and “heartless”.

When asked by this newspaper on Monday whether the government would offer reprieve to those in Haiti affected by the quake, similar to what was done for citizens of Dominica following Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year, Dr Minnis said: “At this point in time I am looking at moving the Bahamas forward, Bahamas first.”

During the same interview, Dr Minnis said he is “concerned” Saturday’s earthquake in Haiti could trigger an influx of undocumented migrants, including dangerous criminals who may wreak “havoc” in the country. His comments have triggered a backlash from some activists.

Rights Bahamas

denounced these remarks from the prime minister accusing him of using tragedy in Haiti to encourage fear, xenophobia and ethnic hatred.

The prime minister’s comments, the human rights group added, showed the world The Bahamas was selective with its Christian values and humanitarian standards.

Dr Minnis also seemed to simultaneously suggest another immigration crackdown, and Ms St Fleur said it would disproportionately target those born in the Bahamas to Haitian parents, proving that the government is still intent on cleansing the Bahamas of Haitian ethnicity, the group accused.

Meanwhile Progressive Liberal Party chairman Senator Fred Mitchell said the former Christie administration left in place a policy with regard to all CARICOM countries that there is a standard of donation of $50,000 to support emergency relief to any nation in the group of countries that suffered a natural disaster.

Senator Mitchell said

there was no need for the Minnis administration to reinvent the wheel.

He said the government’s lack of understanding of the need for generic policies to meet situations, which always occur, was shocking.

Ms St Fleur said: “How can our prime minister be so heartless in the face of a natural disaster that is affecting our neighbours in Haiti? How can he be so hypocritical? Do we not rely on international aid and charitable donations in our times of need, for example when hurricanes ravage our communities?

Are we not called upon as Christians to pay such charity forward?

“When the prime minister speaks publicly about international issues, he is speaking on behalf of the Bahamian people. He is telling the world that our Christian values and our humanitarian standards are very selective, even discriminatory. His tearful concern for Dominica following a recent hurricane was the complete opposite of his near total disregard for the suffering of the people of Haiti following last week’s earthquake.

“Why do the people of one Caribbean nation struck by tragedy deserve our concern, but not the people of another? It is, quite clearly, simply because they are Haitians and because our FNM government has chosen to continue in the discriminatory, xenophobic spirit

RESIDENTS look at a home damaged by the earthquake in Haiti. The quake caused the deaths of 17 people and injured 353.

AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery

of their predecessors.”

Ms St Fleur went on to express disappointment in Dr Minnis, for whom she campaigned in the 2016 election.

“I openly supported Dr Minnis and his party which I campaigned hard for, especially among HaitianBahamians. While I agree that the prime minister should focus on the Bahamas and Bahamians, he is also being selective here.”

The 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Saturday at 8.12pm.

Officials at the Haitian Embassy in Nassau say at least five replicas were felt following the initial quake. Two of these were felt between Sunday and

Monday and another magnitude 4.2 was recorded on Tuesday morning 32km northwest of Port de Paix.

Saturday’s earthquake caused the deaths of 17 people and injured 353 people. The same number of homes were destroyed, with more than 7,000 houses heavily or slightly damaged, the embassy said in a press statement.

Infrastructure assessments the embassy said begin to be refined as different teams are deployed and have found 42 institutional buildings, schools, churches and others to be either heavily or slightly damaged at Gros Morne.

This is in addition to four national and private schools

being destroyed in Pilate in the north.

Civil protection teams continue to work hard throughout the north and northwest and its agents and brigadiers are deployed in the field for assessments, while specialised officers conduct search and rescue operations.

For his part, Mr Mitchell’s press release said all civilised nations have these policies including the country’s neighbour to the north.

“It’s right there in the records. The FNM does not have to look far and sullies the country’s reputation as a reliable international partner if they are insensitive to these obligations,” Mr Mitchell said.

IF HAITI NEEDS AID, CHURCHES WILL HELP from page one

will come back and say to us ‘here is the state’ and I think some of the initial information has already come back that they need tents and what not and they will ask all of our churches to help.

“Sometimes it seems onerous, but it’s not.

“The same way we were able to provide generators, water and supplies and if you remember during the last hurricane we had a whole shipment come from Florida. Now those are all

denominations that were mobilised based on a need and so they will assess the needs, they will make a recommendation to every denomination and we will do what we can.”

He was also asked whether he thought Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis should revisit his position on the country offering aid to Haiti. When asked on Monday whether the government would offer reprieve to those in Haiti affected by the quake, similar to what was done for citizens of Dominica

following Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year, Dr Minnis said: “At this point in time I am looking at moving The Bahamas forward, Bahamas first.”

In response, Bishop Fernander said: “I was really hoping that that decision was really based on a national security stance because as a CARICOM partner it means that we will have to do something and a contributing factor of being a part of all of all these treaties we signed on to they will make a report to CARICOM and other

groups that we are a part of and they will ask for each member state to do something and so it would be kind of strange for us I would say not to do something.”

On Tuesday Bishop Fernander told The Nassau Guardian it was unfortunate The Bahamas was not considering lending aid to the devastated nation, as was suggested by the prime minister.

He said at the time that Dr Minnis should remember “we are better than that”.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 11, 2018, PAGE 7

Journal’s publisher in smear campaign from page one The emails expose collusion between Mr Nygard and Mr Jones on the publication of negative stories on the hedge fund manager and declarations from the publisher that his “entire newsroom” had been instructed not to write anything positive about Mr Bacon. The correspondence also hints that Mr Jones used his media company to assist the Progressive Liberal Party in its 2012 election campaign.

Retired Justice Rhonda Bain said she found the evidence brought against the publisher compelling, and was satisfied “beyond reasonable doubt” that Mr Jones had “intentionally, wilfully, and deliberately” breached an earlier court order blocking him from further defamation.

Justice Bain’s written ruling was dated September 21, and follows her oral ruling on June 29.

It follows a 2012 libel suit filed by Mr Bacon against Mr Jones for three separate articles published in the Bahama Journal. The matter was settled that year, and among the terms of the settlement was a front-page

apology and a court order not to further publish or cause to be published similar defamatory content. The settlement also called for privileges granted to Earlin Williams as an unpaid columnist be revoked.

Mr Bacon filed a new claim over eight articles published between January 24, 2015 and June 2, 2016 published on jonesbahamas.com.

For his part, Mr Jones denied he was paid to conduct a smear campaign and stated that all payments received from Mr Nygard were for advertising services. He denied breaching the content order, and justified publishing the articles by stating the matter between Mr Bacon and Mr Nygard was in the public domain, one of the biggest stories in the country and had international repercussions.

The ruling read: “Counsel for (Mr Bacon) produced email correspondence which reveals that Keod Smith and Earlin Williams forwarded articles to (Mr Jones) to be published in the Bahama Journal sometimes with specific instructions where in the Bahama Journal to place the articles and what

date the articles should be published.”

It continued: “The email traffic also revealed that the articles were sent to Peter Nygard for approval before they were published.”

The ruling further stated Mr Jones sent an email to Mr Nygard during negotiations for his settlement with Mr Bacon, and had requested a loan from the fashion mogul “telling him he was ‘in some deep s****’ and needed funds ‘to keep the dogs away’.”

In another email dated October 1, Mr Jones reportedly wrote to Nygard stating: “…The timing of the onslaught on Bacon must be right. They want the apology published first, then we can turn up the heat. Do you suggest we take their advice?”

According to the ruling, Mr Jones admitted in crossexamination that he was working with Mr Nygard in connection with the onslaught on Mr Bacon’s character.

He further admitted Mr Smith and Mr Williams were also working with Mr Nygard, but denied the four of them were all working together.

However, Mr Jones denied he was paid by Mr Nygard for this onslaught,

WENDELL JONES, CEO of JCN. and stated his media company also performed public relations services for the Lyford Cay homeowner.

Mr Jones said he gave Mr Nygard public relations assistance as he was an ongoing advertiser, adding he was not paid separately for those services.

In an email to Mr Smith dated January 31, 2013, Mr Jones reportedly wrote: “I too was taken aback and very angry to hear positive story on Bacon on my station. I have taken the reporter to task for this.

You would appreciate they have a penchant to be objective.”

Mr Jones’ email continued: “My argument is that you cannot be objective with someone who tried to embarrass the company and who sued us. The entire newsroom knows that Bacon is not to get any positive coverage here. With that said, what do you want me to do? You’ll have abandoned me.”

In cross-examination, Mr Jones explained he was referring to the lack of financial support from Mr Nygard concerning the libel

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff suit, adding he had to pay all legal costs.

In a March 16, 2013 email to Mr Nygard, Mr Jones wrote that he was disturbed by a question from Mr Nygard of whether he was going to “tell the truth” and show his friendship and gratitude for the hundreds of thousands invested in his media company. Mr Jones wrote he found the question offensive as his media’s actions were for mutual benefit.

The email continued: “We had a general election to win for the PLP; that was accomplished. We took on your fight against Louis Bacon mainly in the Bahama Journal; that was very effective and the stories were read around the world. There were many threats of suits by Bacon’s lawyers, yet we persisted with your cause. That is why The Journal got before the courts in its first libel suit in its history…all for your cause.

“When the judge ruled that we had to apologise, you insisted on a correction. We could not risk a contempt of court charge

against The Journal, so we complied. Now you tell me to show gratitude, even when you went against your promise to pay legal costs,” the email added.

In a June 3, 2013 email, according to the ruling, Mr Jones informed Mr Nygard that a show had aired on two days and was a hit. Mr Jones then asked for “some candy.”

In cross examination, Mr Jones explained that he wanted to be paid, adding that Mr Nygard knew what he meant by the term. He admitted he did not use the term when speaking with other advertisers, and that the statement was made in jest.

In an email dated July 1, 2015, Mr Nygard replied to an email from Mr Jones requesting approval of his Nygard Slims ad, telling the publisher “in exchange” he needed “continual Bacon racist campaign on your media vehicles”.

The matter was adjourned in June, and set to come before Justice Indra Charles for a mitigation hearing with respect to a penalty.

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUNG PEOPLE’S BATTLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH

By RIEL MAJOR

THE Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association yesterday held a symposium highlighting World Mental Health Day and promoting awareness of mental health issues.

Dr Wendy Fernander, president of the Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association, stressed the importance of having good mental health. The conference focused on public awareness of critical issues of mental illness present in youths.

Dr Fernander said: “Our young people face constant challenges and stressors – happening in their own lives and the world around them.

“Many of the problems facing our young people today such as bullying, suicide, the onset of mental illness, the effects of trauma and discrimination require our time and attention, awareness and compassion as well as new programmes and guidelines on how we can protect and empower the next generation.

“It is imperative that more services are developed to provide better care

for young people and issues they are experiencing today.

We all know that a young person with support, stability and the information will usually lead to a positive healthy adult.”

She continued: “The key factors for creating a healthier future for our young people are prevention, early intervention, resilience, available information and services.”

Health Minister Dr Duane Sands was in attendance and highlighted the increase of mental health issues and illness in the world.

Dr Sands stressed the importance of mental health at every stage in life, from childhood to adulthood.

The minister said: “Here in The Bahamas, the all too common signs of persons affected by substance abuse disorders, neurological conditions or mental health problems living in conditions of homelessness, poverty, and desperate want, serves as clear evidence of the need to focus national attention on mental health issues and mental health services.

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this public drive is the need to address the twin issues of stigma and discrimination aimed at those who suffer from, or who are affected by mental health,” he said.

“We would be naive to think that the youth and young adults of The Bahamas are immune to risks and effects of mental

illnesses and substance abuse disorders.”

Based on the World Health Organisation, 14 percent of the global burden of diseases is attributed to mental, neurological, and substance use disorders. Professionals also suggested 20 percent of the world’s children and

adolescents have mental disorders and about half of mental illnesses begin before the age of 14.

Dr Sands suggested mental illness greatly increases the risk of contracting other serious medical conditions such as HIV, diabetes, and heart disease.

The goal of the conference was to develop programmes to meet the needs of the Bahamian youth suffering from mental health issues and to remove the negative stigma towards mental illness.

The symposium was held at the University of The Bahamas.

PAGE 8, Thursday, October 11, 2018

W

HAT follows is not a soliloquy in print about whether Prime Minister Dr The Rt Hon Hubert A Minnis did the right or wrong thing when he pronounced “Bahamas First”, signalling no help for Haiti in the wake of an earthquake that took lives, destroyed buildings, left people homeless last weekend. Much has already been written about that.

There is hardly a soul in the nation, and especially in newsrooms, who does not have a strong view for or against. From headlines shouting “We are better than this” quoting the head of the Bahamas Christian Council decrying the Prime Minister’s abandoning a Caribbean partner to talk radio shows where agreement with the PM’s position reached such a feverish pitch it nearly burst through the monitor.

The passion with which Minnis’ statement was met was unprecedented in recent local history. And I believe those few words will haunt the administration with the phrase “Bahamas First” rivalling the late Clement Maynard’s “All for me, Baby,” or former New York Mayor turned Trump lawyer Rudolph Giuliani’s “Truth is not truth” declaration on Meet the Press.

Statements that extend beyond their original intent, like words we all utter that we wish we could take back, cannot be withdrawn. What is said is said.

You cannot hit delete on the spoken word. You do not get a do-over in a public pronouncement. It’s the high price you pay for being a public figure – the lingering memory of what you have said that stirred rage or approval long after you have said it.

Memories of financial matters are short unless they are personal. So long as we have a job, the unemployment rate is just a statistic. Public debt is not that troubling unless we fear our taxes are going up to cover the cost of servicing it.

Unless we are outraged, we let words slip through the fingers of our world and out again. We look at the events swirling outside our periphery through inwardly focused glasses that reflect not the events themselves but how those events impact us.

We are admittedly, unfortunately, disgracefully near-sighted.

But every now and then there is an event that awakens us. It makes us sit bolt upright and take notice and care about what happens outside our world for more than a few moments. It connects us after the evening news, podcast or YouTube video.

And that is what “Bahamas First” did.

THE TRIBUNE

Questions for us all over the response to Haiti quake In its controversy, it connected us to an international news event but divided us as a nation.

Compare that with what happened in 2010 when the January 10 earthquake devastated Haiti, killing hundreds, wiping out entire communities. Images were heartbreaking.

Less than 24 hours after the quake struck, the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas and The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation joined forces and flew into action. Flights were organised. Medical supplies were flown in.

More than 100 satellite phones were distributed to Rotarians throughout Haiti.

The Chamber and Rotary called my little public relations firm and we dropped all other business for the next two weeks to organise a national telethon. Every media house showed up at the first meeting one day after we got the call and by the time of the telethon January 25 and 26, we had partnerships with every TV in Haiti when disaster struck just as they and radio station, with every newspaper did when a hurricane struck the southern Bahamas. and news organisation.

We did not look to government to make We had the support of Alexia Coakley and her team at Cable Bahamas, the the telethon happen. We just did it. We detailed flow of show talent of Nassau cannot hold telethons every time a strong Guardian’s Paul Fernander, of musicians wind blows but nor should we look to govlike Fred Ferguson and Freddie Mun- ernment to be the answer to every need. nings, Jr, of church choirs and dozens of Government is not our ma, our pa or our others who volunteered. Current Minister saviour of all things material. That manner of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and of thinking harkens back to days of colonial rule and the faster we Immigration Brent Symondispense with total reliance ette was a volunteer on the What has happened on whoever rules the House phone bank as were sevof Assembly and appoints eral members of the then to us since 2010? the Cabinet, the more indeCabinet and the Opposition, Was it that this pendent we will truly be, the including Perry Christie earthquake was more mature we will be as a who was Opposition leader nation, the stronger we will at the time. BTC and Cable not as serious? For be as a people. partnered for phone and those whose homes Yes, those who were transmission. were flattened, for embarrassed or ashamed Atlantis donated the that the country they love space. It took more than those who had no did not show love for 150 people to pull off the place to go after another country that was two-night event that raised the earth stopped hurting and whose citizens enough money to send suphave an indelible relationplies for months to those shaking, who were who might have gone hungry left with nothing but ship with our own had every right to feel disappointed. or thirsty or suffered more Compassion even in words disease if it had not been the clothing they alone has meaning. Sensitivfor the work of Rotary, the had worn in the ity never goes out of style.

Chamber and a nation that shelter and hope. It But, regardless of the cared.

Prime Minister’s words What has happened to us was as terrifying which will continue to since 2010? Was it that this and life-changing reverberate, all of us need earthquake was not as seri- as its precursor. to take a deep breath and ous? For those whose homes remember the more we give were flattened, for those who had no place to go after the earth to others, the greater is our world.

Largesse is not a zero-sum game. What stopped shaking, who were left with nothing but the clothing they had worn in the we give away is not lost, the rewards come shelter and hope. It was as terrifying and back a thousand-fold and then some. They make us a better people and a stronger life-changing as its precursor.

So what if the earthquake of 2018 was nation.

When we dry another’s tears, when not as widespread, if it killed fewer, does that make it less important? This is not a we hold a hurting child, when we uplift a criticism of the Prime Minister’s words so community flattened by natural disaster, much as it is a question about who we are we build our own character and when we, as a nation. After all, it was not govern- as private citizens unrelated to government that responded in 2010. It was the ment decision, fail to heed a cry we are the private and civic sectors that took it upon emperor who believes he is clothed. Our themselves to help their fellow humankind nakedness is revealed.

LODANISE Joseph sits with her nine-month-old granddaughter outside their home damaged in the quake that hit Haiti.

Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery/AP

THE TRIBUNE

Evicted mother and daughter fined after returning to former home

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 50-YEAR-OLD woman and her daughter were yesterday fined $50 by a magistrate for illegally entering their home almost two weeks after being evicted by the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation.

Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans ordered both Michelle and Deshanne Rolle to each pay $50 or spend two days in prison for trespassing on the Millennium Gardens property on Monday.

Prior to this, both had pleaded guilty to a single count of trespassing on the premises of a house in Millennium Gardens, which had been repossessed by the BMC. According to the prosecution, both women were evicted from their Millennium Gardens home on September 26 by a Supreme Court writ.

Their attorney, Barry Sawyer, said his clients were officially locked out of the home on September 28.

Sometime around 7.45pm on Monday, however, the virtual complainant, Kuame Ryan, made checks of the property and discovered that

the two women were inside the property.

As a result, Mr Ryan went to the Grove Police Station where he sought police assistance in going back to the property to continue his checks.

Upon their arrival back at the property, both women were discovered inside the home.

When asked how they gained entry to the house, Michelle Rolle said that her granddaughter went through a window and unlocked the front door.

Mr Sawyer further explained that on the Thursday before that event, Deshanne Rolle spent hours at the BMC trying to make arrangements for them to get their personal items from the house, and that another attempt was made on Tuesday.

Mr Sawyer said at that time, his clients had no clothes and no “hygienic products”. He said it got to a point where Michelle Rolle’s 13-year-old granddaughter needed certain books for her studies that were locked up in the house.

However, Michelle Rolle, 50, indicated that she was aware that the BMC would possibly evict them from last year.

When questioned as to why she didn’t prepare her family for a possible eviction during that time, she replied: “I didn’t know I was going to be evicted.”

“What you mean you didn’t know you were going to be evicted?” Magistrate Vogt-Evans asked. “What you think was gone happen if you didn’t pay?”

In response to further interrogation by Magistrate Vogt-Evans, Michelle Rolle said she was in discussions with the corporation from 2011 to 2016. She also said corporation officials asked her to come up with $20,000 towards her mortgage from 2015.

“And you ain’t come up with that between then and now?” Magistrate VogtEvans asked. “…You knew what was coming, and you just decided to just keep waiting it out. And I think to go to this extent was their (the BMC’s) last resort.”

Magistrate Vogt-Evans subsequently read off notes detailing how the provost marshal said Michelle Rolle and her daughter were given “extended time” to vacate the home.

The notes indicated that he, along with a locksmith and a representative

from the BMC, visited the property and showed and provided those present with a copy of the Supreme Court writ.

Michelle Rolle wasn’t at home at the time; only her mother and daughter.

However, while the officials were changing the locks, Michelle came home and told them she would not move “because Marvin Dames told her not to go anywhere”.

The provost marshal said he told Michelle Rolle that she had the opportunity to see Mr Dames again, but that if nothing changed they would have to vacate the property.

He said the following day, he, a locksmith, the BMC representative and police officers, visited the property, changed the locks once more, and placed signs on the front lawn.

Magistrate VogtEvans ultimately said it is an “unfortunate” situation in which Michelle and Deshanne Rolle were placed, but the pair can’t use their “circumstances as an excuse to do what is wrong.”

She consequently fined them and encouraged them to put their heads together to resolve their housing issues.

Thursday, October 11, 2018, PAGE 9

JEROUNTO KYMO ROLLE, 18, was charged in Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday with attempted armed robbery and causing grievous harm.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

TEENAGER ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED ROBBERY

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AN 18-year-old man was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday with attempted armed robbery and causing grievous harm.

Jerounto Kymo Rolle, of Frobisher Drive, Freeport, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson.

It is alleged that on September 30, at Hunters, Rolle was armed with a weapon and attempted to rob Chances web shop.

It is also alleged that at the

same date and place, the accused, while armed with a weapon, caused grievous harm to Kia Williams.

He was also charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Rolle was not represented by an attorney and he was not required to enter a plea to the charges.

The prosecutor objected to bail and informed the court that the Office of the Attorney General intends to proceed by way of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Bail was denied and the matter was adjourned February 4, 2019.

‘PLEASE, I PRAY YOU FORGIVE ME’

from page one

Reckley was fined $10,000 each for killing 23-year-old Devallon and 37-year-old Augustin, and an additional $100 for having done so while driving her uninsured 2010 Toyota March.

Meanwhile, Floyd Weech, the crippled man who struck and killed Andre Otto Sands with his truck as he attempted to cross Robinson Road earlier this year, then fled the scene, was also released from custody yesterday after paying an $11,000 fine.

Up to yesterday morning, both Reckley and Weech were detained in police custody, after having been remanded from last week Wednesday to await their respective sentences for their crimes.

When initially arraigned, Reckley, the RBDF’s top female recruit in 2018, pleaded guilty to one count each of killing in the course of dangerous driving and driving while not covered against third party risk insurance.

According to police, Reckley, who was off-duty at the time, was heading north on Marathon Road in the area of Samana Drive shortly before 1am when she lost control of her car and struck Augustin, aged 37, and Devallon, aged 23.

Both Augustin and Devallon died on the scene, despite the efforts of paramedics. An autopsy report determined their deaths were the result of blunt force trauma caused by injuries to their necks, head and torsos.

Prior to receiving her sentence, and in the presence of numerous RBDF officials, family and friends, Reckley read aloud an apology she had written for relatives of the deceased, in which she stated that for the nine years she has held a driver’s license, she never fathomed hitting so much as a garbage can.

“Nothing could have prepared me for what took place that night, which resulted in two lives being taken,” she said. “If I was able to go back and dictate the turn of events, I would not have been driving that night.

“But I can’t, and for that

I will forever live with the cold pain of reality that will forever be engraved in my heart. To say I’m sorry is an understatement, when compared to the remorse.”

Reckley said as marine, she was always taught to “act first, and act with a sense of urgency”. She said when the accident happened, her first impulse was to offer resuscitation to the pair.

However, she said when she realised the situation was too dire, all she could do was pray.

“My prayers continue daily for the bereaved family, and I pray that you be forever comforted

by God above,” Reckley concluded. “I will forever continue to pray for your strength and healing, and trust that one day you find it in your heart to forgive me for that accident.”

However, Magistrate Vogt-Evans still scolded the young marine, stating that notwithstanding her good record and accolades, two people are dead today because of her “failure to adhere to the laws under the Road Traffic Act”.

“As an officer of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, you ain’t ‘Joe Blow’,” Magistrate VogtEvans said. “You ought to have known better. I expect for you to know better. I expect for you to be more of a courteous driver. I expect for you to respect the road, the laws.”

She added: “This ain’t about who you are; this about what you did, and two whole human beings are dead. That’s something that you’re going to have to live with.”

Meanwhile, Weech, 57, was ordered to pay $10,000 for killing Sands or face one year in jail, and another $1,000 for fleeing the scene or face six months incarceration. At last check, Magistrate Vogt-Evans also suspended Weech’s driver’s licence for five years.

She further scolded the crippled man for his actions, in particular fleeing the scene of a crime, stressing that a message has to be “clearly sent” that such actions “will not be tolerated”.

According to police reports, Sands was

attempting to cross Robinson Road near Washington Street shortly after 10pm on July 23, when he was hit by a red truck that continued driving in an easterly direction.

Sands was taken to hospital by paramedics and pronounced dead a short time later. An autopsy report determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

The accident was caught on nearby CCTV and

posted to social media over the following weekend. The footage showed the man carefully watching the road as a number of vehicles drove by. He began crossing the road and then looked to his left for oncoming traffic.

Halfway across, he suddenly became aware of the truck speeding towards him to his right and before he could jump out of the way, the vehicle slammed into him.

According to the prosecution, the Ford F150 truck was

registered in Weech’s name.

Additionally, Weech admitted he was the driver, and that he didn’t stop because of the crowd in the area.

Weech’s attorney, Ian Cargill, indicated that his client turned himself in to police on the following Monday.

Magistrate Vogt-Evans, during Reckley’s sentencing, addressed the public’s perception of the penalty for killing in the course of dangerous driving, stating

that “people seem to think it’s the court’s fault when people get fined”.

“Well that is what the law says,” she said. “I can only follow the law. I’m a creature of statute.”

Nonetheless, she said following Weech’s sentencing that she feels there needs to be a “greater” penalty for killing in the course of dangerous driving, and subsequently fleeing the scene.

“It’s just too much of that,” she said.

PAGE 10, Thursday, October 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Giving back to Harbour Island

SCHOLARSHIP recipient Caseia Greene, centre left, celebrates her award with family, friends and Romalia’s Townhouse team

CASEIA Greene, an 11th grade student at the Harbour Island All Age School, has been presented with Romalia’s Townhouse’s second annual legacy scholarship. She was also presented with an Asus laptop and backpack with school supplies. Alexandria Darville, Caseia’s mother joined her to accept the award. Caseia is 15 and has ambitions to become a surgical nurse and a veterinarian and her favorite subjects are maths, biology, art and history.

Lorette Nixon-Soudatt, owner of Romalia’s Townhouse, was present at the ceremony along with her husband, Marlon Soudatt, her mother Regina Abury Johnson, her aunt Sister Cecilia Albury, OSB and cousins Ethan Fairweather and Tina Neilly. Also present were Kevin Hepburn, Principal, faculty, staff and students of the Harbour Island All Age School.

In addition to presenting its second legacy scholarship, Romalia’s Townhouse also gave the entire 11th grade students backpacks filled with basic learning tools to help build their confidence and encourage them to be successful in school. Mrs Nixon-Soudatt stated that during the school years it might seem like life is full of tests, questions, grades, parents and pressure however she told the students to take each day and each moment at a time.

She encouraged them to believe in themselves especially when things are not easy. “Even if you do a little better than you’ve done before, you are a winner,” she said.

“It is a great feeling to be number one but it is equally a great feeling to succeed and to win even when you are not number one.”

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 11, 2018, PAGE 11

Widowed and homeless - now community helps Earlene rebuild

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A MONTH after losing her husband, widow Earlene Stubbs and her family were homeless when their home in Seagrape, Eight Mile Rock, was destroyed

by Hurricane Matthew.

Now a community of individuals has banded together and is rallying behind her by spearheading a massive volunteer effort to rebuild her house and have her in it by next April. Businessman David Wallace, who is a part of a committee that was formed to help Mrs Stubbs, is appealing to the public for assistance by donating building materials and supplies, or money.

Mrs Stubbs, who cares for her mentally and physically disabled son, in addition to eight other family members, was left homeless in October 2016 when Hurricane Matthew destroyed their two-bedroom wooden home.

According to Mr Wallace, local government in conjunction with central government tried at that time to start reconstruction of the home. However, Mrs Stubbs did not receive any assistance.

“As you can recall, many homes were damaged, and unfortunately they were not able to get to everyone.

And, she had just lost her husband a month prior to the hurricane,” he said.

Mr Wallace said that Seagrape resident Jimmy Smith, former chief councilor for the West Grand Bahama district, called him and started asking what the community could do to help with reconstructing Mrs Stubbs’ home.

A committee, comprising persons from the community, including residents, church members,

SEATED second from left, widow Earlene Stubbs, who is next to her son seated left, of the Seagrape community. Mrs Stubbs and her family were displaced when her home was destroyed by a hurricane in 2016. The community has come together to help rebuild her home.

The plan is to build a twocommunity leaders, local government officials, was bedroom wooden home that is wheelchair friendly. During established. the month of Contractor Cyril Harvey ‘We should be October, they will be collecting donahas come on our brother’s tions, and expect board to assist to start constructhe group. He keeper, and, tion in November. said that the in the end, A list of materiitems they need we will have als needed for to start the prothe project are at ject are eight a better truckloads of fill, community as Polar Electric and LMC Lumber in concrete blocks, a result.’

Grand Bahama steel, 2x4 wood, for persons wishand plywood. He MP Pakesia ing to purchase said that other Parker supplies. materials such Edgecombe Mr Wallace as plumbing and said that they will electrical supplies, tiles, etc, are also be soliciting help from businesses in Freeport. needed.

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“My goal is by Easter next year to have the home completed and furnished,” he said. “We are calling on the public at large, whether you know Mrs Stubbs or not, for assistance. She has a special child and they have been displaced.

“The community of Seagrape is happy to rally around Mrs Stubbs and get her back in her home. We want to make sure the community sees unity because these things transcend politics.”

Pakesia Parker Edgecombe, MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, said that the coming together of people to assist someone is

need is a demonstration of “true community”.

“What we are witnessing here today is true community, the realisation that every one of us needs each other to survive,” she said.

“What this group is going to do for Mrs Stubbs is tremendous. And we need not worry about any political colours. At the end of day, we are all here to assist each other as best we can.”

Mrs Edgecombe said that it is important we show love to our neighbours.

“I know Mrs Stubbs is happy to see her community coming forward to this extent to assist her, and the church has to also be

commended for their drive in ensuring that this comes about. As MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, I am more than happy to be a part of this,” she said.

She appealed to the public to lend a helping hand, whether it is purchasing of supplies, making a monetary contribution, or volunteering their time to assist in the rebuilding.

“We should be our brother’s keeper, and, in the end, we will have a better community as a result,” she said.

Pastor Paul Mullings, of Mt Calvary Baptist Church, said Mrs Stubbs is a member of the church who volunteers her time to cook meals for the needy in the Eight Mile Rock community.

He encouraged members of the church and the Zion Church families to support the effort.

Mrs Stubbs thanked everyone who has come forward to assist.

“I like to thank everyone for coming forward in my time of need, and I ask for your continued prayers,” she said.

Obie Wilchcombe, former MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, said that he supports the effort.

Mr Wallace said the committee will also reach out to radio talk show host Darold Miller to make a national plea for donations in aid of Mrs Stubbs. He also noted that Mrs Stubbs is a descendant of the Turks and Caicos, and they are hoping that persons there will also extend their assistance to her.

There are plans to establish a bank account so that financial contributions can be made. In the meantime, persons can make cash and cheque contributions to the Mt Calvary Baptist Church in Seagrape.

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PAGE 12, Thursday, October 11, 2018

LIMO OWNER CHARGED OVER PARTY CRASH

THE TRIBUNE

HEAVY surf from Hurricane Michael pounds the fishing pier on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

NEW YORK Associated Press A LIMOUSINE service operator has been charged with criminally negligent homicide in a crash that killed 20 people, while police continue investigating what caused the wreck and whether anyone else will face charges.

The operator's lawyer said that the man wasn't guilty and that police were rushing to judgment.

The company, Prestige Limousine, has come under intense scrutiny since Saturday's crash outside Albany killed two pedestrians and 18 people in a super-stretch limo.

Prestige Limousine operator Nauman Hussain hired a driver who shouldn't have been behind the wheel of such a car, and the vehicle shouldn't have been driven after state inspectors deemed it "unserviceable" last month, State Police Superintendent George Beach said at a news conference.

"The sole responsibility for that motor vehicle being on the road on Saturday rests with Nauman Hussain," Beach said, though he noted that investigators continue looking into whether anyone else should be held accountable.

As Hussain, 28, awaited arraignment, his lawyer, Lee Kindlon, said his client handled only marketing duties and phone calls, while his father ran the company, though police called Hussain its operator.

"My client is not guilty," Kindlon said. "The police jumped the gun in charging him with any crime."

Under New York law, criminally negligent homicide involves not perceiving a substantial, unjustifiable risk that leads to someone's death. It's punishable by up to four years in prison.

Police charged Hussain with a single count involving all 20 victims. He was arrested Wednesday in a traffic stop on a highway near Albany.

Hurricane Michael slams into Florida coastline

By JAY REEVES and BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press HURRICANE Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle with terrifying winds of 155 mph yesterday, splintering homes and submerging neighborhoods before continuing its destructive charge inland across the Southeast.

It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the continental U.S. in nearly 50 years and at least one death was reported during its passage.

Supercharged by abnormally warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Category 4 storm crashed ashore in the early afternoon near Mexico Beach, a tourist town about midway along the Panhandle, a 200-mile (320-kilometer) stretch of white-sand beach resorts, fishing towns and military bases.

After it ravaged the Panhandle, Michael barrelled into south Georgia as a Category 3 hurricane — the most powerful ever recorded for

that part of the neighboring state.

It later weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, and there were reports it spawned possible tornadoes in central Georgia.

In north Florida, Michael battered the shoreline with sideways rain, powerful gusts and crashing waves, swamping streets and docks, flattening trees, shredding awnings and peeling away shingles. It set off transformer explosions and knocked out power to more than 388,000 homes and businesses.

A Panhandle man was killed by a tree that toppled on a home, Gadsden County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Anglie Hightower said. But she added emergency crews trying to reach the home were hampered by downed trees and debris blocking roadways. The man wasn't immediately identified.

Damage in Panama City was extensive, with broken and uprooted trees and power lines down nearly everywhere. Roofs were peeled off and homes split open by fallen trees. Twisted street

signs lay on the ground. Residents emerged in the early evening to assess damage when rains stopped, though skies were still overcast and windy.

Vance Beu, 29, was staying with his mother at her apartment, Spring Gate Apartments, a small complex of single-story wood frame apartment buildings. A pine tree punched a hole in their roof and he said the roar of the storm sounded like a jet engine as the winds accelerated. Their ears even popped as the barometric pressure dropped.

"It was terrifying, honestly.

There was a lot of noise. We thought the windows were going to break at any time. We had the inside windows kind of barricaded in with mattresses," Beu said.

Kaylee O'Brien was crying as she sorted through the remains of the apartment she shared with three roommates at Whispering Pines apartments, where the smell of broken pine trees was thick in the air. Four pine trees had crashed

through the roof of her apartment, nearly hitting two people. Her oneyear-old Siamese cat, Molly, was missing.

"We haven't seen her since the tree hit the den. She's my baby," O'Brien said, her face wet with tears.

In Apalachicola, Sally Crown rode out the storm in her house.

The worst damage — she thought — was in her yard. Multiple trees were down. But after the storm passed, she drove to check on the cafe she manages and saw breathtaking destruction.

"It's absolutely horrendous. Catastrophic," Crown said. "There's flooding. Boats on the highway. A house on the highway. Houses that have been there forever are just shattered."

Gov Rick Scott announced soon after the powerful eye had swept inland that "aggressive" search and rescue efforts would get underway as conditions allowed.

He urged people to stay off debris-littered roads.

CORONER: VERNE TROYER DEATH SUICIDE BY ALCOHOL INTOXICATION LOS ANGELES Associated Press VERNE Troyer, best known for his role as Mike Myers’ comical sidekick “Mini-Me” in the “Austin Powers” movie franchise, died last April of suicide by alcohol intoxication, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office has reported.

Troyer, pictured, was reported to be suffering from alcohol intoxication when he was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital on April 3. He died there on April 21.

“It was later determined Troyer died from sequelae of alcohol intoxication,” the

coroner’s office said. “The manner of death was certified as a suicide.”

The actor, who was just 2-foot-8, became a star playing Mini-Me to Myers’ Dr Evil and Austin Powers in the 1999 film “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” and its 2002 sequel “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”

PAGE 20, Thursday, October 11, 2018

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