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PM urges FNMs to resist Minnis Lightbourn and HARD AT Chipman urged to WORK ON fight for careers By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday sent a strong message to sidelined Free National Movement MPs Richard Lightbourn and Hubert Chipman to “resist with all your might” any attempt by the party’s leadership to end their careers. Mr Christie told the MPs, both of whom have not been offered a renomination, that no one person should be able to dictate whether their political careers were finished, adding that the decision should come from the electorate. He also accused Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis of keeping the pair in the dark on nonpartisan hurricane relief efforts or-
ganised for their constituencies, a move he attributed to Dr Minnis’ political agenda during his closing remarks in the House of Assembly yesterday. Mr Chipman represents St Anne’s and Mr Lightbourn represents Montagu. Mr Christie said: “The intention was to put you in the position where your constituents would have seen you delivering supplies, information, doing all the things you should do. The intention was to strengthen the delivery of services in this country. “I directed NEMA, based on personal experience, that every member of the Parliament should have a new team assembled, a multifaceted, multidisciplinary team assembled, and
SCHOOL REPAIRS
WORKMEN inside CI Gibson school set about reconstruction after the facility suffered heavy damage during Hurricane Matthew. See page two for more photographs. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
RENEW Bahamas’ decision to suspend its services as manager of the New Providence landfill has relegated the site’s woes “back to square one,” according to DNA Leader Branville McCartney, who charged that the Renew Bahamas experiment has proven to be a “complete
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BPL: 8,000 CUSTOMERS STILL WITHOUT POWER SUPPLY
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net MORE than 90 per cent of Bahamas Power and Light’s residential customers in New Providence have been restored to supply, however there are still approximately 8,000 customers without power, BPL said yesterday. In a press release, the company said it is continuing its “aggressive approach to restoring power to these customers within the shortest possible time.” BPL said it expects by the weekend the company will be “well above” 90 per cent restoration. Restoration in the Family Islands is complete, the release said, with the SEE PAGE SIX
and utter waste of time”. Mr McCartney, who has long lobbied for clarity on the terms and conditions of Renew Bahamas’ contract with the government, told The Tribune that Renew Bahamas’ decision effectively renders the last two years of its tenure as landfill manager meaningless, and that the decision represents “another failed agreement by this Christie administration.”
DOPPLER RADAR REPAIRED - AND TALKS COMPLETE FOR FOUR MORE
However, Mr McCartney was not convinced that Renew Bahamas’ decision was due to shootings, tyre slashing and widespread theft in Hurricane Matthew’s aftermath as the company’s CEO had told this newspaper, but was rather something that was “teetering on the edge way before the hurricane came”.
THE Department of Meteorology’s Doppler radar has been fixed, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said yesterday. Mrs Hanna Martin also revealed that negotiations over the phased acquisition of four new radars have been completed. She made the announcements during her contribution to the $150m bond resolution for hurricane relief in the House of Assembly. She said the government expects to enter into a contract with Finnish company Vaisala in a matter of days.
SEE PAGE SIX
SEE PAGE SIX
DNA: ‘BACK TO SQUARE ONE’ AFTER LANDFILL MANAGER SUSPENDS SERVICES By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
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By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power and Light has temporarily suspended disconnections on overdue accounts in an effort to provide relief to customers after the passage of Hurricane Matthew, according to Corporate Communications Manager Arnette Ingraham. However, the company is encouraging customers to “pay their bills by the due date” to avoid an interruption in supply when disconnection activities resume. Mrs Ingraham told The Tribune that BPL has extended the payment deadline for this billing cycle to give customers “more time to pay”. SEE PAGE SIX
SEE PAGE FIVE
there have been questions over how the government intends to manage the loan, these queries have ignored basic facts about his administration’s fiscal map. In the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis called for the formation of a special committee to monitor how the government spends the $150m. SEE PAGE THREE
Pages 14 &15
BPL SUSPENDS DISCONNECTIONS TO GIVE RELIEF AFTER STORM
‘CHECKS IN PLACE’ TO ENSURE $150M LOAN USED PROPERLY By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday insisted that the government had checks and balances in place to handle the $150m hurricane relief money it intends to borrow, as he responded to critics who have expressed doubt that the Christie administration is capable of fiscal responsibility of the funds. Mr Christie said while
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THE TRIBUNE
Rebuilding under way at CI Gibson
A WORKMAN on the roof at CI Gibson school yesterday as repairs continue in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.
INTERIOR damage at the school.
A CLOSE-up view of roof damage at CI Gibson school.
Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 21, 2016, PAGE 3
PM admits work needed to keep shelters up to standard By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Perry Christie acknowledged yesterday that the government needed to do a better job of ensuring hurricane shelters were kept up to standard, as he pledged to redirect his administration’s focus on the proper licensing of these facilities. Speaking in the House of Assembly on Thursday, the prime minister said it was “incredibly important” for the government to insist that shelters have the capacity to house people comfortably and safely. When Hurricane Mat-
thew barreled through the capital earlier this month, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it was forced to revise its list of shelters in New Providence after one of the recognised shelters, C R Walker High School on Baillou Hill Road, was compromised. As a result, people were redirected to the Church of God of Prophecy on East Street. “Some of our shelters were challenged,” Mr Christie said. “The Disaster Preparedness Act empowers the director of NEMA (and) the prime minister to appoint managers of centres.
BOTTLING COMPANY AID FOR GRAND BAHAMA CARIBBEAN Bottling Company, the official producer of Coca-Cola brands in The Bahamas, ensured that residents in the areas most damaged by Hurricane Matthew received assistance in the aftermath. “Supporting and assisting our local community is engrained across the CocaCola system, so when a natural disaster like this happens in our communities, it is not a matter of if we will support, it is a matter of how much we can support,” said Karla Wells-Lisgaris, CBC brand manager. “We wouldn’t be here without our customers so we are happy to assist them in their time of need.” In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Mrs Wells-Lisgaris and her team quickly mobilised to offer assistance to the communities and islands hit hardest during the storm. She contacted many local businesses, and received hundreds of cases of donations from Purity Bakery (over 700 loaves of bread), Variety Disposal (cases of mackerel and sardines), Island Wholesalers (a pallet of sardines), and Lightbourn Trading (cases of cereal and milk). “We were truly impressed
and humbled by the selfless giving of corporate Bahamas,” said Alginal Coleby, Grand Bahama operations manager. “These donations will hopefully go a long way in assisting the people of Grand Bahama as we all work together to try and recover from this terrible storm.” In addition to providing aid to Grand Bahama, CBC has also donated over 450 cases of beverages to settlements across North and Central Andros, and over 1,000 cases of beverages in New Providence. Donations in New Providence have been made to organisations such as Hands For Hunger, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to name a few. Following a trend set in 2015 after Hurricane Joaquin, CBC is offering all Dasani cases (12oz, 20oz, 1L, and 1.5L) at a discounted rate of $7 for all relief efforts. This price is only available at the following locations: New Providence, (Coca-Cola offices on Sir Milo Butler Highway, and Beverage Depot on Thompson Blvd beverage) and in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
ricane in order to make a claim. He was responding to questions on the regional insurance scheme posed by Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, who asked whether the country’s policy had lapsed during his contribution to the $150m bond resolution yesterday. Dr Minnis noted that Haiti had already mobilised $20m from the insurance plan. Standing on a point of order in the House of Assembly, Mr Halkitis said: “The government of the Bahamas has been a member for many years, paid its pre-
“Critics have said that there were some shelters that were compromised and the challenge there being is if you send people into a shelter for their maximum protection and the shelter is compromised on the basis of not being sufficiently secure then you have a challenge. “That is an incredibly important point that we must use as a predicate to reshift our focus on those shelters that must be licensed to be shelters.” He added: “But the lessons that I think I learned from those visitations (to shelters during the storm) is that the government of the Bahamas must have a special item of preparation
for sheltering and consistent with the Disaster Preparedness Act and the intention of the act to ensure that those shelters have the capacity to house people comfortably (and) securely and to have whatever is necessary for those purposes including a generator as it has been suggested.” Mr Christie said ahead of Matthew’s arrival, he visited several shelters to gain an understanding of how they function and pointed to the more “acute” concern he had about facilities for the same use in the Family Islands. “One of the moments that we must learn from is both the (Kendal Isaacs)
Gym and the stadium were built to withstand hurricane conditions and a total of 600 people between the two of them can be comfortably housed. “I went to the Hillview Seventh-day Adventist church they then had 303 people there and they were using the body of the church (and) all the antique rooms of the church but there were people who had sought shelter at the church on the hill and they ended up with 340 or there about in that church. “When we look at the islands it becomes even more of an acute concern. And in the islands, in places like Long Island, the conver-
sation has to be given to building public buildings that will be used as shelters specifically to withstand the strongest possible winds and to be transformed in the face of a hurricane into a very secure hurricane shelter. “But the shelters on our islands must receive a specific commitment beginning now as we move forward to ensure that there is no question as to the sufficiency of the shelter.” There are 146 shelters scattered across the country, according to the most recent Department of Social Services hurricane shelter list issued earlier this month.
WATER and care packages being handed out at the Coca-Cola offices in Freeport, Grand Bahama on October 14.
BAHAMAS Red Cross Grand Bahama volunteers assisting the CBC team with preparing the care packages.
HALKITIS: WE WERE RIGHT TO DROP DISASTER INSURANCE POLICY STATE Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis yesterday defended the government’s decision to drop its regional insurance policy for disasters for a sovereign disaster relief fund. Mr Halkitis underscored that the country has never been able to access funding from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), adding that New Providence would have to suffer a direct hit from a category five hur-
mium and never been able to access. In order for us to ever get a claim under the CCRIF, New Providence would have to be hit by a category 5 hurricane. “The government made a decision, instead of continuing to pay where there was no chance of us ever being able to claim, we decided to establish the disaster fund.” He added: “There was virtually no circumstance where we could have claimed. No insurance policy lapsed, we took a decision after advice to discontinue, the threshold was just too high.”
The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) is a regional disaster fund for Caribbean governments to quickly access financing to limit the financial impact of devastating hurricanes and earthquakes. It was developed as a technical project by the World Bank, and has since been restructured into a segregated portfolio company with extended membership to Central American countries. According to its website, the facility has made 21 payouts totalling approximately US$38.8m for hurri-
canes, earthquakes and excess rainfall to 10 member governments. Further to this point, Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday lamented the country’s challenge in accessing concessionary lending as a developing country due to its high percapita income. “I sat with persons who lead that programme (CCRIF),” Mr Christie said, “who pointed out the contradictions of the programme as Barbados qualifies and the Bahamas doesn’t, that we have a category four (hurricane)
impact on islands that are extraordinarily vulnerable and they disqualified us in that regard. It was that thinking that led to the Bahamas deciding that it would rather insure itself by making contributions.” He added: “All matters to do with qualifying the Bahamas for concessionary lending we are disqualified because of our percapita income. The World Bank have not moved away from the position that the Bahamas’ per-capita income disqualifies it from accessing concessionary financing.”
‘CHECKS IN PLACE’ TO ENSURE $150M LOAN USED PROPERLY from page one
However, Mr Christie maintained that the money will be well accounted for using measures that are already enshrined in law. “The government is seeking to raise $150m in government debt using the authority of the Financial Administration and Audit Act,” Mr Christie said during the House of Assembly’s morning session. “That same authority governs the expenditure of all public funds. So again this is a facility that is being subjected to the Financial Administration Audit Act
meaning the auditor general will be used. “A question was also raised with respect to establishing a committee to oversee the use of funds. It is for me to say that all public expenditure is subject to the review of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the independent audit of the Office of the Attorney General. “All of these audits are tabled in Parliament simultaneously. So again before the government sees an audit it is submitted to the Speaker and to colleagues who are on that PAC.” He continued: “The same process would govern the
use of those funds. All expenditure related to this storm will be accounted for in the government’s financial statement on an annual basis with the presentation of the budget. “We will forecast our expenditure related to this programme and in the presentation of the financial statement of the government in the House (and) the auditor general will report on the use of these funds.” On Wednesday, Dr Minnis called for an independent committee to oversee the loan for the relief and rebuilding efforts of Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Joaquin.
While Dr Minnis acknowledged that the funds were needed, he questioned the government’s ability to properly manage the money. He later told The Nassau Guardian: “We agree that there is mass devastation when we look at Grand Bahama, Andros, and New Providence, especially the south. There is mass devastation. “We agree homes were lost. We agree lives were changed. We agree businesses have been lost and we agree that it has attributed to unemployment. It needs to be fixed. People’s lives need to be changed
and their homes need to be corrected. “But this government has a terrible track record of transparency and accountability,” Dr Minnis said.
Friday, 21st October 2016
"AFTERSTORM AUTO TIP" #5: "Avoid streets with excessive flooding. Go around if necessary."
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THE TRIBUNE
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We need to protect our democracy in The Bahamas IN The Bahamas, we enjoy a vigorous democracy inherited at independence in 1973 from Britain as the former colonial power, we need always to be vigilant in protecting it in an uncertain world. It is all too easy to take for granted our liberty and constitutional rights guaranteed by the rule of law and judicial system which, despite its lack of efficiency and need for reform works reasonably well. Sadly, the threat to the freedom and democratic rights of Bahamians can come from our own leaders rather than from outside forces. In this small country politicians, particularly those who become government ministers, tend to forget that they have been elected to represent the interests of their constituents and they often become arrogant and dictatorial after assuming office. The checks and balances, which are effective in curbing political power in larger countries and more mature democracies are simply ignored or overridden here. Over the years, there have also been too many instances of politicians taking advantage of their positions to enrich themselves personally in dubious circumstances. With breathtaking disdain for the wishes of the Bahamian people, the current PLP government chose to circumvent the “no” vote in the referendum on gambling by legalising the betting shops. Later, its reaction to the referendum on gender equality, which it lost after campaigning in favour, was simply that of “business as usual” with no hint of ministerial resignations let alone that of the Prime Minister himself who had then lost two referenda; and then there has been the sorry spectacle of the recent parliamentary privilege affair with a Cabinet Minister failing to respect a court ruling against him. Against this background, it is salutary to watch events unfolding in Britain, the oldest democracy, following the decision in its referendum in June to leave the European Union. One notable development is the legal challenge by a group of so-called “concerned citizens” in reaction to Prime Minister Theresa
May’s plans under royal prerogative powers to invoke Article 50 of the EU Lisbon Treaty (the formal procedure for a member state to leave the Union) and thus launch the “Brexit” negotiations without giving the United Kingdom parliament the right to vote on the issue. The group claims that, by denying Members of Parliament the opportunity of a vote, the government is undermining the sovereignty of parliament. In response, the government contends that triggering Article 50 without prior parliamentary approval will only be firing the starting gun for the “Brexit” process which reflects the will of the British people. Any new treaty with the EU which arose from the “Brexit” negotiations would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. This case was heard earlier in the week in the UK’s High Court in front of the Lord Chief Justice supported by two other senior judges. They reserved their judgment with the promise to deliver a ruling as quickly as possible. The significance of this for us in The Bahamas is the fact that the case should have proceeded at all in the midst of the fierce domestic post-Brexit controversy about how Britain should implement the result of the referendum. Mrs May’s government had already announced its decision to go ahead and invoked Article 50, so presumably it would have preferred that such a case should not happen, but it would surely have been unthinkable for the government to seek to interfere with this process. So time was found quickly for the High Court to hear a challenge by a small group of citizens who were concerned about parliamentary sovereignty. This should surely be viewed as an example of the exercise of democracy at its best in a nation whose legal system has been the envy of the world. We believe it should be a lesson for our own politicians of the importance of respecting the rule of law, which should remain sacrosanct, and never interfering for political reasons in our country’s judicial system.
PM criticism of Opposition leader EDITOR, The Tribune THE Prime Minister’s comment on the Opposition Leader’s criticising the performance of BP&L is totally naive and ridiculous. Sure the Prime Minister has heard, for example, the political counter arguments when the US under President Bush was planning the invasion of Iraq? In infamy the Vietnam war opponents ... Mr Prime Minister, these
were all times of national emergency in the US and democracy and freedom of speech reigned, which is fundamental to our Constitution. Are you telling us because of Matthew freedom of speech should be suspended? It is times like postMatthew that the mettle of political leadership is tested - if there is no proactive action why should
Criticism from the FNM
Speed bumps are needed
EDITOR, The Tribune
EDITOR, The Tribune
Re: FNM chairman defends leader over recovery effort criticism (October 14)
THE horrific and tragic car accident on Coral Harbour Drive on September 16 had the air of inevitability to it. Two young Defence force men involved, one dead and one in critical care. Any resident of Coral Harbour can testify that the Defence Force officers use Coral Harbour Drive as a private race track. Early morning, and par-
GOVERNMENT should listen very carefully to all the constructive criticisms coming from the Official Opposition - if they ever happen to make any. KEN W KNOWLES Nassau October 14, 2016
the voice of the people not be critical? If we take the Prime Minister’s position then the innocent have to bear and suffer until innefficiency finally restores elements of basic living. Sorry, sir. With the greatest of respect tings don’t work dat way. PAMELA MINNS Nassau, October 14, 2016.
ticularly late afternoon, it resembles the Indy 500 race as officers overtake each other at 70 to 90 miles per hour. A simple, common sense solution to prevent future deaths would be to build speed bumps on Coral Harbour Drive. I’m not expecting this though! CH RESIDENT Nassau, September 20, 2016.
Problem gaming EDITOR, The Tribune. BAHAMAS Gaming Industry needs to explore intervention in addressing the issue of Problem Gambling (PG), and street mothers with infants. That, legalised gambling is ranked by international Psychiatric Boards at a measurement of DSM-5, (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) on the same level as cocaine addiction/Substance Abuse by its power to destroy, ruin and totally decimate a person’s financial capability and family bond - only minus the destitute stigma of cocaine base-houses. But the gambling houses venues, smart phones and computers have all the same, become finance destroying and time consuming base-houses of addiction for too many. PG afflicts whole families with the elderly, pensioners as a unique, more vulnerable segment of our society. Timely information could assist in intervention and help. Assessments from Australian and Canadian Government reports demonstrate how destructive PG is on the honour and dignity of persons whose sole income is pension and welfare sustenance or at the potentially most financially productive stage of responsibility. Intervention tools are a major component of the Canadian, Australian and European Gaming Industry. The Gaming Industry can assist its patrons and society at large and, those who rely solely on it by placing intervention information at Gaming Teller positions, media, mailings public speeches, etc. warning of the dangers of PG. Screening for PG is difficult as research shows that persons addicted to gambling will deny that something they enjoy is destroying them; same as cocaine addiction. After all, according to Australian research gamblers manage and hide their PG addiction by constantly borrowing money and placing themselves ever deeper into financial debt beyond recovery. Bahamas Gaming Act leg-
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net islates that Gaming venues place educational pamphlets at teller positions and on gaming machines warning of the dangers of PG. While this burden should be on government and its gaming partners, people’s ability to save money and pay back loans affront the Banking Industry daily, especially that easy to get loans, are a looming opportunity - untold social damage is being afflicted. Most Church tithes and visitations have plummeted at least 6500. Government, neither its Gaming Industry partners are addressing the PG issue. Gaming houses like cocaine pushers should not self regulate Bahamians suffering from gambling mental illness addiction. Studies of Australian, Brazilian, American, Canadian and European advanced Gaming Industries demonstrate that PG compromises a healthy personal, social and national wellbeing. Australian Government research also found that Governments rely on Gaming Taxes while spending considerably more on social welfare. It concludes with the finding that Gaming Industry desperately relies on new patrons and persons who will develop PG. While gaming for entertainment is legal, the fact that it is now ranked as DSM-5 along with cocaine addiction calls for patrons to be warned of PG pitfalls. Most often just a warning sign that PG can be dangerous is sufficient intervention. Some may require PG group talk therapy. It has always been most effective according to international studies and a Canadian PG Course I recently accomplished. Across Canada in 2011-12, Ontario contributed the highest to Problem Gambling (Health) efforts ($40,800,000) and to the Responsible Gambling Industry (12,942,000). Intervention at any stage of PG is critical. According to Australian research of PG in small isolated communities, similar to our Out Islands - marked financial
and social distress and decline become evident, with the elderly relying on ever further Government assistance. With PG eating away at comfort monies that would have been spent throughout communities at, or saved in banks, whole areas show marked economic decline in home repair and upkeep, and also health among the population due to improper nutrition. Secondary addictions like alcoholism come into play due to depression and coping with bank repossessions and losses. Many of us whom succeeded the addictions and recovery of the 1980 through the Sandilands programme are witnessing the same social upheaval being repeated in 2016. Infants are being born to suffer as some mothers extort public, private and Government goodwill as they stay at home and gamble all day. Warning pamphlets as a first level of intervention at clinics, Churches Banks, National Insurance, Public Transportation. Also, to place warning stickers at cashier positions and ATMs. Again, help cannot be forced on an individual, but in subtle not so offensive ways it could be offered or inferred. Most addicts of all types only seek help when they hit rock bottom, it is then that they or their families seek help. For that purpose, help must always be available to impact money control and gambling trigger behaviour. PG poses a significant threat to our National Security in areas of Policing, Banking and government as people’s integrity, finances, crucial time and decision making are all impacted by financial desperation. Just a message that Gambling could be dangerous and ranked the same as cocaine addiction. could make a difference. In 1983, young many persons never stood a chance the innocent lure then sweet promise of cocaine addiction, the same now for sweet easy money that gambling addiction deceives the innocent to ruin. CARLTON ROBINSON Nassau, September 28, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 21, 2016, PAGE 5
Lightbourn has ‘no plans’ to run as an independent By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net IN spite of speculation to the contrary, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn said he has no plans at this time to mount an independent run in the next election. Despite reports that the Free National Movement is considering prominent businessman Dionisio d’Aguilar to be its standard bearer for the constituency, Mr Lightbourn said he is still a member of the Official Opposition. He added that his main goal is removing the Progressive Liberal Party from power. Insisting that he is “focused on the task at hand,” Mr Lightbourn said he has spoken privately about several options. “I talk to everybody and I don’t deal with what ifs when I speak to anybody.” The one term MP added: “My primary goal is to get rid of the PLP, that is what
RICHARD LIGHTBOURN I am working to do in this ty, depending on what I do term and after. I am still a after this term, I could see member of the FNM at this myself assisting whoever time. Despite the rumours the party puts up in Monand reports, that is still the tagu. I would help, dependcase at this time. ing on what my position is. “As a member of the par- Montagu has a very good
team of executives, and I am sure they will offer help to whoever is selected as a candidate.” Mr Lightbourn continued: “There is no plan to run as an independent candidate at this point. To be honest I haven’t given any thought to it. I am endeavouring to serve the constituents of Montagu. While I haven’t given up the possibility of offering for the next election, I am focused on this term and ridding the country of the PLP shortly after.” He went on to deny tabloid reports that he had negotiated a deal with the PLP to run as an independent candidate unopposed by the party in the upcoming general election. He stated: “That is how (Prime Minister Perry) Christie and (former Prime Minister Hubert) Ingraham got back in the House of Assembly when they left the PLP back in the day. But no, I haven’t had any discussions with the PLP. I
haven’t had any discussions with the purpose of joining another party. Or working up a deal.” Mr Lightbourn’s political career took a catastrophic hit on the second night of the FNM’s July convention. While attempting to offer a solution for the country’s rising crime trends, he proposed state-sponsored sterilisation of unwed women with more than two children. The FNM quickly distanced itself from the controversial comments and said it was not the party’s official position. Even before that Mr Lightbourn apologised for his remarks. Subsequently, reports surfaced that the party’s leadership had finalised plans to move ahead with ratifying Mr d’Aguilar in the Montagu constituency, despite efforts by Mr Lightbourn to move away from his blunder and commit himself to a re-election bid in the area.
A source with knowledge of the party’s selection process in September told this newspaper that the FNM had “zeroed in” on the Super Wash owner and was “preparing plans to get him in and going in the coming weeks.” At that point, when contacted for comment on the claims, Mr d’Aguilar said there had not been any indication by the party that it had decided to move ahead with him as a candidate. In the weeks since, the FNM has remained silent on its plans for the area, with a source insisting yesterday that once the party “kicks off” its post Hurricane Matthew political strategy, “one, if not the first move would be making sense of that Montagu matter.” That source added that the party has a “winning plan,” that once rolled out, would position the FNM to succeed in the 2017 general election.
Parliament to lead the way, to be able to bring quick relief, and to move out of any thought of political manoeuvring because the MP would have the carriage of what is happening in there. “Much to my surprise, I’m in here having to listen to members tell me they didn’t know, that’s not fair to the government, not fair to the process, that is wrong,” Mr Christie added. Standing on a point of order yesterday, Dr Minnis said he immediately called persons responsible to en-
out there watching two social workers come out with a couple pieces of tarp, that we have to do better, a more organised approach. “Let us empower the leader of the Opposition to put his colleagues in the position to do it. But I am not surprised when I think of it. The leader [Dr Minnis] has other plans for St Anne’s and Montagu. “I have been in that position before in my life,” he said. “Resist with all your might,” he urged the opposition MPs. “No one ought
to be able to arrogate unto themselves when your career is finished. The people must do that.” Mr Chipman and Mr Lightbourn are among six FNM MPs who threatened to have Governor General Dame Marguerite remove Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition if the
party did not set an early convention date. They - along with Loretta Butler-Turner, Neko Grant, Theo Neilly and Dr Andre Rollins - also wrote a memo to the party’s Central Council earlier this year outlining Dr Minnis’ weaknesses and failures as a leader.
PM URGES FNMS TO RESIST MINNIS from page one
to call the leader of the Opposition and advise. “[Minnis] had three and he didn’t tell his members. Now I understand there’s infamy here in the ranks, clearly he did not count the member for Montagu and he did not count the member for St Anne’s.” Mr Christie added: “When we said that we wanted to establish the teams, it was a nonpolitical decision to be able to empower the member of
sure that constituency association chairmans sent the relevant individuals. The Killarney MP said that he was informed that his instructions were carried out, and as such, did not know why the information did not get out to the respective MPs. Yesterday, Mr Christie said: “Leadership is required here. I have not been to Centreville because I thought it important to go every other place with my colleagues in their constituency. I then thought when I was
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THE TRIBUNE
DNA: ‘Back to square one’ after landfill manager suspends services from page one
WENDY McIntosh with DNA leader Branville McCartney, right, and deputy leader Chris Mortimer.
DNA MEMBER IN HOSPITAL AFTER LATEST SHOOTING THE DNA last night said The Bahamas was “paralysed by fear” after the party’s Nassau Village chairperson, Wendy McIntosh, was shot multiple times. It was the second of two separate shootings within hours. The latest left Ms McIntosh in hospital, and the prior incident saw a man taken to hospital. Ms McIntosh was reportedly standing in front of her home in Matthew Street, Nassau Village, with two other women shortly after 9am. Two men in a grey Honda Accord, armed with firearms, pulled up and shot the victim before speeding off, police said. She was rushed to hospital where she remains in critical condition. Police had not confirmed the victim’s identity, but a statement by the DNA lamented the “gruesome attack”. DNA leader Branville McCartney said: “It is deeply disturbing that at a time when many of us in the country are focused on rebuilding and restoration efforts, the criminal element in this country has chosen to exploit the vulnerabilities of a country in transition. Sadly, this is a clear indicator of how far we have strayed away from the core Christian values of brotherly love that once guided us. “It also proves that now more than ever, the Government of the Bahamas must take drastic steps in addressing crime and the fear of crime in this country. Over the past few years, we have watched an emboldened criminal element in The Bahamas attack politicians, pastors, teach-
ers and students alike.” He called for a new plan to tackle crime, adding: “Without such an intervention, we will continue to live in Paradise but be paralysed by fear. “Our prayers and thoughts are with Wendy McIntosh, her family and friends. We pray for Wendy’s recovery and for our strength and peace of mind during this difficult time.” Hours earlier, shortly after 10pm on Wednesday, a man was standing in front of his home located at Southern Breeze Estates off Golden Isles Road, when the occupants of a grey CRV vehicle armed with firearms pulled up and shot him before speeding off. The man was taken to hospital where he remains in stable condition. Police also reported that officers from the Selective Enforcement Team seized an illegal firearm and arrested three adult males following a car chase on Thursday. Around 4.30pm, officers from the Selective Enforcement Team were on routine patrol on Sunset Park off Carmichael Road, when they saw three suspicious men riding in a white Honda vehicle. The men sped off after seeing police. The officers gave chase and one of the men threw a handgun out of the vehicle. The chase ended when the men ditched their vehicle on Pampono Court before fleeing on foot. After a short foot chase, the officers arrested the three men. The handgun was recovered and found to be a .40 pistol with seven rounds of ammunition, police said.
MAN, 62, DIES AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A 62-YEAR-OLD man is dead following a traffic accident in the Eight Mile Rock area on Wednesday evening. According to police, the pedestrian, while attempt-
ing to cross the street, was hit by a 2004 gold-coloured Ford Taurus car. The victim was taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries. Police advised motorists to drive with caution and urged pedestrians to wear bright coloured clothing while walking at night.
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Mr McCartney said that alleged poor working conditions and labour issues, as well as malfunctioning machines at the Harold Road dump site, suggests that Renew Bahamas’ decision to suspend its services is likely just its way of “saying bye-bye” to its current contractual obligations with the government. On Wednesday, Renew Bahamas Chief Executive Michael Cox told this newspaper that the incidents of widespread theft, shootings and tyre slashing, combined with the loss of electrical power in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, had brought landfill operations to “a grinding halt” for the past three weeks. Confirming that the company has exercised the “force majeure” clause in its contract, Mr Cox said it was uncertain whether the company would return, potentially endangering about 50 Bahamian jobs. At the time however, Mr Cox hinted that Renew Bahamas’ decision was partially the result of the government’s failure to properly engage with Renew Bahamas over a strategy/plan to resolve the landfill’s problems, adding that Hurricane Matthew had brought the two sides’ strained relationship “to a head.”
Mr Cox also said the company’s request to the Christie administration for post-hurricane support and other assistance had yet to result in a meeting, and suggested this indicated that it wanted Renew Bahamas’ contract “to die.” The Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) has now reassumed responsibility of the landfill. “Unfortunately we’re back to square one,” Mr McCartney said. “Renew Bahamas obviously failed to do anything about the fires. We’ve had fires and again when you see the New Year comes around we probably can anticipate more fires. We are back to the point of where we have been before. We certainly have not moved forward with the remediation of the dumpsite. And I don’t think you’d see Renew Bahamas back there. “This is their way of saying ‘bye-bye,’ and I think this was teetering on the edge way before the hurricane came. Their services, the working conditions were deplorable for persons working there. Some of the original members who were part of the company had gone to work elsewhere.” Though he did not give names, Mr McCartney was likely referring to Gerhard Buekes, who stepped down from his position as the company’s CEO earlier this year. He is now Renew
Bahamas’ principal shareholder. “And there was a lot of labour issues, employment issues there,” Mr McCartney continued. “Machines were not working. So this isn’t something that was caused by the hurricane and power outages. This is something that was going to come in any event.” “For some time now, it is our understanding that they were not operating to full capacity. And what does this mean moving forward with the dump? Are we now in limbo? We now have the months of January to April coming when it is known to have these dump fires, and are we going to be faced with this problem again in the New Year? Where does this leave the issue of the New Providence dump fill is the question.” Mr McCartney insisted Renew Bahamas’ decision to suspend its services doesn’t exempt it nor the government from disclosing the particulars of the terms and conditions of its contract, as he said that now would be an opportune time for Renew to “clarify the extent of what services have they suspended.” However, he said a cloud of uncertainty still looms over Renew Bahamas’ decision, particularly with regards to whether or not the Christie administration had any financial obligations to Renew Bahamas or other-
wise, as was suggested by Mr Cox on Wednesday. “We can only speculate, because again, we go back to the fact that we don’t know the scope of their contract, what their contract entails,” Mr McCartney said. “The government was very quiet on that, the government has said nothing over the years, notwithstanding questioning and asking questions regarding the contract. “So we don’t know if there is some responsibility on the behalf of the government to assist with funding. I don’t know if that was part of the contract. And the government is very quiet. So we’re really calling on the government again to shed some light on, for want of a better word, this ‘garbage’ that’s going on regarding Renew Bahamas.” He added: “A complete and utter waste of time, Renew Bahamas. And another failed project, failed agreement by this Christie administration, that has been silent on the matter.” Renew Bahamas, through its 2014 agreement with the government, had the job of securing the 300-acre compound in southwest New Providence, as well as managing the landfill and helping to address the recurring fires. However, the landfill has been plagued by frequent fires despite efforts by Renew Bahamas to limit them.
BPL: 8,000 CUSTOMERS STILL WITHOUT POWER from page one
exception of North and Central Andros where restoration is now above 70 per cent. BPL explained that there are some areas where the company is experiencing difficulties because of flooding and obstruction of lines by trees, saying these areas will “take some time” to be restored. In Sanford Drive, Sans Souci, South Beach east and west, Sea Breeze and Imperial Park, BPL said the majority of distribution lines are placed at the rear of residential properties making it difficult for crews to access. “Some homes are walled or fenced in, also making it harder for crews to carry out repairs,” BPL’s press release said. “Additionally, bucket trucks needed to expedite repairs have difficulty reaching these lines as homeowners have expanded their property on to BPL’s ‘right of way’. BPL also has problems with additional backyard structures and trees
POWER Secure workers fixing a damaged pole. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff - planted by customers ing power to these areas, - obstructing access to the impact of flooding rethese lines. The company mains a challenge. Power now has to look at less ef- cannot be restored generficient and more time con- ally - in some cases - or to suming ways of repairing individual properties until downed poles and lines in Ministry of Works inspecthese areas.” tors complete an assessAt Lumumba Lane, ment of the structures and Hanna Road, Marshall give authorisation that the Road, St Andrews Beach area can be energised,” the Estates, Sea Gull Close, statement said. Misty Gardens and Ya“In Yamacraw Beach macraw Beach Estates, Estates, flooding not only BPL said flooding remains impacted homes in the a challenge. area but also BPL’s under“While BPL has made ground infrastructure. The significant progress restor- salt water damaged the un-
derground cables that now need to be repaired. In addition to this being an extremely difficult and time consuming job, the Ministry of Works must also carry out its inspections before the area can be energised.” BPL also said there are several areas with few or single customers without power and a number of customers whose service wires have been damaged or disconnected from BPL supply. “If a service mast is damaged, customers must have it repaired privately,” the statement said. “BPL’s service crews will then reconnect supply wires to the mast. Customers should be aware that due to the high volume of service issues across the island it will take time for crews to complete these types of repairs. In fact, in any restoration effort these are usually the last to complete.” The company said officials are confident that with the assistance of its CARILEC, PowerSecure, and local contractor teams, full restoration will be achieved very soon.
BPL SUSPENDS DISCONNECTIONS TO GIVE RELIEF AFTER STORM from page one
Bills will now be due in December rather than October. She also explained
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that this month’s bill is an estimate “using the average consumption” because employees were not able to read meters during the first few days of October, as is customary, because of the passage of Matthew. “Our next bill will be an actual meter reading that will reflect your usage for the period when power was off as a result of the storm. All that means is that, if your consumption pattern hasn’t changed, then your next monthly bill should be lower, depending on the days you did not have power,” she said. “Additionally, we have suspended disconnections for this period but encourage our customers to ensure they pay their bills by the due
date to avoid an interruption in supply when we resume disconnection activities. We also encourage any customer who may have difficulty paying their bill to come in to one of our customer service centres to speak to a BPL representative.” In a video on BPL’s Facebook page last week, CEO Pamela Hill said the company realises this time is frustrating for many Bahamians and BPL will do all it can to ease the hardship. “Our work is great but our commitment to you, our customers, is greater,” Ms Hill said last week. “Just as you did for Hurricane Joaquin and the hurricanes before, I know that we will rebuild a stronger Bahamas after hurricane Matthew.”
DOPPLER RADAR REPAIRED - AND TALKS COMPLETE FOR FOUR MORE from page one The cost of the new radars is just under $20m, she said. The department’s Doppler radar was out of service for some 10 days, according to the minister, after it “came off its gears” during the passage of Hurricane Matthew earlier this month. The new radars will be placed on Abaco, New Providence, Long Island
and Mayaguana to form a network of coverage. The old radar will be refurbished and placed in Ragged Island or Inagua, she said. The government first announced plans to strengthen the country’s weather tracking services in November 2015. In January, Director of Meteorology Trevor Basden reiterated the government’s intention to purchase four new radars.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 21, 2016, PAGE 7
PAGE 8, Friday, October 21, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Power to the people S
O, has enough time passed for us to officially label Bahamas Power and Light as lousy? In the days right after Hurricane Matthew, many people were hesitant to call out the “powerless”’ company for the slow return of electricity to the whole island. In fact, having power restored to my home just a day after Matthew passed, I initially was ready to give the company kudos. Then I realized my situation was the exception, not the rule, as many of my neighbours were still peering out of darkened windows as night, no doubt focusing their eyes (and anger) on the little light escaping down the street from the homes of a lucky few of us on the block. Two days after Matthew, BPL still had the benefit of the doubt. A quick glance at the company’s Facebook page revealed that many Bahamians simply wanted updates: ‘When y’all coming to my area? Update please!’ ‘Don’t forget us in Carmichael, update us please’ the posts generally read. Fast forward to today and the comments look very different, much of the lighthearted tone diminishing with each darkened night: ‘Day 16 and no power, y’all joking SMT’ ‘Power still off. Y’all better don’t send me no bill for October’ ‘Any chance of civilization tonight? #lousy’ It seems that upwards of two weeks without electrici-
POWERSECURE trucks arriving to help restore power - so the company we outsourced power supply to had to outsource to get repairs done?
A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA ty was the tipping point. No one is prepared to give BPL the benefit of the doubt anymore. No one (who isn’t on their payroll) is praising their efforts now. And why should we? The “lucky” ones amongst us aren’t so far removed from a summer of frustration with constant “load shedding” not to be able to empathise with those still lost in the
Funeral Service For Mark Robert Demeritte, 60 a resident of Beaumonta Avenue, will be held at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, West Hill Street, on Saturday, 22nd October, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Officiating will be Fr. Kendrick Forbes. Interment follows in Catholic Cemetery, Tyler Street. Left to cherish his memories are hisMother: Bessie Demeritte; Brother: Paul Demeritte; Sister: Val Cooper; Adopted sister: Mochrie Dames; Aunt: Mary Sweetnum; Sister-in-law: Janet Demeritte; Nieces: Monique Collie, Michelle Cooper, Denise Cooper-Louis, Rissie Demeritte, Deidre Cooper, Giovannia Drummond, Shadaé Munroe, Indira Farrington; Grandnieces: NiahMandi Louis, Amari Drummond; Grandnephews: Errol, Eamon and Erin Collie, Noah- Mandel Louis, James Farrington, Jr.; Cousins: Donna Smith, Luther McDonald, Morris, Annalee and Therese Demeritte, Patrice Bethell; A host of other relatives and friends including: The children of Emma Bethell, The children of Preston Albury, the children of Joseph Albury, Michelle Dames and family, Keith DeCosta, Roger Demeritte, Darville Demeritte and family, Andy Major and family, Manfred Strachan, Joan Pinder, Ruth Sumner, Rose Bethell, Elease Scavella, Peter Strachan, Dawn and Sandra Knowles, Mark and Stephen Knowles, Peter Turnquest, Carol Major, Kelsie Clarke, Donna Morrison, Dorothy Johnson, Gaynell Bullard, Anita Williams and family, Agatha Cumberbatch and family, Anna Brooks and family, Sharon McKinney and family, Sybil Butler and family, Blanche Moss and family, Yvonne Maura and family, Janet Bunch and family, Fred Cooper and family, Maxcine McCartney and family, Donald Cooper and family, Andrew Cooper and family, Rudolph and Franklyn Cooper, Darcy Louis and family, Errol Collie and family, Cynthia Cooper and family, Jessica Cartwright and family, Lawrence “Buddy” Smith, Sonny Haven, Tyrone Murphy, Martin Burrows, , Wynton “Doc” Isaacs, Dale and Daryle Isaacs, Harry Miller, Delton Bain, Alexander Bain, George Henderson, Adrian Rodgers, Keith Archer, Kipling Butler, Selvyn McKenzie, Perry Seymour, Vincent Seymour, Ronald Seymour, Lester Dean, Shannon Bannister, Howard Knowles, William Knowles, Sharon Storr, Eddie Cleare, Elgarnet Rahming, John Chipman, “Nakka”, Philip Holbert, Athama Bowe, Anthony “Rake n’ Scrape” Bowe, Deon Seymour, Arthur “Baldy” Seymour, Vincent Curry, Patricia Mitchell and family, Lorenzo Lockhart, Lester Gardiner, Jackie Adderley, Stephanie Adderley, Fred “Papa” Smith, “Chicken” Taylor, Eddie Ford and the Certified Umpire Association, the Garden Hills community. Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte;s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 12-6:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.
darkness brought on by the incompetent mismanagement of resources of our major power supplier. Remember those hot nights sweating your you-knowwhat off because of BPL? Well multiply that by 15 and you know how the worst off of us feel. My Lord, how are these people even surviving? By day 7, I would have been kicked off Facebook for the comments left on BPL’s page. By day 10, I would have been arrested for protesting in front of BPL, clothed only in a week’s buildup of bodily grime earned from not being able to take a hot shower. By day 15, I would have been camped out in front of the Prime Minister’s house, with picket signs and a manual on how to ‘tief’ solar energy. When the current management took over at BPL the accolades poured in from this government. After shelling out $25m for a five-year contract, we were led to believe the “new team” was the answer to our energy problems. We were led to believe the days of “rolling blackouts” were behind us. Well Maury, the lie detector test determined that was a lie! Not only do we still live in the “age of load shedding,” we now have to worry that should another Hurricane pass through (one will) we may face another dystopian nightmare the likes of which
the most imaginative fic- will no doubt find it very tion writer couldn’t envi- difficult to pay you for sion. your “services” at the end To add insult to injury, of the month. I’m not saythe new management team ing not to print the bills, at BPL, in I’m just saymaking the ‘You know what ing that if rounds on the would impress us, those disradio, seem to connection be under the BPL talking heads? trucks come Restoring power impression through bethat we should to the 8,000 fore the rebe impressed connection that they have Bahamians still in trucks do, brought in darkness a full two you may be pinch hitters weeks after the in for a maand big trucks jor Bahafrom their storm has passed. mian “blessmother com- In case you didn’t ing” that will pany Power- realise it, this isn’t make MatSecure. In two thew look words, we’re our first hurricane like a mild not. breeze. rodeo.’ You mean to tell me the people we outsourced the job to have to outsource the job, too? And we have to pick up the bill? And at least 10% of the island is Is it me, or for somestill in darkness? You can’t one who campaigned four make this stuff up. You know what would years ago against taxation impress us, BPL talking and future taxation, as one of his parties campaign heads? Restoring power to the platforms, Prime Minister 8,000 Bahamians still in Christie is rivalling “King darkness a full two weeks Herod” with his proposed after the storm has passed. taxes these days. We all know about VAT, In case you didn’t realise it, this isn’t our first hurri- and 7.5% on top of everycane rodeo. In the annals thing. We all know duty reof “current” history, your mains unchanged. “VAT on erryting” as response goes down as one they say in the “hood” from of the worst. There are many, many hair weaves and bleach experienced engineers cream, to Jordan’s and “hot and technicians on your patties” there’s no escaping team and a few recent- it. VAT is real!! (By the way where’s the ly retired BEC workers who know a thing or two VAT revenue collected about getting the lights so far, and what is it being on quickly. Why don’t you used for?) I digress, more impordo us all a favour and let them do what they have tantly it amazes me with done for decades before VAT, high duty rates, and you arrived on the scene the taxes already on the to “manage” the situa- books, the first idea that came to our Prime Mintion? While you’re at it, pay ister’s mind, implement a a thought to persons who ‘Hurricane Tax’ in order
‘KING PEROD’
to cover future hurricane expenditures before, during and after the storm. Why is it so easy for our leaders to instantly jump to the conclusion of taxing the small man, all while allowing certain powerful entities from the far east, to help themselves to the “tax free” smorgasbord buffet. We the citizenry get more potential taxes piled on our already burdened backs, while allegedly, certain foreign investors demand tax free concessions for exorbitant amounts of years, and five hundred Bahamian citizenships approved for millionaire investors? What type ‘psyche’ is that? (As the youngsters say) Doesn’t charity begin at home? We Bahamians get taxed into oblivion and non Bahamians waltz on by tax free, pass go and collect $200.00? The word must have gotten back to senior government officials that the streets were talking, and they were “talking bad” about the government and its ridiculous “Hurricane Tax” idea. Miraculously a day or two later, the PM announced there would be no “Hurricane Tax” instead the nation would secure a $150m Hurricane Rebuild Loan.
ANOTHER LOAN? Really, seriously? Now if you do the math on this people, you will see that we the citizenry end up footing the bill for all “loans” incurred by the government. And if we end up paying for another “loan” isn’t that a form of taxation on us indirectly anyway? Spare us more “Chinese Arithmetic” in trying to figure out your lopsided potential taxes mister Prime Minister. Instead, here’s a couple of suggestions regarding taxes. 1. Why don’t you collect the taxes still left owed by your bosom buddy hotelier Phil Ruffin. 2. Tax the new owners of BahaMar, the same way you “free up” Atlantis, and ensure both properties enjoy the same concessions. Hopefully that will allow the government to collect the necessary revenue needed, without crippling the populous. Anyway I’m off, you never know, there may be a “word tax” next, any columnist over 500 words gets taxed!! Until next week I will leave you with these words from former US President Calvin Coolidge “Implementing and collecting more taxes than absolutely necessary is legalised robbery.” • Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident stand-up comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 21, 2016, PAGE 9
PAGE 10, Friday, October 21, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
BAHAMAS FEEDING NETWORK SALUTES VOLUNTEERS
VOLUNTEERS of the Bahamas Feeding Network were hosted to a dinner at Humidor Churrascaria at Graycliff as a thank you for their dedication. AN essential component of any non-profit organisation is the volunteers who donate countless hours to seeing the vision come to life. The same can be said for the men, women and young people who are the backbone of the Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN), a non-profit organisation that collects and distributes food to feeding centres,
SUSPECTS TO SUBMIT ALIBIS AHEAD OF MURDER TRIAL By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
TWO men awaiting trial on a murder charge said they would submit an alibi to the Office of the Attorney General within 21 days. Kyle Newbold, 24, and 22-year-old Christopher McQueen, appeared in Magistrate’s Court yesterday for a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) presentation that would fast track his case to the Supreme Court for trial in relation to the August 23 slaying of Martin Nixon. According to initial police reports, shortly after 11pm off Blue Hill Road South, Nixon was involved in an argument with another man in front of a home that led to him being shot. He was rushed to the hospital, but died of his injuries early the next morning. Magistrate Constance Delancy informed the pair of the contents of the VBI and their right to enter an alibi in court or in 21 days to the Office of the Attorney General. Both men chose the latter option and are now scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court on November 4, before Justice Bernard Turner for their formal arraignment. It is at that hearing that he will be allowed to enter a plea to the murder charge. Newbold and McQueen are respectively represented by attorneys Krysta Mason-Smith and Glendon Rolle.
TEMPORARY PAUSE TO VOTER REGISTRATION THE parliamentary commissioner has announced that in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, evening voter registration in New Providence - after 5pm, Monday to Friday has been suspended until further notice. Daily voter registration for the 2017 general election continues.
TO ADVERTISE IN THE TRIBUNE, CONTACT 502-2394
soup kitchens, churches and individuals throughout the Bahamas, who were recently celebrated during a dinner at Humidor Churrascaria, a Graycliff restaurant, on West Hill Street. “We could not do all we do without the support, time, ideas and energy of all of the incredible members of the Bahamas Feeding Network,” said Philip Smith, BFN executive di-
rector. “Our volunteers exemplify the unconditional love which must be present in you for you to do the type of work that we do. Always accommodating, you can find our members planning, collecting food from donors, cooking meals, plating and serving food and delivering the hot meals or food packages to organisations as well as individuals.” Upon arrival at the his-
toric, five-star property the volunteers were treated like royalty, dining on the finest china, helping themselves to an all-you-can-eat buffet in addition to servers making the rounds with some 13 options of wellseasoned and portioned meats prepared in the Brazilian-styled barbecue restaurant or churrascarria. “The Garzarolis continue to support the network
and we are so pleased that they gave us the opportunity to fellowship in such a beautiful setting,” Mr Smith said of Enrico and Anna Maria Garzaroli, founders of Graycliff. In the nearly three years since BFN has been distributing food and funding to feeding centres in the Bahamas, the programme has donated more than $350,000 to its 110 partners
Photo: Impact Images with the aid of public and private contributions. Despite its work, the need only grows, said Mr Smith. “In a rich country like The Bahamas, one in every seven to eight people goes to bed hungry. That is why we are also dealing with more lasting solutions to feeding, including backyard farming programmes in several areas.”
Charity fund from web shop payments reaches $3m total By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net THE Gaming Board foundation set up for the charitable use of funds from the web shop gaming sector has accrued $3m, according to Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe yesterday. Mr Wilchcombe said it was up to the government to decide how the funds will be used. The foundation was set out in the Gaming Act’s Regulations, and Retired Justice Neville Adderley
chairs its board of directors. During his contribution to a $150m bond resolution to help cover hurricane related expenses in the House of Assembly, Mr Wilchcombe also acknowledged that the government was open to consideration of a national lottery to finance national development. He pointed out that many countries have employed such an initiative to assist with sporting and education. Touting the philanthropic efforts of operators in the industry, he noted that gam-
ing houses employ 3,600 Bahamians by comparison to the just over 1,000 Bahamians employed by hotelbased casinos. He added that gaming houses pay higher taxes and receive fewer concessions from the government. The tourism minister also pushed back against criticism of the tourism model, underscoring that the major challenge was finding a way to scale back on concessions. During his contribution, Mr Wilchcombe, the MP for West End and Bimini, also made an impassioned ap-
peal to invest in hurricanebattered rural communities rather than abandon them. “When you look at what is happened, again, and I hear the arguments about moving the people,” he said. “I’m not sure that’s the resolution for the problem. I think the resolution to the problem is that the government has to put money into these areas, and not just put patch money. I think the government of the Bahamas, successive governments need to do this for true redevelopment. “We have a chance, that’s
how I see this, I see this as a new opportunity because God ensured that no one died so we have an opportunity to look at West End in particular and see how we can cause this place which is still the capital of Grand Bahama to be redeveloped. “What we are going to put in place, it will cost a lot of money, millions of dollars, no question about it, but these areas cannot just be considered settlements, they must be considered as communities where people live, work, where the economy can grow.”
IT’S TWINS FOR THE TURNQUEST FAMILY
GEORGETTE Turnquest with new arrivals Preston Gordon Turnquest and Philip Greyson Turnquest yesterday.
TWIN sons were born to Mrs Georgette Turnquest at Doctors Hospital at 8.46am and 8.47am yesterday. Both mother and babies are doing well. Mrs Turnquest, a former Queen’s College teacher, now a senior media specialist at the Ministry of Education, is the wife of Mr Paul Turnquest, a former Tribune editor, now the owner of a local media and political strategy firm. The fraternal twins — Preston Gordon Turnquest, 7lbs 5 ounces, and Philip Greyson Turnquest, 6lbs 2 ounces — join their twoyear-old sister, Penelope, in the Turnquest household.
BAIL APPLICATION DISMISSED FOR MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN hoping to be released from prison before his murder trial had his bail application dismissed by a Supreme Court judge yesterday. Ryan Wood, 22, appeared before Acting Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs and his lawyer, Stanley Rolle, attempted to convince the court that his client was a fitting candidate for bail. Wood is scheduled to stand trial on a murder charge in November 2017 in connection with the December 19, 2015 shooting of Rafik Turnquest. Wood has been charged with murder under Section 291 (1)(B) of the Penal Code. A charge under this sec-
tion does not attract the discretionary death penalty if a conviction is reached at the end of trial. Wood pleaded not guilty to the allegation when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court. In yesterday’s hearing, Mr Rolle said his client had ties to the country as “he’s a Bahamian.” “At the time of his arrest, he was employed at AquaPure. He has no pending matters before the court or any prior convictions,” the lawyer said. “He maintains his innocence and in the course of being in police custody, he submitted himself to samples being taking from him to assist police in their investigations,” Mr Rolle added. Wood’s lawyer said the results of the forensic anal-
ysis were not forthcoming from the prosecution. He also stressed that police were informed of possible surveillance footage where the incident occurred but that also had not been brought forward. “There’s no evidence of witness interference. There’s no breaches of prison rules which is an indication that even while in prison, he’s of good character,” Mr Rolle noted. The lawyer also said that his client fears for his safety in prison as he’s not affiliated with gangs, which leaves him without protection if he were to be attacked. He also said the sleeping conditions and food given to inmates were not ideal. Acting Chief Justice Isaacs asked Mr Rolle if he had considered the recent
amendment to the Bail Act where Parliament advised against the grant of bail for persons who may be physically harmed if released from state custody. Mr Rolle said it was a matter for the court to decide, but stressed it was one of many factors. “There’s no basis or suggestion, however, that he’s unlikely to appear for his trial and murder in itself is not sufficient to warrant his detention,” Mr Rolle stressed. In response, Crown prosecutor Kristan Stubbs objected to the application. “In this matter, the applicant is likely to be tried within a reasonable time. He’s already been (formally) arraigned and has a trial date for November 27, 2017,” the prosecutor said.
Ms Stubbs said the nature and seriousness of the offence also had to be considered as well as the protection of society. “We also wish to draw to the court’s attention the safety of the accused man himself,” Ms Stubbs added. The prosecutor also stressed that the Crown’s case against Wood is “cogent” because prosecutors are relying on identification evidence and a statement given by the witness who saw Turnquest’s death. Acting Chief Justice Isaacs’ decision was brief, but he dismissed Wood’s application after considering the evidence in the case and determining that there was no unreasonable delay in Wood’s trial. Wood can contest the decision in the Court of Appeal.
PAGE 14, Friday, October 21, 2016
THE TRIBUNE