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VOLUME:116 No.219, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2019

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CLASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS

INSIDE

‘We didn’t murder Breanna, Thea did’ Alleged killers blame friend for fatal attack

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A JANITOR and her friend both told police they did not know teenage mother Breanna Mackey was being stabbed to death by their other friend until it was too late, jurors heard yesterday.

Sergeant Makelle Pinder said both Zaria Burrows and Dervinique Edwards told her they thought Thea Williams was “punching” the 19-year-old victim when in fact she was repeatedly stabbing her with a kitchen knife.

Sgt Pinder said Burrows, in particular, said she only realised Mackey was stabbed after Williams got back in her car after the January 2018 attack and told her and the others: “Look at all this blood on my knife”.

Sgt Pinder said both women denied any involvement in the attack, claiming they observed Williams and their other three friends assault Mackey while they were seated in Burrows’ silver Honda.

However, Sgt Pinder said Burrows told her that at

ELECTRICITY consumers were yesterday told to brace for an “adjustment” to their bills via an extra charge as Bahamas Power & Light confirmed plans for its mammoth $650m-plus refinancing.

Donovan Moxey, the utility’s chairman, promised the proposed Rate Reduction Bond issue will ultimately

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

NEW HOME OFFERS HOPE TO RANFURLY YOUNGSTERS

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net A HOME has been opened giving children who have been in care at the Ranfurly Home for Children a chance to adjust as they make the transition to living alone.

The transitional home was opened yesterday and board member Catherine Chrisnall-Mitchell said it was a long-held dream for many boards at the Ranfurly to have a place for children that aged out of the home system.

Mrs Chrisnall-Mitchell said: “(Living here) they can do continued education; they can do job training and they can have somewhere safe rather than on occasion being forced to be returned into toxic or abusive situations because they have no other choices. Ranfurly is also trying to become a family environment and as

FEARS RAISED OVER FIRES IN DORIAN’S DEBRIS FIELDS

SEE PAGE SEVEN

result in “better outcomes” for all Bahamian households and businesses even though the “structure” of electricity bills will change.

However, legislation to facilitate the bond issue tabled in Parliament yesterday makes it clear that BPL’s customer base will be relied upon to service what is essentially a doubling of the debt burden associated with the utility to secure its financial future.

L SOUR CE

SEE PAGE NINE

BPL DOUBLING DEBT TO FINANCE FUTURE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

$1

By LEANDRA ROLLE rrolle@tribunemedia.net

STONEWALLED

THE GENESIS Junkanoo group in action on Boxing Day last year. The Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence yesterday said it found no “definitive or provable evidence that corruption took place” at last year’s parades. Full story - Page 3 Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

LANISHA TOLD - PICK UP THE BILL

By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net MINISTER Lanisha Rolle must pay back the government for commemorative pins bearing her image handed out at a Youth Parliament event.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis admitted yesterday that the controversial medals featuring the picture of the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture

LANISHA’S PIN should not have been paid for by the government.

Dr Minnis said in the House

of Assembly yesterday that the minister will reimburse the government $582.40.

Dr Minnis said: “In view of what has been personalised, because it was a personal picture on the medal, the government shouldn’t have paid for anything that was personalised, therefore the minister will reimburse the government.”

Social media erupted

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

A LOCAL human rights watchdog has warned about large mounds of debris reportedly being “intentionally” set on fire in areas devastated by Hurricane Dorian - warning that if bodies are being burned amid the debris it would be “unforgivable”.

In a press statement yesterday, Rights Bahamas called on government officials to address methods being used to clear debris in the storm-impacted islands, considering the ongoing search for bodies in the aftermath of Dorian.

SEE PAGE FIVE

BUSINESS

DRILLING FOR BAHAMAS’ BLACK GOLD FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

PAGE 2, Thursday, November 7, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

RACE FOR KIDS

ROYAL Bank of Canada held a launch yesterday at Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute for their inaugural Race for the Kids in The Bahamas. The proceeds from the race will go towards BTVI. Above is Oneil Charlton, a BTVI student and, below, is Dr Robert Robertson, BTVI president.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 7, 2019, PAGE 3

OPERATOR ERROR BLAMED FOR BPL PIER FIRE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

INVESTIGATORS found that operator error caused a fire at Bahamas Power & Light’s Clifton Pier Power Station last year.

The fire caused damage to BPL engines that would require $33m to repair.

The report by Rimkus Consulting Group was tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“No physical evidence

was observed that would consider this to be gross negligence,” the report said.

As a result of the fire, the fuel injection, exhaust, cam shaft, turbochargers and electrical/control components of the DA 11 engine –– one of two MAN 10k80 diesel alternators at Clifton Pier with a 31.5MW capacity –– were completely destroyed.

The report said: “The DA 12 ancillary equipment and engine proper

appeared to have minimal damage from the fire event.

Instrumentation, electrical and plastic components were damaged consistent with the fire event.”

Investigators said: “Fuel pressure at the reportedly failed puncture valve plug would have been dependent on fuel pump pressure, if the fuel injection was firing, and if the puncture valve was seated, leaking or completely open. Therefore, the fuel pressure is

indeterminate at the plug at the time of the incident.

However, fuel pressure would have been a minimum of 7 to 8 bar (102 to 116 psi) and could have been in excess of 350 to 390 bar.”

“The damage observed to the building roof components, the engine components above and in the vicinity of the cylinder #3 fuel pump is consistent with an HFO fire event.

The fire event is consistent with high pressure

HFO flowing from the 3/8-inch opening on the puncture valve onto the ceiling and engine components and igniting on a hot surface, such as the exhaust manifold components.”

“The following incident scenarios were evaluated: Plug was removed by plant personnel prior to actuation of the puncture valve. This case is not probably since they and reportedly completed this asme procedure on three previous cylinders

with no problems. The plug was not installed prior to the actuation but was not noticed by plant personnel.

It is possible that the plug had been removed prior to the engine starting after the turbocharger work. However, there would be no need for maintenance personnel to work on this head (and remove the plug) at the same time as the turbochargers. Also, at the time of engine start HFO would have been observed flowing from the #3 fuel pump.”

LANISHA TOLD PICK UP THE BILL

ONE FAMILY, left, won the Boxing Day parade while The Valley Boys, right, won on New Year’s Day. Below, Genesis on Boxing Day.

from page one

‘No evidence of corruption in Junkanoo’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence said it found no “definitive or provable evidence that corruption took place” at the 2018/2019 Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades, saying the person at the centre of the controversy stonewalled investigators.

“The JCNP also presented the matter for police involvement, after which it was determined that the matter was not a criminal matter for which police involvement was appropriate,” the JCNP said in a statement yesterday.

Several recordings of calls from a purported female judge to George “Bommer” Armbrister, a costume designer for the Genesis Junkanoo group,

sparked concern and led to an investigation.

Mr Armbrister claimed he was engaging in a sting operation. Shaun Adderley, chairman of Genesis, backed him up and Silbert Ferguson, the former chairman of the JCNP, said the organisation took the allegations seriously because the calls appeared to originate from inside the JCNP’s Norfolk House location on Frederick Street, access to which is tightly controlled by the parade management team and reserved for parade operators and judges.

The JCNP appointed an investigation committee.

The committee interviewed parade management team members and several judges.

“Additionally, several attempts were made to interview the individual at the centre of the

BODYBUILDER DEATH TRIAL LINED UP FOR NEXT MONTH

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 44-YEAR-OLD woman is expected to stand trial next month over allegations she murdered her 70-year-old bodybuilder boyfriend. Tracey Pratt, of Miller’s Heights, will stand trial before Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson on December 2 over Paul Melbourne’s death on March 17, 2018.

If the December date is not available, the trial will commence in June 2020, Justice Grant-Thompson said yesterday. Pratt remains on bail until that time.

Melbourne, a powerlifter who was known for his athletic prowess, was killed at his home on McKinney Drive off Carmichael Road after arguing with a woman.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found him with stab wounds about his body.

He was taken to the hospital by emergency medical services personnel, but was later pronounced dead.

Police suspected Melbourne was arguing with the woman when he was stabbed.

Attorneys Wayne Munroe QC and Dervard Francis represent Pratt.

corruption allegation but were unsuccessful due to the individual’s failure to cooperate with the investigation,” the JCNP said.

The organisation said the alleged acts negatively impacted the Junkanoo community and its “partners in government and corporate Bahamas”. This has prompted it to make several changes ahead of the upcoming parades.

There will be a revamped

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judges course that will include ethics training, a revised judges compensation package, the elimination of personal mobile devices while judging, the introduction of a new digital scoring platform to eliminate paper scoring and a revamped standard operating procedure.

There will also be new people selected to judge the upcoming parades, with

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judges from last year’s pool not selected this time.

“In conclusion, the JCNP wishes to also advise the public that although the investigation was inconclusive, based on the lack of cooperation from the alleged individuals’ claim of corruption/bribery, the JCNP is looking to ensure that any such further allegations cannot be levied against the JCNP,” the organisation said.

this week when the Lanisha Rolle pin surfaced online – the medals were given to young people who participated in Youth Parliament last month. The pin was supposed to be a commemorative coin during a courtesy call of the youth parliamentarians.

Dr Minnis also addressed another controversy involving Mrs Rolle in the House.

This week, the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence expressed its frustration that Mrs Rolle was overstepping her authority and showed them disrespect by announcing a new Category B group that was denied membership due to their late application.

In the JCNP press release, they pleaded with PM Minnis, a Junkanooer with the Saxons himself, to intervene in the management of the Junkanoo parades, especially with the season quickly approaching. Yesterday in Parliament, he said that all parties must come together next year to discuss pressing issues.

Dr Minnis said: “Both the minister and I would have had ongoing discussions about Junkanoo leaders and the decision is Junkanoo will not change at this particular time as we are moving into the Junkanoo season. However, in February, the minister and the JCNP and all the relevant agencies will have a discussion as to the way forward so that by the end of March we would know the way forward with respect to Junkanoo, because changes must occur, and this must be discussed and agreed upon by all the relevant parties.”

Editorial View - Page 4

PAGE 4, Thursday, November 7, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

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C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

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BPL is walking a fine line with new charge WHO’S going to pay to fix the long history of mismanagement of electricity in The Bahamas? Here’s a clue – your bills are going to have an extra charge on them.

For months, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) has been talking about refinancing its debts – well, the detail of that was revealed a little more yesterday.

The company is looking to rearrange its old debts – and borrow new money on top. The total comes to $650m in refinancing – swapping new debt for old.

The new money is a whopping extra $350m to invest in generation and the distribution network. There was little detail on that yesterday – with Minister of Works Desmond Bannister promising to reveal details during the debate on the legislation in Parliament that goes with this reinvestment plan.

But the kicker is that your bill will have an extra charge on it – the rate reduction bond fee - with BPL essentially securing its long-term future with our payments.

It is fair to say that BPL has long used up the patience of the Bahamian public.

This year has been a nightmare of power outage after power outage in the wake of damaging fires – the reports for which were at last tabled in Parliament today with operator error to blame – and the inevitability of old machinery having failures, for which the company should have been better prepared.

The company offered two carrots to keep customers going – first, that the new Wartsila engines would come online and take care of the power shortages, and second, that the Shell LNG plant would be ready by 2021 and bring with it reduced fuel and other costs.

In short, we’ve been promised stable power supply and at a lower price – and people are ready to hold BPL to account if it fails to deliver.

More than that, they need to see a substantial saving in power costs, not just a token reduction – so the idea that an extra charge is being thrown on top of their bill to pay for BPL nearly doubling its debt is going to infuriate people across the country.

The savings had better be significant – a cut of two or three percent isn’t going to be enough, people are going to want a ten to 20 percent reduction if BPL’s promise is going to be of substance.

BPL chairman Dr Donovan Moxey described the old debt as an “anchor around our necks”. We’re swapping it for a bigger anchor but – BPL hopes – a better structure for paying it.

Dr Moxey also says the legislation will lead to lower costs and reliable power, and that BPL intends “that no Bahamian family ever has to deal with that type of crisis again”.

People are going to need a little more than intent – they’re going to want to know exactly how much that extra charge is going to be, how long it’s going to be necessary, and how soon they’re going to see reduced costs. If bills go up before they go down, that trust that BPL has lost from the public is going to turn into full-blown anger.

So skip the careful language of yesterday’s announcement and give us some straight answers. Map out exactly what people can expect and when they will see changes for the better.

We’ve been beyond patient with BPL, it’s time for the company to go the extra mile to make it up to the nation.

Sorry seems to be the hardest word SPEAKING of digging deeper into pockets, it’s time for Lanisha Rolle to pay up.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday gave her a double rebuke – for her dealings with the Junkanoo groups and for using government funds to put her face on a shiny pin to hand out to young people at a Youth Parliament event.

The misfiring minister now has to pay $582 – oh, and 40 cents.

There were not one but two

statements explaining the Rolle pin – one on a Facebook page associated with Mrs Rolle, another from the ministry.

Neither one mustered the word “sorry”.

The minister is already on her second ministry after problems with her performance at Social Services. Perhaps it’s time for a little humility in the wake of such apparent vanity – see if you can muster that apology, Mrs Rolle.

Oh and next time you host an event for young people, remember this: It’s about them, not you.

Who controls airspace?

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said the monetising of the Bahamas’ airspace has been delayed after the evaluation committee tossed out all of the proposals that were submitted. Readers responded on tribune242.com: Milesair said: “The Bahamas should control its own airspace and collect the revenue to do so, not the US!” Proudloudandfnm posted this comment: “I knew this would happen, we do not have the resources in place to do this. Not like we can just say ‘okay we’re in charge now’. It’ll take millions to get what’s needed in place.”

There was this from Observer: “You know, this is a naked, undressed shame. Assistance with every discipline is available somewhere in the world in the twenty-first century.

I mean find it, bro, and acquire it.”

BMW had this to say: “The Bahamas does not have the resources or

the ability to manage all of our airspace, this is a monumental task with a lot of responsibility. It is truly comical that the evaluation committee was not up to speed. Actually embarrassing.”

Well_mudda_take_sic said: “For Pete’s sake, the Minnis-led FNM government can’t govern what’s happening on the ground in our country, or in the waters of our country, yet Minister D’Aguilar somehow thinks it can govern our country’s airspace. Get real, that just ain’t gonna happen!”

Responding to criticism over this year’s exam results, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd has said the public “doesn’t seem to understand”

how examination results are graded, prompting this comment from The– Oracle: “Wow. Just Wow. I wonder though, if the people grading these exams are themselves products of the ‘D’ average system he seems to think acceptable.

FAILURE.” ThisIsOurs said: “We can get a grasp on the results very easily. Just ask the employers how the graduating students are doing.

Simple.”

But sheeprunner12 posted this: “Most Bahamian public school parents are probably ashamed to tell their high school children their own school exam grades . . . but they are quick to condemn the schools today. Many ‘successful’ Bahamians sitting in high social positions will equally be embarrassed to share their high school GCE grades . . . We should be careful how we compare eras.”

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

This is no time to be intimidated EDITOR, The Tribune USING my deductive reasoning skills after years of reading The Nassau Guardian columnist who goes by the nom de plume Front Porch, I have concluded that the main writer is an educated feminist who is possibly a lesbian.

She is also a liberal Roman Catholic and a journalist by profession who harbours deep antipathy for evangelical Protestantism and for anyone lacking a PhD degree from an ivy league school. Her latest op-ed (or hit piece) on Bahamas Christian Council President Delton Fernander is eerily similar to a September 2014 op-ed on the late Bahamas Faith Ministries founder, Dr. Myles Munroe, in which the latter was ruthlessly excoriated for daring to oppose a proposed gay event via a newspaper press release titled, “Homosexuality - Phobia or Principle.”

In another broadside titled “Pope Francis, Dr Munroe and the Gift of Mercy,” the late evangelical televangelist was taken to task by Simon, who I believe is Front Porch, for criticising the Roman Catholic Church leader, Pope Francis, for refusing to condemn gay priests. Ironically, Munroe, along with eight other passengers, died a mere two months later in a plane crash in Grand Bahama after the first condescending broadside by Front Porch. Perhaps out of guilt for castigating the fallen Bahamas Faith Ministries pastor, Front Porch mentioned his tragic death in a November 13, 2014 op-ed on the life of Free National Movement founding father, Warren J Levarity. The overwhelming majority of Bahamians stand firmly in the corner of Fernander in his opposition to the planned gay pride parade of the Bahamas Organisation of LGBT Affairs. Front Porch quoted extensively from a 2017 “Brain before Bible” dialogue between one Juleus Ghunta and the Rev Sean Major-Campbell, rector of Christ Church in Kingston, Jamaica, in which both men spoke in a condescending manner about evangelical Christianity.

Like the Bahamian columnist, the Anglican churchman is unashamedly pro-gay and pro-abortion.

Despite being an Anglican clergyman, Major-Campbell’s liberal beliefs conflicts with the fundamental tenets of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England. In an October 2017 opinion piece in The Jamaica Gleaner

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net titled “Misunderstanding Sodom and Gomorrah,” Major-Campbell employed faulty hermeneutics in his interpretation of Genesis 19 by completely ignoring the obvious issue at play in Sodom. This is what the late American philosopher James Sire called twisting Scripture.

According to MajorCampbell and Front Porch, the Sodomites were guilty of being inhospitable to the two heavenly guests of Lot. Accordingly, homosexuality was not the issue. This is the same LGBT hermeneutics that argues that the Old Testament figures David and Jonathan were intimate partners. Major-Campbell’s liberal interpretation of the Sodom and Gomorrah narrative conflicts with the traditional understanding of verse 5 of Genesis 19 of the NIV, which reads: “They called to Lot, Where are the men which came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” The translators of the NIV were correct in their translation of the text in question, seeing that the Hebrew word for sex is “yada.” In the Authorised King James Version, the word used is “know,” instead of sex. However, a simple cross reference of the same Hebrew word in Genesis 4:1 would immediately remove all doubt as to what the biblical writer was intending to convey. Moreover, 2 Peter 2:6-7 and Jude 7 affirms the traditional understanding of Genesis 19, which was held by noted Patristic fathers Augustine, Cyprian of Carthage, Novatian, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Justin Martyr, Eusebius, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Anorbius and the Didache; and by Protestant luminaries Martin Luther, John Calvin and others. This bit of historical information is crucially important, as it undermines the LGBT position of Front Porch, who seems to be laboring under the false assumption that the fundamentalist position on human sexuality of Fernander is a novel one. In both of her opinion pieces on Messrs Fernander and Munroe, Front Porch sat in her ivory tower as she arrogantly questioned the academic qualifications of the two Bahamian evangelical leaders, conveniently ignoring the fact that Munroe was educated at the

prestigious Oral Roberts University and the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.

This is the same Christophobic posture I detected in Major-Campbell’s interview with Ghunta towards Jamaican Christian fundamentalists. Judging from this snobbish attitude, if you’re not pro-LGBT, you are stupid. I am shocked that the Anglican communion in Jamaica has allowed Major-Campbell to continue feeding its flock, seeing that he doesn’t hold to Scripture as God’s final authority, among other heretical beliefs he proudly embraces. He should be defrocked.

Interestingly, homosexuality is also condemned in the Catechism of the Catholic Church –- the very church Front Porch is apparently fond of. The book was edited by none other than Joseph Ratzinger, known to the world as Pope Benedict XVI. In light of his conservative position on human sexuality, are we to believe that Pope Benedict is academically deficient?

Whereas homosexuality is condemned in the Genesis 19 narrative, as well as in Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10, heterosexual, monogamous marriage is affirmed in Genesis 2:22-24, Matthew 19:4-6 and Ephesians 5:31.

Due to the dietary and ceremonial injunctions given to Old Testament Israel, which was a theocracy, I have made the decision not to reference the book of Leviticus and its prohibition against homosexuality. Individuals such as Front Porch and the Jamaican Anglican clergyman seem to be hellbent on not understanding the epoch in which Moses and the Old Testament Israelites lived in.

Be that as it may, the main bone of contention with the Alexus D’Marco event is that it appears to be a move to ram homosexuality down the throat of the Bahamian people. It’s not enough that same-sex relations between consenting adults has been legalised in The Bahamas since 1991. We don’t see heterosexuals marching down Bay Street in celebration of their sexual orientation. So why should homosexuals be allowed to do so?

If this event was going to be a private one, why then was it publicised?

Fernander must continue on with his plans for an anti-gay rally. Don’t be intimidated by Rights Bahamas or Front Porch.

KEVIN EVANS Grand Bahama October 27, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 7, 2019, PAGE 5

from page one

Fears raised over fires in Dorian’s debris fields

“(We) have become aware of several photographs of large debris fires which our contacts on the ground claim are intentionally being set… (But) have the former residents of these areas been allowed to sift through the debris to claim their belongings?

Is this part of the ongoing effort to ensure that residents of shanty towns remain homeless and displaced?” the human rights group asked.

“If these fires are indeed being set at the behest of government officials, we denounce this in the strongest terms, cry shame on all involved and demand they cease and desist immediately.”

In September, it was reported that 1.5 billion pounds of debris was strewn across Marsh Harbour following Hurricane Dorian.

And last week, Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira noted to reporters that the clean-up of debris in Abaco has already begun, adding that the process was being spearheaded by the Ministry of Works.

“Once that debris is removed, collected and removed. It’s being sorted on site. In other words, the place where the debris is being cleared from, it’s being sorted there and it’s going to lay-down sites,” he said.

“When it comes down

PICTURES which appear to show areas on Abaco on fire to the lay-down site, that’s when the Ministry of Environment and Housing takes over, sort of with the final solution for it which will be a combination of mulching, some will go into the landfill, some will be exported and some will hopefully be recycled and be reused.”

But sources have told

this newspaper that debris is being burned without being searched or sifted for human remains.

If proven true, Rights Bahamas said this shows that the government is guilty of a “gross and unforgivable disregard of both individual rights and basic human dignity”.

“To take away the right of people to account for and bury their lost loved ones, to treat the bodies of storm victims like trash to be bulldozed to one side and burned amid a pile of refuse, would be a new low for a government of The Bahamas, worse than any crime committed

by past administrations,” Rights Bahamas said in a statement.

The statement continued: “The government is reminded that when the dust settles, every single one of their actions in the wake of this national tragedy will be re-examined and investigated, combed

through by observers, both local and international.

History will judge them and they will not be able to avoid responsibility for the consequences of their actions.”

Up to press time, Mr Ferreira could not be contacted for comment in response to the issues highlighted by the active human rights group.

This as government continues to clear down shanty towns in Abaco.

According to Carmichael MP Desmond Bannister in the House of Assembly yesterday, the Pigeon Peas shanty town has been completely cleared down and only in need of fencing while The Mudd is some 25 percent cleared.

Further, the works minister said Sand Banks was 85 percent cleared.

However, officials have been challenged with clearing The Farm as 75 families still occupy the area.

He said government was committed to fully clearing the areas which posed several health risks.

Activists unhappy as 112 Haitians are flown home

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

AS THE government yesterday deported more than 100 Haitians to Portau-Prince, activists have accused it of “spitting in the face” of the international community.

The Department of Immigration said a Bahamasair flight departed Lynden Pindling International Airport at 7.42am to Haiti with 112 Haitians, escorted by a team of law enforcement officers.

This group included 77 men, 33 women, one male infant and one female infant.

The statement read: “In spite of the issues surrounding The Bahamas Immigration Department’s firm stance in continuing its administering of the law as it relates to illegal migrants’ breach of the statute laws of our sovereign Commonwealth of The Bahamas, it remains our mandate as a law enforcement agency of this country to uphold and lawfully execute our sworn duty firmly but fairly, consistent with the rule of law both nationally and internationally, irrespective of one’s ethnicity or station in life.

“As such, we take this opportunity to urge all persons wishing to enjoy the ‘sun, sand and seas’ of our Bahama land to enter our borders lawfully or face lawful consequences. We express a special thank you to our Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, and we likewise express special thanks to the Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy representatives for approval and clearance received in advance of such repatriation exercises.”

The statement added: “While we share great empathy for such persons, particularly post Hurricane Dorian, The Bahamas remains a sovereign nation of laws which we as an agency are obligated to enforce without fear; favour; malice; or ill will, in a humane but effective manner having great regard for the rule of law.

We wish them a safe and well flight.”

The Department of Immigration also repatriated earlier this week an American man, four Haitian men and three Haitian women, and four Nigerian men. Two Bangladeshi men were sent back to Bangladesh, one woman was sent back to South Africa and one Haitian man back to Brazil.

In response, activist group Rights Bahamas said the government of The Bahamas has decided to again spit in the face of the international community, even as it continues to break the country’s own laws.

The statement read: “In defiance of a request from the United Nations to stop deporting victims of Hurricane Dorian, and in the face of an assertion by the International Organisation for Migration that those

already expelled are now traumatised and unable to make a living in Haiti, the Immigration Department has announced that a further deportation exercise has been carried out.

“As usual, the department is at great pains to emphasise its respect for the rule of law, yet it is difficult to see this as anything but a joke when their methods of rounding up and detaining people have been repeatedly shot down as illegal by the courts. And, to the extent that, by the Department’s own admission, two Haitian children, one an infant, were among those deported, it is highly probable that these children were born in The Bahamas and have therefore been denied their right to be registered as citizens in accordance with the Constitution.”

The statement added: “This is the very definition of illegal behaviour by a department of government. The Minnis administration’s continued refusal to rein in this rogue agency is being denounced by international organisations. The prime minister’s continued threats and verbal attacks on vulnerable migrants is being scrutinised by the global press. In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the eyes of the world are on The Bahamas; the disgraceful manner in which we are conducting ourselves will end up as an enormous mark of shame on the country’s record for many years to come.”

The Tribune’s attempts to

BAHAMASAIR ON ALERT OVER 737

By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net BAHAMASAIR has been alerted to check a Boeing 737 in its fleet after the Federal Aviation Authority alerted airlines worldwide of the possibility of cracks between the wing and the fuselage.

The FAA ordered the checks and Ryanair, a budget airline headquartered in Dublin, has already withdrawn three of its aircraft from service for repairs after finding cracks. Older generations of the series with more than 30,000 takeoffs and landings must be checked. Bahamasair has one Boeing 737-700 in its fleet – but it has not yet reached the 30,000 total.

The FAA said about five percent of the older aircraft flown worldwide may have a crack in the pickle fork which attaches the fuselage to the wing.

It is unclear if Boeing, the maker of the aircraft, would have directly notified Bahamasair of these concerns with the older 737 series.

Bahamasair managing director Tracy Cooper told The Tribune that their Boeing 737 is not up for inspection as the aircraft does not have 30,000 takeoffs and landings. However, in early 2020, the 737 will reach its quota and be inspected at that time. Mr Cooper is not worried as the aircraft has had earlier inspections and was deemed safe.

Mr Cooper said: “Bahamasair operates only

one of the Boeing Next Generation (NG) aircraft, a B737-700 series.

Although this aircraft falls within the inspection requirements mandated by the US Federal Aviation Administration, the inspection threshold is not yet reached. The aircraft will be inducted for these inspections during scheduled maintenance in 1st quarter 2020. Based on inspection times given, the aircraft is considered to be safe in its operations.”

The Bahamasair Boeing 737-700, purchased in 2018, was once operated by China’s Lucky Air and Alaska Airline. The Tribune understands that the airline had previous plans this year to purchase additional Boeing 737s to grow its fleet.

reach Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson for comment on where the migrants were detained were unsuccessful up to press time.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said undocumented immigrants will be banned from Abaco’s Family Relief Centre.

He was responding to a reporter who asked how the government will determine who occupies the domes.

“Those will be individuals who have been displaced, but there will be no illegals in the domes, full stop, no illegals,” he said. During a press conference at his office yesterday,

he noted the centre near Spring City will house 125 to 250 domes that can accommodate up to five people. The remaining 125 domes will be in the Spring City and Central Pines sub-divisions with the first shipment of 40 domes scheduled to arrive mid-November.

PAGE 6, Thursday, November 7, 2019

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced the drafting of an order to immediately make Abaco a value added tax-free zone.

The order, when enforced, would override government’s previously announced start date of December 1.

However, the change will only apply to Abaco and not Grand Bahama.

Dr Minnis explained to the House of Assembly

THE TRIBUNE

Abaco to get VAT relief immediately yesterday that Grand Bahama had inventories, which needed to be dealt with appropriately. “There

was some degree of confusion as to what was allowed duty free and VAT free within Abaco and I know

that the commencement period for VAT free has been placed at December 1,” Dr Minnis said during

his contribution to debate on the Disaster Reconstruction Authority Bill 2019.

“The explanation given was that it would take a couple weeks to readjust the computer to deal with the VAT-free component, but we must understand that Abaco has no inventory with no computer.

There is no commerce.

There is nothing to adjust.

Only Grand Bahama and therefore the order is being made/drafted so that Abaco will be VAT-free immediately.”

Dr Minnis said this would apply to most residential and commercial products, adding an exigency list is to be expanded.

He added: “Grand Bahama would be delayed until the 1st (of December) because Grand Bahama has inventory that has to be dealt with appropriately but there is no way or no reason why Abaco should be penalised

because Grand Bahama has inventory.”

The VAT-free zoning is envisaged to further assist with getting the island operational in the shortage possible time.

“We are actively working to get these economic engines working,” Dr Minnis said. “Now some people may visit Abaco and then say looking at Marsh Harbour that they aren’t doing anything, but we must remember that the southern end of Abaco is functional. The northern end is functional. The lights in the Cooper’s Town area was connected and functional Sunday, so Cooper’s Town is now enjoying air condition and the whole works.

“The North Abaco Port is open, Marsh Harbour Port is open and the airport I have been ensured should be by weekend or soon after,” he said referring to the return of international flights.

WE’RE DOING OUR BEST TO WORK OUT HOW MANY STILL MISSING - MINNIS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said it is very difficult for government to give an exact count of those missing since Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama, telling Parliament last night “we are doing our best”.

According to the Killarney MP, several things factored into his administration’s inability to update the public on these missing people two months since the storm. “We’re only aware of about 67 (deaths) and we must remember there was excessive storm surge,” Dr Minnis said last night as he wrapped up debate on the Disaster Reconstruction Authority Bill, “and individuals may have been swept out, so it is a possibility that later on we may find bodies at remote cays and other places that may have been washed and moved by the ocean. That’s a possibility.

“It’s very difficult for us to have an exact count on the numbers of missing individuals because you will recall that there are a lot of undocumented individuals.

If they are undocumented we won’t have records of them and therefore you may find that numbers may fluctuate, but we are doing our best to keep count of and reporting to the nation at large as to the count the number dead as well as the number missing.”

This as Dr Minnis said his administration’s Disaster Reconstruction Authority Bill 2019 was proof that government is “dead serious” about making sustainable changes in the country following devastating Hurricane Dorian.

During his earlier contribution to the Bill, he said it did several things that have not been seen in other pieces of legislation.

These include prohibiting the holder of the authority’s chairmanship from also holding political office and a restriction that only 20 percent of the budget can be used for salaries and personal emoluments.

However, Opposition MP Chester Cooper said the Official Opposition would not support this Bill calling it horribly drafted and poorly thought out.

He called the Bill “NEMA 2.0”, telling House members it would easily create opportunity for cronyism.

Many have questioned how the authority will work as much of its functions seem to overlap with the National Emergency Management Agency. “In seeing the destruction caused by Dorian my government knew right away we had to change how The Bahamas prepares for, and responds to storms, especially mega storms,” Dr Minnis said.

“The warmer seas due to climate change mean that cyclones that peaked at Category 1 or 2 strength in a previous time now may be of Category 4 or 5 intensity or ‘Category Hell’ as the United Nations secretarygeneral stated after seeing the scale of the disaster for himself.

“We have to change, revise and in various instances dramatically overhaul laws, procedures, agencies and mindset for these times.

“There are those who cling to doing things the old way. Whenever innovation is suggested they say ‘no, no, no’. They complain.

They fear change. But change is a must if we are to develop new procedures, structures and modes of thinking that may save lives and lessen the damage to hard-earned property when storms strike.”

The Bill creates the framework for the the Bahamas National Recovery and Reconstruction Trust Fund. The fund Dr Minnis said will be an independent and non-political body to help fund home and building repairs.

When he took the floor to speak on the Bill, Mr Cooper said it was an offensive proposal. “We’re not going to support this bill,” Mr Cooper said “In fact let me go a step further and say that this is one of the worst drafted, poorly thought out pieces of legislation that I’ve seen.

It was actually offensive in many regards. People are hurting on the ground.

They are not seeing relief and restoration fast enough.

Commerce has not been restored and there is a looming level of uncertainty as it relates to the future and their most basic supplies and basic needs.

“Yet we find time to create nonsense pieces of legislation. If NEMA isn’t working, why don’t we fix it? If NEMA needs to be enhanced why don’t we tweak it? Why don’t we enhance it rather than creating another bureaucracy?”

THE TRIBUNE from page one one point, she contemplated stepping in to stop the savagery, but ultimately decided otherwise.

“I parked the car, then I jump out to stop the fight,” Burrows was quoted as saying.

“I didn’t reach close to the fight; that’s when my mind tell me to get back in the car.”

The evidence was presented during Burrows’ and Edwards’ trial over allegations they murdered Mackey on January 25, 2018. According to the evidence, Mackey was killed because five girls who were supposed to be her friends wanted her to pay for a broken $80 Huawei cellphone that belonged to one of them.

According to reports from police, shortly before 6pm that day, police control room was contacted about reports that a female was stabbed about the body in the Key West Street area off Cordeaux Avenue. Police officers were dispatched to investigate.

Upon their arrival, a woman who was identified as the victim’s sister, Latisha Woodside, directed officers to a brown and white apartment complex on the eastern side of Key West Street. On the porch, just in front of door number nine, officers discovered Mackey, semi-conscious, lying face down and suffering from four stab wounds to the upper back and two stab wounds to the right arm.

Mackey, who had turned 19 the day before, was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where she died around 8.28pm.

According to the record of interviews of both women, conducted two days after the incident, Burrows was driving her car in the area of Key West Street with Williams, Edwards, Davanya Lawes, Yolika Domesle aka “Gabby”, and Matia Sylverain as passengers when Williams spotted Mackey.

Edwards said when Williams spotted Mackey, she started saying “see Breanna, see Breanna on the

Thursday, November 7, 2019, PAGE 7

Alleged killers blame friend for fatal attack corner”, before asking Edwards to open the car door and let her out.

Edwards said her door wouldn’t open, so Williams exited via the opposite door.

Domesle, who was seated in the front passenger seat, subsequently exited the vehicle and threw a bottle at Mackey that ended up hitting her in the face.

Burrows said after that, Mackey’s older sister, who according to the evidence was Nafetera Brown, consequently told her to run, which she did. Williams and the others gave chase.

Burrows said Mackey ended up running in a yard and called out the name “Justin”. While fleeing however, Mackey slipped and fell in some mud, according to Burrows. When Mackey slipped and fell, Williams then grabbed her by the head and “to me what it look like punching her up”.

Edwards, in her interview, said she saw when Williams “snatched” Mackey, and said she thought she was punching the victim. However, she said when Williams drew back her hand, she realized she was brandishing a knife.

When asked how many times she saw Williams stab Mackey, Edwards replied: “All I know is a lot, I couldn’t keep up”.

“That’s when I told Zaria ‘she jooking her’, let’s go around here,” Edwards said in her interview.

While that was happening, Sylverain was kicking Mackey, while Lawes was running in the road as if she was making a beeline for Mackey. However, Williams had since stabbed Mackey, and so Lawes ran back to Burrows’ car.

The other girls eventually

IN the dock: Zaria Burrows, left, and Dervinique Edwards made their way to the car, which was when Burrows realised Williams had a knife on her the entire time. After Williams drew all of their attention to the bloody weapon, Burrows consequently ordered her to throw the knife out of her car. Burrows then dropped the girls off at their respective homes.

Edwards, however, said she did not stay home after the incident, and went “riding out Gambier” with Burrows, Williams, Domesle, Lawes, and Sylverain after the incident.

Burrows meanwhile, said after the incident, she picked up her girlfriend and went “riding looking for something to eat”. It is was only when she dropped her girlfriend off that she discovered that Mackey had died.

Burrows subsequently drove to Lawes’ mother to ask her if she would accompany her to the

police station. When they got there, officers from the Central Detective Unit (CDU) asked her about the whereabouts of “the rasta fellow”. In response, Burrows said the “rasta fellow” was her, and that she was the one who was driving the silver Honda.

When asked if the group was driving around with the sole purpose of finding Mackey, Burrows said

no. Burrows, as well as Edwards, also denied any prior knowledge that the other girls wanted to fight the deceased. The pair also said they never heard Williams say she wanted to harm Mackey.

However, both women acknowledged that one of the other girls, Domesle, had a beef with Mackey that stemmed from an $80 Huawei cellphone,

according to the evidence.

Edwards, in her ROI, said Domesle had a “problem” with Mackey because she (Mackey) broke Domesle’s phone and “promised to pay back for it”, which apparently never happened.

Burrows, meanwhile, explained in her ROI that Mackey’s and Domesle’s “situation” stemmed from an iPhone 6. She said that on an unspecified occasion, Mackey told Williams to tell Domesle to go by her mother’s house to get $50, allegedly for the phone’s repair. However, Burrows said when she and the other girls went to the house, Mackey’s mother told Domesle that she never authorised anyone to get the $50.

Burrows said Mackey’s mother and sister subsequently “started to run on” about the issue, and when she suggested that they “go deal with this in the police hand”, Mackey’s mother said “ya’ll could go to the police, I’ll be here waiting on the police”.

The case continues. Dervard Francis represents Burrows. Eleanor Albury represents Edwards. Cassie Bethel represents the Crown.

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PAGE 8, Thursday, November 7, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Dates in history which still echo in the halls of power

I

T HAS been a week of political anniversaries in the US and this coming Saturday marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Powerful forces in both East and West Germany, elsewhere in Eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union all contributed to the dismantling of the Wall.

When it fell it seemed to both symbolise and accelerate the collapse of post-World War II Soviet Russian hegemony over Eastern Europe.

The Soviet Union soon afterward imploded and from its wreckage emerged 15 newly independent ethnic states that retain to this day their political autonomy and UN membership. Most of these former Soviet republics also maintain a strong economic relationship with Russia and with that, a susceptibility to pressure from Moscow. A few have actually gone to war with Russia over various territorial disputes, with Ukraine the only one presently in active combat with Moscow’s military forces.

Back in 1989, George HW Bush was the American President. Though the Soviet Union’s collapse occurred during his time in the White House, most contemporary commentators and subsequent history books have given credit for the Soviet implosion to Ronald Reagan, Bush’s predecessor for eight years ending in January 1989.

Reagan, an unabashed and enthusiastic competitor with the USSR for world

BERLINERS sing and dance on top of the Berlin Wall to celebrate the opening of East-West German borders in Berlin on November 10, 1989

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

political hegemony, was a big fan of big American defence budgets, and many observers felt his profligate spending on expansive new weapons systems and other conservative military priorities essentially

drove the Soviet Union into bankruptcy as it vainly attempted to keep up with Reagan’s spending zeal.

Presiding over the end of the USSR was President Mikhail Gorbachev. He was also the General Secretary

of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev is still alive, reportedly wealthy and has been episodically engaged in Russian politics. This Nobel Peace Prize winner actually ran for president of

SPEAKING of Trump, which everyone in Washington does, all the time, consider this: The US president leads the nation during a period of still very low unemployment, largely healthy stock prices and slowing but still significant overall economic growth. Whether you like his campaign promises or not, he has tried to keep them far more than have most politicians. If he could keep his mouth shut and his Twitter finger from twitching all the time, Trump might coast to re-election.

Russia in the 1990s. He has sometimes been critical of current President Vladimir Putin.

Reflecting on the dramatic events of 30 years ago, Gorbachev wrote the following for Time magazine: “(In 1989) we drew a final line under the Cold War. Our goal was a new Europe: a Europe without dividing lines. The leaders who have succeeded us have failed to achieve that goal. A modern security architecture, a strong mechanism for preventing and resolving conflicts, has not been created in Europe.

Hence the painful problems and conflicts that beset our continent today.”

Wise words to be sure.

But no one in either Washington or Moscow seems to be listening.

RESENTMENT OVER EMBASSY SEIZURE STILL SIMMERS IN AMERICA MONDAY marked the 40th anniversary of the seizure by radical Iranians of the American Embassy in Tehran. The assault and subsequent occupation of the embassy took place in the context of the collapse of the American-backed Iranian monarchy and its replacement by the present theocratic regime led by a succession of orthodox ayatollahs.

Over 50 Americans were held prisoner in their embassy for 444 days.

The occupation ended at almost exactly the moment Ronald Reagan took over as president after defeating Jimmy Carter in the 1980 US presidential elections.

Carter’s feckless inability to break the embassy siege contributed to his reputation as an almost impotent leader of the world’s strongest nation.

US resentment of the embassy occupation has simmered ever since.

Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran was supposed to reverse that, but Trump quickly pulled the US out of the agreement, and Iran remains atop the American list of international bad actors. Regular notices are issued by the Departments of State and Treasury of new additions to the US list of Iranians and their allies whose misbehaviour has led to imposition of economic sanctions and other restrictions on them and their families.

US President Trump regularly vilifies Iran and its leaders, and there is little evidence that the deep freeze in relations between Washington and Tehran will thaw anytime soon.

PRESIDENT Donald Trump stands with Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki on the balcony of the White House. Suzuki is wearing a Make America Great Again hat.

NATIONALS PROVIDE WELCOME DISTRACTION FROM POLITICS IN Washington, the hometown Nationals baseball team won the World Series last week. This was the first baseball championship for the city in nearly 100 years, and it produced a lot of local excitement and welcome distraction from the simultaneously exciting but almost monotonous reality of Trump, dirty politics and impeachment.

In winning their championship, the Nationals made history in several respects.

They won all four road games in the Series, as did their opponents, the Houston Astros. That had never happened before. The Nats staged dramatic late-inning comebacks in many games throughout the 17 games of

their playoff triumph over four different teams.

In addition to the Astros, regarded by many as the Goliath of baseball over the past several years, the Nationals also vanquished the heavily-favoured Los Angeles Dodgers, who had appeared in the past two World Series.

The Nationals had a big victory parade down Constitution Avenue in Washington on Saturday on a clear, pleasant November day. Then most of them attended a hastily-arranged visit to the White House on Monday. The event was boycotted by some of the team’s stars as a protest against Trump’s immigration and other policies, but

most of the players and all key members of the ownership and management attended.

MLB players overall might be the most conservative group of professional American athletes, and a couple of the Nats players offered heartfelt endorsements of Trump during the team’s White House visit.

This may have reassured the president, because he was forced to endure a rare public rebuke a few days earlier.

Trump had attended the fifth game of the World Series in Washington, and when he was introduced, a full-throated cry was clearly audible from the sellout crowd: “Lock him up.”

RED FACES IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

ON TUESDAY, as expected, Democrats regained complete control of the Virginia state government for the first time since 1993. The Dems swept back into control of both houses of the state legislature.

One voter north of Richmond told the Associated Press that “we didn’t want to make (Trump) the only reason we came out to vote, but he’s a baboon. We travel a lot, and everywhere we go, we are embarrassed.”

A Democrat also won the governorship in Kentucky, but this doesn’t portend electoral defeat for Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell as he seeks to retain his seat in next year’s general election. The incumbent GOP governor was personally unpopular in this deep red state and had chosen not to accept federal Medicaid money as part of his doctrinaire resistance to Obamacare, adversely affecting the health benefits of many thousands of his constituents.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 7, 2019, PAGE 9

THE RANFURLY Home hosted a ceremony yesterday to open its first official transitional home. Far left: Lickson Presume, the first official tenant. Near left: Catherine Chisnall-Mitchell accepts a cheque donation from Zonta Club Foundation’s President Kayla Darville.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

NEW HOME OFFERS HOPE TO RANFURLY YOUNGSTERS from page one family we want to maintain lifelong relationships with our kids.

Which means at 18 we just don’t say goodbye, never see you again.

“We say how can we help you thrive; how can we help you become healthy contributing, constructive members of society and this home was a step that we thought necessary to fill the gap between them being young adults to being independent individuals.

“It’s not an entitlement, it is a privilege. You have to apply, agree to be a tenant, you have to pay limited rent, you have to keep a code of behaviour.

But in many degrees, you are an independent individual, so your adult responsibilities are something you need to meet on a daily basis.”

She added: “What we do provide are community coachers that are a resource as far as your career educational choices go that again help you feel like someone is there to coach you and carry you through the tough reports of negotiating this change.”

Mrs Chrisnall-Mitchell said the board’s dream is to build ten duplex units to house 20 young adults. “It’ll be its own village or community and part of the wider Ranfurly family. Ranfurly Home was always supposed to be Ranfurly Homes for Children so this is our step in that direction,” she noted.

President of the board Alexandra Maillis-Lynch said she wishes she could have done more.

She said: “It’s been a long time coming and I wish we could

have gone faster, and I wish we could’ve done more. This is meant to be a little village, it takes a village to raise a child and this is meant to be village living and I think it’s important for the country to go back to thinking like this. Our children that leave have a very hard time finding places that are affordable, decent and not a scam.

“I don’t know how young people make it in the rent world anymore without the support team of a big family that would pay for first and last rent and help you to meet your bills if you get fired from your job. This is not enough but this is to say we started not to say this is it.”

The first tenant of the first transitional home, Lickson Presume, said he was grateful to have the opportunity to stand on his own.

PAGE 10, Thursday, November 7, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

GN-2332

GN 2324

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Thursday, November 7, 2019, PAGE 11

35 years for attempting to murder three men

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ACTING Supreme Court Chief Justice Estelle GrayEvans yesterday sentenced Doyle Mackey to 35 years in prison for the attempted murders of three men at a cemetery in East Grand Bahama three years ago.

The judge noted that Mackey - who admitted to being a drug dealer and firing shots at the men in self-defence at his trial – showed no remorse and failed to accept responsibility for the part he played in causing serious injuries to the complainants who could have lost their lives that day, along with two other men who were murdered at the McLean’s Town Cemetery on November 3, 2016.

At his sentencing, Justice Evans imposed a 35 year prison sentence on Mackey for the attempted murder of Jermaine Ferguson aka “Jenkins”, 35 years for the attempted murder of John Edgecombe aka “Rasta”, and 35 years for the attempted murder of Joshua Williams.

She said the sentences are to run concurrently starting from the day of conviction on May 9, less any time spent on remand before his conviction.

After the sentence was passed, Mackey’s attorney Carlson Shurland did not address the court, but informed The Tribune outside the courtroom that he intends to file an appeal in the Court of Appeal.

Mackey, who was wearing dark shades, showed no emotion as he was escorted from the courtroom by officers.

The 47-year-old convict was on trial in May for the murders of brothers Carlos and Carlton Hamilton, and the attempted murders of Ferguson, Edgecombe, and Williams. The jury returned a hung verdict on the murders, but found Mackey guilty 11-1 for the attempted murders.

Before passing sentence, Justice Evans said that she reviewed the evidence taken at the trial, as well as the convict’s probation and psychiatric reports, and evidence given by a

probation officer at the sentencing hearing, in addition to counsel’s pleas in relation to the convict, and reviewed and considered the authorities cited and pleas made by the Crown.

She noted that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors, indicating that Mackey had a previous conviction for an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and had used a firearm in the current case for which he was convicted.

“Mr Mackey admits to firing shots at the driver of the van but in self-defence, which was rejected by the jury. He left the scene of the crime and did not report the incident. While Mackey had been seen on the scene and fired shots at persons in the van, he maintains it was self-defence and has not admitted any responsibility for the injuries suffered by the complainants nor has he shown any remorse for the injuries caused.”

She further said: “The proliferation of the offences involving drugs and the use of firearms in The Bahamas is also, in my mind, an aggravating factor.

“The fact that Mr Mackey was 45 years old when he committed the offence, the seriousness of the offence, but for the grace of God three more persons could have lost their lives that day.”

She noted that although Mackey, who was convicted of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition 27 years ago (at age 20), for which he was fined $2,000 or six months’ imprisonment, it did not serve as a deterrent.

The judge believes that while the sentence of the previous conviction may have fulfilled the purpose of retribution, it had “very little or no effect in the areas of prevention, deterrence, or rehabilitation,” having regard for the offences which Mackey now stands convicted of.

Justice Evans stated that the offence of attempted murder is a serious one, and Mackey has been convicted of having attempted to kill three persons, albeit during the same incident.

She noted that under Section 294 of the Penal Code

any person who attempts to commit murder shall be liable to imprisonment for life.

The Judge indicated that consequently, the maximum sentence that the Supreme Court could impose on Mackey is life imprisonment.

She noted that while the sentence ought to punish and hopefully deter others, rehabilitation is also a consideration when imposing a sentence.

“I am also mindful that rehabilitation requires an acknowledgment of a need to be rehabilitated.

It requires an acknowledgment that one has done something wrong.”

“In this case, it appears from the probation report and the evidence of the probation officer that the convict does not accept the responsibility that he did anything wrong and maintains he acted in self-defence.

She noted that while he regrets the lapse of judgment that allowed him to revert to drug peddling, Mackey does not accept the part he played in causing serious injuries to the three men.

“Having regard for all the circumstances in the case, including the nature and seriousness of the crime, and the manner in which they were perpetrated, the evidence at trial, the probation report, the wishes of counsels, the law and authorities cited, the sentencing and other guidelines given in earlier cases, the mitigating and aggravating factors, the latter of which I find to outweigh the former, including the convict’s lack of remorse, I sentence Mackey to 35 years imprisonment for the attempted murders of Jermaine Ferguson aka “Jenkins” 35 years’ imprisonment for the attempted murder of John Edgecombe aka “Rasta,” and 35 years’ imprisonment for the attempted murder of Joshua Williams.”

Outside the courtroom, Mr Shurland said that the sentence was in line with the sentencing guidelines, but expressed concerns about the trial and proper vetting of jurors.

“The words I want to

DOYLE Mackey yesterday use would cause me to be in contempt, he said, when asked his feelings about the outcome of his client’s sentence. This was the most messed up trial I ever been in.”

“First of all, it so contradictory and it’s a problem to charge somebody with the

Photo: Derek Carroll same set of facts of killing two persons and wounding three others, finding a mistrial on the murders and then finding him guilty on the attempted murders – it just does not make sense.

Either they find him guilty of murder and attempted murder, or not guilty or a

mistrial on both, but it does not make sense.”

Mr Shurland said: “We also know there is a major issue with two jurors on that trial that were not qualified to be jurors because one was a convicted drug dealer and spent time in prison.”

“We intend to challenge that and we intend to make a formal complaint that they ( the court) need to do better vetting of jurors, but there is a problem with the jury pool.”

Mr Shurland stated that the Jurors Act says who is eligible and who is not eligible (to serve on the jury).

“They ought to do their background check and they would know… that a drug dealer should not be a part of the jury.”

“But the only relief Mr Mackey can get is at the Court of Appeal which we intend to file as soon as possible,” he said.

PAGE 12, Thursday, November 7, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

TOURIST EATEN BY SHARK

CITY REMOVES MARTIN LUTHER KING’S NAME KANSAS CITY Associated Press KANSAS City voters yesterday overwhelmingly approved removing Dr Martin Luther King’s name from one of the city’s most historic boulevards, less than a year after the city council decided to rename The Paseo for the civil rights icon. The debate began after the council’s decision in January to rename The Paseo for King. Civil rights leaders who pushed for the change celebrated when the street signs went up, believing they had won a decades-long battle to honor King, but a group of residents intent on keeping The Paseo name began collecting petitions to put the name change on the ballot and achieved that goal in April.

THE SIGN on the street were changed earlier this year.

Impeachment is going public for all to watch WASHINGTON Associated Press DEMOCRATS yesterday they will launch public impeachment hearings next week, intending to bring to life weeks of closeddoor testimony and lay out a convincing narrative of presidential misconduct by Donald Trump.

First to testify will be William Taylor, the top diplomat in Ukraine, who has relayed in private his understanding that there was a blatant quid pro quo

with Trump holding up military aid to a US ally facing threats from its giant neighbor Russia.

That aid, at the heart of the impeachment inquiry, is alleged to have been held hostage until Ukraine agreed to investigate political foe Joe Biden and the idea, out of the mainstream of US intelligence findings, that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 US election.

The testimony of Taylor a career envoy and war veteran with 50 years of service to the US, is what

PRESIDENT TRUMP Democrats want Americans to hear first. Taylor has told investigators about an

“irregular channel” that the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, set up for Ukraine diplomacy, and how the White House was holding up the military aid, according to a transcript of his closed-door interview released yesterday.

“That was my clear understanding, security assistance money would not come until the president committed to pursue the investigation,” Taylor said.

He was asked if he was aware that “quid pro quo” meant “this for that.”

“I am,” he replied.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and Republicans largely dismiss the impeachment inquiry, now into its second month, as a sham.

But Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee leading the probe, said that with two days of hearings next week Americans will have a chance to decide for themselves.

“The most important facts are largely not contested,” the California Democrat said. “Those open hearings will be an opportunity for the American people to evaluate the witnesses for themselves, to make their own determinations about the credibility of the witnesses, but also

to learn firsthand about the facts of the president’s misconduct.”

Along with Taylor, the public will hear from former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, whom Trump fired after what she and others say was a smear campaign against her, and career State Department official George Kent.

Taylor and Kent will appear on Wednesday, Yovanovitch on Friday.

To prepare for what’s ahead, the White House is beefing up its communications operations.

Trump ally Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, and Tony Sayegh, a former Treasury Department spokesman, are expected to join the White House team to work on “proactive impeachment messaging,” a senior administration official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal staffing.

The Trump administration has ordered officials not to participate in the House inquiry. But lawmakers have spent weeks hearing from current and former government witnesses, largely from the State Department, as one official after another has relayed his or her understanding of events.

A MISSING tourist is believed to have been eaten by a shark after a hand wearing his wedding ring was found inside the animal. A 44-year-old from Scotland went missing while swimming off the French island of Reunion, near Madagascar, over the weekend. The tiger shark was killed as it had been swimming near tourist beaches and was believed to be a threat.

An investigating source said: “It is feared that the hand belonged to a tourist who was reported missing on Saturday afternoon by his wife. The tourist and his wife were spending a week on the island and he had gone out swimming in the Hermitage Lagoon, off Saint-Gilles, alone on Saturday.

“When he did not get back, his wife sounded the alarm, and a full search was launched, involving boats and a helicopter.

Divers searched around a coral reef in the area, and there were also patrols on land involving sniffer dogs.

Sadly, the man could not be found.”

DNA tests are due to be carried out on the hand, but scientists from the CSR Shark Safety Centre on Reunion have been told that the wedding ring on the it “conformed to one identified by the man’s wife,” said the source.

POLISH DON’T NEED US VISA WARSAW, Poland Associated Press POLISH citizens will be able to travel to the U.S. without a visa from next week, officials said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that including Poland — a “trusted partner” — in the Visa Waiver Program was testament to the two countries’ “special relationship” and close cooperation on security issues.

Poland becomes the 39th nation to be covered by the program. Visa-free travel means Poles will still need to enter data into an online registry system, but will no longer need to stand in lines to see a consul, and the fee is down to $14 from the previous $160.

From Monday, Poland’s Independence Day, Poles won’t require visas for tourist or business trips of up to 90 days.

THE TRIBUNE

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

Thursday, November 7, 2019, PAGE 13 THE government has announced a state-recognised funeral will be held for Dr Calsey Johnson, a former senator, veteran broadcaster and diplomat.

The funeral will be held tomorrow at 11am at Rhodes Memorial Methodist Church, in Montrose Avenue.

Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens Cemetery.

His body will lie in state today from 9am in the foyer of the Senate, with viewing for the general public from 12.30pm-7pm.

FUNERAL FOR CALSEY JOHNSON

CALSEY JOHNSON, a former senator, veteran broadcaster and diplomat.