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Volume: 112 No.229

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016

PRICE - $1 (Abaco / Grand Bahama $1.50) The Tribune

Lift off for hip hop artist

Inside Weekend

Flowers: Too many numbers houses

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Weekend

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Music, page 13

TWO DEAD, THREE INJURED IN GRAND BAHAMA SHOOTING

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TWO persons are dead and three others were injured in a shooting on Thursday in the quiet and peaceful community of McLeans Town, East Grand Bahama.

Although police have not confirmed the identity of the deceased SEE PAGE SIX

FML head says gaming WOMAN JAILED FOR 18 YEARS FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND industry’s loose ends need to be addressed

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A YEAR after the Christie administration issued a provisional licence to eight web shop companies, one pioneer of the gaming industry said there is much to be concerned about, especially the “proliferation” of numbers houses.

This is a common complaint from some Bahamians who feel that too many gaming houses have emerged within the last year.

As the head of FML Group of Companies, Craig Flowers yesterday offered his perspective on the issue, questioning when the government will do more to regulate the problem. He added that the regulations the government has placed

on the sector meant his company has barely got by.

His statements to The Tribune came a day after Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe confirmed that the Gaming Board is finally ready to issue official licences to the eligible web shops, although one company, Asue Draw & Spin, failed to renew its provisional licence and appears to have exited the industry amid rumours of unpaid taxes and fees.

With respect to Mr Flowers’ criticism, Mr Wilchcombe yesterday said steps would be taken to further clamp down on the proliferation of web shops.

For Mr Flowers, the government has not been as responsive on this issue as he expected or would like.

“There is still a lot of SEE PAGE SIX

V ALFRED GRAY SHOULD RESIGN, SAYS FNM MICAL CANDIDATE

IF Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V Alfred Gray had “a shred of honour left” he would resign from his Cabinet post immediately, Free National Movement MICAL candidate Walt Saunders said yesterday.

Mr Gray, the MP for MICAL, has been caught in controversy over his contradictory remarks over a $2.1 billion agri-fisheries proposal that the Bahamas Embassy in China was given the go ahead to discuss with Chinese investors.

Mr Gray has admitted he told newly appointed Bahamas Ambassador to China Paul “Andy” Gomez he could have SEE PAGE SIX

DON’T FORGET!

CLOCKS GO BACK ONE HOUR ON SUNDAY MORNING AT 2AM FOR THE END OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

KATRIONA Gilbert outside court yesterday.

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN who strangled her girlfriend and then lit her bedroom afire in a jealous rage was sentenced yesterday to 18 years in prison as part of a plea deal after she admitted responsibility for her role in a domestic dispute that turned fatal.

Katriona Gilbert, 29, appeared before Justice Bernard Turner where she opted to forgo trial concerning murder and arson charges stemming from the February 23, 2015 discovery of the body of Ariel Lowe of Miller’s Heights.

Gilbert’s lawyer, Tonique Lewis, asked for the charges to be read to her client again and when they were, Gilbert answered “not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.”

The answer drew audible expressions of shock from the back of the Ansbacher courtroom.

Gilbert had made a plea agreement with the Crown in which the initial murder charge was reduced to manslaughter based on the circumstances that led up to the incident. She also pleaded SEE PAGE SEVEN

URBAN RENEWAL PLANS TO RELEASE REPORT ON PAC

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

URBAN Renewal CoChairs Algernon Allen and Cynthia “Mother” Pratt were on the defensive yesterday in the wake of the Public Accounts Committee’s damning report into the programme, with one of them revealing that there were plans underway to produce another report aimed at discrediting the work of the PAC. The PAC’s report, ta-

CO-CHAIRMAN of Urban Renewal Algernon Allan.

bled in the House of Assembly by committee Chairman Hubert Chipman, portrayed the initia-

tive’s co-chairs as “naïve” and confused about their roles and duties. The probe focused on the Urban Renewal Commission’s (URC) Small Homes Repair (SHR) programme.

The report also found that the Small Homes Repair programme was overseen by an unqualified quantity surveyor who admitted to being used to “rubber stamp” completion certificates for unverified construction work.

SEE PAGE SIX

MPS ‘OVERRULED’ URBAN RENEWAL SELECTION PROCESS

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE having its own commission in place to make executive decisions, the Urban Renewal Small Homes Repair initiative was still subject to the influence of members of Parliament who “overruled” the standard process of selecting contractors.

This, according to the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on SHR, presented the opportunity for “victimisation, abuse and corruption.”

In addition, the report noted that the permanent secretary approved several homes for payment in the absence of visu-

al evidence of satisfactory repairs.

These and several other revelations pertaining to the SHR initiative were outlined in the PAC’s report, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday after several delays.

The report noted that Urban Renewal Commission Deputy Director Gregory Butler “indicated that some home repairs and most contractors were recommended by their member of Parliament and Urban Renewal Commission had little ability to overrule the nomination.”

It added: “As a result, the quality and standards of the work can be inconsistent.

This practice gives the opportunity for victimisation, abuse and corruption.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Friday, November 4, 2016

UNFIT SURREY HORSES ‘MAY NOT GO BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN’

THE TRIBUNE

Cabs Board ‘closely monitoring’ health and condition of animals

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE health and condition of surrey horses in New Providence are being closely monitored on a consistent basis, with officials from the Cabs Board yesterday promising that if any of the animals are found to be unfit for work, that horse “may not go back on the road again.”

Dr Winston Davis, a veterinarian at the All Creature’s Animal Clinic and a member of the Cabs Board, the statutory body that regulates the surrey horse industry, said officials are committed to ensuring that surrey horses aren’t “taken advantage of” by horse carriage operators, and that the committee is “putting healthy animals out there and a safe carriage.”

Dr Davis said the Cabs Board has had no major issues with surrey horses over the last five months, and that most, if not all of the surrey horses are currently “pretty sound and are in pretty good shape.” However, Dr Davis encouraged persons who might think a horse is malnourished or happen to observe a weakened horse in action to immediately notify the Cabs Board or the Bahamas Humane Society. Dr Davis’ comments came on the sidelines of the monthly inspection of surrey horses at Fort Charlotte yesterday afternoon.

There has been consistent criticism of the health and physical appearance of the surrey horses operating in New Providence, particularly since the death of a 22-yearold female surrey horse on the corner of Dowdeswell and Christie Streets in November 2012.

Recently, motorists have expressed to The Tribune their concern about the “emaciated” appearance of some surrey horses that, despite their sickly appearance, are still made to haul carriages filled with tourists in the unrelenting Bahamian heat.

Yesterday, however, most of the horses observed by The Tribune seemed to be fit and healthy, something that was affirmed by Dr Davis.

He said most of the horses he and other officials had inspected by the time he was interviewed had passed the group’s “2.5 and higher test,” which he said determines how healthy a horse is on a scale of one to five.

Despite yesterday’s generally positive results, however, Dr Davis said the Cabs Board still takes surrey horse inspections “very seriously.”

Validating his statements, prior to being interviewed, Dr Davis and other officials cautioned the owner of a

VETERINARIAN Winston Davis pictured during the surrey horses inspection along with The Bahamas Humane Society, The Port Department and Road Traffic Department.

PHOTOS: Shawn Hanna

THE CABS Board said they have had no major issues with surrey horses over the last five months.

horse suffering from lameness in its rear right leg to either take the horse off the road and have it treated, or risk having the board take action.

“Any problems with mobility or gait, we address,” Dr Davis told The Tribune. “If the body condition is not up to par, if there are any issues with the parametre that we check, then that horse does not pass, and once that horse does not pass it doesn’t go on the road. After we were to take a horse off the road, that horse has to go through either a Road Traffic inspection if its a surrey, or a veterinarian has to actually check the horses and ensure that the horse is healthy before it is put back on the road.

“So those things are done to ensure that the horse isn’t taken advantage of, and that we’re putting healthy animals out there and a safe carriage.”

In the event a surrey horse fails to pass its inspection, but somehow manages to get back on the road, Dr Davis said officials from the Bahamas Port Department, which is represented on the Cabs

Board, can take a note of the defiant surrey horse operator and refer the individual to the relevant authorities.

“We have members from the Port Department, they’re right there,” he said, referring to the Prince George Dock where the horses are kept during work hours. “So each day they can actually look down, and take a note of which horses are there, which surreys are actually there by the license plates, and if a surrey or a horse is there that’s not supposed to be there, then we’re notified or (Dr Maurice Isaacs) who is the chairman, is notified and repercussions or charges will be levied.

“That horse may not go back on the road again,” Dr Davis said.

“Ban Surrey Horses in The Bahamas,” a group on Facebook, which, as its name suggests, detests the very existence of the surrey horse operation, has constantly drawn attention to the “emaciated” appearance of some surrey horses, often posting pictures of these animals on its page in an attempt to draw attention to the issue.

Last year, in a letter to The Tribune, Denise Howard, a visitor from Virginia, said she and her family were “visibly disturbed” to see “emaciated horses struggling to pull overloaded carriages filled with tourists.” She said the horses were “visibly in pain, very thin and overworked.”

Yesterday, however, Dr Davis explained that horses often lose weight during the summer and regain the lost weight in the winter, which he said might be the primary reason some horses may appear to be “scrawny.”

“The thing is, during a year you will have a gain in weight and you will have a loss in weight, depending on the temperature, depending on the stress that’s on the horse,” he said. “During the summer on average we’ve seen that the horses are losing about 50 pounds. During the winter as it gets a little cooler, we see that they’re putting back on the weight.

It also depends on whether that horse was recently imported or if that horse is going through an illness. If the horse is going through an illness then they will lose weight and that’s something that we will address.

“But if the horse has just gotten to the island, it has to become acclimatised properly to the weather, to the type of food, and all of that will cause a drop in weight.”

He added: “We will not let a horse pass inspection unless it actually has a good body condition, and our body condition is 2 to 2.5 out of 5.

If you’re below that you’re not going on the road. So seeing ribs in a horse, it doesn’t mean that horse is unfit, it doesn’t mean that that horse is sick, it doesn’t mean that that horse is malnourished. It can mean that the horse is going through a cycle of weight gain at the right time.”

Dr Davis also said “froth” around the mouth of a horse is not necessarily an indication of how dehydrated the horse is, but possibly something that is produced due to the horse constantly “chewing on the bit that’s in their mouth.”

Still, Dr Davis encouraged persons to immediately report any sightings of seemingly malnourished and/or lame horses, as he said time-

liness is key in addressing those kinds of issues.

“Those are things that we have to address there and then, because many of the horses that are complained about they come to inspection and I mean they’re looking okay,” he said.

“The horse that we just saw, we had a complaint about him, saying that he looked very scrawny and had swollen legs. But today he presented in good body condition and didn’t have any ailments.

“So it’s something we have to deal with at the point in time if we can. And concerns that the motorists should have would be horses that are unsteady or falling over while they’re walking.”

THE TRIBUNE

FORMER MINISTER SAYS GRAY SHOULD HAVE BEEN UPFRONT WITH THE PEOPLE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Tennyson Wells yesterday said he saw no issue with a controversial $2.1 billion Chinese proposal for Andros, but admonished current Minister V Alfred Gray for not being “upfront with the people.”

“Gray should have been upfront with the people instead of trying to hide it,” Mr Wells told The Tribune when contacted for comment yesterday.

“He should go to the people who are in the industry. Talk with the farmers, fisherman, processors, because we produce seafood now that is being exported to Europe, US, and Canada. So if we can produce more, if it’s there and the fishery is properly managed, I don’t see a problem with it.”

Mr Wells added: “Most of the problems that Gray has been in over the years, is that he just tries to be secretive when it’s unnecessary. Just say what the facts are, and you’ll be much better off.”

The Tribune asked Mr Wells as well as former Cabinet Minister George Smith, whose former portfolios included agriculture and fisheries, to weigh in on the proposal.

“Most of the problems that Gray has been in over the years, is that he just tries to be secretive when it’s unnecessary. Just say what the facts are, and you’ll be much better off.”

Former Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Tennyson Wells Earlier this week it was reported that the Bahamas embassy in China had been given the go ahead by Mr Gray to have discussions with Chinese investors over the proposal.

The proposal projects a $2.1 billion injection into the local economy over ten years through an equal partnership between Bahamians and the People’s Republic of China. According to an earlier report, the proposed partnership will entail the incorporation of 100 companies, with the agricultural products and seafood to be used for local consumption, and exported to China and the United States for sale.

The proposal also reportedly includes the option to lease 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros.

When the news broke, Mr Gray admitted to reporters that he told newly appointed Chinese ambassador Paul Gomez that he could discuss the proposal with “interested investors.”

And while he later called media reports about the proposal utterly “false”, Mr Gray also said on Tuesday that such a plan could be a “good thing” for the country because Bahamians generally “lack interest” in the agriculture industry.

He has been embroiled in controversy ever since.

“I would have thought that Gray would have discussed with his people internally or have some debate on it in the fishing and farming community,” Mr Wells said. “I don’t see nothing wrong with him trying to expand, I think that’s his duty. The only question is how you go about it.”

Meanwhile Mr Smith told The Tribune he was shocked to learn of the proposed partnership given the government’s longstanding policy that the fishing industry, and to an extent the farming industry, was reserved for Bahamians.

“When I first saw that I was a

Friday, November 4, 2016, PAGE 3

little peeved and disappointed,” Mr Smith said.

“I think the ambassador was well intended but obviously he either wasn’t overly familiar with the longstanding policies.”

Mr Smith said that, as the longest serving minister with that portfolio, he understood the public’s gut reaction to the proposal.

“First of all about the use of Bahamian land for farming purposes to raise animals, and I know how Bahamians feel about the fishing industry and every time persons experimented with getting foreign partners it always failed,” Mr Smith said, “because it could never be accepted by the Bahamian people and the industry.”

Mr Smith suggested that Mr Gomez’s focus should be on the end goal of the Chinese investors, which he said was access to the country’s agricultural products and seafood.

“Since what you want is the product to be available to your citizens,” Mr Smith said, “why don’t you think and I’ll try to persuade the government to encourage the establishment of a commercial bank in the Bahamas to give venture capital to Bahamians who want to go into business. You make available to that entity certain monies, the

same amount that you say you want to invest in these joint venture arrangements.

“Some of it you expect to recover over a period of time, that bank ownership could be broad based and established to do these undertakings and empower the Bahamians.The problem with Bahamians in farming is that they are never able to get money necessary to do it.”

For his part, Mr Wells said the potential of farming and fishing industries in the country were seriously underdeveloped, but he noted that the main concern was ownership and how such a partnership would impact operations at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).

Mr Wells said: “What is the purpose of BAMSI if you’re not going to train persons to do what they ought to do?

“I think if they can get $2b injected into that sector of the economy it would be worthwhile, it’s just a question of how they do it. The US was developed through immigration and the Bahamas can be developed along similar lines as long as Bahamians are at the forefront, and in control.”

$2.1BN PROPOSAL ‘CAME FROM AMBASSADOR, NOT CHINESE GOVT’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@ tribunemedia.net

THE $2.1 billion proposal for the development of agriculture and fisheries in Andros was pitched to the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources by the government’s ambassador to China, and not the Chinese government or investors, according to Agriculture and Fisheries Minister V Alfred Gray yesterday.

Insisting that he would not be a “scapegoat,” Mr Gray took steps to further clarify his ministry’s role in the proposal during an appearance on the radio talk show Off Air with host Andrew Burrows.

Mr Gray explained that Bahamas Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Paul “Andy” Gomez had submitted the proposal as an overview of items that he sought clearance from the government to discuss with investors in China.

Discussions “(Mr Gomez’s) remit from me was to discuss it,” Mr Gray said, “and once you discuss it, send me and the government a report to see what you might have concluded by way of your discussions for the government’s consideration.

“The remit that he submitted to me did not come from the Chinese that came from him, subjects he wanted to discuss. I gave permission for him to discuss those things and come back to me in two to

AGRICULTURE and Fisheries Minister V Alfred Gray. three weeks to make rec- the local economy over ommendations, something ten years through an equal to say no or yes to.” partnership between BaMr Gray added: “He has hamians and the People’s not even started his dis- Republic of China. cussions yet, so how can you have a proposal?”

When asked how the draft letter of the proposal was leaked, Mr Gray said: According to an earlier “Mr Ambassador himself report in a local daily, the admitted to the govern- proposed partnership will ment that once he got the entail the incorporation of letter of permission, he 100 companies, with the took it upon himself to agricultural products and talk with Bahamas Na- seafood to be used for lotional Trust, to talk with cal consumption, and exagencies of the govern- ported to China and the ment, to get their bless- United States for sale. ings.

The proposal also report“He told us that he pro- edly includes the option vided the BNT and a few to lease 10,000 acres of other agencies with a copy Crown land in Andros. of my letter but it was no As the social media secret and it’s still no se- firestorm over the potencret. tial implications of such a “The initiatives were deal continued yesterday, Mr Gomez’s ideas and he Mr Gray also took aim wanted to discuss those at The Nassau Guardian, ideas with investors and I which first published the gave that permission.” proposal on Tuesday. He The proposal projects a insisted that the newspa$2.1 billion injection into per was linked to an op-

Companies

position candidate, and charged that he would not be a “scapegoat for their mission.”

“This narrative as it relates to the Chinese is led by politics,” he said, “and if the Free National Movement, including The Nassau Guardian, wants to be honest, this Chinese involvement in our country came at the hands of (former Prime Minister) Hubert Ingraham.”

Mr Gray underscored that it was the previous FNM administration that negotiated for Chinese workers in the Baha Mar deal and gave the Chinese licenses for the rerouting of the airport corridor, and to construct a dock in Abaco.

“The FNM did all of that and you ain’t hear a crack. Now the Progressive Liberal Party can’t talk to them (Chinese investors).

“The Hilton was up for sale. The owners of the Hilton sold it to (the highest bidder), that was a private property, that had nothing to do with the government.

“Now the word Chinese has become so dirty.”

On air yesterday, Mr Gray maintained that any investment in agriculture would be considered with a view to complement efforts to stimulate local, Bahamian-owned production at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) in North Andros.

“At the moment the government of the Bahamas collectively imports almost $900 million,” he said. “We grow about ten per cent of what we eat.

18 ZIKA VIRUS CASES NOW REPORTED

HEALTH officials have seen an increase in the Zika virus, with 18 cases now reported.

The Ministry of Health, on its website, advised that as of October 28, there were 18 confirmed cases of Zika on New Providence.

As of October 3, there were 17 cases.

“All cases sought medical attention after having symptoms suggestive of Zika virus infection,” the ministry noted. “All patients have been treated for associated symptoms and are doing well. Based on the histories received from the cases

it has been determined that there is a mix of travel associated and local transmission.

“The Ministry of Health is intensely monitoring the situation with an active surveillance programme within the Department of Public Health, and in partnership with the Department of Environmental Health is continuing its intense vector control and mosquito management.”

In October, Chief Medical Officer Dr Glen Beneby said since the passage of Hurricane Matthew, he was of the opinion that the number of

persons reporting mosquito bites was less than before.

Dr Beneby attributed this to the storm’s “high winds,” which he surmised might have caused the adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - the virus’ vector - to either “take flight or be blown out of the area.”

The Ministry of Health said anyone who thinks they or a family member has a Zika infection should visit their doctor.

For further information, contact the National Disease Surveillance Unit at 502-4776, 502-4790, 3763809 or 376-4705.

We are a long way from being able to feed ourselves, so if there is a proposal to invest in agriculture or agri-businesses, the policy of the Bahamas for the last 50 years allows for that.”

Friday, 4th November 2016

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PAGE 4, Friday, November 4, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

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New US President must show world leadership DESPITE many naysayers and critics who deride everything American, it is widely accepted that the United States of America is generally a force for good as the undisputed leader of the free world.

Its influence around the globe is pervasive and far-reaching so the result of next week’s presidential election matters greatly to other countries – rich, poor, large and small alike. This includes us here in the Bahamas with our close links to and dependence on our giant neighbour.

The cases made by the two presidential nominees have played out ad nauseam over a long period of campaigning with an emphasis on domestic issues like healthcare, education, gun laws, immigration and financial matters.

This is understandable given that the majority of voters are primarily concerned about the local conditions of their way of life, and these vary hugely within such a vast and dispersed country which is really a continent.

As former President Bill Clinton famously said: “it’s the economy stupid”; but in an increasingly ugly and unpleasant battle between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, personal issues involving accusations of wrongdoing, dishonesty and corruption, as well as the candidates’ temperamental suitability for the top job, have taken centre stage.

Apart from all this, however, polls show that voters are also deeply concerned about law and order and national security.

Faced with the new threat of cyber attacks potentially even more damaging than existing terrorism, the protection and safety of the US homeland depends, all the more importantly, on events beyond its borders in a divided and hostile world which is, arguably, less stable than at any time since the end of the Cold War following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

Until then, nuclear parity provided the deterrent to keep the peace between the two superpowers, though they pursued proxy wars in third world countries - for example, the Angolan civil war in the 1970s in which Cuban troops were also deployed.

Now an incoming US President will be faced not only with the massive problems of ISIS, Syria and Iraq amidst the current chaos in the Middle East but also issues like the nuclear threat from North Korea and Iran (notwithstanding the recent agreement to limit their nuclear arms development), China’s expansionary activity in the South China Sea, the serious effects of a potential collapse of the European Union follow-

ing ‘Brexit’, and chaos in Europe over uncontrolled immigration now erupting into violence on the streets of Paris.

Furthermore, Russia has become significantly more aggressive and interventionist under the rule of President Vladimir Putin. Annexation of Crimea in 2014 was followed by seizure of a slice of Ukraine in support of Russian separatists and then there has been its heavy involvement in the civil war in Syria including carpet-bombing of Aleppo. Most recently, the deployment of Russian forces and heavy armaments up to the borders with the Baltic states has led to a flare-up of tension with the West.

To many, the announcement that British troops will be sent to Estonia early next year as part of a NATO force to deter possible aggression is a worrying development which could lead to serious armed conflict.

In the absence of decisive American leadership, which has been lacking in recent years, the Western alliance remains divided and directionless in the face of growing global tensions. Most observers agree that both presidential candidates are deeply flawed in various ways.

However, of the two, Mrs Clinton, as an experienced former US Senator and Secretary of State, ought to be better placed to provide that required leadership, even though she was part of an Obama administration which failed to do so.

She accuses Mr Trump of being unfit to have a finger on the so-called nuclear button.

But, though lacking steadiness and cool judgment and being widely tarnished, he is more likely to bring strength to a rudderless West in the face of the Russian bear.

However, that said, we continue to believe that Mr Trump is a deeply unsuitable person to be the Republican nominee.

The importance of the US on the global stage cannot be overstated. A new President will be able to deploy enormous power, resources and influence.

How that is done in the coming months and years will be crucial to the fortunes of many around the world, and it will have a major affect on America’s own national security.

Amidst the last throes of a nasty, acrimonious and lengthy election process, a sense of resigned anticipation seems to be the prevailing mood - at least amongst those not directly involved in the battle royal promised on November 8.

The stakes could not be higher.

THOUGHTS ON CHINESE PROPOSAL, THE POINTE GARAGE AND A LOTTERY

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WASN’T it James Catalyn who had the Show - Laughin at Wee self? Well certainly certain occurrences recently qualify under that title.

The Chinese Agriculture and Fishing proposal- surely the Minister knows the Law that the commercial sector of Fisheries even the private fishing is reserved exclusively for Bahamian citizens.

Might be the new Ambassador might be still catching his feet but he should have known. Why didn’t Minister Gray reply to the Ambassador - agriculture we look forward to all proposals but guy nothing goes on fishing. To remind people - remember Sidney Stubbs and his group and the Korean Fishing boats?

The Pointe garage - last month big fanfare with the Prime Minister and entourage, but the garage is still closed.

The night of the official opening seems to have been another one of those PM designer PR events the Prime Minister was hosting a dinner for the resident and

non resident Ambassadors - whispers say he was over an hour late for an event he was hosting!

So can anyone present a Law Graduate to the Bar? The young lady who was presented by none other than the Prime Minister might need to ask the Bar Council to do it all over again as surely you have to be a member of the Bar to present a candidate? Check the roll of the Bahamas Association..... (Mr Christie, a lawyer, is a member of the Bahamas Bar. — Ed).

Lottery - no Editor, we do not need a further social destabilising business to vacuum the little money the poor have to the benefit of a few - Numbers are doing that fine right now. No Lottery, Mr Christie – NO – that is what we told you before, but you deceived us telling us after the referendum that it was not binding.

YNTHIA CLARKE C Nassau, November 2, 2016.

Discouraged waiting for utility repairs EDITOR, The Tribune.

PLEASE allow me some space in your column to discuss the utility repair response in New Providence after the passing of Matthew. I had written previously to note the community spirit and support given by neighbours and friends. I found this to be a needed breath of fresh air.

However, I am now extremely discouraged after waiting patiently for endless utility repairs.

I have not had a working internet and email for months. My service is from Cable Bahamas.

There was an appointment made on October 3rd for a technician to come for the 10th time in as many months for this same issue.

What typically happens is that the technician comes and I get a new modem. This has never solved the problem. Finally in September, my cable was replaced. This also has not solved the problem. Hence the appointment made on October 3rd.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net

I do appreciate that the hurricane put different priorities in line and I sympathize with all those adversely affected.

However, I did not get a service call, when the appointment was made before Matthew. It took over four weeks before a technician was able to come out. Other needs were put before mine.

Again – I understand that the storm created unusual circumstances, but shouldn’t I have been at the top of the list for repairs after Matthew, since I had an appointment before the storm hit?

Cable Bahamas could not comply. It has now been over one month since I scheduled for repairs and I am still not up and running.

Let’s talk telephone now. BaTelCo tells me that I might get my phone repaired next week, but could not say for certain.

Again – this is now over

four weeks without service.

They might get it working on week five. Really?

BPL is being touted as doing a good job getting power restored in a timely manner.

I beg to differ. I did not have power for over 21 days! And then when it was restored, it was spotty at best – on again/off again.

I understand that the task was quite daunting after Matthew passed, but a preparedness plan may have been beneficial to speed up the recovery efforts.

We live in a country that is touted as a first world nation. It’s too bad that the utilities and other services cannot rise to that occasion.

I remain without working telephones, internet, television and have only occasional electricity. Perhaps my expectations are too high. Welcome to the Bahamas!

BT Nassau, October 3, 2016.

SELLING ANDROS TO CHINA EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT IS important for the Bahamian people to register to vote. If we allow Perry Christie to continue as Prime Minister we may not have a Bahamas left in five years.

I was shocked to read the reports in the newspapers this week about a $2.1 billion proposal for an agriculture and fisheries project in Andros with China.

The companies to be created would be joint venture companies between the Government of China and Bahamians.

The newspapers said 10,000 acres of crown land would be involved.

The PLP wants to sell Andros to China. That is clear. We can no longer trust Mr Christie’s government to look out for Bahamians. This proposed deal is an insult to every Bahamian, born

and unborn. If we re-elect the PLP which island will they sell next? Inagua?

Eleuthera? Abaco?

Enough is enough. We as a people must vote Mr Christie’s PLP out if we are to preserve our independent country.

If the PLP stays in power we will become the newest province of China. I’ve only heard Alfred Sears speaking out against this proposed deal.

He could be leader of the opposition of what’s left of the PLP after the election.

Again, Bahamians, please register. We must act in unison to remove a party that Believes in Foreigners First!

MARTHA S GREENE Nassau, October 3, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, November 4, 2016, PAGE 5

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MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS COMMON-LAW WIFE 10 YEARS AGO WILL STAND TRIAL

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A JUDGE ruled yesterday that a man accused of killing his common-law wife will stand trial notwithstanding that a 10-year delay in the case breached his constitutional right to a trial within a reasonable time.

Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs heard a constitutional motion brought by 50-year-old Leo Roderick Johnson last week who is of the view that he should not have to stand trial at this time concerning the August 19, 2006 murder of Ericka Fowler.

Johnson sought a formal declaration from the court that Article 20 (1) of the Constitution had been infringed and asked that the proceedings be stayed permanently.

The grounds for the application were that the pre-

Judge makes ruling on 2006 case sent case is an abuse of the process of the court; that the delay was presumptively prejudicial; that no reasonable explanation was given for the delay and that the applicant had been severely prejudiced in his defence because of the delay.

However, in delivering his ruling on the motion yesterday, Senior Justice Isaacs was of the view that “only one reason has been advanced by the applicant to secure a permanent stay, that is presumptive prejudice due to a long delay.”

“He has suggested that witnesses exist, one in particular, that he has lost touch with, I note (again) that no alibi witness nor any other witness for that matter, has ever been named.

No credible evidence has

been offered to demonstrate that the defence will be impaired,” the judge added.

Johnson is accused of killing 33-year-old Ms Fowler, a mother of five, who was fatally stabbed in the heart by a man with whom she had been in an on/off relationship. Ms Fowler, who was employed at The Tribune as assistant librarian and archivist, was killed in front of her home on Comet Terrace in the Golden Gates area.

At last week’s hearing of Johnson’s constitutional motion, defence lawyer Crystal Rolle relied on the Court of Appeal decision of Cancino Lightbourne vs the Attorney General (2010), which outlines a number of factors for consideration of

future applications for stay of a trial.

Basil Cumberbatch, in response for the Crown, relied on the Court of Appeal decision of Stephen Ronald Stubbs 2013 where the appellate court ruled that there had been a breach of Stubbs’ rights after a 10year delay of trial but said the trial should still proceed.

In his written ruling yesterday, Senior Justice Isaacs noted that the authority case of Lightbourne was not helpful to Johnson due to difference in circumstances of the two cases.

“Lightbourne was discharged by a magistrate presumably because there was not sufficient evidence to commit him to stand trial at the Supreme Court,” the judge said.

“He was then re-arrested and charged a second time on the same evidence.

Lightbourne’s (armed robbery) case was stayed in all

INVESTIGATION INTO ISLAND-WIDE OUTAGE

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AN investigation is underway to determine what caused an island-wide outage in the capital early on Thursday, just hours after Bahamas Power and Light admitted the corporation was experiencing generator challenges.

According to a press release, the power outage occurred just before 5am and by 7am BPL said power was restored to more than 50 per cent of the island.

By 9am, the BPL said power was fully restored.

A few hours before the island-wide outage, BPL also said the company was experiencing generator issues that affected around 50 per cent of customers and lasted around an hour and a half.

BPL said it is still investigating the cause of the outages but speculated that a generator failure at Clifton Pier Power Station triggered the failure of other units at that power station and Blue Hills Power Station.

“Within 30 minutes of total system shutdown, the company had restarted engines and commenced supply restoration to its impacted customers.

“By 7am more than 50 per cent of BPL’s customers had their service restored and before 9am there was 100 per cent restoration,” the release said.

“Company officials are not only investigating this incident but a partial shutdown on Wednesday that resulted in a loss of power to 50 per cent of BPL’s cus-

PAMELA HILL, CEO of Bahamas Power and Light, has said power cuts this year have been more frequent than 2015.

of the circumstances that obtained. In the instance case, there is eye witness evidence of five children born to the applicant and the deceased, and other family members, that saw the applicant drag the deceased from her home, stab her and cut her throat. The deceased died in the street of her injuries.”

The judge then noted the reasons provided by the Crown for the delay, which were “the prevailing conditions of the limited number of trial courts in 2007, the demand for legal services and the supply of legal services in The Bahamas as contributing to the delay.”

“I do not accept that submission given the seven years of inactivity by the Crown. Nevertheless, the burden remains on the defendant to show that a fair trial cannot be had,” the judge said.

“In all of the circumstances and the prevailing

law, the delay in this matter has not been shown to have prejudiced the applicant.

“In the result, the applicant is entitled to a declaration that the delay in bringing him to trial within a reasonable time has breached his right guaranteed by Article 20(1) of the Constitution.

“I find, however, that on a balance of probabilities, a fair trial can be had despite the delay and breach of the applicant’s constitutional right to a trial within a reasonable time. The application for a stay is therefore dismissed,” Senior Justice Isaacs ruled.

The matter is to resume on Monday, November 7, for the start of trial.

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tomers. In both instances, crews were able to quickly restart engines and restore power to impacted customers.

“BPL apologises to its customers and assures them of its ongoing commitment to making significant improvement to reliability both short and long-term.”

Scores of BPL customers expressed their anger and frustration on the frequent power cuts on the company’s Facebook page.

One customer wrote: “Where are the new generators you guys promised?

Are they walking here from Dubai?”

Another wrote: “Why is your service so crappy?

Y’all could do everyone a favour and keep y’all overpriced power bills for crappy service. So sick and tired y’all! We need some competition!”

BPL has been heavily criticised for its inability to curb frequent power outages.

In July, Prime Minister

Perry Christie admitted that the management of BPL failed to adequately prepare for generation challenges this past summer.

However, Mr Christie did not second-guess his government’s decision to hire PowerSecure to manage BPL. The American company took over the state-owned utility provider’s management earlier this year. The move was touted as one that would lower electricity bills and provide a more reliable power supply.

BPL CEO Pamela Hill acknowledged that power cuts this year have been more frequent than 2015, but said BPL should have had the rental generators by the end of the summer to help with reliability.

The generators arrived at the beginning of September but did not come online until the middle of the month because the site was not prepared, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Paul Maynard told The Tribune.

US PRE-CLEARANCE REOPENS IN GRAND BAHAMA AIRPORT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE US pre-clearance service reopened on Thursday morning at the Grand Bahama International Airport nearly four weeks after the passage of Hurricane Matthew.

The resumption of the pre-clearance in Freeport means that those travelling by air to the United States can clear immigration in Grand Bahama again, instead of flying into New Providence.

Pre-clearance services were suspended following the category four storm last month. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Lisa Johnson previously said that when

living conditions on the island improved in the aftermath of the storm, the services of the United States Customs and Border Protection would resume.

When services were suspended, there were fears that they would be discontinued, but Ms Johnson assured Bahamians that there was no intention to stop preclearance in Freeport, and said US officials intend to expand the services at Freeport.

The travel advisory and warning issued on October 19 warning US citizens of conditions in the Bahamas post-Matthew has also been lifted.

The airport’s operating hours of sunrise to sunset remain in effect until further notice.

PAGE 6, Friday, November 4, 2016 FROM PAGE ONE loose ends in the industry that I think the government needs to address,” he said, “particularly whether the government is going to find out whether there will be a moratorium on stores opening up in the country and how many are allowed on the island. Will it be an open door policy that you could put as many stores as you want as it has been in the past?

“There’s a proliferation of stores all over the country and there is no indication that the government will ever put a stop on it.

“Of course, the more stores we open, the more money we have to pay.

“The intent of web shops is to raise funds so perhaps that’s why we’ve heard nothing. There’s nothing in place to stop you from

THE TRIBUNE

FLOWERS: TOO MANY NUMBERS HOUSES

building more web shops.”

Mr Flowers said since provisional licences were awarded to eight companies last year, the number of web shops in the country has “quadrupled,” a statement that appears to contradict Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe’s statements on the matter.

Mr Flowers said he has avoided expanding his company to include additional houses out of fear that the new locations could violate impending zoning regulations and could therefore be shut

TWO DEAD, THREE INJURED IN SHOOTING

down in the future.

This, however, has complicated the company’s business plan.

“We were taking the position that says we are waiting for government to determine how many stores one company can be allowed to operate,” he said.

Though synonymous with gaming in the Bahamas, Mr Flowers said it has been extremely challenging for his company to remain viable while adhering to the various regulations the government has imposed on the sector.

“From FML’s perspective it has been a tremendous challenge,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised that all the applicants do not meet the requirements.

That will indicate the extent of the challenges that was imposed on the operators. We were challenged because we were caught in a position where we had to reproduce an entirely new platform.

That created a setback and we FROM PAGE ONE

POLICE at the scene of the shootings in which two people were killed and three were wounded in McLeans Town, Grand Bahama, on Thursday.

PHOTO: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS day evening.

FROM PAGE ONE Police had recently issued an men, the victims are believed to all points bulletin for three men be two of three men who were – Carlton Hamilton, Carlos Hamwanted by police for questioning ilton, and Shawn Saunders - who in connection with an attempted they believed could help in an murder investigation. investigation into attempted murThe McLean’s Town settle- der. ment - where crime is virtually Saunders turned himself into non-existent - was inundated by the police on Wednesday shortly police officers of the Eastern Dis- after 3pm. Carlton and Carlos trict and a team of investigators in Hamilton had not been located.

Freeport rushed out to the scene, Police investigations are consome 35 miles away. tinuing into the incident.

The bodies of the victims were The shootings mark the 14th discovered in the area of a grave- and 15th homicides on Grand Bayard, Inspector Terecita Pinder hama for the year. told the press.

The killings also brought the Sometime around 1.23pm, po- country’s homicide count to 87 for lice received a call of a double the year, according to The Tribmurder near the McLeans Town une’s records.

Cemetery. Three other persons Anyone with information on who were shot were taken to the this incident or any crime is asked Rand Memorial Hospital. to call the Central Detective Unit Their conditions were not at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers known up to press time on Thurs- anonymously at 328-TIPS.

discussions on the controversial proposal, and has said such an initiative could be a good one for the county. However he has also hit out at the newspaper that reported the story, and called the initial report “utterly false.”

“V Alfred Gray has yet again proven to be an embarrassment to MICAL,” Mr Saunders, a businessman, said in a statement. “Had he a shred of honour left, he would resign his position in Cabinet immediately, particularly in light of the disgrace he has already covered himself in with regard to the recent island administrator on Mayaguana debacle.

At the very least, it would give him time to focus on his long-neglected constituency before he is removed in the next general election.

“This week’s revelations in the newspapers shows that despite denying reports that he gave the go ahead for our ambassador to continue talks with the Chinese about an agricultural and fisheries partnership that would call for the leasing of over 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros, Gray indeed gave the ambassador permission.

“Gray’s display in the House of Assembly (Wednesday) was particularly shameful as he sought to backpedal on his own untruth

CRAIG FLOWERS

barely got by. We wanted to roll out a platform that complied with all the requirements the government put in place. The cost has been astronomical.”

When contacted to respond to Mr Flowers’ concerns of web shop proliferation, Mr Wilchcombe said he shared them as well.

“I share the concern of Mr Flowers but I’m satisfied that we

have made tremendous progress in reducing the number of houses from 600 to around 400,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

“I expect that number to be further reduced as the Gaming Board introduces new measures related to zoning. Since the commencement of the regularisation effort, the staff of the Gaming Board’s Regulatory Compliance Department has performed hundreds of site inspections in an effort to determine the proximity of gaming houses to educational institutions, places of religious worship, residential areas, and other among houses.

“The zoning proposal advanced by the board envisions a transitional approach that takes into consideration the unique constraints associated with imposing a comprehensive zoning scheme upon many long standing game houses locations in an environment that has not been properly zoned.”

As reported by The Tribune yesterday, Mr Wilchcombe said the government will place a moratorium on web shops - presumably halting construction of new ones during this period - although he said details about this have to be determined.

‘V ALFRED GRAY SHOULD RESIGN’ that a legitimate story was ‘utterly false.’ Unfortunately, this is nothing new for those of us in his neglected constituency.

“We in MICAL are well familiar with Mr Gray’s misleading talk, empty promises and hearing his story change over and over again.

He has long been an embarrassment to us all. But not to worry, come the next general election, we will rid MICAL of Mr Gray for good and return our country to sensible, responsible governance.”

Mr Saunders said the public should question why such a proposal was being considered “on the eve of a general election” and only brought to light by the media.

“It is reprehensible that this administration, which came into office on the promise of believing in Bahamians, would be so foolish as to enwrap itself further in the flag of the People’s Republic of China.

“Has this PLP administration lost all confidence in Bahamians as they continue to give away the country to their new Chinese allies? Mr Gray should be well aware that this proposal could destroy the fishing grounds of the country, which is the lifeblood of tens of thousands of Bahamians, including the good people of MICAL.

“The Chinese have already overfished their waters, what do you think will happen to our fishing reserves if this proposal becomes reality? What can this government possibly be thinking?

“This proposal for Andros, which we know is the nesting ground for our fishing industry, could deplete one of our last remaining national assets. Such a proposal by this administration is an affront to the people of The Bahamas and should be rejected in the strongest terms possible.

“The Chinese already control our shipping port in Grand Bahama, they are moving to be the dominate force in our tourism industry with this secret deal on Baha Mar, The Pointe, and the redevelopment of Bay Street, and now they will be taking over our fishing and farming industries.

How much more of this country can this government sell out to the Chinese?

“Under this PLP administration, the Bahamas has gone from a ‘Nation for Sale’ to a nation sold.

The Bahamian people should resist this and all other involvement of Chinese investment in the country before we are colonised once again.”

URBAN RENEWAL PLANS TO RELEASE REPORT ON PAC FROM PAGE ONE The report found that Lisa Tucker and her CCMG Consultants firm met their contractual obligations “mostly in the breach, rather than their observance.”

The government has already drafted a minor-

ity report to counteract the PAC’s scathing review of the SHR programme. This investigation was carried out by Labour Minister Shane Gibson and tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday as well.

Mr Allen, a former Cabi-

net minister, told The Tribune that while he will not go into details about what is taking place behind the scenes, “we will be releasing our own report after we have conferred with the minister and others and that’s as much as I will say

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at this point.”

However, Cynthia “Mother” Pratt took a different position, calling the situation “foolishness” and suggested she should not have to face such scrutiny having dedicated decades to correcting social ills in this country.

She said: “Mr Allen is handling all of the commenting from this side. So I have no comments to make.

I am tired of the foolishness.

I have worked too hard in this country and I will not go down that stream again.

“I have served for too long and I have done the best that I can to serve all people. I am not a politician I am a stateswoman,” she continued.

The PAC report was to be tabled in Parliament on five separate occasions, but it was repeatedly delayed for several reasons.

Upon its tabling on Wednesday, Mr Chipman said the URC was found to be “severely lacking in accountability” coupled with “minimal fiscal safeguards”.

He added that after a series of interviews with URC administrative staff, which

included Mr Allen and Mrs Pratt and the review of documents, both co-chairs were “naïve” and unclear of their roles to properly oversee the programme.

He said it was quite clear that the public had not got value for money and that opportunity for “dishonest dealing, fraud and profiteering abounded.”

In its first report of the 2012 session of Parliament, the PAC found that although the co-chairs were each paid $52,000 per annum for part-time work and provided with separate vehicles, gas allowance, cell phones and offices, their purview was strictly limited to New Providence where it appeared they had no authority to enforce particular guidelines related to the granting of contracts for the SHR programme among other things.

“He (Mr Allen) and his co-chair have no say nor authority and dare not trespass in that part (other islands) of the Bahamas,” the report said as it drew attention to Deputy Director Michelle Reckley’s role in Urban Renewal. She heads the programme in Grand

Bahama and the Family Islands, the report noted.

“Mr Allen confirmed that his authority as co-chair is limited to New Providence.

He testified that this was not a satisfactory arrangement from his perspective and that in his view, the commission should have responsibility for the entire Bahamas,” the report continued.

“Mr Allen confirmed that the practice was to limit the number of repair contracts under the SHR scheme to two projects per contractor to ensure a fair distribution of work among eligible contractors. He indicated that on several occasions the allocation policy was overridden by direct intervention on the part of the Minister of Works and Urban Development (Philip Davis) specifically and other efficiency considerations.

“The PAC found Mr Allen to be by and large forthcoming, however it was obvious that his role is largely ceremonial and public relations orientated rather than acting as a functioning chairman giving the PAC reason to question the value for money received from the co-chairs.”

Regarding Mrs Pratt’s role in Urban Renewal, the PAC said while she should be commended for her decades long commitment to alleviating the plight of the poor, the former deputy prime minister was found to pay little attention to details.

“The PAC found Mrs Pratt to have been naïve in the extreme when it came to her role with URC. It would seem from her testimony that she paid little attention to details, administrative systems, accounting practices, questions of transparency or, any other questions of protocol,” the report said.

In his minority report, Mr Gibson sought to defend both Mr Allen and Mrs Pratt, saying they were well aware of their duties and were wrongly portrayed by the PAC.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, Friday,November November4, 4, 2016, PAGE 7

FROM PAGE ONE “From DD Butler’s testimony, the PAC found that a house could have attracted $9,000 worth of contracts from each of the three sources as well as others totalling $27,000 and still not attract ministerial scrutiny. Clearly the opportunity for abuse is ripe.”

The PAC also said that Urban Renewal Commission Permanent Secretary Diana Lightbourne “admitted that she signed off approval for final payment of several homes without all required documentation on file.”

“In one case she specifically stated that had she seen the photos produced by the auditor general she ‘would never have signed off on’ final payment. Clearly in this case, there was a dereliction of duty resulting in the taxpayer and homeowner not receiving value for money spent on the repairs.

“Several files reviewed showed that contractors for the SHR project were qualified if they had nothing more than a business license and was current with National Insurance. In most cases, the business license was for business other than construction/handyman or maintenance services. No technical proficiency was demanded to repair homes under this project.”

In April 2015, a copy of Auditor General Terrance Bastian’s critical report into Urban Renewal’s SHR programme was leaked to the press and sparked a debate over the management of Urban Renewal. The PAC has used the report for its investigation.

Mr Bastian highlighted a litany of concerns and weaknesses related to the SHR project’s management and

FROM PAGE ONE guilty to arson concerning the destruction of Lowe’s mother’s house.

Gilbert was later sentenced to 18 years for manslaughter and 10 years for arson as stipulated by the plea agreement, however the sentences will run concurrently.

Before sentencing, Lowe’s mother, Adriana Hanna, told Justice Turner that the agreement was “not justice.”

“Whatever the term set out in the agreement, what is clear Ms Gilbert is that you have caused inconsiderable pain,” the judge said to Gilbert before the sentences were imposed.

Gilbert and Lowe, according to the summation of the facts read by prosecutor Darrell Taylor, were in an intimate relationship for three years and they lived together for most of that period prior to Lowe’s death.

On Sunday, February 22, 2015, sometime around 2am, the couple had a physical argument because Gilbert had gone into Lowe’s cellular phone and discovered ongoing conversations between Lowe and other women that contained photos and videos of an intimate nature.

She questioned Lowe about them but the deceased denied any relationship with the women. Her response precipitated another physical argument.

Later that morning between 9am and 10am, another physical argument occurred between the couple at Gilbert’s residence where Gilbert’s mother had to pull her daughter off Lowe.

Lowe left the home and went to her mother’s house in Miller’s Heights. Gilbert went to see Lowe later that day.

The following day, February 23, 2015, sometime between 6.30am and 9am, Gilbert went to visit Lowe who was still at her mother’s residence.

During that visit, there was another physical fight relating to the messages found in Lowe’s phone.

In that fight, Gilbert picked up a cord and wrapped it around Lowe’s neck several times and listened to her choke. Gilbert then got a cigarette lighter and aerosol spray and lit Lowe’s clothes and a mattress on fire before fleeing the house.

Gilbert stopped to a service station to purchase a detergent then continued on her way home with the spray can and lighter in tow. She then discarded the items along Golden Isles Road.

However, she received a call from Lowe’s mother asking Gilbert to check on her house because she had heard from a neighbour that it was on fire and she’d left Lowe asleep.

Gilbert went back to the house, stood outside and observed the burning home.

An autopsy revealed that Lowe died of asphyxiation.

Apology

MPS ‘OVERRULED’ URBAN RENEWAL SELECTION PROCESS expenditure.

His report revealed, for instance, that 11 contractors were paid more than $170,000 for small home repairs that were “not completed or done”.

While this was a troubling finding of the audit, the PAC’s report found a more extreme form of malfeasance when it discovered that abandoned homes were selected for repairs, the report said.

“The PAC discovered that several homes noted by the auditor general as being uninhabitable were in fact assigned to be repaired. The stated guideline for selected home repair assistance mandated that the homes were inhabited, and were owned by the occupant who must be unemployed and indigent, elderly or disabled.

“The PAC found that a house identified in the auditor general’s report on Royal Palm Street in the Centreville constituency was in fact uninhabited and unlivable as it had no windows or doors, yet a new roof was authorised for the home without doors and windows included. “(CCMG Consultants Ltd Quantity Surveyor Lisa Tucker) did believe that it was her job to consider whether this was a sensible use of public money. She felt her remit constrained her to an assessment of whether or not the roof was properly erected.”

Ms Tucker’s conduct throughout the duration of the SHR initiative

led the PAC to conclude that she was “incredibly naïve and obviously unqualified for the task she was contracted to perform.”

“CCMG lacked independence and was directed to approve completion statements for a number of unsatisfactorily completed projects based upon photograph of unverified origin. Site visits were not undertaken on a number of occasions to verify the condition of the properties before work was done, to certify the scope of work to be done, to ascertain the reasonableness of the estimates, the qualification of the contractors to do the work, the financial and documentary fitness to undertake the project or to physically inspect the work upon completion of the documented scope of work (where one existed) to certify completion in accordance with the agreed scope between owner, URC and the contractor.

“As a result of this critical breach in accepted best practice, many projects were completed with dissatisfaction to the property owners. There were also many misunderstandings by home owners as to the scope of works to be completed also resulting in dissatisfaction. Additionally projects, which did not meet the stated guidelines, were completed without regard to the most effective use of public funds.”

The PAC also found that the URC’s filing, accounting and inventory system was “haphazard”

WOMAN JAILED FOR 18 YEARS FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND Justice Turner asked Gilbert if she accepted the facts read by the prosecutor.

“Yes, sir,” said a tearyeyed Gilbert.

Justice Turner said the court would accept her unequivocal plea of guilt to manslaughter and arson and convicted her accordingly.

“Do you have anything to say Ms Gilbert as to why a sentence of this court should not be passed on you?” the judge asked.

“I’d just like to apologise to her family and I just hope they can find it in their heart to forgive me someday,” Gilbert said as tears fell down her face.

“Is there anything else you would like to say?” the judge asked further.

“No, sir,” Gilbert replied.

Her lawyer called the situation an unfortunate “lover’s quarrel gone wrong.”

“As the court may have noticed from Ms Gilbert, although she may have not expressed it as eloquently as persons may like her to, she is remorseful for what has transpired,” Ms Lewis stressed.

“Unfortunately, a life was lost stemming from what began as a simple argument. It then became physical and then it resulted in the demise of Ms Lowe.

M’lord, we would say that Ms Gilbert, she has done the right thing in not wanting to rehash the events of that dreadful day. She has used this time to just change her plea.

“Although it is that Ms Lowe cannot be brought back, Ms Gilbert is very remorseful as this is someone she did love and I only say did because she’s no longer with us,” Gilbert’s lawyer added.

Ms Lewis said that her client knows she has to be punished for her actions and intends to build on her 13-year tenure in Urban Renewal and certification as a patient care technician while incarcerated at the Department of Correctional Services.

The prosecutor made an application for Lowe’s mother, Adrianna Hanna, to be heard concerning the impact of Lowe’s death on the family. The request was granted.

Lowe’s mother told Justice Turner that months before the ill-fated day, she lost an initial house to a fire and then on February 23, 2015 “I lost my daughter because of Katriona Gilbert’s jealousy.”

The sobbing parent said Gilbert’s actions severed the friendship between herself and Gilbert’s own mother.

Ms Hanna described her daughter as scholastic and ambitious.

Lowe, she said, had been accepted into the Royal Bahamas Defence Force but opted to accept another offer by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and was awaiting training before her death.

“She called me to say she knew I didn’t condone her lifestyle but she wanted my help,” Ms Hanna said.

She said Gilbert had selfishly beaten her daughter, videotaped it, bragged of doing so and then sent the same footage after committing the deed.

“She’s showed me no remorse or never tried to apologised for all of the times I’ve come here.

“For her to accept a plea of manslaughter, if she was sorry for killing her, why did she have to burn my house down too? I do not agree with this plea agreement.

This is not justice,” Lowe’s mother said.

The judge was told that the incident has changed

cured from public and private performances of the band were paid into the Police Account rather than the URC operations or any other account. The band suffers from poor organizational structure,” the PAC report said.

Labour Minister Shane Gibson, despite being a member of the PAC, also launched his own probe, which produced a minority report.

This report was read into the record of the House of Assembly on Wednesday and sought to discredit the findings of the PAC’s report.

Mr Gibson and Elizabeth MP Ryan Pinder did not sign off on the PAC’s report. Other members of the PAC include FNM MPs Hubert Chipman, St Anne’s and PAC chairman, Peter Turnquest, East Grand Bahama and Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn.

PUBLIC Accounts Committee Chairman Hubert Chipman. and “inadequate” to ensure proper tracking and maintenance of records.

“There was never any organised filing system at URC and no internal accounting system until September or October 2013.

“There were no proper inventory controls for the over 300 band instruments and as such several instruments were unaccounted for.

Most of the cheques written for band instruments were to individuals with no support and no record of expenditure were ever produced before the PAC. “There may have been commingling of funds as donations pro-

Lowe’s surviving daughter, who is beginning to exhibit similar violent behaviour to that of Gilbert.

“Your honour, this is not right,” Ms Hanna concluded, still in tears.

Justice Turner then addressed Gilbert.

“Ms Hanna is of the view that you’ve murdered her daughter but the Crown and the court has accepted the guilty plea of manslaughter,” the judge said.

“You, in the few words expressed to the court, have asked for the family’s forgiveness. The court recognises those few words have an understanding that the family is not yet at that point.

“Whatever the term set out in the agreement, what is clear, Ms Gilbert, is that you have caused inconsiderable pain, in respect of which you’ve expressed

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER A MAN was arraigned in Grand Bahama on Thursday on an attempted murder charge.

Jevanno Bullard, 32, of Deadman’s Reef, was arraigned before Magistrate Gwendolyn Claude in the Eight Mile Rock Magistrate’s Court.

He was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to the February 9, 2017 for trial.

Bail was denied.

yourself. “In sentencing, the court has to consider the offence, the offender and its impact upon society.

“The family of the deceased are a part of society.

I’ve also to consider the potential for rehabilitation and any other mitigating and aggravating circumstances about this matter.

“For whatever reason it was, it is apparent from the summary, that this relationship was an abusive one and her mother has expressed her views for that,” the judge further said.

Justice Turner said the law makes provision for a victim impact statement to be given in the consideration of sentencing and has considered what was said by Lowe’s mother.

However, the judge said he also had a signed plea agreement before him, which makes a recommen-

dation of an 18-year-sentence for manslaughter and 10 years for arson.

The judge said that Gilbert’s avoidance of a trial warranted a discount and sentenced her to the terms set out in the agreement with effect from the date of conviction, November 3, 2016.

Justice Turner said the sentences would run concurrently.

The 18-year-sentence was further reduced to 16 years and four months after factoring in the time Gilbert spent on remand awaiting trial.

Gilbert and the Crown have the legal right to appeal the sentence, notwithstanding that both parties endorsed the plea agreement.

Deon Ferguson appeared with Ms Taylor for the Crown in this matter.

PAGE 8, Friday, November 4, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Chinese fishing expedition is a scandal too far for caveman Gray A A Comic’s

FEW months back, I wrote that Minister of Agriculture V Alfred Gray was undoubtedly the Christie administration’s least credible minister.

Fast forward to this week, with the minister once again caught up in scandal and controversy, and I think Bahamians understand why I made that statement.

There’s an old Bahamian expression that goes “he talking out both sides of he mout!”

Well, in Minister Gray’s case, we have to amend that expression to “he talking out all five sides of he mout”.

Earlier this week, we learned (to our collective shock and horror) that somehow, some way - after all the problems we have had with our new Far East friends surrounding Baha Mar - the government of this country was now moving forward to possibly enter into another dumb deal with the Chinese.

According to reports in the press, Minister of Agriculture Gray has given the Bahamian Ambassador to China the green light to explore proposals that would entail leasing over 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros to foreigners to pursue large scale, commercial fishing ventures.

Fishing ventures! My God. To say that any foreign government or corporation fishing in our waters in any commercial manner, through any kind of ‘deal’, is anathema to born and unborn Bahamians alike is an understatement.

A non-starter.

An insult.

A bad joke.

But to try to “dress up” such a ludicrous idea by flinging out big numbers like $2 billion and talk of 50-50 partnerships adds insult to injury.

Now, I’m trying my best to be fair to communist China’s insatiable appetite for capitalist ventures because I know that at the end of the day ‘money gatta make’, and they do have ‘a billion mouths to feed’.

But in the words of every Bahamian woman who has been told something she doesn’t want to hear, “Dernt do it!”

To be blunt, the last time someone we know ‘partnered’ with Chinese firms, he lost his shirt, shoes and

View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA almost $1 billion.

Snake oil Now, Minister Gray comes with his figurative ‘snake oil’ telling us that he would never give a licence to a foreign entity to fish our waters.

Even after his letter authorising the exploration of exactly just that was made

“Between the ‘calling the Mayaguana Administrator scandal’, the ‘go hide in a cave’ comments and the BAMSI debacle, I think we all know what and who we have in Minister V Alfred Gray.

God willing, this ‘donkey’ of a politician will be out of politics for good come Election Day.” public, Gray stood in the honourable House of Assembly and proclaimed “I never spoke to any Chinese”.

Which is true, technically.

But as any diplomat worth his salt knows, when the government gives permission for Bahamian ambassador Paul ‘Andy’ Gomez to open talks with Beijing on any joint venture you are indeed ‘talking’ to the Chinese.

Gray’s denial is a distinction without a difference.

And why is Mr ‘Go Hide in a Cave’ all mixed up in another scandal?

Why haven’t we heard from Prime Minister Christie or Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell on this whole fishing scandal as yet?

Who, exactly, is running this asylum?

Minister Gray would have us believe that this latest ‘threat to our sovereignty’ is no big deal because the Chinese did not approach us about ‘takin we fish’, we approached them. In my mind, that actually makes matters worse.

It’s like we can’t wait for foreign investors to put us on the corner to the point we slip on the heels and rouge (or cowboy boots and skinny jeans, as the case may be) and start walking the Dongcheng District ourselves.

I want to believe that deep down the ‘historic’ Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government will protect the future of fisheries for Bahamians.

I also want to believe the Los Angeles Lakers will win an NBA championship this year.

Neither is true.

A 50-50 partnership with Bahamian (cronies) means nothing when dealing with a country who has shown us in the past that their business practices are very unlike our own.

If Sarkis Izmirlian had to take an “L” with $1 billion in his pocket, who is the small Bahamian fisherman by comparison?

The idea that no Chinese, with all their ‘expertise’, will be given permission to physically fish our waters after they bring $2 billion to the table is a pipe dream.

There will be so-called ‘legitimate’ reasons offered later on as to why they need to be on those boats despite what is being said now.

And what will be the end result?

The controversy surrounding fishing rights in the South China Sea, which, according to National Geographic, has been overfished to near collapse, should be warning enough for any right thinking government.

But apparently not this government.

My God. V Alfred Gray has proven by his words and actions that his words and actions should be taken with a grain

THE LAST STRAW? Minister of Agriculture V Alfred Gray. of Inagua salt. Any time a politician starts a statement with “Mr Speaker, this is the truth” I definitely get the feeling they are not telling the truth.

In fact, after a bit of back and forth this week The Nassau Guardian decided on the headline, ‘Gray tells a lie’.

A braver headline would read, ‘Gray is a liar.” But that is a distinction without a difference.

What comes next There are some that think a $2 billion injection into Andros may not be a bad idea. I am not one of those people.

I think the idea of any one foreign group - any foreign group - moving into Andros with ‘big dollars’ and proven patience cannot turn out well for us in terms of sovereignty or the future of our children.

I think the idea of anyone who isn’t ‘Bahamian’ mov-

ing large scale into an area supposedly reserved for Bahamians is a flat out bad idea.

Why is our elected government apparently on a different page?

Why is Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V Alfred Gray (and, by extension, this PLP government) seemingly acting contrary to the desires of most Bahamians?

Because they believe they can. Because they have done it before (gambling, anyone?) with relative little blowback.

What we need now is an explanation from Prime Minister Christie.

That, and Mr Gray’s full resignation from the Cabinet, for starters.

Between the ‘calling the Mayaguana Administrator scandal’, the ‘go hide in a cave’ comments and the BAMSI debacle, I think we all know what and who we have in Minister Gray. God

willing, this ‘donkey’ of a politician will be out of politics for good come Election Day. This latest scandal should be the last straw.

Maya Angelou gave us a great quote to live by.

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them; the first time,” she said. I believe we know who V Alfred Gray is. And I believe it’s time for him to go.

• Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident standup comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net

BREXIT HITS SPEED BUMP AS COURT RULES LAWMAKERS MUST GET SAY INTERNATIONAL NEWS LONDON (AP) — Britain’s plans to leave the European Union hit a large speed bump Thursday, as the High Court ruled that the government can’t start exit negotiations without a vote in Parliament.

The judgment deepened Britain’s divide over Europe, raising hopes among pro-EU politicians that they can soften the terms of the U.K.’s withdrawal from the bloc. “Leave” campaigners say any attempt to do that would be a betrayal of voters’ decision.

The government immediately said it would ask the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.

The Court has set aside time in early December to hear the case.

Thursday’s ruling could delay government plans to start talks on Britain’s EU exit, or Brexit, within weeks, and opens a major constitutional battle over the balance of power between Parliament and the government.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said Britain’s June 23 vote to leave the EU “must be respected.”

“The people want us to get on with it, and that is what we are going to do,” he said.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will use centuries-old powers known as royal prerogative to invoke Article 50 of the EU treaty, which launches two years of exit negotiations, by the end of March.

The powers — traditionally held by the monarch but now used by politicians — enable decisions about international treaties and other issues to be made without a vote of Parliament.

Several claimants, including a hairdresser and a financial entrepreneur, challenged May’s right to act. They argued that leaving the EU will remove rights, including free movement within the bloc, and that it couldn’t be done without Parliament’s approval.

Three senior judges agreed, ruling that “the government does not have the power under the Crown’s prerogative to give notice pursuant to Article 50 for the U.K. to withdraw from the European Union.”

The judges backed the claimants’ argument that the government could not remove Britons’ legal rights “unless Parliament had conferred upon the Crown authority to do so.”

The ruling infuriated pro-Brexit campaigners, who see the lawsuit as an attempt to block or delay Britain’s EU exit.

U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, who helped lead the campaign to leave the EU, tweeted: “I worry that a betrayal may be near at hand.”

“I now fear that every attempt will be made to block or delay the triggering of Article 50,” Farage said. “If this is so, they have no idea of the level of public anger they will provoke.”

It’s unlikely the ruling will stop Britain leaving the EU eventually. Most lawmakers accept that voters’ decision must be respected — but they differ widely on what form Brexit should take and how close a relationship Britain should keep with the EU. A majority of members of Parliament backed the “remain” side in the referendum, but could be willing to support the start of exit talks if it’s clear that the government won’t seek a “hard Brexit,” in which Britain leaves the EU’s single market.

Pro-EU legislators hope the ruling will force the government to set out its plans for exit negotiations before triggering Article 50, something May has previously ruled out.

“Of course there is a mandate for leaving the EU, and we have to accept and respect the result of the referendum,” the opposition Labour Party’s Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, told the BBC. “But the terms, and how we leave the EU, are vitally important.”

Financial entrepreneur Gina Miller, a lead claimant in the case, said the lawsuit wasn’t an attempt to stop Brexit — just to ensure that Parliament is sovereign.

“I hope the MPs (members of Parliament) will do their job and debate this in a sober, grown up way,” she said.

David Greene, lawyer for hairdresser Deir Santos, another claimant, said “democracy has been reaffirmed and now very much needs to show it is alive and kicking.”

THE TRIBUNE

ISRAEL IS SEEKING ‘TECHNOLOGICAL CO-OPERATION’ WITH THE BAHAMAS

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

ISRAEL is seeking to forge “increased technological co-operation” with the Bahamas, an Israeli government representative said yesterday, who added that such a venture would be a “win-win” situation for both countries economically.

Jonathan Peled, Israeli ambassador to the Bahamas, told The Tribune that the Israeli government is interested in introducing and subsequently combining Israeli technology with “Bahamian talent” and “necessities,” the end result of which he said would prove to be a “benefit” to both governments.

Fundamental to such an endeavour, Mr Peled said, would be Israel’s increased co-operation with the Bahamas government on issues such as tourism, which he said is of “huge interest” to Israel, education, water management, agriculture, alternative energy, financial services, and cyber security.

Mr Peled spoke to The Tribune at the British Colonial Hilton, a day after meeting with Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to present his credentials as Israel’s non-res-

“What I think we have in common is that we’re two small countries, and what we think can be of benefit to both countries is if we introduce Israeli technology and combine it with Bahamian talent and necessities here.”

Israeli ambassador to the Bahamas Jonathan Peled idential ambassador to the Bahamas.

Mr Peled said that on Wednesday, he met with numerous government officials, including Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, and other high ranking officials throughout the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Tourism.

Mr Peled said the aim of those meetings from Israel’s perspective was to begin discussions on how to best unite Israel’s technical and technological savvy with the Bahamas’ major economic sectors.

“What I think we have in common is that we’re two small countries, and what we think can be of benefit to both countries is if we introduce Israeli technology and combine it with Bahamian talent and necessities here,” he said. “You have a huge tourism industry here which is

of huge interest to us, you have an important financial, offshore banking sector as well, and you have agriculture which is another necessity.

“So I think we can link into all three of these major economic sectors that the Bahamas has, and it’s a win-win situation. It’s where Bahamian business people can enjoy Israeli technology, and Israeli entrepreneurs and businesspeople can obviously do good business here. So as a government official, as ambassador, my job is to link up these different counterparts, these different partners, get them together and hope that they can do good business for the benefit of both sides.”

Israel, a Middle Eastern country on the Mediterranean Sea, is a world leader in technology, reportedly boasting the leading number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with

some 145 per 10,000 people.

Additionally, over 25 per cent of the country’s workforce is reportedly employed in technical professions.

“Israel has no natural resources, that’s why we had to develop our human resource,” Mr Peled explained.

“That’s why we slowly became one of the leading technological countries in the world, considered the startup nation. We had no water, we had no land, we had no energy or fuel or minerals, so we found ourselves in a necessity of developing the only resource which is the human resource.

“I think the Bahamas in many ways has the same challenge. So what we can offer the Bahamas, are our technologies, our human talent, our human resources.

“Especially in issues like, for example, scarcity of water, or water management, or alternative energy, or how to yield more crops or better crops from certain amounts of land.

“So the same challenges that you face we’ve already faced, and some of them we’ve even overcome.

“So that’s where we can share our knowledge: water management, agriculture, alternative energy, tourism to a lesser

Friday, November 4, 2016, PAGE 9

ISRAELI ambassador to the Bahamas Jonathan Peled.

extent, finances and banking, there’s a lot going on in terms of cyber security. Israel is the leader in cutting edge technology in terms of cyber security, how to safeguard big data, financial information, how to protect critical infrastructure in terms of threats and attacks, cyber oriented.”

He added: “I think there are certain things we can share with the Bahamas in terms of our educational system, especially when it comes to science and technology education, how to implement more innovation into the educational system.

“At the end of the day we’re open to any kind of exchange.

At the end it’s an exchange of ideas, of best practices, sharing knowledge information, and it’s a win-win for both sides.”

THIS ISN’T ‘SURVIVOR,’ OBAMA SAYS; TRUMP, CLINTON FIRE AWAY US ELECTION

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump warned Thursday that a cloud of investigation would follow Hillary Clinton into the White House, evoking the bitter impeachment battle of the 1990s in a closing campaign argument meant to bring wayward Republicans home. Clinton and her allies, led by President Barack Obama, told voters to get serious about the dangers of Trump.

As polls show Trump closing in on Clinton in key battleground states, her campaign is rushing to shore up support in some long-standing Democratic strongholds. That includes the campaign’s Michigan firewall, a remarkable situation for a candidate who looked to be cruising to an easy win just a week ago.

Clinton’s shrunken lead has given Trump’s campaign a glimmer of hope, one he’s trying to broaden into a breakthrough before time runs out. That means zeroing in on questions of Clinton’s trustworthiness and a new FBI review of an aide’s emails.

The attack is aimed at appealing to moderate Republicans and independents who have been the holdouts of his campaign, turned off by his behavior but equally repelled by the possible return of the Clintons.

“Here we go again with the Clintons — you remember the impeachment and the problems.” Trump said Thursday at a rally in Jacksonville. “That’s not what we need in our country, folks. We need someone who is ready to go to work.”

Clinton and allies, meanwhile, are seeking to keep the spotlight on Trump, charging that his disparaging comments about women and minorities, and his temperament make him unfit for office.

“He has spent this entire campaign offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters,” Clinton said, singling out Trump’s endorsement from the official newspaper of the Ku Klux Klan and noting that he has retweeted messages from white supremacists.

“This has never happened to a nominee of a major party,” Clinton said.

“If Donald Trump were to win this election we would have a commander in chief who is completely out of his depth and whose

PRESIDENT Barrack Obama speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, yesterday. (AP)

HILLARY Clinton and Donald Trump campaigning yesterday. (AP)

ideas are incredibly dangerous,” she said at Pitt Community College outside of Greenville, North Carolina.

Clinton was slated to campaign later Thursday with former primary opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders and pop star Pharrell Williams in Raleigh.

Trump’s path to victory remains narrow. He must win Florida to win the White House, no easy feat.

Still, his campaign has been buoyed by tightening polls there and in other key battlegrounds, as well as by signs that African-American turnout for Clinton may be lagging.

At a nighttime rally in battleground North Carolina, Trump delivered a defence-related speech at which he said he can’t picture Clinton as commander in chief. And he saluted veterans, saying, they are “so much more brave than me.

I’m brave in other ways. I’m financially brave, big deal!”

Clinton enlisted Obama’s help urging those voters to the polls and lighting a fire under other Democrats, particularly young people, who share some of the wariness about Clinton. Speaking to students at Florida International University in Miami, Obama told voters now was the time to get serious about the choice.

“This isn’t a joke. This isn’t ‘Survivor.’ This isn’t ‘The Bachelorette.’” he said, taunting the former reality-TV star.

“This counts.”

Relishing one of his last turns on the campaign stage as president, Obama repeatedly returned to his new campaign catchphrase capturing his disbelief in the unpredictable race to replace him.

“C’mon, man,” he said, to cheers.

Obama has been trying to bait Republican into veering off message — counting on Trump not to have the discipline or the ground game to capitalise on a late

surge.

But the famously unconventional Trump has been hewing closer to convention, running some upbeat ads, bringing out his wife for a rare campaign appearance and even talking publicly about trying not to get distracted.

“We don’t want to blow it on Nov. 8,” Trump said Thursday at the rally in Jacksonville, his fourth in Florida in two days.

Clinton’s weekend schedule underscored the Democrats’ fresh anxiety in the final stretch. She is due to campaign Friday in Detroit, where a large turnout of black voters has long been crucial to success, following up on a last-minute meeting by former President Bill Clinton with black ministers on Wednesday night.

Clinton and Obama, along with their spouses, will headline a final preelection rally in Philadelphia next Monday evening.

Trump has had far fewer allies carrying his message. Sen. Ted Cruz, his GOP primary foe, did campaign with vice presidential candidate Mike Pence outside Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, but he never mentioned Trump by name in a 14-minute speech.

Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, made her first appearance on the trail since the Republican convention in July. At a get-out-thevote rally in the Philadelphia suburbs, the former model tried to counter the Clinton campaign’s pounding attacks on her husband as setting a poor example for children.

She told the group that if she becomes first lady she will focus on combatting online bullying and working against a culture that has “gotten too mean and too rough,” she said.

Melania made no reference to her husband’s regular name-calling on social media. On Twitter, Donald Trump has called Clin-

PAGE 10, Friday, November 4, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

MEMBERS OF THE BAHAMAS DIPLOMATIC CORP VISIT BAMSI

THIRTY-three members of the Diplomatic Corps visited the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute’s North Andros facilities during Bahamas Diplomatic Week. While there, the group met with Executive Director of BAMSI Dr Raveenia Roberts Hanna (fourth from right) and her team.

AS part of a slew of activities held during Bahamas Diplomatic Week 2016, more than 30 members of the Bahamas Diplomatic Corps visited the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).

The group landed in North Andros on October 19 and toured the campus of the institute’s academic arm, the commercial farm, livestock area and aquaponics centre.

They also used the opportunity to visit several settlements in North Andros, including Lowe Sound, one of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Matthew.

Headed by Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Cleola

Hamilton, other officials included Bahamas Ambassador to Cuba Alma Adams, Bahamas Ambassador to Washington, DC Dr Eugene Newry and High Commissioner to London Eldred Bethel.

Dr Raveenia Roberts-Hanna, executive director of BAMSI’s academic arm, was part of a delegation of senior North Andros administrators and BAMSI officials on hand to receive the diplomats.

During a brief welcome reception held at the Western Air Airport facility, Dr Hanna reported classes were scheduled to resume the following week and both the campus facilities and dorms were ready to receive students.

“We have taken steps to ensure that our students have not lost vital

time in relation to their studies and we are pleased to report the dorms are up and running with internet service, electricity and water,” she said.

“The BARTAD building is thankfully without damage, and so with the return of electricity, water and internet service we are able to return to class and drive full speed ahead through the remainder of the semester.”

Dr Hanna also explained the role of the academic arm as the only tertiary-level institution in Andros and the primary centre for agriculture and marine science studies in the Bahamas and the region.

It was also noted that the institute experienced damage to its ba-

nana crop, livestock and aquaponics centre.

Dr Vallierre Deleveaux, head of marine and aquatic sciences, said while the shade house (a cloth covered structure which houses the planting beds) was destroyed, the raceways which are used to grow the lettuce and other field greens in, were intact.

He explained although planting continues, it was being done at a slower pace as they focus on rebuilding the shade house.

The rebuilding is expected to be completed by the end of November with a return to full harvesting at that point.

The diplomats were also able to sample the lettuce, with several of them indicating that they were im-

pressed with the design and development of produce.

Also on hand during the welcome session was North Andros Administrator Ivan Ferguson who welcomed the team and provided a brief overview of Andros and the impact Hurricane Matthew had on the area.

Mr Ferguson was joined by Chief Councillor Brian Cleare, and head of Bahamas Agriculture Industrial Corporation (BAIC) Alphonso Smith. In addition to Lowe Sound, where the diplomats did a walkabout - speaking with residents and seeing first-hand the destruction of Matthew - the group also toured Nicholl’s Town, Morgan’s Bluff and a tent city set up by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

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LOCATED in the heart of the North Andros community, the Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is intensely aware of the blow experienced by many families in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

BAMSI has donated more than 100 cases of bananas, water, lettuce and field greens to families in the Lowe Sound settlement of North Andros, one of the worst hit areas in the nation, and also in support of front-line responders, such as the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and community-based agencies, who continue to engage in outreach efforts.

An additional 30 cases were given out in a single day to churches, non-profit organisations and community supporters.

BAMSI said it remains committed to offering as much assistance and support as the area needs in its recovery.

MARLON ROHRER, senior member of the Mennonite Community. These groups, along with a score of others, have been instrumental in sharing their resources with the community.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, November 4, 2016, PAGE 11 MISS World Bahamas Ashley Hamilton and Island Game CEO Pete Deveaux visit an elderly resident who was unable to obtain items.

ISLAND Game CEO Pete Deveaux and Miss World Bahamas Ashley Hamilton assisting with packaging goods.

MISS WORLD BAHAMAS AND THE ISLAND GAME FOUNDATION HELP BRING

RELIEF TO

ANDROS FOR THE residents of Central Andros it was a case of beauty after the beast.

Miss World Bahamas, Ashley B Hamilton, joined a delegation from the Island Game Foundation (TIG) recently to help bring much needed relief, including food and cleaning supplies, to those affected by the devastating Hurricane Matthew last month. A brand ambassador for TIG Foundation, she joined CEO of The Island Game, Pete Deveaux for the relief visit.

Ms Hamilton, who was instrumental in organising the relief effort, travelled and conducted an initial assessment of the area and learned first hand what the residents were urgently in need of.

“We sat in the Island Games Foundation office and said, ‘What can we do to help the residents of Andros who were heavily affected

by Hurricane Matthew?’”, she said. “So we formulated a plan to put together care packages - one containing cleaning supplies and one containing non-perishable food goods. It was two weeks of hard work organising, but the joy on the faces of the Androsians today, knowing that someone cares for them, was well worth it.”

TIG Foundation is the charity created by The Island Game to help assist communities throughout the Bahamas. The Foundation is built on the core principles of ‘Transforming, Improving and Growing a Better Bahamas’.

“Although Andros is geographically our biggest island, it has very little economic activity,” Mr Deveaux said, “so we just had to come down and do a little something for the people here, even if it was just to put a smile on some of their faces.

We brought in care packages that included grits, water, bleach, other cleaning supplies, crackers, tuna, sardines … just to name some of the items. These are indeed hard times here and it’s going to take some time to return to normalcy here.”

He explained why he chose to assist Andros of the three islands most affected by Hurricane Matthew. “I am a Bahamian first and foremost.

Andros is dear to my heart because my father is from

Andros. I am a son of the soil, so to help the people of Andros … that comes natural. The Island Game Foundation is about building communities and assisting where necessary. Assisting Andros is a given.”

The Foundation believes that growing a country is everyone’s social responsibility and if one can transform the faces, spaces and places in a community the whole country can grow. TIG plans to provide a ‘hand up’, not a ‘hand out’, to the less fortunate in our community through monetary grants to existing charities, educational initiatives and community improvement projects.

Over $15,000 worth of goods were provided at cost by Island Wholesale and Grace Products, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies, Thompson Trading, Aquapure and the TIG Foundation.

Local Androsian radio station, 99.1 FM, owned by Eddie Meadows, promoted the event so that over 400 households received goods that day. His wife, Loretta, also played a role in the logistics and ground organisation in Central Andros.

Mr Deveaux and Ms Hamilton visited some of the elderly residents and personally delivered the care packages while listening to their concerns after experiencing devastation in the aftermath of the category 4 storm.

“An effort of this magnitude is awesome,” Woman Sergeant Finley of the Cargill Creek Central Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force said. “We have had devastation just like North Andros, but someone heard our cry.

The Island Game Foundation has made the people of Andros’s day. Our stores are empty because of the devastation so food items and water is essential at this time. To have personnel from The Island Game Foundation come down here to Andros is more than a blessing.”

Dianne Seibert, a resident of Staniard Creek , said “this is truly relief for us,” as she packed care packages for people living in that area.

“This is a great help to us and we are very thankful to the Island Game for assisting us in this way.”

SOME of the many items that were distributed.

MISS World Bahamas Ashley Hamilton passing bags of rice to a child as Mark Carter, of Carter Marketing, looks on.

A RESIDENT hugs Island Game CEO Pete Deveaux as her items were given to her.

PAGE 12, Friday, November 4, 2016

GRADUATION DAY FOR POLICE RECRUITS

POLICE Commissioner Ellison Greenslade speaks at the ceremony.

THE TRIBUNE

NEW police recruits graduated from the Police Training College yesterday after six months of intense training. Pictured below left is Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage addressing the recruits during the ceremony.

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune staff