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VOLUME:116 No.203, OCTOBER 16TH, 2019

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

ALICIA WALLACE: DOES LOYALTY LIE WITH PARTY OR VOTERS?

END THE TABOOS McAlpine - it’s time for national debate on gay marriage and abortion

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PINERIDGE MP Frederick McAlpine says The Bahamas needs a national conversation about letting gay couples enter civil unions and legalising abortion, both of which he believes eligible people should be entitled to.

He spoke to The Tribune yesterday as news of a planned gay pride parade next year sparked intense discussion across social media in recent days.

Elected officials have historically shied away from discussing hot button issues like gay rights and abortion in any detail, but the outspoken Free National Movement MP, who is also a pastor, confronted the issues head-on when contacted yesterday.

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE International Monetary Fund yesterday slashed The Bahamas’ 2019 growth forecast by half, and projected the economy will contract next year, due to Hurricane Dorian.

Unveiling its latest World Economic Outlook report, the fund said this nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) expansion will fall from 1.8 percent to just 0.9 percent for 2019, with the brunt of the category five storm’s economic fall-out to be felt next year.

It forecast that the Bahamian economy will shrink by 0.6 percent, compared to previous forecasts for 1.7 percent growth, thereby giving the first insight into just how big a short-term setback Dorian has dealt to output and job creation.

“People do not see homosexuality and lesbianism in the same light as they did 20 years ago,” he said. “I don’t think the country is accepting but the country has matured in that area mainly because everyone can look in their family and find one of them, two of them, three of them.”

Civil unions are legally recognised arrangements that provide most or all the rights of marriage but not the title.

Mr McAlpine said: “I’m a pastor, I’m liberal in my thinking yet I’m very spiritual. I personally don’t support gay marriage but I think the time is coming when you’re going to have to look at something called civil unions. Let me give an example why. A mother has been fighting her gay son

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

ROW ENDS WITH MAN SHOT DEAD

SEE PAGE FIVE

BOUNCE BACK WILL COME FOR TOURISM

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM officials have seen a “fall off” in vacation bookings for The Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian and are projecting a nine percent decrease in visitor arrivals this year but recovery is expected in the coming year.

According to Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday, this has been a drawback of the monster storm despite a vigorous public relations push encouraging tourists to visit islands apart from storm-ravaged

Abaco and Grand Bahama.

Negative public relations, Mr D’Aguilar said, had mainly caused many to rethink coming to the country. “Oh, absolutely, there has been a lot of negative public relations about The Bahamas being destroyed,” the minister said yesterday when he was asked by The Tribune if tourism numbers were affected in the aftermath of Dorian.

“Obviously people are concerned when booking their holidays that they’re going to come to a country that’s been destroyed and decimated.

SEE PAGE THREE

IMF CUTS GROWTH FORECAST

BY HALF

GOLDEN GARDINER STEVEN GARDINER, winner of the 2019 World Championship in the 400m, showing off his gold medal during a visit to The Tribune yesterday. The champion athlete features in Friday’s Weekend section talking in depth to The Tribune about his golden victory. He has also been nominated as the IAAF male athlete of the year - see Sports for the full story.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding a shooting that left a man dead on Monday night.

According to reports, shortly after 8pm, a man was standing on Pitt Lane off Sandy Lane, when he got into an argument with a man who was known to him, who shot him multiple times before running away.

Paramedics were called but were unable to resuscitate the man; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

‘CHIPMAN? HE DON’T COME AROUND HERE’

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net DAYS after he resigned from the Free National Movement, some residents of Centreville criticised Reece Chipman for not being visible in his constituency while others praised him for the work he has done.

The Tribune canvassed the constituency yesterday and found numerous

disgruntled residents.

One resident who identified herself as Ms Rose claimed she has never seen Mr Chipman in the community and called for him to do more in the area.

Ms Rose said: “We ain’t feel that. Reece don’t come around here and we don’t know nothing about him. When it was back-toschool, he sent someone around here with some cheap bags with one book and one pencil. Reece don’t

come in Mason’s Addition, he doesn’t come around here.

“After he won election he hasn’t been around,” Ms Rose complained. “I don’t know him. We don’t feel nothing because we ain’t miss nothing. I’m an FNM supporter, but I’m going yellow next time. No one in Mason’s Addition know that man, he doesn’t come around here period.”

SEE PAGE SIX

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

TRIBUNE TECH: A VIRTUAL FUTURE FOR SENIORS

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Wednesday, October 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Oil spill at BPL power station AN oil spill occurred in the area of Bahamas Power and Light’s Blue Hills Power Station near a school, BPL said yesterday.

“The spill occurred after a contractor working in the area ruptured the fuel line that runs from Blue Hills Power Station (BHPS) to Clifton Pier Power Station,” a press statement said.

BPL said the line was shut down after the spill while investigators have not determined how much oil has spilled.

At 12.30pm, a BPL security supervisor received a call from security guards at BHPS. “Those officers reported that a trucking and excavation contractor had come to the security booth and reported that while excavating a property on Carmichael (Road) just west of Carmichael Primary School, his equipment came into contract with a BPL fuel line which resulted in an oil spill. A report was made at the Carmichael Police Station.”

BACK IN BUSINESS - CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES RETURN TO GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

CARNIVAL Cruise Line has resumed regular calls to Grand Bahama, with the return of three vessels to Freeport in aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

The Carnival Pride called on Friday, October 11, with 2,400 passengers. The Elation called on Sunday, October 13, and the Freedom arrived yesterday.

According to a statement

by Carnival, the cruise line expects to host 39 calls in Freeport, bringing more

than 100,000 visitors to the island and providing significant impact to the Freeport economy.

For the full year, more than 400,000 guests will visit Grand Bahama on a Carnival cruise vacation aboard ten different ships sailing from nine US home ports, the company said.

“Carnival Cruise Line is proud to be such a big year-round supporter for cruise tourism to Freeport so we are very excited to provide our guests the opportunity to again visit this popular destination,” said Terry Thornton,

Carnival’s senior vice-president of nautical and port operations.

“Cruise ship visits are important to the local economy and our shore excursion team has been working closely with local tour operators and has confirmed a variety of attractive onshore excursions for our guests.”

Carnival suspended all sailings to Grand Bahama in early September as a result of the storm and the devastation to the island.

After the storm, the government signed a heads of agreement with Carnival

Corporation to construct a $100m cruise port in East Grand Bahama.

While giving remarks at the signing, Giora Israel, senior vice-president of Carnival Corporation, assured the government and Bahamians that Carnival would resume calls to the island after conducting and completing their assessment on the island.

“You will be happy to hear and the rest of the people that (the team) is here to make an assessment of when — it is not if – it is just when in a matter of a short period of time

can the ships come back because that’s one of the things everybody wants, to bring the cruise ships back,” he said.

Senator Kwasi Thompson, minister of state for Grand Bahama, welcomed the return of the cruise line back to Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian.

“Carnival is an incredible partner for The Bahamas and Grand Bahama,” he said.

Carnival Ecstasy is currently undergoing an extensive 12-day dry dock at the Grand Bahama Shipyard - the first cruise ship

to utilise the facility since Hurricane Dorian.

In addition to resuming sailing to Grand Bahama, Carnival’s relief efforts include a $2m pledge from Carnival Corporation and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, as well as relief shipments delivered by Carnival Cruise Line ships and via a partnership with Tropical Shipping.

Carnival employees and guests have also donated well over $500,000 through online giving tools and collections on embarkation day and onboard.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 16, 2019, PAGE 3

BOUNCE BACK WILL COME FOR TOURISM from page one

“Even though we’ve been trying to get the message out that that is not the case and only two islands have been impacted. We’ve definitely seen a fall off in our bookings.”

He continued: “If you look out through the end of the year, we’re projecting just under a ten percent decrease this year over last year and that’s for two reasons: first of all the negative public relations about The Bahamas, but secondly as

you can imagine we don’t have Abaco and Grand Bahama in our inventory anymore.

“They represented about 12 percent of our stopover visitors last year and so with them being out of commission you’re naturally going to see a decrease.

“So our decrease is around nine percent as opposed to the full 12 percent and so we’re a little encouraged by that.

“By early next year we’re seeing a bit of a rebound.

That’s the nature of tourism, it’s very resilient. It’s

subject to a lot of shocks – hurricanes, travel advisories but short-term memory is very short and it bounces back so we’re expecting that to happen.”

Officials have been trying to get ahead of the bad publicity, he said.

“We’re very active out in the market getting the message out.

“Just last week I spent four hours on television stations in the United States just going from one city to another city on prime time slots in major cities getting the message out that The

Bahamas is open for business, (saying) ‘continue to book your holiday and the best way to help The Bahamas is to visit The Bahamas given our dependency on tourism.’”

Asked if the ministry could afford to ramp up its public relations, Mr D’Aguilar said: “I think what we’ve done is we’ve brought our spend forward. Obviously we had it mapped out over the year but given the urgency of the situation and given the fact that we really wanted to get the message out there

that we were open to business, we brought forward a bit of our spend in order to get the message out so we’ll see, we’ll adjust. You know how budgets are you adjust here and there.”

The minister was also asked whether Grand Lucayan negotiations had been delayed.

He said they were initially pushed back by about four to six weeks, but were currently back on track, adding he remained very optimistic about the outcome.

“As we get down to the crunch line, we look over

the terms of the arrangement, as we look over the heads of agreement it becomes very intense.

“A lot of meetings go on and then ultimately it comes up to the ministers and ultimately for the Cabinet to approve so understand certainly at the technical level the negotiations are going very well and then the policy and decisions will be brought to Cabinet and we’ll make a decision on that. But we’re very anxious for this to happen so I remain very optimistic,” he told The Tribune.

7-year rule on deaths may be changed

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands said discussions have started regarding possibly changing the seven-year official death declaration timeline for missing people, adding special considerations should be made in stormrelated cases.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Dr Sands said he did not know what the timeline should be, but it was a conversation to be had among stakeholders.

He also said his ministry wants to publish certain storm-death related details that he believes the public needs to know. However, he did not say when this information would be made public, noting there was an “unfortunate” discrepancy over the number of missing people last week as a result of Hurricane Dorian.

“I think if there is overwhelming evidence that somebody is missing as a result of the storm that some consideration should be made,” Dr Sands said outside of Cabinet yesterday. He was responding to a suggestion from Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis.

“Now what that timeline should be, should it be six months (or) a year, that is when discussion with all of the stakeholders would come up with an appropriate timeline.

“We have started that discussion,” he continued, when asked if this was something government should now look at.

“I believe the honourable attorney general would have made a few comments about it.

“Bear in mind that this not something that you can just pull out of thin air. It requires consideration of the implications.”

He continued: “You know what were to happen if they declared Duane Sands to be dead and then six months later he shows up? Does he get to retrieve his real property? Does he get to now pay back the life insurance on his life?

I mean these are serious questions.

“So while there is a need for closure I think we need to be very careful that we think this through very carefully and I suspect what will happen is that we come up with an intermediate, a position that a consensus position is found.

“I don’t know what that time is.”

Last week, Mr Davis called on the Minnis administration to shorten the time it takes to declare a person dead once missing after a natural disaster.

Mr Davis wants the change to be made to the Birth and Deaths Registration Act. Regarding storm death related details, Dr Sands said the information could be an integral part of families finding closure.

“We believe that the public needs to know exactly how they can find out whether or not a loved one, a missing loved one, is in one of the morgues either in Grand Bahama or in Abaco or in New Providence.

“There is information that ought to be readily available and we think that that should be made public so that people know exactly where to go, who to speak to (and) what numbers to call.

“So the process for a family member who believes that a loved one maybe missing would include making that initial inquiry.

“We would ask quite a bit of information about where was the person last seen, what were they wearing, do they have any identifying characteristics, do they wear braces, do they have scars, have they had any surgery on a limb or do they have any particular tattoos. “…Given the fact that a number of the bodies are in advanced state of decomposition, a request would be made for DNA since all of the autopsy remains have had DNA samples done.

“We then compare that DNA with the existing database of victims and if your loved one is in one of the morgues. Those remains would be turned over to the family for the appropriate last rights.”

Asked if the information would be published

this week, Dr Sands was noncommittal only pointing to the need to engage the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of National Security.

“I think we had a unfortunate discrepancy last week and we’d like to avoid anything like that so right now the carriage of the missing persons list is with national security.

“The Minister of National Security (Marvin Dames) would have said I believe that there are now 282 missing persons. We can confirm that we have had 61 storm related deaths and storm related bodies in the morgues in Grand Bahama and Abaco.

“There are still bodies in the morgue in Abaco and in Grand Bahama.

“There is one female body in Grand Bahama and there’s more than 40 remains in Abaco and what we’d like to do is to ensure that anybody who is missing a loved one knows exactly how to do it and that that process, that the difficulty is minimised so that people can get closure.”

Last week, there was a marked discrepancy over the people who are still unaccounted for.

In the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell said 1,208 were still unaccounted for following the monster storm.

However, National Security Minister Marvin Dames clarified the next day that police have reports of just 282 people still being missing. Two hundred and fifty-two of them are from Abaco and 20 from Grand Bahama, he said.

The Ministry of Social Services moved to publish an advertisement in The Tribune on Friday featuring the names of 1,208 missing people. However, the ministry pulled the ad late Thursday amid confusion about the correct figures.

Last Thursday, Mr Dames stressed that official missing persons lists must come from the police in part because if there is a need to involve the Coroner’s Court to declare someone dead; police represent the government at such proceedings.

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands.

STUDENTS PRESENT $3,839 TO ROTARY RELIEF EFFORTS ON Friday, October 4, Lyndon Institute (LI) Bahamian students and LI administrators presented a cheque for $3,839 to the Rotary Club of East Nassau for Hurricane Dorian relief.

The cheque was presented to District 7020 Zone 34 president, Francisco “Franny” De Cardenas. LI Bahamian students, with help from LI faculty and staff, raised the money through fundraising to benefit relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian. Mr De Cardenas is a resident of The Bahamas and father of Alejandro De Cardenas, one of the students involved

in the fundraising.

Alejandro De Cardenas, Marquis Rolle, Jenna Malone, Miles Adams, and Sean Collie headed up the efforts. With help from LI instructor Tim Ulich, the LI community hosted “Blue Jean Days” on two occasions during the month of September to help the Bahamian students’ cause, raising $815.

On “Blue Jean Days,” students and staff are encouraged to dress down for a small donation, with the raised funds going to different charitable causes.

LI boys varsity basketball coach and admissions coordinator,

Patrick Rainville, helped the Bahamian students organise a second fundraising event: a three vs three basketball tournament. The well-attended tournament, held in LI’s alumni gymnasium on Sunday, September 29, was an enormous success, raising a total of $3,024.

Head of School Twiladawn Perry presented a cheque to Mr De Cardenas at an informal gathering with the Bahamian students. In addition to the amount raised by the students, an anonymous donation brought the grand total of the donation to $5,040.

POWER RESTORED IN SOUTH ABACO AS BPL WORKS ON RESTORATION POWER has been restored in South Abaco as Bahamas Power and Light works with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to speed the return of electricity to customers in North Abaco six weeks after Hurricane Dorian battered the island.

According to a BPL press release, a mechanical component failed on the 1.8

megawatt CAT unit which had been used to provide power from the Wilson City Power Station to communities in the south. BPL was able to source and ship a replacement for the component which malfunctioned within short order, as well as an additional generator for installation at the site. The additional unit need only be connected to the grid and commissioned, BPL said.

With regard to the transmission line from Wilson City to Marsh Harbour, the remaining 65-foot poles are also on island. The team assigned to repair this line will continue work throughout this week replacing the 65-footers.

Meanwhile, the line crew assigned to Spring City is making good progress and should be completed with the line repairs in this area this

week, BPL added. This area will await the completion of repair on the Wilson CityMarsh Harbour line before it can be returned to service.

This team is expected to begin construction on the line between Marsh Harbour and critical infrastructure: the hospital, the government offices, the airport, the sea port and the Water and Sewerage Corporation facility, BPL added.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, October 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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Time to talk about civil unions?

IS the time right to have a conversation about civil unions for gay couples and the legalisation of abortion?

That’s the question raised by Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine.

Mr McAlpine, who is also a pastor, has often been at odds with his party, the FNM, in recent times, and perhaps his party won’t thank him again for suggesting the debate – but perhaps that is also what makes it easier for him to raise the subject.

He was speaking to The Tribune yesterday in the wake of the announcement of a gay pride parade next year – and he was one of few politicians who was willing to discuss the subject.

“I think the time is coming when you’re going to have to look at something called civil unions,” he said. His explanation for his reasons why may have been a little convoluted – boiling down to inheritance rights going to a same sex partner rather than a family member who disowned that person due to their sexuality – but it begins to get into some of the problems that people in such relationships experience. A legal paperwork setting out the wishes of people with regard to how the law and the land deals with their relationship with the person they love is something that is missing for same sex partnerships – so is it time to have that discussion?

Mr McAlpine also pointed out the illegality of abortion – yet “everybody knows people do get abortions. So when are we going to stop playing this game?”

It’s an important question at a time when the government has been busily saying the law is the law when it comes to matters regarding shanty towns – and yet here is a law that is widely ignored.

Many may say that the country is not ready for such a discussion on these issues – but which country has been ready for that discussion when it has first been raised?

A discussion, after all, involves more than one view, and raising the issue allows us to examine where we are, what we want, and what we think is fair. There will be parties on both sides who will be offended by some of the things being discussed and those who

will be offended if these things are not discussed.

It is wrong to say the world is changing – unless we recognise the world has always been changing. The values we have now are not values of 20 years ago, 50 years ago, 100 years ago or more. We trumpet being a Christian nation today but turn a blind eye to sweethearting, for example.

So let’s talk. Let’s see what we think is fair, as a nation. And let’s start that conversation today.

We’d like to thank Mr McAlpine for opening the debate - it’s time we had it.

Shutting out the press Reporters trying to speak to Cabinet members yesterday to get answers on issues facing the nation were greeted with a new policy.

According to a member of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, reporters must now stand about 30 feet from the entrance of Cabinet to conduct interviews.

There was no announcement beforehand, and no explanation for why reporters are suddenly being prevented from speaking more easily to members of the Cabinet.

We hope this is a mistake, perhaps on the part of an over-eager official – but it is a bad look for a government that has already failed to deliver on its promise of quarterly briefings by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, and whose briefings are now as hard to find as Anthony Newbold, the press secretary once charged with conducting them.

If it is a deliberate policy, it is another step removing the government from being answerable to the people – and a government that takes such steps invariably finds the public has its own answer for such behaviour at the ballot box.

We sincerely suggest that a quiet word is had with whoever instituted such a policy – and that it is removed right away.

If the government won’t answer questions, they may just find the voters will arrive at their own answers, just as the PLP found when they were booted out in 2017.

Human rights EDITOR, The Tribune.

Good government is more than the use of sovereign power to create prosperity, productivity and happiness. Good governing is the imaginative use of intuition, skills and knowledge to administrate with the participation and consent of the governed.

Human Rights is a mechanism to win consent of all persons being governed because it ensures fairness and respect for everyone.

When the US constitution states that all men are created equal although the whites had black slaves and the wealthy lived better than the poor whites, it was to create the circumstances that we are all in the same boat. We will all sink or all float.

Everyone knows that some people are smarter, taller, richer and more athletic than others. So when the term equality is used it is a metaphor for a common destiny. The same is true for

the French Revolution in 1789 Liberty, Equality and Fraternity was to inspire unity and that everyone has a stake in the success of the revolution – common destiny.

Human Rights are moral principles that set standards for human conduct.

In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly issued the Declaration of Human Rights as a response to the barbarism of the Second World War. Many politicians and law enforcement find that respecting people’s human rights makes their job difficult.

Remove people’s human rights and you signal to them and their associates that they do not have a stake in our society. This is not mere philosophy, but reality.

Examine genocide in Rwanda, Guatemala Civil War, El Salvador Civil War and I will argue the high homicide rate of the Caribbean, including The Bahamas.

The vast majority of people commuting homicides are marginalised.

They will destroy the society with ease because they feel that they are not benefiting adequately from the current political and social order.

Why obey laws that are not benefiting them?

Apparently they do not have a right to an education, job and to be free from discrimination. They are treated less than others by many, including law enforcement and opportunity and support for social mobility is tiny.

Human Rights guarantee people the means to satisfy their basic needs.

You either obey people’s human rights or move towards disunity and conflict.

Any analysis of history demonstrates that.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

BRIAN E PLUMMER Nassau, October 12, 2019.

Poverty in The Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune.

TRADE unions requests that minimum wage be increased to $300. Because the last increase which was in 2015 and presently stands at $210 is inadequate. The new school year has seen thousands of students will be elevated to higher grades. Resulting in change of curriculums. New teachers, new friends, higher performance demands, peer pressure. New text books, etc. Furthermore, hundreds of toddlers will be embarking on their journey into a new world. A world that will envelop them for many years. With countless parents working for minimum wage thousands of children in transition will be entering new classes ill equipped with the required scholastic materials. So already their performance abilities are impaired.

Hence lower GPA for students especially those in government schools. While a good education is paramount on parents’ minds.

With the cost of living in The Bahamas, parents, especially single parents, are finding it difficult to provide even the bare necessities for their families. Many of them are living below or barely above the poverty line.

Unfortunately many kids will start their first day back to school with very little or no lunch money. Not trying to be an alarmist, just keeping it real.

These are the ones that will depend on their friends whose families can afford more for them. Most gang members are recruited in schools. Toddlers and preschoolers whose single mother a (child herself) starts their first day of ABC by being dropped off at the school by a young relative while their mother is at work juggling two jobs.

With higher utility bills and added VAT rates, $210 per week for a single parent can hardly pay the rent much less buy food and clothes, forget

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net about school books. The cost of living here is higher than most countries throughout the world. Higher than all of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is also the wealthiest in the West Indies and third in the Americas behind the United States and Canada. Taking into consideration the forementioned let us take a look at the level of poverty in the country.

The following is an excerpt from a column entitled “Five things to know about poverty in The Bahamas” written by Julia Morrison In August 2017: “As of 2017, 14.8 percent of the country’s population lives below the poverty line.

Not only is this higher than the average global poverty rate, but the number of people living in poverty continues to increase. Currently, it has grown by two percent since 2014.”

On Wednesday, June 11, 2014, Ava Turnquest Tribune reporter wrote “Children under 14 have the highest poverty rate in The Bahamas as national statistics released yesterday reveal more than 40,000 persons in the country live under the poverty line on less than $5,000 per year. Findings show that 12.8 per cent of the population are living in poverty with a 3.5 per cent hike in the annual poverty line since the last recorded study in 2001, from $2,863 to $4,247”.

Moving fast forward to today with unions lobbying for an increase in basic wage already the noise is the small merchants will not be able to pay the proposed hike.

For the past several years we have seen a significant increase in cars imported from Japan costing less than five thousand dollars. While the owners of these cars are not only happy they are proud of their possession.

On the other hand we have a lot of people being upset that

so many of the cheap cars are on the roads.

One of the union leaders pointed out that The Bahamas is fast approaching a country of have and have nots. As long as our country is at the level of poverty it’s at. As long as children will have to go to school without the basic educational tools.

As long as they go to school on an empty stomach they will not achieve the maturity required to excel in a world that is besieged by a ravaging society. Unfortunately the majority of senseless violence and crime are in the inner cities where education is a challenge. Thankfully a few civic minded cooperate citizens and churches are responding to the clarion call to help alleviate the burden of the less fortunate and parents everywhere are very grateful for their kindness. Prayerfully more likeminded persons will get on board.

With poverty being what it is one would ask if it can be eradicated. If at first glance when Jesus said in John 12:8 “The poor you will always have with you” We can take it to mean they don’t worry about them they are always going to be around. This verse is often used as an attempt to take the wind out of all the rest of Jesus‘ commands to help the poor and needy and to show love and mercy.

But we see the logic when we read Deuteronomy 15:11 “For the poor you will always have with you in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.”

The thing about minimum wages only those that have to live with it feels it and to those who don’t it don’t matter. It is what it is. God bless you as you reach out to the less fortunate in your community.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, October 15, 2019.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 16, 2019, PAGE 5

End the taboos from page one

for years but when he dies she wants the Mercedes and the land he had. But he got those things through his homosexual lifestyle so why should you want it when you don’t know how he got it, when it might be a partner or friend he got these things with? You disowned him, you disregarded him, but when he died you want everything he has? That’s not right. I don’t endorse man marrying man but there might come at time when people want to hold on to what they have or the things they have had together through joint custody with another person.

There has to be a law to protect those people.”

He added: “That conversation needs to start more because some things are taboo. For instance, we say in this country it’s illegal to get abortion but everybody know people do get abortions. So when are we going to stop playing this game? I don’t endorse abortion but I think a woman has a right to do what she chooses to do. The church and government got to stay out of people’s bedroom. I don’t want the government in my house, telling me how to have sex, when to have sex and who to have sex with as long as it is consensual and not involving minors.”

Many believe fears about gay marriage led to the failure of the 2016 constitutional referendum on citizenship changes.

A committee formed by the Bahamas Organisation of LGBTI affairs and community allies plans to stage pride events in October 2020, embracing the theme “The Rebirth of Pride Bahamas Centering LGBTIQA People in The Bahamas’ Future”. Caribbean countries including Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica have hosted pride parades before, but not The Bahamas.

Alexis DeMarco, a transgender activist and one of the organisers of the planned parade, said pride celebrations “are critical for promoting the rights of Bahamian LGBT people.”

She said the intention is to normalise the idea that LGBT people exist in the country and are “productive and well contributing members of society who are entitled to the right to love without discrimination.”

Yesterday, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar declined to respond to reporters before Cabinet concerning the planned parade.

Describing it as a contentious matter for Bahamians, Mr D’Aguilar said: “You’ve thrown the question out at me, something worth

PINERIDGE MP Rev Frederick McAlpine. considering but I hadn’t them who marching for? considered it so give me Your job as a pastor is in the pulpit, go preach, what some time to think about.”

Mr McAlpine, however, you going out in the street said if asked, the adminis- for? I had a problem years tration should make it clear ago when you stop the that the rights of people boat from coming to The will be respected even Bahamas because it had if they don’t endorse the gays and lesbians. Okay, I could understand where lifestyle.

“To me this is simple,” you feel it’s a sin, but I’m he said. “If you ain’ gay, not going to demonstrate what you worrying about against a boat that has

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff gays on it and refuse to go they do, people’s rights are on the other boat that has not alienated.” fornicators and liars and In 1998 and 2004, some backbiters on it. If they Bahamians led by the have the permit, the law Bahamas Christian Council entitles them to their right took to the streets to proand if you’re not gay you test the arrival of lesbian shouldn’t be getting up in and gay people on cruise these people business or ships. In response to both condemning them or judg- incidents, government ing them. The government administrations of the day has a responsibility to emphasised their opposimake sure that whatever tion to discrimination.

‘EVERY TIME I SEE MY SON’S PICTURE, I CRY’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama father is devastated over the death of his only son, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree on Saturday at a school, just 1.2 kilometres from the family’s residence in Coral Reef Estates.

Philip Forbes said he grieves every day for his 50-year-old son, Kirby Forbes, who would have been celebrating his 51st birthday in a few days – on October 18.

“Every time I see his picture I cry,” said Mr Forbes, who does not believe that his son committed suicide.

According to the elder Forbes, Kirby returned to Grand Bahama from Turks and Caicos two months ago to visit family, and was staying with them at their residence on Coral Reef Lane.

Mr Forbes, who is disabled, said he last saw his son at home on Friday, October 11.

“He slept in the bedroom with me while the ball game was on,” he recalled.

As a result of Hurricane Dorian, the family’s home was flooded and their television was not working.

He remembered his son getting up for some tea. He said Kirby later left home and went to a nearby sports bar to watch the game, but never returned home after the establishment closed at 2am.

Mr Kirby said his son was

supposed to go with him to church but did not attend.

“I still went to church and when I came back home, they tell me Kirby dead up

by Jack Hayward School, right around the corner,” he said.

According to police, the body of a man was discovered hanging from a tree sometime around 2.40pm on Saturday at the rear of the Jack Hayward High School playing field.

Superintendent Brian Rolle, officer in charge of Grand Bahama CDU, said the victim is a black male in his late 40s to early 50s.

Photos of the victim with a rope around his neck and hanging from a tree were circulated on social media, disturbing the victim’s father.

“He would have been 51 in the next couple of days, his birthday is on October 18; he died on my anniversary,” he said.

Mr Forbes said that Kirby was a mason by profession.

He said his son worked at a hotel in Turks and Caicos.

He was not married and did not have any children.

“I had given him $50 and told him to get his face trim and to bald his head. I have two girls and he is the only son I have,” he said.

When asked if he thinks his son would have taken his own life, Mr Forbes said: “I doubt it. He had no need to. He had everything he needed because I work for myself and my children.

What you see in Freeport I help build Freeport.”

Asked if his son was sad or depressed, he said: “Not what I know about, I know my son. All I know is that he never used to talk much, but he will do anything for you.”

Mr Forbes, who has difficulty walking and uses a walker, said that his son lifted him out of the house when it began to flood during the storm.

“This yard was flooded with water and my boy lift me up and take me through the water and friends came in a truck and took me to safety at the Church of God,” he said. “When we came back home, water was all over the floor everything was damaged in the house.”

The entire family, he said, does not believe that Kirby killed himself.

“My brother called me from Turks and Caicos Island last night and said that he believes somebody kill my son, and all my people saying the same thing.

“I thank God I change my way of life,” said Mr Forbes. “I am a Christian now, I changed my way of living completely.

“The family is devastated by this tragic news we get.

We do not believe he took his life. If he did it, I might be wrong, but the good Lord would help show me where he did kill himself.

But, he had no need to do it. He had everything in life he needed, I give him everything; I sent him and two daughters off to school in the US,” he said.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PHILIP Forbes holds a photo of his son who was found hanging near Jack Hayward High School in a suspected suicide.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, October 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

‘Chipman?

He don’t come around here’ from page one Another resident, who asked to be identified as Ms Evans, said the area needs to be cleaned up. She added that former Prime Minister and area MP Perry Christie did more for their community than Mr Chipman has.

She said: “The people in the community clean up around here. When we have our functions in the community, people in the community give back. We got from Perry Christie, but nothing from Reece. Perry Christie did one or two things. No one seen Reece, you can ask anyone around here.”

Another resident, who preferred to be unnamed, said more community programmes are needed to help at-risk youth.

He said: “The challenge I find is that I don’t (know) what vision is allowed in the government. The reality is the young men around here smoking marijuana, it’s like

CENTREVILLE MP Reece Chipman a hopeless situation. There is no support and no community programmes. What have he done? What have he really done in terms of community programmes to strengthen the community?

Reece was no help and still ain’t no help (sic).

“Reece maybe successful within himself but as far as doing the role of MP, I’ve been an FNM all my life and there is no way I’ll vote for him. When you vote for a person you don’t vote for name, but you vote for what they have done. He has a

track record and the track record for me don’t worth two cents.”

Another irate resident, who also asked to remain anonymous, said he’s glad Mr Chipman quit the FNM but said he won’t vote for either major party in the next election.

He said: “Look over there (at that pile of rubbish.) Out here was like this for years, from Perry Christie time. All of them joking man, we don’t be into them no more. Perry and Reece were in power and nothing change.

“None of them getting my vote next time because they keep promising the same things over and over, but don’t never deliver.

They promise jobs but they don’t look out for us. They only come around when they need our vote.”

Despite the complaints from many, two residents expressed their support for Mr Chipman.

Addington Godet, Centreville resident, said he

CAROLINA STRACHAN, who says she is a PLP supporter but that she does support Centreville MP Reece Chipman, saying he has her vote.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff would vote for Mr Chipman another Centreville resi- as well as institutional and if he ran as an independ- dent, told this newspaper partisan politics pushed him ent candidate in the next that she’s a Progressive Lib- to quit the governing party. eral Party supporter but she election.

“Absolutely, it was a big Mr Godet said: “He tried supports Mr Chipman. thing for me,” Mr Chipman Ms Strachan said: “Reece said during a press conferto do some things and look like he couldn’t get things Chipman did the right ence at his constituency done so I don’t have a prob- thing by leaving the FNM. office, when he was asked if lem with him leaving the He did a wonderful job the Minnis administration’s FNM to be independent. As for the community, he for actions in the aftermath of far as I’m concerned when the people. Independently Dorian had anything to do the (former) prime minister Reece Chipman has my with the move. was here, nothing was done. vote. He has my vote.

“When Bahamian lives “Every day the side of are lost and the way you “Reece couldn’t do nothing, so running independent, the road getting clean up, would have seen lives on he could speak out freely the park coming along and the street, definitely there now or more freely now. for sure I know he’s putting is some accountability that I feel as if he was allowed in effort. He is helping, he needs to take place from to do some things (by the did a lot. I glad Reece left, the government.”

FNM), he would have done and he showed me as an It was in 2017 that more things. I am an FNM FNM, and I’m a PLP what the first term MP unseated supporter but him leaving he can do, and he did it.”

Mr Christie who had repLast week, Mr Chipman resented the area for 40 the party doesn’t make a said the government’s han- years. He won by a slim difference to me.”

Carolina Strachan, dling of Hurricane Dorian margin.

FALLING TRADE AND THREATS IF THEY TALK TO THE MEDIA - TROUBLES FACING POTTER’S CAY VENDORS

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net VENDORS at Potter’s Cay Dock yesterday expressed continued frustration with authorities over ongoing concerns at the dock, calling for government officials to find an immediate resolution to their complaints.

Numerous concerns raised by stall holders recently have included “militant” policing by officers, insufficient lighting, parking policy changes and lack of action from the government to resolve the problems at the site.

These issues, as suggested by vendors, are considered key reasons for a major decline in business at the site.

Speaking during a press conference held at Potter’s Cay Dock yesterday, President of Bahama Docks and Allied Venues Association Dwaine Bastian said the various concerns of vendors have been falling on deaf ears.

“A lot of vendors here on Potter’s Cay Dock are hurting and a lot of people’s kids can’t go to school because no moneys are making and it’s like no one cares,” he said.

“This supposed to be the people’s time so at least look out for your people and make sure that Bahamians are first. Right now, we feel like hurricane victims because we need someone to just come and hug us and hold us and say that there is hope.”

Another vendor expressed similar sentiments.

Proprietor of Banks Fresh Fish and Conch, Edward McPhee, said: “For the past few months, the vendors on this dock with the exception of a few have been suffering tremendously. The government stated that it’s because of the parking that the crimes are happening, but parking don’t do crimes.”

Police officers began enforcing a government policy disallowing parking in front of stalls at the dock earlier this year after two men were shot and killed in a double homicide at Potter’s Cay on May 8.

Yesterday’s comments from irate vendors came almost two weeks after they protested at the dock, calling for the removal of the dock manager, Gregory Minnis.

Many reiterated their concerns about Mr Minnis yesterday, calling him unprofessional.

In fact, spokesperson for the association Wendi Constantine played a voice note of Mr Minnis’ threatening vendors if they attempted to contact the media.

“This is what we’re dealing with. This is the type of characteristic traits of this manager that we’re dealing with and that’s why we’re asking for his immediate removal. The relationship has deteriorated to the point of threats,” she said.

When contacted by The Tribune for comment, Mr Minnis said he has since apologised for his remarks.

“It was done in a heated moment and we’ve already dealt with that matter, so I don’t why (vendors) are bringing that up because they are being

very hypocritical. They know that we are trying to help them… so I don’t see why they keep creating an issue,” he said.

However, Mr Minnis was not the only one criticised by members during the press conference.

The association also responded to the statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture in response to their demonstration.

The ministry said in a statement last week: “Any concerns that vendors may have should be communicated to and dealt with by the manager and, whenever appropriate, advanced to the ministry’s senior management.”

The ministry also reiterated that parking is no longer allowed in front of stalls because doing so disrupts the steady flow of traffic on Potter’s Cay and creates safety concerns.

Vendors, however, considered the statement to be highly misleading.

An attorney for the association, Andrew Allen, said: “The story that we’re told in that extremely misleading statement is incorrect. The reason for these changes is obviously to pressure the vendors and the patrons. Somebody has formed the view that having too much business out here and having too many Bahamians coming out to enjoy themselves is the problem.

“We believe that it is incumbent upon the ministry to at least force this matter to the point that the manager responds to the membership and if necessary, the minister responds to the membership over these concerns.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 16, 2019, PAGE 7

Row ends with man shot dead from page one

The Tribune understands the victim is 44-year-old, father-of-two Kurtwood “Bruno” Brown, however, his identity was not released by police.

This latest killing has pushed the murder count to 86 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. Murders have increased compared to this period last year, when there were less than 80 killings reported at

that time.

The victim’s childhood friend, who gave his name only as “King”, said Mr Brown was a good, down to earth person.

He said: “He was my friend all my life and he grow me up. We had a good relationship. We were tight and close. He always talked a bunch of garbage and kept everyone laughing. I lost my friend and honest to God they took this to another level now. He doesn’t bother no one.

“He was a good person and he was a chef. He was the best chef in the world and around here.

He cooked for everybody, every day when he was living. We had grill outs all of the time and whatever you wanted him to do he’d do. Our last grill out was (Monday).”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 919, 502-9991 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328TIPS (8477).

OFFICER FIRED ON BIKER ‘AFTER HE PULLED OUT GUN’ A POLICE officer shot a man who allegedly pulled a gun on him while riding a motorcycle.

Police said the incident happened shortly after 11am on Monday when the officer was on routine patrol. The officer saw a man riding an unlicenced motorcycle and tried to stop the driver.

According to police, the man continued to speed, followed by the officer. As they were on Moore Avenue, the officer observed the driver of the motorcycle pull a black

firearm from his waist.

“The officer, being in fear for his life, fired his service weapon in the direction of the male, hitting him to his leg and causing him to fall to the ground,” police said.

“The officer observed a black male (who) picked up the firearm and ran from the area. The injured man was transported to hospital and is listed in stable condition. No one else was injured during this incident.”

The shooting happened days after another man

was shot by police on Saturday. That police-involved shooting happened outside a nightclub on St Alban’s Drive. Police said the man who was shot walked towards officers with a firearm and refused to drop the weapon after being ordered to do so. Police said officers, in fear of their lives, discharged their service weapons in the direction of the gunman, wounding him. At last report, he was in hospital in serious condition.

Investigations are ongoing.

MAN ACCUSED OF MURDER AND FIREARM POSSESSION

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A FREEPORT man was arraigned on attempted murder and firearm possession charges in Magistrates Court yesterday.

Vacara Morley, 26, of Tamarind Street, appeared before Magistrate Rengin Johnson on two counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

It is alleged that on October 9 in Freeport, the accused attempted to murder Hayward Johnson and Shamar Moss.

It is also alleged that on the same date and place, Morley possessed a firearm with intent to endanger two lives.

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

During the arraignment,

Morley claimed that he was beaten by officers while in police custody. The judge said that she would make a note of the allegation.

He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in New Providence until February 4, 2020.

MAN ROBBED OUTSIDE HOME A MAN was robbed by armed men outside his home in Fox Hill yesterday morning.

According to police, the victim had just arrived at his home on Fox Hill Road shortly after 2am when he was approached by armed men, who robbed him of cash, jewelry and other items before getting into his Honda and speeding away.

The vehicle was recovered a short time later in the immediate area.

Investigations are ongoing.

Remembring You On Your Birday

inking of you on this special date, to celebrate all the happiness you gave to others so unsellshly. is wish comes just to tell you that you are thought of in the warmest way, today and all year through! Grace was in all your steps and your genorosity abound. We can never be separated as God has lee me with memories to hold and love that doesn’t pass away.

Happy Birhday Dear Mom, I love you with all my heart.

Love Always, Kyla

KURTWOOD “Bruno” Brown.

Are we really getting Where does loyalty lie - with theparty nextorsteps right? the the voters?

PAGE 8, Wednesday, October 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

W M

ITH ANDAMember TORY of Parliament evacuation, foron the Centreville Reece surface, seems like Chipman’s departure from a good idea.

It is for evesafety, right?

We theryone’s Free National Movewantthere to ensure the government, is been quite ment for our a bit of can talk legislate about loyalty. safety particularly when The prime minister took expect disaster will thewe opportunity, while strike. We to know speaking at need the funeral in the most vulnerof people Tennyson Wells, to ablehome areasthe notpoint only that have drive somewhere else torequire go, but political parties are compelled to go. loyalty.

This is no secret. evacuation We Mandatory know that members means people must either of political parties are leave their homes to go to expected to toe thelocations party the designated line.

They are supposed or face jail time, fines, or to both. think the same way, or do an exceptional of It takes away thejob ability pretending to choose.they do. There are It to isbe notoarguments, easy excuse this, nothinking differences of opinion of rescue work- and definitely publicbe ers whose livesnowould positions that oppose in danger should the they party of view.

Since havepoint to save those who Members ParliamentIt chose notofto evacuated. easy to by calltheir it care for areis elected conthe people stituents, this themselves presents a people who are too foolish problem. to care much seen about We have asalready their own lives as we, on how a party’s position can the outside, do. disadvantage a community, and difficult decisions representatives must then make. Do they stand with their constituents who, clearly, are and People point out the issues, not as smart as we are demanding reconsiderabecause we, of course, tion of the issue, or do they would evacuate.

We stay in the good graces of would trust a government their colleagues withinabout the making decisions party go along manyandislands fromwith the thecomfort programme?

Recallin of one island theparticular, debate about increasand we would ingbelieve Valueit knows Added what Tax.is FNM ParliabestMembers for us on ofour island ment were taken considers to task which it rarely foroutside opposing the proposed of election season.

We believe the people increase, even though they who ondobehalf not of evacuate spoke their should be punished. constituents, as they They are deserve it. They are being elected to do. reckless anddoselfish.

That For whom Members for the young couple of goes Parliament work?

Is just the bought its new it that for us, Bahamian home and just wants to be together in it. When a storm is brewing, there is no time for sentiment. It

Decisions

people? Or is it for the also goesmasters for our behind grandpuppet mothers who have known every move the political their homes to withstand party makes? We know everything from the day where the money they moved in. Thecomes same from and who makeswhen the grandmothers who, final decision about who

“Politicians “Even as weare called to beon look back whattohappened loyal their before and during parties. In the last Hurricane election, weDorian, saw it is clear that an overwhelming even hindsight is number of flawed.

How much independent of a difference candidates.

This would mandatory was exciting, evacuation have and many made? Doof weus were to knowprepared who chose consider them. not to evacuated The manywere of and issue how they impacted? us could notWere think the areas included past was their in evacuation relative power in notices theifones parliament they hardest were, byhit?” some miracle, to win their seats.

How they are ill, will let us come ininfluence and care for them, much but will not leave to come would they have?” to our homes where we

think they will be more comfortable and receive gets the job (or, more prebetterwho care.

Thegetsame cisely, doesn’t the grandmothers who have job), but those employers and memories, - routines Bahamian citizens - do only some of which we not have direct, consistent understand, andwewhose oversight.

Maybe have effective remedies, tested the right to oversight, but and proven by our own bodies, spring from the earth itself?

They are wrong to want to be where they have

do not exercise it, posalways been, and sibly because we they have ought to be punished never taken the timeforto their refusal to move. develop the tools that Not only punished, but would enable us to do it criminalized. within existingispolitiThe the Bahamas an cal environment. may island nation. WeWeonly have so been laxrun. in Shelters develophave far to ing appropriate tools failed us in the first daysdue of to lack of They confidence September. did notin the current system. protect people the way we People saving still our weAre expected. energy for after the watchdeconhad to flee, struction the ill-fitting ing the of hurricane and waiting for thesystem best time neo-colonial that, to escape.

There no in more ways thanwas we care predicting devastato consider, the is failing us? tion.

If we had Politicians areknown, called entire would to be islands loyal to theirhave parbeen People ties. Inevacuated. the last election, would directed we sawhave an been overwhelming to other pieces of rock, number of independent not to different candidates.

This buildings was exciton parts of were the ing,different and many of us same rock.

Here we are, prepared to consider however, talking about them. The issue many of mandatory evacuations us could not think past and the criminalization of was their relative power people whose lives would in parliament they after were, never be the ifsame by some win the systemmiracle, chewed to them their seats.

How much up and spit them out. influence they We care would about each have?

If one party got an other so much that we overwhelming would do this - majority an act, weof seats, what goodReally? would insist, of love. our independent MemWhat about the undocubers of Parliament do?live mented who already in We fear,now whohave do not an want indeto present themselves pendent Member at aof shelter or anydue other Parliament, in govpart ernment-operated to the reality of facility, partisan and to He whom we a have politics. noted great proven do not parliacare distancewebetween and “repatriate” themof mentwilland the people in the midst of crisis so The Bahamas. It is unclear they displaced how can thisbe move willand do destabilized again, but more than yetdemonstrate this time, better, because we will not see it. What a Christian nation we are proving ourselves to be these days, selective in

THE RUBBLE of a destroyed neighbourhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in Abaco, pictured in September. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

our love, in our duty, in evacuated to various we feel “off”. We need our acknowledgement and islands and are staying someone to call when it is CENTREVILLE MP Reece Chipman the FNM last week. expression of humanity. time to go for a long drive, withresigned family from members and What should our next friends. gas price permitting. We steps be? someone remind should not be needhave citizenship.

We still encourage theirtophysiological Chipman’s dissatisfac- We Weather systems arethe playing us of who met, we areparticularly and, guessingto leave gamesThe our children needs tion with the FNM or ever-changing and politics, our or Bahamas, sometimes, who we situation are depending get on theirpereducain a disastrous nature of party preparation are to sonal not. like the one we face now? relationships tion elsewhere, and to try to but it will besystems interesting imperfect.

If Who you gets don’t stay.access to critical to bealready human? see how it affects proceed- gain Even as we look back have one, start making information.

We are happy to hire

ings, decision-making, and onpublic what discourse. happened before that list soDON’T when the days We all need to know low-wage workers to do WAIT and during Hurricane what are a little harder, you is happening now TO BE ASKED Members of Parliament the tasks we do not have Dorian, it is clear that and be clear on the plan don’t have to think about time or the will to take Most of us are forare elected by the people. forthe even hindsight is flawed. who to call. the coming months. tunate enough to have There is, of course, a con- Iton.is clear we cannot How much of a differAs our longefforts as they what we call true, true versation to be had about sustain ence would mandatory at remain the underfoot, the way candidates evacuation have made?are current scale it oris fine. pace As friends. They are there in as longer they are an instant when we call, selected andwho thechose exclu- forlong Do we know much andhumble, we defer us, and plan. do not Over they the celebrate our wins sion the general public need not to of evacuated and how past week, a to long-term anything beyond as ifgiven theyinare from theimpacted? process. We are It aspire they were I have to their small own, cannottobe developed work and they tell presented with candidates, Were the areas included in the pleasures.

It us haswhen been we a are isolation, so standard govern- of living we consider suitable help us tied notices to a politiinusually evacuation the ment busywrong period,and andthey temptagencies, non-profit for them, they can remain. to be meet our needs. cal hardest party, and instructed ones hit? We also organizations, ing to laser-focused on We donors, the impacted grass, mind doDue the same for them to make a choice. From need to consider the way andCutthose work. to a series of and by the children, Dorian paint theneed house, consider ourselves we impris-are Hurricane events and unusual cir- good thelegislate. momentIs they onment an appropriate cumstance, decided to do findwith waysmama, to meaningand iron friends Itoo. announced, they become to sit response to refusal to fully more Ithan work. made the engage, clothes. regularly That is all have a Ifew friends synonymous with a party, evacuate it towho Short part support of and are build “those people” meant giveTales, me their a set of one’s colours,home? and a communicate There have prime to be minister. better solutions Paradise to do. - and it needs to Shakespeare wheneverinI need it. Perpotential ways to protect people if of happen at The which I now. of mine shared A friend hapsDundas more importantly, I Their representation that is, indeed, what we highly a personal story a few days haverecommend, friends thatand do not constituencies is already are trying to do. We need Junewait Collie’s agoSIMPLE about his experience for meartto exhibiask. I think secondary. to be clear on what we tion which I hadfriends been and It follows that their loy- as the child of Haitian about these are doing for safety, what looking forward migrants. the way they topayforattenalty is understood to be, PLEASURES we are for optics, weeks andanticipate was worthand theshow They lived on the tion, first anddoing foremost, with the and what we are doing to wait.up,It especially was difficult property of the parents’ as I totry to party and its leadership. appear busy. We need to here are times make adjustments in my who tried to help others.

We have to go back to employers set priorities. when the days schedule to ensure that I leaving, system, to process and to keep them could Idothink these about things, how but difseem from longer. impacting theonchildren’s ficult it important is, when tounder practice addressing the It often it was depends what I knew to education.

They pressure ormyself. experiencing issue of loyalty and true weaccess are doing, how we are cultivate joy for wereit, treated tools greatlast discomfort, to assess representation. doing who is as with us, for Early week, I went rather one’s own and ask Chipman where we have to gothan to the beach on needs a cool day We are still in might hurricanejust andproduction human beings. help. show us what it need looksto like next.

There is little room that for threatened rain and season.

Shelters It is important to note We enjoyed cannot the always have a true representaor to make thoroughly beto identified and tested. to self-assess the similarities expect people to be able focused onsystem service adjustments unless between an solitude.

Ative,notification slavery and theisBahamian to tell ushave what they to histoconstituency effort made needs be designed rather and intentional Friends givenneed, and its we of should not make supported by other tested.

Disaster manageme and glasses lemonade, than an old machine and andmicro-economy When on burning ment protocols smoothies, lunch recomdependence migrant the assumption that all the people whoneed insist to it is parties. candle at labour. both ends, mendations, beworking developed.

A We team photos is well unless they of tell us just fine. have the(low-wage) necessary have a theirotherwise. should bea working recreational time, ice accepttothat wealthy two and half yearsonto asee it is We care Canada, for our- the comprehensive report standard cream,We funny peopleoffrom allphotos have and strong how it goes. we neglect on Hurricane Dorian, selves. words of affirmation.

U.S.,When and the UK come friends, and we often prepare such times, the missteps and pitfalls, to to small, on butthem.

The for Bahamas to take These forgetseem to check A LEVEL is nothingand to progaps,PLAYING strong FIELD? partner- there theyAsk all have meaning and are ownership control them how they cushion and whenget wejobs ships, lessons learned and purpose, of aresources doing and and serving find out as if they Conversations about vide heading a crash.

It for opportunities.

Residents a reminder that while werefor never meant need anything, butwe go furHaitian migrants continue arethat having insurance. are ther should the timeline responsible Bahamians. than that.for ourin theknow aftermath of Hurri- is liking you are for relief efforts led by the Either selves,Think sometimes wetheir need situThese aregoing not to the about cane Dorian and it is clear bear the brunt of it, ready a little a help. government. people we target with our It ation, and offer the help many see disaster By now, wethe should know as or not, or you have been is gift to be cared “Bahamians first” rhetoyou know an opportunity to expel when and how people will investing in a system that for, and a privilegethey to beneed.

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What do they have to we see the need before We intentionally travel to other countries to give do to earn our respect as they do.

Don’t wait for them to birth in order to give our human beings or, at the children access to another very least, to be safe and ask for help. Give it.

Joy

Protocols

T

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 16, 2019, PAGE 9

FACEBOOK LAUNCHES DIGITAL CURRENCY

SENIORS CAN USE

VIRTUAL REALITY FOR TRAVEL AND

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer

HEALTH ISSUES

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Joy Golliver recently visited the Washington state community where she and her late husband lived for more than 20 years.

And her sons, who live in Seattle, texted their 84-year-old mother asking how she was able to travel from Tucson, Arizona, to Kachess Lake without them knowing.

Thanks to virtual reality, Golliver actually never left Tucson.

“This technology can take us to any memory in our life that we want to visit,” she said.

Golliver lives at the Fountains, one of two Tucson retirement communities serving as the launching pad for a program to see how virtual reality technology helps seniors. With a headset, residents have been able to ride a roller coaster and visit the Egyptian pyramids, Eiffel Tower and places they used to live. Some researchers say virtual reality can aid seniors with cognition, dementia and loneliness.

Besides traveling, Golliver is using the technology to help write her memoirs.

The program, Engage VR, was developed for Watermark Retirement Communities specifically. It uses a cordless headset

ABOVE: JOY GOLLIVER, resident at The Fountains at La Cholla, using a virtual reality device to visit her old home, that is 20 miles outside of Seattle, Washington, during a virtual reality program, “EngageVR”.

TOP: Ricky Garrett, technology concierge for The Fountain, explaining how to use the virtual really device.

system called Oculus Quest.

Zoe Katleman, a project manager with Watermark, said they will eventually make the technology available at dozens of facilities nationwide, the Arizona Daily Star reported. Watermark also wants to allow residents across its communities to be able to meet up virtually.

Grayson Barnes, 20, spent two years developing the Engage VR

program for Watermark while studying at Rochester Institute of Technology.

He said most research suggests that dementia patients are more like themselves after experiencing virtual reality. Also, one group of researchers has “turned to virtual reality as a potential method to screen for early signs of dementia,” Barnes said in an email.

Dr. Marvin Slepian, a professor of medicine and director of the Arizona Center for Accelerated Biomedical Innovation, said doctors are using virtual reality more often for diagnosing and therapy.

“Advances in wearable technology, virtual reality and integrative imaging hold the promise of revolutionising how we monitor, control and prevent disease,” Slepian said.

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Several private companies on the island are discovering that there are benefits to offering an EV charging station for their customers. In a competitive

business world, it’s an innovative, cost effective way to gain an edge over the competition. EV drivers looking for a specific restaurant or store are more likely to consistently and faithfully choose the one where they can charge up during their visit. EV charging stations also keep customers at a location for longer, and studies show they are likely to spend

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FACEBOOK officially moved forward with its plans Monday to create a new digital currency called Libra, despite several high-profile defections from the project and intense criticism from U.S. regulators and politicians.

The Libra Association, the nonprofit that will govern the currency, officially signed on 21 charter members on Monday at the organisation’s inaugural meeting in Geneva. Originally the Libra Association had 27 potential members, but several companies dropped out in recent days, including Visa, Mastercard and PayPal. Most of the remaining members of the Libra Association consist of venture capital firms, who often have an eye on emerging technologies and align with Facebook’s interests, as well as nonprofits. But some larger companies who are now members of the association include Uber, Lyft, Spotify and European telecommunications company Vodafone. The association said in a statement that an unnamed additional 180 entities have expressed interest and have met the initial requirements to join.

Facebook has faced criticism since the summer when it unveiled plans to create a separate, private currency system to allow users to make cross-border payments more easily. Politicians have said they believe Facebook’s struggles with protecting users’ privacy would spill over into Libra, despite it being a separate organisation.

The Menlo Park, Californiabased company tried to answer those criticisms by creating Libra as a legally separate entity through the Libra Association, and by not owning Libra itself.

But Facebook is still involved, even at an arm’s length. The association elected David Marcus, a Facebook executive and co-creator of Libra, as one of the association’s five directors. Katie Haun with Andreessen Horowitz, one of the VC firms that invested in Facebook before it went public, was elected to the board as well.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to appear in front of the House Financial Services Committee later this month to discuss Libra. That committee is chaired by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., who has been an ardent critic of Libra from its onset.

Facebook and the Libra Association have said they would not start trading or accepting deposits for Libra until they satisfy U.S. regulators concerns. Dante Disparte, Libra’s head of policy and communications, said that the association is now in active talks with regulators to get approval.

Facebook has also hired several Washington lobbyists to help alieve regulator and political concerns over Libra.

The other three directors elected to the association’s board were Matthew Davie of Kiva Microfunds, Patrick Ellis with PayU and Wences Casares of Xapo Holdings Ltd.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, October 16, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Court orders police to reconsider promotion

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

STEPHON DAVIS, 23, of Colleton Street being brought to Magistrates Court to be arraigned on one count of murder in relation to the homicide of Anthony Wright.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

‘DON’T SEND ME TO JAIL, I HAVE BULLETS INSIDE ME’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 23-YEAR-OLD man charged with murder yesterday claimed he isn’t “fit” for jail because he has two bullets lodged in his upper body.

Stephon Davis, upon being remanded for allegedly killing Anthony Wright, said he has a bullet in the back of his head and one in his neck.

To validate his “conditions”, he subsequently showed Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt X-ray images of bullets inside him.

The Yellow Elder resident further asserted that he was beaten while in custody at the Central Detective Unit (CDU).

“I ain’t really fit for jail,” he concluded.

Davis’ statements came moments after he was arraigned on a single charge of murder stemming from Wright’s shooting death in the Coconut Grove community on September 15.

According to police, on the date in question, Wright was standing in front of a residence on First Street around 7pm, when he was approached by people in a white Japanese vehicle who opened fire on him.

Wright was transported to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) where he later died.

Davis was not required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to December 5 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

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

He has the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

The chief magistrate also made a note for Davis to be seen by the BDCS’ medical examiner upon his admittance to the Fox Hill facility.

Davis is the second man charged in connection with Wright’s death.

Last week, 40-year-old Eduardo Carey of Wilson Street was charged with Wright’s murder, as well as the murders of two other men and the attempted murders of another three. He also returns to court on December 5 for service of a VBI. Nonetheless, his attorney, Tonique Lewis, told the court that her client was willing to participate in an identity parade for all of the matters he was accused of, but was denied the opportunity.

A SUPREME Court judge has ordered the Royal Bahamas Police Force to “properly consider” a constable’s previously overlooked application for promotion to corporal.

Justice Indra Charles, in an October 11 written ruling, ordered that P/C Delmar Taylor appear before a “properly constituted” promotion board to have his fair chance at advancement in the organisation.

Justice Charles ruled the promotion board that decided not to promote P/C Taylor following two promotion exercises in 2014 and 2017 was “improperly constituted”, and thus quashed its decision.

The judge further ordered the RBPF pay P/C Taylor $10,000 in fixed legal costs for the matter.

Justice Charles’ written decision came six months after she ruled the promotion board that overlooked P/C Taylor’s application was illegally constituted.

She also found that former RBPF Commissioner Ellison Greenslade had no business chairing the board.

Rather, Justice Charles said Mr Greenslade “usurped” the power of his deputy commissioner, the actual chairman of the board, when he and the RBPF’s promotion board decided not to promote P/C Taylor following two promotion exercises in 2014 and 2017.

That fact alone clearly highlighted the “irregularity” of the promotion exercises in question, Justice Charles said, as she further noted the RBPF’s Standing Orders were not complied with in the present case.

Last year, The Tribune exclusively reported how P/C Taylor said in a sworn affidavit that he was overlooked

twice on a promotion to corporal, while other constables who did not satisfy certain requisite RBPF policies, courses or examinations went ahead of him.

The officer of 12 years said he was snubbed on two occasions: once following a promotion exercise in 2014, and again following a police advisory for promotion vacancies three years later in 2017.

And in each instance, P/C Taylor said the RBPF promoted “a number” of other police constables who either did not satisfy the RBPF’s policies or who had not successfully completed the RBPF’s Constable Development Course or Police Proficiency Examinations, both fundamental requirements for promotion.

This was despite him completing numerous courses as well as being the holder of an Associate’s of Arts Degree in Business Management from the University of the West Indies.

According to his affidavit, P/C Taylor enlisted in the RBPF on June 19, 2006.

Since then, he has been attached to the Fire Services Unit, Tourism Police Unit, ‘Quiet Storm’, Central Police Station, among other areas.

In August 2012, he was transferred to Eleuthera and attached to the Rock Sound Police Station, where he served as the station orderly.

He further said he was responsible for a shift/guard and was the senior constable performing the role of a “de facto corporal” from sometime in 2013 to the present.

On October 2014, the police force conducted a proficiency exam at the police college. However, P/C Taylor said it was “widely known” and discussed throughout the RBPF at the time that the “integrity and procedural” propriety of the exams were

being challenged.

That same year, P/C Taylor said the RBPF held a promotion exercise, prompting him to apply for elevation to the rank of corporal. He said he was unsuccessful in his bid.

However, he claimed it was “notoriously known” throughout the RBPF that individuals who did not sit the exams and some who weren’t successful in the tests were still elevated, which he said was “clearly in contravention of the Force’s Standing Orders.”

After the 2014 promotion exercise, P/C Taylor said he wrote to the police chief and requested an opportunity to meet and discuss with him “any reason that may have affected the decision not to elevate (him) to the rank of corporal.”

However, he said he got no response.

On January 21, 2017, P/C Taylor said he was transferred to the Governor’s Harbour Police Station in Eleuthera, and came under the immediate supervision of Sergeant 188 Farquharson and Inspector Nigel Rolle.

In March 2017, he said those two officers insisted on conducting another performance appraisal on him, despite his oral communications that such an appraisal was inconsistent with the RBPF’s policy on assessments and career development, which speaks to appraisals being done on six month intervals.

The officer said he also spoke to his divisional commander, Superintendent Christopher Wright, in reference to the inconsistency, and was assured by Supt Wright that he had the “final say” and that he had “firmly recommended” him to be promoted to corporal.

After speaking with Supt Wright and receiving his verbal endorsement, Const

Taylor said he formed the “reasonable expectation to be elevated.”

On March 6 and 7, 2017, P/C Taylor said the police proficiency examinations were conducted at the training college and some 832 officers wrote those examinations. The results of those tests were published five days later on March 11.

He submitted an application for a promotion but did not receive one.

Const Taylor said he wrote then-Commissioner Greenslade on two occasions concerning a promotion. Up to that point, however, he hadn’t received a response to either letter.

And when he flew into New Providence on May 2, 2017 to meet with Mr Greenslade concerning Force Orders, he was informed the former police chief wasn’t meeting with anyone.

P/C Taylor, through his attorney Bjorn Ferguson, consequently sued Mr Greenslade and the other members of the promotion board, namely Superintendent Gabriella Pratt, Clarence Reckley, Perry Clarke, and Patrick Johnson, seeking declarations that the entire process concerning the RBPF’s promotions during the periods in question was unfair and that the commissioner of police abused his power.

At the end of those earlier proceedings, Justice Charles ultimately sided with P/C Taylor, ruling that the board’s decision “must be quashed” in the circumstances. She noted that in doing so, she was not suggesting that the promotion board is obligated to promoted P/C Taylor, or likewise that he is “entitled” to a promotion, but rather that her decision was based on P/C Taylor’s “eligibility” and the board’s improper constitution at the time.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 16, 2019, PAGE 11

DEMOCRATS WEIGH VOTE OVER PROBE

HOUSE Democrats are gauging support for a vote to formally authorise the impeachment inquiry as another official testified yesterday in the probe of President Donald Trump’s efforts to have Ukraine investigate Joe Biden.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi was expected to meet privately with Democratic lawmakers last night to survey attitudes about a possible vote.

Trump, who calls the impeachment inquiry an “illegitimate process”, has pressured Pelosi to take a formal vote.

Yesterday, House investigators heard from Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent, who was concerned about the “fake news smear” against the US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, whom Trump recalled in May. PRESIDENT Jovenel Moïse speaks during a press conference at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday.

Photo: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Moïse: It would be wrong to resign PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Associated Press PRESIDENT Jovenel Moïse broke his silence yesterday and said it would be irresponsible for him to resign amid Haiti’s unrest, which has entered a fifth week of deadly protests that have paralysed the economy and shuttered schools.

Moïse said during a surprise news conference at the National Palace that he

was constitutionally elected and would relinquish power only through a legal process like elections.

His speech was directed in part at thousands of protesters angry over corruption, inflation that has hit nearly 20 percent and the dwindling of basic supplies including gasoline.

Joining the call for the president’s resignation are business groups, church leaders and human rights organisations.

Moïse reiterated that he is open to any negotiations leading to a peaceful resolution of the political crisis, saying that the opposition should agree to a dialogue with his government to address the country’s problems.

“However long it takes, I am ready for dialogue. We don’t want to have another 1986,” Moïse said, referring to the year that then President Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier fled Haiti

POLICE: ‘NO EXCUSE’ FOR WOMAN’S KILLING FORT WORTH, Texas Associated Press

THE furor yesterday over the killing of a black woman by a white Fort Worth officer became increasingly about a gun pointed at a bedroom window. But the police chief and activists said the focus was on the wrong gun.

In bringing murder charges against Officer Aaron Dean in the slaying of Atatiana Jefferson, police released an arrest warrant yesterday quoting the victim’s eight-year-old nephew as saying Jefferson had pulled out a gun after hearing suspicious noises behind her house.

Black politicians and others criticised the police and the media for bringing up Jefferson’s weapon, angrily accusing the department of trying to deflect blame onto an innocent victim.

“The Fort Worth Police Department is going about the task of providing a defence for this officer,” said Lee Merritt, an

attorney for the Jefferson family.

Interim Police Chief Ed Kraus himself declared there was “absolutely no excuse” for the killing and said Jefferson behaved as any Texas homeowner would have if he or she had heard a prowler. It wasn’t clear from the warrant whether Dean even saw her weapon through the glass.

The killing early on Saturday shocked people across the US and led many black people to wonder once more whether they are no longer safe from police in their homes. Earlier this month, a white former Dallas officer got ten years in prison for murder for killing a black neighbour in his own apartment. She said she mistook his place for hers and thought he was an intruder.

Dean, 34, resigned and was arrested on Monday for firing a single bullet through a windowpane while investigating a neighbour’s report about the front door being left open at Jefferson’s home.

Jefferson was staying up late, playing video games with her nephew.

Police bodycam video showed Dean making his way around the side of the house into the backyard in the darkness and opening fire a split second after shouting at the 28-yearold Jefferson to show her hands. He did not identify himself as a police officer.

In the arrest warrant, Jefferson’s nephew said his aunt had taken a gun from her purse and pointed it at the window. Over the weekend, the Police Department also stirred anger by releasing images of the gun inside the home.

State Rep Harold Dutton, a black Democrat from Houston, blamed the media in part.

“Why would you publicise that Ms. Jefferson had a gun in her home?” he asked. “I’m sure the police told you that. But that was her Second Amendment right, and equally as important, it had nothing to do with the incident.”

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following lengthy demonstrations against his regime.

During his speech, Moïse said Haiti is “worse off” than it was from 2004 to 2015, the years following the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Opposition leaders immediately rejected Moïse’s bid for talks, saying his offer was “not credible” as they called for more street protests to force his resignation.

Moïse spoke on the day

that the UN’s Mission for Justice Support in Haiti ended its mandate, marking the first time since 2004 that there is no UN peacekeeping operation in Haiti. The UN Integrated Office in Haiti will take its place and play an advisory role.

The last time Moïse spoke publicly was nearly three weeks ago during a 2am televised address, which further angered Haitians demanding a change in government.

HUFFMAN STARTS JAIL SENTENCE “DESPERATE Housewives” star Felicity Huffman — aka prisoner No 77806-112 — reported yesterday to a federal prison in California to serve a two-week sentence in a college admissions scandal that ensnared dozens of wealthy mothers and fathers trying to get their children into elite schools.

Huffman’s husband, actor William H Macy, dropped her off at the Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin, a low-security prison for women in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to TASC Group, which represents Huffman.

The prison has been described by media as “Club Fed,” making its way onto a Forbes list in 2009 of America’s Ten Cushiest Prisons.