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VOLUME:115 No.249, NOVEMBER 20TH, 2018
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
WOMEN: DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE AT HANDS OF ABUSER
LAWFUL KILLING Jury rules cops right to open fire on gunman By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
FOUR police officers were justified in executing a Grand Bahama man who shot and killed an innocent bystander near a liquor store seven years ago, a jury has found. The five-member jury found Detective Corporal 2529 Johnson, Detective Constable 3112 Pinder and 2288 Wilson and VPR 919 Bowe acted lawfully in the January 24, 2011 slaying of Rashad Forbes. According to the evidence, Forbes was shot dead when he was chasing and shooting at another man when his gunfire instead hit 36-year-old Terrance Williams of Flint Street. During the inquest before Her Majesty’s Coroner
Jeanine Weech-Gomez, Inspector Raymond Saunders said he was on duty in a marked police bus with the four other officers when they received information resulting in them going to the area of Hay and East Streets. Insp Saunders said prior to their arrival at the intended destination he heard what sounded like three to four gunshots. He subsequently stopped the bus, of which he was the driver, and all of the officers got out except for him and another officer. The senior officer said he then saw a male in a red jacket running from a liquor store and through its parking lot, with another man in a camouflage jacket with a handgun shooting at the male in the red jacket.
SEE PAGE FIVE
D’AGUILAR DEFENDS CARGILL’S NEW ROLE
SEE PAGE FIVE
BAHAMAS Power and Light’s chairman Donovan Moxey yesterday revealed the corporation was considering a review of BPL’s disconnection policy in view of the temporary hike in electricity costs. While the government has increased the Value Added Tax free ceiling on electricity costs to $300, some argue this will do little to assist those with skyrocketing bills. Consumers have
also speculated whether disconnections would also increase over the next few months. “To tell you the truth I just came out of a meeting where that subject is being discussed,” Mr Moxey said when The Tribune asked him if BPL planned to relax its disconnection policy. “We’re discussing internally what the plan is going to be and once that plan has been completed then we will make some public announcements on that SEE PAGE THREE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A FORMER Royal Bank of Canada employee was charged yesterday with stealing just over $170,000 from his employer over a four-month period and defrauding the bank of an additional $180,000 within that same period of time. RBC business service representative Traves Mackey was charged before Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain concerning the $172,759.45 he allegedly stole between February and May 2016 and the $183,559.43 he defrauded the bank out of during that time. A second former RBC employee, 57-year-old Kenja King and another man, 51-year-old Marvin
HIGH BILLS SPARK ‘CUT OFF’ REVIEW
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
BANK TRIO ACCUSED OF RBC THEFT
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
19 AND FACING MURDER CHARGE 19-YEAR-OLD Travis Thompson was charged yesterday with shooting a man to death last week. Full story - Page 2. Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
HOTEL UNION ORDERS WORK TO RULE By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net UNIONISED employees were yesterday placed on “work to rule” at most of Nassau’s major resorts in a move likely to raise fears for this week’s key Thanksgiving weekend. Darren Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union president, told Tribune Business that the move was sparked by
ATLANTIS Atlantis’ decision to implement a new shift system impacting some 400-500 housekeeping staff as well as a “12-point” disciplinary system.
The “work to rule”, which means hotel union members will stick rigidly to their job descriptions and “not go beyond the call of duty, extends to all BHREA member properties including the Four Seasons Ocean Club; the British Colonial Hilton; Melia Nassau Beach; and Lyford Cay Club. Baha Mar will not be impacted because it is non-unionised. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar defended the administration’s hiring of former National Insurance Board director Algernon Cargill yesterday, saying the government needs an expert who can help spearhead key aviation initiatives. Cargill’s recruitment has raised questions because he was fired from the NIB in 2013 following a forensic audit by Grant Thornton which determined that bonuses appeared to have been improperly paid to him and contracts that were awarded for various projects featured irregularities. SEE PAGE SIX
FACE TO FACE
A LIFETIME BRINGING HOPE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Tuesday, November 20, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Teenager faces court accused of shooting man By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 19-YEAR-OLD man was charged before the courts yesterday with shooting another man to death last week. Travis Thompson, of Golden Isles, was charged before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt with murdering Stanavio Stanley
Lord on November 12. According to reports, shortly after 5pm on the date in question, Mr Lord was walking on Watlins Street off Andros Avenue when he was approached by a man armed with a firearm, who shot him before running away. The victim was transported to the hospital by paramedics, where he later died. His death marked the 77th murder for the year.
Thompson was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the matter was adjourned for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) in the interim. He has the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
TRAVIS Thompson outside court yesterday.
Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
DIABETES IN FEET FIFTH TOP CAUSE OF DEATHS IN NATION By RIEL MAJOR
DIABETES mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in The Bahamas, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands. The Bahamas Podiatric Medical Association underscored the devastating impact of diabetes on feet during a conference at the University of The Bahamas. “Foot complications are the source of major patient suffering, high emotion and financial costs to the individual and health care system,” Dr Sands told the conference. “We have seen the prevalence of diabetes increase from 6.7% to 9.2% in 2005 now to epidemic proportions of 13.6% in 2017. 37.9 deaths per 100,000 persons are due to diabetes. Dr Sands continued: “Foot ulcers are the most
prevalent problem, with a yearly incidence of around 2-4% and a lifetime incidence between 15 and 25%. The most important factors underlying the development of foot ulcers are peripheral sensory neuropathy, foot deformities related to motor neuropathy, minor foot trauma, and peripheral artery disease. “Once the skin is ulcerated, it is susceptible to becoming infected, an urgent medical problem that can result in amputation or even death. Only two thirds of foot ulcers eventually heal, and up to 40% can reoccur and 28% may result in some form of lower extremity amputation.” Dr Sands said the prevention of foot ulcers is very important and has been a long time priority. Each year more than one million people with diabetes lose at least a
part of their leg, translating to a lower limb being lost to diabetes, every 20 seconds somewhere in the world. “Eighty-five per cent of all amputations are preceded by an ulcer and can be prevented,” said Dr Sands. “The five-year death rate following a diabetic foot ulcer or amputation is almost 50% and higher than in persons with prostate cancer and breast cancer.” The American Diabetes Association’s position statement on preventative foot care in people with diabetes suggests that all persons with diabetes should get at least one foot examination annually. The Department of Public Health, Diabetes management protocol also orders every diabetic to receive an annual comprehensive lower extremity examination. • See Face-to-Face, page eight
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 20, 2018, PAGE 3
BMC faces legal fight to repossess homes By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe has taken legal action against the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation for repossessing homes in Millennium Gardens, a move he says the BMC was statute-barred from doing. He said he filed a summons in the Supreme Court initiating the action a week ago and is waiting for a date before the court. “There is a decision of Justice Ian Winder in a Perfect Luck case where he endorses an opinion of Sir Michael Barnett that if you get an order for possession, after six years you can’t enforce that anymore,” he said. “In this case, the order came in 2010 and these people got their writ of possession in 2018.”
Mr Munroe wants the court to discharge the BMC’s writ of possession and allow residents back into their homes so other avenues for getting them to repay their loans can be explored. He said according to the law, the BMC would not be allowed to reissue an order of possession if the court sets aside its writ of possession. “You can’t issue the order again,” he said. “There is something that indicates they may have done that but when you read the decisions, once you get an order for possession that’s it, you can’t file a new action. If you have an action in court, you get an order; you can’t start another action for the same relief.” Mr Munroe said his arguments are based on the Limitation Act.
ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe “It’s the same Act that people don’t understand that says if I squat on your property and you do nothing to reject me in 12 years the property belongs to me,” he said. “It’s the same Act the government relies on a lot that says
if you have something that’s governmental and you have to sue the government you have a year to sue them or you can’t sue them anymore. It’s a provision that says I might break my contract with you, but if you don’t sue me in the time prescribed, you don’t have a case and you can’t come back.” Mr Munroe is representing two people in the case but imagines others will come forward if his action is successful. It is unclear how many people in Millennium Gardens were forced out of their homes. Last month, Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira said some BMC clients have not paid a single dollar toward home loans. Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest revealed that of the 2889 loans being repaid to BMC, 1366 are in arrears. The value of
the loans in arrears is more than $34m. As the Progressive Liberal Party attacked the repossession policy as cruel, Mr Turnquest said: “The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation owes $162m and it has receivables out there of about $194m, not including the interest. In any other world, I’ll try to be careful with my words but there are no delicate ways to say it, that institution is probably insolvent, it is not a going concern. It only can operate the way it’s operating because the people of the Bahamas have guaranteed it. How do we stand here and say ‘man give them another year, you being cruel’ but at the same time say ‘you raise VAT to 12 percent, you killing the people.’ Where you think this money comes from? You think it just grows on trees?”
BPL TO REVIEW ‘CUT OFF’ POLICY AS BILLS RISE
from page one
because that is something that we are actively discussing - what the policy needs to be - so that’s where we are right now.” Mr Moxey said: “We’ve been telling people if they have questions with their bills or if they think their bill is incorrect to come into customer service and we will deal with them in the normal processes that BPL has in place so we have made that known and we continue to make that known as well. “One of the things we also say to our customers is if you are 30 days or more late then they are a candidates for disconnection and again obviously we have a process at our disposal, but we just want people if they have difficulty paying their bills to come into to us.
DONOVAN MOXEY “We do have a payment plan but like I said we are revisiting that to see if we can put some things together that’s a lot more favourable to our customers, but then balance out the fact as an organisation we need to maintain a certain level.” “So there’s definitely discussions on our part and we are going to be looking to see what’s the best course moving forward for all concerned.” Mr Moxey could not say whether the recent spike has impacted the rate of disconnections. Earlier this month, Mr Moxey told Tribune
Business BPL was “looking at all options” to secure cheaper fuel sources amid fierce consumer criticism of high electricity bills. He said: “We are looking at all options in order to alleviate the issue of having the expensive fuels to generate power for us at this time. That is what we are looking at.” He added that the monopoly energy provider has had to rely more on its Blue Hills plant, and more expensive fuel, to meet New Providence’s electricity needs due to recent fires that knocked out two of its most efficient generation units at the Clifton power plant. “Obviously for us the first step is to make an assessment of the units and determine whether they can be adequately repaired and brought back into service. We are looking at all of our options right now. I would rather not go into details,” Mr Moxey said of the blazedamaged generators at the time. He recently conceded that increased dependence on BPL’s Blue Hills power station, which uses a more expensive fuel in ADO (diesel oil), has added to the recent spike in customer electricity bills. Aggreko also provides 80 megawatts (MW) of temporary generation at BPL’s Blue Hills plant, and Dr Moxey said the utility has had to acquire a further ten MW of expensive diesel-burning units from the same supplier. He made the comments two days before Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced the VAT exempt ceiling will increase to $300 per month until the end of next June. This change will be made effective next month and be seen in BPL’s January billing cycle. The ceiling for VAT exemption on electricity bills was set at $200 during the 2018-2019 budget debate earlier this year. Noting the undue burden electricity costs have put on citizens, Dr Minnis further assured Bahamians that he remained resolute regarding the need for this country to substantially reduce its energy costs.
TEFFARON FRAZIER
JASON ST MARK NOBLE
Pair deny swimming away to escape drugs swoop By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net TWO men were charged yesterday over allegations they beached a boat and swam away from officers to avoid being caught red-handed with close to $2m worth of drugs. Jason St Mark Noble and Teffaron Frazier appeared before Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain concerning the $1.8m of drugs they allegedly had in their possession before making their escape. Frazier was charged separately with being caught with eight grams of marijuana on November 15. He pleaded not guilty to that charge. Concerning the large drug seizure, it is alleged that sometime between November 3 and 5, the two
conspired to and were caught to be in possession of a large amount of marijuana. According to reports, shortly after 11pm on the date in question, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers, assisted by Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Marine Support Officers and US drug enforcement agents, intercepted a 21-foot vessel a quarter mile south of New Providence. The occupants of the vessel in turn ran it aground on a sand bank, swam to land and escaped. When the vessel was searched, 60 bags of suspected marijuana, weighing 1,841 pounds and worth $1,841,000 were discovered. Both men plead not guilty to the charges and the matter was adjourned to February 27, 2019 for trial. Bail was denied and the two were remanded into custody. They both have the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, November 20, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
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Plane crash investigation must reveal full truth, point to lessons learned BAHAMIANS are very quick to form an opinion. Sometimes those opinions are based on fact but absence of available information has never slowed many in this country down. As much as we applaud open airwaves and will continue to fight for the right to express ourselves, we recognise that talk radio and social media have created a collective platform inviting the uninformed to address large audiences with more passion than information. We saw the consequences of this in the aftermath of the tragic plane involving well-liked pilot, Byron Ferguson. Because those behind the scenes were restricted by protocol in terms of releasing details, the public rushed in to fill in the blanks. We do not know what the final results of the investigation will be, but we do know that much of the national conversation about how the search, rescue and recovery effort were conducted was based on conjecture rather than fact. First, while fingers were rightly or wrongly pointed at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, investigation of a plane crash of any kind whether in the water, on neutral ground or at a runway falls under the auspices of the Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department (BAAID), a division of the Civil Aviation Authority. Created in 2016, BAAID’s fundamental objective is “to improve aviation safety by determining the circumstances and causes of air accidents” and “to guarantee expeditious response and movement of staff to accident sites’’ as well as the publication of investigation reports. Because BAAID had primary responsibility but was unable to demonstrate at the time of the crash how many passengers were aboard the aircraft, the Defence Force and others made it their immediate priority to search for survivors. The priority was to save lives. The initial search was rescue, only later did it turn to recovery. Within minutes of the 9pm crash off Nirvana Beach on New Providence’s northwest coast, the Defence Force had vessels in place. A US Coast Guard helicopter provided additional light. Royal Bahamas Police Force and BASRA arrived on the scene for a search that continued well past 2am and resumed in the early morning before dawn Early responders spotted the tail end of the 6-seater Aztec Piper almost immediately. By the time they reached the site, it had sunk. But not knowing how many people were aboard or whether other parts of the aircraft might still be intact, the intense search focused on finding survivors. Meantime, obstacles piled up one on top of another – night time crash in near total darkness, unknown number of passengers, a tail end of the aircraft seen, then vanishing. For those trying to fill in the blanks where facts were missing or did not lend themselves to opinions already formed,
here are a few tidbits of information: Over the next many days of searching, several key agencies were involved, including Air Accident Investigation, Nassau Airport Development, RBDF, RBPF, Police Fire Support Services, US Coast Guard and BASRA. Five platforms were used – boats, divers, drone, aircraft and shoreline patrols. The search has lasted the better part of two weeks with more than 20 divers in the waters at various times during what evolved as one of the longest searches in Bahamian history. Only on three days did rough waters force suspension of the search. We do not know what the outcome of the investigation is going to show, but we do know people were quick to judge before all the information was in. There was little credit for all the hard work on the part of all who searched and enough blame to go around for talk radio shows to speak of little else. Blame was cast on government for failing to light runways where the pilot might have been able to land if he had engine trouble. Established protocol would have dictated that he radio air traffic control declaring distress and air traffic control would notify local authorities in San Andros or Chub Cay to advise and they would turn on lights immediately. We do not know yet whether the pilot did radio air traffic control and to request such a landing but that is an important part of the investigation and we trust the answer will be in the final report. The issue of “a door blowing open” is also a matter for investigation as to whether that contributed to the crash by slowing the speed even further, reducing the pilot’s chances of making it to LPIA. We do know that lessons can be learned. One, a family liaison officer must be appointed to comfort, inform and update family members at times like this, just as one was needed following the Exuma boat fire that took one life and left 11 others injured with many of those injured or their families back home not knowing where to turn or how to get information. Secondly, we suggest a press liaison officer representing all relevant agencies be named and tasked with providing regular updates in the case of emergencies and incidents including plane crashes, boat accidents, fires or other emergencies. This is separate and apart from any press officer position that currently exists. If something went wrong with the investigation of the crash it was the absence of clear lines of authority and responsibilities among partner agencies and lack of methods by which to get information to the family and to the public. We must ensure the tragedy paves the way for improved external and internal communication.
Going in the right direction EDITOR, The Tribune I SEE where two priests and a columnist have recently and rightly lectured Bahamians on our propensity for complaining about every blessed thing, I was reminded of the chap boarding a plane and complaining that “things tough”. Turns out he could only afford to go to Miami once that month! I remember the daily bitter complaints when the previous government was carrying out major road improvements that transformed New Providence. Some people even said that’s why they voted against the FNM. We can now glide along two lanes to and from the airport. Anyone remember that
miserable narrow road we had before? We can now slide from Carmichael Road to West Bay Street in a matter of minutes. But now we have an example of complaining that really takes the cake. It was announced recently that at long last West Bay Street from Blake Road to Old Fort Bay is to be resurfaced. What good news! This long stretch along what should be a very scenic and comfortable route is much-travelled by tourists and locals alike. But it is one of the worst roads on the islands since it has not been resurfaced in many decades. It is now an uncomfortable and dangerous scrub board and many locals avoid it if they can. The work has not started
yet but already some people are complaining about the inconvenience and loss of business that it is bound to cause while under reconstruction. Well, of course it is going to be difficult because of the way we allowed this island to develop over the years. Apart from Gambier Village, there is only one north-south road along that entire stretch. But I for one will be glad when it is all done so that my family and I can enjoy that road again and can go to those business places that we now avoid because of the bad road. GRATEFUL MOTORIST Nassau November 18, 2018
An impartial umpire needs to be called EDITOR, The Tribune WE LIVE in an era of “fake news”, but luckily for us this moniker tends to apply more to the goings-on traversing social media sites at galactic speeds. It very rarely sticks to the coverage we see in our mainstream news reporting. Our journalists may get things wrong from time to time but their errors are rarely a deliberate headfake designed to mislead or misinform. Sadly, that reputation seems to be melting as fast as a Mortimer’s Candy Kitchen snow cone on a hot July day. The latest, and demonstrably egregious transgression occurred when certain journalists cried foul when no such foul-play occurred. Certain members of the media seem to have bees in their bonnets when it comes to the prime minister. To call such anti-Minnis tirades journalism is a bit of a stretch but still the drumbeat of negativity continues on a near weekly basis in some media. One doesn’t have to carry water for the prime minister to see the obvious bias in some of the reporting. To quote the Reverend Jesse Jackson in the US, some reporters are so biased that if they witnessed Jesus Christ walk on water their report the next day would not tell of a miracle but rather would carry the spin that he walked because he can’t swim. Not to equate Dr Minnis with the deity, of course, and to be fair he has done and said things that have left us all scratching our heads. But some of the rank hypocrisy and vitriol from the mainstream media deserves to be called out. Take, for example, a viral video that is making
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net the rounds with a caption that the prime minister is (a) bullying the press and (b) dodging questions from the press now that he is in office. It falsely claims that Minnis courted the media when in opposition. Any objective viewing of the tape shows no aggression towards members of the press and in fact the PM doesn’t even appear to be aware of the questions directed at him by the press. His security detail was busy doing their jobs, clearing a path for the prime minister. One officer informs the press that the PM would take no questions and he shields the reporter’s microphone with his hand. He doesn’t swat it away or any in way impede the reporter’s ability to shout questions at the PM. In fact, two of the reporters in the video appear stunned, not that the officer had put his hand in front of their microphone but instead couldn’t believe that Minnis went on his way without taking questions. The caption attending the video says that Minnis would run to the press before he became PM. While there is nothing wrong with a politician seeking attention, Minnis is the same man who, while leader of the opposition, was constantly ridiculed by the same reporters for shying away from the microphone and even on one occasion he was lampooned for literally “running away from the press”. Media socialites can’t invent their own facts. And the facts on this occasion
favour the PM, not the press, and that is not a good thing for our fourth estate. Minnis was the first prime minister to create the formal office of press secretary, giving journalists a point man for all of their questions. The press secretary is one of them and indeed was one of the people who revitalised the Press Club. Nobody should attempt to stop the press from shouting questions at the PM. And nobody should impede or fault the PM’s security detail for doing their job which is first and foremost to protect. They also have to get him safely to his many assignations, and to do so on time. We gave Perry Christie hell for always being late to functions, but nobody gives kudos to Minnis for being punctual. Furthermore, media representatives should not expect that they can turn every public appearance by the PM into an impromptu press conference. They should not expect to be able to stick a microphone in the PM’s face at any time or to impede his movement. Whatever vendetta, real or imagined, that certain media stars may have with Dr Minnis, it would behove them to use their bully pulpit as an impartial umpire calling only the balls and strikes. When Minnis puts his foot wrong they must say so but likewise when he does something right or decent or brave or practical, they should not let their prejudice jaundice their reporting. After all, national opinions require impartial review. THE GRADUATE Nassau November 18, 2018
Arrogance overcoming FNM EDITOR, The Tribune THE FNM gives the impression of gradually succumbing to the arrogance and slackness we have come to expect from our political parties, sooner or later. They seem to forget that it’s doubtful they could have won the last election without the massive
assistance received from the PLP. The FNM now appears to be hell-bent on proving that they may soon become the worst political party in The Bahamas – except perhaps for all the others. KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau, October 29, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 20, 2018, PAGE 5
JURY RULES COPS RIGHT TO OPEN FIRE ON GUNMAN from page one
Upon exiting the bus, he said he heard voices shouting “police” at the gunman in a bid to get him to drop the weapon, but instead, the male turned and pointed the gun in the officers’ direction. In response, the officers opened fire, striking the male, who fell facedown to the ground. The gun consequently fell from his hand. Insp Saunders said he went over to the fallen male with another officer, who was instructed to collect and secure the firearm as a
crowd had begun to gather in an area that was already “heavily populated” and “problematic”. That officer was also told to call police control room for an ambulance. Insp Saunders also said a woman subsequently told him the man who was shot by police had recently shot another man which she directed him to. Upon reaching that area, Insp Saunders said he observed a male who appeared to be lifeless. EMS personnel later pronounced both individuals dead at the scene. Detective Sergeant Knowles,
who was attached to the nearby Quakoo Street Police Station at the time, testified that on the evening of the date in question, he received certain information and consequently drove to Hay and East Streets where he met several officers who walked him through an apparent crime scene. He said he observed two bodies lying approximately 30 to 40 feet apart. The first body was situated in front of Audley Kemp’s Liquor Store, suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the head and chest, while the next was situated in the bar’s walkway
with suspected gunshot wounds to the chin area. Det Sgt Knowles said he later conducted door-to-door inquiries of the crime scene and gained valuable information for his investigation from various people, however, they declined to give a written statement because they did not want to be involved in the matter. Thus, he said he was unable to produce any witnesses. Two people who could have been compelled to testify have since been murdered. Nonetheless, Det Sgt Knowles said he did question a female
witness, whose information mirrored that of the four officers. He said based on that information, he learned the deceased lying in the walkway was Terrance Williams, while the male in the camouflage attire was Forbes. Det Sgt Knowles said the woman told him that while running after and firing shots at the male in the red jacket, Williams, who was not the intended target, was shot and killed. The four officers were represented by attorney Lennox Coleby. Anishka Missick marshalled the evidence in the inquest.
Trio accused in Royal Bank of Canada theft from page one
Gay were also charged with aiding and abetting Mackey in stealing over $130,000 from RBC between February and April of 2016, with the latter further accused of stealing $28,500 from RBC by reason of her employment, and defrauding the bank of $13,000 between April and May of that year. Concerning Mackey, it is alleged the business service representative stole $172,759.45 from RBC situated at East Hill Street between February and May of 2016, which he had access to by reason of his employment. He is further alleged to have made numerous false entries in RBC’s computer system, which he was required to maintain, to show that Marvin Gay, trading as Tat’s Rentals, was entitled to $130,116.71 in payments. The Faith Gardens resident is further alleged to have made multiple false entries in RBC’s system to show that Kenja King was entitled to $12,503 in payments between April 6 and May 12, 2016. He is further alleged to have made false entries into the system to show that Ernika Enterprises, Prince Mackey, and Phillipa Watkins were entitled to payments of $32,873.43; $16,000 and $3,500 respectively. Mackey is further alleged to have laundered $172,778.93 between February 22 and May 26, 2016, which in part represented the proceeds of criminal conduct. Concerning Gay, it is alleged he abetted Mackey in stealing $118,683 from RBC, which he had access to by reason of his employment, between February 22 and May 26, 2016. He is also accused of having acquired and laundered $118,683 between those dates, which in part represented the proceeds of criminal conduct. King, meanwhile, was charged with stealing $28,503 from RBC, which she had access to by reason of her employment, between
ABOVE, Marvin Gay, left, and Traves Mackey. Inset, Kenja King at court yesterday. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff in stealing $56,205.71 from April 6 and 27, 2016. King, a the aforementioned dates. Earlier this year, Mackey RBC, laundering and business service representative, also allegedly made was ordered to pay $13,000 acquiring that sum between multiple false entries in in fines for stealing $61,000 October 11 and November RBC’s computer system to \ from his former employer 8, 2017. At the time, she was show that Mackey was enti- late last year otherwise face given until May 22 to repay tled to $13,000 in payments two years in prison. At the time, Acting the $56,205.71, or otherwise between April 6 and May 9, Deputy Chief Magistrate face a year in prison. 2016. All three individuals She is also alleged to have Swain further gave Mackey aided and abetted Mackey 30 days to fully reim- entered not guilty pleas in stealing $12,503 from burse RBC the $61,588.97 to the charges and the their employer between he stole from that bank matter was adjourned to between October 11 and 31, December 7 for trial. Bail April 6 and May 9, 2016. King is further alleged 2017, or face an additional was denied and the trio were remanded into custo have acquired and laun- year in prison. King, meanwhile was tody in the interim. They dered $25,503, which in part represents the proceeds of fined $2,000 apiece for have a right to apply to the criminal conduct, between aiding and abetting Mackey Supreme Court for bail.
BAHAMASAIR SUSPENDS FLIGHT AFTER HAITI UNREST NATIONAL police patrol in Port-auPrince yesterday. By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net BAHAMASAIR has suspended services to Haiti because of unrest in that country. A flight to Cap-Haitien scheduled for this morning was suspended, with Bahamasair requesting that passengers booked on that flight contact the airline for recommendations on their travel arrangements. “Bahamasair will continue to monitor the
situation closely and will liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further updates on the situation in Haiti,” the airline said in a statement, adding that its next update will be made tomorrow. Yesterday marked the second day of countrywide protests over allegations of government corruption in Haiti. A police officer was killed and three people were wounded, including two foreigners. • Trouble in Haiti - Page 10
PAGE 6, Tuesday, November 20, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
MINNIS WANTS SOLAR HOMES FOR EVERYONE BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis says his vision for The Bahamas is that every home becomes self-sustaining power stations with the use of solar technology. Dr Minnis believes it could lead to the creation of a new industry where homeowners can sell their solar power back to the power company. However, he noted there would have to be a limit associated with it to prevent hoarding for investment purposes by the wealthy. “I would like to see a Bahamas where every home - where a new industry can be developed where every home, every quarter can look forward to receiving a cheque from the power company $100, $200 and $300,” he said. “But you must have some form of limit so individuals don’t use it as a form of investment. The rich can use it as a form of investment and replace the power station. That’s my dream that everybody, every home be they in impoverished areas, or not, but that is my dream. “ Dr Minnis was speaking with reporters in Grand Bahama last week when asked about new proposed project by a Bahamian company to build two Firm Solar Plants on Grand Bahama. Northern Bahamas Utilities Holding Co Ltd has made application to the government
to construct multi-million dollar solar plants in West Grand Bahama, and East Grand Bahama, which will be phase two. The company plans to acquire 51 acres of land in Pelican Lakes, southwest of the West End settlement. The proposed project is expected to lower the cost of electricity, and any surplus power would be sold to the Grand Bahama Power Company via a purchase agreement. The 1993 agreements signed between the Bahamas government and the GBPC allowing the
power company to provide and sell electricity to areas outside of Freeport is expected to expire this year, and civic group Coalition of Concerned Citizens has asked government not to renew the agreements with the foreign power company, but to consider approving the proposed solar plants by the NBU, a 100 percent Bahamian owned company. When asked about whether the West End and East End Agreements would be renewed, and about the application for the proposed solar plants, Dr Minnis indicated the Minister of State for
Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson would provide details concerning the matter. However, he expressed a strong desire to see solar-equipped homes throughout the country. “In terms of solar I have a vision for The Bahamas concerning renewable energy,” he said. “Solarisation is improving aggressively, technology is improving aggressively - we not only have solarise roof panels, but tiles etc. “I would like to see every home in The Bahamas become what you call a self-contained power station, meaning that you can
generate all the electricity from solar panels, roof tiles, walls etc, and they can connect to the power grid so that any excess energy the power grid obtain from them they can give them back and the excess power grid can pay them back.” The prime minister said that homeowners would be able to collect money from the power gird. “That’s my dream for every body; every home be they in impoverished area or not,” he said. NBU’s project is estimated at some $30m. It will use 24,000 solar panels, backed up with 10 megawatts of propane generators. The plant will be able generate some six million watts or six megawatts of power. The company claims its solar proposal can reduce energy costs by 30-40 percent, and create some 50-85 jobs, if it is allowed to supply power to East and West End. Earlier in the year, Dr Carlton Bosfield, principal of Northern Bahamas Utilities (NBU), told Tribune Business that its planned investment in two utility-scale solar plants would ultimately enable residents in both areas to “own a piece of their energy.” Mr Bosfield disclosed that NBU, founded by ex-Grand Bahama Power Company (GB Power) executives, had been working for three years to realise an opportunity that depends entirely on the government ending their former employer’s 25-year monopoly.
D’AGUILAR DEFENDS CARGILL’S NEW ROLE
from page one
Although the Minnis administration has treated forensic audits as definitive and has rebuffed criticisms of their findings this term, Mr D’Aguilar suggested Grant Thornton’s audit, which cost taxypayers $861,000, contained flawed assessments. “One of the issues the audit raised was the payment of bonuses and the other was the renting of this apartment from an entity in which he was a director,” he said. “As it relates to the payment of the bonuses, he has always contended and as was supported by the chairman at the time, that bonuses were approved by the Human Resources committee chairman who was also the chairman of NIB and not only did he get a bonus but a number of other people got a bonus as well. Really, it’s almost impossible for a managing director to authorize bonuses given the controls in place at the National Insurance Board. “Secondly, he had always contended - and I believe it
ALGERNON CARGILL was being concurred - that the apartment that was leased when it was drawn, the exercise was initiated without his knowledge and approval and when it was brought to his approval he immediately, in the presence of other national insurance employees or directors, called the chairman and advised him of the conflict and the chairman I’m led to believe didn’t find fault with that and proceeded forth. “I don’t think he ever did anything that was underhanded. I just think he was a victim of political victimization at the end of the day.” Mr D’Aguilar declined to say how much Mr Cargill is being paid, saying
he does not believe it is proper to disclose such information. However, last year he disclosed the salary of a former government tourism consultant in the House of Assembly - without revealing the person’s identity- as being paid over $400,000 a year. He was referring to Ian Poitier, a Bahamian engaged in the creative arts. Last year, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis criticized how much some consultants were paid in the Christie administration. In the House of Assembly he tabled 2015 and 2017 contracts for Sir Baltron Bethel, a former advisor in the Office fo the Prime Minister, revealing that Sir Baltron had his contract extended two weeks before the May 10 general election and his salary increased from $140,000 to $200,000. He also tabled contracts of V Theresa Burrows and Cecile Williams-Bethel, two consultants of the NIB who made $125,000 each. Regarding Mr Cargill’s salary, Mr D’Aguilar said cabinet approved the hire, and “if someone else wants to say how much he is being paid they could.”
Mr D’Aguilar emphasized Mr Cargill’s experience and qualifications for his current role. “He has rolled out some pretty significant programmes that required expertise over the years,” he said. “This was a very measured decision that we feel will be beneficial to our goals in aviation. He ran the NIB for a number of years, he was the one responsible for rolling out the minimum wage, the unemployment benefit, the prescription drug benefit, these were new programs rolled out under the FNM and required lots of management expertise and drive to get these goals accomplished. We want to bring that focus and management skills to aviation. We wanted someone who was available but who had the necessary management expertise to get some of our goals accomplished in the aviation sector. I needed help. I needed someone with private sector experience, and he also ran Chevron for the Caribbean, he also worked for CIBC as a branch management if you go further back,
so he obviously has the experience.” Explaining the challenges he faces in the aviation sector, Mr D’Aguilar said the government’s ambitious plans include constructing a new airport in Exuma and North Eleuthera and acting on the findings of a study that called for improvements to many Family Island airports. “The airports are extremely capital intensive, that will probably require some kind of public private partnership,” he said. “When you consider public private partnerships in the construction and management of airports that requires a lot of ground work, a lot of leg work in terms of delineating where these airports fit, the legal description of these airports, the putting together of request for proposals. All of that requires a lot of work. “What I found when I got into government was that there was no ministry of aviation. When I asked where is the ministry of aviation, I was told that myself and the permeant secretary were it. There are
eight specific silos within the aviation sector, the Airport Authority, NAD, Civil Aviation Authority, Nassau Flight Services, Air Transport Advisory, Bahamasair, the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Department, there’s the Air Accident Investigation Department, all of these silos require some oversight and really there is no one there to do that at the ministry level except myself and the permanent secretary. “I wanted to create a department of aviation to manage all of these silos so we could all be on a common path and then you throw in the construction of the airports which requires a lot of management, that requires a certain skill that’s hard to find in the particular ministries. We have the development of the aircraft registry, we have the negotiation of the overflight fees and all of this is really requiring myself and my permanent secretary to drive it. We’ve requested permission to form a department of aviation and while that permission has been granted, it won’t take place until the next budget year.”
TAX-FREE SCHEME LAUNCHED BUT NO ONE CAN USE IT YET By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
WHILE the government’s Over-The-Hill tax-free scheme has been launched, business and residents will have to wait until the end of the month for details on how to use it. The scheme’s executive manager, Samita Ferguson, told The Tribune yesterday her team is working to finalise details for an “allinclusive” introductory workshop for vendors and residents on November 28. Last week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced that aspects of the initiatives, primarily exemptions for businesses
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and residents in Bain’s and Grants Town and Centreville communities, took effect November 1. Mrs Ferguson, in an interview with The Tribune earlier this month, suggested the exemption phase of the scheme was not quite ready, stating the empowerment zone information still had to be gazetted. In a move to clarify the status of the scheme yesterday, Mrs Ferguson explained while the Economic Empowerment Act was officially presented to the public, all information specifically on the economic empowerment zones and their connection to those targeted Over-the-Hill communities were not a part of
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that initial publication. “We still had a lot we needed to get out there,” Mrs Ferguson told The Tribune. “The designated areas, they can go live because the date was enforced, however, there are still some things we need to get through. As it stands, there are some official documentation that is still needed, and that is coming.” “Our workshop will happen in conjunction with Ministry of Finance on November 28. We will have vendors there and we intend to make the public aware of everything this programme can offer. I am still engaged in meetings, engaging with vendors and like I said, by November 28 is the next big day.” Mrs Ferguson said her team has worked since September to fine tune the system and its framework in the lead-up to the Prime Minister announcement. She admitted while they system still had “stuff” that needed to be worked through, it is ready to go and capable of “hitting all
of its targets”. “In terms of persons applying, nothing has taken off yet. But we are talking about the process, persons can now apply online. “We’ve had inquires, but for us now, it is all about communication. Bahamians are excited to know as much as they can, so they are calling and asking so many questions,” she noted. “So we have to revamp how the information is getting out there. Branding and marketing, we want to get that sorted by this week, next week because the framework in there; we are working all the phases and walking them through,” she added. “As it stands, this period is just communicating with persons on how they qualify and what the qualify for. “That is the first step and once that happens, the ball starts rolling. We want to do this in order here,” said. Ferguson said her unit will carryout several community based activities in the lead up to the November 28 workshop. A walkabout is tentatively scheduled for later this week.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 20, 2018, PAGE 7
D’Aguilar: Emergency runway lights ‘all operational’ By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday confirmed emergency lights at all government-owned airport runways are operational. His comments follow intense public scrutiny over whether the use of those lights could have assisted missing pilot Byron Ferguson, whose aircraft crashed in the waters of Nirvana Beach on November 8th. Byron’s elder brother Bjorn Ferguson claimed his brother had to bypass three Family Island airports, Chub Cay, Great Harbour Cay, and San Andros, but could not land on the unlit runways. Yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar told The Tribune stateowned airport runways are outfitted with emergency lights that are only mobilised upon request. Mr D’Aguilar said he was “not aware” as to whether Mr Ferguson made a request to land at a Family Island airport. For his part, Acting Director in the Department of Civil Aviation Keith Major declined to comment on the matter, saying all relevant information has been turned over to the Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID). “When you get into an investigation, everybody tends to clamp down in
BYRON FERGUSON order to get the facts,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “These things take time.” “I have not heard from the authorities. That doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. I have not heard whether that request was made.” During an emotional press conference held on November 11, Byron’s relatives said despite his plane’s mechanical difficulties, he had no choice but to try to make it to Nassau’s airport. His elder brother, Bjorn Ferguson, said: “Three. Three airports. Three airports he had to pass when he first encountered this emergency. And he could not take the plane down because no lights on the friggen runway (sic). “He had to pass three runways: Chub Cay, Great Harbour Cay, and San Andros, to make it here on one engine, trying to get this plane here on one engine to LPIA. It is retarded. Retarded. And
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SOME of the wreckage from Byron Ferguson’s plane that was retrieved by volunteer divers. if you’re going to give the excuse of ‘(oh) we don’t light it up because of drug planes,’ that is retarded.” Yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar confirmed the lights are “purposefully” turned off as a national security measure, such as not enabling drug smuggling. “There’s certainly sufficient lighting at every airport where if someone had to make an emergency landing they could,” Mr D’Aguilar said, “but there’s a protocol for that.” “What happens is in an emergency, I’m advised… that a pilot in distress would radio the tower in Nassau that he or she is in distress and (request) permission to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport. Mr D’Aguilar continued: “And then the protocol is that the tower would then call the necessary person on that island and the police…and they would make their way to the airport, using a remote
control device, (and) engage the lighting. And the person could use it. So that kind of protocol has been established.” In response to tabloid reports that Family Island runways did not have lights, former Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin confirmed the “full complement” of government-owned airport runways were outfitted with emergency lights during her tenure over the last two PLP terms. Mrs Hanna Martin said this was a “policy decision”, made in direct response to a dearth of lights contributing to plane crashes and accidents in years past. Authorities’ response to the plane crash has been subject to intense scrutiny in the last week, especially after volunteer divers associated with Head Knowles, a community support group, recovered substantial parts of the Piper Aztec plane on Thursday.
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Mrs Hanna Martin said it was “mind-boggling” that civilians were able to find the plane while authorities were not. “I think we have to wait until the investigation is completed. But I know that it’s just a very boggling situation,” she said. “We’ll have to hear the facts to help us have a greater understanding of these sort of startling events.” Mrs Hanna Martin also extended sympathies to the family during this “painfully frustrating” time. “With all of the factors of this incident, which include the fact that the crash took place so close to the centre of our nation, the nation’s capital, within earshot of… shore and that responders saw a part of the plane above water,” Mrs Hanna Martin said. “And for that to be shut down, including telling family members - mother, wife, siblings, children - that they had to leave the beach.
And then the next morning there was nothing there… I think that certainly this requires some serious reflection on procedures. But we have to know the facts first. And I don’t know the facts. I only know what I’m hearing in the public domain.” “And in terms of the family, I know that the nation feels with them as much as we can, being outsiders to their experience but feeling very connected to it, because it must be a painfully frustrating, painful situation, when you consider all the factors in this matter from what we know. But I want to reiterate that we have to wait for the investigation to be completed.” On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he has ordered a full review of protocols, procedures and agencies involved in air accident response and investigations in the country.
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PAGE 8, Tuesday, November 20, 2018
W
HILE World Diabetes Day was being commemorated last week, Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands brought the dismal news that The Bahamas is the world leader in the prevalence of diabetes. His remarks came as the Bahamas Podiatric Medical Association (BPMA) launched its first annual conference under the theme: “New Hope for Diabetic Feet”. The problem did not develop overnight, but now with the disease reaching unprecedented levels, podiatrists (foot and ankle surgeons) are coming together to do their part to aid in decreasing the amount of people who suffer amputations as a result of diabetes. Little may be known about the BPMA, but they are doing their best to change that and brought in professional podiatrists from around the world for the conference. One local podiatrist who has served the community for more than four decades and has been working in diabetes prevention from the start was honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the conference. Back in 1973, when The Bahamas was first becoming an independent nation, Dr Deborah Raine was graduating from the London Foot Hospital with a Diploma in Podiatric Medicine. She returned home and made history as the first Bahamian podiatrist. Deborah began private practice in September of 1974, but she also received extensive post graduate education and training at the Chelsea School of Podiatry in London and at various institutions in the United States. It has become all too common in the Bahamian conversation to hear that “I have sugar”, or “I have to take my sugar pills” and it is accepted as a part of life in too many households. Deborah knew this long ago and for this reason she also became one of the pioneers in advocacy for diabetes prevention and proper treatment.
S
HE became a founding member of the Bahamas Diabetic Association. The BDA was established in March 1986. The founding members established the association’s humble beginnings as a result of the hard work and unwavering efforts of Mrs Diana Pinder and Mrs Ethel Knowles, whose daughters developed diabetes at the age of seven. The first meeting was held in Mrs Pinder’s backyard with a few people who were interested in helping each other learn more on diabetes. Dr Cecil Bethel was one of the attendees at that first meeting and he carried the vision beyond the establishment of a support group and drew up a constitution establishing the formation of BDA. It’s role - to educate and give moral support to persons with diabetes and their family. Deborah displays an innate commitment to caring for others with kindness and skill which continues to drive her in her professional and family life. She has been involved in many voluntary and charitable organisations over the years. She has 44 years of dedicated service to her patients, her profession and her country. She has been a mentor and an encouragement to young professionals in her field. Even though they are few, they are all close with Deborah whom they look up to and often consult as they attend to various foot and ankle issues. They include podiatrists Dr Daniel Johnson, president of the BPMA;
THE TRIBUNE
A lifetime bringing hope in the fight against diabetes
ABOVE: Women of Distinction. BELOW: Dr Deborah Raine with her lifetime achievement award.
Dr Monique Mitchell; Dr Stephen Dorsette and Dr Kenneth Kemp. In presenting the lifetime achievement award to Debroah, Dr Johnson said “her expert work is known throughout The Bahamas”. “She is loved by her patients and highly respected by her colleagues. We are grateful for her dedicated commitment to advancing podiatry in our country. One of the greatest things you can receive is an honor by your peers and we congratulate her for her dedication and commitment to this cause.” In opening the conference, Johnson stressed that diabetes is becoming the most prominent health issue in The Bahamas as it affects all major organs – the heart, kidneys, eyes, circulation and feet. Therefore, the conference became a reality through the BPMA, the BDA and the American Academy of Foot and Ankle Surgery. International podiatrists who presented at the conference include: Dr Stan Kalish, who presented on Charcot foot dysfunction, diagnosis and
treatment; Doctors Borys Markewych, Monore Laborde and Victor Horseley who all addressed minimally invasive surgery in the diabetic foot; Dr Joe Fox; Steve Parkinson, CEO of Lakewood Amedex who spoke on novel antimicrobial therapeutics for treatment of diabetic foot infections; Doctors Andronica Handie and Tim Ganey on stem cell therapy and the diabetic foot – compelling evidence and scientific review; and Dr Daniel Johnson of the Foot and Ankle Institute, Fort Charlotte who shared live surgical cases in the Bahamas performed at Spectrum Surgical Suites. Many of the cases Dr Johnson shared showed that diabetics are suffering from foot ulcerations and the conference concluded that if diabetics considered the role of podiatrists more seriously as a part of their regular treatment, they would stand better chances of avoiding lower extremity amputation or loss of mobility. “The alarming increase of amputations due to diabetes reached almost one thousand in 2017,” Johnson said, and this has
CORRECTION: In last week’s Face to Face on University of the Bahamas President Dr Rodney Smith, it was stated that “When the transition secretariat was established in 2012, a representative flew to Virginia to interview him to become the President of the University of the Bahamas.” That should have read: “The University Transition Secretariat(UTS) had undertaken to interview all former presidents of The College of the Bahamas as part of its task in conceptualising the forthcoming university. Antoinette Seymour and Quincy Parker represented UTS on this mission.”
sparked the concern and interests of podiatrists in the country.” For five years, Dr Raine worked at the Geriatric unit of the Sandiland’s Rehabilitation Centre dealing with such issues, followed by Dr Stephen Dorsette who dedicated 20 years doing the same. She is a member in good standing of the British Society of Podiatrists since 1973 and the American Board of Multiple Specialists in Podiatry since 1988. She is board certified in Primary Surgical Care in Podiatry from the American Institute of Foot Medicine since 1992. In 2016, she received the Woman of Distinction award
from Celebrating Women International. Deborah has a passion for her family and for boating and fishing, a past time for which she is well known when she is not practicing medicine. She says she inherited the gift of writing from her late grandmother, author Wilhelmina HA Johnson (nee Kemp). She enjoys writing poems and stories in the vernacular and has created skits that children and family members have performed on special occasions. Having given so much to the country for four decades, she intends to spend even more time enjoying the Bahamian waters fulfilling her passions.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, November 20, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
NISSAN CHAIRMAN ARRESTED IN PROBE OF FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT YOKOHAMA, JAPAN Associated Press
NISSAN chairman Carlos Ghosn, one of the auto industry’s most powerful executives who engineered a turnaround at the Japanese manufacturer, was arrested yesterday and will be fired for allegedly underreporting his income and misusing company funds, the automaker said. The scandal reverberated across the globe and abruptly threw into question Ghosn’s future as leader of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, which sold 10.6 million cars last year, more than any other manufacturer.
Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said Ghosn was taken into custody after being questioned by prosecutors upon arriving in Japan earlier in the day. Ghosn is of French, Brazilian and Lebanese background and lives in both France and Japan. Nissan said Ghosn, 64, and another senior executive, Greg Kelly, were accused of offences involving millions of dollars that were discovered during a monthslong investigation set off by a whistleblower. Kelly was also arrested. “Beyond being sorry I feel great disappointment, frustration, despair, indignation and
resentment,” Saikawa said, apologizing for a full seven minutes at the outset of a news conference. Yokohama-based Nissan Motor said it is cooperating with prosecutors in their investigation. Saikawa said Nissan’s board will vote on Thursday on dismissing Ghosn and Kelly, whom he described as the mastermind of the alleged abuses. “This is an act that cannot be tolerated by the company,” he said. “This is serious misconduct.” Saikawa said three major types of misconduct were found: underreporting income to financial authorities, using investment funds for personal gain and illicit
CARLOS GHOSN, Nissan CEO
use of company expenses. He said that because of the continuing investigation, he could not disclose many details. But he promised to tighten internal controls, saying the problems may have happened because too much power was concentrated in one person. “We need to really look back at what happened, take it seriously and take fundamental countermeasures,” he said. Ghosn officially still leads the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance as CEO and chairman. But experts said it is unlikely he will be able to stay on there or at Renault, where he is also CEO.
WHITE HOUSE TO RESTORE ACOSTA PASS WITH WARNING
ONE KILLED, 3 WOUNDED IN HAITI VIOLENCE PORT-AU-PRINCE Associated Press
ONE police officer was killed and three people were wounded in Haiti yesterday amid a second day of countrywide protests over allegations of government corruption. Two of the wounded were foreigners who were hurt by gunfire. One of those was a 29-year-old French woman who was riding with her boyfriend and a HaitianAmerican tourist from the Port-au-Prince airport to a popular beach club about two hours away. Haitian police said earlier in the day that one of their officers had been killed by a street gang in the capital. Police spokesman Gary Derosier said the officer was riding in a motorcycle taxi that was stopped at a roadblock run by a street gang, who fatally shot him and burned his body in an alley.
NEW YORK Associated Press
RESIDENTS run past burning barricades during trouble in Port-au-Prince yesterday.
Ivanka Trump used personal email for government work WASHINGTON Associated Press
IVANKA Trump, the president’s daughter and a top White House adviser, sent hundreds of emails about government business from a personal email account last year, The Washington Post reported yesterday. The emails were sent to White House aides, Cabinet members and Ivanka Trump’s assistants, many in violation of public records rules, the paper said. President Donald Trump mercilessly criticised his 2016 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, for using a private email server during her time as secretary of state, labeling her “Crooked Hillary” and saying she belonged in jail. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about
the email use, but a spokesman for Ivanka Trump’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, didn’t dispute the report. “While transitioning into government... Ms. Trump sometimes used her private account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family,” said the spokesman, Peter Mirijanian. Mirijanian stressed that no classified information was transmitted in the messages, that no emails were deleted and that the emails have since been “retained” in conformity with records laws. “When concerns were raised in the press 14 months ago, Ms Trump reviewed and verified her email use with White House Counsel and explained the issue to congressional leaders,” he said. The discovery was prompted by public records requests from the liberal watchdog group
NO DENIAL: Ivanka Trump American Oversight. The group’s executive director, Austin Evers, said in a statement that “The president’s family is not above the law,” and he called on Congress to investigate. “For more than two years, President Trump and senior leaders in Congress have made it very clear that they view the use of personal
email servers for government business to be a serious offence that demands investigation and even prosecution, and we expect the same standard will be applied in this case,” he said. The emails the group uncovered include correspondence between Ivanka Trump and Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. • FORMER President Barack Obama urged community organisers and social innovators to be patient in their pursuits of widescale community change. Obama, talking at the Obama Foundation summit in Chicago, argued that patience is needed because societies are “complex, organic things that you don’t turn (like) switches. They evolve. They shift. They change.”
THE Trump administration said yesterday that it will fully restore CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s White House credentials, but warned that he must follow a series of rules at future press conferences. White House officials Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Bill Shine sent Acosta a letter explaining his status. His press pass had been revoked after a dust-up at a press conference with President Donald Trump. On Twitter, CNN declared victory, saying: “Today the @WhiteHouse fully restored @Acosta’s press pass. As a result, our lawsuit is no longer necessary. We look forward to continuing to cover the White House.” It was an abrupt aboutface for the Trump administration, which said on Friday that, despite a judge’s injunction allowing Acosta back into the White House, it would seek to bar him again in two weeks. The White House’s letter made clear his credentials could be threatened again. The officials said that at future press conferences, each reporter would be limited to a single question, with follow-up questions permitted at the discretion of the president or staff. It adds that “‘Yielding the floor’ includes ... physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff.” The letter said failure to abide by the rules “may result in suspension or revocation of the journalist’s hard pass.” The White House revoked Acosta’s credentials after he and Trump tangled verbally during press conference on November 7. Trump has called for more “decorum” at the White House and has said staff is “writing up rules and regulations” for reporters.
MAN WHO STRANGLED WIFE AND THE SCOOP ON HOW YOUR CAT’S KILLED HIS 2 GIRLS JAILED FOR LIFE SANDPAPERY TONGUE DEEP CLEANS COLORADO Associated Press
A MAN who strangled his pregnant wife and suffocated their two young daughters wanted to escape his marriage and growing family, prosecutors said yesterday as a judge imposed a sentence of life without parole as part of a plea deal that kept the killer from facing the death penalty. Christopher Watts, who pleaded guilty two weeks ago, did not speak during the hearing. One of his attorneys said Watts was “sincerely sorry”. As Watts listened with his head down, Shanann Watts’ parents detailed their ongoing struggle to understand how he could murder the three people who considered him a hero — Shanann, 34, Bella, four, and Celeste, three. Frank Rzucek said he was disgusted by the way his son-in-law took his wife and two daughters “out like the trash”. “Prison is too good for you,” Rzucek said. “This is hard to say, but may God have mercy on your soul.” Watts, 33, was formally sentenced to consecutive
GUILTY: Christopher Watts life sentences for the murders. He also received a 48-year sentence for unlawful termination of a pregnancy and 12 years each for tampering with a human body. The girls’ bodies were found submerged in an oil tank on property owned by the company Watts worked for. His wife’s body was found in a shallow grave nearby. As a prosecutor detailed the injuries found on the bodies, Rzucek leaned forward, gasping. Michael Rourke said Shanann Watts was strangled, but her lack of significant injuries suggested that her death came slowly. The girls were smothered, and Rourke said there were signs Bella “fought for her life.” Celeste had no visible injuries, he said.
Christopher Watts’ parents, Cindy and Ronnie Watts, were permitted to speak as the girls’ grandparents. Each said they still loved their son and urged him to seek God’s forgiveness. “We love you,” Cindy Watts said into a microphone before turning to look directly at her son. “And we forgive you, son.” Watts wiped away a tear with his shirt after his parents left the podium. He kept his head down for much of the hearing, speaking only once to confirm that he did not want to make a statement before Judge Marcelo Kopcow imposed his sentence. Friends of Shanann Watts and neighbors in the subdivision where the family lived lined up inside the courthouse Monday morning. More people filed into an overflow room to watch a video stream. The killings became the focus of true crime blogs and online video channels, which showed dozens of family photos and videos that Shanann Watts shared on social media showing the smiling family.
WASHINGTON Associated Press
CAT lovers know when kitties groom, their tongues are pretty scratchy. Using high-tech scans and some other tricks, scientists are learning how those sandpapery tongues help cats get clean and stay cool. The secret: Tiny hooks that spring up on the tongue — with scoops built in to carry saliva deep into all that fur. A team of mechanical engineers reported the findings yesterday, and say they’re more than a curiosity. They could lead to inventions for pets and people. “Their tongue could help us apply fluids, or clean carpets, or apply medicine” to hairy skin, said Georgia Tech lead researcher Alexis Noel, who is seeking a patent for a 3D-printed, tongue-inspired brush. Cats are fastidious, spending up to a quarter of their waking hours grooming. Noel’s interest was piqued when her cat, Murphy, got his tongue stuck in a fuzzy blanket. Scientists had long thought cat
tongues were studded with tiny cone-shaped bumps. Noel, working in a lab known for animal-inspired engineering, wondered why. First, CT scans of cats’ tongues showed they’re not covered in solid cones but in claw-shaped hooks. They lie flat and rear-facing, out of the way until, with a twitch of the tongue muscle, the little spines spring straight up, she explained. The big surprise: Those spines contain hollow scoops, Noel found. Turning
to zoos and taxidermists for preserved tongues to examine, she found bobcats, cougars, snow leopards, even lions and tigers share that trait. When Noel touched the tips of preserved spines — called papillae — with drops of food dye, they wicked up the liquid. A housecat’s nearly 300 papillae hold a small amount of saliva that’s released when the tongue presses on fur, and then they wick up some more.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 20, 2018, PAGE 11 THE X-ray department at Princess Margaret Hospital received and installed new CT scanners as part of improvements for the imaging department. Pictured is Dr Solange Payne, Head of Radiology, along with her team. PHOTO: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff
Huge strides in X-ray work By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Public Hospitals Authority yesterday unveiled its new Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) providing public health care institutions in the country with access to digital radiology images. PACS is a medical imaging technology platform that provides efficient storage and easy access to images. X-ray film is replaced with digital images, a move heralded as a major advancement in radiology and imaging services within the PHA. Dr Solange Payne, Radiology Department Head, said that new equipment has revolutionised X-rays as patients will no longer have to wait long periods of time to gain information about their scan results. She said: “Gone are the days where we don’t understand (people’s) handwriting... gone are all of that. “In a click of a button you can get your X-rays.. not only that, the information is with the click of a button. It is right on the wards, all the extra reports will be available for all the doctors on the wards. They don’t have to come down and look for anything anymore. Everything is at the click of a button, all the doctors can look at images
on the computer in their offices on the wards, in the operating theatres. “One of the clear gains for hospitals and patients is that once an image has been acquired on to PACS it cannot be lost, stolen, or misfiled. The images are always available after PACS has been installed, so no patient appointment is cancelled, no clinical decision deferred, no images are repeated because they are missing, and no time is wasted by doctors or other healthcare workers looking for missing films.” The PACS is primarily used for the storing of images of CTs, ultrasounds, X-rays, mammograms, and fluoroscopy studies. Mr Andrew Dean, PHA Senior Network Administrator, said the system is very robust and they are impressed with it. Currently all of the department public health clinics are connected to the network allowing all referring physicians to request any type of X-ray scans or scans done at either the South Beach Clinic or at PMH. The wait time to gain access to the information is about five seconds and now available for everybody on the network. Journalists were invited to observe a demonstration of the new PAC system, including a demonstration of its link with the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.
Dr Tanya Bethel, consultant radiologist at the Rand Memorial Hospital, said the digital system was implemented in June 2018 at the hospital in Freeport, and is connected with the Princess Margaret Hospital in New Providence and other institutions that have access to the PACS. She reported that the digital archiving system has significantly improved overall efficiency at the radiology department at the hospital. Dr Bethel said that referring physicians now have the capability of accessing patient’s studies and reports from computers throughout the hospitals as well as clinics, since August/ September. Dr Bethel noted that the system also has voice recognition software that tremendously enhances reporting capabilities. The consultant radiologist demonstrated how she is able to easily consult with another radiologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital who is also able to view the images taken at RMH in real time. The PACS is connected and accessible not only at RMH, but also at the Eight Mile Rock Clinic in West Grand Bahama, and the Princess Margaret Hospital, and the South Beach Clinic in New Providence. Dr Bethel noted the ability to view studies at a site
which have been taken at other sites allows for the opportunity to discuss cases across both major institutions for the purpose of obtaining second opinions or assistance with reporting of studies. • Additional reporting by Riel Major
URGENT CALL TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF RADIOLOGISTS By RIEL MAJOR
THE new digital imaging network connecting public health care facilities throughout the country has highlighted the need for more radiologists. According to Dr Solange Payne, Radiology Department Head, there are currently nine radiologists at PMH and two in Grand Bahama. “We really need about double amount (of radiologist) to really service the country but, we do our best and having the computers will definitely aide us to move more faster and more efficient,” said Dr Payne. Mr Montino Roberts, Information and Technology Consultant, addressed the lack of radiologists in the country and the headway the radiologist department is heading during a media demonstration of the new Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS). Mr Roberts, pictured above, said: “When we think about the way we are set up in our country we have about 98 clinics so it’s impossible to have radiologists or radiographers at each one of those clinics so you think about it in the United States alone right now information studies/
radiologist studies grow by 15% every year. When the radiologist population grows only by two per cent that tells what a gap we just filled so that’s why Dr Payne refers to this revolutionises because what we have been able to accomplish today is to improve patient care. When you think about a pack system of digitising what we are talking about is higher quality of images which leads to, as you can guess, more accurate diagnosis, more efficient diagnosis. He continued: “It’s now sustainable because we don’t have to be talking about film or we don’t have to expose our patients to unnecessary imaging all over again. For us in telemedicine because now Dr Payne or any of the radiologists no matter where they are can be reached in real time access to the same system.” Mr Roberts said as the hospital continues to be renovated the Radiology Department will have to expand. He said: “Right now I think we’re averaging a hundred some thousand images annually when you go digital that will expand and the reason for that is because we have the equipment to be able to do more studies without having to worry about film and wastage.”
PAGE 12, Tuesday, November 20, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Hemingway and his battle to land a 500lb marlin By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net A 1935 LETTER by famed novelist Ernest Hemingway detailing the catch of a 500lb Atlantic Blue Marlin in The Bahamas was sold for $28,000 in a Los Angeles auction last week. The fishing trip took place on May 7, 1935, during the time when Hemingway lived on north Bimini. The catch is said to have partly inspired his famous novel “The Old Man and the Sea”. One day after the catch, Hemingway sent the letter to the fishing editor of the Miami Herald. According to The Guardian, a British daily, the letter describes in “great detail” how Hemingway
and his friend, painter Henry Strater, “battled to keep sharks away from the marlin”. Hemingway also estimated the marlin would have weighed between 700 and 900lb, had sharks had not gotten to it. “Landed Blue Marlin which weighed 500lbs… Fish hooked off Bimini, hooked in corner of mouth … jumped 18 times clear, brought to boat in an hour such a heavy fish jumped hell out of himself. We worked him fast our system. Had him at boat when shark hit him,” Hemingway wrote. “Had two buckets full of meat that knocked off but wouldn’t weigh it as didn’t want try to beat Tommy’s record with any conniving.” According to BluewaterFishing.eu, in the 1930s,
Tommy Gifford caught an 880lb Bluefin tuna. In “The Old Man and the Sea”, Hemingway told the story of Cuban fisherman Santiago’s battle with a massive marlin. Nate D Sanders Auction House, which sold the letter, said it is significant because it “documented for the first time in Hemingway’s own words not only the size of the marlin, but also the attack by sharks, reflecting the plot of the novel”. The company added that Hemingway’s account of the marlin catch differed from other anecdotal stories of it, one of which described Hemingway using a machine gun on the shark, which purportedly attracted more sharks to the feeding frenzy.”
HEMINGWAY’s two-page letter to the editor, with a photograph, top, of the 1935 marlin and, left, with another blue marlin in 1936 on North Bimini.