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VOLUME:116 No.214, OCTOBER 31ST, 2019

OFFICIA

CLASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS

Jury rules Carla was ‘murdered’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE mysterious hanging of a 25-year-old South African woman at the Atlantis resort last year was a homicide, a jury found yesterday.

The five-member jury, two men and three women, delivered a 3-2 verdict in favour of Carla Van Eeden being murdered in her room in May 2018.

The file will now be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General, The Tribune understands.

Yesterday’s verdict meant those three jurors believe an unknown assailant used a cellphone lanyard to hang Ms Van Eeden from a garment hook on the bathroom door, and did so with the intention to kill her.

The jury had three possible verdicts: homicide, suicide, or accidental

death. And in the event of the former, they were admonished by Her Majesty’s Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez that it had to be shown that someone actually used the lanyard to kill her.

Their verdict also affirms the suggestion of the only witness out of 27 to actually suggest that Ms Van Eeden was murdered: South African forensic pathologist Dr Linda Leibenberg.

That, despite evidence that no one was seen via CCTV or otherwise, entering the young woman’s room. The only two Atlantis employees who did enter her room did so for one minute and six seconds collectively - a mini-bar maid for 16 seconds and a housekeeper for 40 seconds.

Nonetheless, Ms Van Eeden’s older brother Johann Van Eeden, who represented his family during the inquest and SEE PAGE THREE

$1

INSIDE

L SOUR CE

DO IT AGAIN AND INGRAHAM TEACHERS’ OVER WOULD FIRE SPEAKER’S A** FURY PAY CUT

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE behaviour of House Speaker Halson Moultrie was unprecedented and overboard, according to a former deputy prime minister and a former long-time parliamentary clerk.

During a 32-minute speech in the House on Tuesday, Speaker Moultrie railed against “yellow journalism”, “fake news” and attacked the logic of Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis’ criticism of him in a recent article. He declared he will lead reporters to Jesus if they target him. He was responding to the debate after he forced a reporter to delete a photo she took of Exuma and

SPEAKER HALSON MOULTRIE Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper, who was making a contribution in the House last week.

Frank Watson, a former Free National Movement deputy prime minister, and Maurice Tynes, who retired as parliamentary clerk in 2017 after 24 years in the role, expressed alarm yesterday.

“I was in the House for 20-something years and I’ve never seen a speaker, FNM or PLP, deliberately set out to attack the public and the media, I’ve never heard of it and it’s unthinkable,” Mr Watson said.

“Somebody got to check him, man, because he’s gone overboard. I don’t understand how somebody in the party - I don’t know who is responsible for the House other than the prime minister - but certainly somebody has to speak with him before he does more damage than he has.

What disturbs me is this is the second or third time he’s done this and clearly nobody in the administration has said anything to SEE PAGE SIX

SUGARY DRINKS BAN FOR ALL SCHOOLS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

A SUGARY drinks ban at government healthcare facilities and public schools will come into effect on December 1, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands. “People are killing themselves,” Dr Sands said bluntly of the rationale behind the ban yesterday.

“We like to juice with nothing on. We like to eat

sweet, savoury, fatty, juicy food. We like to drink liquor. We like to smoke.

We like plenty things which we know ain’t good for us.”

Initially, government considered a sugary drinks tax, but this was trumped by a ban that had been planned for October 1. However, due to Hurricane Dorian’s devastation, the ministry made a decision to delay the restriction. With one in seven of the population suffering from diabetes among

other non-communicable diseases, Dr Sands suggested the ban should have come much sooner as telltale signs of an unhealthy nation are everywhere.

While it may be easy to remove unhealthy drink options from the Ministry of Health and health care facilities, it won’t be as easy to regulate what children in schools drink, Dr Sands said.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education has cut the salaries of approximately 75 teachers from CH Reeves Junior High School and Carlton Francis Primary School, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson.

Mrs Wilson said the union is seeking legal advice on the matter and will “continue to fight for the rights of our members and ensure that their rights are protected”.

“The Ministry of Education used armed police officers to lock out SEE PAGE NINE

Sport HOUSTON: WE HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM

PAGE 2, Thursday, October 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

PINK RIBBONS FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

DIANNA ROLLE, an employee of the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, pins a pink ribbon on Minister Frankie Campbell. Also pictured is Dr Jacinta Higgs, director, Department of Gender and Family Affairs.

Photo: Matt Maura/BIS

STAFF at the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development wore pink ribbons to join in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The pink ribbons had a special twist for ministry employees as they were crocheted by colleague Dianna Rolle to show her support for breast cancer awareness.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual

campaign observed worldwide to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of the disease.

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Frankie A Campbell applauded staff members for efforts to bring increased attention to Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives, while celebrating the advances in medicine towards the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

He said: “The Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, of which the Department of Gender and Family Affairs is a part, is pleased to join with women around the world in celebrating the advances in medicine towards the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

“We salute all of the survivors who are now inspiring others who are facing the similar challenge.

I must pause to ask our men to be supportive for

more than one reason, but mindful of the fact that men too can get breast cancer – even though it is a minute number.”

Mr Campbell said serious illnesses such as cancer can have negative social, psychological, economic and emotional impacts on families as it can affect couple relationships, family life and even friendships. The impacts can be even greater for children.

“Sometimes the illness can bring people/families closer, sometimes it can create distance. Additionally, established roles and daily routines may also be altered for a while. The impact of cancer on a person’s family can depend on things such as, which family member is ill and the age of the children. Responsibility for finances, looking after the children, in addition to a number of other matters that arise as a result of the illness, are areas that also have to be re-assessed,” said Mr Campbell.

DPM TURNQUEST SAYS NEW BUILDINGS WILL NEED ‘PRE-APPROVAL’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

REBUILDING in East Grand Bahama will require “pre-approval” of building plans by the Ministry of Works, according to deputy prime minister Peter Turnquest, stressing that the government has an obligation to ensure the building of “resilient homes”.

The MP for East Grand Bahama told residents at a town meeting on Monday that building codes may need to change in some areas because of habitual flooding. “There is no point in building your home again flat on the ground when you know time after time it floods, he said.

“So, for those homes in particular that have been levelled, they require MOW to approve the plans and to ensure plans include resilient designs,” he said.

He noted the ministry has proposed several designs for homes for two to three bedrooms that they are willing to share with residents.

“They try to make them as inexpensive as possible; they recognise that most people having lost everything do not have a lot of money to spend so they try to make it economical as possible, but still comfortable, safe and secure,” Mr Turnquest said.

“So, you should be hearing more about that in short order in terms of any changes in building codes, building zones, and how the structures ought to be elevated or structured to minimise future damage.”

Most structures in East End were destroyed during the storm. Some structures were swept off their foundation by the surge.

The deputy prime minister said that government has an obligation to ensuring that any rebuilding is done safely and according to building code.

“A lot of failures in the buildings we have seen has been as a result of structures not being built to code. Some of that was old construction and some is new, but we have an obligation to each other and to our families to ensure that any structure is done in a resilient manner and according to building code.

It is important that whatever works is being done it is pre-approved by MOW.” At the same time, Clint Bain, of the Ministry of Works, has warned residents about the proposals being put forth for rebuilding by many international NGOs on the island.

“We want you all to err on the side of caution. We have met with many of them and there are many proposals being put forth for rebuilding,” he said.

He told residents to keep in mind that we live in a hurricane belt, and that whatever proposal is being offered to them must be able to withstand elements faced us every year, in terms of wind and water.

“We have done an excellent job in this country over many years of designing for wind resistance, however, in recent years we have seen that there is this additional component that has reared its ugly head, which is water,” Mr Bain stated.

He explained that water forces and water weight are considerably more than wind.

Mr Bain said that there two agencies that have tried and tested methods for testing and evaluation of new products – the Miami Dade County Product Approval Department and International Code Council Product Approval.

“Our building code (in The Bahamas) has been pretty much a word for word taken from the South Florida Building Code, and that is reason for using their testing procedures; they are looking at weathering, impacts, missile tests, and we want products that would have gone through the testing for who reside in the hurricane belt,” he said.

Mr Bain continued: “There are a lot of stuff being sold around here, right now, so be very careful and come to the MOW, or go to a registered structural engineer and ask their opinion.”

The MOW official stated that the term “modular construction” is being talked about lot, and residents should also be careful about such construction.

“Another term that is thrown around a lot is modular construction; I will say modular construction that is effective in this region has to involve some composition of reinforced concrete. When we have these look-like Lego building blocks, they are just that, and they do not work in this environment.”

On the point of temporary housing for East End residents, Mr Turnquest noted that the dome-styled houses are expected to arrive in another three to four weeks.

The structures, he noted, are suitable for up to two years and are supposed to be able to withstand hurricane forces.

“People can transition out of tents to more comfortable sturdier structures while they work on completing their forever home,” he explained.

Another area of concern, Mr Turnquest addressed was debris removal.

The MP indicated that clean-up contracts have been signed to get the debris moved.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 31, 2019, PAGE 3

Jury rules Carla was ‘murdered’

from page one

had adamantly lobbied for the jury to find that his sister was murdered, was elated at the outcome.

“Oh my gosh, thank you!” he exclaimed to the jurors via Skype. “I couldn’t believe I heard correct!”

According to the evidence, on May 17, 2018, Ms Van Eeden was found hanging from a green and white cellphone lanyard around her neck, which was in turn hanging from a garment hook on the back of the bathroom door.

According to local pathologist Dr Kiko Bridgewater, the lanyard was “double-looped” loosely around her neck.

Ms Van Eeden, formerly a stewardess on a private yacht, checked into the Atlantis resort days prior on May 14. Tanackia Tinker, a front desk employee, checked her in.

She stayed in room 3583 at the Royal Towers.

Dr Liebenberg, who conducted the second of two autopsies on Ms Van Eeden on June 29, 2018, previously asserted Ms Van Eeden’s death was actually the result of ligature strangulation and a “subsequent staging of the body” to “create the impression” she was hanged.

Dr Liebenberg said the young woman also had “numerous” scratches, bruises and abrasions about her body, which were in keeping with a person who had been involved in a “violent struggle”.

In total, Dr Leibenberg cited Ms Van Eeden’s body as having sustained 62 injuries, 58 of which were “unequivocally” found to have occurred either prior to or at the time of her demise.

Dr Liebenberg also said Ms Van Eeden had “drag mark abrasions” on

“large parts” of the rear of her body, as well as an area of bruising to the back of her neck. She surmised that the bruise at the back of Ms Van Eeden’s neck was not consistent with an injury inflicted by hanging, and posited that it could have been inflicted by a “rabbit chop”, a swift, sharp blow to the nape of her neck.

Dr Liebenberg ultimately posited that Ms Van Eeden’s assailant had knocked her out, and once she was limp, utilised a “conveniently available” cellphone lanyard to stage the hanging with minimal difficulty.

Ultimately, Dr Liebenberg said she was “taken aback” and “puzzled” when she discovered that the various injuries she found on Ms Van Eeden’s body were not recorded in the first autopsy report compiled by Dr Bridgewater.

However, Dr Bridgewater subsequently said he was “dumbfounded” at the suggestion from his South African counterpart, and said her assertions were “quite fantastic” because the body he saw days after the incident in question bore no evidence of such a claim.

Instead, Dr Bridgewater said Ms Van Eeden’s body was in “excellent condition” when he conducted the first of two autopsies on the young woman, adding to his “surprise” when he read Dr Liebenberg’s report.

He maintained that Ms Van Eeden died from asphyxia due to hanging, and asserted that whatever Dr Liebenberg observed was likely the result of ‘postmortem artifact’ that “mimics” bruising, which he surmised tricked his colleague into believing Ms Van Eeden was assaulted.

He also shot down Dr Liebenberg’s suggestion of there being some sort of scuffle between Ms Van Eeden and some unknown assailant, as he said he saw no evidence of Ms Van Eeden scraping her neck in a bid to get the ligature off, or even her nails breaking in the process.

American homicide detective John Buhrmaster, a 42-year veteran who was retained by Atlantis to investigate Ms Van Eeden’s death, also disagreed with the suggestion that Ms Van Eeden was involved in some sort of struggle prior to her death.

His conclusions were based mostly, but not entirely, on the surveillance video he examined. He said on May 15, Ms Van Eeden left her room at 10.11am.

At 10.30am, she caught a taxi cab from in front of the hotel. At 11.37am, she returned to her room. She exited her room alone at noon.

At 12.11pm, Ms Van Eeden arrived at an unspecified pool alone. While there, Mr Buhrmaster said

she was served several cocktails, met an unknown couple and had a conversation with them. The majority of the time Ms Van Eeden was at the pool she was on her cellphone, Mr Buhmaster said.

At 4.38pm, she left the pool alone with a drink in her hand. She arrived at her room at 5.11pm. According to Mr Buhmaster, Ms Van Eeden appeared to be slightly impaired as she walked down the hall to her room. Nonetheless, he said from 5.11pm, no one was seen leaving or entering Ms Van Eeden’s room.

At 11.30am the following day, Mr Buhmaster said the mini-bar maid entered the room and exited 19 seconds later. At noon, Rhonda Ranger-Curtis, a housekeeper, entered the room and left 40 seconds later. From that point on, Mr Buhrmaster said no one entered or exited Ms Van Eeden’s room until her body was discovered sometime between midnight and 4.41am on May 17.

Mr Buhrmaster added that based on the crime scene pictures, Ms Van Eeden’s hair was in place.

He said he further verified with the persons who were on the scene that no strands of the young woman’s hair were torn out and strewn on the bathroom floor or anywhere else in the bedroom.

He also said that what Ms Van Eeden was wearing at the time was not

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CARLA van Eeden and, above, the Atlantis resort

torn. He also said none of her nails were broken, but were instead in “pristine” condition.

“I don’t see that there was any violent fight,” he said at the time. “…I don’t see - especially because you would be fighting as an individual for defence - I just don’t see it”.

Nonetheless, Mr Van Eeden, in making his closing submissions to the jury, relied heavily on Dr Leibenberg’s extensive report and testimony, which he asserted was more than enough proof that his sister’s death was “not at her own hands”.

Mr Van Eeden further asserted that it would not have made sense for his younger sister to have taken her own life, because

this was contrary to the sole reason she came to The Bahamas in the first place: to fulfill her childhood dream to swim with the dolphins.

“Consider why my sister would take her own life, just before without realising the dream she has had for so many years to actually swim with and touch dolphins,” Mr Van Eeden said at the time. “As simple and childlike as it is, that’s what it was. She really wanted to swim with the dolphins.”

He added: “Why would she take her own life before realising her dream since she was a little girl? It just doesn’t make sense.”

Attorney Giselle Pyfrom represented Atlantis during the inquest.

PAGE 4, Thursday, October 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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Talk to the teachers, Mr Lloyd THE ongoing dispute between teachers from CH Reeves and Carlton Francis schools and the Ministry of Education has taken another unfortunate turn.

The salaries of 75 teachers are being cut. It’s not a move likely to cool the heated tempers in the dispute.

More than that, as the union points out, teachers have had to be working in less than ideal conditions.

Construction work is still going on at CH Reeves Junior High School, says union president Belinda Wilson, with no water in the school for more than three weeks when school opened in September.

It’s not just the teachers that should be angry about that – but every parent and every child attending the school.

Back in July, Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd said confidently that schools would be ready for the start of term. At the time, Mrs Wilson said she was not optimistic. In this column, we said we would see which of them was right and which of them was wrong – and said if the government was wrong, then perhaps they would do well to listen to Mrs Wilson’s suggestions of ways to stop the mad dash to get schools ready each summer.

Two weeks later, Mr Lloyd was describing CH Reeves as one of the schools in the most serious states of disrepair, but that contractors had assured him the schools would be ready by September 2. Again, Mrs Wilson expressed her doubts. Again, she appears to have been right. Strike two for the minister.

And now teachers at CH Reeves, says Mrs Wilson, are having to work in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Some are having to move from room to room

without a classroom of their own, which is of no help to lesson preparations.

Over at Carlton Francis, teachers say they have sent a list of grievances to Mr Lloyd, but it has gone unattended.

For his part, Mr Lloyd says he is “advised” that there are concerns about classroom space at CH Reeves. He is further “advised” that it has been resolved, and that he is further “advised” that teachers are unhappy about having to float from one classroom to the next. It doesn’t sound as if problems have been resolved if teachers are still left without a classroom.

It is good to know that Mr Lloyd listens to advice, though – so here’s a piece of advice for him. Don’t sit behind a desk and wait for others to tell you what the problems are and whether they have been resolved. Get in your ministerial car, drive down to each school and talk to teachers on the ground.

And reconsider reducing the salary of teachers - if they have been forced to work through unsuitable conditions through no fault of their own but because contractors missed a deadline, then they have given more than what was expected of them. They have adapted to the circumstances around them and tried to deliver what is best for the children they teach.

To cut their pay after that is a slap in the face – it’s no wonder the union is prepared to seek legal advice.

When you talk to teachers in the schools that are affected, really listen to what they say is wrong, and ask yourself if they – and their students -– don’t deserve a little better.

Mrs Wilson has been right twice when your advice has been wrong, Mr Lloyd.

Don’t make it a third strike.

Cruise industry gives little return EDITOR, The Tribune A SUMMER of new foreign direct investment and local investments since July 2017 shows this has been dominated by the cruise industry, a sector which gives very little return as average cruise passenger spend in $70.

We see millions invested in Coco Cay by Royal Caribbean, millions ongoing AFTER House Speaker Halson Moultrie launched a 32-minute attack against the media in the House of Assembly, readers posted their responses on tribune242.com.

Porcupine said: “This man is an affront to all decent people in The Bahamas. To allow him an official voice, is to sanction stupidity, arrogance and adolescent behaviour.

Moultrie’s position as Speaker is a clear indication of our government’s usefulness.”

Bahamianson posted this: “Ok, I am not for muzzling anyone. Is there a law or rule in the HOA? If there is a rule or law, and someone broke it, he or she is wrong.

If someone has a problem with the rule, the people in the House should change the rule, simple.”

Ex-Chamber of Commerce director Roderick Simms urged the government to rapidly “dust off” the National Development

by MSC on old Ocean Cay, millions promised by Disney in Eleuthera and Carnival in Freeport. But, Editor, where is the beef for The Bahamas.

Oy yes, the PM and Minister of Tourism will exclaim ‘we have seven million visitors’ but the meat is only in 1.6 million stay overs.

The Prime Minister and his cabinet hopefully realise the immediate potential

for creating employment of a significant level is in tourism but I don’t think it is in the cruise sector.

Service accommodations is an area Bahamians can get involved with and they should be encouraged.

Established cooperatives should be investing here.

T HIGGINS Nassau October 30, 2019

Plan, prompting Economist to say: “Senior Civil Servants did not like the plan.

Maybe that is why it is not seeing the light of day.”

Proudloudandfnm had this to say: “I have no idea what’s in this plan but if it was done under the PLP just throw it in the garbage . . .”

And there was this post from Sheeprunner12: “Herein lies our problem.

A funded, professionally produced NDP with credible research and statistics . . . thrown to the side for cheap political gimmicks after 2017. And Simms is 100% correct about the old guard civil service with 35+ years of running the departments with their colonial mindset . . . The FNM should have cleaned house

in 2017, but they seem not to appreciate the depth of the malaise in our Government superstructure.”

The story that The Bahamas was concerned about Ebola in Africa promted this comment from Well_mudda_take_sic.

“A single case of Ebola in the Bahamas would be enough to kill what remains of our tourism industry in the wake of Dorian. But neither Minnis nor Sands (both medical doctors) are able to identify the specific tangible steps that have been taken by government to protect the Bahamas from an outbreak of Ebola. World health authorities have failed to contain a major outbreak of this deadly virus to the Republic of Congo and it has now spread to several neighbouring and nearby countries on the African continent.”

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

Minimum wage is a no-brainer EDITOR, The Tribune SPEAKING as an employer, the minimum wage is a no-brainer. If you get more funds in the pockets of working people it not only enriches their lives, it boost the economy. Working people spend their money with the local economy thus generating revenue for the country/Treasury.

People on the political right, wealthy people, will always criticise raising the minimum wage stating it will have an adverse effect on the economy. They will praise tickle-down economics where rich people get huge tax cuts and these

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net extra funds will find their way down to the working class. Unadulterated poppycock and statistically false.

The wealthy are just plain greedy, they want the cake and the cherry on top too.

With regards to politicians anywhere in the world who get tried for corruption - newsflash, nothing every happens to them.

The Establishment looks after its own. Guilt or innocence is irrelevant. Jail time

almost unheard of so expect no different outcome here.

And as regards dorian, people have stated the building regulations should be changed to withstand these monster storms. Not necessary - just enforce the regulations we already have. It has been well reported that the Government Complex and clinic in Marsh Harbour fared undamaged by Dorian’s might. Why? Because they were built well and to code.

Training and education, as always, the key.

THE REALIST Nassau October 23, 2019

Potter’s Cay has much to offer EDITOR, The Tribune

I WAS privileged to host my radio talk show Express Yourself (Global Radio 99.5 FM) at Potter’s Cay Dock a few days ago. During the show the vendors; customers and I discussed many of the issues of concern to themselves and the surrounding areas at that location. I must confess that I was also very surprised by the cleanliness of the environment where the stalls are located, when one considers all of the horror stories which we continuously hear about in media and social platforms.

I met and talked with various executives of The Potter’s Cay Vendors Association and its President, Mr. Bastian. The main concerns were: the lack of proper parking and designated spaces; alleged harassment by police officers from the Paradise Island Police Division;

adequate toilet facilities and ‘bad’ media, especially when there is alleged serious criminal behaviour.

It would also seem that another issue of concern is the ‘hard line’ attitude being displayed by governmental management at Potter’s Cay. During the show I was also able to have a discussion with the Officerin-Charge of the Paradise Island Police Division, a Supt. Rolle, a very well spoken; professional and informed officer. He is definitely a credit to The Royal Bahamas Police Force and should be promoted during the next exercises.

He explained that any number of patrons do not observe the traffic laws and the necessity to keep the roadways at Potter’s Cay, clear and passable, without undue obstructions.

The vendors alleged that the drop off and delivery time was too short. All in

all, there is no reason why the police; the vendors; the Ministry of Transport and the Reverend Gregory Minnis, the Manager at Potter’s Cay should not be able to resolve all of the issues outstanding.

Potter’s Cay is a potential economic engine which will enable vendors to earn good money, would also provide a more enhanced and enjoyable cultural and recreational venue for locals and our valued tourists. The stalls were impressive and the customer service attitudes of staff members were off the chart. I would wish to congratulate successive administration for having the ‘wisdom’ to continuously clean and upgrade both Potter’s Cay and Arawak Cay. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND BODIE, JR Nassau October 27, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 31, 2019, PAGE 5

THREE CHARITIES BENEFIT FROM $1,000 GRANTS

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net GRANTS of $1,000 each were distributed to three non-profit organisations yesterday by the Urban Renewal Commission in recognition of their charitable work within their respective communities.

The three charity organisations were Teen Life Services, Sister to Sister Breast Cancer Support Group and White Dove Martial Arts Institute.

Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell commended each organisation

for their contribution to Bahamian society, saying their work should not go unrecognised.

“Many times, persons who have gone above and beyond are not recognised and shown any appreciation and then we wonder why their good work seems to just dry up. (But), people need to know that what it is they’re doing is having an impact and is recognised and is appreciated,” he said.

“As a ministry, we cannot do it alone. As a government, we cannot do it alone, so I place great

value on partnership…. So, today we’re here to show our appreciation in light of the services and assistance to the three entities.”

The founder of Teen Life Services, Felicia Carey said Urban Renewal’s decision to sponsor her organisation has completely humbled her.

“I am so excited, and I am so humbled because at first glance, when I started talking about young mothers nobody wanted to hear about it. Nobody wanted to touch it. But now, with the global mandate to empower women and

girls, the department of urban renewal has shifted its focus now and understand that there is a need to empower women, girls and mothers in their community,” she said.

Teen Life Services, according to Mrs Carey, focuses on the empowerment and sustainability of young mothers within the Bahamian community.

She added that the donation will help further their efforts to aid young Bahamian mothers in need of help.

Randy Johnson, founder of White Dove Martial

Arts Institute, expressed similar sentiments.

His charity foundation is geared towards training young men and women to become better citizens through the practice of martial arts.

“This cheque will go a long way in assisting me with the programme, so it gives you a good feeling.

It also encourages you to do more to go further with what you’re doing now that you have the backing of Social Services, Urban Renewal and the country,” he said.

Inspired by the work of

these organisations, Mr Campbell implored other Bahamian citizens to share some of their expertise and experiences with less fortunate persons for the betterment of the country. “(For) persons who may be newly retired or who just may have the time to share some of their skills and to share some of their experiences. If you reach one person, you’ve done your duty according to Scripture… But, let’s start with one. Each one reach one and the gratitude’s will heap up at the end of the day,” he said.

Sands announces sugary drinks ban for all schools from page one

This is because not only are these sugary drinks available elsewhere, they’ll be mere feet from public school campuses where private vendors offer a wide variety of sugary and salty food and drink options.

These vendors “prey” on young people to gain profits, the minister said.

“The (lunch vendors) are not the culprits because that’s already a part of their contract,” Dr Sands said.

“The lunch vendors have an explicit specific menu that they are supposed to adhere to. They are not the problem.

“The culprits are the people sitting outside of the gate. The culprit is the Parent Teacher Association who brings doughnuts to sell to raise money and sodas to sell to raise money.

“If you go by any government school on any morning and you look and see what people are selling their response is: ‘We’re trying to make an honest living. We aren’t killing anyone or harming anyone.

Hey, you need to deal with the people who shooting and stabbing and raping and killing.’ “(But) what they are doing is preying on young people.”

“This is a complicated issue,” he continued.

“But the things they sell are sweet, salty, savoury, sugary, because that is what people want and it’s feeding their addiction.

“So once we get that started now it’s impossible to stop.”

As a deterrent to student purchases, Dr Sands said these vendors may be forced to set up substantially further from school campuses.

However, he admitted that the problem will never completely stop.

“What we can do is we can ramp up the educational campaign as well as you make it harder. So if it’s 100 feet (away from the school now) maybe they have to be 200 feet away.

“You will never stop it because this is about trying to push back the tide but we have to push and even if we reduce consumption by five percent or seven percent we are going to save lives.”

The 2019 STEPS Survey revealed that 60 percent of Bahamians add two or more spoons of sugar to tea and coffee; 32 percent eat “sweets” three or more times per week; and 92 percent of Bahamians drink one to three cans of a sugary beverage every single day.

When the survey was released in August, Dr Sands said in a one-year span, the average Bahamian consumes 64 pounds of added or discretionary sugar.

It means that people in the Bahamas consumer more sugar than Americans who consume 52 pounds of sugar every year according to a 2015 US Department of Agriculture study Dr Sands noted this “propensity for sweet” is not matched by the nation’s daily water intake nor fruit and vegetable intake.

Less than 50 percent of Bahamians drink the recommended eight or more glasses of water each day, “although water is readily accessible, relatively affordable and available as no-cost substitutes on many fast food menus,” the health minister noted.

Additionally, only 15 percent of the population eats the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PEOPLE are killing themselves, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands warned yesterday

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

PAGE 6, Thursday, October 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Do it again and Ingraham would fire Speaker’s a**

FORMER FNM deputy prime minister Frank Watson from page one

SPEAKER of the House Halson Moultrie.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

I would advise him that you can call a member of the press to account but I him about it so he must would advise him strongly think he’s doing the right not to overreact like how he thing, but certainly it is out did.” of order.”

Mr Watson said: “The Last year, the official Speaker, of course, is supOpposition brought an posed to keep order in the unsuccessful vote of no House and if somebody confidence motion against in the newspaper business Speaker Moultrie after gets up and does something he attacked Mr Tynes, wrong you reprimand them appeared to knock the but outside of that then he foreign-born status of Mr has no business saying the Davis’ wife and accused things he did, it becomes the Cat Island, Rum Cay a political issue for the and Ragged Island MP of parties to resolve, all he taking advice from “rep- is supposed to do is keep robates and perverts”, a order in the House.” remark observers deemed Mr Tynes said the probhomophobic. lem may be symptomatic Mr Watson said after of a wider issue: the relasuch an attack the prime tive inexperience of House minister in his era would Speakers. He said he have called the Speaker served under three Speakinto a room to have a chat. ers who were also first-time “If he did it again, know- parliamentarians. ing Ingraham, he’d fire his “In our Westminster ass,” he said. “He would’ve system, in the bigger parbeen gone.” liaments, this would never “Moultrie been around happen,” he said. “To politics for ever,” Mr become Speaker of the Watson said, “and this is House is really a process, not the only thing where people are chosen when I see he’s gone awry with. they show some qualities I see the other day he was for knowing the procedures, talking with the Chinese for good temperament and about development and so stuff like that, but in the forth and I think he must bigger parliaments you will be looking for another job, never see a first-time parliahe must not like the job he mentarian become Speaker has.” of the House.”

On September 19, during In a statement yesterday, an official courtesy call the Democratic National with China representa- Alliance said the Speaker tives, Mr Moultrie said he has been “making the headoffered personal recom- lines for the wrong reasons” mendations to the Chinese since the FNM assumed to consider developing office in 2017. the south-east Bahamas “As the head of the to divert population away second arm of governfrom north-western islands. ment, the Speaker holds a Both Mr Watson and Mr pivotal role in our parliaTynes acknowledged the mentary democracy and Speaker’s right to main- ought to uphold the highest tain order and decorum in standard in the discharge the House of Assembly, of his duties,” the DNA including by reprimanding said. “Regrettably, the reporters and members of Speaker has fallen short the public who contravene of the expected decorum, rules. composure and objectivity Mr Tynes said it is not required of his office. Many unheard of for Speakers to Bahamians still recall his call out reporters who vio- blatant attacks on members lated parliamentary rules, of parliament and private demanding they come citizens as he embarked forward when the House on tirades during what has sits and have their error now become his normal addressed in the open. outbursts…It is, however, However, he said: “It the recent attacks on the A1MAIN would have been criticism fourth estate that is alarmspecific to that person and ing and disturbing to the WEDNESDAY Established 1903 that person’s actions. But DNA and the Bahamian this generalised attack on people. The Speaker’s coneveryone and throwing duct is a direct attack on the /7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM mud at everyone is2 4 really media, freedom of the press HIGH 87ºF uncalled for andAnd LOW 77ºF for, especiallyBiggest speech.

This constitutes Best! someone presiding over the an affront on fundamental House of Assembly. When rights and freedoms guarI was there, if the Speaker anteed by our Constitution alerted me that that’s some- –- the supreme law of the thing he would want to do, land.” i’m lovin’ it!

The Tribune

VOLUME:116 No.213, OCTOBER 30TH, 2019

THE P

ALICIA WALLACE: THE MINIMUM WAGE DOESN’T CUT IT

Has someone upset you, Mr Speaker?

Moultrie launches rambling rant on media news reports

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie launched a 32-minute attack against the media in the House of Assembly yesterday, declaring at the start of the sitting that he is prepared to lead reporters to Jesus if they target him.

This comes after he forced a reporter last week to delete a photo taken in the chamber of Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper, who was making a contribution to a debate.

Speaker Moultrie, who said the photo was taken

contrary to House rules, then criticised the quality of the Press.

It is unusual for speakers to use their seat in the chamber to answer critics outside Parliament.

Throughout his polemic, Speaker Moultrie discussed matters without origin in any ongoing parliamentary debate, even referring to Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin’s challenge to Philip “Brave” Davis’ leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party in 2017 as he defended himself.

He said his statements were inspired by a story in Monday’s Tribune about his

HOW The Tribune covered the story earlier this week SEE PAGE SIX

BREA SLIPPED TWICE THEN THEY ATTACKED

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 31, 2019, PAGE 7

New VAT policy to aid Abaco & Grand Bahama

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced a new VAT policy for Abaco and Grand Bahama yesterday to assist with rebuilding efforts.

He was speaking at a town hall meeting on Green Turtle Cay where he also discussed plans to establish the Bahamas National Recovery and Reconstruction Trust Fund, which will be an independent non-political body to help fund home and building repairs. The development of the fund is included in the recently tabled Disaster Reconstruction Authority Bill.

The Office of the Prime Minister said the new VAT relief policy will exempt individuals and businesses from paying VAT on a range of items, including “unprepared food of all types, water, fruit and vegetable juice, clothes, shoes, hats, belts, stockings, gloves, scarves, cleaning supplies, beds and bedding

material, hardware supplies, building supplies, landscaping supplies, pest control supplies, electrical fixtures and materials, electrical generators, farming equipment and supplies, fishing equipment and supplies, manufacturing equipment, cots, protective and safety gear, household furniture, furnishings and appliances, solar panels, mosquito netting, plumbing fixtures and materials, office supplies and equipment, tents, air-conditioning units and other equipment”.

The OPM said VAT on fuel for generators in areas without electricity will also be VAT free. An official said additional details will be announced. The new VAT policy will be in effect until June 2020.

Earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest noted that the country would lose about $200m in revenue because of the storm, adding that the two islands represented between 15-20 percent of the country’s GDP. Last week Mr Turnquest

foreshadowed efforts to amend the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, 2014 to to permit the above exemptions.

In the aftermath of the storm, the government announced a series of measures to help residents, including extending a VAT credit of up to 50 percent on the sale of real property if the sale is immediately followed by material construction on or enhancement to the property. To maintain the credit, the qualifying activity has to commence within 75 days of the close of the sale and has to be followed through to scheduled completion or the full VAT becomes payable.

The government has also implemented a 90-day exigency order for the tax free import of medicine, medical supplies, building materials, bedding materials, mosquito netting, electrical and plumbing fixtures and materials, household furniture, furnishings, appliances, electrical generators and other items. This PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis talks to residents at Green Turtle Bay on Abaco order is in effect until December about setting up VAT-Free Zones until June 2020 to help stimulate the economic 31, 2019. recovery of areas impacted by Hurricane Dorian

SMITHSONIAN TO HELP RECOVER DAMAGED ARTEFACTS

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas has linked up with the Smithsonian Institute to rescue and recover items of cultural importance on Abaco and Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian.

The National Museum of the Bahamas and Antiquities Monuments & Museums Corporation has partnered with the Smithsonian for the effort. During a press conference on Tuesday, AMMC acting director

Kim Outten noted that they will be visiting the storm-affected islands this week to assess the museums and other historical landmarks affected by the storm.

“The most important concerns initially would’ve been life and property, but now we’re looking at our cultural resources because in the end, in some instances, it’s the only thing that we do have left and those oral traditions and those stories that come out of this, the libraries that we will preserve, the

collections that we stabilise, we hope will be able to tell their stories,” she said.

The powerful Category Five storm made landfall in Abaco and Grand Bahama early last month, decimating a number of homes and businesses.

And according to Mrs Outten, the storm also destroyed one of their offices in Marsh Harbour, which housed many of their historical collections.

“Our office was totally destroyed during the hurricane. But, we’re very happy to say that the collections

were saved, and they are presently being stabilised and fumigated through a partnership with the University of Florida in Gainesville,” she added.

Mrs Outten thanked the Smithsonian for its willingness to assist with the recovery efforts of cultural resources on the stormaffected islands.

Dr Richard Kurin, who is a member of the Smithsonian team, said the institution was pleased to offer its help after hearing about the devastation wrought by Dorian.

Over the years, the Smithsonian has assisted with a number of international efforts throughout the world to conserve cultural heritage in the wake of natural disasters.

In fact, in 2010, their team led the Haiti cultural recovery after the earthquake hit. Additionally, they also worked in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands after Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

Dr Kurin said after conducting initial assessments on Abaco and Grand Bahama, they will then provide recommendations and

develop plans to help with the restoration process.

“We have a wide ride range of conservation skills that could help with the collections here in (The Bahamas) but we also can help tie into other resources of US government and the cultural community,” he noted.

“But, we really need understand this situation carefully and come up with real plans and that is what we look forward to doing, working with the AMMC… But, this is the beginning of a process.”

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PAGE 8, Thursday, October 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

ALL EYES ON THE SENATE AS THE IMPEACHMENT CLOCK STARTS TICKING THE American House of Representatives will almost certainly today approve the impeachment investigation against President Donald Trump, as support for the effort continues to build among American voters and therefore, also among politicians desirous of remaining in office in Washington.

Impeachment will thus become official and will very likely produce by the end of this year an indictment that will be referred

to a trial of the president in the Senate, presided over by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Could the Senate possibly convict Trump? To do so, two-thirds of senators would have to vote to convict the president, necessitating the support of 20 GOP senators.

While this seems highly improbable at this point, there’s one thing that could make it inevitable.

That’s the American voter, who sent them all to Washington in the

first place. If voters register their support for removing Trump in unmistakable fashion, all those Republican senators who have piously and cravenly scoffed at the House impeachment effort will change their tune.

They’ll jump off Trump’s sinking ship as fast as they can – presuming they see it in their best re-election interests to do so. Trump has been a most useful tool for Washington conservative politicians in

pursuing and implementing longtime agendas involving appointing reliable conservatives to federal judgeships, abortion, immigration, tax breaks for the rich and climate change denial.

Trump has played along and so have the professional politicians of the right. He has delivered for them, and at the same time taken over the Republican rank and file voters, nearly 90 percent of whom still think he’s doing a great

job. So while they cluck and tut behind their hands in conversation with reporters over Trump’s bad manners and general gracelessness, these politicians know Trump is good for them and their re-election prospects.

So far. But if the impeachment inquiry changes enough voter minds and that situation changes, the Republicans in the Senate will abandon Trump in a New York minute.

STATESIDE with Charlie Harper

Robert Evans, good looking but still knew how to win YOU may have heard the phrase “she (or he) is too good looking to be taken seriously”. There’s a reason a truism like that persists: it can be true. The kids who are blessed with good looks often glide through high school and even college without seeming to suffer a single setback. They are the kings and queens of the prom, the leaders of the school sports teams, the head cheerleaders.

When these good-looking men and women enter the work force, they can continue to benefit from the appearance their parents gifted to them. But if they aspire to be taken seriously in challenging work assignments, or as they rise through the ranks in their chosen professions, their looks can work against them. Gossip can stigmatise women (and, nowadays, men too) for their looks: maybe their rise was due to their appearance, rather than their ability.

Case in point: Robert Evans, a movie business legend who died Saturday

at age 89 in Beverly Hills.

Evans was known as being almost too pretty when he arrived in Hollywood as a salesman for his brother Charles’ Evan Picone women’s clothing line.

Legend has it that Evans caught the eye of Hollywood powerhouse actress Norma Shearer by jumping fully clothed into a Beverly Hills swimming pool. One thing led to another, and he was cast in the Daryl F. Zanuck movie production of Ernest Hemingway’s most acclaimed book, The Sun Also Rises.

Hemingway reportedly objected to Evans’ casting as the bullfighter in the movie. Zanuck famously replied: “The kid stays in the picture.” Old-time movie fans may well recall Evans in the film. He almost was too pretty.

But good looks aren’t a problem for an actor in Hollywood. Evans’ looks became an issue when, in 1966, he was appointed to head Paramount Studios after the production company was purchased by

THIS 1974 photo shows Robert Evans talking about his film “Chinatown” in his office in Beverly Hills Gulf and Western, a diversified holding company whose redesigned former headquarters building in New York City is now the Trump International Hotel at One Central Park West.

Pundits and columnists pilloried Evans for his looks and apparent lack of qualifications for his huge new job at Paramount. But he would go on to produce a list of phenomenally successful and critically acclaimed films, headed by

the 1974 release Chinatown with Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, a movie many critics still regard as one of the finest ever made.

You may have heard of a few of Evans’ other hits: The Godfather series; Rosemary’s Baby; Serpico; Love Story; Harold and Maude and True Grit.

Evans was married and divorced seven times.

One of his wives was the luminescent actress Ali Macgraw. After she and

Evans divorced, Macgraw married Steve McQueen, one of the biggest movie stars of his or any era.

Evans also reputedly had mob ties, fought a longterm cocaine addiction and saw his career go in and out of eclipse more than once.

But he persevered and prevailed, producing his last moneymaking hit, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, at age 73. The movie grossed $250 million.

Evans was known for

recognising and giving opportunities to writers and directors not yet established in Hollywood. The Godfather’s godfather, Francis Ford Coppola, was only one of them.

“We went for original (in our movies),” he said. “We fell on our butts on some of them. But we touched on magic.” Evans told the New York Times three years ago: “I’ve always been a gambler. Craps. Poker.

Pictures.”

VIRGINIAN VOTERS WILL GIVE PUNDITS SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT THE American pundit class - and most voters - are understandably focused on the 2020 general election.

But on Tuesday, Virginians will go to the polls to elect their state senators and

representatives in the House of Delegates. How this vote turns out will be closely watched all over the country.

Republicans presently hold razor-thin majorities in both the upper and lower

houses of the state government. But on Tuesday, all 100 seats in the House of Delegates and 40 Senate seats are up for grabs.

Recent polling shows the Democrats with a seven

percent edge among likely voters. If form prevails, the Dems will control all three statewide offices (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general), both US Senate seats and both houses of the legislature.

This is happening in the Commonwealth of Virginia which was, after all, the capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. In recent decades,

the naturally conservative southern and western parts of the state have been electorally overwhelmed by the sprawling Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC, which trend strongly toward the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has poured over $1 million into Tuesday’s legislative elections. Polling shows the number one issue for

voters is actually gun policy.

Donald Trump is significantly unpopular in most of Virginia.

It all adds up to this: If the Democrats don’t rack up a fairly big win next week, Trump and his loyal GOP allies and supporters have reason for hope. Otherwise, the vote will simply add fuel to the fire consuming the current American administration.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 31, 2019, PAGE 9

TEACHERS’ FURY AS 75 SEE THEIR PAY CUT from page one

teachers at Carlton Francis Primary School for the eighth week now. Teachers at CH Reeves are working in unsanitary, unsafe working conditions. Water was not on in the school for more than three weeks when school opened in September,” she said.

“Construction work is still going on. The Ministry of Education has not worked in good faith and taking away teachers’ salaries during this time of hardship is nothing short of heartless. Acting director Marcellus Taylor refuses to communicate with the union and only sends

paper down to principals who carry out misguided, illegal acts that are in breach of the industrial agreement and the law.”

She added: “Change must come to the Ministry of Education and soon if we are to educate our children and improve the educational system.”

Last week, Mrs Wilson accused Education Minister Jeff Lloyd of not being forthcoming about the issues at Carlton Francis Primary School and CH Reeves Junior High.

Speaking to reporters outside Church of God of Prophecy on Friday, Mrs Wilson said Mr Lloyd is disingenuous, adding BUT

followed all the steps that were laid out in the union’s grievance procedures. She said the minister needs to “speak the truth”.

She said: “When we talked about Carlton Francis School, I can produce for you documentation from October 2017 with the list of grievances and concerns that the teachers would have encountered with the principal and even other matters pertaining to their teaching, learning and the campus.

“Mr Lloyd is quite aware that we would have written not only to Mr Lloyd, the minister of education, prior to Mr Lloyd even coming we have documentation

to the former permanent secretary, to the former director. And since 2017 to present we’ve written to the acting director, Marcellus Taylor, to the permanent secretary, Lorraine Armbrister, to the honourable minister, Jeffrey Lloyd.”

Mrs Wilson said her union is prepared to take legal steps to have the issues at the Carlton Francis Primary School resolved. The teachers there have been agitating for the school’s principal to be removed.

Outside Cabinet last week, Mr Lloyd expressed his disappointment in teachers at CH Reeves for continued protests.

Speaking to reporters,

Mr Lloyd said his ministry is seeking to resolve whatever outstanding issues the teachers have.

He said: “I’m advised that there were concerns with regards to classroom space. That matter, I’m advised, has been resolved.

I was also advised that teachers were unhappy about having to float. . . from one classroom to the next. I understand that matter too is being resolved.

The principal, along with the district superintendent and our main offices, are seeking to address that.”

He added that he is “painfully disappointed” that the processes outlined for disagreements between

Judge orders new NIB strike vote to be held

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A NEW strike vote will be held by National Insurance Board workers tomorrow after a Supreme Court judge yesterday overturned Director of Labour John Pinder’s decision to invalidate a previous vote.

Justice Indra Charles, by way of consent between the parties, reversed Mr Pinder’s October 26 decision to nullify the Union of Public Officers (UPO) strike vote because of procedural missteps.

A new poll will be conducted tomorrow between 10am and 4pm, according to Trade Union Congress (TUC) president Obie Ferguson, who represented NIB employees yesterday.

The strike poll was originally scheduled for last Friday at 10am, but was cancelled the day before.

At the time, Mr Pinder was said to have deemed the strike vote invalid because there were some technical deficiencies with the application.

However, workers voted in the poll on Friday, unaware it was not deemed valid.

According to UPO president Ghion Roach, it was unanimously in favour of a strike.

Due to the invalidation of the strike vote however, NIB employees went on “work to rule”, meaning they will not go beyond their job descriptions in terms of the tasks they perform.

The union consequently launched legal action on

the matter, on the basis that Mr Pinder, and ultimately Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, acted “ultra vires” and breached the Industrial Relations Act (IRA).

The union further sought an order of mandamus that would compel the minister to conduct the strike poll. It was successful in its bid yesterday, with Mr Ferguson calling Justice Charles’ ruling a “big day” for the union, its executives and the line staff at NIB. “The Act is very clear,” he said. “The minister has no statutory powers outside of what the Act provides.

He is required by law to attend or to have someone to attend to supervise the poll. Once the union gives him the date, and gives him the time, and gives him the place, he is indeed required to do it.

“The minister certified that on the 21st of October.

He can’t cancel a poll verbally or by conversation.

The Act doesn’t provide for that. The Act doesn’t provide for the Registrar or the director to do what he did.

The Court of Appeal said in no uncertain terms, that the function of the Registrar is administrative. He has no legal authority to change anything.

Mr Ferguson added: “The internal affairs of the union is for the union. It’s not for the minister, it’s not for the director. Their job is statutory. And if they attempt to exceed their authority, the court of law will deal with that situation.

“So the poll is on, the workers are going to vote

overwhelmingly to demonstrate their position, and I’m certain the president and his executives will do what trade union leaders tend to do when people fail to negotiate in good faith.”

Mr Roach, meanwhile, said the union’s members stationed in various Family Islands will also be able to vote tomorrow.

“They did not get to vote based on the instructions of the director of labour, however the court ordered that the poll will be conducted, so those members that did not get a chance to vote will get to vote on Friday,” Mr Roach said. “So we’ll continue with what we’ve started, and I’m sure the vote will still be a resounding ‘yes’.”

Last week, NIB employees protested after negotiations for a new industrial agreement failed. Mr Roach said they walked off the job because the union wanted to send a message.

On Sunday, NIB called on the Union of Public Officers to de-escalate its issues to reach an amicable solution that won’t disrupt the pension and other benefit payments to residents who rely on NIB. The agency said it will continue to cooperate in good faith with its staff union to assist the Ministry of the Public Service and National Insurance to conclude negotiations on a new industrial agreement in an environment where the board has to improve its efficiency targets and better manage administrative costs.

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LAST week’s ballot was initially called invalid

union members and the Ministry of Education were not followed in this case.

Mr Lloyd said if the industrial agreement in question is no longer serving its purpose, all parties need to sit down and come to a new agreement.

“This is deeply troubling; it is troubling because, one, we have an agreement.

That agreement should be respected, if that agreement and its terms no longer serve the purpose for which it was originally intended and it does not serve those purposes today, they’re adults, we are reasonable, intelligent and smart people,” he said.

Editorial View - Page 4

PAGE 10, Thursday, October 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

RCL Mariner of the Seas hosted The Bahamas National Feeding Network for a day of events.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

BFN ready to make 13,000 meals a week

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) are preparing and distributing over 13,000 meals a week to help those affected by Hurricane Dorian. Phillip Smith,

BFN executive director, told reporters on the sidelines of a Royal Caribbean tour yesterday that usually the BFN would cook and distribute about 5,500 hot meals a week.

“We cook on Sunday and Thursday; we prep on Wednesday and Saturday.

Normally we are cooking 5,500 meals per week but that has gone up slightly because of the number of persons who have moved to Nassau so now that number has gone to 6,500 per week,” Mr Smith said.

He said that number did not include an extra 7,200 meals being cooked for evacuees, so he said “we are over 13,000 meals per week right now in Nassau”.

He added: “Sunday, for example, we do about almost 4,000 meals so we prep on Saturday. They would come about 4am and they are cleaning chicken… over 40 cases of chicken, that goes until 3pm and a number of them come back at 10pm to begin the

cooking. A lot of them (the volunteers) are on their feet from 10pm straight through until 3pm the following day.”

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line gave the volunteers from the Bahamas Feeding Network a tour of the Mariner of the Seas yesterday along with lunch and a funfilled day on board the ship.

This was a reward for the volunteers who participated in preparing meals for storm evacuees and the less fortunate.

Mr Smith said there were about 77 volunteers on board the ship yesterday.

“They are just absolutely incredible. The amount of work they do, and it all comes from the heart.

There’s no pay. It’s just

absolutely amazing that people can be so motivated without money. Whenever we have the opportunity to show our appreciation for that enthusiasm and volunteerism, we take that opportunity to show that,” he said.

“We wanted to show them appreciation, so they know that they are appreciated. We thank a whole lot of them, and they are truly my family. We are truly a family and I love them. We do everything together and we love one another.”

He added: “(The president of Royal Caribbean) purchased all the food that we cooked for the entire year which was amazing. Just recently they sent us a 40ft container of

different meat, so we don’t have to buy meat for the rest of the year. “ Mariner of the Seas Captain Aris Medina said Royal Caribbean had a long-standing history of friendship and partnership with The Bahamas.

He said: “We are very loyal to our guests, crew and all the amazing places that we visit. For us, it was very important to immediately activate ourselves and our team to provide with assisting which was so needed. We are very proud of that. We could not do it on our own obviously with the Bahamas Feeding Network providing us with volunteers to help in delivering thousands of hot meals.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 31, 2019, PAGE 11

CHILE SCRAPS CLIMATE SUMMIT AMID PROTESTS

INFECTED TOE STOPS R. KELLY GOING TO COURT CHICAGO Associated Press R. KELLY’S lawyer has told a federal judge that an infected toe prevented the R&B star from attending a hearing in his child pornography case in Chicago. Kelly is detained at a jail two blocks from the courthouse and had been expected to appear at Wednesday’s status hearing.

But defenCe lawyer Steve Greenberg said one of Kelly’s toenails had to be removed as treatment and Kelly worried someone might trample on his toe as he was escorted to and from court. During the fiveminute hearing, Judge Harry Leinenweber said he’d rule later on motions to dismiss some charges and reconsider bond for the 52-year-old.

SANTIAGO, Chile Associated Press

R. Kelly at an earlier court hearing

Democrats set stage for impeachment approval WASHINGTON Associated Press DEMOCRATS set the stage yesterday for certain House approval of the ground rules lawmakers will use when they consider impeaching President Donald Trump as the chamber braced for its first showdown over the inquiry.

There was no doubt that the Democratic-controlled body would approve the eight pages of procedures today, with each side likely to lose a handful of defectors, if any. “As much as this president flaunts the Constitution, we are going to protect it,” House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern, D-Mass., said as his panel debated the procedures.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told The Associated Press that the package creates “much more of a politically closed system than an open system.”

That echoed Republican complaints that the Democratic-run process has been secretive and tilted against them. Democrats say their plan follows how impeachment efforts against

Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton were run.

The investigation is focused on Trump’s efforts to push Ukraine to investigate his Democratic political opponents by withholding military aid and an Oval Office meeting craved by the country’s new president.

It is likely to take weeks or more before the House votes on whether to actually impeach Trump. If the House impeaches Trump, the Senate would hold a trial to decide whether to remove him from office.

Both parties’ leaders were rounding up votes as Thursday’s roll call approached, with each side eager to come as close to unanimity as possible.

Republicans said a solid GOP “no” vote would signal to the Senate that the Democratic push is a partisan crusade against a president they have never liked. McCarthy, R-Calif., said he’s unaware of any Republican even “leaning toward voting for it.”

Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., a moderate who some thought might be open to backing the Democratic rules, said he would

WILDFIRES THREATEN THOUSANDS OF HOMES

RESIDENTS fight the fires in California yesterday SIMI VALLEY, California Associated Press A WIND-WHIPPED outbreak of wildfires outside Los Angeles threatened thousands of homes and horse ranches yesterday, forced the evacuation of elderly patients in wheelchairs and narrowly bypassed the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, protected in part by a buffer zone chewed by goats.

The onslaught came as both ends of the state struggled with blazes, dangerously windy weather and deliberate blackouts.

The brush fire near the Reagan library erupted before dawn between the cities of Simi Valley and Moorpark, north of Los Angeles, and exploded to more than 1,300 acres, Ventura County officials said.

About 7,000 homes, or around 26,000 people, were ordered to evacuate, authorities said.

“The fire outflanked us very rapidly today, pushed by those 40 to 50 mph winds,” with gusts up 65 mph, fire incident commander Chad Cook said.

Library spokeswoman Melissa Giller said around midmorning that the hilltop museum in Simi Valley was not damaged.

She said that the flames came within about 30 yards of the property but that it was protected by aircraft dropping water and by a firebreak, a zone along the perimeter that had been cleared of brush by goats.

Hundreds of goats are brought in each year to eat away vegetation that could fuel wildfires on the 300acre grounds, Giller said.

PRESIDENT TRUMP oppose them. He complained about the secrecy that Democrats have used and said he had not been pressured by GOP leaders or Trump, with whom he had a drink at a Republican fundraiser Tuesday night.

“You really can’t roll back

the clock” from the time the investigation began last month, Upton said.

Democrats were also hoping to demonstrate solidarity from their most liberal elements to their most moderate members. They argued that GOP cohesion against the measure would show that Republicans are blindly defending Trump, whatever facts emerge.

“It will show the other party has become the party of Trump. It’s really not the Republican Party any longer,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich.

Democrats’ chief vote counter, Rep. James

Clyburn of South Carolina, said he believed “less than half a dozen” from his party would oppose the package. One Democrat whose vote was unclear, New York freshman Rep. Anthony Brindisi, said he’d not been pressured by party leaders to back the measure and said, “This is a decision I have to make.”

Republicans said they’d use the vote to target freshman Democrats and those from districts Trump carried in 2016. They said they would contrast their support for the rules with campaign promises to focus on issues voters want to address, not on impeaching Trump.

CHILEAN President Sebastián Piñera said yesterday that he is cancelling two major international summits so he can respond to protracted nationwide protests over economic inequality that have left more than a dozen people dead, hundreds injured and businesses and infrastructure damaged.

The decision to call off the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and UN global climate gatherings, planned for November and December, respectively, dealt a major blow to Chile’s image as a regional oasis of stability and economic development.

Piñera said he was forced to cancel both events due to the chaos unleashed by 12 days of protests. Demonstrators are demanding greater economic equality and better public services in a country long seen as an economic success story. Shops have been vandalised and buildings set on fire, shutting down numerous subway stations.

The situation had stabilised somewhat by midday yesterday: Except for the presence of a few hundred protesters, the streets of the capital, Santiago, were mostly quiet, with no reports of vandalism.

“This has been a very difficult decision that causes us great pain,” Piñera said in a televised address. “A president always has to put the needs of his countrymen first.”

Trade and climate negotiators scrambled to find new locations for their summits, aimed at resolving tariffrelated conflicts between China and the U.S. and finalizing countries’ climate rules in advance of a bigger summit next year during which governments will be asked to commit to new emissions limits.

PAGE 12, Thursday, October 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Harold Herman Hoffer June 19,1927 to October 23, 2019 Harold Herman Hoffer was born June 19, 1927 in Poland and immigrated to Nassau, Bahamas in 1928 with his mother Sylvia and sister Peggy. His uncles Rubin and Jack Bott arrived in Nassau several years prior. He grew up without a father as his father Abraham Hoffer who had emigrated originally with him, got caught up in WW11 in Europe and perished in the Holocaust.

He was educated in Nassau, attending and graduating from Queen’s College.

Growing up here, he was an excellent sailor and swimmer qualifying for the Olympics in the butterfly stroke but was passed by because of his Jewish background and Polish decent. He enjoyed chasing turtles for the tourists at the British Colonial Hotel pool for change as a teen. After high school, he along with his mother Sylvia Freimark opened a dry goods store on East Bay street known as Freimark and Hoffer which later became Hoffer & Sons.

Harold married Charlotte Bernstein on February 12, 1950 and had five children. They are Aileen, Diane, Steven, Norman and Edward.

During his adult life he was a very successful businessman building several buildings on Bay Street and operating Hoffer & Sons, The Columbus Hotel (1956), Nassau Arcade (shops and apartments 1960) and The West Bay Shopping Centre on Cable Beach. He was well known among all Bahamians as a fair man and welcomed all regardless of race to his store at a time of open segregation. He purchased his first car from the now infamous Count Alfred de Marigny.

Mr. Hoffer was proud of his Jewish heritage at a time when antisemitism was on the rise. He was the founding member and president of the first Jewish Congregation in the Bahamas known as the Nassau Hebrew Congregation. He gave them a store front in his arcade and funded it for many years.

He was very involved in the community becoming president of the Lions Club and a member of the Royal Victoria Branch of the Masonic Lodge.

He was predeceased by his wife Charlotte and grandsons Ariel and Randy Hoffer and leaves behind his partner of many years Wenche Stensby, five children and their spouses Aileen Hoffer, Diane Hoffer (Joseph Hawlik), Steven Hoffer (Julie Hoffer), Norman Hoffer (Helene Nadeau Hoffer), Edward Hoffer (Deborah Hoffer) along with thirteen grandchildren Justin, Benjamin, Samuel, Eli, Emily, Joshua, Elizabeth, Aaron and Carl Hoffer, Matthew, Michael, Kevin and Carson HofferHawlik, and two great grandchildren Ryan and Lainie Hoffer.

As per his wishes, he was buried in a private funeral on Sunday October 27, 2019 in the Jewish Cemetery. Donations in his honor can be made to The Ranfurly Home for Children.

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’