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VOLUME:114 No.226, OCTOBER 17TH, 2017
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
BUSINESS: UNCERTAINTY IF BAHA MAR COMPLETION TARGET STRUCK
Not guilty: BAMSI accused cleared By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
DAVE Dion Moxey yesterday thanked Supreme Court jurors for their “honesty” after they found him not guilty for setting fire to a male dormitory at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI) in January of 2015. A jury of nine –six women and three men – returned the unanimous verdict after a little under an hour of deliberating, which followed a full day of submissions from both the Crown and Defence as to why Mr Moxey should or should not be convicted. Upon hearing the verdict, Mr Moxey, 53, of Fresh Creek, Andros, stood to his
feet from the holding bar and told the jury: “Thank you for your honesty.” He then left the holding bar, shook hands with his attorney Calvin Seymour, and walked past The Tribune on his way to the restroom, shaking his head in relief. Yesterday marked the end of a two-week trial into Mr Moxey’s alleged plans of arson in connection with the January 15, 2015 incident. Earlier yesterday, Mr Seymour, in making his closing submissions, called on members of the jury to “do the right thing” and “let him go home”, referring to his client. Mr Seymour told the jury that while the Crown did introduce the possibility of
A 20-YEAR-OLD man is in custody assisting police with their investigation into 38-year-old Shenique Hart’s death as yet another man became a murder victim last night. Ms Hart, a mother of three girls, was killed while standing on a porch last week. She was on the corner of Peardale Road shortly after 9pm with two other men when a gunman SEE PAGE EIGHT
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
SEE PAGE FIVE
“Sometime after 12 midnight last evening and before daybreak this morning, these THE effectiveness premises were of campus security assaulted and vicat public schools timized by some has come under assailheavy scrutiny after BUT President unknown ants who broke Belinda Wilson thieves stole lapinto the tuck shop, tops, computers questioned and microwaves at where security took all the supplies, broke into Claridge Primary guards were several classrooms during the School yesterday in one of the blocks break-in. morning. and removed items Thieves broke in of value, including sometime after midnight, laptops, computers, microaccording to Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd, waves and so on,” he said. “Police are doing its who said the extent of the loss had not yet been investigation to determine SEE PAGE SEVEN determined.
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
‘LENIENT’ BPL LET STAFF RUN UP DEBTS
SCHOOL RANSACKED: WHERE WAS SECURITY?
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
SHENIQUE MURDER SUSPECT QUIZZED
THE BAMSI dormitory was destroyed by fire in January 2015.
PAY ROW LAWYER FEARS FOR JOB
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A PROSECUTOR in the Office of the Attorney General says her outspoken pursuit of money allegedly owed to her has put her job in jeopardy. In September, The Tribune reported on a letter Darnell Dorsette sent Prime
Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, complaining that prosecutors and civil litigators have not been paid increments and salary increases consistent with the 2013 Industrial Agreement between the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) and the government. That agreement, Ms Dorsette contends, should have
resulted in prosecutors and civil litigators receiving “$800 at the beginning of September, 2017; $1200 in 2016; and two incremental payments on their base salaries in 2014.” Administrative staff of the Attorney General’s office dispute this. Attorney General Carl Bethel SEE PAGE SIX
‘I DROVE HER ROUND THE BENZ’
GUY Gentile, the “And I must transplant banker left have driven her crazy to fish his luxury car for her to have driven from his backyard pool my car into the pool.” after a breakup, said he Gentile’s Russianmust have driven his born, model girlfriend, jilted lover “crazy” just Kristina Kuchma, 24, before the deed. in a fit of rage drove Mr Gentile, in an his Mercedes S400 interview with The hybrid into the pool at Tribune Monday, GUY Gentile’s car submerged in his pool. his Ocean Club home insisted he was partly to after he ended their blame for the incident that has since gained 18-month relationship by a text and alleginternational notoriety. edly reneged on a promise to provide “I must accept some responsibility, if a $50,000 for one of Kuchma’s business woman is not crazy, she doesn’t love you,” ventures. he said. SEE PAGE THREE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
BAHAMAS Power and Light’s policy that allowed workers with overdue accounts to avoid disconnection was instituted for “leniency in hard times,” not as “privilege,” claimed Bahamas Electricity Corporation Executive Chairman Leslie Miller. Calling BPL’s recent decision to drop the SEE PAGE SIX
DISCLOSURE PROBE: NOW DELAY DOWN TO MOULD By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
MORE than three months after the government’s self-imposed deadline to prosecute delinquent public officials under the Public Disclosure Act, the Public Disclosure Commission has yet to conduct any work, leaving the Minnis administration’s mandate in limbo. Yesterday, PDC chairman Myles Laroda confirmed to The Tribune that outside of initial introductions to staff two SEE PAGE SIX
PAGE 2, Tuesday, October 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
GRAND BAHAMA SET TO HOST TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT IN A BID to bring new industry to Grand Bahama, officials on the island are preparing to host a technology conference next month. Senator Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, noted while the concept of The Bahamas as a Technology Hub was not a new idea; redefining Grand Bahama as the centre of that technology hub just made sense. The Minister’s remarks came during a press conference at Pelican Bay resort yesterday. The conference will be staged on November 9-10 at the Grand Lucayan.
He said: “If you are a major international tech company, we want you in Grand Bahama. If you are a Bahamian and you want to set up a Tech company, we want you in Grand Bahama.
Dialogue “This Tech Summit in Grand Bahama is a call to all industry stakeholders locally and internationally, so that we can continue this dialogue in Grand Bahama on how we will shape the policy for Grand Bahama.” “The technology industry can become a third pillar of our economy,” said Mr
Thompson. “And that can begin right here in Grand Bahama. For years, we in Grand Bahama have been searching for industries which can diversify our economy and today is a very important step in that process.” Mr Thompson noted the information and communication technology industry has also caught the eye of other Caribbean countries. He referred to an article in Caribbean Journal that stated “the culmination of the Caribbean and technology is really ideal.” It ranked The Bahamas as one of 13 top locations for potential Tech Hubs.
MINISTER of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister Senator Kwasi Thompson was the keynote speaker during a press conference at Pelican Bay resort yesterday, to announce dates and plans for the upcoming Technology Summit, to be held in Grand Bahama November 9-10, 2017. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller) “The Bahamas is really well positioned by our proximity to the United States,” Mr Thompson continued, “we have the infrastructure through our fiber optic cable. We also have the skilled Bahamians – some at home and some abroad to make it all possible. “But why Grand Bahama? But as I put it, why not Grand Bahama? “I believe we are really the most in need of economic reform, as tourism is not enough. We therefore should be willing to make the necessary changes and modifications to make this a reality.” Mr Thompson highlighted Grand Bahama’s proximity to the United States, underscoring it has
better infrastructure than most of the other islands, and access to acres of cheap, available land. “We are also well-positioned with the Grand Bahama Shipyard and the Freeport Container Port,” added Mr Thompson.
Leaders “Both of these facilities are leaders in the region, and even in the world…, and can facilitate technology subsidiary businesses. Technology manufacturing businesses can take advantage of concessions we already have in the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. “So Grand Bahama is ready for a shift in industry focus, and technology is the natural evolution from our
industrial nature. We need an economic system upgrade.” He continued, “It will require a focused plan, the support of local stakeholders, community involvement and a government with the will to make it happen. “We will require changes in our legislation, special tax incentives, business license exemptions and even concessions that will attract data centres and major technology manufacturers. “We need to have important conversations on internet exchange points to be able to attract and protect company data. “We must create an environment with local entrepreneurs and innovators, where they can flourish alongside companies from abroad,” he said.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 17, 2017, PAGE 3
GUY GENTILE with his girlfriend, Kristina Kuchma.
‘I DROVE HER ROUND THE BENZ’
FROM PAGE ONE Earlier Mr Gentile told the New York Post he initially feared Kuchma had locked herself in the car before she intentionally sank it. However, he discovered the car was empty. His concern quickly grew to anger. “My heart dropped because of [fears she was inside]. I didn’t care about the car at that moment,” he said. “But after I realised she wasn’t in it, then I (started) to get p***** off that she would pull something like this after everything I’ve done for her. “I dumped her. She dumped my car.”
Mr Gentile said he later received a text message from Kuchma which read: “Liar! You told me you will help me to start a business!
Surprise “That were your words! Now you want to be an investor? Well investor I have a surprise for you on a backyard, start with that investment idea first.” “I said, ‘You know what? You got the wrong guy. “If you want a guy who’s going to hand you money for nothing, you got the wrong guy’,” Mr Gentile added.
GUY Gentile in front of his pool as his Mercedes S400 hybrid is recovered. Mr Gentile is the now-Nassaubased head of Swiss-America Securities. He relocated to the Bahamas amid an alleged securities fraud which occurred between 2007-2009. Mr Gentile, a US citizen, was indicted by federal authorities in March 2016 on criminal charges stemming from the alleged fraud.
FAMILY OF GIRL WHO FELL TO HER DEATH ON SHIP WANT ANSWERS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamian youngster who fell to her death on a cruise ship in Miami was described as a “happy, straight A student” whose family now want answers about how she came to die. Damien Fox, Zion Smith’s great uncle, told ABC’s Local 10 News the family was struggling to come to terms with the situation, adding they were hoping to obtain surveillance video from Carnival Cruise Lines to get a better idea of how Zion managed to plunge two storeys to her death. He said the family also intended to retain an attorney. Zion, her baby brother, mother and her boyfriend along with his family, had been on a seven-day cruise aboard the Carnival Glory when it arrived in Port Miami around 8.15am Saturday. Zion fell from a landing on to the ship’s lower deck, landing between a chair and a table on the hard ground below. She was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Centre where she was pronounced dead. The ship was scheduled to leave Florida at 4pm on Saturday for the Bahamas.
Tragedy “We are here in Miami to find answers to find out what happened aboard the ship,” Mr Fox told ABC in an interview outside of the trauma centre where Zion’s mother and cousin were said to have been admitted for medical care due to stress related conditions brought on by the tragedy. “She was a straight A student. “She loved us. She always run about. A happy kid,” Mr Fox added. “(An) eight year old, she hasn’t started life yet. So we are saddened. “We just need some justice and we need some answers. Once we get that we can move forward.” ABC reported relatives who were on board the ship believe that passengers getting out of a crowded elevator
He and his Bahamian businesses were subsequently “forced” to play key roles in undercover ‘sting’ operations targeting criminals earning millions of dollars from market manipulation scams. The US government leveraged the 2007-2009 fraud case to
IMMIGRATION MINISTER, DEPUTY PM LOOKING AT HOW TO FUND INCREASED REPATRIATION EXERCISES By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
support a mass regularization type of process. “I do a swearing in like I did last week,” he said. “These people have IMMIGRATION Minister been waiting 20, 33, some cases Brent Symonette and Deputy 40 years to be regularized. They Prime Minister and Minister of have an entitlement as far as they Finance Peter Turnquest are lookare concerned to be regularized as ing at how to fund the increased a citizen of the commonwealth of repatriation exercises that will the Bahamas. They feel frustrated, come in response to Prime Minangry, whatever word you want to ister Dr Hubert Minnis’ goal of use. So if we’re going to do a mass more stringently enforcing the regularization of them, I see nothcountry’s immigration laws. ing wrong with that. If you been During his appearance on waiting in a country 20 years, you Guardian 96.5fm yesterday, Mr feel like you belong.” Symonette told host Quincy IMMIGRATION Minister Mr Symonette highlighted the Brent Symonette. Parker that $1.4 million has problem of fraudulent documents already been allocated in the turned into the Department of 2016/2017 budget for repatriation exercises. Immigration, adding that foot printing may be However, “that figure if we are going to do necessary to address the issue. (repatriating exercises) stringently, is going to As an example, he said: “There’s one man go up,” he said. who has citizenship and another man who “The Deputy Prime Minister and I are in was deported; they both have the same birth conversations at the moment about how we certificate; will the real John Doe please idenare going to fund this process and that’s a work tify themselves? That is not unusual in the in progress so I don’t want to go any further Department of Immigration. Many persons than that,” he said. bring fraudulent documents. It’s a common occurrence. “Yes we have a lot of fraudulent documents coming to immigration from many nationalities. We have persons say they were born here, Mr Symonette floated the possibility left the country, come back 27 years and claim that work permit fees, which haven’t been to be that same person who was born here. raised in years, may be raised to fund the Any of you who’ve had children recently, you get a delivery certificate from the hospital; increased repatriation activities. During a wide-ranging interview on immi- when I was born the registrar came and sat in gration, Mr Symonette reiterated his view that the hospital, looked at my mother and looked the administration will be humane in how it at me and said that’s the same child (and then deals with people who may have run afoul of they) registered you right in the hospital; that doesn’t happen now. immigration laws. “You take your baby, you go down to In response to assertions from some that the Minnis Administration’s new immigration another department and you register the baby. policy is more a reflection of his wishes than Who’s to say that baby at year one is the same Dr Minnis’, he said: “The policy is a policy of man or woman that comes back 27 years later? So we have to look going forward at possibly the Prime Minister.” Mr Symonette also said that for people who foot printing; it’s an issue has been around for have been in the country a long time, he would a long time but that’s the facts of life.”
Fees
ZION Smith died on Saturday on board the Carnival Glory. shoving their way out may have been to blame for her falling over the railing. One passenger on board the Glory told ABC he attempted to help Zion immediately after she fell.
Pulse He said: “I went running down and I checked for a pulse. She had no pulse. I did CPR until the doctor showed up.” Another person present at the time said: “If she had landed on the couch she would have had a chance.” The circumstances surrounding the child’s fatal fall remain unclear. Investigators are said to be working closely with the cruise line to try to establish exactly how the tragedy happened. Miami Fire Rescue Captain Ignatius Carroll said while the exact distance the girl fell had not been determined, it could have been anywhere between six and 15 metres, or 20 to 50 feet. “All we know right now is that an eight-year-old girl was injured on the ship, life saving efforts were performed by Miami Dade Fire Rescue, and when the City arrived we assisted and we brought her here to the trauma centre in extremely critical condition,” Capt Carroll said in an interview with Local 10 WPLG.
Carnival released a brief statement expressing condolences to the girl’s family, stating: “Our most heartfelt care and concern is with the family at this very difficult time.”
ensure Mr Gentile became a ‘cooperating witness’. The case was eventually dismissed on a legal technicality, as district court judge, Jose Linares, found the action was effectively “out of time” under US law. Gentile owned and operator the failed Sur Club Sushi restaurant.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, October 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
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One easy step to a prettier Nassau MONSTROUS lettering on top of buildings, revolving electric signs that affront and assault the senses, snipe signs with skinny metal legs poked into the ground, signs nailed to poles and stapled to trees advertising services by people you would never want to call on for those services because if they don’t respect majestic trees, what makes you think they would respect your modest property? Nothing has downgraded the landscape of The Bahamas and the view we see on a daily basis more than the explosion of signage. It is long past time to get signage under control. Correcting the signage issue is the single easiest step we can take toward the creation of a prettier Nassau and bring dignity back to our streetscapes. The timing is fortuitous. Government has announced it is preparing to engage in a much-need clean-up campaign accompanied by an education campaign that dirt hurts and that those who help clean up are heroes of their community. The plan is to start with “white trash” – refrigerators, stoves, other appliances and equipment discarded indiscriminately. Next on the agenda is the collection of abandoned vehicles and derelict machinery, often hidden by bush or home to druggies and others down on their luck. Given the commitment by both the Minister of Environment and Housing Romauld Ferreira and the Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister to clean up this very dirty city (which we all deplore and find ourselves apologizing for), this is the right time to appoint a select signage committee. That committee should be mandated to assess existing signage and create a document outlining guidelines for specific areas. The committee must involve stakeholders, including representation by responsible sign manufacturers. It is not the intent to create policy that will cripple business, but rather allow for signage appropriate to the space in which it is located. Hundreds of cities have dealt with this successfully and their natural landscape is not marred by the desire to bombard the innocent with flashing lights and gaudy designs. What happens in Times Square is part of the identity of Times Square, even part of the fun of Times Square. Those flashing lights and twinkling images would never be allowed in Savannah, Ga. or Charleston, S.C., two of the best preserved historic districts in the South and both immensely popular destinations in large part because of their beauty. What happens in Historic Nassau should be representative of an historic district. We believe there is actually room for additional signage, including plaques on historic buildings. Directional, informational and cultural signage can add to the identity of a place. Signage must
blend with its surroundings and when done correctly can enhance and inform. What exists now is brash, in-your-face and too large for its space. Not every merchant or business downtown is at fault. Many of the signs show a sense of style and class. But far too many are just large, bawdy and gaudy. Flashing signage must be banned. The only place for flashing lights is emergency road warnings, traffic lights and emergency vehicles, not to advertise a restaurant or lock shop. The process for approval also must be improved. Today the process is cumbersome with every sign requiring an application to go before the Department of Physical Planning. That department is overwhelmed with other work. Signage ranks low so applications can linger. So persons who want to advertise their business, practice or service take matters into their own hands. They use everything from old cardboard to shocking lights that are the most offensive of all. What is the message they are really sending? Is it a message that a business is so desperate to attract customers that it is willing to assault our eyes with a garish, glaring electric sign advertising its hours, services and phone number with revolving colours better suited for a children’s colouring contest than a landscape on East Shirley Street? Where is our sense of style and taste? When did we stop caring about the beauty of our streets or the preservation of our historic districts? In short, we must raise our standards when it comes to signage. Think of the most beautiful avenues or streets in New Providence or roads in places like Cat Island. Picture them as they are with mature trees and blooming Jacaranda, Yellow Elder, Bougainvillea, then superimpose signs all along those roadways and see how the mental image deteriorates. There is a reason why high-end residential neighbourhoods have very strict rules about signage. What signage exists is there only to provide information and direction, not to promote sales or services. Real estate signage and event signage have always had their own set of rules. Event signage is allowed to go up two weeks prior to an event and come down one week after. We see torn banners still flying across busy streets months later. We have no problem with tasteful feather banners on a temporary basis so long as they do not block the view of oncoming or merging traffic. We can simplify the process with a set of standards applicable to specific locations with only those exceeding the size requiring an application. Nothing detracts more immediately from the beauty of a street than ugly signage and nothing is easier to fix. The low-hanging fruit we have all been talking about is literally right before our eyes. Correcting the signage issue is one easy step to a prettier Nassau.
Govt flights, Irma cost and PLP leadership EDITOR, The Tribune. FRIDAY, October 5th, News item....PM + Ministers fly to Grand Bahama - did they goon Bahamasair? No if you viewed the interview with Minister Dr Duane Sands - they went private. Wonder whose plane again and why not Bahamasair? IRMA EVACUATION - what was the cost? Saw an article which said $500,000.00 - can’t be. Inquisitive wants to know what was the costs and who, which airlines benefitted? The Campbell Passport -Citizenship issue - best advice to the Prime Minister - call for Mr Campbell’s file. Is this a
repeat of that other Turks and Caicos MP-Minister who had to resign and we had a bye-election? PLP Leadership? Best advice for them - reject anyone connected with Perry Christie. How can someone like Davis stand in front of a crowd and try to speak genuinely? Deficit in 2016 $669 million! He says he can’t recall? If Davis is elected leader next election say GoodBye! Two-seats. THE POINTE finally the unemployed construction workers might have a chance to be employed ......seems construction equipment is moving at The Pointe, finally.
Joaquin - Matthew IRMA - Maria - those affected by these hurricanes need an assurance from the Government when assistance will be coming their way. If there is one issue that needs super forensic auditing that is the $120 million loan for Joaquin disaster relief. The people must be told they have waited far, far too long. Speeding on West Bay between Breezes and Goodman’s Bay - first thing average speed is in excess of 60 mph - everything flying. Police where are you? W THOMPSON Nassau, October 6, 2017.
With friends like McAlpine . . . EDITOR, The Tribune. In any freshman class of new parliamentarians there is sure to be a few who thought they were cabinet timber who had to go sulking to the back bench, taking a deferment on their dreams. It is standard protocol that you show the public your happy face and ride the bench until the Prime Minister calls you up to the cabinet table. It is always bad form to take a grudge with you to the minor league. It is important to remember that Sir Winston Churchill rode the backbench before being called to the front bench and ultimately to stand at the Prime Minister’s despatch box in the UK Parliament. At home former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham rode the backbench when he first entered Parliament. It took just over 100 days for the first signs of umbrage to surface on the new FNM government’s back bench. And it probably came as a surprise to no one that the animus emanated from a nitpicking greenhorn who thought he should have made the starting line-up. In what can best be described as a rookie’s blunder, Frederick McAlpine bucked his party on the issue of extending charity to a fellow Caribbean nation down on its luck after being hit by a hurricane. In his political bio, this parson promotes himself as a “global clergyman” who at 17 became the youngest ordained preacher in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. A stunning feat, especially when you consider that most seminaries won’t even accept you for formation until you are at least 18. His bio proudly claims that he has produced “thought-provoking” sermons on a national and international level. Perhaps he should stick to “preach-a-fying” and leave the politics to the professionals. His palaver in the House during the communication on extending aid to Dominica did indeed provoke thought. We thought his kind of xenophobia and bigotry had departed the honourable House of Assembly with some of its more bombastic
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net flamethrowers like Fred Mitchell. The national conscience was indeed provoked by his callous comments and the consensus opinion was that his maiden speech in the House will go down in history as akin to the braying of a neddy. He objected to the Bahamas extending aid and comfort to the children of Dominica, foolishly pulling the chords of populism as our brothers and sisters in Dominica suffered. For this Reverend, charity begins at Walker’s Cay, Abaco, and ends at Mathew Town, Inagua. McAlpine represents the good, hard-working people of Pineridge in Grand Bahama, a seat highly revered in FNM folklore because it was once represented by one of the party’s founding fathers and first leader, Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield. Pineridge is a cosmopolitan constituency forged from bits of the old boundary morphed into sections of Eight Mile Rock, Lucaya and Marco City. You cannot swing a cat in the constituency without hitting someone whose ancestors are from somewhere else other than the Family Islands. Some have family still in Turks and Caicos. Descendants of Americans, Europeans and other West Indians also live in the constituency and presumably some may have supported McAlpine. Freeport owes its very existence to foreigners – albeit white ones who could do no wrong in the eyes of the UBP government 60 years ago. These diversity-minded citizens stood for him in May this year and when the time came for him to stand up for them in the House of Assembly he neglected that duty and instead unleashed a volley of friendly fire on his own Prime Minister – a man with considerable influence in the selection of FNM candidates. The old people in MacLeans Town on eastern Grand Bahama will tell you there is more than one way to crack a conch shell. There are closed door venues, there is the
smoking room of the House of Assembly and even the “accidental” bounce-up in the street for McAlpine to express his views privately to the Prime Minister. He could have cornered the head of the Grand Bahama parliamentary delegation, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest and given him an earful to take to the boss. Presumably he tried none-of-the-above and, if true, then keen observers of politics would be left with the conclusion that his aim was to inflict the most harm on his leader at time when he thought Minnis was most vulnerable. But when Minnis tearedup on the floor of the House in his moving defence of helping Dominica, he did so from a position of strength. Minnis occupied the moral high-ground while McAlpine remained in the valley of virulence. He acted like a lover scorned. A partner jilted. An impudent, shameless modern-day Jezebel. “Time longer than rope” and Minnis showed during five years in the wilderness of opposition that impetuousness is not his calling card. But he is not likely to ignore this kind of disrespect from the backbench even though the chances of its being a contagious strain are close to zero. McAlpine’s political motivations and the meditations of his heart must not become fodder for speculation. Having climbed so high up the greasy pole we need to see if he is man enough to ask for help to get down or if his career takes the express elevator to the ground. It is possible that when the pubescent 16-year-old McAlpine was contemplating his religious vocation he may have learned about the debt paid by a man who was left to die on a cross. Christians believe that it is from the height of the cross that their sins are redeemed. This tenet of faith is something for McAlpine to ponder now that he has hoisted himself on his own petard. Perhaps he can see the suffering people in Dominica from up there. THE GRADUATE Nassau, October 15, 2017.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 17, 2017, PAGE 5
FAMILY MEMBER ‘BROKE DOWN IN TEARS’ AFTER FINDING COUPLE’S BODIES By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net HERMAN Johnson broke down after seeing the bodies of his murdered brother and sister-in-law at the couple’s residence in Deadman’s Reef on the morning of September 13, 2015, the Supreme Court heard yesterday. Mr Johnson had received the tragic news from his neighbour shortly after 9am and went over to the residence, where he saw Barry and Sheena Johnson dead, lying in a pool of blood. Barry Johnson, a supervisor at the Freeport Container Port, and his wife, Sheena, a school teacher, were robbed and shot in the head. The couple was described as quiet, hardworking people by their tenant, Gail Zamor, who rented a unit in their triplex apartment. Zamor, a witness for the prosecution, heard what sounded like gunshots or firecrackers and a woman scream on the evening before on September 12, between 9pm and 10pm. The next morning while taking out her trash, she discovered the couple’s bodies.
THE three men accused of the double murder and armed robbery – Kevin Dames, Devaughn Hall and Paul Belizaire – at an earlier court appearance. Photo by Vandyke Hepburn.
BARRY and Sheena Johnson were found dead on September 13, 2015.
Three of five accused men arrested for the couple’s murder are on trial. Paul Belizaire, Devaughn Hall, and Kevin Dames are facing double murder charges and armed robbery. It is also alleged the men stole the husband’s truck. The two other accused men – Allan Alcime and Virgil Hall –- accepted a plea deal with the Office of the Attorney General, which dropped the murder charge against them. They were, however, convicted on the armed robbery
charge and are serving time in prison. Both men have turned witnesses for the prosecution. Herman Johnson, an ultrasound technician, last saw his brother alive at the harbour three days before the murders. He told the court sometime after 9am on Sunday, September 13, he had received information that something had happened to his brother and proceeded to his residence. When Johnson arrived at the triplex, the front door to the apartment was open,
NOT GUILTY: BAMSI ACCUSED CLEARED
THE BAMSI dormitory in the aftermath of the fire. FROM PAGE ONE there being a motive behind the fire in earlier proceedings, they had not established a nexus between that motive and his client. Throughout the trial, it was strongly suggested by various Crown witnesses, and even Mr Moxey himself, that unpaid labour at the North Andros site was likely the primary motive for the fire. Mr Moxey claimed the resentment held by various Haitian and Androsian workers for being unpaid was so intense he was sceptical about accepting a job to work at BAMSI, and only did so subsequent to agreeing to certain conditions with his employer, Whitney Bastian. However, Mr Seymour said the Crown had not proven that Mr Moxey, who insisted while being cross-examined that he was paid in full for the work he did on the site in August of 2014, was instead not paid and was consequently just as irate as the many others he had previously claimed were also unpaid at the site.
Motive And, Mr Seymour submitted, even if they did prove that Moxey had a motive for committing the crime, it would mean Mr Moxey would have had to leave where he was in Fresh Creek and reach BAMSI within a matter of minutes, despite BAMSI being roughly 45 minutes to an hour away by car. Mr Seymour further challenged the testimony of the Crown’s anonymous witness “Alpha”, who previously claimed Moxey approached him with a cutlass in a threatening manner near his trailer home on the day in question, and forced him to walk in front of him all the way to the dorm’s roof, where Moxey allegedly lit the fire in two separate areas. Mr Seymour countered by saying “it doesn’t make sense” for Moxey to disturb the security guard solely to burn down the building. Furthermore, Mr Seymour said it was nonsensical to believe that Moxey would wait until January of the following year to set fire to the dorm if in fact he hadn’t been paid. “Let’s say he was not paid in August,” Mr Seymour submitted to the jury. “Wait till January to burn it down? It doesn’t make sense.”
However, Crown prosecutor Darrell Taylor, assisted by Donard Brown, called on the jury to “chisel away” at the “redherrings” and “smoke screens” proffered by Mr Seymour and Mr Moxey and see the case “for what it is.” Those “red-herrings” and “smokescreens”, Ms Taylor suggested, were highlighted in what she suggested were inconsistencies contained in Mr Moxey’s testimony on the witness stand as compared to the contents of his record of interview and official statement to police in 2015. Previously, Mr Moxey said that on January 15, 2015, he had spent the entire day in Fresh Creek doing carpentry work, and that around 6pm he was at Adderley’s Liquor Store having a Guinness beer after having met with the store’s owner, Dale Adderley, just hours earlier. At the time, Mr Moxey said Darlene Adderley, Mr Adderley’s daughter, as well as his own brother Donny Moxey and another relative, saw him in Fresh Creek on the day in question, and could vouch for his appearance there. However, Ms Taylor, as she had done while cross examining Mr Moxey, said Mr Moxey did not provide “one scintilla of evidence” and questioned why he did not tell police something as crucial as the names of the various people he claimed saw him in Fresh Creek. She further questioned why Mr Moxey, according to both the record of interview and his official statement, opted to say anything other than things that either exonerated him or at the very least serve as a solid alibi, suggesting doing so would be in line with what anyone accused of a major crime would do. However, the jury ultimately returned a unanimous not guilty verdict, after being guided by Justice Bernard Turner during his summing up of the facts of the trial. Mr Moxey was initially arraigned and charged with arson over allegations he set fire to the male dormitory at the North Andros site in January of 2015. Preliminary reports from police said the fire was the result of arson and the blaze began in the roof around 7pm on January 15, 2015. Officials battled the blaze and managed to extinguish it shortly after 11pm; however, it left one of the male dormitories at the site severely damaged.
and his brother’s GMC Sierra Truck was not there. As he came closer to the building, he saw Barry’s body. “He was lying face down in a pool of blood. He was lifeless, and I fell to the ground and cried, he recalled. I later saw his wife, Sheena. She too appeared to be lifeless.” Mr Johnson said when he arrived, the police were not yet at the scene. During cross-examination Defense counsel Geoffrey Farquharson question Johnson about whether he knew that his brother had owned some businesses. Johnson said that he learned his brother had owned only one business and was not aware of multiple companies as counsel had suggested.
Businesses “You only found out about one?” Mr Farquharson asked. “I put it to you that the deceased man to his great credit purchased a number of businesses before he died. “I am not aware of it,” replied Mr Johnson. Farquharson asked the witness if he was aware that the deceased took about a
dozen of his family members on a cruise and asked whether he too had been invited. Johnson said he was not aware of that and that he was not invited to go on a cruise with them. Counsel also sug-
“He was lying face down in a pool of blood. He was lifeless, and I fell to the ground and cried. I later saw his wife, Sheena. She too appeared to be lifeless.”
Herman Johnson gested Johnson had told his brother to stop going around in his container port orange jumpsuit because it would make him a target, but Johnson denied the assertion. Mr Farquharson claimed Barry was worried about his safety and had installed surveillance cameras around his home, but Johnson denied the claim and said many people put cameras on their homes.
Counsel then accused Johnson of trying to mislead the court. Referring to a police statement Mr Johnson had given police on September 13, Farquharson asked again if he hadn’t told police he warned Barry to stop wearing his uniform because it made him look like a target? Johnson denied it again, even after he was shown the police statement.
Cameras Mr Johnson explained his brother had installed surveillance cameras at his home because of robberies in the community. He said his brother’s friend Bruno Parker had been the victim of an attempted robbery. “An incident happened to Bruno except Bruno survived? “I put it to you that Barry’s best friend Bruno Parker, who also worked at the container port, was also robbed by three masked men during a home invasion who beat him up. However, he managed to escape with his wife and son?” asked Farquharson “Yes,” Johnson replied. SEE PAGE SEVEN
PAGE 6, Tuesday, October 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
DISCLOSURE PROBE: NOW DELAY DOWN TO MOULD
“I don’t want people to look at this and think otherwise, we weren’t doing this as a privilege. We knew in September and January things were a little tougher, so we gave a little leniency in hard times.” Leslie Miller
FROM PAGE ONE
weeks ago, there has still been no work done because the commission’s building on East Bay Street is mould infested. He said due to this, many of the files have been “locked down” because they are contaminated and officials want to keep staff members out of harms way. Last month Mr Laroda said that while the group was fully appointed, it did not meet because one of the three members was out of the country. He said: “We went over by the commission and were introduced to the staff. “I brought them up to date with regards to what the old board would have done and we are seeking to get an audience with the new Prime Minister (Dr Hubert Minnis) so the new board members could hear what the government’s position is.
Files “The next thing is going to be while we haven’t really gotten down to our work there are some logistical issues with regards to the building itself and I think they are seeking some alternative locations because there is a mould issue with the building so they have a lot of those files and stuff locked down.” “We don’t want to expose the staff to that.” “We are still looking for a temporary space until those matters can be addressed,” he continued. “It’s an old building and the mould in there is spreading and the files and stuff are contaminated so the rooms and stuff have been sealed off. “Until we can get an alternative site to meet work won’t start. I have been assured they are looking to sort out the contractor to remedy the situation. “There may already be a location they are looking at to house the commission until that situation is sorted out.” There was a July 3 timeline set by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for the files on delinquent disclosures to be sent to the Office of the Attorney General. Since then, the first annual deadline for newly elected members of Parliament and senators to submit their full disclosures has passed. In the case of persons appointed or elected after the annual March 1 deadline, the Public Disclosure Act states that disclosures must be filed within three months from the date - effectively, August 10 for MPs and August 22 for senators.
‘LENIENT’ BPL LET STAFF RUN UP DEBTS FROM PAGE ONE policy “a dramatic change,” Mr Miller told The Tribune he was in no position to critique the move. “Son, the move has been made and as big as this is, this is a dramatic change to say the least, I can’t breathe on it because the government, through the corporation has made its decision.” The former Tall Pines MP said the system, as he found it when appointed Chairman, was not operated to favour employees, but rather to offer them opportunities to “get it together.” Mr Miller claimed: “Normally you would have allowed staff to have a balance and deduct from their salaries because we knew in the months of January and September things were tough.” He continued: “I don’t want people to look at this and think otherwise, we weren’t doing this as a privilege. We knew in September and January things were a little tougher, so we gave a little leniency in hard times.”
“It was the standard practice. Nothing special; things tough, so you help.” In a memo obtained by The Tribune last week, BPL said it was “intensifying its disconnection exercises” in an effort to improve the company. However, it was unclear how many BPL employees had overdue accounts or how much money was owed the corporation. “Effective immediately, we will be disconnecting the electricity supply on all employee accounts with substantial arrears,” the memo said.
“Therefore, employees are strongly encouraged to take the necessary measures to bring their account balances to a current status in order to avoid the interruption of their electricity supply.” The memo came two months after The Tribune revealed that BPL gave politicians and government officials who were on the special “do not disconnect” list seven days to pay their “outrageous” bills or be shut off. BPL chairwoman Darnell Osborne declined to
comment on the matter when contacted yesterday. In September, Central Bank of The Bahamas’ monthly report that revealed that BPL’s fuel charge increased by 8.3 per cent to 13.7 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) on a monthly basis, and by 49.7 per cent when compared to May 2016. In a statement, BPL explained that an increase in bills for the month of May was also caused by its reliance on engines at the Blue Hills Plant, which uses more expensive fuel than the Clifton Power Station.
PAY ROW LAWYER FEARS FOR JOB re-deploy you somewhere else in the public FROM PAGE ONE told The Tribune yesterday that civil liti- service, but not as a legal officer.’ She said Mr Rolle also instructed her gators are “not members of the broader not to send any further material to Attorpublic service.” “She seems to be relying on the author- ney General Carl Bethel on the matter, ity of the Wilbert Moss case as to whether adding that Mr Bethel ‘wishes that she cease and desist sending him or not a magistrate who is materials.’ a judicial and legal officer ‘The administration (of is also a public officer,” he the Office of the Attorney said. “That case said that General) takes offence to in some cases a magistrate you making submissions may well be a public officer because we are not inviting but in other cases she is a you to,” she claimed he said. judicial officer. Legal offic“But if you feel we have ers are only entitled to breached your rights, you remunerations.” can resign.” Mr Bethel said under the Mr Bethel was displeased Strachan Commission of with the public fight Ms 2015, prosecutors received Dorsette has picked, saying: payments in two tranches, “It’s most unworthy for one a lump sum payment and a of our attorneys to be taking net increase in their salary. a matter like this out to the Nonetheless, Ms Dorsette public. We will have to ask suggests that the consethe directors to look into quence of her letter to Dr ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel. that; it’s an administrative Minnis and its leak to The Tribune has been a sustained effort to matter.” Ms Dorsette is also disappointed that she victimize her. has not received a promotion to which she Ms Dorsette, a senior prosecutor in the Attorney General’s office, said she received feels she is entitled. By now, she said yesteran ultimatum from Permanent Secretary day, she and two other senior prosecutors in the OAG should have been promoted to Marco Rolle last week. According to her, it said: ‘It is the very Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions. “There is an undercurrent of frustration,” firm position of the administration of the she said. “(Former Attorney General) office of the attorney general that either you resign and seek employment elsewhere Allyson Maynard Gibson was the one who where you will be rewarded much better said to us we’re doing an excellent job and than at the Attorney General’s Office or our promotions are on the way. She gave the Office of the Attorney General can administrators instructions to expedite our promotions, but it hasn’t happened.”
MINISTRY TAKING EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE ‘TO THE PEOPLE’ By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE MINISTRY of Labour is to take its employment initiative on the road to sign up qualified Bahamians on the Employment Exchange for work. Senator and Labour Minister Dion Foulkes said the initiative would target the low employment areas of New Providence and Grand Bahama during his senate contribution last week. “We are going on the blocks, on the basketball courts, outside popular business establishments like food stores and washhouses. We are taking our employment exchange to the people,” he said. “Too often we have applications for work permits in a number of areas and we do not have qualified Bahamians on our list at the Exchange to refer to the employer.” Mr. Foulkes noted there are shortages of housekeepers, gardeners, farmers, air conditioning technicians, welders, engineers, nurses, specialized teachers, spa therapists, butlers, food and beverage managers, financial services traders and wealth managers. “May I take this opportunity to appeal to qualified people who are looking for employment: please register with the Employment Exchange,” he said. Mr. Foulkes said his Ministry is focusing on a national approach to training. In this regard, several institutions have been consulted namely the University of the Bahamas, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, hotels, the financial
services sector and the industrial sector in Grand Bahama. “We want to devise a coordinated public/ private sector training initiative where we can focus our efforts on training Bahamians for the demands of the existing market place,” he said. In the financial services and the maritime industries, he noted that the Ministry is in the process of devising plans to institutionalize education and training from primary and high school levels.
Initiatives “We have looked into some of the initiatives in Singapore, Cayman Islands and other jurisdictions as to how to approach this question of training in the financial services sector,” Mr. Foulkes said. He noted the country the government is mostly impressed with in this regards is Estonia, where that government and the private sector began the training of Estonians for the financial services sector from the primary school level. “If we are to maximize the benefits to Bahamians, I am of the view that we have to begin the process of making a cultural change with respect to financial services and the maritime industry, and it must start with our educational and training institutions,” Mr. Foulkes said. In the area of Labour, he said his Ministry is in the final stages of concluding industrial agreements with Customs, Immigration, and the Air Traffic Controllers unions.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 17, 2017, PAGE 7
FAMILY MEMBER ‘BROKE DOWN IN TEARS’ AFTER FINDING COUPLE’S BODIES FROM PAGE FIVE “That is Barry’s close friend?” counsel asked. “You told police in your statement that you believed the same person who targeted Bruno, also targeted Johnson, your brother?” Johnson said he could not say that. But counsel again referred to the signed police statement Johnson gave to police about his being targeted. Farquharson then asked Johnson whether he had spoken to his nephew Greg Johnson who gave evidence. Johnson said he had not. “You told us (in court) that your brother had a GMC Sierra truck, but in your police statement, you said your brother had a champagne 2005 Chevy Silverado?” asked Farquharson. Mr Farquharson questioned Johnson about who had told him about his brother’s murder. Johnson said that William McKenzie and his neighbour Alexander Rolle had told him the news. “You asked them how they know that?” “No,” replied Johnson. “Did you go inside the house?” asked counsel. Johnson said he did not, but that he could see inside the house because the door was open. “Did you know that a cellular phone was next to your sister-in-law?” “No, I did not see one,” he said.
Contract
THE INTERIOR of one of the Claridge Primary School rooms after the break-in.
SCHOOL RANSACKED: WHERE WAS SECURITY? FROM PAGE ONE
the extent of the loss as well as the potential perpetrators. “It appears as if a least a dozen classrooms covering two blocks, upstairs and downstairs, (were broken into),” Mr Lloyd added. Long after school had ended yesterday, senior administrators were meeting to determine the costs of the ransacking and to consider how to upgrade security. “They are tired of these situations,” Mr Lloyd said. “They’ve been victims too many times.” “It’s a reflection of the state of our society,” he added. “These campuses that should be places of sanctuary, safety, are in fact places that are targeted by marauders and miscreants who obviously are hell-bent on continuing to create chaos and assault the peace of our beloved society.” Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) President Belinda Wilson yesterday questioned where security guards were at the time of the break-in. “That’s a concern of mine,” she said. “We must beef up the security at our various schools, especially during the night and early morning. “Large items were taken so there had to have been noise coming from the area. “Obviously security officers were not there and someone has to give an account as to where they were because it’s my understanding that the officer was scheduled to be at work. Them not being on the premises, that’s a cause for concern.” Mr Lloyd said whether security was on campus during the robbery is under investigation. “ “Security protocols at all of our campuses have been and will continue to be under intense review because there is naturally some compromise in the integrity of our security protocols for this to happen,” he said. “It seems to be repeating itself during certain times in the day or night. It’s obvious that other times it is not vulnerable to the attention of the perpetrators. That review is crucial and has already commenced. Police is assisting us with its report. “They also will be making recommendations.”
MINISTER of Education Jeff Lloyd.
DEATH NOTICE William Curtis Thompson
of Curtis Thompson (Real Estate Broker and Appraiser), Intelligent Data Machines (Proprietor) and Saint Albans Manor (Boss Man),
of #24 Saint Albans Drive, spirit left this world at the Princess Margaret Hospital, on Tuesday, 26th September, 2017. He was 73 years old. Precious memories will remain in the hearts of his loving and enduring wife, Robbinette and step-mother to his children, spouses and (grandchildren): Dana, Juave (Milena, Noah & Rachel), Rhett & Maria (Maia & Reece) (Canada) and Ian (Taylor) Thompson. Also, his most loyal, devoted friends and family: Paula (Secretary) & Burlington Strachan and family, Evangelist Patsy Bowleg, Ralph & Maragaret Forskin. godson: Rhomain Bethel; siblings: Tony Bethel, Lona Fontaine & Cynthia Smith (USA). Brenda, Edwin, Everette, Freda, Glen, Gretchen, Jean, Marie, Joann, Lawerence, Norma, Ruthann, Sarah (The Griffin Family), & Minerva Johnson; father-in-law: Arthur Baldwin (USA); brothers-in-law: Michael Baldwin (USA), Neil Behagg, Baldwin Johnson, Drexel Bottle, Lloyd Johnson; sisters-inlaw: Fran, Deborah, Flavia (USA) Annie, Betty, Carol, Irene, Jean; uncle: Sir Henry Sands J.P. (Savannah Sound, Eleuthera); nieces and nephews: Ashley & Joshua, Sonia, Leanna, Wayne, Trevor, Michael, Michelle, Monique (USA), Saffron & Dale, Lindsey, Gail, Susan & Sophia, Gary, Katherine (Karen) & Dwight, Darlene, Chris, Larry & Maria, Kevin, Kalin & Everette Jr., Sarah & Bradley, Glen & Richard, Ester & Cyril Jr., Stephen, Stephanie & Shelly, Kirk, Teresa & Laverne, June Lloyd, Wayne, Tracey Pierre. A host of other relatives: Leonard (Garro), Pam & Marc Sands, Toda (The Lima Family), (Canada) Jeanette, Raymond Lawson & Family, “Patsy”, Kathleen Smith & Family, Leon, Theresa (USA), Ray Culmer & Naomi Davis, Muriel, Ethel, Marie, Gladys, Margaret, Mary, Edith, Tanya, Mark, Darron, Rhonda & Renee, Samantha, Laurie Major (The Culmer Family), Oscar, Dawn, Dallas & Brittany Sands, Sara (Lizetta), Brian, Henrietta, Crystal, Sherman, “Wellington” (The Sands Family), Frank, Marvin (The Bethel Family), Leon, Harry, Wilfred, Ronnie, Janet & Families. Irma Bowe-Kelly & Family, Ethel Sands, Lolita & Joel Moxey & Family, H Spencer II, Rev. L. Manette PoiterCripps (desired Officiator), Ida & Kenneth, Amber & Harold Turnquest, Wendyi & Brian, Felicia Albury, Thomas, Cynthia, Helen, Brenda, Kenneth, Lillian, David (The McCartney Family) Tammy, Keith, Clint, Lennox, Dion Peterson & Family, Gloria Moss & Family, Carl & Gloria Knowles, Brian, Bradley, Ronnie, Curtis Thompson Real Estate: Paul & Cindy, (Kimia, Pablo, Melissa, Christopher (The Ritchie Family), Hubert & Calvease Rolle, Godfrey Humes, Astrid Fraser, Al Hepburn, Intelligent Data Machines: Charles, Marvin, Jenise, Shervin, Irwin McSweeney, Wilfred Delancy, Saint Albans Manor: Jimmy, Bernard, Tanisha (Holly) Antoine, Craig, Dave, Eric, (Previous & Current Tenants). May God shower all of you with his richest blessings who have had a journey in Curtis’s path of Life to his final end. *The Family wishes to apologize to anyone whose names have been inadvertently omitted.
The defence counsel asked Johnson if he and his brother had received a government contract with the Ministry of Education. “You and your brother did not buy a school bus together?” “No, sir,” Johnson replied. Johnson said his brother had purchased a school bus and he was supposed to be working for his brother driving the vehicle. Police Officer 3246 Shantel Newbold Williams of Criminal Records Office, said on September 18, 2015, she and several officers, along with one of the five accused men, Allan Alcime, went to a bushy area off Queens Highway where a set of keys and a handheld radio were found. Officer Williams said Alcime had pointed out the keys and a Motorola handheld radio. She took photographs of the items with a digital camera and swabbed the items for DNA testing to be performed at the Police Forensic Lab. She then said the images were downloaded to a desktop computer at CRO and then burned onto a CD. The CD was then taken to a photos shop and photographs were produced. The woman officer said she made an album with the photographs. When Farquharson asked Officer Williams if she had scratched her name or signature on to the handheld radio, she said that she had not. “If you were provided the handheld radio again how would you identify it?” he asked. Officer Williams said the items were
collected, sealed in an evidence bag and turned over to another officer. “When you swabbed the items for DNA, you could have removed fingerprints that were on it?” he asked. “Yes,” she replied. Farquharson asked the witness if she had tried starting the truck with the keys they found, but Williams said that she did not. “Did you turn on the handset to check the records in it?” Farquharson asked. Williams replied, “No.” “As a police officer, are you aware that there is a log that is on the handset? “Yes,” she replied. “Do know how it got there?” he asked. “No I don’t know how it got there,” she said The court also heard that before the couple were murdered, the container port supervisor had some $10,000 cash in his possession. Greg Johnson, the nephew of the deceased, said he knew his uncle had the money because he saw the cash. He testified he believed the money was a part of a $30,000 loan his uncle had obtained from the Commonwealth Bank. During his testimony, Greg Johnson said his uncle got a loan to purchase a school bus and that he was not aware of any other businesses he had owned. Johnson, who was also employed at the container port, said his uncle Barry was a supervisor at the container port and also drove a taxi. He said his uncle never kept large sums of money on him, or at his residence. “Money would not be the motive for the crime?” asked Farquharson. “Yes, sir,” Mr Johnson replied. The nephew said his uncle Barry had a Chevy Truck. He said the white hat that was found inside a truck that was recovered by police was that of his uncle. He said that all supervisors at the container port wear white hats. Farquharson asked the witness if his uncle drove a Chevy Silverado. Johnson said that his uncle drove a Chevy truck and that he had been in the truck many times. But Farquharson insisted his uncle’s truck was not a Chevy Silverado, but rather a GMC Sierra truck. Farquharson also asked how he knew the white hat which he saw in the truck was his uncle’s. Johnson said that only supervisors wear white hats at the container port. Counsel asked, “How many supervisors are at the port?” Johnson said there were many. Farquharson suggested he was not sure that the hat was his uncle’s, but Johnson insisted it was. “That’s my uncle’s hat, he always keep it in his truck,” he said. Farquharson asked Johnson who had told him the news about his uncle. He said his cousin Bruno Parker had called him up and told him that something had happened to Barry. “The first person who called you was Bruno Parker who had also been subject of home invasion?” asked counsel. The trial continues.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, October 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
SHENIQUE MURDER SUSPECT QUIZZED FROM PAGE ONE emerged from a vehicle and opened fire on the group. Only Ms Hart died. The men were taken to hospital where they were listed in serious condition. Yesterday, less than an hour after police informed the press of the latest development in Ms Hart’s case, they revealed that a man had been shot on Ida Street last night and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. A man is in custody in connection with this latest killing. The country has now had more than 110 murders this year. Police also revealed yesterday that 33-year-old Damarto Wilkinson from Wellington Street was the man killed late Sunday night on West Street near Meadows Street. In addition, a motorcyclist died after his bike collided with a
Nissan Bus shortly before 1am yesterday, police said. The man was driving his motorcycle on East Street near Andros Avenue when the collision took place. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but later died of his injuries. Reports of gunshots in the area came in shortly after 11.30pm. Police also said in a press release yesterday that it took a security officer into custody after seizing an illegal handgun from him. “Officers conducted a search of a security officer at a nightclub located at 6th Terrace Centerville and uncovered a Sig Sauer pistol with four rounds of ammunition,” police said. • Also yesterday, several wanted posters were issued for suspects sought in connection with recent murders (pictured right).
POLICE at the scene of the shooting on Ida Street last night. PHOTO: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff
MANSLAUGHTER APPEAL DISMISSED FOR MAN WHO KILLED DAUGHTER
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A MAN who killed his three-year-old daughter and hid her dismembered body in 2000 yesterday had his 15-year-late manslaughter appeal dismissed after the appellate president found his petition was connected to “a very bad case”. Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen said she was “not minded” to grant Stephen William’s
extension of time application for the same, especially given he waited some 15 years to appeal the sentence levied against him in 2002. The Tribune understands Williams was seeking to appeal his 25-year sentence on the basis the trial judge did not consider his 10 months on remand when sentencing him. Williams originally faced a murder charge in relation to the death of his child, Stevanna Williams. He
plead guilty to manslaughter in February 2002 and was sentenced to 18 years in prison on April 4, 2002.
Sentence However, the appellate court increased the sentence to 25 years on an appeal by the Crown. According to a 2015 judgment by Senior Supreme Court Justice Stephen Isaacs, Stevanna was a three-year-old child, and in
July 2000 her mother went to work and left Williams with Stevanna and her elder brother. Justice Isaacs said something “mischievous” subsequently transpired between the two children, resulting in Williams scolding the older brother. Justice Isaacs said according to a confession statement by Williams, as he attempted to chastise Stevanna, she struck her head on a table and fell on a concrete floor. Justice Isaacs said Stevanna looked “as though she was gasping” and Williams placed the child “somewhere else, opened a screen door, no doubt in the hope of getting air in.” However, the little girl died shortly after. Justice Isaacs said Williams twice attempted to call an ambulance but was
unsuccessful in doing so. Bewildered by “the horrifying nature of what had happened,” Justice Isaacs said Williams “placed the child in a bag and hid the child in some bushes waiting for nightfall.”
Wasteland When night came, Justice Isaacs said Williams “spirited” Stevanna’s body away to “some wasteland nearby”, and “in a mindless act, an act that one can describe as the act only of a demented mind”, Williams began to “dismember the child’s lifeless body, first an arm, then another arm, then a leg, then another leg, and then decapitated the child and then severed the torso and cut the head into pieces.”
However when Dame Anita, along with fellow Justices Stella Crane-Scott and Roy Jones heard the summary explanation of the particulars of the matter proffered by Williams, the appellate president said: “This is a very bad case... I’m not minded. “I think you need to spend the 25 years.” She subsequently affirmed his 25-year sentence. “Much obliged,” came Williams’ reply. In September of 2015, Williams sought to have his 25-year sentence imposed by the appellate court revisited on the basis of an alleged procedural error during his initial hearing. However, his hopes for an early prison release at the time was dashed by Justice Isaacs.
ECONOMY ‘STILL STRUGGLING FROM 2008 CRISIS’ Legal Advisor/Secretary to the Board The Legal Advisor/Secretary to the Board is responsible to the Board of Directors of the NHIA and should be accountable to the Board through the Chairman on all matters relating to corporate governance. In the performance of a legal advisory role, this position reports to the Managing Director. This position is a member of the Management Team of the NHIA and as such, collaborates and liaises with the Managing Director and other members of the management team. The position requires a comprehensive understanding of laws that govern the NHIA, healthcare, insurance and human resources in The Bahamas. Specifically, the Legal Advisor/Secretary to the Board will have a legal backgroundwith a strong knowledge of corporate governance, policy development and related matters. The Legal Advisor/Secretary to the Board, will establish an effective working relationship with the Managing Director, management, staff and other key stakeholders, as necessary.
To view the full job posting, please visit www.nhibahamas.gov.bs/careers/.
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
centralized planning infrastructure to monitor priority projects and programmes of the government. This approach will increase cross-agency coordination, reduce THE country’s sluggish econduplication of effort and curb omy is still struggling to make a wasteful spending by ensuring turnaround from the Financial that priority projects receive the Crisis of 2008, according to offihuman and financial resources cials at a recent public forum. required for success. Tonya Adderley, Project ManComponent two of the proager of the PFM/PMR explained ject National Statistics meets the that growth has been sluggish and demand for high quality, timely unemployment continues to be MATTHEW AUBRY, relevant data from government, high, and within this context, the Executive Director, private sector, academia and civil country has seen its borrowing to Organization for Resociety by creating a national stasustain its deficit spending increase sponsible Governance, tistical system. significantly. moderated the Public It will facilitate the integration The Public Financial Manage- Financial Management of research base reporting and eviment and Performance Monitoring and Performance Moni- dence based practice into private Reform (PFM/PMR) Project Unit toring Reform Forum at and public decision making. within the Ministry of Finance is The University of The Component three of the project mandated to improve the govern- Bahamas in the Perform- is Public Financial Management, ment’s capacity to manage and ing Arts Centre. which will completely overhaul the allocate resources and as such nation’s public financial system to will have a tangible effect not just ensure that matters related to the public purse on the public service but also on the lives of are handled efficiently and effectively. It will every Bahamian. close the gaps in systems through business To better explain the impact of the project, process re-engineering and strong legislative the PFM/PMR Project Unit hosted a Public actions. Forum at The University of The Bahamas in Ultimately, due to public financial reform the Performing Arts Centre. and the implementation of project delivMs Adderley said, “Our escalating debt is erables, The Bahamas should improve its a great threat to our fiscal future. Govern- standing globally through the improvement of ments can approach this crisis in two ways: specific performance indicators represented by increasing revenue through taxation or by by our baseline. reducing expenditure.” Lastly, component four, Public ProcureThe PFM/PMR Project is the Govern- ment, will commence the modernization of ment’s apparatus for expenditure side of the a national procurement system in line with deficit equation. international best practices. This is a five-year $33 million effort National Public Procurement will become financed through a loan from the Inter-Amer- more transparent, inclusive and competitive ican Development Bank. to ensure that effective contracts provide Ms. Adderley explained the PFM/PMR the best value for money for the Bahamian will increase the Government’s capacity to people. manage and allocate resources in a prudent Ms. Adderley said the project is not a manner that ensures value for money for the public relations exercise, or simply purchasBahamian people. The PFM/PMP Project ing new technology. will establish mechanisms to improve and “It is a transformational change for the effectively implement government policies public sector. The project structure is uncomthrough programmes and projects. mon in the public sector in that it has a “It will increase accountability of manag- steering committee comprising of department ers with respect to their contribution to the heads from key government agencies across performance goals of the country. It will also the service guiding and supporting the project modernize several of the information technol- implementation unit.” ogy systems within the public sector, creating “It has a devoted team of professionals new job requirements and streamlining func- whose sole focus is to ensure that deliverations within Government.” bles and timelines are met within scope and Each of the persons responsible for the costs. Inclusion and transparency are part various components within the project gave of the core values of the PFM/PMR Project. a brief overview of their areas during the It impacts not only the public sector -- busiforum. ness, academia and civil society are tangibly Component one of the project involves affected by the decisions and systems that Performance Monitoring, which will create government chooses to implement.”
THE TRIBUNE
RELIEF SUPPLIES FOR
DOMINICA A ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force vessel is tentatively scheduled to leave for Dominica with a cargo of relief supplies on Thursday afternoon. The Bahamas Girls Guide Association, the Bahamas Red Cross and the Dominican-Bahamian Association have provided mostly food and clothing supplies that are being shipped to the island, National Emergency Management Agency head Captain Stephen Russell said yesterday. The relief effort comes after Hurricane Maria devastated the island nation last month.
Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune staff
Tuesday, October 17, 2017, PAGE 9
PAGE 10, Tuesday, October 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
HOUSES SPARED BY MASSIVE FIRES BRING JOY AND SENSE OF LOSS
TRUMP: CUBA ‘IS RESPONSIBLE’ FOR ATTACKS ON US PERSONNEL
By SUDHIN THANAWALA AND TERRY CHEA, Associated Press SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — Tom and Catherine Andrews live on the edge of devastation. On one side of their mid-century style home, the deadly wildfires that ravaged parts of Northern California for more than a week wiped away the houses of neighbours they have known as long as two decades. On the other side, were those like the Andrews, who were spared. On Monday as calm winds gave an advantage to firefighters trying to tame the flames, the couple balanced their good fortune against the losses suffered by many friends. “It was disbelief and just feeling like the luckiest guy on earth,” Tom Andrews said. “I can’t believe, I mean, total destruction 50 feet away and to have our house still standing here.” For his wife, a real estate agent who sold many of the homes to friends on Wikiup Drive, there was bitter along with the sweet.
Families “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “I’m trying not to have survivor’s guilt, I think they call it. But we’ve been here 20 years this week. We raised our kids in this house. So many of the families on this hill raised their kids.” After days of wind gusts that constantly fanned the fires, lighter wind offered a chance for crews to make greater gains, and thousands more people were allowed to go home more than a week after the blazes that have killed more than 40 people began. Improving weather, the prospect of some rain later in the week and tightening containment of the flames were tempered by the first death from the firefighting effort — a driver who was killed when his truck overturned on a winding mountain road.
PORTUGAL WILDFIRES KILL AT LEAST 35; FOUR DEAD IN SPAIN By BARRY HATTON, Associated Press
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Late season wildfires that broke out over the weekend in Portugal have killed at least 35 people, including a 1-month-old infant, authorities said Monday, making 2017 by far the deadliest year on record for forest blazes in the country. In neighbouring Spain, wildfires have also killed at least four people and prompted the evacuation of thousands in the northwest region of Galicia, as the remnants of winds from Hurricane Ophelia fanned the flames along Iberia’s Atlantic coast. The fires returned to Portugal four months after a summer blaze claimed 64 lives in one night. The year’s current total of 99 deaths is far higher than the previous annual record of 25, in 1966. A one-month-old baby was among the dead, the Civil Protection Agency said Monday. The infant’s body was found near Tabua, some 120 miles north of Lisbon. The parent’s bodies reportedly were found nearby. Officials did not provide further details. Civil Protection Agency spokeswoman Patricia Gaspar said the death toll could rise. “We are still searching burnt areas to see if there are any more victims,” Gaspar told The Associated Press. She said 56 people were injured, 16 of them seriously, and nine people were reported missing in the blazes that broke out over the weekend.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump points to a reporter to ask a question in the Rose Garden at the White House yesterday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) By JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press
the attacks on Americans and steps taken by Washington in response have started to unravel those budding ties. The U.S. has not explicitly accused any actor of perpetrating the attacks, which in some cases involved mysterious, blaring sounds that led to investigators to consider whether a sonic weapon was involved.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday that he believes Cuba is responsible for unexplained, invisible attacks in Cuba that have harmed American government workers. Though Trump’s comments appeared to be a new allegation, it wasn’t clear whether he meant Cuba was behind the attacks or merely shared the onus because it failed to keep Americans safe on its soil. The United States has avoided casting blame on Cuban President Raul Castro’s government for the attacks that began last year and have eluded an FBI investigation.
Surveillance
Unusual “I do believe Cuba’s responsible. I do believe that,” Trump said in a Rose Garden news conference. “And it’s a very unusual attack, as you know. But I do believe Cuba is responsible.” The president did not elaborate. But in a cable sent Monday to all overseas U.S. diplomatic posts, the State Department said it has “not assigned blame to the Government of Cuba.” “We are still investigating these attacks and do not know who or what is behind them. We continue to exchange information with Cuban investigators,” said the diplomatic cable.
THE U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba. (AP) Marked “sensitive,” the cable laid out the rationale for the steps the U.S. has taken in response to the attacks, including pulling more than half its diplomats from Cuba and kicking out 15 Cuban diplomats in the United States. There was no reaction from the Cuban Embassy in Washington to Trump’s remark. Castro’s government has repeatedly denied both involvement in and knowledge of the attacks. Trump offered no new details about what type of weapon might
have caused damage ranging from permanent hearing loss to mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion. The State Department has said that despite the lengthy investigation and FBI visits to the island, the U.S. still can’t identify either a culprit or a device. Trump’s ambiguous allegation against the Cubans was likely to increase tensions even further between the two former enemies. The U.S. and Cuba re-opened diplomatic relations in 2015 after a half-century of estrangement, but
Still, the U.S. has pointed to Cuba’s tight control over security in Havana and its close surveillance of Americans working there are reasons to believe that Cuba might know more about what’s transpired than it has let on. The State Department has also said that no matter who is attacking Americans, it’s Cuba’s responsibility under international law to protect U.S. embassy workers. “We believe that the Cuban government could stop the attacks on our diplomats,” White House chief of staff John Kelly said last week. The State Department has said 22 Americans are “medically confirmed” to be affected and that the number could grow. The symptoms and circumstances reported have varied widely, making some hard to tie conclusively to the attacks. The incidents began last year and are considered “ongoing,” with an attack reported as recently as late August.
NORTH KOREA SAYS ‘A NUCLEAR WAR MAY BREAK OUT ANY MOMENT’ By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — North Korea’s deputy U.N. ambassador warned Monday that the situation on the Korean peninsula “has reached the touch-and-go point and a nuclear war may break out any moment.” Kim In Ryong told the U.N. General Assembly’s disarmament committee that North Korea is the only country in the world that has been subjected to “such an extreme and direct nuclear threat” from the United States since the 1970s — and said the country has the right to possess nuclear weapons in self-defence. He pointed to large-scale military exercises every year using “nuclear assets” and said what is more dangerous is what he called a U.S. plan to stage a “secret operation aimed at the removal of our supreme leadership.”
Delivery This year, Kim said, North Korea completed its “state nuclear force and thus became the full-fledged nuclear power which possesses the delivery means of various ranges, including the atomic bomb, H-bomb and intercontinental ballistic rockets.” “The entire U.S. mainland is within our firing range and if the U.S. dares to invade our sacred territory even an inch it will not escape our severe punishment in any part of the globe,” he warned.
USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier arrives in Hong Kong earlier this month. South Korean and U.S. troops launched five days of naval drills on Monday three days after North Korea renewed its threat to fire missiles near the American territory of Guam. (AP) Kim’s speech follows escalating threats between North Korea and the United States, and increasingly tough U.N. sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that his country is curtailing economic, scientific and other ties with North Korea in line with U.N. sanctions, and the European Union announced new sanctions on Pyongyang for developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday that diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the North Korean crisis “will continue
until the first bomb drops.” His commitment to diplomacy came despite President Donald Trump’s tweets several weeks ago that his chief envoy was “wasting his time” trying to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom he derisively referred to as “Little Rocket Man.” North Korea’s deputy U.N. ambassador called his country’s nuclear and missile arsenal “a precious strategic asset that cannot be reversed or bartered for anything.” “Unless the hostile policy and the nuclear threat of the U.S. is thoroughly eradicated, we will never
put our nuclear weapons and ballistic rockets on the negotiating table under any circumstances,” Kim said.
Committee He told the disarmament committee that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — North Korea’s official name — had hoped for a nuclear-free world. Instead, Kim said, all nuclear states are accelerating the modernization of their weapons and “reviving a nuclear arms race reminiscent of (the) Cold War era.”
He noted that the nuclear weapon states, including the United States, boycotted negotiations for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons that was approved in July by 122 countries at the United Nations. “The DPRK consistently supports the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the efforts for denuclearization of the entire world,” he said. But as long as the United States rejects the treaty and “constantly threatens and blackmails the DPRK with nuclear weapons ... the DPRK is not in position to accede to the treaty.”