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VOLUME:116 No.221, NOVEMBER 11TH, 2019

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Probe into Defence Force vessels deal Bahamas $150m contract caught in Dutch inquiry

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Netherlands is investigating alleged bribery involving the Christie administration’s acquisition of nine defence force vessels in 2014 and has been receiving co-operation from local officials for its investigation since June of last year.

Dutch officials suspect corruption related to the shipbuilding services this country received from Damen Shipyard Group (DSG), which is based in Gorinchem, Netherlands.

The Christie

administration borrowed $149m in 2014 for DSG to build nine defence force vessels as part of its Sandy Bottom Project which aimed to enhance the capacity of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

The Tribune understands that the Dutch investigation centres on commissions the government paid to NSG Management & Technical Services Ltd, a company based in Barbados that acted as DSG’s agent to the Bahamian and Trinidad & Tobago governments.

The Bahamas paid NSG $13m in commissions

HOTEL workers were yesterday warned it would be “absolute madness” to further damage a tourism industry already “reeling” from Hurricane Dorian with industrial action during the peak winter season. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told Tribune Business the last thing The

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SERVICING Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) $650m refinancing will end the “buddy-buddy system” that has enabled delinquent electricity payers to evade disconnection, a union leader is warning.

Paul Maynard, The Bahamas Electrical Workers Union’s president, said that bill-ducking customers will be in for a culture shock as they will no longer be able to rely on friends, family and political connections to escape cut-off once the rate reduction bond issue is placed in January 2019.

He said it was inevitable BPL will have to “tighten up and run properly”, especially when collecting the rate reduction bond fee that consumers must pay.

COLOMBIAN CIBC SALE GOES AHEAD

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE FIVE

Bahamas needed was “to shoot ourselves in the foot in our number one industry” given the economy’s fragile state in the Category Five storm’s aftermath.

He added that any industrial action would “throw a wrench” into a Bahamian tourism rebound that has far outpaced efforts by Caribbean rivals to recover from their own hurricane devastation.

CUSTOMERS WARNED: NO MORE SLACK ON BPL BILLS

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

ANGRY HOTEL UNIONS RAISE STRIKE THREAT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

HOME

NEVER TO FORGET

PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis and Governor General CA Smith at yesterday’s Remembrance Day service. More coverage - Page 10.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh

THE deputy prime minister has voiced optimism that CIBC’s sale of majority control in its Bahamian and regional affiliate will be “positive” given the buyer’s reputation for innovation.

Peter Turnquest said that he also hoped Colombia’s GNB Financial Group would boost competition and services within the Bahamian commercial banking industry following its imminent entry to this market.

Speaking after CIBC FirstCaribbean and GNB formally confirmed that the latter is acquiring twothirds majority control, Mr Turnquest said: “I think it is a positive.”

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MOURNING GOES ON FOR LOST PILOT

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HIS pilot’s uniform was wrapped in a frame that sat in front of the church, a reminder that he loved flying and died after a crash a year ago this month.

Byron Ferguson went missing on November 8, 2018.

The wound remains sore for his family who gathered at the Bethel Baptist Church alongside friends on Friday to remember his life.

MISSING: Byron Ferguson His brothers, Bjorn, Ashton and Anvon Ferguson, told stories about his zest for life

and passion for children, sports, family and flying.

“From very early on, we knew Byron was going to be a pilot,” said Bjorn Ferguson, struggling to maintain composure. He said before his death Byron was enrolled at a university completing his final semester, hoping to later practice aviation law. “Every and anything that concerned planes caught Byron’s interests. Our summer

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PAGE 2, Monday, November 11, 2019

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58 HAITIANS FOUND PACKED ONTO SMALL VESSEL

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Marine Officers intercepted a Haitian vessel on Friday with 58 Haitian nationals on board. The officers were on patrol in the Exuma Cays when they discovered the boat.

The vessel and those on board - 52 males and six females - were turned over to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Defence Force patrol

craft HMBS Cascarilla, under the command of Senior Lieutenant Samantha Hart, brought the migrants to shore where they were turned over to immigration officials for further processing.

Meanwhile US Coast Guard officials intercepted 15 people - including two Bahamians - who were discovered onboard a disabled vessel in US waters during an failed alleged human trafficking operation from Grand Bahama, according

to an immigration official.

Four people - two Bahamians and two Haitians - are being kept in US custody pending further investigations in connection with human smuggling and to face possible prosecution in the US. However, the 11 migrants found onboard the vessel found at sea in US waters on November 5 - were returned to Grand Bahama, where they were taken into custody by Bahamian authorities.

HAITIANS who were intercepted on board

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Monday, November 11, 2019, PAGE 3

FAMILY STILL IN MOURNING FOR LOST PILOT WHO WENT MISSING A YEAR AGO

TOP: The family of Byron Ferguson held a press conference at Nirvana Beach soon after the pilot went missing.

Right: Volunteers recover parts of the plane. Left: Byron and Anya Ferguson on their wedding day from page one vacations became so memorable because we could rest assured that at some point while at the airport Byron was sure to get lost due to his fascination with planes.

“Everything he did was just positive. Not having him here is simply unexplainable. The void is so great and it’s just so painful and I know my brother is flying with angels.”

In the hard times that followed Byron’s presumed death, Dr Ashton Ferguson said many came to his family’s aid, teaching him the importance of community, which could “be an insurance policy against some cruelty that life could put in your path.

It helps render you a little more immune to some of the loss and disappointment you have to face.

As a result of this tragedy, watching my family grieve, I got a glimpse of what a community looks like. It’s all the people who turn up before you even ask to do the things that they don’t even have the time to do, all of the support, the kind words, the gifts, the food and just the time spent, it all meant a lot and we will be forever thankful.”

Anvon Ferguson spoke about Byron’s leadership in his own life, humouring attendees with a story of his brother’s support during a high school basketball game, support so cheery it summed up Byron as someone who “found the silver lining in everything”.

“It’s really tough to just think about going on without him because pretty much every aspect of my life, my taste in music, my taste in fashion, everything that I got I pretty much developed from knowing him,” he said.

The inability to quickly find Byron’s plane and his brothers’ criticism of recovery efforts commanded attention last year, coming to exemplify concern among some that the government couldn’t be trusted to provide quality rescue and recovery services.

In response, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis

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‘It’s really tough to think about going on without him’

ordered a full review of the protocols, procedures and agencies involved in air accident response, with the investigation to be conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and other relevant agencies.

The status of that investigation is unknown.

However, the Air Accident Investigation Authority released an interim report of the incident yesterday.

Investigators said the investigation was difficult to conduct because the plane, cargo and pilot all sank, going to a part of the ocean where they were “not humanely possible to be retrieved”.

Nonetheless, the AAID

determined that Ferguson’s aircraft met regulatory requirements.

“Our investigation examined human factors thoroughly and determined that: fatigue was not a factor; the pilot was adequately trained to perform his duties, he was also certified for the aircraft and had many years of flying experience in this type of aircraft,” they wrote.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force was criticised for calling off its search for Byron’s plane the night it went down.

Yesterday, Acting Commander of the Defence Force Raymond King suggested the RBDF is now better at responding to such incidents.

He noted that on October

18 a small aircraft went down in an almost identical spot to Byron’s plane.

“We responded timely and we were able to retrieve the two occupants of the aircraft and bring them in to Coral Harbour where they were given medical treatment before they were released,” he said. “We responded timely, the assets were there and so I was quite impressed with the response generally to that latest incident. It was quick, it was effective, in that we were able to get on

scene quickly and we were able to safely rescue those men and get them to our medical facility.”

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As for the prime minister’s comprehensive investigation, he was not in a position to give an update.

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas No Master” SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., of O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., Contributing EditorK.C.S.G., 1972-1991 (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor Publisher/Editor1919-1972 1972Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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jamaaltheartist@gmail.com jamaaltheartist@gmail.com STORM ASSESSMENT FIGURES REVEALED

STORM ASSESSMENT FIGURES REVEALED

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Published daily Monday to Friday Publisher/Editor 1972Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

Published daily Monday to Friday

& Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas(242) N3207 News &Shirley General Information 322-1986 Advertising Manager (242) 502-2394 Circulation Department TELEPHONES (242) 502-2386 Nassau fax (242) 328-2398 News & General (242) 322-1986 Freeport, GrandInformation Bahama (242)-352-6608 Advertising (242) Freeport faxManager (242)502-2394 352-9348 Circulation Department (242) 502-2386 Nassau fax (242) 328-2398 WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK Freeport, Grand Bahama (242)-352-6608 Freeport fax (242) news 352-9348 www.tribune242.com @tribune242 tribune network WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK

Government Did we payheadstrong too muchover to immigration Damen?

And whereheadstrong did the money go?

Government over immigration www.tribune242.com

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NEVER mind what other people considerable documentation relating are saying, the Bahamas government is to that decision that we would encourage the government to publish in full to going to do things its own way.

Never mind local activists, inter- demonstrate their reasoning. In fact, we Dutch insist officials to just arelating co-ordiWHENagencies in 2013, Minister of considerable would – documentation it’sto notcome enough to say national or then even the people United NEVER mind what other nation meeting as part of the probe National Security announced the signing they thought hard about it, show us the Nations, the Bahamas government must are saying, the Bahamas government is to that decision that we would encour– but isn’t clear any Bahaof of intent toway. buy nine new age communications that led to the be the right.

Mustn’t it? the it government towhether publish inreversal full to going toletter do things its own mian vessels, proclaimed “theimmigration single larg- demonstrate of the attended. decision onreasoning. deportations.

Sure, he its tough lineitactivists, on their In fact, we Never mind local interAs insist the –investigation proceeds, est to or date in the Defence For example, theenough government saysit and investment shanty towns haseven stirred it’s not just to say national agencies the concerns United would is clear significant questions aretheto Force’s history”. that contrary to what has from the likes of Rights Bahamasmust and they thought hard about it, been show alleged us Nations, the Bahamas government be the asked.

State Minister of A sizeable investment with communications by UN,Former they have received no Fred Smith QC. The sight indeed of Prime– Minthat led to the reversal be right.

Mustn’t it?

National atleaving the time Keith Bell the government of day borrowing ofSecurity people shelters for ister Drits Hubert kicking a shanty ofreports the decision on deportations.

Sure, toughMinnis linetheon immigration said is baffled the allegations, $149m to pay for raised the stirred new to fear arrest.

That’s one of those statetownshanty door down theadditions worries Forofhe example, the by government says and towns has concernsof saying nothing this was brought to the fleet.

But of did the Christie governments that sounds good you think Bahamas Christian Council.

And that contrary to like what hasuntil been alleged from the likes Rights Bahamas and histhe attention. ment pay more than ithad needed to? Minabout it.UN, How they many have peoplereceived leaving shelsure,Smith migrants whosight just lost their by no Fred QC. The of Prime is people not the first time questions Investigators in the Netherlands, tersThis would stop by leaving the government desk jobs – along with everything else in their reports of shelters for ister Dr Hubert Minnis kicking a shanty have raised contract, where the down Damen Shipyard Group on the way out and about say oh, by the way, lives door after Hurricane Dorian - might of been arrest.

That’s one of the those statetown raised the worries of – fear however, with FNM the company that by provided theGeneral vessels I’m leaving beforeformer you arrest me? haveBahamas been ordered Attorney that sounds good until you deputy think the Christian Council.

And ments –Carl is based, probing the possibility of about leader Butler Turner demand“Our immigration officers doshelnot Bethelaretowho leave country.

But it. Loretta How many people leaving sure, migrants hadthe just lost their ingwould answers in by 2014 aspects of Mr the potential bribery. deport persons willy-nilly,” insistsdesk the –government in believing it is ters stop theabout government jobs along with persists everything else in their project.

It was sizecriticism. of theDorian commissions on on Bethel.

Weout must assume then all is right and the above the way and say oh, by that the way, lives after Hurricane - might She pointed that the PLP governtheSobeen vessels thatUnited worried investigators well.

That thereout really was no when the Nations called I’m leaving before you arrest me?problem have ordered by Attorney General ment was spending more on nine ships first –Bethel with commission feescountry. representing over Rony Jean-Charles’ on The Bahamas to the halt deportations “OurJean immigration officers dodepornot Carl to leave But than the FNM planned to spend on more than 12and percent the total itcontation from Thewilly-nilly,” Bahamas.

That there of government Haitians otherof persons insists Mr11 the persists inundocumented believing is deport fromnothing the company justincident twoall years tract value. was wrong with then the migrants over acriticism. lack of individual assess- Bethel.

Wesame must assume that isin right and above before.

Auditor EY had its Nations July that saw thereally housewas of Rights Bahaments and the guarantees ofown dueconcerns, process That there no problem So when United called well.

She alsoRony wanted to Agenor know why $8m noting Damen’s internal docu- over mas chairperson Mona raided.

– which people are entitled to under Jean Jean-Charles’ deporon The that Bahamas to own halt deportations was added may arise ments said that a other contract’s value should That in fact for the “changes government has rushed international law – Carl Bethel came tation from The Bahamas.that That there of Haitians and undocumented to put in the protective measures outfive blazing, was unfortunate during theplace scope ofwith the project”. be percent. nothing wrong the incident in migrants over asaying lack ofitindividual assess- was demanded Bahamas activtheSoUN applied The BahaFor thereof should be an where didstandards the extra per- July that starters, sawfor the Rights house Rights Bahaments and guarantees of to dueseven process ists by the Inter-American Commission mas that were not enforced in to their own accounting of where partraided. of that go?people That’s the question that has mas chairperson Mona each Agenor –cent which are entitled under on Human Rights two$8m years ago.

That countries. aIt’slaw a –good job Mr Bethel money wentthe to government – that included. launched global investigation into That in fact has rushed international Carl Bethel came Douglas Ngumi was perfectly doesn’t have a jobBahamas theunfortunate diplomatic We in hope thethe government will co-operDamen, withsaying The tangled up toKenyan put place protective measures out blazing, it inwas well he was illegally corps. ate in treated full with the investigation – activand be in it both because of the we demanded for when Rights Bahamas the UN applied standards to contract The Bahadetained yearsabout and seven months Indeed, he goes onout toinbecause claim that clear thesixpublic the outcome. signed asnot it turns the ists by with thefor Inter-American Commission mas thatand were enforced their own at the Carmichael Road Detention the UN should not issue on Governments here have company acting anprejudge agent foran Damen, Human Rights twodon’t yearsalways ago.

That countries.

It’s a as good job Mr Bethel Centre. “basedManagement on something they would’ve was perfectly doesn’t have a job and inthat the diplomatic the bestDouglas record Ngumi on transparency, but NSG Technical Ser- Kenyan There is adeserves trust when it comes heard… some insocial activist treated whendeficit he was illegally corps. the public to know if indeed vices Ltd, from paid $11.8m 2014 and 2015 well to matters of immigration are often group”. for six years and paid sevenmore months Indeed, he goes to Consultancy claim that detained thehow then administration than to a company calledonSRH soexpected it can becommission of little surprise Call skeptical, but we doubt the athandled, the the Carmichael Road Detention the UN us should not is prejudge an in issue double for the Services Inc, which registered The that the and UN why. pays attention when further UN issues a statement urging caution “based on something thatand theyNSG would’ve project Bahamas.

Both SRH share Centre. raised.

Thiscould isn’t just gossip based on from every complaint off Facebook.

There isare a trust deficit when it comes heard… some – social activist Mr Christie himself shed light something in common Stephen Robert concerns rumour.

Mr Bethel is seeking minimise how matters of was immigration often group”. on that too – he Minister are of Finance Hobson, a UK citizen to who is listedthe as toand is of certain.

Wetime are– nature of the concern.

What the UN acts so Prime itthing can Minister be little surprise Call us skeptical, we doubt the asBut well one as at the director/president ofbut the former and is handled, delighted topays hear thatChristie, thewhen government upon is evidence – and statements from that the UN attention further UN issues a statement urging caution so step forward, Mr there are the beneficial owner of the latter. insists that aThis country strictly activists part of that. are raised. isn’t that just gossip based on forms every officials complaint off Facebook. questions tothis be is answered.

Bahamian were asked by concerns adheres to the rule of law. We look forMinistry of Foreign Affairs the has and rumour.

MrThe Bethel is seeking to minimise ward the thing strict application the are law now responded, saying that But toone is certain. ofWe nature of the concern.

What the the UN deciacts when it to comes MPs their sion istoevidence resume– and the statements implementation hear to that the making government upon from delighted financial We look of immigration laws was a “painstak- insists thatdisclosures. this is a country that forward strictly activists forms part of that. to it with toof the tabling oftime audits ing, conscientious, butessentially necessary” one adheres to regard the around rule law.

We look for-in The Ministry of Foreign Affairstaking has NOW that BPL is particularly election and as required law. all, following analysis”.

That is ward to the all strict application ofAfter the have law now saying theits deciout aresponded, $650m“careful mortgage tothat cover debts the reports past, kinds ofbypromises we would assume that there is nottheir one to fact hear – notsimple: least when it comes MPsindividuals making sion resume the implementation –indeed old to andexcellent new – one is very been made, andtosome have law for one and another MPs. of is allgoing because it must mean there as is financial disclosures.

We look forward of immigration laws was athe “painstakit to have to do same avoided collection of for their debts or it with regard to the tabling of audits ing, necessary” one any conscientious, of us, it’s goingbut to have to make its tothe repercussions that go with it for reports as required by law. After all, following payments. “careful analysis”. That is and years. would assume that there not under one indeed excellent to hear – not least Electric union chief Paul Maynard was we The more people who don’tis pay one regime, and another MPs.the levy of all about because it that mustmeans meaninthere is law blunt what turn for thefor new the for higher customers – there’ll be no more relying will be on those who do – so you won’t on friends, family, lovers and political just be shorting the Treasury, you’ll be favours to stop the lights being turned taking money from the pocket of everyoff if you don’t pay up. “The buddy- one around you. buddy system is not going to work any Of course, there are cases of genuine more.” hardship and the company should do all He said that customers who duck it can to be accommodating, but if you their bills will be in for a shock. “If can pay and you don’t do so, why should you have a consumer that does not pay you be accommodated? their bill, and has not paid for two or There’s a lot still to be made clear EDITOR, Theon Tribune for money assistance in its country that –remains three months that bill, you’ve got toand by BPL about new charge and if it so fighting the effects of cliignorant, or disinterested collect. This one and that one going to brings an end to political favours it will I FIND that it extremely dischange, rising in the realities facing –us? friends, has to stop and mate you have to mainly be out of necessity rather than design appointing and sad that our sea levels and increasing Is it not the epitome be serious about it. They have to, or the but if it brings a silver lining that stops of supposedly educated frequency andassistance intensity hypocrisy to ask forthe help EDITOR, The Tribune money and inof country that remains so people lending the Prime money for are going to the never-payers from benefiting at Minister does not have the hurricanes, and yet refuse in putting out a fire when fighting the effects of cliignorant, or disinterested take over the security,” he said. expense of others, we’ll be glad. fortitude strength to way acknowledge ourrising own inwe arerealities continuing to throw I FIND itand extremely dis-to mate change, the us?

Of course, it should be the that mainly We’ll believe it when we see it,facing though quash the idea of drilling participation and responsigasoline on it?

Are we all appointing and sad that our sea levels and increasing Is it not the epitome people who are able to pay always – and given how often BPL has literallyof forshould oil inbe The Bahamas, bilitydoesn’t in these that so supposedly educated Prime and events. intensity hypocrisy to year, ask down, for help doing so – but frequency that left us allofin the darkdumbed this seeing immediately.

Does the As someone supposhelpless in thinking this Minister does not have the hurricanes, and yet refuse in putting out a fire when always turn out to be the case, and anything at all can be a tricky task. money matter so much toto toedly trained as aour medical through, so concerned fortitude and strength acknowledge own we are continuing to throw these the government doctor, scientifically ori- gasoline only with quash idea of officials, drilling participation and responsionour it?own Aresalaries, we all so oil corrupted that bility ented, Dr Minnis that that we cannot down, see whatsois for in The them, Bahamas, in how thesecan events. dumbed they cannot even refuse to accept, supposor even helpless going oninhere and speak immediately.

Doesmention the As someone thinking this the right and so decent fail trained to mention the through, out? I fear so the answer. money matter muchthing to edly as a what medical concerned to do?

It shines aofficials, light on doctor, overwhelming scientific these government scientifically ori- only with our own salaries, ourcorrupted collectivethem, mentality, community is saying?

The thatNORMAN so that ented, how can Dr Minnis we cannotTRABULSY see what is especially of those in govburning of fossil fuels is Jr they cannot even mention refuse to accept, or even going on here and speak EDITOR, The Tribune Williams Highway near I’m not against small ernment, that decent we are willing driving climate change.

Nassau the right and thing fail to mention what the out?

I fear the entrance for the dump. signs, say the lessanswer. than four to beg the world community What hope is there for a October 17, 2019 to Ido? It shines a light on overwhelming scientific AM appalled by the In my opinion this sign square feet, of people our collectiveof large mentality, is saying?

NORMAN TRABULSY proliferation signs community belongs In The Dump.The looking for work.

I’m also especially of those in govburning of fossil fuels is Jr on the sides of most of the I’m surprised that the not against large signs on ernment, that we are willing climate Nassau owned by the major streets in New Provi- driving government allowschange. this to property to beg the world community What hope is there for a October 17, 2019 dence. These signs, which happen. At the latest count advertiser.

I am completely are mostly on Government we have 17 Ministers, two against huge signs painted property, advertise eve- Ministers of State, and on the sides of buildings EDITOR, The Tribune without too much trouble involved and suggested are rything from beverage to thousands of civil servants. like Cable Bahamas on be returned in good meas- a write-off were insured and Games of Chance.

Apparently, none of these Princes Charles Highway ARE vehicles and equip- ure to operate well...... that all endeavours will be There are several large elected or appointed rep- and BTC on JFK East. ment of the RBPF and Patrol cars are an issue taken to obtain insurance signs on the southwest resentatives or senior civil If you for want see RBDF insured? if the computer system was involved satisfaction theirtorepair.

EDITOR, The without too trouble suggested segment the Tribune intersecservants havemuch noticed that sortand of sorry, thing Minister Go are To MinisterofDames advised be flooded maybe the cost to athat Write-off, returned in good measwrite-off were insured and tion of Marathon Road our once-beautiful island Orlando.

If you want to the House last and week that ure replace them well...... might be too that No..... he further ARE vehicles equipto operate all can endeavours willconbe and Charles Drive. being ruined by these keep our islands beautiful, the Prince combined group had is high but... allare vehicles that taken firm with which insurance Insurance ment of the RBPF and Patrol cars an issue to obtain Contrast with a beaustop allowing huge signs a loss insured? of this numerous patrol ifsigns. drive on publicsystem roadswas are satisfaction agency arefor the Police and RBDF the computer their repair. tiful Yellow I Elder tree If theretoisbesomeone in located on property not vehicles believe fire flooded required insured vehicles Ministerand Dames advised maybe the cost toat Defence Write-off, sorry,insured?

Minister opposite the north east Government responsible owned by the advertiser. trucks as on a last result of hurrileast Third party by too the No..... the House week that replace them might be can he further consegment which is pres- for approving signage, they canecombined Dorian.

Road Traffic MOSS the group had high but... all Act. vehicles that firmS P with which Insurance ently full bloom.

There areThe either asleep,roads incompeJOHN A the WANKLYN Firein are patrol diesel drive needsareto agency Nassau a loss oftrucks numerous onMinister public are Police and is a hugeand signIifon the north tent or acting inthe accordance Nassau vehicles even flooded can required confirm thatbe vehicles October 14, 2019 vehicles believe fire to insured at Defence vehicles insured? side of with their November 4, 2019 trucks as Tonique a result ofDarling hurri- least Thirdbosses partywishes. by the cane Dorian.

Road Traffic Act. S P MOSS Fire trucks are diesel The Minister needs to Nassau

No more friends, family, lovers or favours

Time to stop Time to stop drilling for oil drilling for oil Bad sign of the times

Question of insurance Question of insurance

When it Excellent When it comes to work from comes to Haiti, follow the science Haiti, follow the money community the money EDITOR, The Tribune

IN THE search for motive, reason or rationale EDITOR, to explain The Tribune the Tribune travesties, EDITOR, The mysteries or controversies “…WONDERFUL..” of it is usually INlife THE searchwiseforto “…Great!..”

Were only follow money. motive, the reason or rationale two ofthethecurrent debate to In explain thesuperlatives travesties, used describe the ful-it over toillegal immigrants mysteries or controversies fillment ofis the decision wise to wise thinkby ofwould life itbe usually toin terms of money. dollars and cents the Government to sign follow the inInorder understand the the contract to relocate the tocurrent debate problem, fixthe it, then control over illegal immigrants it and build bridge in it. would beCreek, wise to think It in Staniard Andros.

Money is “…. the chief motiterms of dollars and cents was indeed Wonderthat drives invating order to“…Great…” understand the ful...” andfactor to tens ofthe thousands ofof Haiproblem, fix advance it, then control witness an to the Bahamas. it.tians many event others and I Previously, Haitians ran Money is the chief motihave so long desired. away to escape the dreaded vating factor that drives It was in 1979 when HurTonton Macoute, murtens ofDavid thousands ofacross Hairicane blewthe derous goon-squad that tians to the Bahamas.

Andros and closed up the protected Haiti’s Previously, Haitiansdictator ran mouth of Sandy Creek Duvalier family. away to escape the dreaded and accelerated Wethereby provided Tonton Macoute,welcome the mur-to the degradation of that the Haiti’s elite and moderately derous goon-squad Staniard Creek drainage educated. Haiti’s They eventually protected dictator system.

The construction assimilated and are today Duvalier family. ofproud theprovided East West causeBahamians contribWe welcome to way and the rebuild of uting to business, medicine, Haiti’s elite and moderately the existing bridge, only politics, the arts, sports and educated.

They eventually added to the loss of water education. assimilated and are today flow, biodiversity the But then in 1971and the Haiproud Bahamians contribreduced contribution of tian to economy went from uting business, medicine, this direunique to dismal. left, politics, thesystem. arts,Millions sports and Observing not in fear ofthe theirsame lives, education. but search of economic day Butinthe then inreconstruction 1971 the Haiopportunity.

The factwest that of London tian economyCreek, went from they are Creek, mostly unedudire to dismal.

Millions left, of Stafford with a cated andallow destitute with not in to fear of their lives, bridge water to manual labour their only but in search economic flow freely fromofas the Ocean negotiable opportunity.

The forced factin that to Stafford skill Creek, itsus to rearrange our society they are mostly unedu-in normal historical circular order and to dance around our cated destitute pattern after more thanwith 60 Haitian chaos.assomething manual their only years, is labour indeed Try and imagine a budget negotiable skill forced us “…wonderful…” and “… meeting in the Ministry to rearrange our society inof great…” One only has to Finance, Health, National order to dance around our see No Name Creek, a Security, Education or the Haitian chaos. little further north to witAttorney General’s office Try and imagine a budget ness happens that what doesn’t towhen navimeeting in thehave Ministry of road development has gate the Haitian National problem Finance, Health, no regard formillions creeksorofand and allocate our Security, Education the wetlands. tax dollarsGeneral’s to addressing it.

Attorney office According to Pericles Haitians conthat doesn’t obviously have to naviMaillis, aHaitian well GDP known tribute our but gate the to problem attorney, naturalist imagine the cost taxand allocate millions of of and our Bahamian conservation payer Haitian tax dollarsfunded to addressing it. icon, “…an earlier GovCreole interpreters the Haitians obviously in conernment, Ducks Emergency the tribute to BNT, ourRoom, GDP but Unlimited, Friends and classroom, court imagine thethe cost of room, taxthe police station and on Wetland Restoration payer funded Haitian our Defence Force funded boats.

Initiative had Creole interpreters in the The key impediment Emergency Room, the Casuarina McKinney to to fixing the the court problem classroom, the room,is document importance the Haitian government the police and on of over fortystation such systems our Defence Force boats.

The key impediment to fixing the problem is

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net

LETTERS

itself. They are totally dysfunctional. They are a letters@tribunemedia.net semi-presidential republic.

They have an Executive President alongside Prime itself.

They are atotally Minister who isBahamas, supposed dysfunctional. are a throughout theThey to actually Sandy run therepublic. governsemi-presidential including Creek. ment. have But work.

They Executive IDB also itandoesn’t documented Haiti is aalongside failed state just President aof Prime the sedimentation the 200 miles from Minister who is Inagua. supposed system and its negativeIt the slowest, towould actually runmarine the governimpact ontake the nursmost overloaded ment.

But it doesn’t Haitian work. ery system. sloopisjust 72 hours to just illeHaiti a failed state The establishment of gallymiles sail into ourInagua. waters. It 200 from Wetlands Care BahaAs we again would takedealtheonce slowest, mas studies many withand this vexing by problem, most overloaded Haitian scientists had provided we need in terms sloop justto72think hours to ille-of mounting evidence of the money better gally sailtointo our understand waters. need to restore and rehabilthe problem in order As we deal once againto itate these natural systems. appreciate why the Haitian with this vexing problem, Adelaide Creek restoragovernment cannot and will we need to think in terms of tion in New Providence and never bebetter credible partners money to understand Bird Pond migration. in Andros, to control the problem in orderproto vided compelling evidence Remittances – the money appreciate why the Haitian of the home benefits, were sent by but Haitians government cannot and will insufficient spur national abroad isto the number one never be– credible partners ofmigration. foreign exchange consciousness to everyday toearner control for Haiti and muchaction tourism planning when Remittances –like the money earns home foreign exchange for sent by Haitians building across wetlands. us. systems abroad – is thesuffered number as onea The In 2018, Haiti received earner of foreign exchange result.

Staniard Creek and $2.5 billion in like remittances. for Haiti much tourism London Creek Contracts Put inforeign context, this is $1 for bilearns exchange signaled a fundamentally lion more approach than the budget us. different for for In the 2018,entire Haiticountry receivedof Andros.

10 million people. con$2.5 billion in remittances.

Throughout The By Bahatrast population Put in for context, this is $1 and bil-of mas theourCreeks 400,000 (including 80,000 lion more than the budget Wetlands make a vital conHaitians) our budget is $2.6 for the entire of tribution to the country Bahamian billion.

10 million people.

By conwayAlthough of life. However, in governtrast for our Haiti’s population of Andros on the east and ment is dysfunctional, few 400,000 (including 80,000 west coastour nowhere our Bahamians appreciate that Haitians) budget in is $2.6 Country are these sysHaiti has a cabinet level billion. tems so vital.

They are the position called the governMinister Although Haiti’s breeding ground for the of Haitians Living Abroad. ment is dysfunctional, few inhabitants of theMinistry Great This is a powerful Bahamians appreciate that Andros Barrier Reef.

They in Haiti because it oversees Haiti has a cabinet level are the called stocking ground remittances. position the Minister for If the your Great economy depends of Haitians LivingBahamas Abroad.

Bank. are the replenon remittances from HaiThis isThey a powerful Ministry ishment Zones foroutthe makeit it of intians Haitithat because oversees the misery, caused then itby stands biodiversity the remittances. toIf your reason your govproximity ofthat the Tongue of economy depends ernment policyReef, mustFresh be on remittances from Hai-to Ocean, Barrier encourage more Haitians tians that make it out on ofto and salt-water exchange leave the island, legally or misery, thenCaribbean it stands the fifth largest Organized human toillegally. reason that your govisland, with its vast expanse smuggling agencies ernment policy must beproto of wetlands, interspersed liferate Haiti, hiding encourage Haitians toin with tidalinmore creeks, making plain sight. leave the island, legally or the entire system of the illegally. Organized human smuggling agencies proliferate in Haiti, hiding in

The most Haitians abroad – two million – live next door in the Dominican Republic where they are west coastmost of Andros the not There are Thewelcomed.

Haitians greatest salt-water estu1.5 million Haitians in the abroad – two million – live ary thein western Atlantic US in and 300,000 in Cuba. next door the Dominican Ocean.

The Bahamas homeareto Republic whereis they It welcomed. isHaitians indeedthan “wondermore France. not There are ful”But andback “great” to witness to the money.

1.5 million Haitians in the two events on the same Fiveand countries send the US 300,000 in Cuba. mostthat remittances to day, will contribute so The Bahamas is home to HaitiHaitians each year.

The US significantly tothan theFrance. health more isBut number onethewith $1.5 backsystems. to money. of these It was billion, followed by the the Five countries heartwarming tosend hear of Dominican Republic most remittances toat the promise of the resto$566 million, France at $149 Haiti each year.

The US ration of the Fresh Creek million, Canada at $144 is number one with $1.5 and Stafford Creek bridges millionother and the Bahamas billion, followed by theat and man-made $60 million. Republic Dominican at impediments.

Significantly, If each recipient family $566 million, France at $149 the execution of the conin Haiti receives with just $144 $400 million, Canada at tract, coincided the per year, remittances from million and the Bahamas National Dialogue at of themillion.

Bahamas could support $60 Global Environment Facil150,000 eachfamilies. recipient family ityIfIt(GEF) projects writing strains credulity in Haiti receives just $400to taking place on New pretend that the Proviillegal per year, remittances from dence Island.

Haitians herecould who support were so the Bahamas Clearly thesupporting confluencekin of generously 150,000 families. years of advocacy, political back home, would not find It strains credulity to maturity and will coupled welcoming arms when they pretend that the illegal with the here response to hard are repatriated.

Haitians who were so evidence has spurred the The simple fact is kin that generously supporting Government and itsany offiHaitihome, doesn’t wantnot of back would find cials, with renewed them to come back. welcoming arms when focus they andPrime appreciation, what MinisteronMinnis are repatriated. ismust hoped an use tohisbe new-found The simple fact is irrethat friendship with the Secreversible course of any action Haiti doesn’t want of tary“have General of the United to when them to comeregard” back.

Nations toroads, make bridges, this an Prime Minister Minnis building international problem.

If must use hisand new-found causeways while the worlddevelopment. objects to our friendship with the Secreapproving repatriation tary the undocuUnited I, General for one,ofofam deeply mented to Haitians, then Nations make an appreciative of thethis Prime let thoseMinister countries accept international problem.

If Minster, of Works them. the world objects to our and the team of Engineers We have should repatriation of simultaneundocuwho responded so ously make this a mented Haitians, then tangibly to the Caricom science, problem have environthe naval let those and countries accept community and patrols of Jamaica and Trinthem. mental stewardship for the idad Tobagosimultanejoin us, the We and should posterity of Andros and US Coast the Britously make Guard, this a Caricom the Bahamian people. ish andand Canadian navies problem have the naval agree MailinI putting up with a sea patrols of Jamaica andcordon Trinlis’ conclusion that “… off and Inagua and join Turks and idad Tobago us, the The restoration of Tidal Caicos (their Haitian probUS Coast Guard, the BritCreek flows, up the whole lemand is worse than ours). ish Canadian navies Andros east coast and We must decide ifelsewe in putting up a sea cordon where, my view want toremains payand for in interdiction off Inagua Turks and and as singularly now dream, or(their for social disruption Caicos Haitian probthe use of…funding later. lem isbest worse than ours). opportunities…”

It’s must all about We decidetheif blue we marlins. want to pay for interdiction HON. EARL D. now or for social disruption THE GRADUATE later.

DEVEAUX, JP Nassau It’s all about the blue Nassau, October 20,9,2019 marlins.

November 2019 THE GRADUATE Nassau

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 11, 2019, PAGE 5

$9.5M DEAL TO BUILD NEW BRIDGE IN NORTH ANDROS

A $9.6M CONTRACT has been signed for the construction of a new bridge in North Andros.

The Ministry of Works and Bahamas Marine Construction signed the deal for the bridge to improve travel between mainland Andros and the settlement of Staniard Creek. It is also said it will provide greater protection for marine life in North Andros. The length of the contract is expected to be 15 months and was awarded after a competitive tender process.

“The existing concrete bridge is in a critically poor condition and replacement is urgently required,” said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis at the signing ceremony on Friday.

The existing bridge provides

HUBERT Minnis at the announcement

the only vehicular link between mainland Andros and Staniard Creek.

Dr Minnis said there are a number of natural creek

ecosystems in Andros which have become severely affected from the construction of road causeways across them.

“They have often been constructed with insufficient openings provided, such as culverts and bridges, to allow for uninterrupted water flow,” said the Prime Minister.

“This often results in severe affects to the natural aquatic ecosystem which include increased sedimentation in the creeks, modification of the mangroves, and decreased fish larvae in the lagoon.”

Because of the existing bridge’s considerable dam effect on the creek, the new bridge has been relocated to a more favorable location, about 475 feet north of

the existing causeway, said the Prime Minister.

As a part of the bridge replacement project, a series of bridge culverts will be constructed on the causeway, east of Queen’s Highway on the approach to the bridge site.

The culvert will improve the water flow in the area and allow the natural regeneration in the ecosystem with the natural flushing out of the creek occurring.

The new bridge will be constructed as a 180ft structure spanning the entire waterway channel.

Dredging will be done in the creek channel to reinstate the water flow. The existing utility services will be relocated from the old site to the new bridge.

Additionally, there will be road improvements in the vicinity of the new bridge. The road causeway reconstruction will raise the road profile in the vicinity of the culvert.

A new boat ramp and timber dock structure also will be constructed.

“I look forward to returning to Andros for the signing of other contracts and to be a part of ensuring that Andros is given every opportunity and the support needed for sustainable growth and development,” said the Prime Minister.

“In areas such as ecotourism, farming, the generation of renewable energy and other areas; Andros has extraordinary potential.”

Probe into Defence Force vessels deal INVESTIGATION INCLUDES TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Damen Shipyard Group is based in Gorinchem, Netherlands from page one between 2014 and 2016.

This included $6.6m in 2014, $4.7m in 2015 and $2.94m in 2016. The commission fees represented more than 12 percent of DSG’s total contract value - and that raised red flags among officials.

Investigators also obtained documents showing that DSG’s external auditor, EY, raised concerns over the contracts. EY believed the commissions were too high and noted they exceeded the five percent of a contract’s value prescribed by DSG’s own internal documents.

Auditors also struggled to determine what work NSG performed to warrant the

commissions. When they tried to audit the company, NSG was non-cooperative, The Tribune understands.

The Dutch began a global corruption investigation into DSG in 2015 based on information received from the World Bank and EY. Investigators raided DSG’s offices in Gorinchem and Rotterdam in January 2017, seizing large amounts of administration and digital data. It was those materials that sparked their investigation into DSG’s alleged bribery of public officials in the Caribbean.

NSG’s beneficial owner is Stephen Robert Hobson, a UK citizen living in Barbados.

Auditors, reviewing NSG’s financial statements for 2014 and 2015, found that

the company paid $11.8m in 2014 and 2015 to SRH Consultancy Services Inc. According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ offshore leaks database, SRH Consultancy services Inc was registered in The Bahamas and Stephen Robert Hobson was listed as its director/president.

According to investigators, Mr Hobson refused to give insight into the nature of the transfers, with the transfers vaguely described as consultancy fees and commission in NSG’s books.

The anti-corruption division of the Dutch National Prosecutor’s Office for serious fraud, environmental crime and asset confiscation is leading the investigation.

In May 2018, Dutch officials requested that Bahamian representatives attend a July 2018 co-ordination meeting involving officials from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago and The Bahamas. It is not clear if any Bahamian official attended the meeting.

Attorney General Carl Bethel declined to comment yesterday.

Keith Bell, the former State Minister for National Security, said he found the allegations baffling.

“Nothing of that nature was ever brought to my attention,” he said when contacted.

Editorial View - Page 4

THE Dutch investigation does not involve The Bahamas alone - it also involve Trinidad & Tobago.

A contract for T&T’s Coast Guard, signed on March 16, 2015, facilitated the construction of 12 vessels for multi-million dollar sums.

The Dutch investigation has found that NSG Management & Technical Services Ltd sent Damen Shipyards Group 13 invoices related to the project for a total of $19.4m.

Auditor EY further noted a total commission commitment worth 13 percent of the contract’s value, The Tribune understands.

Investigators believed that T&T’s former Minister of National Security, Jack Warner, was involved in the granting of the vessel construction contract.

Since the 1980s, Mr Warner has been repeatedly accused of corruption.

He was vice-president of the FIFA and president of CONCACAF until his suspension and eventual resignation.

CONCACAF published an Integrity Committee report into him which concluded that he committed fraud against CONCACAF and FIFA. In 2015, he was indicted by the US Department of Justice and accused of wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering. He was arrested and bailed pending extradition to the US. In a recent interview with the Trinidad Express, Mr Warner denied involvement in corruption relating to the DSG deal, saying the deal was agreed and signed after

CONSUMERS UNHAPPY AFTER BPL REVEALS LOAD SHEDDING SCHEDULE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

A DAY after consumers criticised Bahamas Power and Light over its announcement of an additional charge to monthly bills, the power provider released an extensive load shedding schedule for dozens of homes and businesses in New Providence on Friday.

A series of load shedding was to affect areas across New Providence - with BPL saying the schedule was subject to change due to varying conditions, including increased availability or changes in system loading.

The load shedding schedule, posted on BPL’s Facebook page, drew criticism from many. One user said: “But wait..light bill increasing along with load shedding? Really??”

“And y’all really want us to accept an increase in the bill for electricity that can barely stay on?” another user posted.

“Y’all still doing this??

And I just saw some crap bout bill increase…” read another comment.

Yesterday, further areas were affected, with BPL saying those areas were offline due to bad weather conditions. Areas affected included Tropical Gardens, Manchester Street, Blair Estates, Woodlawn Steet, Darling Plum Grove Road, Robinson Road and Pine Barren Road.

On Wednesday, electricity consumers were told to brace for an “adjustment” to their bills with an extra charge as Bahamas Power & Light confirmed plans for its mammoth $650m-plus refinancing.

Dr Donovan Moxey, the

state-owned utility’s chairman, promised that the proposed Rate Reduction Bond issue will ultimately result in “better outcomes” for all Bahamian households and businesses even though the “structure” of electricity bills will change.

A BPL statement quoted Dr Moxey as saying the new billing structure would “function as a short-term deposit” that will ultimately enable consumers to enjoy longer term savings from reduced fuel costs and more efficient generation plant.

However, legislation to facilitate the Rate Reduction Bond (RRB) issue makes 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.

he had already resigned as minister, even though he advised Cabinet to sign off on it before he left office.

“One thing I know, they didn’t bribe me,” he reportedly said. “I was accepting of them based on their reputation and the recommendation of the committee.”

For his part, Stephen Hobson, president of NSG, told a newspaper, the Netherlands NRC Handesblad, that he is not aware that his company is under investigation, according to the Trinidad Express.

“No, we are not and never have been,” he said on November 8. “I am not aware of any such investigation into NSG or me. NSG is my life’s work. I would welcome such investigations as I am certain they can find no trace of any corruption. I have always acted with complete professionalism and integrity.”

T&T’s Attorney General Faris Al-Rawl told reporters in that country that he attended a meeting last year in the Netherlands to discuss the status of the DSG investigation.

“I am not committed to going to those particulars and in my capacity as attorney general for Trinidad and Tobago and also the Central Authority,” he reportedly said. “As you know, in the capacity of Central Authority, in particular, it is facilitating requests as well as local requests and, as such, it would be improper for me to disclose the full particulars of the matters.”

Mr Al-Rawl said he attended the meeting alongside an Attorney General from another Caribbean country, though he did not specify the country or identify the AG.

MINNIS HEADS FOR BRUSSELS

A FLAG Day was held at St Augustine’s College on Friday - an annual event at the school. Governor General Cornelius A Smith attended, and spoke to students before raising the national flag.

The school flag was also raised at the event - with Catholic Archbishop Patrick Pinder taking on the flag-raising duties.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will leave the country for Brussels, in Belgium, today to officially open the Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Mission to the European Union.

While there, the prime minister is expected to meet with the Secretary-General and Commission of Ambassadors of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, and the European Commission’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management.

The Cabinet Office said in a press statement on Friday a delegation will accompany Dr Minnis consisting of senior government officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Carl Bethel; and Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration Elsworth Johnson.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest will act as prime minister in Dr Minnis’ absence. He returns to The Bahamas on Friday, November 15.

PAGE 6, Monday, November 11, 2019

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas professors have moved to petition the institution’s board over its expired industrial agreement, having “lost faith” in the university president’s “ability” to conclude negotiations.

The University of Tertiary Educators (UTEB) said in a statement it has reached an “impasse” with university president Dr Rodney Smith, whom union president Daniel Thompson said has “demonised” the union’s requests to date.

Mr Thompson said that rather than “respecting” the union’s collective professional pedigree, Dr Smith is insistent on playing “hard ball” with the union and “fighting” against the university’s “main stakeholders”, something he asserted isn’t sustainable.

“How far is the president supposed to go if he fights against his main stakeholders, the faculty?” Mr Thompson said. “I mean, which war is he fighting?

Which army is he leading?

If he fights, his main fight is against his soldiers.

“We are the foot soldiers of the academic institution.

He cannot sustain success fighting against us, the faculty. That’s not sustainable.

“So some heads, somewhere above him, the board of trustees or perhaps outside the university, the government, will have to intervene.

And we are confident cooler heads will prevail.”

Mr Thompson’s comments and the union’s

THE TRIBUNE

Professors ‘lose faith’ in Smith statement are the latest in their dispute with and consequent demonstration against UB over the institution’s proposal to offer them a salary increase of 82 cents per day or roughly $300 per year.

The union is also angry with UB’s lack of urgency to finalise an industrial agreement after the previous one expired in 2017.

Previously, UB said in a statement that its solution to the wage dilemma included immediately paying each member $1,000 and implementing increases ranging from two to six percent, while extending the top of the salary scales.

The university further claimed that Mr Thompson initially made that proposal and agreed to sign a contract formalisation on November 10, to which it agreed. However, the union then submitted a new proposal for a lump sum payout of $3,500 and a salary increase of seven percent for all of its faculty members.

UB, in a statement last Wednesday, said it is neither

prepared nor in a financial position to agree to the union’s proposal, citing the “anticipated expenses with restoring University of The Bahamas-North campus in Grand Bahama which was severely damaged by Hurricane Dorian” as one of the key reasons.

Despite UB’s claims of financial limitations, however, Mr Thompson previously said the university, in a few weeks, will be hiring an “executive” that will cost the institution anywhere between $200,000 to $300,000. He said when juxtaposed with its proposal to the union, UB “is grappling with $150,000 overspend to satisfy their decision”.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t make no provisions for salary increases in the budget, notwithstanding Dorian,” Mr Thompson said yesterday. “And then we ask the question too, we ask and we invite the president to be transparent in the compensation packages for his senior team and his executives, so that he can show to the Bahamian people that he is operating

frugally in a post-Dorian era. So that he can show the Bahamian people and they can make a determination for themselves that he is being frugal and careful.”

Mr Thompson added: “The union, we had hoped that because we exist at the highest tertiary level in our education in our country, cooler heads and more sensible actions would have really prevailed. But apparently (Dr Smith) wants to play hard ball. And UTEB’s position is that when he goes low, we will continue to keep our standards high. “…And it all goes to the whole aspect of what our demonstration was about.

There must be respect.

Respect the words of your workers. Because we are workers.

Respect our work, respect what we have trained to become. Notwithstanding that there is a situation in the country, but the president has attempted to demonise our requests for salary increases.

“But the reality is that we have tempered our request, and we are still at the negotiating table. But

UB’S Rodney Smith we’re asking them to be respectful. Come on, let’s talk. You’re dealing with professors, you’re dealing with professionals. You’re not dealing with children, you’re not dealing with fellows on the side of the street. You’re dealing with professionals, academics.

“And we expect, our society expects that people will be treated and paid decently and treated with respect.”

Meanwhile, the union’s statement lambasted Dr Smith for his most recent statement, which it said contained multiple “inaccuracies and misinformation”.

In particular, the union said Dr Smith’s claim about it being the one that made the

first proposal for the $1,000 lump sum payment was incorrect, and was “overwhelmingly rejected” by its membership in any event.

The union also refuted Dr Smith’s claims that both parties had previously arrived at an agreement on the issue, and said such an assertion is as “egregious” as the university’s “posting of confidential emails between UB and UTEB’s presidents”.

“While (Dr Smith) has placed the email communication between himself and the president of UTEB, in the public domain, we believe that a higher level of professionalism is expected from us who sit at the helm of our national university,” the union’s statement said. “UTEB will not reciprocate.”

The salary scale for assistant professors at UB is between $37,660 and $63,310 with a master’s degree, according to salary scales in UTEB’s expired industrial agreement. The scale for assistant professors with doctoral degrees ranges from $42,160 to $71,410.

JUDGES UPHOLD 50-YEAR SENTENCE FOR MURDER

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has dismissed a man’s appeal of his 50-year sentence for murdering a Cash for Gold employee during the course of an armed robbery in Grand Bahama six years ago.

Appellate justices Jon Isaacs, Stella Crane-Scott and Milton Evans unanimously dismissed Natario Walkins’ appeal of his half-century sentence for killing Christopher Outten at Deadman’s Reef in January 2013.

Natario Walkins is the latest to have his appeal dismissed in connection with the fatal armed robbery. His brother, Harrison Walkins, had his appeal of his 15-year sentence for conspiring to rob

Mr Outten dismissed last year.

Another man, Valentino Bethel, had his 40-year sentence for murder in connection with the crime affirmed because he waited more than two years before applying to appeal his sentence.

However, another man previously convicted in connection with the crime, Shawn Collie, was acquitted by the Court of Appeal last October because of the “tenuous nature” of the Crown’s evidence against him.

According to the evidence at trial, Outten and his wife Anna were the operators of US Gold/Cash for Gold in the Jireh Plaza.

Mrs Outten was the manager of three stores located in the Jireh’s Plaza, Eight Mile Rock and in the International Bazaar.

Mr Outten ran the store in Eight Mile Rock.

At about 4pm on the date in question, the couple closed the store and went to Eight Mile Rock in a Ford F-150 truck. They stopped at their home in Deadman’s Reef to pick up a fish pot they wanted to place in the water by the dock in the Bahama Bay Area.

However, they forgot the rope they needed to tie the fish pot to the dock so they returned to their home.

When the couple arrived at their residence, and after Mr Outten had made it to their porch steps, a masked man armed with a handgun came from the west side of the house and ordered Mr Outten to get down on the ground. Mr Outten, though, put his hands on the top of the truck.

Mrs Outten, meanwhile, ran to her neighbour’s

residence, leaving her Gucci bag in the truck.

While running, she heard what sounded like two gunshots. When she returned, she found her husband had been shot.

The police were contacted and upon arrival found Mr Outten shot to death in the driver’s seat of his truck. His pants pocket was pulled out and a pink poncho was missing along with a gold chain and charm. Additionally, Mrs Outten’s Gucci bag was missing.

Walkins was later arrested and questioned by the police in the presence of his lawyer about the conspiracy, armed robbery and murder. He was later charged along with three others, namely his brother Harrison, Valentino Bethel and Shawn Collie. He was subsequently arraigned

before the Supreme Court with one count of murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

On 3 November, 2014, his trial began in Freeport Grand Bahama.

At the trial, one of the Crown’s key witnesses, Omar Rolle, testified that in December of 2012, he was contacted by Collie, who is his cousin, who instructed him to meet him at Burger King, in the downtown area. He went to the location and upon arriving there met Collie along with Bethel, and the Walkins brothers.

Rolle said Collie told him and the others that he (Collie) sold Mr Outten some gold, and that Mr Outten had two residences—one uptown and one in “the Rocks”.

Collie further told them that when they hold Mr Outten and his wife, they were to bring all the gold and keep the money for themselves, and to not hurt the woman. Collie wanted Rolle to kidnap the Outtens when they got to their home in Eight Mile Rock.

Rolle said after Collie explained everything, he told Collie he was going to get back to him. He told Collie to give him some time.

After the meeting, Rolle said he went to US Gold to warn Mr Outten of the plot to rob him. Rolle said that in the presence of

Mr Outten and a police inspector who had been summoned by Mr Outten and who arrived in a K-9 Explorer jeep, he contacted Collie by telephone and put him on speaker. It was at this time that Collie reiterated the plan to kidnap the Outtens, not to hurt Mrs Outten, and that the gold was for him (Collie) while Rolle and the others could share the money.

The Crown also called a witness, Ryan Pinder, who, while giving evidence principally against Natario Walkins, called Collie’s name as a person involved in the conspiracy to rob Mr Outten. During his examination, Mr Pinder, when giving evidence of what Natario Walkins had told him, mentioned that “Tattoo Man” did certain things.

Mr Pinder recounted how Natario Walkins told him “Tattoo Man” put the “plan together for Lil Man and Valentino, Natario and his brother, to rob the Cash for Gold man”. Mr Pinder also spoke of Collie being angry because he did not get his cut out of the money taken from Mr Outten.

On November 20, 2014, Walkins was found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery and murder. On January 22, 2015, he was sentenced to 50 years for murder, 25 years for armed robbery and 15 years for conspiracy to run concurrently.

21-YEAR-OLD DENIES FAKE CHEQUE CHARGES

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 21-YEAR-OLD woman was ordered to be remanded to prison on Friday accused of being caught with over $8,000 worth of fake bank cheques drawn on a local cable provider’s account.

Kaylisa Kemp, of Homestead Street, was charged before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans over police claims that she had 18 Royal Bank of Canada cheques drawn on Cable Bahamas’ account on April 25.

It is alleged that on the date in question, Kemp was found to be in possession of three RBC cheques made payable to Denise Carey totalling $1,434.

She was also allegedly found with another three

RBC cheques made payable to Paul Murray totalling $1,404; another three RBC cheques made payable to Jessica Forestal totalling $1,434; another three RBC cheques made payable to Michael McKenzie totalling $1,464; and another three cheques made payable to Renard Hield totalling $1,464.

She was also charged with being in possession of an additional three RBC cheques totalling $1,464 and made payable to Brianca King.

Kemp denied all of the charges, and the matter was adjourned to February 12, 2020, for trial.

Bail was denied and she was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Corrections in the interim, or until such time as she secures bail from the Supreme Court.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, 2019

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

There comes a time when enough is enough and better examples must be set for women in politics

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

T

HIS week, we took a journey into the realm of oddity – led by our friendly tour guide, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Lanisha Rolle. The general consensus by most citizens who would have taken a gander at the commemorative medals awarded to youth parliamentarians - which on one side depicted the coat of arms, and on the other side contained a picture of the minister herself – was that this must have been a terrible joke.

Surely, we are no stranger to seeing renowned Bahamian public figures commemorated on our currency. Neither is this a strange practice in other countries that also honour heralded figures in society by portraying them on local currency. However, not only has the good minister not paid her dues yet, but it was seemingly done in poor taste, as it looks like nothing more than an ego trip.

Thankfully, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis wasted no time putting that baby to rest.

Embarrassing as it was, Dr Minnis denounced the move in Parliament and said she will be forced to pay for the medals, as the government will not be responsible for paying for anything that was “personalised”.

“Mr Speaker, in view of what has been personalised, it is the government’s decision that that was a personal picture on medals and the government should not have paid for anything that is personalised, and therefore the monies that were spent for that, the minister would reimburse the government for the $582.40 that was spent by the government,” said the prime minister.

Still, however, the prime minister’s janitorial shift would not end there, as Mrs Rolle’s stunts continued to make a mess of the people’s business last week.

Over-riding the authority of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence

(JCNP), with nearly a month before the Boxing Day Parade, Minister Rolle approved the application of The Immortals, a new group she insisted be allowed to rush in the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades in the B Division – despite the fact the group did not register with the JCNP. Needless to say, this was not well received by the corporation.

With the JCNP firm in its stance that the new group would only be able to participate as a fun group, tensions rose, with the minister fiercely unwilling to back down.

Lo and behold, Dr Minnis again had to smooth tensions after another fire was created by Mrs Rolle.

Having to steal time away from more pressing matters such as debating the Disaster Reconstruction Authority Bill, the prime minister said in reference to the Junkanoo issue: “The decision is the Junkanoo will not change at this particular time. We are moving into the Junkanoo season.

“However, in February, the minister and JCNP and all the relevant agencies will enter discussions as to the way forward, so that by the end of March, we would know the way forward with respect to Junkanoo world, because changes must occur, but this must be discussed and agreed upon by all the relevant parties.”

Mature and sensible, wouldn’t you say?

Now, as you may be wondering: Why are we giving airtime to Mrs Rolle’s antics?

Well that’s quite simple.

In March 2018, Reece Chipman was axed as the chairman of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation, not even a full year after being in the post. The reasons that we learned behind this ordeal was that Mr Chipman apparently wasn’t getting along with staff.

Quite interesting.

Mrs Rolle, whom we have heard about in many circles, did not get along with staff at social services - the ministry which she had oversight of when she was initially selected as a member of Minnis’ Cabinet. Instead of being asked to resign, she was moved in a Cabinet shuffle which

ended up with her landing at the ministry of youth, sports and culture, Frankie Campbell replacing her at social services, Renward Wells taking over the ministry of transportation and Michael Pintard assuming responsibility for the ministry of agriculture.

Perhaps the logic was sound. Who doesn’t love culture, sports and youth?

One of the three can surely get a smile out of the most melancholic personality. Right?

Unfortunately, Mrs Rolle is putting that to the test.

And with the JNCP reaffirming the difficulty of working with the minister, one has to wonder why Dr Minnis even chose to make her a member of his Cabinet in the first place.

Certainly, there is no trait that signifies her as a rising star in politics. Neither is there any statistic that we’ve seen which validates her as being worthy of leadership.

Rather, when more pressing matters are at hand, she is recklessly making distractions and having the prime minister clean up her mess.

Clearly, she has not presented herself as fit to lead this ministry or any other for that matter.

Moreover, this is part and parcel of what many young Bahamians are turned off by in politics – this necessity to surround one’s self with people who may not necessarily be good enough for the job, but rather, it’s either for a favour returned or sought after. Who knows why the prime minister continues to bail her out?

As we look at the gender imbalance in Parliament, a standard must be upheld for women in Bahamian politics. They are our mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, and we fully believe in their capability to lead. However, at a time when young girls can use more role models, Mrs Rolle’s temperament has been disappointing on too many occasions.

Hopefully, the prime minister, in his judgment, knows what he saw in Mrs Rolle and is able to illuminate. If not, it would be incumbent on the prime minister, as the leader of this country and his Cabinet, to make some smarter decisions.

MRS Rolle’s stunts continued to make a mess of the people’s business last week.

PAGE 8 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Harvard’s moral debt to those who were locked in slavery

ABOVE: Harvard and, left, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne

W

HY does Harvard University in the United States have a moral obligation to provide some form of compensation to Antigua and Barbuda, a small Caribbean island state? The answer is simple: natural justice demands it.

The island of Antigua is not as remote from the lavish campus of Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as geography might suggest.

While the University started in 1636, it was its

Law School that, for over a century, established it nationally in the US and internationally, as the desirable, rich and profitable institution that it is today.

It was a bequest of Isaac

Royall Jr to Harvard College in 1781 that was used to create the first endowed professorship of law in 1815, leading to the establishment of the Harvard Law School in 1817.

Isaac Royall derived his wealth from the labour of enslaved persons he owned on a plantation in Antigua.

The bequest to Harvard came from the proceeds of the plantation and from the exploitation and sale of human beings that Royall regarded as chattel. Professor Janet Halley, on assumption of the Royall Professorship in 2006, rightly acknowledged in her inaugural address that Isaac Royall’s slaves “are intrinsically bound, if you will, to the grant that established the Royall Chair”.

The reputation Harvard enjoys internationally is intertwined with the dark legacy of Royall’s Antigua slaves who died in oppression, uncompensated for their lives in slavery and their death in cruelty.

Today, Harvard Law School is the oldest continually operating law school in the US and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. What is more, 21 Supreme Court justices graduated from the School between 1831 and 1991. Six of them are serving now, including the Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.; Elena Kagan; Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Anthony M. Kennedy; Stephen G. Breyer and Neil Gorsuch.

Additionally, eight US Presidents were educated at Harvard, including Barack Obama, who is a graduate of the Law School. Others include Franklyn Delano Roosevelt, John F Kennedy and George W Bush.

These facts are wellknown to the President and Council of Harvard University. The link between the Harvard Law School and the brutalisation of enslaved people from Antigua has also been detailed by me to the University on several occasions between 2006 and 2009, with requests that the University “acknowledge the dark legacy that binds Harvard to Antigua” and seek to “brighten it by a positive

and constructive relationship”. Writing as Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US in October - on the eve of Antigua and Barbuda’s 38th anniversary of independence - I requested that Harvard’s governing council, “sympathetically consider providing assistance” to the newly established fifth campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Antigua.

Harvard’s response was stony silence, causing Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, to write to the current President of the University, Dr Lawrence Bacow, advising that “we consider Harvard’s failure to acknowledge its obligations to Antigua, and the stain it bears from benefitting from the blood of our people, as shocking if not immoral”.

Prime Minister Browne drew attention to the fact that “other Universities, which have also been beneficiaries of the proceeds of slavery in the Caribbean, have either made or are making - amends; most recently, the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom has provided resources to the University of the West Indies. Two days ago, Princeton Theological Seminary, in what it called an act of repentance, announced that it is setting aside $27.6 million to pay reparations for its historical ties to slavery. Earlier this year, Georgetown University students voted to raise their own tuition to pay reparations, and this month the Virginia Theological Seminary created a fund for reparations.

“Yet”, the Prime Minister said, “Harvard remains silent”.

President Bacow finally responded in a less than helpful way on November 5, stating “Harvard Corporation approved the removal of the Harvard Law School shield, which included symbols drawn from the Royall family crest. Shortly

ISAAC ROYALL, who derived his wealth from the labour of enslaved persons he owned on a plantation in Antigua.

thereafter, former president Drew Faust unveiled a stone memorial in the centre of the Law School’s plaza that recognises “the enslaved whose labour created wealth that made possible the founding of Harvard Law School” and urges the School to “pursue the highest ideals of law and justice in their memory.”

According to President Bacow: “These were significant steps for our entire University community”.

But, this action by the University is something it should have done willingly and not as a result of being pushed, it does not address the debt owed by Harvard to the enslaved people of Antigua from Royall’s estate, nor does it respond to the request for co-operation in the development of the UWI’s fifth campus on Antigua.

The endowment of Harvard University for the fiscal year 2019 is $40.9 billion – 40 times larger than the Antigua and Barbuda economy of $1.5 billion. Of the endowment of $40.9 billion, 30 percent or $12.27 billion is flexible spending. From these figures, it should be clear that if Harvard agreed even a fiveyear programme of annual cooperation with the UWI campus on Antigua, the sums of money involved would be negligible while the quantum of justice would be huge.

President Bacow in his letter to Prime Minister Browne stated: “We recognise that there is more work to be done. Indeed, Harvard is determined to take additional steps to explore this institution’s historical relationship with slavery and the challenging moral questions that arise when confronting past injustices and their legacies”.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Browne has demonstrated the courage to stand up for his country and for principle. The government will pursue the declared recognition of Harvard’s President “that there is more work to be done”.

Hopefully, there will be mutual cooperation that will reconcile the standing of a university that proudly produced US presidents and Supreme Court justices with its dark and cruel links to slavery in Antigua, and, by extension, people who were enslaved, dehumanised and brutalised.

The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

INSIGHT

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2019 PAGE 9

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

G

IRL Con 2019 took “the unconventional path” this year holding its annual mentoring conference for girls onboard the Carnival Glory, where 250 high school girls heard from the first woman president of Carnival Cruise Line Christine Duffy.

Ms Duffy, who became president of CCL in 2015, was this year’s keynote speaker, sharing with the students how “Taking the Unconventional Path” fuelled her career from being a receptionist in the travel industry to now president of the largest cruise brand in the global cruise market.

Due to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Dorian, Girl Con founder Senator Katherine Smith thought it would be almost impossible to stage the event this year. The previous venue, the Regency Theatre, sustained severe flooding and extensive damage.

She commended Ms Duffy and the members of Carnival Cruise Lines, including Mr Giora Israel, for hosting the event on board the Glory during its arrival at Freeport Harbour on Wednesday morning.

The theme for this year’s conference is, “When Your World Changes.” In attendance were Patricia Minnis, the wife of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, and Sarah St George, acting chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Referencing this year’s theme, Ms Duffy told participants that Hurricane Dorian is a reminder of how quickly and how dramatically things can change.

But, she said Carnival Corporation continues to stand in support of the Grand Bahama and has resumed sailings to the island.

“It certainly took a toll on the people of GB, and all of us at Carnival Corporation stand beside you, and we did what we could to support you in the moment,… but what is most important is that…we are here to support and work with you in partnership for the long term.

“It is my first day back since the hurricane and it is incredible to see how much is being worked on and restored. And guests on our very first cruise that came back had very high compliments for the people, and the energy and care and happiness they felt from people of GB,” she said.

Sharing some exciting news about the cruise company, President Duffy revealed that Carnival just received its newest vessel ship number 27.

“Just last week I was in Venice, Italy, to pick up ship number 27, the third sister to the Carnival Vista-class, and that ship left Italy and is making her way to Long Beach, California, where she will be home-ported,” she said.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Taking the Unconventional Path,’ Duffy indicated she was an “unconventional choice” when she was asked to be president of Carnival Cruise Line by Arnold Donald, the CEO of Carnival Corporation.

As the first woman to serve in the position, Duffy took a more unconventional approach than her male predecessor, visiting each of the 24 ships at that time to meet and connect with Carnival employees.

“We have 40,000 employees on Carnival across our fleet,” she noted .

“When I was named president there were some sceptics; I was an unconventional choice for this role, and I did not have all the typical criteria to run the world’s largest cruise line. But Arnold Donald, our corporate CEO, and my boss is a big believer not just in diversity, but inclusion.”

“And during my first year as president, I visited every one of the 24 ships at the time, not to inspect, but to connect. And that is a big difference in the orientation that women bring to leadership.”

CHRISTINE DUFFY, second right, president of Carnival Cruise Line with Senate President Katherine Smith, left, founder of Girl Con, and two participants

Why girls must find a passion and pursue it The executive said that in the beginning, she knew early on that she wanted a career in the travel industry.

However, when her dream of being a Pan Am flight attendant did not pan out because she failed to meet the 5-feet, 4 inches height requirement, she decided to take a job as a receptionist at a small the travel agency in the 1980s.

She later took a position as a travel agent working on commission, and worked her way into management, growing the company over the next 20 years from 25 to 500 employees.

“I earned ownership in the company, and in 2001 we sold the business, and at the time I had become president of the company,” she said.

Duffy stayed on with the new company Merritts - one of the largest performance improvement companies in the world based in St Louis, Missouri - and within three years became the first women president and CEO in the company’s 110-year history.

“When I showed up in St Louis, I remember the guys said to me, ‘I don’t know what you are doing here, we bought you. Well, those guys did not stay around very long,” she said.

And while she was made to feel interior by some men, she also noted that every opportunity that came her way was because of men who gave her the opportunities she had for each of the positions.

According to Duffy, after being at Merritts for a while, she was recruited to become President and CEO of the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), the trade organization for the global cruise industry, based in Washington DC. “I had no experience running a trade association or lobbying government, but the skills that I needed for that job had been put to the test very quickly after I joined CLIA when tragedy struck in one of Carnival Corporation’s brand ship that ran aground in Italy and 32 people died,” she recalled.

That experience and dealing with that terrible crisis, she stated created a lot of change in the industry.

“We were, obviously, under a lot of scrutiny and I was in the front row, testifying before the US Congress,

and in Australia,” she said, which she feels prepared for her position at Carnival.

In 2015, Arnold Donald had become the CEO of Carnival Corporation and asked Duffy if she would be interested to put her name in the hat to be president of the Carnival Cruise Line.

“I turned my head to see who he was talking to; I could not imagine he was talking to me. But, in 2015 I became the first female president of Carnival Cruise Line,” she told the audience.

Duffy told the girls many women before them have had to deal with peer pressure to fit in, to be appropriate or to follow

trends to be cool. But she told them that today the world is more open to diversity and different ideas and that they do not have to fit in a certain mole to be successful.

The cruise executive encouraged the students to be like the trendsetters who break the mole. “Has anyone received a Noble Prize for conformity?” She asked.

“When those Pan Am recruiters told me I was too short to be a flight attendant, I never thought to say thank you because Pan Am went bankrupt, and who knows where I would be if I had been a flight attendant,” Ms Duffy noted.

“So, when life throws curveballs, remember swimming upstream is great exercise. You need to find mentors and people who believe in you and help you swim that much faster.

“Don’t wait for people to give you opportunities, look for them yourself, and rather than resenting that maybe we have to swim a little harder because we are women, look at it as it is giving us the extra muscle to build your skills to become a stronger leader.”

She told them while she had taken the unconventional path that led her to be president of Carnival, maybe the path for them could be starting

their own business, the opportunity to go back to school, or trying something completely different, and sometimes summoning the courage to quit the job they hate and start over to do something they love. “That is the beauty of taking the unconventional path,” she said.

She left eight fundamental principles she feels could help the girls on their life’s journey. They are: Find your passion and pursue it.

Get out of your comfort zone.

Get involved – sit in the front row, raise your hand.

Always take window seat – being focused on the journey Aspire to inspire others Give Back and Pay It Forward Never assume people know your capabilities or value your contributions solely on merit, and Be an advocate not only for yourself but for your peers.

She noted that life may not always be what they expect it to be. “It is unpredictable but interesting and rewarding; it can also be hard, disappointing, and especially unfair, but at the end of the day learn from everyday opportunity and don’t assume your career is in someone else’s hands, own it, live it, and pursue your dreams,” Duffy said.

PAGE 10, Monday, November 11, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

NEVER TO FORGET

PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis leads yesterday’s Remembrance Service Photos: Donavan McIntosh

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 11, 2019, PAGE 11

40 DETAINED AS POLICE SWOOP ACROSS NEW PROVIDENCE TWO men are in custody after a series of attempted robberies - including an attempted raid which left a security guard injured on Friday. They were two in a series of arrests, with up to 40 people detained over the weekend as officers executed search warrants and carried out a police operation across New Providence.

In the first incident, shortly after 8am on Friday, a man armed with a firearm entered a gaming establishment on Joe Farrington Road, held employees at bay and robbed the business of cash before running away.

In the second incident, shortly before 4pm, two armed men entered a business in Palmdale, and shot a security guard before

running away.

Police responded and arrested a 57-year-old man in connection with the second incident.

The security guard was taken to hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

Yesterday, there were two more robberies - in the first, a man was walking on West Bay Street near Saunders Beach at 3am when he was approached by two men, who came from a gray Nissan Cube and robbed him of cash and a cellphone before getting back in the car and speeding away.

In the second robbery, shortly after 4am, two men entered a fast food restaurant on Carmichael Road, held employees at bay and

FIVE ARRESTS AFTER DRUGS WORTH $70,000 FOUND

FIVE men were taken into police custody in two separate incidents in connection with drug discoveries on Thursday, the largest of these a more than $70,000 drug find. According to police, a 41-year-old man was arrested after officers discovered a large quantity of suspected marijuana worth $70,500 and illegal ammunition.

Shortly after 3pm, police said an operation team acting on intelligence, went to Mandingo Alley, Fox Hill where they observed a man standing on the side of the street. The man, according to police, upon seeing the officers started acting in a suspicious manner leading them to search him and the immediate bushy area where he stood.

As a result, police recovered from the bushes a crocus sack with a large quantity of suspected marijuana, a firearm magazine and 11 rounds of ammunition.

Police also recovered eight pounds of suspected marijuana worth $8,000 shortly before 6pm.

An operation team acting on intelligence searched a bushy area on John Road off Market Street where a black garbage bag containing eight packages of marijuana was found. No arrests were made, police reported.

Four men were also arrested over the discovery of more than 100 packets of suspected marijuana, police have said. Shortly before 10pm, officers acting on intelligence, went to Third Street off Robinson Road where they saw four men standing in a yard.

The officers conducted a search of the men and the area where they were gathered and recovered 156 foil wrappers and plastic bags with suspected marijuana.

The men were taken into custody and are expected to be formally charged in a magistrate’s court, police said.

robbed the business of cash before getting into a Toyota Passo and speeding away.

A short while later, officers from the south-western division responding to the incident intercepted a grey Toyota Passo on Harry Allen Drive. One man was taken into custody, while a second man fled the vehicle and escaped.

Officers said a Colt 9mm pistol and a small box containing cash were recovered.

Police also made a number of arrests over the weekend as part of their “Silent Night” operation.

On Friday, 20 people were arrested in the operation across New Providence, conducted by police assisted by marines from the defence force. Three

more were arrested on Saturday.

Suspected offences include possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, possession of illegal firearms and attempted armed robbery.

Four search warrants were executed, 54 fixed penalty notices were issued to drivers, and there were nine arrests for outstanding warrants.

Police also found 36 rounds of .223 ammunition and suspected marijuana worth $3,200 on Friday when executing a search warrant on a tyre repair shop in Carmichael Road.

Three men were taken into custody.

Two more men were taken into custody after a search warrant was executed on a home in Sunrise

Road, Gamble Heights shortly after 1pm on Friday. Police found two clear plastic bags inside a blue and white bag. Each plastic bag had 20 foil wrappings of suspected marijuana. Two men in the house were taken into custody.

Officers also found a black .40 Taurus pistol and two rounds of ammunition when searching a bushy area near a park on Amaryllis Avenue, Garden Hills, shortly after 4pm on Friday while acting on information.

On Saturday, police took seven men into custody when they executed a search warrant on a premises in Bozine Town and recovered a .45 Glock pistol containing ten rounds of ammunition, a

9mm pistol and a .44 Ruger pistol with six rounds of ammunition. The detained men were on the property at the time of the search.

Also on Saturday, police acting on information went to Martin Close off Cowpen Road, where they saw two men standing on the side of the road. The men ran into a home, and the officers gave chase and detained them. After searching the home, officers said they recovered from the toilet 28 packages of suspected marijuana. The two men were taken into custody.

One other weapon was recovered at the weekend a 12-gauge shotgun, found in a vacant lot on Farrington Road on Saturday shortly after 4pm by officers acting on information.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 11, 2019, PAGE 13 Photos: Donavan McIntosh

Walk For The Cure 2019

PAGE 14, Monday, November 11, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

BOLIVIA’S PRESIDENT RESIGNS AMID FRAUD ALLEGATIONS

QUEEN WIPES AWAY A TEAR AT MEMORIAL LONDON Associated Press QUEEN Elizabeth joined Britons in remembering their war dead in a somber Remembrance Sunday service in London. The queen, dressed in black, watched from a balcony as her son and heir Prince Charles laid a wreath of scarlet poppies on the Cenotaph war memorial near Parliament.

The 93-year-old monarch, who served as an army mechanic during World War II, performed the wreathlaying for most of her 67-year reign, but has cut back on her public duties. An aide laid a wreath on behalf of the queen’s 98-year-old husband Prince Philip, who has retired from public engagements.

LA PAZ, Bolivia Associated Press

QUEEN Elizabeth watches the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in London

Hong Kong police shoot at protester HONG KONG Associated Press POLICE in Hong Kong shot a protester as demonstrators blocked subway lines and roads during the morning commute earlier today.

Online video showed a police officer collaring one protester and then shooting another who approaches.

The officer fired again as a third protester approached.

Police said that only one

protester was hit and is undergoing surgery.

The video was posted on Facebook by Cupid Producer, an outlet that started last year and appears to post mostly live videos related to local news.

The shooting occurred in a crosswalk at a large intersection strewn with debris that had backed-up traffic in Sai Wan Ho, a neighborhood on the eastern part of Hong Kong Island.

Protesters blocked

intersections around the city. Public broadcaster RTHK said that a fire was set inside a train at Kwai Fong station and service suspended at several stations.

A patch of what looked like dried blood could be seen in a cordoned-off area after the shooting, as angry onlookers shouted insults at the police.

Masked protesters continued to try to block other intersections in the area,

A VIDEO grab of a policeman, left, poised to shoot a protester and police responded with pepper spray, hitting some bystanders as well.

Yesterday, police fired tear gas and protesters broke windows at a shopping mall in anti-government demonstrations across Hong Kong amid anger over a student activist’s death and the arrest of pro-democracy lawmakers.

Hong Kong is in the

sixth month of protests that began over a proposed extradition law and have expanded to include demands for greater democracy and police accountability. Activists say Hong Kong’s autonomy and Western-style civil liberties, promised when the former British colony was returned to China in 1997, are eroding.

BOLIVIAN President Evo Morales resigned yesterday under mounting pressure from the military and the public after his reelection victory triggered weeks of fraud allegations and deadly protests.

The decision came after a day of fast-moving developments, including an offer from Morales to hold a new election. But the crisis deepened dramatically when the country’s military chief went on national television to call on him to step down. “I am sending my resignation letter to the Legislative Assembly of Bolivia,” the 60-year-old socialist leader said.

He added: “I ask you to stop attacking the brothers and sisters, stop burning and attacking.”

Before Morales had even finished his statement, car horns began sounding in La Paz and other cities, and people took to the streets to celebrate, waving Bolivian flags and setting off fireworks.

Morales was the first member of Bolivia’s indigenous population to become president and was in power for 13 years and nine months, the longest term in the country’s history.

But his claim to have won a fourth term last month set off unrest that left three people dead and over 100 injured in clashes between his supporters and opponents.

Earlier yesterday, the Organization of American States said in a preliminary report that it had found a “heap of observed irregularities” in the Oct. 20 election and that a new vote should be held.

Morale agreed to that.

But within hours, military chief Gen. Williams Kaliman made it clear that would not be sufficient.

“After analyzing the situation of internal conflict, we ask the president to resign, allowing peace to be restored and stability to be maintained for the good of our Bolivia,” Kaliman said.

SOCIALISTS WIN SPANISH ELECTION BUT FAR-RIGHT PARTY SURGES

MADRID Associated Press

PRIME Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists won Spain’s national election yesterday but large gains by the upstart far-right Vox party appear certain to widen the political deadlock in the European Union’s fifthlargest economy. After a fourth national ballot in as many years and the second in less than seven months, the left-wing Socialists held on as the leading power in the National Parliament. With 99% of the votes counted, the Socialists won 120 seats, down

three seats from the last election in April and still far from the absolute majority of 176 needed to form a government alone.

The big political shift came as rightwing voters flocked to Vox, which only had broken into Parliament in the spring for the first time. The far-right party led by 43-year-old Santiago Abascal, who speaks of “reconquering” Spain in terms that echo the medieval wars between Christian and Moorish forces, rocketed from 24 to 52 seats. The party has vowed to be much tougher on both Catalan separatists and migrants.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 11, 2019, PAGE 15

STATE-RECOGNISED FUNERAL HELD FOR CALSEY JOHNSON

By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net A STATE-recognised funeral was held on Friday for Calsey Johnson, former senator, veteran broadcaster and diplomat.

Cabinet ministers, leader of the Opposition Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, parliamentarians, the diplomatic corps and scores of well-wishers gathered at Rhodes Memorial Methodist Church for a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Mr Johnson, who died on October 24, aged 72.

Mr Johnson, who was born in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, became the first black person to anchor the midday news of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas.

From that time, he made his way through the ranks at ZNS Bahamas. After his broadcasting career, he served as a senator from 1992 to 1998 on the advice of his friend and political mentor Sir Lynden Pindling. In 2013,

he was appointed High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to Canada.

Senior pastor of Mount Tabor Church and friend of Mr Johnson Bishop Neil Ellis told the congregation that Mr Johnson was a man from humble beginnings who rose to national prominence.

Bishop Ellis explained that a high point in Mr Johnson’s career was to lead the corporation into the inauguration of the first television station in The Bahamas and to give Queen Elizabeth a guided tour through the new facility.

Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said Mr Johnson blazed his own trail. Mr Dames said: “The country has lost a statesman, but you have lost a husband, a partner in life, a husband, a father and a mentor. The tributes since his passing may be only but a small consolation of the deep admiration and respect many had for him, please find comfort in knowing this.”

HUNDREDS REMEMBER PALAL COOPER

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net HUNDREDS turned out to mourn the passing of well-known businessman Christopher Samuel “Palal” Cooper, who was remembered as a kind and selfless individual who was always there for his family, friends and employees.

Hy died in a traffic accident on October 31 while riding his motorcycle. He was 28. He was the son of businessman Paxton and Patrice Cooper, and the grandson of successful retired businessman Rev Havard Cooper, the operators of several fast food franchise chains including

the KFC and Burger King restaurants.

He loved adventures and enjoyed road trips; he experienced white water rafting while at college, ziplining, and riding his motorcycle.

He was remembered as “a man of action” who kept his promise and was always willing to help others.

In a written tribute in the programme booklet, his Aunt Marva said: “Palal has to mean “light” because that was what Palal was. He had a light that lit up the room when he entered…”

He is survived by his parents Paxton and Patrice Cooper, brothers Pharez and Patariq, and sister Priya, and many other relatives and friends.