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VOLUME:114 No.232, OCTOBER 25TH, 2017

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CULTURE CLASH: THE FAIRER SEX NEEDS A FAIR DEAL - PAGE 8

Davis ‘Big League’ dig at rival Glenys ...while he refuses EUGENE MURDER SUSPECT CHARGED to say if he’s paying for convention

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net C O N V E N T I O N

“WELCOME to the big leagues,” was the message from Progressive Liberal Party interim Leader Philip “Brave” Davis when asked to respond to concerns he was given an advantage over his opponent Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin due to his financial support of the party.

Former Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller suggested to The Tribune Mr Davis was allowed to speak at the party’s pre-convention

OCTOBER 2017

prayer breakfast on Sunday because he had sponsored it, and much of the convention.

When asked to respond Tuesday to speculation he spoke at the prayer breakfast because he paid for it, Mr Davis sidestepped the issue, saying: “I will not speak to that, the issues, all I can say is, welcome to the big leagues.”

SEE PAGE THREE

CAT Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP Philip “Brave” Davis said Tuesday the Progressive Liberal Party will take into account the “constructive” criticism from Monique Pindling, whose father the late Sir Lynden Pindling led the PLP for more than 20 years.

Others in the party commended the scathing remarks from Ms Pindling as “necessary medicine.”

As the party marked

By NATARIO MCKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net PHASE two of the $250m Pointe project is now under way and is expected to be complete by the end of 2018, the spokesman for the development, Leslie Pindling, told Tribune Business yesterday.

The new phase of the project will encompass the development of a 100-room, eight-storey condominium complex with oceanfront residences and a marina.

Mr Pindling, director of New World One Bay Street, told Tribune Business: “Work has resumed.

Phase two is under way and moving nicely.”

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS SECTION

GOMEZ DEFENDS SANDS ON SURGERY

PINDLING’S ATTACK: WE HAVE TO LISTEN

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

POINTE PHASE 2 WORK BEGINS

FORMER Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez yesterday came to the defence of his successor Dr Duane Sands, stating he does not feel the talented surgeon should be faulted for performing surgeries free of charge as a Cabinet minister.

In a departure from his party’s position, Dr Gomez said while he agreed that a regulator should not also be a practitioner, he understood there were extenuating circumstances to call upon such a top-rated surgeon in a country so small.

nomination day for leadership posts at its convention on Tuesday, The Tribune spoke to a handful of candidates and staunch supporters about Ms Pindling’s assessment of the PLP, a party she said had become “overcome with envy, consumed with jealousy and stung with greed.”

For his part, Mr Davis said aspects of Ms Pindling’s assessment would have to be factored into any plan crafted to move the PLP forward.

SEE PAGE THREE

SEE PAGE SIX

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THE ALLEGED killer of Eugene Woodside, Lloyd Minnis, 25, outside court yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 25-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a double shooting last month that led to the death of eight-yearold Eugene Woodside Jr and another man said to be in his twenties.

Lloyd Minnis, of Coral Harbour, stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt facing

charges that he murdered both Eugene and Dennis Moss on September 25 following a brazen double shooting in the Chippingham area.

According to initial reports from police, officers received a report that two males had been shot in the Rosebud Street area off Farrington Road.

Eugene, eight, was in his home doing homework when he was shot by a stray bullet, according to initial reports from police, while

Moss was pursued in the street by a gunman.

Both victims were taken to hospital where they later died.

Minnis, who is represented by attorney Ian Cargill, was not required to enter a plea to both charges yesterday and the matter was adjourned to December 7 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until that time.

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MAN SHOT DEAD NEAR HIS HOME

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net ANOTHER man is dead after succumbing to his gunshot wounds last night, police said.

The man’s lifeless body was found in an area off Balfour Avenue shortly after 8pm when police responded to report of gunshots, according to SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Wednesday, October 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

PICEWELL Forbes MP speaking at the PLP convention last night.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Forbes warns party must move on from sense of entitlement

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Progressive Liberal Party must change, said South Andros and Mangrove Cay MP Picewell Forbes last night, as he castigated some in the organisation who became “haughty, big headed, selfish” and “sometimes didn’t even want to shake supporters hands” during the Christie administration’s last term in office.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Grand Bahama Michael Darville said the party lost focus of the bigger picture. However, despite this, he maintained the PLP is the only political party with a vision and plan for the economically struggling Grand Bahama.

Their remarks came during the second night of

the PLP’s 53rd National ask ourselves the difficult Convention, which is far questions – honestly and less grand and elaborate sincerely we take a real than the party’s last con- introspective examination vention held in January. of our ways and reform, Under the theme “We Will redress and readjust some Rebuild” things, postthe event The days of being a haste,” Mr was well PLP, and expecting Forbes said. attended, but “One of every seat to have rights to the tasks we was not filled big contracts, high clearly have in the ball- paying jobs and all is to rebuild room of the trust in our Melia Nassau its accoutrements, political Beach Hotel. without being party system “Mr (con- accountable and within. Yes vention) we must chairman – responsible are make sure how could gone. We must the people a party with recognise that who work such a track and suprecord of things are changing. port the accomplishparty know ments and sound record they are in control, and and proven record of that we remain, especially investing and believing in those who aspire for high its people, find itself where office, be cognisant of the we are today? We must fact that the politicians are

always the servant and that the people are always the masters.”

He also said: “The PLP must move away from Bahamians feeling a sense of entitlement without hard work, but we must renew in our people a new sense of national and personal responsibility. The days of being a PLP, and expecting to have rights to big contracts, high paying jobs and all its accoutrements, without being accountable and responsible are gone.

We must recognise that things are changing. We must rebuild this party and this country through the values of freedom, values of fairness, and values of responsibility.

“The poor, indigent and the less fortunate have always been with us – they thought we lost our way and many of these persons

in this demographic have a view that we lost our way – the elderly, stalwarts, the frail, the disenfranchised and persons living over-thehill like my mom, generally thought that we in the PLP became too haughty, big headed, selfish and arrogant and sometimes didn’t even want to shake our supporters hand.

“Mr Chairman, party leader, the PLP must change,” Mr Forbes said.

“There are some people in the forefront of this party who speak on our behalf politically, civically, religiously, and otherwise – whose time has come and must now step aside. We gotta get some better persons in the camp because if we are going to rebuild, change cannot only appear to happen, but the discerning Bahamian electorate demands real, evidential

and tangible change in the PLP. “We can no longer have the same persons for the last 10, 15, 20 years in charge of all the arms and capacities of the party. They can no longer play those same roles and expect a different result,” Mr Forbes said.

Regarding the state of Grand Bahama, Dr Darville said the situation there is taking a turn for the worst.

He claimed long standing businesses are now closing their doors because of sluggish economic activity and the Minnis administration’s failure to bring change to the island.

He said three Grand Bahamian Cabinet ministers have no plan for the island, adding that the PLP will now take to the streets and reclaim the island in the 2022 general election.

COOPER ‘READY TO LEAD’ IF CALLED ON

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

INVIGORATED by his nomination for deputy leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper confirmed yesterday he would present himself for leadership of the party if given the opportunity.

Mr Cooper will go head to head against Ricardo Smith, former unionist and South Beach Branch vice chairman.

“This is an exciting feeling,” Mr Cooper said on the sidelines of the PLP’s national convention. “It’s humbling for a boy from Forbes Hill, Exuma, to have the opportunity to be deputy leader and deputy prime minister in waiting.

This is an awesome feeling and I’m grateful to the delegates and the stalwarts for nominating me today.”

Asked whether he hoped to one day lead the party, he said: “If the people of the Bahamas calls me and gives me an opportunity to lead, I will accept that invitation but right now let’s take it a step at a time - I’m trying to become deputy leader.”

For his part, Mr Smith said he believes he can make a significant contribution to the party; however, he noted his bid was also a principled stance on what

he saw as a “free lunch”.

“There can be no free lunch in the party going forward,” he said.

“I don’t know if someone could just come into one of the most historic parties and just ascend to such a high leadership position without even a challenge.”

“I believe that I have a contribution to return the party to prominence but this is also going to take persons who understand the intricacies of the party and the entire body politic.

“We brought people in before and it hasn’t turned out well,” Mr Smith continued.

“I am always rooting for Mr Cooper and his continued involvement but today is a day for more seasoned politicians who understand politics and have been in the trenches. Chester is not new to politics but he is new to this position, to this level of politics.”

Philip “Brave” Davis, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin, and Grand Bahama activist Troy Garvey were nominated for PLP leader while former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, Senator Fred Mitchell, and attorney Glendon Rolle were all nominated for party chairman.

Yesterday, both Mr Davis and Mrs Hanna Martin expressed elation and confidence in their respective nominations.

Outgoing Chairman Bradley Roberts said of the process: “It went very smoothly, those who were desirous of being nominated were nominated we will see (today) who will emerge as the victor.”

Delegates at the PLP’s 53rd General Convention will choose from 34 candidates when they vote today on the posts of leader, deputy leader, chairman, deputy chairman, treasurer and vice chairman.

Erecia Hepburn and former Senator Robyn Lynes are running for deputy chairman, with 20 contenders for vice chairman.

They are: Ruby Saunders, Pamela Rodgers, Obie Roberts, Sharine Poitier, Oscar McPhee, Ramadan K McKenzie, Lamar Oshane Matthews, Alphonso Major Jr, Leslie Lightbourne, Rudolph Tenor Knowles, Reneika Knowles, Bradley Kemp, Peter Johnson, Lawrence Harrison, Alfred Gray, Danielle Gibson, Tevin Ferguson, Patricia Deveaux, Dianne Coakley, and Terrence Bethel.

One person was nominated and declared as treasurer - Paul Bevans.

The Leadership Council was declared yesterday.

On the Leadership Council are: Lynwood L Brown, Forrester Carroll, Kayla Smith Mortimer, and Calverna Small.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 25, 2017, PAGE 3

Davis ‘Big League’ dig at rival Glenys from page one

Mr Davis and outgoing PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts have pushed back on criticism leveled by Mrs Hanna Martin, who yesterday accused both men of being disingenuous, insisting the decision to block candidates from addressing the convention before the vote was undemocratic and a break from precedent.

Yesterday, Mr Davis said he thought Mrs Hanna Martin’s critique flew in the face of democracy, explaining the party’s convention committee decided both leader candidates would speak on the final night of the convention as the victor and the loser.

He noted Mrs Hanna Martin had raised concerns with him, and he informed her of the committee’s decision.

Mr Davis also said: “I will have two speeches prepared, one to congratulate her if she succeeds, and one to chart the way forward if I succeed, and I hope that that’s what she would have done. I think I would have conveyed that to her as to what they would have said to me, so it’s unfortunate that she thought the matter is unfair but I don’t think it is because I’m not speaking either.”

Mrs Hanna Martin complained about being denied an opportunity to speak at the convention in a letter to delegates obtained by The Tribune. She also expressed concerns on Monday over the use of money in the PLP’s internal election campaigns, insisting the organisation needed rules to ensure delegates are free from influence when they head to the polls.

Yesterday, Mr Davis insisted his address at the party’s prayer breakfast did not give him an advantage over Mrs Hanna Martin, underscoring that his speech was not self-promoting but called for party unity.

LEADERSHIP candidate Philip ‘Brave’ Davis alongside his wife, Anne Marie, and outgoing party chairman Bradley Roberts.

“The audience I had wasn’t the delegates you see here,” Mr Davis said.

“Family Island delegates were not in as far as I’m aware. I spoke to persons who participated in the prayer breakfast and she was there, I acknowledged her presence.”

Mr Davis said at one point during the event, the committee chair was looking for Mrs Hanna Martin, but she was not present at the time.

Mrs Hanna Martin rebuffed comments from both Mr Davis and Mr Roberts as “disingenuous” in an interview with reporters at the close of nominations yesterday.

She pointed out that Mr Davis had the full stage at the prayer breakfast, but also noted the Rum

Cay, San Salvador and Cat Island MP presided over the convention as interim leader and has full knowledge of all proceedings.

“I’m assuming he has knowledge of the fact of this decision being made, so I understand what he’s saying with his two speeches but he already had one a couple days ago.”

She reiterated the last leadership contest which did not feature an incumbent elected leader - some 20 years ago - provided for all leadership candidates to address delegates.

“Twenty years ago, when there was a leadership race with Perry Christie, Bernard Nottage and Philip Galanis, each candidate spoke,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.

“That’s the only prior experience we have so this

rationale I see touted is disingenuous. It does not pertain to this particular circumstance and in any event, I was told I was speaking Tuesday night.”

She continued: “And then I was told I can’t speak, I’m a candidate, but last night they had multiple candidates so we know what’s going on here but I just want us to be very transparent in what we are saying.”

Mrs Hanna Martin said she was “flabbergasted” over why officials were being stubborn about the issue but that her team would continue to push the matter.

Weighing in yesterday, Mr Miller said he supported Mrs Hanna Martin’s right to speak, but had since backed down after he realised that

Mr Davis would not be speaking on the convention floor either before votes are tallied.

Mr Miller suggested Mr Davis was allowed to speak at the prayer breakfast because he had sponsored it, and much of the convention; however, he added he was not intimately involved with the process.

For his part, former PLP Cabinet minister Damian Gomez said: “We do need to change some of the things that we do and how we conduct business internally.

“I don’t know why that decision was made. If you’re running for a position I would think that you would need to have an audience so the convention has an opportunity to assess what your intentions

SOME of the scenes from the second night of the PLP convention last night. See page 12 for more photographs.

“It was a frank address and she did a critique of what she thought we may have done wrong and what she thought we ought to address and what she said will be taken into account on the way forward,” the PLP leadership candidate told reporters on the sidelines of the convention.

“I can’t say I was blindsided by it . . . I accepted what she said, it’s a view from someone who has a perspective of a party that she belongs to and has been a part of through her father all these years and I take the criticism very constructive.”

When asked if he agreed with her remarks, the former deputy prime minister said: “I don’t think that – I think what she pointed to, those factors did exist in some form or fashion in the organisation. I don’t want to say where and how. But

again, we have to listen to what people say about us.

We have to accept these criticisms and address them going forward.”

Meanwhile, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin, also vying for PLP leadership, maintained that much of Ms Pindling’s assessment had “long ago” been “accepted” by segments of the party.

She said such “recriminations” shouldn’t be dismissed, but rather accepted, analysed and worked into plans to improve the party.

“It was good to see her on the PLP stage and of course she expressed her views and I respect her for it,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.

“I think that (what she said) is a given that we have accepted long ago. When you see the (election) results and you see that you ended up with four seats, you know that you have to try to understand what has happened here.”

Deputy leader candidate, Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper for his part branded Ms Pindling’s address a “reconnection mission” when interviewed Tuesday.

Back in June, Mr Cooper delivered a speech that struck a similar tone and he faced heavy criticism at the time.

He told reporters: “Sometimes to move forward you have to reflect, that is what she did last night.”

He added: “We are now looking forward to 2022.

The PLP is resurgent. We are going to build on the platform we have. We are going to learn from the mistakes we have made and we are going to become stronger as a party.”

Former Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller applauded Ms Pindling’s critique as “necessary medicine.”

When contacted by The Tribune on Tuesday, Mr Miller suggested if an extensive study were carried out

on PLP supporters after the 2017 election, it would highlight the “major gap” that exists between those leading the PLP and “the average fellow”.

“What she said was her view, but I would be lying if I said she wasn’t saying what people everywhere are feeling. There is true hurt in the party and this is the necessary medicine.”

Mr Miller added: “I’m happy things are happening this way. We need this to shake things up.”

The Tribune also contacted former PLP MP Philip Galanis for his view on Ms Pindling’s assessment.

The former Englerston MP said the critique “captured the essence” of what many people in the party are thinking.

Mr Galanis said the critique, in years to come, would be referred to as a “moment of truth”.

“We’ve known,” he said, “many of us have held that view for a while and as a

are, and that’s best done if everyone is given an opportunity to speak.”

However, Mr Gomez did not go as far as to call the process unfair, instead noting that it has been unchanged for years and underscoring his disapproval of the current voting system.

“I believe that we ought to have a system in which every member is entitled to vote and not merely one group of people, but we have to make some changes to our constitution to have that achieved,” Mr Gomez said.

“We are on the road to reform and this process is necessary and after it’s completed we can then see some firm plans put to the public, to the party, as to the way forward.”

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PINDLING’S ATTACK: WE HAVE TO LISTEN from page one

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

result, the party lost its way. This was the moment of truth.”

He added: “I think a greater number of us realise that things haven’t been working the way it should be. That group now sees the need for reform. To that end, I think the incoming Davis regime will make the changes necessary.”

Ms Pindling, during an address on night one of the party’s convention, said the PLP had become “weak” and “dishonest”. She also

suggested that the party had strayed away from the values it once had.

Additionally, Ms Pindling insisted the PLP had allowed the political ambitions of a “few men to dash the aspirations of a whole people”.

Ms Pindling, who was married to former PLP Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, described herself on Monday night as a “single mother raising two daughters on my own”.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, October 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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The increasing dangers of climate change NEW YORK (AP) — Within the next three decades, floods that used to strike the New York City area only once every 500 years could occur every five years, according to a new scientific study released just days before the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy.

The study, performed by researchers at several universities and published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, primarily blames the predicted change on sea-level rise caused by global warming.

“This is kind of a warning,” said Andra Garner, a Rutgers University scientist and study co-author. “How are we going to protect our coastal infrastructure?”

The researchers based their analysis on multiple models that factored in predictions for sea level rise and possible changes in the path of future hurricanes.

Many of the models had a dose of good news for the nation’s largest city: Climate changes may mean that storms are more violent, but are also likely to swing further off-shore, meaning storm surge heights aren’t likely to increase substantially through 2300.

However, rising sea levels could mean that floods of 7.4 feet or more that struck the New York city area roughly once every 500 years before 1800, and which occur roughly every 25 years now, could happen once every five years between 2030 and 2045.

Researchers made no recommendations on what public officials or others should do to prepare.

“The idea is this kind of study we hope will provide information that people making those kinds of decisions can use,” Garner said. “We know that when Sandy hit in 2012, of course, subways, tunnels flooded, power was knocked out, parts of the city were just really devastated so studies like this provide some warning.”

Other researchers included scientists from Penn State University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

Princeton University, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

The researchers said there is scientific consensus that global sea level will rise in the coming centuries, although it is not certain how high. They cautioned that sea-level rise at New York City could exceed 8 feet by the end of the century if, in a high-emissions future, the West Antarctic ice sheet rapidly melts.

The study expects about 5 inches to 11 inches of sea-level rise likely in New York City between 2000 and 2030.

The study examined sea level rise through the year 2300.

“I think the study is valid, but year 2300 is a long way off,” said Billy Sweet, an oceanographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who was not involved in it. “What is more certain is the amount of sea level rise likely to occur in the next 50 to 100 years or so and that storm surges from nor’easters and hurricanes will continue to pose a risk for New York City.”

Hurricane Sandy merged with two other weather systems into an unusual storm that devastated the oceanfront coastline and caused catastrophic flooding in New York and cities in New Jersey on Oct. 29, 2012. It was blamed for at least 182 deaths and $65 billion in damage in the US. State and city officials in New York say they are planning numerous projects to guard against future flooding, including fortifying utilities and transit facilities, and note other projects are still in the design stage.

Here in The Bahamas a group made up of Bahamian scientists and activists has been formed to understand climate change and find solutions for the Bahamas to become more resilient to the impacts of the change.

(See story on page 8 of today’s Tribune).

Immigration issue EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE have been quick to speak of the constitutional rights the children of illegal immigrants have regarding citizenship in The Bahamas, but one crucial point has been overlooked, the children of illegal Haitians are in fact Haitian citizens.

Article 11 of the Haitian Constitution states that “Any person born of a Haitian father or Haitian mother who are themselves native-born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality possesses Haitian nationality at the time of birth.”

Article 12 states that “any Haitian, except for the privileges reserved to Haitians of origin, is subject to all the right, duties and obligations attached to their Haitian nationality. No Haitian can make their foreign nationality prevail on the territory of the Republic.”

Article 41 states that “No person of Haitian nationality may be deported or forced to leave the national territory for any reason. No one may be deprived for political reasons of his legal capacity and his nationality. (41-1) No Haitian needs a visa to leave or return to the country.

Every child born to an illegal Haitian should have gotten their passport through the Haitian embassy. The failure to do so does not make them stateless, it makes their parents negligent. That negligence does not entitle them to Bahamian citizenship automatically.

The government of The Bahamas has the right to deport all illegal Haitians and their children back to Haiti and the Haitian constitution constrains that government to accept their citizens. Their failure to do so allows us to use avenues through international law

to seek resolution. There are also a variety of economic sanctions that might encourage that government to cooperate in accepting their citizens back. Additionally, the government should amend our Immigration laws to deprive those here illegally of the right to apply for citizenship.

It saddens me that with the bevy of legal minds in this country, including constitutional lawyers, that our nation finds itself in its current state regarding immigration. It is unfortunate that those elected to serve the people of The Bahamas are not the ones making the information in this letter public and taking the necessary actions in the national interest. Instead they are in church pandering for votes in the next election.

JB Nassau, October 24, 2017.

Tenders galore EDITOR, The Tribune.

sure, we do not want to hear of any idea of digging BP&L Board seems to and laying a gas pipe, from have been extra busy - not Arawak Cay to Blue Hill a single Company, has pub- Road and onto Clifton. lished so many tenders in a I remember when Tracweek than they have. tabel and Suez were Curious as to the extra proposing LNG pipeline 80MW that BP&L want? from Grand Bahama to Is this the rental genera- Miami or Florida. The tors at Blue Hill, costing us US governing agency for an arm and a leg?

LNG, FERGS, advised a One thing for absolute public hearing in Florida

that the safety distance required between LNG storage and private residence - schools or commercial buildings had to be two miles.

No pipeline across New Providence, Ms. Osborne too dangerous.

H. HUMES, Nassau, October 23, 2017.

Battle at the airport EDITOR, The Tribune.

small jets here. Now, the average we can expect to THE managers of the deplane is 1,000 passengers.

Lynden Pindling InternaMeanwhile, as Nassau airletters@tribunemedia.net tional Airport could do well port struggles for business, to heed an old saying about of them were ill-equipped airports in the Dominiminding your own business: for the task and unskilled in can Republic, Cuba and “Cockroach have no busi- the protocol of hospitality Jamaica explode with arrivness in a fowl fight”. not to mention being tone ing passengers.

The tone-deaf manage- deaf to the admonition to NAD was forced to build ment team has decided that cleanliness. the airport on borrowed they will adjudicate the Both political parties con- money. These loans were rowdy fight between taxi tributed to this decay by justified on bogus passenger drivers jostling for fares their slackness in doling out arrival numbers. The oppofrom arriving tourists. taxi plates to their faithful, site happened and what To be sure a native com- many of whom had no inten- NAD needs now is a plan to bruction is not the type of tion whatsoever of sitting increase the number of visiwelcome we should pre- behind the wheel of a cab. tors using the airport and sent our tourists. But the These self-anointed taxi stop finding ways to repay fix ought to be led by a con- dons deployed fleets of their loans on the backs of sortium comprised of the taxis, exacting a heavy fee airlines, vendors, passenactual taxi-cab regulators in from cash-strapped drivers gers, car park patrons and the Ministry of Transport, for the use of the cars and/ now taxi drivers. the leaders in the taxi-cab or the taxi plate. Drivers Kick the can over to the union and the Ministry were forced to make daily Ministry of Transport, to of Tourism who together fixed payments to these the Road Traffic Departshould take on the power- dons just for the privilege ment and to the police and ful taxi cab drivers. let them keep the peace in of driving a taxi.

The latest salvo from The law of equilibrium the taxi queue. For starters, the airport is a half-baked soon made it obvious that a holding pen and a comscheme to charge taxi and we had a surplus of drivers. puterized (to remove any limo drivers a fee of a dollar Exacerbating the prob- human bias) impenetrable or two for the privilege lem is the fact that large call-up system could go a of picking-up passengers tour companies and some long way in solving some of within the precincts of the hotels deploy huge fleets of the problems. arrivals hall. This drives up buses and assorted luxury Segregate the taxi colthe cost of doing business vehicles to pick-up their lection area from the for the taxi drivers and they arriving guests, bypassing pre-arranged tour operawill naturally pass that cost the taxi scrum. Taxi driv- tors section with preference on to their customers, as ers are left to fight over the given to freelance taxis, as well they should. remaining crumbs leading is the case in most internaTaxis are a heavily reg- to the occasional skirmish tional airports. ulated business around that NAD foolishly wants Then institute a use-itthe world, albeit here at to adjudicate. or-lose-it regulation to stop home slackness has led to Public safety must always the proliferation of taxia number of inefficiencies be foremost in the minds of plate landlords. Cull the while the quality of both taxi regulators but the time taxi fleet by demanding a the drivers and their vehi- has come to implement an more rigorous road test for cles has deteriorated. orderly system to control taxis. Let’s encourage the A few decades ago the who gets to pick-up fares at use of electric and hybrid taxi business was controlled the airport. Like any dwin- taxi cars while we are at it. by individual owner-oper- dling commodity, access A dress code would go a ators who took pride in to the airport needs to be long way in exuding profestheir work shuttling tour- rationed. And NAD should sionalism, something the ists from the airport to not have a dog in this race. late boss of Majestic Tours their hotels and around the They seem to spend all of Bill Saunders was a stickler island. We all muttered their time looking for some- for. under our breath as we sat one or something to tax.

Since NAD’s managers in a slow procession of cars Their insatiable appetite seemingly missed the class trailing an immaculately for money is caused by the on supply and demand, maintained Cadillac taking fact that our overall tour- maybe they can try Ecoits own time showing off ism business languishes in a nomics 101 – the lower you points of interest to visitors. state of decline. Years ago, price something, the more The taxi drivers were we could count on no less you sell. not flummoxed by the blar- than five jumbo jets from It’s a safe bet NAD’s ing horns of the frustrated the US alone on the ground bankers and bond-holders motorists behind them. at any time – B747s from will sleep better at night These men, like the late Pan Am and TWA, L-1011s knowing that they have a Vernon Bullard, and lady and A300s from Eastern plan to get 500,000 more drivers like Doris Toote Airlines, DC-10s from passengers through the were the pride of our taxi Western Airlines – collec- terminal rather than this service. harebrained scheme to tively over 2,000 seats.

But all of that changed All of these companies squeeze thruppence from over the years as unem- have been swept into the taxi drivers. ployment in other jobs dust-bin of airline history drove many into the taxi and now we have to beg THE GRADUATE business as a stop-gap or and scrape to get their sucNassau, last-resort measure. Some cessors to fly a couple of October 24, 2017.

LETTERS

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 25, 2017, PAGE 5

Mixed views on who should lead

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

DELEGATES at the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) 53rd National General Convention had mixed views about who should be the next leader of their party with many saying it is time for interim Leader Philip “Brave” Davis to take the reigns and others championing outspoken Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin as the best person for the job.

Mrs Hanna Martin is the first woman to vie for party leadership, and while gender was decried as a deciding factor, it was a recurring theme among people canvassed by The Tribune.

Supporters on both sides underscored the integrity, political legacy and fortitude of each candidate, both of whom were among only four PLP candidates to win seats in a devastating 2017 election run.

Both candidates were the only Cabinet ministers in the Christie administration to win their respective constituencies.

“It’s still early,” said Walter Rolle, a 69-year-old Exuma stalwart councillor.

“When it’s coming near to the voting (it may pick up), but I guess it’s probably one consensus among the people where we know we need a new leader, it’s just who. (In January) it was time consuming because trying to get a new leader with the election a couple of months later it would have been a bit confusing.

This is the first step towards rebuilding this party.”

Mr Rolle told The Tribune he firmly supported his MP Chester Cooper, who is running for deputy leader; however, he said he was still weighing his options for the leadership ticket.

Mr Davis and the Exuma MP toured the Family Islands, courting delegates for support as an apparent team ahead of the organisation’s October convention.

Keenan Johnson, a vice-chairman, said: “I’m actually very impressed with the spirit of competition here.

“This is what a convention should look like everyone trying to do what they can in the last minute rush but also being respectful to others.”

“This is exciting, I admit that I was surprised because January was a bit more contentious with the whole ‘one leader’ thing but right now it’s very healthy, and this is what we call democracy.”

Mr Johnson said on Monday: “The energy is more of sombre energy because we know at the end of the day we came here to do business. A lot of people are in there (morning session) trying to understand what we think the way forward should be and to contribute to what they think we should do going forward so they know the leadership is a part of it but that’s only one part of it this is about moving forward.

As former minister of works, Mr Davis, has underscored the need for the party to “renew and rebuild,” highlighting much needed reforms to the party’s constitution to ensure it met modern expectations.

Many of his supporters stressed on Monday it was “his time” to lead the party after reportedly being promised an opportunity well ahead of the PLP’s 2012 election victory, adding that the leadership post was firmly rooted in succession.

A contingent from San Salvador praised the MP, pointing to his extensive support of the island community and their families.

Ricardo Clarke, a 40-year-old Centreville supporter, said: “I’m here supporting ‘Brave’ Davis because I feel when you become the deputy you become next in line for leadership. Mr Davis didn’t jump the chair, he took his time and now it’s his time.

We should rebuild the party before we get into something we shouldn’t get into.”

Mr Clarke stressed that the former deputy leader had long been carrying the party on his back and shoulders, and as such, “respect was due.”

When asked what was different about the two conventions this year, he said: “What’s so different is you have some people trying to play man, trying to get in a race where they’re not supposed to be, respect the chair.”

Asked to clarify, Mr Clarke explained that Mr Davis should automatically become leader given his tenure as deputy leader.

He said protocol dictated Mr Davis would then pass the reigns on to Mr Cooper, adding that the outcome of both the gender equality referendum and American President Donald Trump’s election win over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton signaled voters did not want a woman leader.

Mr Clarke said: “What I’m trying to tell you guys is in life what ain’t supposed to be for you ain’t for you.

(Mrs Hanna Martin), she fit good, she would have run (as) a good chairman, or if you say a deputy, but I like Chester Cooper in favour because he’s young and vibrant and he had a lot to give and learning from ‘Brave’ Davis he can take this country to a different level.”

PHILIP ‘Brave’ Davis and his wife, Anne Marie, at yesterday’s convention.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff party’s stability due to and long-standing concern In a bid to liven the mood is Glenys Hanna Martin, in the lobby, Calverna the proximity of the gen- was the deleterious impact a woman of integrity, well Small, 56-year-old Golden eral election. Mr Christie of unchecked campaign accepted throughout the Isles stalwart councilor, resigned as PLP leader days finance on both party and country. She mash up the and a handful of support- after the party’s election national elections. entire House (of Assem“(Campaign finance) It bly) by herself but not only ers chanted: “Be Brave, be loss in May. On Monday, Mr Sears should have been at the fore- that she’s well-respected brave, If you ain’t brave don’t go hunting. Stay released a statement saying front for a long time,” Mr from across the other side, he would not accept a nom- Rolle said, “and I don’t know they always complement brave! It’s Brave time.”

Ms Small, first vice chair- ination for a leadership why it’s not because I feel her. She has a track record you get better representa- in her ministry as opposed man of the PLP Women’s position.

Mr Sears campaigned on tion and the better execution to her opponent, I say that Branch, said: “You gotta get hype with this thing. From a 26-page manifesto outlin- of your promises while cam- without contradiction and 2009 Perry Christie prom- ing his vision and policies paigning if you have a limit without fear.” ised that in two and a half for sustainable national on a campaign financing. It However, Englerston through, also shows a form of bribery stalwart councillor Monica years he was going to demit development office and give ‘Brave’ that among others initiatives, because you have people in Flowers said while she supopportunity. ‘Brave’ has empowering local govern- a position where they can’t ported Mrs Hanna Martin, never been given an oppor- ment and implementing help themselves then you she believed Mr Davis may prey on that.” tunity, now it’s ‘Brave’ time. anti-corruption policies. win.

At her campaign launch, Mr Rolle continued: “If I’ve been around the PLP “Honestly speaking I for the last 37 years, it’s Mrs Hanna-Martin called for you ask someone what they believe he might win,” she ‘Brave’ time. It has nothing transformation in education, voting for they just say (a said, “I tell you one thing all to do with gender, the PLP a renewed fight against pov- candidate) you ask them is one, and we’re not supparty has a protocol where erty and efforts to combat why, ‘because he give me posed to be separated from you tow the line it passed the deteriorating health of a couple of dollars,’ it’s so each other. But I think she Bahamians, an issue she said sad that the party has come will give him a good good on from Sir Lynden.” to that level and I hope run and that’s what you Ms Small continued: was nearly a crisis.

Branwell K Rolle, a that they will find a way to need, to know that someone “It ain’t Glenys time yet Englerston solve that issue. Our seri- is here for you. Everything because even Alfred 49-year-old Sears before Glenys. We stalwart councillor said ousness in appealing to the will work fine, and we don’t don’t have a problem with he stood behind his rep- wider public will be deter- want it to be no malice with women, my thing is the resentative because she mined after Wednesday, the nobody, we don’t need that. party needs change espe- represented the strong- public will judge us after It elevates the leadership a cially with women, and est voice of the Official Wednesday. challenge like that. I want Mr Rolle said: “The solidarity. I want to keep it Bahamian women know we Opposition in the House of act on emotions and atti- Assembly. For him, a grave best leader for the party together.” tude right now.

“This party needs to be rebuilt, reenergised, rejuvenated, it has personally nothing to do with Glenys because I love her, but it’s ‘Brave’ time.”

In January, former Attorney General Alfred Sears threw his hat in the ring against then PLP Leader and Prime Minister Perry Christie, a move some considered a threat to the

FORMER MPs Leslie Miller and Dr Perry Gomez yesterday.

FORMER SENATOR SAYS SORRY FOR USING ‘N’ WORD IN SPEECH

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Progressive Liberal Party Senator Robyn Lynes has apologised for using the “n” word during a speech Monday on the opening night of the PLP’s convention.

“Together we are going to get rid of this (FNM) crew, long before 2022, because them n***as don’t have a clue what to do,” she told the crowd gathered at the Melia hotel at one point during her speech.

She later released a statement addressing the matter, saying: “To all of our convention attendees, delegates, supporters and PLPs at large thank you so much for your support and encouragement.

Tonight, in the excitement and adrenaline of my presentation I used the word n***as. I want to apologise for that. It’s certainly not the language befitting for the occasion or any

forum as it was a term used to malign and belittle an entire class of persons like myself. “Please accept my humble apology, it was not intended to be derogatory in any way. Blessings always and see you tomorrow as the convention excitement continues.”

In a statement yesterday, Free National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer said the first night of the PLP’s convention displayed a “stunning example of how tone deaf the PLP remains”.

“Rejected overwhelmingly by the people on May 10, they’ve done nothing to address their glaring disregard for the country and our people,” he said.

“Consumed by power and enriching themselves, they seem to assure themselves that it was the Bahamian people that got it wrong to turn the PLP out of office, not their failed, miserable leadership that ran our country into the ground.

“Never has a party

shown their inability to learn from the recent past.

That was on total display during the circus that was the PLP’s first convention night. It wasn’t lost on any Bahamian that it was only months ago that the leader of the PLP was caught giving the middle finger at a rally where seniors and children were present. But not to be outdone, former Senator Robyn Lynes felt it was appropriate to use the word ‘n***as’ at the PLP convention. Only showing once again that they have completely lost their minds and are out of touch with the rest of the country. “…If ‘Brave’ Davis and Glenys Hanna Martin have any hope of wanting to demonstrate true leadership to the PLP and the country they should immediately join us in publicly condemning the insensitive, intolerable comment that was used to degrade so many Bahamian people (Monday) night.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, October 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

DEATH PENALTY LEGISLATION MUST WAIT FOR GOVT AGENDA

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Minnis administration will “get through” the bills it has tabled in the House of Assembly and move on to capital punishment at a later date, the prime minister’s Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said yesterday.

His statement came a week after the release of a report, “Solutions to the Murder Problem,” that called for

an amendment to the constitution to allow capital punishment to resume in the country. The report was released by police and the Ministry of National Security.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has been a big proponent of the death penalty in the past, saying last year the Privy Council should be removed as this country’s final appellate court for murder related matters so that the Court of Appeal would be the only appellate court with the

power to uphold or reverse Supreme Court decisions about the death penalty. He said, while in opposition, he would hold a referendum to enshrine this in the country’s Constitution.

In a recent interview, Attorney General Carl Bethel did not appear to be on board with this plan. Although Dr Minnis never discussed replacing the Privy Council with another foreign-based court, Mr Bethel said the Caribbean Court of Justice, a potential

replacement for the Privy Council, would not be more likely to impose the death penalty than would the Privy Council. “(The prime minister) who made the comments (last year about removing the Privy Council in murder cases) is always serious about the death penalty,” Mr Newbold said at yesterday’s press briefing. “Obviously as we all know there is a process that has to be followed. That, however, is not a process we see the administration

engaging in at the moment.

Those five, six, seven, eight bills that have been laid, one that is presently being debated and hopefully will be concluded next Wednesday, the government wants to get through those first.

We’re five, six months into this new administration. We got some time to get to anything that the government will do with respect to capital punishment, but on the agenda at the moment are those six bills. Whatever the government is going to do on capital punishment will

come at a later date.”

In the study authored

by Dr Chaswell Hanna, a superintendent of police, researchers called for the resumption of the death penalty. “Many of those opposed to capital punishment fail to understand that it was not created for prevention, but rather incapacitation and retribution,” the study said. Researchers said the Constitution could be amended to “specify that the punishment for a person convicted of murder is death or life without parole”.

MAN SHOT DEAD NEAR HIS HOME

THE BODY of a murder victim is taken from the scene near Balfour Avenue last night.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff from page one

Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration

WHAT IS TRADE?

How important is Trade to The Bahamas?

All Manufacturers, Business Owners, and The General Public are invited to

A FREE WORKSHOP

What is negotiated in a trade agreement?

How can you influence negotiations?

What are the Pros & Cons for local suppliers?

How can you take advantage of trade agreements?

Wednesday 1stNovember 2017 | Freeport, Grand Bahama 9 am-12 pm Pelican Bay Hotel Port Lucaya Thursday 2nd November 2017 |Nassau, Bahamas 9 am-12 pm Paul H Farquharson Conference Centre East Street Refreshments will be provided For more information contact Ministry of Financial Services (Trade & Industry Unit) 328-5071/6 or trade@bahamas.gov.bs

Superintendent Solomon Cash.

Residents of the area said the man lived near where his body was found.

No other details of his death were provided to the press. His identity is not known.

He is the 116th person murdered this year, according to The Tribune’s records.

The previous murder occurred in Grand Bahama’s Hawksbill area where a man was found dead in an abandoned home on Friday.

Police said the victim’s body was discovered shortly after 2pm in an unoccupied residence.

Last Tuesday, a 15-yearold boy was killed after a shooting off Prison Lane.

The boy was shot in front of a house in Greenwich Street shortly after 8pm by a man in a dark coloured Honda.

He was taken to hospital where he later died.

Anyone with information on any of the country’s killings is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

SUPT Solomon Cash

GOMEZ DEFENDS SANDS ON SURGERY from page one “You have to give and take, we’re in a small country with very few people with the talents,” Dr Gomez said. “Duane is a highly talented surgeon and I can understand him being requested to help because he’s a gifted surgeon, a cardiovascular surgeon.

“He’s the best trained for it,” Dr Gomez continued.

“I think there is one other person but I can’t remember his name. But it is no question that Sands is seen as the top cardiothoracic surgeon in the country.”

Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has accused Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis of looking “the other way” as Dr Sands performed surgical procedures, an act he claimed was in direct violation of established and longstanding Cabinet code of ethics and procedures for its ministers.

Mr Roberts questioned who was paying Dr Sands’ professional indemnity insurance for pro bona surgeries at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama, and what would happen if there were any irregularities.

“Was it Dr Sands who proclaimed ‘nothing is free’ but now wishes Bahamians to believe that some things are free?” Mr Roberts asked in a statement last week.

Yesterday, Dr Gomez

said: “I agree with that but there are extenuating circumstances that I’m not saying this should be something regular. I would want him to do my heart surgery.

“That’s how we got to look at it,” he added.

“Don’t kill him for that.”

Dr Gomez spoke to reporters in the lobby of the convention centre at the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel as his party nominated candidates for executive leadership posts during its 53rd National Convention.

He said he had not seen many reports concerning public health and National Health Insurance, telling reporters that the government’s statements concerning the scheme were both confusing and concerning.

“It sounds confusing to me,” Dr Gomez said, “it doesn’t sound like what we left in place so I’m a little concerned about that.

“I’m very interested to see more about what’s happening at NHI. It’s not very clear to me. You can’t get a sense of it. I hear they’ve changed a lot of people I understand and that’s plagued with issues too because NHI is not a subject that is common.”

Speaking generally on the scheme, Dr Gomez said: “The essence of NHI is the removal of money from the point of care. If you don’t do that then it’s not NHI, that’s fundamental, so that the poor get treated. You

know how many women stay home pregnant, don’t have the fees to go to the clinic, all that kind of stuff, and you end up with problems with the children.

“But that is the fundamental thing about NHI, the removal of money from the point of care. It doesn’t matter whether you have money or not to get care, and if that’s gone then we don’t have NHI.” When asked about revelations that the public health sector was sorely underfunded, Dr Gomez replied: “The country is strapped for money, there is no question about that. You just do the best with what you have for the time being and that’s how you have to face it. You can’t steal, that’s how it is.”

Data seen by Tribune Business shows that NHI enrolment dropped off significantly compared with before the May 10 general election, when 7,307 people registered in April and 13,482 in May. Registration dropped to 4,282 in June and 2,397 in July, as the government’s plans to restructure NHI became known. Enrolment fell further in August and September to 1,983 and 1,503, respectively, before hitting a low of 74 in October.

As a result, according to Dr Sands, the government rehired 18 of the 39 customer service representatives whose six-month contracts have expired.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Time for a fair deal for the fairer sex Zeal and ambition when ACCORDING to tabloid reports, a Progressive recognised by counterparts Liberal Party stalwart can be used to turn women councillor said at a leader- into pawns, disallowing full ship candidacy event that participation in the game Englerston MP Glenys because the pawn’s focus is Hanna Martin needed to on performance and perknow her place was in the ception rather than the kitchen. Perhaps more whole game and its prize unfortunate than the state- — power.

This dynamic is highly ment was the ensuing silence. This seems to be visible on the political the way it goes when people stage. Women involved in in positions of power make frontline politics fight for careless, hateful statements. the right to access the leadLess than four years ago, ership pipeline in the face a Member of Parliament of dismissal, ridicule, and “joked” about domestic bullying — all while the violence yet no one in Par- country watches.

The political particiliament saw fit to respond with anything but laughter pation of women in The Bahamas, the Caribbean or silence.

The hatred of women and and the world has room devaluing of women’s lives for substantial improvehas become commonplace. ment. Women in parliament We ask where we can find in The Bahamas have better leaders, how we can accounted for 11-13 per improve the economy, and cent of all MPs over the why young people are not past few years.

Bermuda’s former Prereturning to The Bahamas, but jokes about violence mier Paula Cox, Trinidad against women continue, and Tobago former Prime the masses vote en masse Minister Kamla Persad-Bisagainst gender equality in sessar and Jamaica former Minister Portia the conferring of citizen- Prime ship and women daring to Simpson-Miller are among challenge men for positions recent women leaders in the region. of leaderGlobally in ship are In African American June 2016, dismissed, families, it is not only 22.8 ridiculed, per cent of and bullied. unusual to be told parliamenMisogyny tarians were and patri- one has to be twice women, archy make as good to get half doubling their pres- as much. This is just over a ence felt in 21-year the public as true for women; period. This and private perhaps more so year, only spheres, for black women. in Rwanda creating and Bolivia environments where men can succeed and are women more than 50 women must work harder per cent of single or lower and longer for the slimmest houses of Parliament.

The under-representation chance at success. Hatred and subjugation ensure of women in Bahamian women are continuously politics is cause for concern, seen and treated as objects particularly when society — tools to be used for the depends heavily on women for a broad range of needs. purposes of men.

Women determined to Much of the work underbe more than the biblical taken by women is unpaid “helpmate” and unwilling labour.

In a presentation on the to play “the lesser sex” are frequently in a position we Economic Cost of Women’s understand best in racial Unpaid Labour at Equality Bahamas’ Women’s terms.

In African American Wednesdays in September, families, it is not unusual Gender Specialist Audrey to be told one has to be Roberts said: “Work falls twice as good to get half as into two categories — promuch. This is just as true for ductive and reproductive. women; perhaps more so Productive work is paid for while reproductive or social for black women.

In strategising and acting reproduction is unpaid or in direct response to hostile low paid work.”

She highlighted the conenvironments and people, women often find it neces- trast between a woman sary to prove knowledge, doing domestic work in experience, capability and her own home and doing overall capacity, often the same work in somehaving to explain away pre- one else’s home. In the first sumed obligations to family instance it is unpaid and in the second it is low paid. and household.

THE TRIBUNE

GLENYS Hanna Martin at the first day of the PLP convention, where she is vying for leadership. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff She noted unpaid work is It is rife with challenges, To see a shift in political The Democratic National vital to society, but primar- many of which seem impos- culture and political par- Alliance had more women ily performed by women. sible to surmount until ticipation at all levels, from than any major party, but The alleged comments by we do. Bahamian women involvement in frontline was under the leadership the PLP stalwart council- have become experts in politics to voting, we must of McCartney who refused lor about Hanna Martin’s navigating this world and change our own behaviour. to support the marital rape place being in the kitchen participating in frontline Beyond that, we need to bill or the gender equality is a clear example of the politics seems to sharpen change the way we respond bills. devaluation of domestic those skills. to the behaviour of others.

Is it time to demand work. He recognised there Hanna Martin’s years Women are more than more from political paris work to be done in the of experience in politics 50 per cent of our popula- ties, ensuring their policies kitchen, but ignored the may have made her almost tion, but only 10 per cent and actions are in line with obvious — Hanna Martin immune to such comments of Parliament. Is it time to their words? In addition has paid work she must do and similar behaviour of push for a legislated gender to all of this, it is on us to and anyone can undertake male colleagues, but what quota as a temporary spe- hold women in Parliament the unpaid work in her about younger women? cial measure to address and Cabinet accountable, home.

What about girls who under-representation of pushing for them to speak The demand for her to aspire to make this coun- women in Parliament? to the issues directly affectdo unpaid work was clearly try better for themselves We must not forget even ing us, engage the media, meant as an insult, though and for the generations with the Free National and refrain from deflecting quite weak as it says noth- that follow? Are we moving Movement winning by a questions. While we are ing of her character, work forward, creating space landslide, we still only have not a monolith, we know ethic, or performance. It for increased political par- four women in Parliament we are judged by the deeds made a foolish assumption ticipation for women and which means the party did and misdeeds of those repbased on her gender and other marginalised people, not focus on gender repre- resenting us. Let’s do what attempted to reduce her to or are we discouraging their sentation. The Progressive we can to ensure that others her biological characteris- participation and limiting Liberal Party did not do have the same opportunitics and gender norms. ourselves to the usual sus- much better with its own ties or better and do not Growing up and living pects and their children and slate of candidates, even suffer because we failed to in a misogynistic, patri- grandchildren while expect- after pushing the gender support or to correct our archal society is not easy. ing change? equality referendum. own.

THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE SCIENCE FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

By STACEY MOULTRIE THREE hundred and fifty is an important number globally for climate change.

But why?

Three hundred and fifty is the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, measured in parts per million. Carbon dioxide levels higher than 350 are believed to be causing the climate crisis.

There are 350.org groups all over the world, working to reduce dangerous carbon emissions by encouraging their communities to move away from fossil fuels and harmful land use practices to aid in solving the climate crisis. They work with a diversity of people including faith leaders and the private sector because we need everyone’s ideas and commitment to create a healthy planet for us all. A new 350.org group has been formed in The Bahamas – Bahamas 350 Climate Action. This group is comprised of Bahamian

scientists and activists committed to increasing the understanding of climate science and finding solutions for The Bahamas to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

What is climate change?

The Earth is heating up because gases produced from vehicles, power plants, deforestation and other sources are building up in the atmosphere, acting like a thick blanket over our planet. These gases are called greenhouse gases (GHGs) and this heating up is the greenhouse effect or global warming. The most common GHGs are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Less common but very powerful GHGs are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride.

The terms global warming and climate change are often used interchangeably, but the two phenomena are

different. Global warming is the rise in global temperatures due to an increase of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

Climate change is a more general term that refers to changes in many climatic factors, such as temperature and precipitation around the world. These changes are happening at different rates and in different ways.

One example is that average global temperatures have increased by about one degree Fahrenheit over the last century. Another is the fact that climate change is linked to stronger hurricanes and more drought.

A significant impact of climate change is sea level rise.

The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) has estimated global mean sea level rise at 0.63 metres or two feet by 2100. This could result in the flooding of low-lying islands, erosion of beaches, salinisation of soils and freshwater lenses,

and the destruction of coral reefs, seagrasses and wetlands. Infrastructure and settlements on islands and in coastal areas would be at risk.

Why is climate change important for the Bahamas?

The Bahamas is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change for a number of reasons: 1. Our small size. Our small size means limited options for moving when coastal areas are at risk.

2. Low-lying topography. With most of the land in the Bahamas within five feet of mean sea level, a sea level rise of two feet by 2100 could have significant impacts. During recent hurricanes, we have seen the impacts of storm surge and flooding. We could expect even greater penetration of waters inland with sea level rise during storm events.

3. Location in the hurricane belt. Our geography means we are in the path of hurricanes. Climate change is linked to these storms

occurring more frequently and with greater intensity.

4. Population that lives mainly in the coastal zone.

Most of our population lives in the coastal zone, which is the area most at risk from the impacts of climate change.

5. Fragile ecosystems.

Island ecosystems are fragile when faced with change.

Changes can be the result of biological invasions from other countries, such as the Australian pine which has negatively impacted Bahamian beach ecosystems nationwide. Climate change is expected to negatively impact coral reefs, seagrass beds and wetlands.

6. Limited human and economic resources.

Responding to impacts will take a significant toll on our economy, particularly if our responses are reactive, rather than proactive.

Our small population also means we have limited human resources to deal with impacts that will be felt across our archipelago.

What can we do?

The Bahamas’ best course of action based on current climate change trends is adaptation. Adaptation is the adjustment of human or natural systems to moderate harm or take advantage of beneficial opportunities.

Adaptation would include actions like retreating from the shorelines where possible as well as utilising innovation in infrastructure and building design. Creating protected areas to protect ecosystems, like coral reefs and mangroves, are a means of adaptation. The services these ecosystems provide, such as shoreline protection, sinks for flood waters and carbon sinks, help us to adapt to climate change.

To find out more about climate change and Bahamas 350 Climate Action, visit the group’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ bah350 or email them at bahamas350climate@gmail. com.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, October 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Surveillance expert tells of cameras in murder home

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A SURVEILLANCE technician told the Supreme Court he had installed a DVR surveillance system and cameras at Barry and Sheena Johnson’s triplex apartment in Deadman’s Reef in 2013 – two years before the couple was murdered.

Witness Travis Williams said he knew the two before 2013 and had gone to school with them.

Mr Williams has 20 years of experience in surveillance installation and currently works in the surveillance department at a resort in Bimini.

Last week, the jury in the murder trial was shown

video surveillance footage of the murders of two people captured on cameras installed in their apartment.

The incident is alleged to have happened between 9pm and 10pm on September 12, 2015. Four gunmen entered the home and the two victims were shot and killed at their residence in Deadman’s Reef. The couple’s GMC truck was also stolen.

Mr Williams told the court he set up an eightchannel digital DVR in the front bedroom of the couple’s home. He also installed motion-sensor cameras on all the corners of the building.

He said the DVR had a storage capacity of one terabyte and the cameras only recorded when it detected

motion to avoid wasting storage. He estimated the system had a capacity to record at least three weeks of footage.

According to Mr Williams, the DVR system was from the brand Eclipse CCTV and had the feature or capability to be viewed over the Internet.

Police Inspector 2509 Steven Rolle of the Central Detective Unit testified he arrested three men between September 15 and September 23, 2015, in connection with murder and armed robbery.

Inspector Rolle identified the three accused in court as Devaughn Hall, Paul Belizaire and Kevin Dames.

The officers told the court that sometime around 7pm on September 14, 2015

he went to Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock, in search of a murder and armed robbery suspect.

On arriving at a residence in Pinedale, he saw a male and identified himself as a police officer. He informed Hall, whom he pointed out in court, that he was wanted for questioning by CDU. Insp Rolle said he arrested Hall and cautioned him and took him to the police custody suite.

Insp Rolle went to Pinedale, EMR, sometime around 8.30pm on September 17, 2007 in search of suspect Belizaire. He said he approached the suspect, identified himself as a police officer and told him he was wanted by CDU. Insp Rolle arrested and cautioned Belizaire and

took him into police custody. He also pointed out Belizaire in court.

The officer went to Holmes Rock around 1pm on September 23, 2015 where he arrested third suspect, Dames. Rolle identified Dames in court. He said he informed Dames he was wanted by the CDU. He cautioned Dames and took him to police custody suite.

“How many persons did you arrest in respect to this matter?” Geoffrey Farquharson, counsel for the accused, asked Insp Rolle.

Insp Rolle said he arrested four people. He said the fourth suspect was Allan Alcime.

Mr Farquharson asked the officer if he had taken Alcime and Belizaire to the

Rand Memorial Hospital on September 18, 2015.

Insp Rolle said he took the men to the hospital so that their blood samples could be taken.

Carlson Shurland asked Inspector Rolle if he knew whether Dames had any prior police record, and the officer replied, “No.” “Have you seen an antecedent form?” he asked.

“Yes,” the officer replied.

Mr Shurland then presented an antecedent form for Dames to the officer, which he read aloud in the court.

According to the report, Dames, 28, had never been convicted of a criminal offence. Mr Shurland asked for the document to be entered as evidence.

The trial continues.

CASE DELAYED AS ATTORNEY ILL WITH HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN seeking to contest his 40-year sentence for murdering a Cash for Gold employee had his substantive hearing into the matter adjourned yesterday after it was revealed his attorney was ill with hand, foot and mouth disease.

Valentino Bethel appeared before Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen and fellow Justices Jon Isaacs and Stella Crane-Scott for an extension of time application to appeal his conviction and sentence concerning the 2013 robbery and murder of Christopher Outten.

However, B’Jorn Ferguson, standing in for Bethel’s court-appointed attorney Christina Galanos, told the court Ms Galanos, as well as her daughter, had fallen ill with HFMD, and thus was unable to make it to yesterday’s hearing.

Mr Ferguson subsequently informed the court of his intention to request an adjournment.

However, Dame Anita expressed disappointment Bethel’s matter hadn’t progressed since June 29, the date of the last hearing, stating the parties involved are “no further than we were back then.” Nonetheless, she subsequently adjourned the matter to November 28.

Bethel stood trial in November 2014 with Natario Walkins and Sean Zhivargo Collie in connection with Outten’s death in January of 2013.

According to evidence given during the trial, Outten and his wife, who were employed at US Gold/ Cash for Gold in the Jireh Plaza, left the store around 4pm on January 19, 2013.

They stopped at the automated teller machines of two banks before heading home.

On arrival at their residence, Outten was approached by a masked gunman and ordered to get down. His wife escaped and ran to a neighbour’s house for help. When she returned, she found her husband had been shot.

Walkins and Bethel were found guilty of murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery and murder.

In January 2015, Bethel was sentenced to 40 years for murder while receiving 25 years for armed robbery, and 15 years for conspiracy to commit murder and armed robbery.

Subsequent to his conviction and sentencing, Bethel claimed he had written the appellate court on numerous occasions requesting assistance from the court in getting new counsel as he was not satisfied with the representation of Geoffrey Farquharson.

Bethel also claimed he had not seen Mr Farquharson for some time, notwithstanding the severity of the conviction and 40-year sentence he is serving. He had also previously said he had not received copies of his trial transcripts despite requesting them.

At the previous hearing in June, The Tribune was informed that Ms Galanos was appointed to serve as Bethel’s attorney.

TWO ACCUSED OVER GUN SEIZURE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net TWO men were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on several firearm charges in connection with a gun seizure in the Golden Isles Road area over the weekend.

Damian Nixon, 39, and Javonne Davis aka Terrell Davis, 27, both stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt each facing two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm, one count of possession of

ammunition and one count of possession of ammunition with intent to supply.

It is alleged that on October 22, they were both found with a black and silver Para Ordnance .45 pistol, serial number QH-7142.

It was also alleged that on the same day they were found in possession of a black Walther PK380 pistol with the serial number erased.

It was further alleged that on the same day, the two were found with four live

rounds of .380 ammunition, as well as 50 live rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The two men pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Chief Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt adjourned the matter to November 2 at 10am for a trial date fixture before Deputy Acting Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain.

They were both remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until that time. However, they have a right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court.

ATTORNEY Damien Gomez at yesterday’s PLP convention. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

GOMEZ SAYS FNMS BENEFIT FROM POSITIONS IN SERVICE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FORMER Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez yesterday claimed members of the Minnis administration were still benefiting from their private interests despite their positions in the public service, adding the alleged “troubling” behaviour did not bolster anti-corruption talks.

Mr Gomez was asked to comment on the recently tabled Integrity Commission Bill; however, he said he was not yet ready to provide his analysis on the legislation.

“I am concerned by some of the things that have occurred since the general election,” Mr Gomez told reporters on the sidelines of the party’s convention, “which in my view point in

a negative direction so far as integrity and anti-corruption are concerned.”

He continued: “It is easy to say one thing, it is more difficult to behave in a way that is consistent with what you say and my view is that we aren’t seeing enough of the behaviour being consistent with the rhetoric and that’s troubling.”

Asked to expand on those comments, Mr Gomez said: “We’ve seen for instance in the budget debate that airplane parts were given an exemption and it so happens that the minister of finance is a shareholder in a company that would benefit from that.

“He ought to have read his speech and to have read the content of the budget communication and deleted those tax breaks which he was giving to himself.

“We still see that members of the Cabinet are

benefitting from their public positions and private interests that does not auger well for an anti-corruption discussion,” he said, however he did not offer proof of these claims.

Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest came under fire for allegedly failing to disclose his interest in Sky Bahamas to Parliament after the government approved duty exemptions for the repair and maintenance of aircraft in the 2017-2018 budget debate.

In Parliament, Mr Turnquest admitted he did not realise the aircraft exemptions were in the budget until he read them in the House of Assembly.

At the time, the East Grand Bahama MP called implications that he somehow amended the legislation to benefit himself is “misleading” and dangerous to his reputation.

TECHNOLOGY GIANTS TO ATTEND SUMMIT IN FREEPORT HOPING to boost Grand Bahama’s failing economy, the Minnis administration will host a technology summit in Freeport featuring some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley, including Google, Microsoft and Samsung.

Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said the event, scheduled for November 9 and 10, is organised by the Office of the Prime Minister.

The summit “begins the

dialogue with key industry stakeholders, policy makers and the general public in shaping the policy to govern how this new initiative and industry will work,” he said.

“To that end, some very important stakeholders have agreed to be a part of the event. We’re talking about Google, HP, Microsoft, Dell, Samsung, Huawei and others from Silicon Valley in California.

Delegates are also calling from California to be a part

of this ground-breaking event. The office in Grand Bahama has also gotten calls from Bermuda.

“We are providing opportunities and access for entrepreneurs, bringing Silicon Valley to Grand Bahama,” he said at his weekly press briefing. “That’s creating the environment for private businesses to flourish instead of government trying to run a business.”

Mr Newbold

name-checked Bahamians who will participate in the summit, including Dr Gadryn Higgs, an entrepreneur with a private healthcare technology company in California; Laron Burrows, a 26-year-old inventor of medical devices; Aisha Bowe, a former NASA aerospace engineer who is now CEO of a STEM board in Washington, DC; and Kristie Powell, a senior technical account manager at Google.

“One of the highlights of

the summit will be the Blue Marlin Business Innovation challenge where potential entrepreneurs will get to showcase their inventions,” Mr Newbold said. “That’s similar to the Shark Tank (television) show.”

During the press briefing, Mr Newbold also highlighted another Grand Bahama event set to be launched: the youth apiary programme.

Sixty young people between 17 and 35 will be

invited to participate in the event for the programme’s launch on October 26 and 27.

Thirty of these participants will become part of the “honey production business,” Mr Newbold said. Each of them will be given funding to start their own business.

The Bahamas Development Bank will have carriage of that part of it and the government is considering given them $5,000 each, Mr Newbold said.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 25, 2017, PAGE 11

XI JINPING GIVEN SECOND TERM AS PARTY LEADER

A WOMAN dressed as Mexico’s iconic “Catrina” awaits the start of the Grand Procession of the Catrinas, part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. The figure of a skeleton wearing an elegant broad-brimmed hat was first done as a satirical engraving by artist Jose Guadalupe Posada sometime between 1910 and his death in 1913.

Photo: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Trump criticised by his own party’s senators WASHINGTON Associated Press A PAIR of senators from President Donald Trump’s own Republican Party blistered him with criticism Tuesday in a dramatic day of denunciation that laid bare a GOP at war with itself. Jeff Flake of Arizona declared he would not be “complicit” with Trump and announced his surprise retirement, while Bob Corker of Tennessee declared the president “debases our nation” with constant untruths and name-calling.

Corker, too, is retiring at the end of his term, and the White House shed no tears at the prospect of the two GOP senators’ departures. A former adviser to Steve Bannon, Trump’s exstrategic adviser, called it all “a monumental victory

SEN JEFF FLAKE, R-Ariz., speaks during a television interview on Capitol Hill in Washington, yesterday. for the Trump movement,” and Trump himself boasted to staff members that he’d played a role in forcing the senators out.

It was a stunning rebuke of a sitting president from prominent members of his own party — and added to a chorus of criticism of

Trump that has been growing louder and more public.

Flake challenged his fellow senators to follow his lead, but there were few immediate signs they would.

At midafternoon, as fellow lawmakers sat in attentive silence, Flake stood at his Senate desk

and delivered an emotional speech in which he dissected what he considered his party’s accommodations with Trump and said he could no longer play a role in them.

“We were not made great as a country by indulging in or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorifying in the things that divide us and calling fake things true and true things fake,” he said.

Hours earlier, Corker leveled his own searing criticism of Trump in a series of interviews.

“I think the debasement of our nation will be what he’ll be remembered most for and that’s regretful,” Corker said.

A furious Trump didn’t let that pass unremarked.

On Twitter, he called Corker “incompetent,” said he “doesn’t have a

clue” and claimed the twoterm lawmaker “couldn’t get elected dog catcher in Tennessee.”

An overstatement to be sure, but White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in regard to the impending retirements, “The people both in Tennessee and Arizona supported this president, and I don’t think that the numbers are in the favor of either of those two senators in their states and so I think this was probably the right decision.”

Away from the cameras, Trump took credit for helping force the two departures, according to a White House official and an outside adviser, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Until Tuesday, Flake had insisted he had no plans to retire.

MORE MOVES IN WASHINGTON BATTLE OVER HEALTHCARE WASHINGTON Associated Press TWO top Republicans announced a bill Tuesday restoring federal subsidies to insurers while including tough conditions sought by the White House. Senate Democrats have enough votes to kill it, but the measure underscores the changes the Trump administration and congressional conservatives say they want in exchange for resuming the payments.

The proposal seeks changes in President Barack Obama’s health care law that go far further than provisions in bipartisan legislation that is stuck in the Senate. That compromise has stalled as President Donald Trump has flashed contradictory signals about whether he supports it and conservatives — especially in the House — have complained it doesn’t revamp Obama’s statute strongly enough.

Tuesday’s GOP

alternative — by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady of Texas — highlighted the party’s internal differences over the issue.

At a lunch Tuesday with GOP senators, Trump apparently said nothing to indicate which — if either — alternative he preferred. Trump at one point told Sen Lamar Alexander of Tennessee,

the Republican author of the mired bipartisan deal: “Thanks for your great work on health care. It’s good, it’s good,” according to a GOP aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door comments.

Like the bipartisan Senate bill, the new measure would resume the federal payments to insurers for two years. Trump has halted them, claiming they enrich insurers, but has expressed a willingness

to make a deal to resume them.

The plan by Hatch and Brady would temporarily halt tax penalties Obama’s health care law imposes on people who don’t buy insurance and employers who don’t offer coverage to workers. The fine against individuals would be halted from 2017 through 2021, while the penalty on employers would be retroactive, suspended from 2015 through this year.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has been given a second five-year term as leader of the ruling Communist Party.

Xi was returned to the post of secretary general following the inaugural meeting Wednesday of the new Central Committee that was elected at the party’s twice-a-decade national congress on Tuesday.

The party congress already elevated Xi’s status to China’s most powerful ruler in decades by inserting his name and dogma into the party’s constitution alongside past leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

That sets the stage for the authoritarian leader to tighten his grip over the country while pursuing an increasingly muscular foreign policy and military expansion. It also effectively makes any act of opposing him tantamount to an attack on the party itself.

Xi leads the party’s sevenmember Politburo Standing Committee.

COURT RULES TEEN IMMIGRANT CAN HAVE ABORTION WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Tuesday cleared the way for a 17-year-old immigrant held in custody in Texas to obtain an abortion.

The full US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 6-3 in favor of the teen. The decision overturned a ruling by a three-judge panel of the court that at least temporarily blocked her from getting an abortion. The Trump administration could still appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Later Tuesday, in a separate order, a judge said the teen should be quickly taken to obtain required counseling and the abortion.

Under Texas law, a woman seeking an abortion must have a counseling session 24 hours before the procedure with the doctor who will perform the abortion.

The teen, whose name and country of origin have been withheld because she’s a minor, is 15 weeks pregnant. She entered the US in September and learned she was pregnant while in federal custody in Texas.

She obtained a state court order Sept 25 permitting her to have an abortion.

But federal officials refused to transport her or temporarily release her so that others could take her to have an abortion.

Lawyers for the Department of Health and Human Services said the department has a policy of “refusing to facilitate” abortions.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, October 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

PLP convention day two

Photographs by Shawn Hanna and Terrel W. Carey

C O N V E N T IO N

OCTOBER 2017