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VOLUME:114 No.236, OCTOBER 31ST, 2017

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WOMAN: ONE IN THREE TEENS EXPERIENCE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS

Sign or sacked BTC’s jobs threat

BOB LOANS TREBLE THEIR REAL VALUE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bank of The Bahamas’ latest bailout has cost Bahamian taxpayers more than three times the net value of toxic loans purchased from the bank. The 2017 accounts reveal the government paid $162m to acquire non-performing credit worth just a net $49m.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Workers pledge to defy ultimatum

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company has threatened to terminate contracts with 147 workers if they do not sign a new agreement by today, Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union President Bernard Evans said yesterday.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Evans said the employees have all agreed to “stand their ground” and not the sign the new contracts until they have “proper representation” and time to renegotiate.

He said while the union does not currently represent the workers after the employees severed ties

BERNARD EVANS with them years ago, they have applied to have the BCPOU represent them once again to negotiate on their behalf.

Mr Evans said the employees accepted voluntary separation packages (VSOP) from BTC, under the guise that they “could become entrepreneurs”.

SEE PAGE SIX

GLENYS QUITS BRAVE’S FRONTBENCH TEAM

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

DAYS after a crushing defeat in the Progressive Liberal Party’s national convention against PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis for leadership of the party, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin confirmed her resignation as leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly.

The loss last Wednesday

sparked her resignation, Mrs Hanna Martin told The Tribune yesterday, as she rebuffed speculation of frosty relations between herself and Mr Davis.

She said according to Westminster conventions, the person who unsuccessfully challenges the top post should step down, allowing the successful leadership candidate to appoint who they feel would best SEE PAGE SIX

IT’S ALL YOURS, COMMISSIONER ANTHONY Ferguson officially became commissioner of police yesterday evening during a transition ceremony full of pomp and pageantry.

He became the seventh person to ascend to that office, succeeding Ellison Greenslade who has been appointed high commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland and as permanent representative to the International Maritime Organisation.

SEE PAGE TWO

CLEAN UP - YOU MISSED A BIT

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

MORE than six weeks since Hurricane Irma tore through floating docks at Resorts World Bimini, residents said they are still fishing large chunks of Styrofoam from bays around the island.

“It is truly unbelievable that this is still the case,” one resident told The Tribune. “If the photos and video didn’t exist, they would say we’re lying over here.”

A GOLF cart loaded with a piece of styrofoam in the video clip.

That resident, who asked not to be identified by name, was referring to

video obtained by The Tribune depicting a very large chunk of Styrofoam hoisted on the back of a golf cart.

The 44 second video clip recorded and shared by Jenny Cook, a spokesperson for the Save Our Home protest group, suggests the massive slab of Styrofoam washed up on Spook Hill Beach.

Ms Cook in the video is heard saying: “You can see the size of it compared to the golf cart. It is about, I don’t know, seven feet long I would say and about four feet wide.”

SEE PAGE SIX

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

RAGGED RISES FROM IRMA

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net DESPITE challenges with water supply on Ragged Island, clean up efforts are nearly complete as residents forge ahead in restoring their homes more than a month after Hurricane Irma decimated the small island.

According to Elliott Lockhart, QC, spokesperson for a group SEE PAGE THREE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, October 31, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

ELLISON GREENSLADE, pictured during the reporting and inspection of the Guard of Honour yesterday.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

It’s all yours, Commissioner from page one Mr Ferguson – seen as “reserved,” “quiet” and “nonpartisan” by associates – now faces the challenge of leading the Royal Bahamas Police Force while the country continues to produce one of the highest murder rates in the world.

A former officer in the Central Detective Unit and Drug Enforcement Unit, Commissioner Ferguson’s appointment gives what the Minnis administration hopes is a fresh start as it seeks to implement its crime fighting agenda.

He has served as acting commissioner for the past several months.

“Our mandate, which is to maintain law and order,

COMMISSIONER of Police Anthony Ferguson and former Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade. to preserve the peace, to dreams could I ever imagine prevent and detect crime, that coming from humble to apprehend offenders beginnings in Mount and to uphold the law, Thompson, Exuma, that will be carried out with I would become commisrespect, professionalism, sioner of police,” he added. knowledge, fairness and At the ceremony, Mr firmness,” Commissioner Greenslade praised him, Ferguson said moments saying he “brought his manbefore accepting the instru- ners and respect with him ments of his appointment. when he joined the force.”

“Never in my wildest For his part, Prime

Minister Dr Hubert Minnis delivered a characteristic speech that emphasised his administration’s commitment to rooting out corruption and holding people accountable for crimes both small and large.

He repeated his view that the country’s current crime problem is rooted “in (the) sad and sordid history” of the 1970s and 1980s when the Bahamas became “A Nation for Sale.”

“We were a narco state,” he said. “Foreign drug dealers set up bases in our islands. The government of the day turned a blind eye to the merchants of drugs and death. Our social order, and the minds and bodies of our sons and daughters were being poisoned by illicit drugs and the wanton disregard for human life and

life-affirming values. As I noted in my first national address this past summer: The crime problem we face today was set in motion by the sins of the past. We must restore the productive values of Bahamian culture. I intend to lead the fight by ensuring there is honesty in government; that there is fairness in contracting…and that the corrupt are no longer able to use power to protect themselves from the law.”

Despite the Minnis administration’s desire for a fresh start with a new commissioner, observers in the national security community say the top brass of the force has been largely united in its views on how to fight crime.

One source said he expects Commissioner Ferguson “to be more inclined

to follow” the government’s policies than Mr Greenslade.

The outgoing commissioner had reportedly frustrated officials in the Progressive Liberal Party with what they viewed as his unwillingness to fully embrace “saturation patrol” policies, the source claimed.

And although the PLP has criticised the Minnis administration’s decision to replace Mr Greenslade, a PLP government would have looked to do the same thing had the party won the May general election, well-placed sources in the PLP said.

Along with Commissioner Ferguson, Deputy Police Commissioner Emrick Seymour would have been considered as a possible heir to Mr Greenslade in such a scenario, PLP sources said.

enjoyed the full confidence of all prime ministers under whom he has served as commissioner, including Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

“At no time could I recall having any conversations privately or publicly with any of those three prime ministers where I perceived any disrespect afforded to me,” he said.

As for the lengthy period of uncertainty this summer about his future, the former police chief said he had to maintain silence while he went through the confirmation process for his new diplomatic role.

“I was offered an appointment as a high commissioner resident to the United Kingdom and a non-resident ambassador to a number of of countries in Europe, a very important posting. Had I spoken out of turn, had (the) commissioner spoken out of turn, had Minister Dames

your commissioner’s name is.”

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said weeks ago that the uncertainty over Mr Greenslade’s future involved questions about giving him maximum pension benefits or not.

Such benefits are given only to those in the police force who have served for at least 40 years or ten years as commissioner.

Although Mr Greenslade served in the force for fewer than 40 years and as commissioner for fewer than ten years, Attorney General Carl Bethel told The Tribune recently that the Minnis administration intends to amend the Pension Act in a way that would allow him to receive maximum pension.

“We are bringing legislation to amend the Pensions Act to capture and formalise what occurred in the 1980s where Richard Demeritte, the auditor

general at the time, was permitted to complete his pensionable time while serving as high commissioner to the Court of St James (United Kingdom),” he said. “That practice allowed him to complete his pensionable years in that capacity.”

In his speech yesterday, Dr Minnis praised Mr Greenslade.

“The Royal Bahamas Police Force, one of our nation’s oldest public institutions, is dedicated to courage, integrity and loyalty,” Dr Minnis said.

“These values have been exhibited in Commissioner of Police (Retired) Ellison Greenslade.”

He added: “I have regularly met with Commissioner Greenslade. I found him to be a man of punctuality, high character, discipline and professionalism.”

Mr Greenslade was appointed the sixth

commissioner of police on January 4, 2010 after serving as the acting deputy commissioner of police from January 1, 2009 upon completion of a one year secondment with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canada.

Minister of National Security Marvin Dames also took part in this training in Canada when he was a member of the RBPF. In January 2009, Mr Dames, then senior assistant commissioner of police, was appointed commander for Grand Bahama. Mr Dames was later promoted to deputy commissioner while Mr Greenslade ascended to the RBPF’s top post.

Mr Dames quit the RBPF in May 2011 to take up a post at the Baha Mar resort.

He won the Mount Moriah seat in the House of Assembly in the May 10 general election.

‘I WAS NOT FORCED OUT OF POLICE’ INSISTS GREENSLADE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

OUTGOING Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade yesterday shot down claims that he was forced to step down as leader of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

“Let me be very forthright in telling you that I was not forced out of the Royal Bahamas Police Force,” he told reporters, the first time he has publicly addressed the Minnis administration’s decision to replace him with new Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson.

“The prime minister currently has treated me with the greatest measure of respect from the day he won the election,” he said.

“There are actually no hidden agendas and news stories. The time has come for me to move on.”

Mr Greenslade said he

spoken out of turn, or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we would’ve had a challenge and that could’ve been embarrassing to me in the first instance and to my family.”

Mr Greenslade defended his time as commissioner, noting, as he often did during his tenure, that “crime trended downward” under his watch.

“We have a vexing problem with this business of murder,” he said. “...People in possession of firearms and ammunition…if we continue to allow them free access to our communities, our murders will continue to go up. I recall getting into a huge debate with people in authority over me because I dared to say one year that I told you, ‘If you don’t change policy, if we don’t look at legislative reform, we’re going to continue to reap the whirlwind.’ That’s not a function of who or what

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 31, 2017, PAGE 3

DESTRUCTION on Ragged Island after Hurricane Irma.

Ragged rises from Irma from page one

of descendants who have banded together to get the island back to normal, clean up is about 75 per cent to 80 per cent complete.

However, Mr Lockhart said the government’s intended plan for restoration on the island had yet to begin.

In September, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced his administration’s intention to “transform” Ragged Island into the first fully “green” island in the region.

At the time, the prime minister explained renewable energy and smart technology from solar energy and sustainable water purification systems would be utilised for this effort with the help of residents and descendants of the island.

When he was contacted yesterday, Press Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Anthony Newbold said the committee to spearhead the Minnis administration’s intended efforts had been formed, but he was unsure of the progress of this work.

Mr Lockhart said: “The clean-up of the debris is about 75 per cent to 80 per cent clean and cleared.

We have already gotten a

lot of the debris off to the landfill.

“But there are still several buildings where the roof collapsed on the inside. We have to take persons from those buildings, remove the debris, put them to the side of the street where the backhoe can lift them to the trucks and the trucks haul them off. There are about ten buildings that we still have to take the debris out of.”

He added: “We have done a lot but have a lot more to do. The electricity distribution system is operational but I don’t think all the individual homes have been connected because they haven’t been cleared by the Ministry of Works as meeting the standard to be hooked up to the grid.

“And water is still a challenge. It is being manufactured and distributed but not in the quantity for continued supply and the reverse osmosis plant has not been received yet.”

Asked whether the plan outlined by the prime minister had been executed, he said: “The prime minister indicated their intention.

The committee dealing with that plan hasn’t been formed neither has it met as yet. But he indicated intention and identified the people and ministries that are going to be participating

UTILITY vehicles belonging to Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd, along with utility poles and lumber, were loaded onto the Royal Bahamas Defence Force craft HMBS Lawrence Major for restoration efforts on Ragged Island. Photo: RBDF Public Relations Dept in that committee along with members from the restoration Ragged Island committee.”

In September, Dr Minnis told Parliament the government would seek not only the assistance of Bahamians, but look to international counterparts to restore Ragged Island.

However, he did not reveal a cost to be associated with this undertaking, adding Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest would offer details at a later date on the price tag of Hurricane Irma’s related costs.

Those details have yet to be divulged.

Hurricane Irma’s destruction of the island prompted Dr Minnis to deem the island unlivable in early September as he urged those remaining there to evacuate following the storm because of major health and safety concerns.

Rotting animal carcasses and the destruction of all

essential services led Dr Minnis to strongly urge those still on Ragged Island to leave until the small community can be restored.

Despite this, residents of the island at the time said they were determined to go back home immediately and rebuild despite the decimation left by Irma.

ABACO MAN ACCUSED OF MURDER AFTER WOMAN’S BODY FOUND

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AN Abaco man was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Monday with the murder of a woman whose partially decomposed corpse was discovered last Thursday on that island.

Lavardo Huyler, a resident of Marsh Harbour and Dundas Town, Abaco, was taken to Freeport and charged around 1pm in Court One before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson.

Relatives of the accused also travelled to Grand Bahama for the arraignment and waited outside at the back of the courthouse for Huyler’s arrival at court.

While Huyler was escorted by officers inside the courthouse, some people were seen with cellular phones taking photos and recording his arrival to court.

CORRECTION

In yesterday’s Insight section an article on the gaming business in The Bahamas appeared under the byline of Sir Richard Sanders

It is alleged that the accused, sometime between October 21 and October 26, at Marsh Harbour, Abaco, by means of unlawful harm intentionally caused the death of a woman, whom the judge said is still formally unidentified.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ferguson informed Huyler he was not required to enter a plea to the charge of murder, and that a preliminary inquiry will be held into the matter to determine if there is sufficient evidence against him to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

“I see where a female is unidentified; the circumstances may change in the future, right now we do not know the identification of the person who is alleged to have died,” said Deputy Chief Magistrate Ferguson.

On the issue of bail, the prosecution asked –due to the seriousness of the offence – that bail be

when it should have been attributed to Richard Coulson, our regular contributor of Nassau Life. We apologise for the error.

denied according to Section 438 Part C and Part G of the Bail Amendment Act. The judge told Huyler

that due to the nature of the offence he was not entitled to bail. He is entitled to apply for bail in the

Supreme Court.

He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services

in New Providence until February 26, 2018 when a preliminary inquiry will be held.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, October 31, 2017

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Where are the ethics in President Trump’s cabinet?

READERS may recall news accounts of US president Donald Trump’s first full cabinet meeting.

It was held at the White House on June 12. The nearly five month delay since his inauguration in January was due to confirmation delays for several of his nominees, as well as a few defections before the Republicancontrolled Senate could even act to confirm them.

Trump’s conduct at that cabinet session became an instant news sensation. Numerous news organisations led by the New York Times described the conduct of that cabinet meeting as reminiscent of something to be expected from North Korea’s noxious dictatorship.

During press coverage of the cabinet session, Trump sat smugly as every single member of his cabinet duly sang his praises. Vice President Mike Pence led off with an obsequious tribute to Trump, stressing his pride and honour at “serving you” and “promoting your agenda.” One by one, the entire cabinet offered some kind of praise for Trump and his glorious agenda and future achievements.

The whole farcical sideshow did seem reminiscent of obligatory paeans offered to dictators across the world by their subservient minions. Televised as it was from the American White House, however, it was particularly jarring.

What has happened to Trump’s cabinet in the period since June? It seems only fair to say that this collection of wealthy plutocrats has enthusiastically lived down to the expectations their first full meeting engendered.

Pence has led the way in hewing strictly to whatever line Trump is pushing at the moment. His obeisance to the president’s orders is notable even in an office that has traditionally neither allowed nor anticipated much independence from the incumbent. Perhaps Pence’s most visible achievement was walking out of a professional football game in Indianapolis when players kneeled in protest during the playing of the American national anthem. Trump had expressed displeasure with such displays by the players, who were trying to protest social injustice and police killings of black Americans.

As for the other cabinet members, they seem generally disposed to undo as much as possible of what was established during the Obama administration. Many of Trump’s

cabinet secretaries were appointed to weaken and emasculate the departments they were appointed to head.

From rolling back regulations on greedy banks, cynical air and water polluters and rapacious drillers and developers on public lands, Trump and his associates have begun establishing a record of conscienceless behaviour that surpasses any of the notorious excesses of the dismal collection of cabinet secretaries serving under President Ronald Reagan 30 years ago.

A couple of these miscreants have behaved so egregiously that Trump could not retain them in the face of public ridicule. Most noteworthy is former Georgia congressman and health and human services secretary Tom Price. A long-time supporter of drug company efforts to extract big profits from questionable practices, Price seemed to prefer private government jets to readily available commercial air options. His excesses, once revealed in the press, became too much of an embarrassment even for Trump.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a former Montana politician who is leading the charge to plunder and despoil public lands in the west in the misbegotten tradition of Reagan’s Interior Secretary James Watt, has reportedly also been a frequent abuser of the government travel privileges.

His excesses have not yet cost him his job.

Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin, a fabulously wealthy Wall Street tycoon, took advantage of an available private government jet to enjoy a spectacular view of the solar eclipse at Fort Knox in Kentucky, and reportedly tried to use an official aircraft to travel on his honeymoon to Paris, though this request was denied.

The wealthy but venal businessmen, bankers and former congressmen who comprise Trump’s cabinet have hardly drained the Washington swamp of the putrid stench of corruption and insider favoritism. To the contrary, they have shown a sensational disregard for the traditional ethics of their high offices.

By their casual disregard for regulations and indeed for the positions they hold, these disreputable public servants reveal their ignorance and disregard for the public trust. Like the president they so steadfastly serve, they bring their offices into well deserved disrepute. It will never be too soon to witness their departure.

Clear up the regatta rubbish EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM sure the last thing Sir Durward would wish is the mounds of garbage left at the Montagu Park following the weekend regatta to honour his 100th birthday.

At 3pm on Monday, bags and bags of garbage lay about uncollected and trash littered what should be a pristine park. I wonder what the taxi loads of tourists thought of us as they passed the heaps of garbage.

I know the people who regularly exercise at the park were offended by

what greeted them this morning.

The area has been kept a lot cleaner recently and it is a shame that in one event, it was left in such a disgraceful condition.

In the future, no-one should be allowed to hold events in the park unless they can prove they have hired and placed a deposit for the garbage to be collected at the crack of dawn the following morning.

On the subject of garbage, East Shirley Street was thoroughly cleaned recently and the Evangelistic Church billboard

that was removed has now reappeared. The government has declared it won’t tolerate these unsightly signs anymore. Will the church move this piece of trash? The roadside is not a free for all for people to erect billboards, which are linked to the ghettoisation of communities.

Would the church like other people to start planting signs outside their premises?

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

M JOHNSON Nassau, October 30, 2017.

Sloop sailing: Is there hope?

EDITOR, The Tribune THE future for sloop sailing looks bleak. Well, maybe not bleak, but it certainly doesn’t look any brighter.

This past weekend at the Sir Durward 100 Regatta displayed a very telling truth: sloop sailors simply cannot work together for a common goal.

The talk can turn towards race committees and organisers as much as we want but the truth is: race committees are in charge of running races, and you can’t run races without sailors.

In what other sporting world are officials running after athletes begging them to come out and participate? Assisting them with rigging? Assisting them with towing? Trying to find out if they are even competing in the first place?

The race committee’s job is to run the races and enforce the rules, not run after sailors for hours on end long past the proposed start time.

Yes, the organisation was poor this past weekend, communication was almost non-existent, but over 31 boats said they were going to sail and about half of those didn’t show up. Who is to blame? The boats that don’t show or the organisers?

If boats had no intention of sailing from the start but still told the committees in charge that they intended to sail, knowing in the back of their mind that they would not show up and in turn make the event look bad just because of personal issues with certain individuals in charge, then shame on them.

If we cannot come together and put our personal opinions aside even for Sir Durward, then there really isn’t much hope for the future of our sport.

Yes, the weather was bad, but it was sailable on Saturday. We’ve sailed in worse. The proposed start time was 9:30, the first race started at 12:30.

Sailors talk often of big changes that need to happen in sloop sailing in order for the sport to move forward, all of the changes spoken about refer to those in charge, but I think it’s time we face the facts: the changes MUST start with ourselves, the sailors.

It is the sailors’ job to make sure their boats are in the water and rigged well before the first race is supposed to start, not the race committee. It is the sailors job to know the start times of the races and make sure they are on the starting line on time, not the race committee.

Once all boats are consistently lined up on time and we spend hours waiting on the race committee to start the race, then we

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net can begin pointing fingers, until then, get your house in order and get your boat to the line on time.

To the outside world we appear unprofessional, lazy, and disorganised.

While the sloops were slowly being towed to the starting line unrigged and unprepared hours past the proposed start time, wave after wave of small Optis with young kids streamed out of the Nassau Yacht Club, plowed through the chop, and proceeded to start and complete all of their races and return to port before the sloops even started one race.

Yet we as sloop sailors demand the respect of the sailing community because our boats are traditional and difficult to sail. The truth is that we lack many of the core principles that all sailors should possess: Discipline Teamwork Respect for others I brought my boats from Exuma to sail this weekend, to honour Sir Durward and his achievements. The date of this Regatta has been public knowledge for a long time, there is no excuse for not being prepared. When boats are put into the water the morning of the first race knowing full well that it takes hours to rig and prepare these boats, that shows those watching that we really didn’t give a rip about this Regatta. Once some found out the National Family Island Regatta Committee was in charge of this event coupled with the fact that there was no prize money involved minds were made up. Sure everyone will say how much they appreciate Sir Durward and how great this event is, but just not enough to actually come out and participate.

I want to personally thank and congratulate those that did make the effort to come out there and sail despite the difficult conditions.

Many were prepared and worked extremely hard this weekend and because of the weather weren’t even given the opportunity to sail on Sunday. From a boat owner and captain point of view who understands the amount of work and time it takes to prepare these boats for sailing, that is hard to accept lightly and I completely understand the frustrations of those boat’s crews.

The efforts of preparing these boats and the safety of the men and women that sail them needs to be remembered by the organisers of these regattas. It is the duty of race committee officials to have the proper equipment onboard committee boats to test wind speeds, rescue boats in

distress, and make official and final decisions about whether or not to race in a timely manner. Stringing along boat crews till the bitter end hoping the weather improves and then trying to make a race happen even in dangerous conditions so the people on shore have a boat race to watch is not a sound or safe way to operate. The sailors deserve better than that.

Trust me, I have my issues with the organisation of this Regatta and the race committee as well. Being one of the first on the line in the C class Saturday morning my crew and I waited almost 4 hours in our boat for the race to start with no sign of committee boats and no communication from official channels as to whether or not we were even sailing.

Then later that afternoon the race committee started the first B class race without me. As of 3pm there wasn’t even an official decision on when and if we were sailing and when the decision was finally made and my crew was informed I was given less than a half hour before the race was started, and we were still heading towards the starting line.

The unfairness of waiting for four hours for others on one hand and then not being given a half hour on the other is not lost on me, it was frustrating.

Our club whaler that we brought from Exuma as a support boat for our team was constantly shuttling other sailors from shore to their boats and back, rescued an E class boat that was run over by a C class boat, and, along with another private yacht, was the only boat on the scene when a B class boat sank. No committee boats in sight, no thank you’s, because this is normal.

People in this sport are so afraid to be unpopular and unliked by their peers that they remain silent publicly but behind closed doors they undercut those trying to help the sport succeed and when it comes down to it, if someone else other than those currently in charge came along and attempted to aggressively enforce the rules and make serious changes they would ultimately be met with the same hostility and stubbornness facing those around The Bahamas currently organising regattas.

And that sad truth boils down to the fact that we really don’t want to take Sloop Sailing to the next level, we are satisfied with the way things are and always have been, because if we really did want things to change we would change them, we’ve always had the power to do so.

DALLAS KNOWLES, Sailor October 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 31, 2017, PAGE 5

Mitchell says PM should be helping nation, not dancing

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell criticised Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday for “touring the country in a victory lap” and “having a good time” while those who voted for him “are suffering from unemployment, hunger and deprivation”.

In a statement, Mr Mitchell said nothing shows how

clueless Dr Minnis is about the suffering of Bahamians “than the prime minister on the front page (of a newspaper) this morning (Monday) dancing and celebrating.”

On Saturday, Dr Minnis attended the Free National Movement’s Meritorious Council Members Celebratory Ball at the Atlantis Resort. A photo of Dr Minnis dancing with his wife appeared on the front page of a local daily on Monday.

“It is clear that (Dr) Minnis and his colleagues

are tone deaf and blind as bats to the human suffering that they have inflicted on this economy by firing people from their jobs, by failing to respond to the cries for help and assistance, and by fostering an atmosphere of cutbacks and layoffs throughout the country,” Mr Mitchell noted in his statement.

“Instead of getting to work, the prime minister dances and celebrates in the face of human suffering, touring the country in

a victory lap, flying up and down behind police motor cycles with sirens blaring, having a good time.”

Mr Mitchell said the PLP “remains committed to helping all who are unemployed, who feel deprived and dispossessed.”

“For example, BTC employees are reportedly facing dismissal because they are being forced to sign a contract which will reverse years of union progress. This today can be traced back to the original

sin of the FNM, selling BTC at a fire sale price,” Mr Mitchell claimed.

“While the prime minister danced the night away on Saturday last, the cry could be heard in Freeport: ‘Fix Grand Bahama.’

Instead of sending idle messages about the state of the PLP that has always stood for justice and right, the FNM needs to stop dancing and get to work fixing this country.”

While at the ball on Saturday, Dr Minnis knocked

the PLP for its chaotic national convention, saying if the opposition party could not properly pull off an internal event, it cannot lead the country.

He also said the PLP – dogged with allegations of corruption – cannot change.

Dr Minnis said the FNM is distinctly different from the PLP and is focused on economic development, national security, good governance and protection and promoting Bahamian interests at home and abroad.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis shakes hands with one of the vendors in the straw market, during his walk through Port Lucaya Marketplace in Grand Bahama on Friday, October 27.

Photo: Bahamas Information Services

STRAW VENDORS TELL MINNIS ABOUT HARDSHIPS AFTER LUCAYA HOTEL CLOSURES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis visited with struggling straw vendors recently at Port Lucaya Marketplace who are hurting due to the closure of the hotels in Lucaya.

During his monthly visit on Friday, Dr Minnis walked through the marketplace and greeted every single vendor and spoke with them. They shared with him their personal struggles of not being able to pay their mortgages, light bills, and providing for their families.

The vendors were pleased the prime minister took time out to come to see and speak with them in Port Lucaya.

“I have been in the (straw) market since I was seven-years-old and besides Sir Lynden Pindling, a prime minister has never come through; it is remarkable because it shows the character of him I really appreciate that,” said vendor Lorenzo McKenzie.

Mr McKenzie said that Grand Bahama, especially Port Lucaya, is in a bad state. He said two cruise ships are in port, but there are hardly any visitors out walking in Port Lucaya.

He noted that vendors are unable to pay their mortgages, light bills, and put food on the table for their children.

He complained that paying the power bill is a struggle. “We are working just to pay them (the power company); we need help,” he said.

Mr McKenzie commended Dr Minnis for coming to see for himself what is happening in Grand Bahama and Port Lucaya.

“And so him coming to see for himself … speaks volumes about his

leadership, and we appreciate him; we thank him for coming here; everyone is excited that he is here,” he said.

Vendor Patricia Johnson complained that there is no business in the marketplace.

“We are out here seven days a week and don’t make a dime – it is hard. Everybody in Grand Bahama is hurting. It is not easy, and we are tired,” she said.

“I spoke with the PM, and he said they would do something, and I hope they do. We have families to take care of; can you imagine coming to the market every day and not make a dollar?”

Tourism has declined significantly on Grand Bahama since the Grand Lucayan Resort, and Memories Resort closed last October because of hurricane damage. The property was put on the market for sale, however, a proposed purchase deal with a prospective buyer fell through.

Dr Minnis, who noticed that there is not much visitor activity at Port Lucaya Marketplace, said he feels the pain of the vendors, bus drivers, and taxi cab drivers.

“The vendors had said that no prime minister has come through before and they were happy that one has come through because now you have a better appreciation for the pain and suffering they are going through as opposed to reading it in the paper,” he said.

“When you speak to individuals, and you look at their faces, you can see the pain, and you can feel it, as opposed to picking up the Guardian and Tribune; no, you don’t feel it, you just read it,” he said.

“What is most significant as I spoke to them is what they are experiencing, and the problems they face with paying light, water, etc, and that no tourists are coming

in this marketplace. But they all agree that the opening of the hotel will make a great impact to turn things around for them,” said Dr Minnis.

The prime minister said that the government has made an offer to purchase the hotel, which will be a catalyst to reviving the marketplace.

“I would have heard some noise in the market that government should not purchase hotels. Yes, I agree that government should not be involved in the hotel, but the question you must ask is if that hotel is closing down, and that is the catalyst for survival of this marketplace, the bus drivers, and taxicab drivers, can anyone in their right mind sit down and allow that to falter or fail?

“Even those who are against us would agree that that is the proper thing to do. You cannot allow an entire island to fall. Grand Bahama has been suffering for a long time, and whatever is necessary to do, we will do,” he said.

“I am certain that Bahamians will understand that the monies we spend in purchasing and keeping the hotel alive would result in keeping the marketplace alive, bus drivers, tour operators, and taxicab drivers alive, but most importantly it would keep Nassau alive also,” Dr Minnis said.

He explained that if nothing is done to open the hotel, Bahamians will relocate to New Providence where there is activity and place even more strain on Social Services there.

“So the survival of that one hotel would help New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco and the other Family Islands,” he said.

After visiting vendors, Dr Minnis also toured the Grand Lucayan Resort.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, October 31, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Sign or sacked - BTC’s jobs threat from page one

However, he said two years later BTC seems to be “going back on their word.”

“About two years ago, 147 employees in the technical field were made to accept voluntary separation packages and were told that BTC would outsource the department. They were also encouraged to form into a company and BTC would

give them the contract to perform the same services,” Mr Evans said.

“At the time, the union negotiated that the workers would continue to make salaries until they put together the company and BTC was able to prepare the RFP. Well, two companies emerged from among those persons, however two years later BTC took the RFP off the table and now they want to change

the terms and conditions of the agreement and sign a new deed of release and have a new contract. They are not currently represented by the union because they were separated but they came back two weeks ago to rejoin for us to represent them.

By next Wednesday we will know if the application for them to join has been approved. But from what I know, they were told to

go in today (Monday) and sign the new contract and if they do not, they will be fired.”

Mr Evans said all the workers have agreed not to sign the new contract because they had “no time” to review the new deal.

“It’s economic duress and the workers don’t understand the legal jargon in the contract,” Mr Evans said.

“So they have all agreed not to sign, we should know

by today (Tuesday) what the outcome of that decision will be. They all went to work and continued as normal. If BTC didn’t promise these persons they would become entrepreneurs, they would never have accepted the packages. Now BTC wants to make major changes to the original contract and the workers are not having it,” he claimed.

In 2015, it was announced that BTC had plans to cut hundreds of jobs in preparation for competition in the mobile phone sector. It is unclear how many employees accepted those voluntary separation packages.

The Tribune attempted to reach representatives from BTC for comment, but calls were not returned up to press time.

GLENYS QUITS BRAVE’S FRONTBENCH TEAM from page one serve. Following a chaotic PLP national convention, Mr Davis emerged as the elected PLP leader having won 1,004 votes to 300 in favour of Mrs Hanna Martin.

Party Chairman Senator Fred Mitchell confirmed Mr Davis accepted Mrs Hanna Martin’s decision “with regret,” adding South Andros MP Picewell Forbes was appointed leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly as of yesterday.

Ahead of Mr Mitchell’s confirmation, a copy of Mr Forbes’ appointment letter first appeared on a Facebook page purportedly affiliated with the MP and was later shared in several forums on the social media platform with a caption “yet we rise”.

“It is correct that I submitted a resignation letter.

I unsuccessfully challenged the leader who was ultimately victorious in the most recent convention,” Mrs Hanna Martin told The Tribune when contacted.

“The convention says if you unsuccessfully challenge, you submit your resignation and give the new leader the opportunity to appoint whomever they would wish.”

Asked whether the move was a sign of animosity, she said: “It’s not animosity. It’s what the convention requires.

“I have no concerns about working alongside them. It’s cool and within his jurisdiction,” the MP said when she was asked about effectively working with Mr Davis and Mr Forbes in Parliament.

Following her interview with The Tribune, the Englerston MP released a brief statement confirming her decision.

“By letter dated October 26, 2017, I tendered my resignation to the leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition as leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly.

“The convention of our Westminster system requires that after having unsuccessfully challenged the leader who appointed

GLENYS Hanna Martin at the PLP conference, alongside her successor as leader of opposition business, Picewell Forbes. me that I should tender my resignation. The leader today advised that my resignation was accepted. I will continue to be a voice for the people of Englerston and Bahamians everywhere in the halls of Parliament.”

PLP leader Mr Davis also released a statement, confirming that he had accepted the resignation.

He said: “The public is advised that I have accepted with regret the resignation of the Hon Glenys HannaMartin MP as Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly.

“I have appointed the Hon Picewell Forbes MP to serve in that capacity with immediate effect.

“I am grateful for Mrs Hanna Martin’s excellent and professional public service and look forward to continuing our work together for the good of the people of The Bahamas.”

Mr Forbes’ appointment

letter from Mr Davis garnered dozens of greetings and well wishes in recognition of his new post.

The letter from Mr Davis read: “I have accepted the resignation of Mrs Glenys Hanna Martin, member of Parliament Englerston from the post of leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly. I am, as a consequence of the vacancy, very pleased to appoint you as leader of opposition business, effective immediately.

“I am confident that you will work well with the leader of government business to arrange the business of the House. With equal importance, know that our team looks to you to hold the government to account in its overall management of the House.

“Thank you for your service to the people of The Bahamas. I wish you all the best in this critical

THE GOLF cart loaded with a large chunk of styrofoam.

CLEAN UP - YOU MISSED A BIT from page one

She continued: “This is what is washing up on our beaches from Resort World’s docks because they still don’t have adequate curtains up to contain what they got broken open in docks at the resort up there.

“They got inadequate silk barriers that aren’t containing the foam and these giant pieces are breaking free from their broken docks which is still in the water and on the beaches there.”

The video came less than a day after Environment and Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira contended that remediation in Bimini was top on his agenda.

In a recent interview with The Nassau Guardian, Mr

Ferreira indicated that he was considering a visit to the island in the coming days to see the issues there first hand.

Tensions between Resorts World Bimini and residents have worsened in recent weeks due to what some have described as the resort’s “irresponsible environmental practices.”

Earlier this month, Ms Cook said she was concerned that without the national spotlight focused on Bimini, RWB may not feel inclined to “finish the job”.

“We are waiting,” she said. “But we have waited for some time now to get all of this properly sorted out. The issue now is, we’ve given them the time to get this in hand, but chunks of Styrofoam are still washing up on shore daily.”

Despite this, however, Resorts World Bimini has maintained that it has done its best to resolve the matter.

In a statement early this month, RWB said it had gone to extraordinary lengths to clean-up storm debris and immediate damage.

The resort said debris was quickly gathered from the damaged marina and surrounding areas and was being “temporarily” stored on property while it awaited an “appropriate contractor” to dispose of the materials in an “environmentally neutral manner.”

RWB said the vendor who originally provided its marina docks, has agreed to place skimmers in the marinas for long-term remediation.

TURNQUEST SAYS TAX BILL WILL EASE BUSINESS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest, the minister of finance, said the passing of the Grand

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Bahama (Port Area) Extension of Tax Exemptions Bill 2017, will repeal and replace the Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Act 2016, which is counterproductive to the ease of doing business in Freeport.

Mr Turnquest was speaking at the Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers (BACO) 12th Annual Northern Conference in Grand Bahama.

The bill, which also revokes the Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Regulations 2016, will no longer require licensees of the Grand Bahama Port Authority to apply to the central government to receive any concessions.

The 2016 act was passed under the former PLP administration and was criticised as being bad for business. Before the May 2017 general election, the Free National Movement had promised to repeal and replace it.

“As the government of the Bahamas, we are honouring that commitment,” Mr Turnquest told BACO. “The entire regime will be done away with when the new bill is passed,” he said.

“Our reason for repealing the act is very simply, it is counterproductive to the ease of doing business in Grand Bahama.

“We believe that Grand Bahama and Freeport need an opportunity to rebound, and this particular piece of legislation did not help us to create the kind of certainty to attract investors here for the long-term. The bill did not help spur investment in Grand Bahama. It did the exact opposite,” Mr Turnquest said.

He indicated that the business application process was viewed by many as introducing extra costs, bureaucracy and uncertainty into Freeport’s investment and business climate because the granting

of incentives is at the government’s discretion – and is no longer an “absolute right” under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

“There was subjectivity in the process especially as it pertains to reporting requirements imposed on licensees, as well as the Investment Board reviews to ensure granted incentives were being properly used,” he added.

Mr Turnquest explained that the government is making changes because the process was unfair, and not conducive to a stable environment or making Freeport competitive.

He noted that members of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and its licensees complained that requirements under the 2016 Act created uncertainty, instead of fostering growth and stimulating the economy.

Mr Turnquest emphasised that in the new bill, all homeowners, within the

port area, will be exempted from real property taxes.

He said “it is important to note this distinction from the 2016 legislative regime where exemptions, including real property tax exemptions, were limited to licensees of the Port Authority only.”

Mr Turnquest stated that the Grand Bahama Port Authority petitioned the government to broaden this exemption, as the uncertainty of real property tax exemption for all homeowners in the port area – especially that for non-Bahamian second homeowners – was of concern.

The deputy prime minister said the revitalisation of Grand Bahama’s stagnant, depressed economy is a priority for the FNM. He said the FNM government will adopt new measures aimed at accelerating, broadening and sustaining economic development in Freeport and Grand Bahama.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 31, 2017, PAGE 7

THE PRESENTATION to the September and August winners of the PHA/Unsung Heroes Award. The August winner is Yvonne Johnson (far left), nurse-in-charge of one of four areas of the Children’s Ward at Princess Margaret Hospital, and September’s recipient is Keith Wedderburn (second from right), senior kitchen porter at the Rand Memorial Hlospital. They are pictured accepting their awards from Kevin Darville (centre), Tribune Media Group’s special projects manager; Verna Bonaby (far right), and acting managing director of Communications Hannah Gray (second left).

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

Two recognised as unsung heroes of health care

By MORGAN ADDERLEY YVONNE Johnson and Keith Wedderburn were yesterday both named recipients of the Public Hospitals Authority Unsung Heroes Award.

The monthly award is granted to those who “go beyond the call of duty” in the field of public health.

Mrs Johnson, a registered nurse at the Princess Margaret hospital, is the August 2017 winner. Mr Wedderburn is the September 2017 awardee due to his courageous efforts in quelling a fire that broke out in the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama in July.

According to Hannah Gray, acting managing director of PHA, Mrs Johnson is currently “nurse-in-charge” of one of four areas in the Children’s Ward and has taken on the challenge of serving as supervisor on night duty. Mrs Gray said Mrs Johnson was selected as the August recipient because

Unsung

HER ES of her “outstanding and tireless efforts in the clinical environment, and the skill, commitment, and passion she displays every day toward the children under her care on the Children’s Ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital”.

Mrs Johnson accepted the award during a press conference at the PHA’s Third Terrace Corporate Office. Of her achievement, she said: “I try to do my work and offer quality care to my patients, especially the children. I have a thing for the children. The sick children, they are not aware of what’s going on. Adults, we can understand and we

know. But when I look into the eyes of those sick children, it goes to my heart.

“And so from a very young age, the age of 11 or 12, I made my decision to become a nurse, and I would nurse sick children.

Today I am still doing that and I thank God for the opportunity.”

She added: “There’s a joy when a child leaves the hospital and goes home to the parents feeling well and better. And I thank the givers of this award, and I will still do my utmost best. I will even go further now, to do my best for my patients.”

Mr Wedderburn joined

NYGARD ‘PLAYING CAT AND MOUSE’ WITH COURT, SAYS LAWYER

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

AN outspoken attorney yesterday railed against Canadian fashion-mogul Peter Nygard’s notable absence for a Supreme Court hearing, accusing the Lyford Cay resident of “playing cat and mouse” with the court and treating the institution as his own personal “convenience”.

Fred Smith, QC, lead counsel for Save The Bays (STB), charged Justice Rhonda Bain should not “countenance” Mr Nygard’s absence over his own recusal application, as he said the Supreme Court is not a “see-saw” that Mr Nygard can merely “pivot” on when he sees fit.

Mr Smith further noted that all of the other matters connected to and/or from which Mr Nygard’s latest recusal application emanates have been put in “abeyance” as a result of his legal challenges.

Mr Nygard’s lead attorney, Damian Gomez, QC, told the court that between yesterday and today, he would have “formal” evidence as to why his client was not present. Nonetheless, Justice Bain adjourned the matter to today, following an application for adjournment by Mr Gomez.

However, she said the order for Mr Nygard’s appearance still stands.

Mr Smith’s and Mr Gomez’s submissions came

during a hearing before Justice Bain over Mr Nygard’s second recusal application against Justice Bain, which was launched in March.

His first application for her recusal, which ultimately failed, was filed in 2015.

Both recusal applications stem from Mr Nygard’s battle with STB over allegations that the construction/development activities at his Lyford Cay home have led to a substantial growth of the property.

The group claims Mr Nygard has almost doubled the size of his property, from 3.25 acres to 6.1 acres, since he acquired it in 1984, by allegedly reclaiming Crown land from the sea. The advocacy group alleged that Mr Nygard achieved this without the necessary permits and approvals, claims that have been denied by the fashion designer.

In 2015, Justice Bain was asked to recuse herself from committal proceedings involving Mr Nygard through a notice of motion filed in the Supreme Court by his former lawyer on the grounds of bias. However, in January 16, Justice Bain said Mr Nygard had not proved there was evidence of bias or apparent bias towards him and found the accusations to be “scandalous”.

The Court of Appeal, six months later, affirmed Justice Bain’s rejection of the application in an appeal of the decision by the Lyford

Cay resident.

In January, attorneys for former Prime Minister Perry Christie filed a motion to have Justice Bain recuse herself from these cases, and from a fourth judicial review brought by 103 of Mr Nygard’s Lyford Cay neighbours on the basis that she was set to reach the legal age for retirement by April.

Mr Christie, in his former capacity as minister for Crown land, appeared with several other senior officials and Mr Nygard as a respondent in three judicial review cases brought

by STB to challenge the environmentally destructive construction work that was allowed to take place at Nygard Cay for the past three decades.

On February 7, Justice Bain ruled that Mr Christie’s application had “no merit” and reminded him of the independence of the judiciary, stressing that the chief justice’s role in deciding which judge hears a given case cannot be “usurped by the prime minister”.

In March, Mr Gomez had alerted Justice Bain to the filing of a notice of motion for recusal subsequent to a letter sent to the court a week before asking herself to recuse herself from the legal proceedings before her. However, she said that the latest recusal bid would not be heard or considered until a formal application is lodged.

the Rand Memorial Hospital in 2009, where he currently is senior porter in the Food Services Department. In July 2017, a fire broke out in the hospital’s kitchen, forcing the patients and staff of the hospital to briefly evacuate.

According to Mrs Gray: “When the blaze was at its hottest, Keith refused to evacuate with his co-workers. Instead he fought to bring the blaze under control with a fire extinguisher.

His efforts to contain and control the fire allowed his co-workers to escape the kitchen without injury and very possibly prevented catastrophic damage to the hospital until the arrival of firefighters. Keith Wedderburn is the essence of an unsung hero, putting

himself on the line for the safety of the Rand Memorial Hospital’s patients and staff.”

Of his heroism, Mr Wedderburn humbly stated: “It’s an honour to receive this award. No matter what your post is in the PHA, we are all we have for the patients and the patients come first.”

Kevin Darville, the Tribune Media Group’s special projects manager, presented Mrs Johnson and Mr Wedderburn with framed certificates of recognition.

Each recipient was awarded a cash prize of a $1,000, a dinner voucher for two at the Dune restaurant at the One&Only Ocean Club, and a pin to commemorate their selections as monthly winners.

Mrs Johnson and Mr Wedderburn join previous award winners Patricia Laing, Una Bain, Veronica Ferguson, Glynis Armbrister, Zhivago McPhee, Carolyn Nortelus and Lacreasha Thompson.

Nomination forms and full criteria for eligibility and selection can be found on the PHA website (phabahamas.org) or submitted via email to or obtained from the Department of Human Resources.

They also will be available to patients and visitors at all facilities. Nominations must be submitted by the last day of the month and an independent selection committee will judge the entries. Employees can only win one monthly award in a calendar year.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, October 31, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

SPEEDY RETRIAL ORDERED IN MURDER CASE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE COURT of Appeal has ordered a man previously convicted for killing another man during a Junkanoo practice approximately five years ago be retried in the Supreme Court “as speedily as practicable.”

Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen, along with fellow Justices Jon Isaacs and Roy Jones, set aside Bruce Colebrooke’s 45-year sentence concerning the October 3, 2012 murder of Obayomi Sargent, and ordered a retrial of the same.

This, the appellate judges ruled, was due to the trial judge’s decision to allow a Crown witness to “testify while completely screened from herself and the jury,” and because that decision was not in accordance with the procedure outlined in the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act, 2011.

According to the ruling, on the day in question three friends: Dwight Griffen, Darvin Dean and the deceased were in the process of leaving a Junkanoo practice at Christie Park, Nassau Street, when one of

them noticed two men were following them.

Griffen also noticed a man standing in the road on a cell phone, however, that man walked off into a shortcut leading from the Base Road area as they approached their car, the ruling said. Nonetheless, Griffen conveyed his suspicions about the men to Dean that someone was plotting something.

By this time, the ruling said, the two men who were following them were standing across the road from them behind a parked, silver Sentra. Griffen’s back was facing them but he spun around just in time to see one of the men come across the street about 15 feet from the trio, pull up his shirt, pull out a gun.

The man fired a shot, prompting the trio to run.

According to the ruling, Griffen said as everyone ran he heard three more shots.

When people returned to the area of the shooting, they found Obayomi on the ground suffering from apparent gunshot injuries.

He died at the scene.

According to the ruling, Colebrooke was arrested on September 10, 2013 when he, accompanied by family members and his attorney

Keod Smith, turned himself in to police headquarters on East Street. During an interview later on in the day, Colebrooke denied shooting Obayomi and stated that during the time of the shooting he was at home.

Days later on September 11, Colebrooke participated in an identification parade which was attended by Griffen and an anonymous Crown witness named “Alpha.” The parade consisted of eight people, with Colebrooke taking up position number three.

Griffen came in, saw the line up, and identified the alleged shooter as occupying position number three.

Colebrooke was subsequently invited to take another position in the line up - position number one. Nonetheless, Alpha was brought into the room and identified the alleged shooter as occupying position number one.

Colebrooke was subsequently charged with Obayomi’s murder and tried before Justice Indra Charles and a jury. However, before the trial began in earnest, Colebrooke’s attorney raised an issue of witness “Alpha” being able to give evidence anonymously.

Justice Charles allowed “Alpha” to give his evidence without the appellant being able to see him, despite objections from the defence, and according to the ruling, “Alpha” gave his evidence “without any of the participants in the trial having sight of him other than perhaps the judge’s clerk who administered the oath to Alpha.”

On March 18, 2015, the jury found Colebrooke guilty of murder. On July 14, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

However, in an amended notice of appeal filed on September 29, 2016, Colebrooke contended the trial judge erred in law by determining “that it was necessary to grant a witness anonymity order in respect of Alpha because the conditions required by section 13 of the Act were not made out by the Crown; and that the judge’s assessment of the evidence relied upon by the Crown did not meet the “highest standard of proof required under the Act.” Colebrooke further contended that Justice Charles’ order was not adhered to and what transpired in the trial “went too far” by concealing Alpha with a screen from the judge, the jury and counsel; and by allowing

“modulation of Alpha’s voice so that his natural voice could not be heard by the judge, the jury and other members of the court.”

Colebrooke also challenged the trial judge’s decision not to withdraw the case from the jury after Alpha testified he knew the appellant from CR Walker High School, despite “unrefuted independent evidence” from government officials that showed that Colebrooke actually attended CC Sweeting High School for the same period of time Alpha “and the Bruce he knew the shooter to be, attended CR Walker High School.”

The ruling noting the judge’s failure to do so was “especially egregious” and “amounts to a miscarriage of justice when considering that the trial judge had granted an anonymity order which led to Alpha being completely screened from the jury’s sight so that they were not able to assess his demeanour while he testified.”

Regarding Colebrooke’s main argument, the trial judge erred by granting the anonymity order, the appellate judges said while the ability to conceal any witness’ identity from a defendant “has been allowed by statute,”

it is an “important part” interrogating witnesses “to see how the witness reacts to the various questions posed.”

An example of this, the ruling said, would be if the witness flinched or fidgets when “a particular line of questioning is pursued.”

The justices also noted the power to order a witness to testify anonymously “goes contrary to the normal procedure whereby a witness’ “identity is known to all of the participants in the trial.” The ruling said such a procedure “enables the opposing side to question the witness on any possible animus or interest the witness may have which motivates the evidence given so the jury can properly evaluate the quality and reliability of the evidence.”

“The judge’s decision to allow Alpha to testify out of sight of herself and the jury amounted to a material irregularity substantially affecting the merits of the case particularly since total concealment did not accord with the order that she had made,” the ruling said.

In weighing the options, the appellate judges said the “appropriate course” to be followed would be to order a retrial.

‘TIME FOR CITIZENS TO GET INVOLVED IN LAWMAKING PROCESS’ THE Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG), a non-partisan, not-for-profit civic foundation aimed at fostering better governance, has called on the public to “get informed and get involved” in the lawmaking process as parliamentarians prepare to debate key corruptionfighting legislation.

Touting the potential impact of the bills, ORG is urging Bahamians to review the recently tabled Ombudsman and Integrity Commission Bills and submit recommendations.

MATT AUBRY “When the bills were tabled, Minister of State for Legal Affairs Elsworth Johnson encouraged everyone to read, understand

and give feedback on the bills. We echo this plea and call on citizens concerned with corruption at all levels of our society to review the bills,” said Matt Aubry, executive director of ORG. The Integrity Commission Bill 2017 will dissolve the current Public Disclosure Committee and establish a comprehensive anti-corruption body to reform and investigate issues of corruption, public disclosure, and malfeasance, as well as to educate the public on issues of corruption and integrity

THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF THE BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (Incorporated Trustees Of The Church Of England In The Bahamas) Invites applications for the position of

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ADMINISTRATOR We require a candidate to work directly with the Financial Comptroller. The ideal candidate should be passionate about becoming a key member in the development of our four Anglican Schools and subscribes to the Anglican ethos.

The Role will include: • Review and maintain the Accounts Payable sub-ledger system for the Anglican Diocese and two of our schools.

• Post all invoices into the system and reconcile vendor statements.

• Preparation of cheques for vendor invoices and monthly standing orders.

• Type letters for bank transfers, drafts and exchange forms.

• Mail/express mail cheques to vendors.

• Bill invoices paid from main fund on behalf of schools.

• Bill all department heads and copy receivables for selfsupporting parishes.

• Filing and ordering of cheques.

• Maintain control over the petty cash.

• Assist with payroll when needed.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS • Associate’s degree in accounting desired but not necessary.

• Should have at least 3 years relevant experience.

• Must have a strong proficiency in Microsoft Office and

Peachtree Programs.

• Should have strong written and oral communication skills.

• Excellent leadership and management skills, with hands on approach.

• Should be well-organized and must be committed to timely and accurate reporting.

REMUNERATION Remuneration will be based on qualifications and experience. In addition the Diocese provides full pension and health care benefits.

APPLICATIONS Applications must contain a cover letter and CV and may be submitted via email to hr@bahamasanglican.org or P.O. Box N-656 no later than November 3, 2017.

in government. The muchanticipated Ombudsman Bill will establish an Office of the Ombudsman, an advocate for the people in the event of government maladministration.

In a bid to encourage feedback and consultation, ORG will be collecting and consolidating recommendations from members of the public for submission to the Office of the Attorney General and members of the House of Assembly. Persons interested in reviewing the bills can download them and submit their recommendations at www.orgbahamas. com/anticorruption.

For more information persons can email engagement@orgbahamas.com.

“Both bills have the potential to be gamechangers for government accountability,” said Mr Aubry. “Whether they meet this potential will be determined based on how well the drafted bills equip the ombudsman and commissioner to be fair, unbiased, and effective in the carry out of their duties.

We have the opportunity to work together to ensure this is the case.”

The recommendations from the public will be added to submissions from civil society groups and

ORG’s internal evaluation and benchmarking, currently underway.

“The bills are still under review by ORG’s Accountable Governance Committee, however upon first review there are some trends that stand out,” said Mr Aubry.

“We see in these bills a general tendency for broad powers to be consolidated in the prime minister and his Cabinet. For example, the chairman of the Integrity Commission is appointed by the prime minister without consultation and in general the PM is given heavy influence in the selection of the commission. We anticipate that many of the recommendations of ORG and other civil society organisations will focus on opening up these processes to greater input, and ensuring that the offices have the autonomy they require to do their duties such that even the appearance of bias is avoided.

“We are also pleased to see a section dedicated to whistleblower protection within the Integrity Commission Bill. ORG and our partner organisations have advocated for legal protection against retaliation for those who come forth with evidence of corruption, and we are happy to see a

step toward this. This form of protection is a crucial component to battling the culture of corruption.”

ORG, which has advocated for public consultation in the past for such bills as the Interception of Communications Bill, hopes that appealing to the people will be the beginning of greater public involvement in the legislative process.

“ORG believes it is a step in the right direction that this administration has expressed on multiple occasions its commitment to engaging civil society and opening bills up to public consultation,” said Chauntez Dillet-Wilson, ORG communications coordinator.

“However, to embrace the spirit of open, transparent governance we must have a standardised system of public consultation – one in which experts, civil society, and the people, are educated and appealed to in the drafting stage.

This has been shown not only to improve policy and legislation, but to make implementation cheaper and faster. We hope that Bahamians realise they have an important role to play in this process and take advantage of this opportunity to raise their voice.”

READERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON LATEST STORIES TRIBUNE readers have been giving their reaction to the stories on tribune242. com.

After workers in the cruise ship industry raised concerns about what they believe are unfair hiring practices on privatelyowned islands, Economist had this to say: “A quick look at how they run their island stops will show you that the cruise lines have cut the Bahamian out. Just look at who is running the places.”

DDK agreed: “Another example of selling our Bahamaland to the detriment of Bahamians.

Tribune, your readers would, I am sure, love to see Prime Minister Minnis’s response to that letter.”

Kkphilli4 thought longterm leases could be a solution: “This is the reason I have said time and time again that we should do long term leases on private islands instead. We should never, ever sell our islands no matter how attractive the investment. If there is an end date to the lease, it will force them to come back to the table. They must also be made to respect the natural resources on the islands and forbid dredging, etc.”

On Friday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said Hutchison Whampoa has responded to the government’s offer to purchase the Grand Lucayan resort.

Bahamianadvocate thought the government

was making a mistake: “Terrible, terrible mistake!

He should not be risking the taxpayers’ money!

Although Minnis may feel as if his government will be fiscally responsible with this acquisition, he cannot assume the same for successive governments. This will easily become the next Bahamasair or BEC.” Well_mudda_take_sic said: “If they (the Hutchison Whampoa Group) do not believe they can reopen the Grand Lucaya Hotel and contain/control its operating losses in the near term, with a view to it becoming profitable sometime in the future, then how on Earth does Minnis think government can possibly do so?!”

There was this from Scampi75: “There is nothing more important to Grand Bahama right now than to open these hotels and the people back to work.”

FreeportFreddy called for support of the government’s move: “TAKE A DEEP BREATH!!! The properties that are involved in this are 3 hotels; 1 casino; and 2 golf courses. To have a consortium of the best operators there needs to be a HUGE

amount of negotiation and ‘back and forth’. This takes time . . . which is not available to Grand Bahama as it is getting to the tipping point of ‘too far gone’. I BELIEVE that the government strategy here is to purchase it from HW (don’t get me going on them!!!) and then piecemeal it out to the operators in order to hasten the regeneration of the strip/island. This is ESSENTIAL to the economy of GB as well as The Bahamas. Otherwise everyone will be forced to move to New Providence and that would create another set of issues. PLEASE support this move by the new government!”

And ThisIsOurs said: “Can’t get over the feeling that all of this is a campaign tour. Wondering what his presence in GB will accomplish over a conference call? Will the other islands demand his presence to get things done in their local communities? Does this undermine the local minister? What’s their purpose if Dr Minnis has to come there and do it himself?

This isn’t what a CEO does, he lays the vision, delegates and gets those responsible to report on the work.

If it works I suppose none of these concerns matter.

I really hope it works, no time for campaigning.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 31, 2017, PAGE 9

First guilty plea as Trump aides indicted in Russia probe WASHINGTON Associated Press A FORMER campaign adviser to President Donald Trump has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians, special counsel Robert Mueller said Monday, while former campaign manager Paul Manafort and Manafort’s business partner pleaded not guilty to felony charges of conspiracy against the United States and other counts.

The guilty plea by former adviser George Papadopoulos marked the first criminal case that cites interactions between Trump campaign associates and Russian intermediaries during the 2016 presidential campaign. The developments ushered Mueller’s sprawling investigation into a new phase with felony charges and possible prison sentences for key members of the Trump team including Manafort, who led the campaign during critical months, and Rick Gates, a campaign aide.

Court papers also revealed that Papadopoulos was told about the Russians possessing “dirt” on Democrat Hillary Clinton in the form of “thousands of emails” on April 26, 2016, well before it became public that the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s emails had been hacked.

Papadopoulos has been co-operating with investigators, according to court papers, a potentially ominous sign for others in the Trump orbit who might be implicated by his statements.

Papadopoulos’ lawyers hinted strongly in a statement Monday that their client has more testimony to provide.

During the daily press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders downplayed Papadopoulos’

PAUL Manafort leaves Federal District Court in Washington, yesterday. role in the campaign, saying and Russian President it was “extremely limited”.

Vladimir Putin and offering She said the White House “dirt” on Clinton. has had “indications” that The FBI interviewed Mueller’s investigation Papadopoulos about his would conclude “soon”.

Russian connections on Jan The president quickly 27, a week after Trump’s tweeted about the allega- inauguration. The interview tions against Manafort, predates Mueller’s appointsaying the alleged crimes ment but was part of the were “years ago,” and FBI probe into Russian insisting there was “NO election interference that he COLLUSION” between has taken over. Papadopouhis campaign and Russia. los was arrested over the He added, as he has a summer at Dulles Internanumber of times recently, tional Airport and has since “Why aren’t Crooked met with the government Hillary & the Dems the “on numerous occasions to focus?????” provide information and Manafort and Gates answer questions”. appeared in federal court The separate charges in Washington and pleaded against Manafort and Rick not guilty to all charges. Gates contend the men Manafort and Gates were acted as unregistered forboth released on home eign agents for Ukrainian confinement.

Manafort interests. The indictment was freed on a $10m bond also includes other finanmeant to guarantee his cial counts involving tens future court appearances. of millions of dollars routed Gates’ bond was $5m. through offshore accounts.

Papadopoulos’ plea Manafort’s indictment occurred on Oct 5 and was doesn’t reference the Trump unsealed Monday. In court campaign or make any papers, he admitted to lying allegations about coordinato FBI agents about the tion between the Kremlin nature of his interactions and the president’s aides with “foreign nationals” to influence the outcome who he thought had close of the election in Trump’s connections to senior Rus- favor. The indictment does sian government officials. allege a criminal conspiracy Those interactions included was continuing through speaking with Russian February of this year, after intermediaries who were Trump had taken office. attempting to line up a The indictment filed in meeting between Trump federal court in Washington

HOUSE OF CARDS CANCELLED AS FALLOUT CONTINUES FOR SPACEY NEW YORK Associated Press THE fallout facing Kevin Spacey widened Monday following an accusation that he allegedly made sexual advances on a teen boy, with Netflix pulling the plug on his hit show “House of Cards” and “deeply troubled” producers of the political thriller arriving on set to comfort cast mates.

Executives from Netflix and the show’s producer, Media Rights Capital, said they arrived in Baltimore, where the show is shot, on Monday afternoon to make sure actors and crew “continue to feel safe and supported”. Spacey was not scheduled to be on set on Monday.

Though the decision to end the series was announced on Monday, the decision to end the series was made several months ago, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the decision.

Spacey is the latest Hollywood man to be named in widening allegations of sexual harassment and abuse in entertainment, media and other industries. The avalanche of allegations began earlier this month after the New York Times published a story alleging that producer Harvey Weinstein had sexually harassed numerous women.

On Monday, NBC fired political journalist Mark Halperin after multiple allegations of sexual harassment, and The New Republic said it had launched an investigation after publisher and president Hamilton Fish was accused of harassing women.

The New York Times on Monday also published new allegations against

KEVIN SPACEY Weinstein, including the account of a woman who said Weinstein of raping her in the late 1970s and a dancer’s account of Weinstein misconduct in 2004 that led to a $100,000 settlement.

Weinstein’s representative Sallie Hofmeister has said the Oscar winner denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.

The Producers Guild of America also announced it had instituted a lifetime ban on Weinstein from holding membership in the organization. The move came after Weinstein, 65, resigned his membership, the group said.

“This unprecedented step is a reflection of the seriousness with which the Guild regards the numerous reports of Mr Weinstein’s decades of reprehensible conduct,” the guild said in a statement.

In an interview published by BuzzFeed News on Sunday, actor Anthony Rapp alleged that he was attending a party at Spacey’s apartment in 1986 when an inebriated 26-yearold Spacey picked him up, placed him on his bed, and climbed on top of him.

Rapp, then 14, was able to get away without any physical harm.

Spacey responded on Twitter by saying he doesn’t remember the alleged encounter but if he acted the way Rapp alleges, “I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.”

RICK GATES, right, leaves federal court in Washington. accuses both Manafort against Manafort and Gates and Gates of funneling was largely based on activipayments through for- ties disclosed in August 2016 eign companies and bank by The Associated Press, accounts as part of their which reported that the pair political work in Ukraine. had orchestrated a covert The two men surrendered to Washington lobbying operafederal authorities Monday. tion on behalf of Ukraine’s The indictment lays out ruling political party.

12 counts including conCiting internal emails, spiracy against the United the AP noted that Gates States, conspiracy to laun- personally directed the der money, acting as an work of two prominent unregistered foreign agent, Washington lobbying firms, making false statements Mercury LLC and the and several charges related Podesta Group. The indictto failing to report foreign ment doesn’t refer to the bank and financial accounts. companies by name.

The indictment alleges the Specifically, the indictmen moved money through ment accuses Manafort of hidden bank accounts in using “his hidden overseas Cyprus, St Vincent and wealth to enjoy a lavish lifethe Grenadines and the style in the United States, Seychelles. without paying taxes on In total, more than $75m that income”. That included flowed through the offshore using offshore accounts accounts, according to the to purchase multimillionindictment. Manafort is dollar properties in the US, accused of laundering more some of which the governthan $18m. ment is seeking to seize.

A spokesman for ManaThe indictment also cites fort did not immediately more than $900,000 in payreturn calls or text mes- ments to an antique rug sages requesting comment. store, about $850,000 to a Manafort and Gates have New York men’s clothing previously denied any store and the purchase of a wrongdoing.

Mercedes Benz and multiManafort, 68, was fired ple Range Rovers. as Trump’s campaign chairManafort joined Trump’s man in August 2016 after campaign in March 2016 word surfaced that he had and oversaw the Republiorchestrated a covert lob- can National Convention bying operation on behalf delegate strategy. Trump of pro-Russian interests in pushed him out in August Ukraine. The indictment amid a stream of negative

headlines about Manafort’s foreign consulting work.

Trump’s middle son, Eric Trump, said in an interview at the time that his father was concerned that questions about Manafort’s past were taking attention away from the billionaire’s presidential bid.

Manafort has been a subject of a longstanding FBI investigation into his dealings in Ukraine and work for the country’s former president, Viktor Yanukovych. That investigation was incorporated into Mueller’s broader probe. In July, his investigators raided one of Manafort’s homes in Virginia, searching for tax and international banking records.

Manafort recently registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent for parts of Ukrainian work that occurred in Washington. The indictment Monday accuses Manafort and Gates of making several false and misleading statements in that FARA filing.

Mueller’s investigation has also reached into the White House, as he examines the circumstances of Comey’s firing. Investigators have requested extensive documents and have interviewed multiple current and former officials.

Mueller’s grand jury has also heard testimony about a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York attended by a Russian lawyer as well as Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

In Gates, Mueller brings in not just Manafort’s chief deputy, but a key player from Trump’s campaign who survived Manafort’s ouster last summer. As of two weeks ago, Gates was still working for Tom Barrack, a Trump confidant, helping with the closeout of the inauguration committee’s campaign account.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, October 31, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

PAGE 12, Tuesday, October 31, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Beam breaks in Atlantis tunnel

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net VEHICULAR traffic at the Paradise Island tunnel had to be diverted yesterday after a service truck struck a “sacrificial beam” causing it to fall and resulting in the driver being taken to hospital.

Atlantis, in a press statement yesterday, said the truck, owned by a service provider, entered the tunnel with its lift in the up position, hitting the beam, which is designed to “stop vehicles that exceed the height limit”.

The statement further clarified that the beam is designed to prevent structural damage to the tunnel in cases similar to what occurred Monday.

Short delays were reported due to the incident and subsequent traffic diversions.

According to the resort, the driver, though not appearing to be seriously injured, was shaken up and taken to the hospital.

The resort’s statement added that normal traffic flow was resumed shortly after the debris was properly cleared.

THE SMASHED beam in the Paradise Island tunnel yesterday after it was reportedly struck by a truck.