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Sunday morning robbery terror THE SUPER Value store on West Bay Street, the scene of yesterday’s armed robbery.
TWO MEN SHOT DEAD IN WEEKEND KILLINGS By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net TWO men were killed in two separate shooting incidents over the weekend taking the country’s murder count to 92 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. The latest shooting took place shortly after 2pm yesteroday off Baillou Hill Road. Officer-in-Charge of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said police were called to the scene on Palm Tree Avenue after a relative of the victim discovered him lying on the ground of his home with gunshot wounds to the body.
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Customers scramble for cover as shots ring out By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net POLICE shot two armed robbery suspects early yesterday morning, moments after they allegedly robbed Super Value Food Store on West Bay Street and led police on high-speed chase that ended in a residential area off East Street South. The drama unfolded shortly after 7am in the Cable Beach area.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said police received information of a robbery in progress at the food store, where more than a dozen customers were inside when the robbery ocurred and sought cover in the back of the building to avoid the armed men. When police arrived on the scene, the armed suspects had already left the store in a stolen silver Honda, but police immediately
issued an all points bulletin for the men. ACP Dean confirmed that shots were fired inside the store during the robbery but luckily no one was injured. A chase ensued which resulted in two of the three suspects being shot by police. Two of the men managed to escape and the third suspect is listed in serious condition in the hospital under heavy police guard. Police also recovered two weapons from the suspects.
POLICE: BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net POLICE are warning people to be “extra careful” in the run-up to the Christmas holiday season following several armed robberies and break-ins in the past few days. Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean
said during this time of the year, people generally become “relaxed” and unknowingly open themselves up to those who are looking for an opportunity to commit a crime. ACP Dean warned business owners and churches to stop making large deposits without a professional security company or a police escort. He said po-
lice would be on “heightened” patrol to protect citizens and prevent crime. “People will be spending a lot of money during this time,” he said. “We want the public not to turn down their guard. This is the time when people get relaxed after working all year.” SEE PAGE SIX
Former Free National Movement Senator and Chairman Darron Cash, who was in the store at the time of the incident, said the suspects came in through the door with “guns blazing”. “I was standing in the produce aisle, in the back of the store, when I heard the gunshots,” he told The Tribune. “The shots we heard were among the shots they fired once they came into the store. They fired shots inside the store once they
came in; when we went out front we saw the bullet shell casings on the floor. “Within seconds of them coming in people started running in the back of store, about 15 to 20 people. I didn’t move at first but once I realised what was happening I started running too. Many of the persons ran directly into the back of the store in the employees only section. SEE PAGE SIX
MINNIS: CRIME MAKES BAHAMIANS PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN HOMES By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net ON THE heels of a brazen supermarket armed robbery and another recorded homicide in the capital, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said he was “disappointed” that the Christie administration has failed to arrest criminal acts in this country where Bahamians have become “prisoners” in their
own homes. Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Dr Minnis said the Bahamian people will without doubt judge the government on its failure to get a handle on crime. Yesterday, more than a dozen shoppers were trapped inside Super Value on West Bay Street and forced to retreat to restrooms in search of safety after armed men entered the store demanding cash. SEE PAGE FIVE
SUPERINTENDENT Clayton Fernander at the murder scene yesterday. “When police arrived on the scene, they met the lifeless body of a male who appeared to be in his late 50s. The victim was found in a one-bedroom structure on the floor,” Chief Supt Fernander said. “He was found lifeless by relatives who came to check on him and they met him on the floor with gunshot wounds. At this present time we do not know the motive for this murder but we are appealing to members of the public and persons who live in the area, who many have seen anything to come forward.” Chief Supt Fernander said the victim appeared to have been dead for a few hours. A resident in the area said she heard shots around midnight but did not “check to see” if anyone in the area had been shot. The homicide was the eighth so far in November and the fifth in the last week. SEE PAGE SIX
PM URGES PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND HELP THE PLP RETURN TO OFFICE By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie has said his Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) must be re-elected to government as he urged Bahamians to register to vote at a time when registration numbers are low. Mr Christie suggested
to supporters that the PLP should retain the government because it has already given the nod to major investments that would not only improve unemployment numbers, but support economic growth. He was speaking during a mini rally in Exuma on Friday night in support of insurance executive Chester Cooper’s recent ratification
for the constituency. “I want to be able to tell you this. We have to form the next government of the Bahamas after the next general election,” Mr Christie said. “The party that wins the majority of seats will form the government. “For that to happen, Fred Mitchell must win in Fox Hill, Jerome Fitzgerald in Marathon, (Philip) ‘Brave’
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
Davis in Cat Island, Obie Wilchcombe in West End and Bimini (and) Perry Christie in Centreville.” He also said: “We have to be registered to be able to vote. If you can’t vote, you ain’t saying nothing to nobody. So the first order of business is to recognise that if we are going to have SEE PAGE FIVE
PAGE 2, Monday, November 21, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune goes for gold THE TRIBUNE came up trumps in the Bahamas Press Club awards - winning the trophies for website of the year, as well as newspaper design for the iconic front page showing Shaunae Miller plunging over the finish line to win Olympic gold. In addtion, reporter Lamech Johnson scooped the award for outstanding political journalism.
THE CYRIL Stevenson Award for Outstanding Political Journalism went to Tribune reporter Lamech Johnson for the story: “$150,000 fine for Jerome Fitzgerald in Save The Bays email row”. Pictured from left is Press Club president Anthony Newbold, Lamech Johnson and Michael Stevenson, son of the late Cyril Stevenson.
THE KENNETH Nathaniel Francis Award for Newspaper Design and Composition went to The Tribune. Pictured from left are Anthony Newbold, Press Club president, Shawn Hanna, Tribune photographer, and Janea Francis, granddaughter of the late Kenneth Nathaniel Francis, former publisher of The Nassau Guardian.
THE TRIBUNE walked away with the Website of the Year Award for its website, www.tribune242.com. Pictured are Anthony Newbold, Press Club president, and David Chappelle, managing editor of The Tribune.
See pages 16-17 for more
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Monday, November 21, 2016, PAGE 3
Minnis: BPL should have spread ‘increased’ bills over months By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power and Light (BPL) Company Ltd’s “increased” billing should have been spread over several months and up to a year to facilitate those Bahamians who are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Matthew, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis insisted yesterday as he criticised the electricity provider for “inconsiderate and inhumane” actions. For last month’s billing cycle, BPL gave an estimate “using the average consumption” because employees were not able to read meters during the first few days of October, as is customary, because of the passage of Matthew. However many have complained that this month’s billing is higher than normal. Some have even insisted that they have never seen bills so high. Dr Minnis said this has created the perfect oppor-
POWERSECURE bucket trucks after arriving in Nassau. tunity for the government already stressed with the to intervene on behalf of ramifications of Hurricane Bahamians. Matthew,” Dr Minnis said. “It is inhumane and in“They are stressed trying considerate. They have to repair their roofs, they underestimated the bill are stressed trying to reand made the adjustments place all of their furniture and then they have added and essentially all of the inthat on to people’s bills, teriors of their homes. For which reflects a great in- BPL to show this inhumane crease in the bills. This is a element shows that even the time when individuals are Christie government does
not truly believe in Bahamians. “They try to present themselves as a compassionate group. But obviously they are not a compassionate group if they allow this additional stress and strain to be placed on Bahamians at this particular time.” He continued: “They could have easily explained themselves and their error and spread the adjustments be it over months or be it over a year so as to decrease the burden on the already stressed out Bahamian population. “Any compassionate government would have intervened and informed them that no this cannot be done now that Bahamians are suffering already from the ramifications of Hurricane Matthew.” Last week, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller accused BPL of “increasing customers’ light bills” in order to pay “millions of dollars” to the “foreigners” who came to assist with the restoration process after Hurricane
Matthew. Mr Miller said BPL does not “give a damn” about the Bahamian people. He said the government should be “ashamed” for allowing the company to disconnect Bahamians for non-payment, when persons are still struggling with the aftermath of a major hurricane. Mr Miller, former executive chairman of Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), said he has received dozens of calls from persons who have had their electricity turned off for a month’s payment. BEC was renamed Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) earlier this year. Corporate Communications Manager Arnette Ingraham also confirmed last week that BPL has resumed disconnections of past due accounts. However, she said the company is only “disconnecting accounts with outstanding balances prior to Hurricane Matthew”. However Mr Miller said he believes electricity bills have increased in order for BPL to pay the foreign workers who assisted in
electricity restoration after the storm. Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has refuted his colleague’s claims saying they were “nonsense” as he stressed that power bills have decreased by nearly 40 per cent since the Progressive Liberal Party took office. He made the comments while breaking away from his speech at a commissioning ceremony for BPL’s new 6,000 kilowatt standby generation plant in Harbour Island on Thursday. Mr Davis, at the time, admitted that he was “surprised” while reading Mr Miller’s claims in Thursday’s edition of The Tribune, assertions he said misrepresented the hard work the government has done to lower energy costs since 2012. When asked later by this newspaper about Mr Miller’s continued attacks on BPL since leaving the utility provider just prior to its transition, Mr Davis said he was “lost when it comes to what (Mr Miller) is trying to do.”
pening when it comes down to BPL. From the outages, to the damage to the appliances and the like, to the loss of business because of the outages, to the discomfort, bad service during the hurricane, and now trying to, I almost call it price gouging the Bahamian people in terms of saying they’re adding on to the bill because they underestimated? Foolishness. And that’s an insult to the Bahamian people, especially in light of their service during the hurricane.” On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis refuted the claims by Mr Miller that BPL had raised electricity bills to pay for foreign aid as “nonsense.” Instead, Mr Davis, the Minister of Works, stressed that power bills have decreased by nearly 40 per cent since the Progressive Liberal Party took office. However, Mr McCartney accused Mr Davis of “waffling” and trying to “deflect” from the issue at hand, which is the concern and outrage being expressed by Bahamians over the increased bill covering the September-October period. “That’s almost like saying we should celebrate because there were no murders in the month of October,” Mr McCartney responded. “Well there shouldn’t be any murders. And our bills should not be the way they are even today. “But again that’s our third world backwards thinking type of leadership that we have. For them to think Bahamians should celebrate because they said the bills have reduced 40 per cent, well those bills should have
been down more than 40 per cent a long time ago. “And we should not be generating electricity the way we are today. The bills are still too high compared to the rest of the region and the world. And that’s nothing to celebrate. We celebrate when we get to the point where we have alternative energy and not the way we’re generating energy today.” “So what the DPM was trying to do was deflect on a situation that BPL is doing now. And what they’re doing now is unconscionable to the Bahamian people.” On Tuesday, Consumer Protection Commission Chairman Jerome Gomez promised to investigate the matter. At the time, Mr Gomez told Tribune Business that while no com-
plaint had been lodged with the Commission, he would contact BPL over its efforts to sure “under-billing” for the September-October 2016 period. Meanwhile, BPL Corporate Communications Manager Arnette Ingraham has confirmed that BPL has resumed disconnections of past due accounts. However, Mrs Ingraham said the company is only “disconnecting accounts with outstanding balances prior to Hurricane Matthew”. She said customers with an overdue balance from August’s billing period or prior “are subject to our usual disconnection practice.” Mrs Ingraham said customers have 45 days to pay their bill for September’s consumption.
DNA LEADER CALLS BPL BILLING ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ AFTER STORM By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney on Friday blasted Bahamas Power & Light for its post-Hurricane Matthew billing practices, calling it “unconscionable” for the company to increase light bills given the “atrocious” service it provided both in the lead up to and after Hurricane Matthew. Mr McCartney told The Tribune that BPL’s decision to increase the light bills of Bahamians post-Hurricane Matthew is “heartless” and an “insult” to Bahamians given the “discomfort” and inconvenience the company caused Bahamians due to the “continuous blacks” Bahamians have “had to suffer” prior to the hurricane, as well as the “bad service” the company provided in the storm’s wake. Mr McCartney said the company “ought to reconsider its decision,” and take into consideration the “lack of service, the damage that it has done to businesses and to the comfort of living, as well as “the damages that’s been done to (household and business) appliances as a result of the constant power outages”. Mr McCartney also questioned whether the company was trying to “recoup” the money it spent on bringing in 24 utility vehicles from the United States, as well as soliciting the services of two teams from PowerSecure and another two from the Caribbean Electricity Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to assist BPL in restoration efforts in New Providence in the storm’s wake. Tribune Business revealed earlier this week that BPL estimated customer bills for the SeptemberOctober month due to Hurricane Matthew’s passage and subsequent restoration efforts, which occurred around the time meter readings are normally taken. With meter readings back on schedule, BPL is now discovering that it under-
billed or under-estimated customers’ energy usage for that month - in some cases by hundreds of dollars. As a result, it is now seeking to reclaim or recover these sums by adding them to the monthly bill for the OctoberNovember period, which is due to be paid in December. A BPL customer service staffer confirmed to one Tribune employee that the record bill had resulted from under-billing for the September-October period, and the utility had merely added the sum outstanding from that month to the October-November bill. Nonetheless, this has resulted in many consumers experiencing a doubling or even tripling of their bills above normal and/ or expected levels, causing potential cash flow and financial problems for some Bahamians in the run-up to the Christmas period. Other Tribune employees complained of a “doubling” or “tripling” of their energy bills for October-November, and social media has been alive with complaints from angry Bahamians about the situation. “I don’t think it’s fair in the circumstances for BPL to be doing that,” Mr McCartney said. “Firstly, going back before the hurricane we’ve been having outages every day, and the extent of damage that that does to businesses, the community, to the comfort of living, we cannot put a figure on that. “Secondly the damage that it has done to some of the appliances with some of these outages, I’ve had for example one of my servers in one of my offices got completely burnt out as a result of the outages. Fixtures have been damaged as a result of it. And to try and get compensation for that is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
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You can forget about that. “When this hurricane hit, the response by BPL was atrocious. Persons were out of electricity for over a month. And now for them to come back and say well we underestimated your bill and we’re going to add it on now a month after the hurricane, I think they ought to reconsider that, and take into consideration their lack of service, the damage that they’ve done to businesses and to the comfort of living, in addition to the damages that’s been done to the appliances as a result of the continuous blackouts that we’ve had to suffer. “It’s heartless to throw that on the Bahamian people at this stage.” Mr McCartney echoed sentiments previously expressed by Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, the former executive chairman of what originally was the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), that BPL was increasing customers’ light bills in order to pay “millions of dollars” to the foreign aid who came to assist with the restoration process after Hurricane Matthew. “And that’s something I would want to question,” Mr McCartney said. “They got all these trucks almost after the fact, when most of the Bahamian people had power. But those trucks came with a heavy price tag, together with the persons they brought in with those trucks to help. And now this, I see it, can be one way of them trying to recoup and trying to pay for that decision that they made to bring those trucks in together with the persons who came with them, to the detriment again of the Bahamian people. “So we see what’s hap-
PAGE 4, Monday, November 21, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
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Challenges to and responsibilities of the modern press “THE BAHAMAS has a proud record of press freedom and deserves our highest commendation in that regard. Public discourse, vigorous and open discussion are essential to the preservation of your thriving democracy. It is well established that the press, the Fourth Estate, plays a unique role in the promotion of human rights, our fundamental freedoms and is essential to engender good governance, public accountability and transparency. To perform this task, it is entitled to ready access - not as a favour, but as a right. Without this, it is prone to leaks (often unreliable and self-centred) or speculation which could prove harmful to the national interest. The great number and range of Bahamian media outlets that provide citizens with news, information and entertainment is truly impressive: The Nassau Guardian newspaper has been in existence since 1844, The Tribune, Freeport News, the Bahama Journal, the tabloid Punch; all contribute to your vibrant print media sector. Many of your media entities have digital components where audiences access media content from anywhere in the world. In one form or another, Bahamian media, including digital media, reach all Bahamian households and engage with audiences across the globe with stories and messages that inform, educate and entertain. This is an impressive achievement on which you must build in a global society that is increasingly knowledgebased. But that’s not all. Some of the stories have played a role in the final outputs which have helped to shape public discourse and managed to influence public policy and sound governance. These accomplishments are necessary and important media requisites in an enduring democracy. A significant number of citizens, especially our youth, are active social media participants who create, share and consume a wide array of information among themselves and across the entire world via the internet. Over 50 per cent of the world’s population is less than 30 years old. Almost all millennials have joined social networks. Online news sources, social networking websites, YouTube videos and blogs have joined television and other traditional media as the main sources of public information and are connecting citizens who share similar views. These citizens are influencing each other directly, bypassing traditional media and other intermediaries. More than half of mobile non-voice traffic in the Caribbean is for Facebook. Twitter now impacts all aspects of life including cultures and national elections. Advancements in technology are expanding the reach and influence of traditional media among all audiences and increasing the power of social media. These have facilitated a move away from a world in which few institutions and individuals create media content to one in which everyone can produce content that influences and creates a stake in our culture and future. But all social media or all media content are not equal. Attractively packaged and effectively distributed, shared information is not of equal value or equal worth. Some is problematic and dangerous. As a result, some technological changes employed by social media have major implications for the historical roles and responsibilities of traditional media. A decade ago, political candidates largely depended on traditional media to
tell their stories, to sell their candidacies. This is no longer the case. Political candidates are exploiting new media, which have rallied some of the largest populist movements the world has ever seen, including the so-called Arab Spring. In the world’s largest and most robust market of America, we witness a fundamental shift in content creation and media consumption. Eight years ago, Barack Obama’s ‘Yes We Can’ campaign used social media platforms to rapidly stimulate political activity and community activism. More recently, Donald Trump used social media to rally a populist movement that challenged established terms of political engagement and stoked controversy. New communications technologies empower individuals and groups to do democratic things. They provide platforms for the rapid distribution of material that can undermine democracy and yield problematic outcomes. They rapidly and frequently disseminate falsehoods, slander, intolerant views and hostile ideologies. Communities, nations and the world have become more connected yet more complicated, more social yet more individualistic. While technology creates the vehicle through which people assemble ideas, the need remains for the audience to be engaged, to be influenced, to be persuaded and convinced. In this age when everyone with a computer can create and publish news stories, parade as journalists, you as professionals have to clearly demonstrate that you offer something of lasting value; something that differentiates your outputs from the false pretenders. Why should professional journalists take the profession’s ethical mandates respect privacy, embrace public accountability, give voice to the voiceless and protect the vulnerable - seriously when others are not constrained by such oldfashioned notions? In the highly competitive media industry, speed to publish and speed to hit the send button are often perceived as the only goals, so why concern oneself with other objectives that appear archaic? Why bother to be accurate when sensationalism sells? When trivia trumps analysis and investigative stories prove more costly? Being right and being credible to warrant trust are more important attributes than being first. Amid the noise of information overload, the triple goals of credibility, accuracy, trustworthiness, still constitute the mandate for a free press in a democracy. Professional journalistic courage and telling the truth are values that have withstood the test of time. Responsible media can help consumers discern fact from fiction; truth from falsehoods; valid arguments from those that are fundamentally flawed. Responsible media must help citizens develop the ability to bring critical thinking skills to bear on all media - from social media content to musical lyrics and videos. The original progenitors of the Bahamian media and even some of the most senior among you would be bewildered by the face of the new media landscape. But even in the light of the cataclysmic changes you can never relinquish the duties of the Fourth Estate to inform and educate.” This is an edited extract from a speech “A responsible press” by P J Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006, at the Bahamas Press Club Awards on Saturday night.
PLP whistling past the graveyard EDITOR, The Tribune CONFIRMING a lack of understanding of the depths of the economic problems facing the country, Prime Minister Christie announced a “Competitiveness Council” to work out of his office to improve The Bahamas’ declining status in the ease of doing business ranking while saying the country’s slippage in the rankings “doesn’t represent who
The Bahamas is”. In other words, the Prime Minister is appointing this council in a half-hearted attempt to quell the noise in the market about the difficulty of doing business here. Symbolism over substance is the hallmark of this administration. Meanwhile their policies like VAT, Tax Compliance Certificates and delays in granting permission to open shop to name but a
few, are wreaking havoc on the business community and economic growth. One can appoint all the councils they like, but if you don’t admit or understand the problems your policies create within the business and wider community it’s just more whistling past the graveyard of an economy in ever deeper doldrums. RICK LOWE Nassau November 20, 2016
Govt buying drugs is a step back EDITOR, The Tribune. I HAVE read a number of articles recently in the newspaper regarding concerns of local pharmaceutical wholesalers that the government (Public Hospital Authority) may be planning to bypass them and go directly to manufacturers to purchase drugs. It appears that wholesalers are afraid that this could adversely affect their businesses. With the Drug Plan in place and NHI coming, there will be very little “private market” left for these businesses to survive on. Buying direct from manufacturers would mean that The Government would have to assume the function of the distributors, taking the loss on their financial contributions in salaries, taxes and donations, and literally add more costs to the already weighted down public purse. If a product is needed and not available, the government has a right to purchase
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net from wherever and whoever they want, especially in the case of a necessary medicine. However, if it is true that the PHA is planning to purchase direct from manufacturers and assume the role of the wholesalers in an effort to lower their cost for all drugs, I believe that they are taking a step back . Governments are moving away from the model of taking on the details and tasks of running businesses. Public procurement processes are one of the best examples of how citizens, governments and businesses can work together for mutual gain. Government’s job is to regulate the market, set the guidelines and the rules and create an even playing field, then let the private sector manage the business. Based on their own statement, it appears that The Public Hospital Authority
has a “Procurement Policy.” This policy is central to the issues raised. Has that policy been adhered to? Is it transparent? Are the wholesalers and the public fully aware of who all the bidders are, the prices submitted, who won the awards, etc? Are the wholesalers familiar with the policy? If not, why not? Certainly they should not be “playing the game without the rules”. Fundamentally, transparency and accountable procurement cycles mean that companies that win the bids are those with the best product, at the best price targeted at achieving the best outcome. The bidding process, along with complete TRANSPARENCY, sets the backdrop to ensure that both the government and the private sector are working together in the best interest of all. BAHAMIANS FIRST Nassau, November 17, 2016.
Concern at fishing plan EDITOR, The Tribune. WHEN I wrote my last letter (November 1, 2016), expressing my concern for the increased Chinese influence, I was not aware of the information that has surfaced regarding the proposed 10,000 acres of farm land in North Andros. My interest in food production for my country is well known. Both of my grandfathers were full time farmers and produced food for the lumber camps as well as for the sponging vessels, for more than 40 years. I feel this gives me the right to express my views on the current situation. 1) In principle I am in agreement with joint partnership with non-Bahamians for food production but only after very careful safeguards. It worked in Abaco during the 80s and 90s.
2) The proposal is well constructed and much thought went into the document. I find it difficult to understand why it was not shared with Cabinet and the general public before reaching its present stage. (There is too much secrecy in government). 3) I am not a company lawyer, but I have serious reservations on the formation of the 100 joint venture companies, especially the ‘Participating Company’ (see section A of the draft document). 4) As mentioned in my previous letter, I am becoming deeply concerned about the footholds being established by the Chinese, ie Grand Bahama, New Providence, Abaco and now North Andros, resulting in an investment of multiple billions of dollars. My concern is not the short term,
but rather the long term for my grandchildren. Too much my fellow Bahamians. 5) Another serious concern is the safe-guarding of our environment. The Chinese are famous for ignoring such considerations. 6) I respectfully suggest the government share the hidden agenda with the Bahamian public. 7) Finally let me add that under no circumstances can we have joint partnership in the Fishing Industry. That belongs completely to ‘we Bahamians’. We demonstrated against long line fishing in the 1990s (FNM) and we will do so again to protect the Bahamian Fishing Industry. Think my fellow Bahamians! For what it’s worth. PATRICK J BETHEL Marsh Harbour, Abaco, November 9, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 21, 2016, PAGE 5
FNM leader shrugs off Pinewood party protests By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis was dismissive and seemingly indifferent yesterday when asked about recent disagreements between party executives and members of the Pinewood Constituency Association over the organisation’s decision to choose a candidate that was not largely supported by the association. Radio talk show host Lincoln Bain received wide support and was approved by the constituency association as the standard bearer for Pinewood. However the party went against those wishes and made the executive decision to ratify community activist Reuben Rahming to run in the 2017 general election. After he did not get the nomination, Mr Bain stood alongside some members of the constituency associa-
PROTESTS at the FNM ratification event on Tuesday. tion and openly protested Mr Rahming’s ratification with florescent placards as the newly chosen standard bearer addressed a crowd of FNM supporters during the party’s candidate’s launch on Tuesday. The signs also lambasted the party leader. Yesterday, when asked about this, Dr Minnis re-
jected their actions saying: “The FNM is a party of policies and protocol. We have chosen the candidate.” Last Wednesday, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie admitted that Mr Bain did have the support of the constituency association. However he said the party could not offer him the nomination because he did not pass the vetting process. Members of the association claimed that Dr Minnis repeatedly gave assurances that Mr Bain would receive the nod to represent the constituency. Mr Collie has said this is untrue as Mr Bain’s supporters, on several occasions, were made aware that Mr Bain would not be selected. “Lincoln Bain applied for the nomination for Pinewood and he went through a process like all the other applicants,” Mr Collie told The Tribune. “It was a very thorough vetting process, which included a face-toface interview with the search committee and fol-
lowed by an investigation. Lincoln did not pass the test. “And notwithstanding all of what Pinewood is saying, the Search Committee and the Candidates Committee and the Executive Committee did their due diligence and determined after giving Lincoln all the benefit of the doubt that they could not nominate him. It’s as simple as that.” Former Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells told The Tribune last week that he believes Mr Bain is “bad news” for the FNM and insisted that the party did the right thing by refusing him the nomination for the Pinewood constituency. Mr Bain has maintained that there was no explanation for the obvious snub. He said there were repeated assurances from Dr Minnis and there was “shock” when things did not go as promised. However, he suggested that an incident involving former FNM Senator Lani-
sha Rolle might have had something to do with the party moving in a different direction. Responding to the controversy, Mr Rahming on Tuesday night told The Tribune that he was not worried about the pushback because it is expected in a democratic process. When asked whether he had met with the Pinewood Constituency Association before his ratification, Mr Rahming did not answer directly but said: “We did what we needed to do and the party is satisfied. The association is a part of the party.” Pressed further on whether he needed the help of the association to run a successful campaign, he said: “Elections are about ‘yes’ or ‘no’; it is not about someone voting for someone. It is called majority win.” Meanwhile, a representative from the association has said officials are refusing to work with Mr Rahming.
MINNIS: CRIME MAKES BAHAMIANS PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN HOMES from page one
Dr Minnis said he often frequents this grocery store, which made the unfortunate event much more frightening for him. Hours later, police discovered the lifeless body of a man who was shot to death at Palm Tree Avenue. The incident took the country’s homicide count to 92 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. A man was also shot to death on Friday night on a service road just off of
Melvern Road in Yellow Elder Gardens. Despite the fact that Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander just last week insisted that the public had “no need to be afraid”, crime continues to be concerning for Bahamians. Dr Minnis questioned how Bahamians were expected to feel safe as they carry out daily activities. “The Progressive Liberal Party wants to celebrate that crime is going down but they need to tell that to the Bahamians who feel the effects of crime every day,”
the Killarney MP said. “We just had another murder and the supermarket has been robbed. Individuals don’t feel safe in their homes or anywhere. Now you are worried about going to the supermarket, you are concerned about going to church, you are concerned about going out for leisure activities. “They do not have a handle on the crime situation and Bahamians cannot continue to live in fear. They are driving a situation where homes are becoming self-contained prisons. Ba-
hamians’ quality of life has been decreased.” Chief Supt Fernander, officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, made his declaration regarding crime last Tuesday after a woman was killed and two other people were transported to hospital following a drive by shooting at the Sand Trap on West Bay Street. The shooting happened at around 8pm on Monday. Shortly after the incident, rumours began to circulate on social media warning Bahamians to stay in-
side their homes because a “gang war” erupted. At the time he said: “We have heard the rumours of persons talking about retaliation this weekend but this is no time for alarm. We are out there, the police are on the streets and we are in the fight. These people will put anything on social media to cause panic and to put people in fear. We are in control of this country, not these gangs. We will continue to be out there and continue to go after these persons who believe they can break the law.”
BNCP REVEALS FIRST EIGHT CANDIDATES FOR 2017 ELECTION THE Bahamas National Coalition Party (BNCP) held its first candidates launch on Friday at the Bahamas Public Service Officers Union (BPSU) Hall. Eight candidates have been announced and include businessman Wesley Campbell (Englerston); former teacher Andrew Stewart (Montagu); contractor Obrien Knowles (Carmichael), businesswoman Annmarie Glinton Rolle (Seabreeze); businesswoman Lorraine Arthur (Centreville); businesswoman Denise Wilmore (Marathon); businessman Don Lockhart (Pinewood Gardens) and musician Leroy Butler (Mount Moriah). According to a press
release, the BNCP was formally the Bahamas National Citizen Coalition (BNCC), an activist group established in 2013. In 2015, the BNCC transitioned to a political party. The BNCP said the party held a convention in April, where a constitution was ratified and a leader and executive team were democratically elected. The fringe party said it “is a well-oiled machinery that will be ready to contest” every seat in the next general election and run a full slate of candidates. BNCP National Chairman Andrew Stewart, in his remarks at the candidates launch, said that the party has proven that it is a formidable force in the
country. “This stage of our development has been long in the making from the BNCP started agitating for the Bahamian people on the oil issue, which transitioned to the aragonite issue, and then all natural resources of the Bahamas,” he said. “Our fight is for the Bahamas and Bahamians to receive their just due, and a patrimony, which is their God given right. The BNCP is the first political party to place high on its platform the natural resources and the party will remain focus and steadfast in our plight.” BNCP Leader Wesley Campbell said the party will address the systematic, structural and fundamental issues facing the nation. He
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said a BNCP government will established a national fund for pension and disaster relief, a national service for young people and a national service for the elderly. The party said it would introduce more candidates by January along with its
platform and 25-year development plan early in 2017.
PM URGES PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE - AND HELP THE PLP RETURN TO OFFICE from page one
Chester Cooper, if we are going to have Exuma (and) if we are going to have the Progressive Liberal Party, if we are going to have the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, we have to get registered to vote.” Last week, The Tribune reported that more than 57,000 people have registered so far to vote in next year’s election, considerably lower compared to this period prior to the 2012 general election. The 2012 voter registry consisted of 172,000 voters, 134,000 of whom had registered by this point in 2011. Speaking of the Exuma economy, Mr Christie urged those present to get ready for future economic opportunities. “Exuma, you are about to become of those islands in our Commonwealth where there will be jobs and jobs and more jobs. This is no idle promise. The developments are now getting ready to break ground and you will see for yourselves that throughout Exuma there will be sustained economic activity.” He also said: “When the IMF (International Monetary Fund) came to The Bahamas it said that the challenge that The Bahamas has is that it had to concentrate more on getting workers to produce more. They call it productivity. They said if there is a challenge, the challenge is getting the workforce of The Bahamas to produce more. “We know that in everything we do, people must be changed. People must be better educated. People must be prepared to do the jobs that will be available. So therefore the government along with these investors have agreed to initiate training programmes that will prepare you and your children for the opportunities that will come,” Mr Christie said.
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PAGE 6, Monday, November 21, 2016
SUNDAY MORNING ROBBERY TERROR from page one
“We could see the gunman carrying the manager into a side room in the front of the store. One of the gunmen started to come in the back, we ran and we tried to find somewhere to take cover and I ran into the bathroom. We were in there for about two minutes before we came out. Several persons were shaken and scared. It was a surreal activity to see someone with a gun.” ACP Dean described the men as “prolific offenders” who have been in and out of the system for years. He said police are actively hunting the two suspects who eluded capture. “We can tell you the manager was going into the store, which was already open, when he was accosted by three men in a Honda who took him inside, held
all the employees at bay and demanded cash,” ACP Dean said. “The suspects took him to the safe where they relieved him of a large amount of cash before speeding off. Police send out an all points bulletin, all vehicles were alerted and we tracked the vehicle in the western area of New Providence. A chase ensued with exchange of gunfire during the chase that ended up in Joan’s Heights, where the suspects left the vehicle and continued firing at police. Police returned fire; there was damage to the police vehicle as well as the vehicle the suspects were in. “One of the suspects was shot, he was taken to hospital where he is in serious condition. Police recovered two firearms on the scene. Police also recovered a large amount of cash - we believe it to be all the cash
taken during the armed robbery. “Based on additional information, we understand one of the suspects we are still looking for has been shot. We are saying to members of the public if anyone turns up with a gunshot wound do not hide them. Any private medical clinic if anyone turns up, the police need to be notified right away. It is a serious offense to harbour anyone wanted by police. These are dangerous persons who are out there. Turn these persons in.” Police recovered the stolen vehicle in the Joan’s Heights area. A long time resident of the area, who wished to remain anonymous, said she got an “eerie feeling” that something was about to happen and she and another neighbour decided to “pray over the community” on Saturday night.
SHELL casings on the floor inside Super Value. She said she believes her shots I thought we were havprayers stopped the gun- ing New Year’s celebrations man from “accidentally or something, that’s how shooting” children who play many guns were firing. This on the park, feet away from happened right before 8am, where the shoot out with when the children are usually on the park playing. It police took place. “The Lord just came to was God who kept them inme and said he wants me side. Everyone in my house to pray and cover the area,” dropped to the floor when we heard the shots. Those the resident said. “When I heard the gun- men don’t know this area or
THE TRIBUNE
they would not have come through here. It is a dead end, so they locked themselves in the back there.” Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328TIPS. Investigations continue.
TWO MEN SHOT DEAD IN WEEKEND KILLINGS
THE SCENE of a murder at Palm Tree Avenue where the body of a man was found. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff from page one speeding off. The man was Elder Gardens. they think the murders pronounced dead on the Mr Bain’s brother, of the siblings are rescene. 19-year-old Lamar Bain, lated. Another man was killed Chief Supt Fernander was shot and killed in YelAnyone with informashortly after 7pm on Friday. said police took an adult low Elder Gardens in 2012, tion on any of these homiAccording to Chief Supt male into custody for ques- while another brother cides is asked to contact Fernander, the victim was tioning in relation to this 23-year-old Lasean Bain police at 911 or 919, the walking in the area of killing on Saturday. was also shot and killed in Central Detective Unit at Nichol’s Court in Yellow Police have not identified Yellow Elder Gardens a 502-9991 or Crime StopElder Gardens when a gun- the victim but The Tribune year earlier. pers anonymously at 328man emerged from a black understands he is 25-yearPolice have declined TIPS. Honda and shot him before old Mario Bain Jr of Yellow to comment on whether Investigations continue.
POLICE: BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS from page one
“We asking you to be alert and be cautious, to look at your surroundings. “It does not take anything off you to call the police if you see a suspicious car parked - call us. We are also talking to business places and you know we had a situation with the churches, so
we want to tell people you cannot take anything for granted. If you know you have access to large sums of money, through business or church, get a reputable security firm or call the police for an escort. Those days of taking money, or one member or one employee taking the money and depositing it, is gone. “The criminals are hip to
that they know what is happening, the demand is out there and they are going to try to rob you. We need the public to reduce the opportunity for these criminals. Remain vigilant during this time.” On Friday, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said police have stepped up patrols in preparation for the Christmas holidays and
have increased manpower on the streets. “We know how things can get during the holidays and we want to ensure the public that the police are looking out for them,” Chief Supt Fernander said. “We are nearing Christmas and have increased our patrols. Around this time, we always ensure that our citizens are protected. So we will be out in full force in the streets, we will be everywhere in the shopping centres and in the malls to ensure that shoppers are safe. “But we will also be through the side corners ensuring that smaller establishments, the mom and pop shops, are protected.” Last Sunday, three members of Mount Tabor Baptist Church were robbed at gunpoint of a “large amount of cash,” suspected to be the church’s offering collection, and cell phones. According to police, officers were looking for two gunmen in a silver Honda Accord, licence plate number 179338, believed to be behind the incident. The robbery occurred in the parking lot of the popular Pinewood Gardens church, shortly after 12.30pm as three men were about to drive off in a vehicle from the church’s parking lot. Yesterday, three armed gunmen robbed Super Value on West Bay Street of a large amount of cash from the company’s safe. The men escaped in a stolen vehicle and led police on a high-speed chase throughout the capital. Police shot two of the suspects, one of them is in hospital in serious condition under heavy police guard. The other two suspects escaped capture.
the stories behind the news
insight@tribunemedia.net
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016
Time to unite against the common enemy
H
istory is filled with moments when once opposing forces, sensing the opportunity for greater good, threw their lot in together and defeated the common enemy. The Bahamas will be faced with this reality in 2017. There’s no secret that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), which currently leads the government of the Bahamas, must be removed from office. They have single-handedly destroyed the economy of the Bahamas, weakened the sovereignty of our nation by deferring to China on any and every request, and have failed miserably to keep us, the citizens of this country, safe from the scourge of crime. Add to this unprecedented levels of corruption and cronyism and you see why the Bahamian people have had enough of Perry Christie and his merry lot of PLPs. They have enriched themselves, their friends, families and lovers and their new Chinese masters at the expense of the Bahamian people and future generations yet born. The people have had enough and want a change, but a change to whom?
A change must come There is an interesting dynamic developing in the politics of the Bahamas. For decades, there have only been two major political forces - the PLP and the Free National Movement (FNM). Then, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) came. They played a critical role in splitting the antiPLP vote in 2012, causing that party to squeak away a win at the polls. Now,
Another split in the opposition votes will serve only to return an unpopular PLP government at the general election next year. Malcolm J Strachan examines at the changing dynamics in Bahamian politics with 2017 approaching, party leadership in both organisations fear a repeat if an accommodation is not made before the election is called. But the question is: how can an accommodation between both opposition forces be made, a coalition as it were for the betterment of the country? There would have to be sacrifices on both sides, but this coalition would result in the best-case scenario for both parties who will likely face considerable challenges going toe-to-toe with the PLP on money in 2017. The one thing we know for sure is that Christie and his crew will be flooded with number shop money and Chinese dollars. Opposition forces will likely be shaking the same trees as they approach donors in the lead up to the general election. With that in mind, donors may feel more inclined to give if they knew it was going to one source, which had the best chance of unseating this corrupt administration. Then there is the issue of supporters and constituency numbers. In the last general election, if you estimated that both the PLP and the FNM garnered roughly 40 per cent of the vote each, that leaves the DNA with 20 per cent. If we estimate that the DNA has seen an increase of at least 50 per
cent growth over the last five years (which is quite possible), they could stand to represent 30 per cent of the voting public. That 10 per cent bump, though, must be accounted for from the other two major parties, which means that the DNA can no longer be overlooked: it should be viewed not as a vote spoiler, but an election winner for the FNM. Last week, a party insider in the FNM called us to complain about the state of affairs of their organisation. They lamented a lack of political movement and opportunities being taken advantage of by their party. The FNM, as they put it, should be further ahead in the political field than they are. We reminded them that they were in Opposition and as such should concern themselves with showing the Bahamian people why they should be given the opportunity to lead. Opposing for opposing’s sake will no longer work. The Bahamian people want solutions and plans - not empty rhetoric.
The Chinese factor Regular Insight readers would recall that we have warned for some time about the impending influence that China is having over our government and the implications this has
on our country and future generations of Bahamians. This will be - by far - the deciding factor for the 2017 general election. We have tried to balance these concerns against what we know would be pushback by PLP supporters who blindly follow their party come Hell or high water. We have always been firm in our belief that the Bahamas should diversify its foreign investment portfolio, to mitigate against outside market forces having an over-influence on the shape/course of our country. This is why we have been preaching our warnings about this Christie administration’s over-reliance on China, and Chinese investment. As expected, our government has taken a “take it, shut up” approach to concerns by the public about China and Chinese influence in the Bahamas. The Christie administration’s hardened stance on these issues has forced the people to now take matters into their own hands. On Friday, the people of this country will come together and march on Parliament to demonstrate. We wish them well. We would remind the organisers of this demonstration that our government had received a “donation” from the Chinese to purchase antiriot grenade launchers and tear gas grenades “amongst other things”. The donation took place at the beginning of the year. Perhaps our new Chinese overlords knew that one day the Bahamian people may get to the point when they felt enough was enough and wanted to ensure that “their government” had the necessary tools in place to fend off the masses. Inquiring
Branville McCartney and Dr Hubert Minnis, below.
“The leadership of both parties should see the awesome responsibility before them and realise that the task ahead is large than either the FNM or the DNA. The fight ahead is about the survival of the country.” minds would like to know.
Come what may Whether the FNM and the PLP get their acts together is still yet to be seen. What we do know is that they have a short window in which to meet, agree terms, roll out a plan and policy to their supporters and shift their campaigns into high gear. The Bahamian people want change. We should be giving them change for the better. The leadership of both parties should see the awesome
responsibility before them and realise that the task ahead is large than either the FNM or the DNA. The fight ahead is about the survival of the country. Level minds, and cool heads should prevail in the weeks and months to come. There is more at stake here than egos. The future of the country hangs in the balance and the Bahamian people are watching and waiting. Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net
aliv and kicking Ten days ago, the spacious grounds of the former Holy Cross Church complex near Soldier Road were throbbing to celebrations by the new business tenant: aliv was being launched as the brand name of the new mobile service that will compete with Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) . In less than a year aliv, under its corporate name NewCo15Limited (NewCo), has sprung from nowhere into an active venture capitalised at $125 million, a story of commercial speed rare in the Bahamas. In 2015, Cable Bahamas (CB) was approved by government as recipient of the country’s second mobile licence, but under a radically different ownership structure. Rather than integrating the mobile business into its existing TV/Internet/Landline activities, CB spun it off into NewCo, owned 48.25 per cent by CB and 51.75 per cent by the Bahamian public, with the requirement that under the supervision of the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) it must be up and running by October, later extended to November to allow for Hurricane Matthew damages. Since CB did not have the technical staff experienced in operating a mobile business, it immediately started a recruiting campaign. The first NewCo hires were three foreign executives who had spent years in various Caribbean countries operating networks for Digicel, the mobile phone specialist company. This initial cadre, headed by Da-
The creation, organisation, staffing and financing of NewCo in less than a year suggest a model pattern for other private-public joint ventures in the Bahamian economy, Richard Coulson says mian Blackburn, 45, veteran of the challenging Haitian scene, immediately set to work interviewing, signing up and training Bahamians, so that NewCo now has more than 150 local staff and 11 expatriates in New Providence and Freeport, Grand Bahama, active in marketing, technology, finance and administration. Although CB is officially designated to have managerial responsibility, in reality NewCo will act as virtually a stand-alone enterprise with its own corporate image. Friday’s festivities began with an informal lunch offered to Newco employees, CB executives and invited guests in the company auditorium, vivid with yellow and blue shirts bearing the brand-new aliv logo, which also emblazoned the nearby tents. The name had been kept confidential until the night before, so that the decorations were only completed early Friday when surprised staffers were given their colourful garments. In the parking area, an aliv banner hung from a gleaming medium-height trans-
mission tower mounted on a wheeled platform, ready to be towed anywhere. Lunch was followed by the official inauguration before a group of dignitaries in the headquarters forum, including CB boss Anthony Butler and several executives from the Florida subsidiary. They viewed a large screen where simultaneous ceremonies were beamed in from Grand Bahama. After an introduction by NewCo Chairman Alfred Butler (a Director of CB and businessman heir to the late Sir Milo), Managing Director Blackburn summarised launching achievements before turning the microphone over to Vice President for Marketing and Communications Johnny Ingle. The articulate Irishman elaborated on the company’s mission and specific objectives, referring to completion of towers in New Providence and in Freeport and to creation of various seven- and 30-day calling plans with prices and terms clearly designed to compete with the offerings from BTC. He showed
Colourful celebrations among the employees at NewCo’s national call centre and administrative office in Freeport as the new mobile service brand ‘aliv’ is launched earlier this month. Photo: Lisa Davis/BIS an artist’s rendering of retail stores where these plans would be sold together with a selection of smartphones. A subsequent release provided that some 60 locations will soon sell aliv services across New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera, starting with six full-service stores to be opened in the capital on November 23, from Old Fort Bay to Marathon Mall. Prime Minister Perry
underlining the improvements that open competition can bring both to competitors and to the market as a whole. Recognising the team effort involved, Mr Christie gave a gracious accolade to the dignified lady sitting in the front row, Ruth Millar, the retired long-time public servant who as Cabinet Secretary spearheaded the Liberalisation Task Force that approved the licence grant to CB.
“Jimmy Campbell and his financial advisor, former PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Gowon Bowe, had a gentle hint from the Prime Minister to get a move on with the sale of the HoldingCo Ltd to private investors.” Christie closed the proceedings with a friendly welcome to NewCo, emphasising all the advantages that wider personal communications offer to an increasingly technological world. He made no specific reference to BTC, government’s own entry in the field, while
He also mentioned one important piece of unfinished business, making clear that government had provided over half (51.75 per cent, about $63 million) of NewCo’s capital strictly as a “temporary” measure, to be held in the financial vehicle HoldingCo Ltd, pending
its sale to private investors. He looked down at Jimmy Campbell, the Holding Co Chairman, indicating his responsibility to get this sale completed. Since HoldingCo’s only income will come from NewCo, a brand new operation with exciting prospects but no track record of earnings history, the sale cannot be done as a “public offering” but will be limited to a private placement with institutions like pension funds as well as wealthy private investors. This sizeable placement will require the best brains and hard work of our experienced investment bankers. It is surprising that months after the organisation of HoldingCo and NewCo, no mandate has yet been granted to arrange this financing. The delay does not affect NewCo’s buildout plans, since the funds have already been committed by government, but it could hold up marketing efforts to the subscribing public, as the true majority owners of NewCo are not yet known. Bahamians can be hesitant to commit See pg8
PAGE 8 MONDAY, November 21, 2016
Email: insight@tribunemedia.net
Treating white-collar crime lightly means criminals have no fear The words discipline, supervision, enforcement, accountability and transparency appear to be absent from the minds of our present-day public servants. Stories appearing in the media in recent years demonstrate so many incidents of irresponsibility, gross negligence and possible criminal activity, that we seem to be undergoing a massive deterioration in the performance of the Civil Service. Media reports have revealed that citizens and businesses owe hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes - including property tax, casino tax, business licence fees, Customs fees, electricity and telephone services and National Insurance contributions. The government’s student loan programme was cancelled due to millions of dollars in outstanding repayments. We were told that public servants responsible for collecting the repayments had not done so for years. Reports of poor construction in the government’s low-cost housing estates was supposed to have set a police investigation in motion, as additional tax dollars had to be spent to carry out necessary repairs. The police were to determine if there was a criminal conspiracy between contractors and building inspectors. But no reports were forthcoming on the outcome of the investigations. A Family Island Customs officer allegedly redeemed cheques made payable to himself for duty payments. Reportedly, huge sums of money were collected in this way until the practice was finally stopped and the officer forced to resign - with a
Administrative fraud and selective policing are causes of real concern in the Bahamas, says former Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Thompson nice financial package. But there were no reports of any criminal investigation. A few years ago there were reports that contractors had embezzled over $1 million from government through its solid waste programme in the Family Islands. The public servants who were responsible for ensuring that the work was properly carried out before payments were made to the contractors apparently failed to do their job. It was also reported that over $500,000 was paid by the government for work that was never completed. Surely public servants should have been checking to confirm the completion of this work? There have been reports about criminal misconduct in several government ministries, but the incidents were apparently not communicated to the police for investigation by senior officials. The rise in white-collar
crime in government departments has become a major issue for the nation. And it is made worse by the failure of those in authority to report such matters to the police or to prosecute the offenders. This obvious lack of accountability has resulted in even more abuses. Those in authority seem to prefer to deal with thieves administratively and even allow many to return to work following a brief suspension. We should all be concerned about the apparent inefficiency and irresponsibility of our public service. It involves the massive loss of tax revenue due to gross negligence and theft. Civil servants are responsible for the administration of government policies, rules and regulations, and they should have no reason to fear any politician in the proper execution of their duties. Many years ago, two
Paul Thompson is the quintessential policeman. His career spanned the modern development of The Bahamas - from colonial times to the challenges of nationhood. Born in a small farming village in Trinidad, he was recruited by the Royal Bahamas Police Force in 1951. He spent most of his time on the force in the Criminal Investigation Department, retiring in 1981 as an Assistant Commissioner. He then began a second career as head of security for the Paradise Island Resort & Casino, returning to the police force as a civilian training officer in 1998, and in 2002 was appointed general manager of Wemco Security. Five years later, he set up his own security company - Paul Thompson & Associates. Now in his 80s, he remains active in security work.
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Former Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Thompson at work at his desk. Photo/Tim Clarke
senior public servants lost their jobs and pensions. One died shortly thereafter and the other lost his mind and became a vagrant on the streets. Both of these men helped their political bosses acquire cash and services to which they were not entitled. In one case the civil servant co-signed department cheques for funds requested by his political boss. In the other case the civil servant allowed his political boss to use a departmental credit card for personal expenses - including gaming costs in foreign casinos. Both political bosses were charged with criminal offences, but the Attorney General’s office declined to prosecute, even though we had the documentary evidence. The politicians were removed from their positions and both public servants lost their jobs and pensions. Nothing discourages and disheartens police officers more than knowing that their efforts in fighting crime are useless - because of unwarranted interference or leniency by political authorities. The incidents of which I speak were investigated by me over several weeks and long hours. Colleagues from overseas who assisted in these cases were shocked by the Nolle Prosequi (no prosecution) order. When vice and corruption on this scale is treated so lightly, it is not difficult to understand why criminals do not fear the consequences of their actions. As Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J Edgar Hoover once said: criminals who prey on honest men and still escape punishment are encouraged in their disdain for the law and will go on to commit more serious dep-
redations. More recently, there have been serious concerns raised about selective policing in the Bahamas. Published reports of theft and fraud in government departments have not led to prompt referrals to the police. And delays in taking action have enabled those involved to hide or destroy evidence. In the past such complaints were made promptly to the police by the department heads themselves - and not sometime after the fact by politicians. There have also been published reports of the arrest of relatives of prominent citizens for firearms and drug possession, but these arrests never resulted in any charges before the courts. During my early years as a police officer, the names of those arrested hardly mattered. You nabbed the suspect and a supervising officer would decide on the charge and the amount of bail. On the next court day the accused would be arraigned before a magistrate, after which the matter was out of our hands. Senior police officers would only know of these arrests and charges when crime reports reached their desk later on. We did not care about the names of the suspects or who their families were. The bottom line here is that the public must always have confidence in the police, and the police must always be seen to be fair - not selective - in the pursuance of their duties. NEXT WEEK: the curse of derelict vehicles in residential areas • Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net
aliv and kicking From pg7 to a company whose owner they cannot identify. Mr Campbell, and his financial advisor former PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Gowon Bowe, had a gentle hint from the Prime Minister to get a move on. The day had a lively windup with a Junkanoo marching band leading all celebrants to a spacious tent well stocked with up-market food and specialty drinks. Spirited conversation flowed freely, with Attorney-General Allyson Maynard enjoying herself and even Mrs Millar staying for a chat. Music and dancing continued into early hours of darkness. Cheerful launching celebrations are, of course, no guarantee of eventual success, which can only be proved after several months of operation with a growing list of satisfied subscribers. BTC is certain to use its local know-how and US-source expertise to fight hard to retain its market share of the mobile business, and it enjoys the normal edge of existing customers reluctant to make a change. But if the visible energy and enthusiasm of all the NewCo staff, from top to bottom, is taken as any indication, plus the results accomplished in just a few months, aliv would seem well positioned to become a major player. The creation, organisation, staffing and financing of NewCo in less than a year suggest a similar pattern for other private-public joint ventures in our economy. In the energy sector, the US company PowerSecure is just a manager/consultant, not a true partner. Why not change the arrangement? Why not bring in a wellconnected foreign airline as managing partner of Bahamasair, then sell shares to our public? Why not have a foreign broadcasting company do the same thing with ZNS? And, at long last, invite a partner to revive the “zombie zone” of downtown eastern Bay Street? Can ideas like this be fitted into our much-advertised National Development Plan? • Richard Coulson is a retired lawyer and investment banker born in Nassau and from a long line of Bahamians. He is a financial consultant and author of A Corkscrew Life - adventures of a travelling financier. He is a shareholder of Cable Bahamas.
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MONDAY, november 21, 2016 PAGE 9
Email: insight@tribunemedia.net
GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
GAIN AN EDGE
University of the Bahamas student’s passion drives leadership A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
When he entered the former College of the Bahamas (COB) as a first-year student, Keyron Smith was not prepared for the experience. Since his 2012 entry as a Biology major, students, faculty, and staff have all come to admire Mr Smith for his drive and impact. Mr Smith presently serves as President of the Student Government Association at the newly chartered University of the Bahamas (UB) and also sits on the institution’s Board of Trustees as the student representative. He is scheduled to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry in Spring, 2017. The University of The Bahamas was not Mr Smith’s first choice as a tertiary institution. “I initially had a scholarship to attend another school in Canada and due to certain circumstances I was unable to go,” he said. “I then took a year off from school completely and in my second year things really started to look good, especially since I was involved in the various clubs and organisations. It’s been a pleasant surprise to find everything I was looking for in a university right here at home. If I had a choice to do it again, it would be my first choice to attend the University of The Bahamas.” Participating in clubs and organisations transformed Mr Smith’s college life. Student government was a major catalyst in the development of his leadership skills. He was elected Senator of the School of Chemistry, Environmental and Life Sciences, and also became the senate speaker that year.
Bahamian students seeking postsecondary education can now find everything they need in a university at home rather than look abroad
University of the Bahamas President Dr Rodney Smith with Student Government Association President Keyron Smith, UB Director of Student Relations Joe Stubbs and SGA representatives. The signature UB Blue Blizzard created by Dairy Queen in celebration of the new university’s Charter Week proved popular.
Keyron Smith, Student Government Association President, at the University of The Bahamas Charter Day. “I got involved in COBUS (COB’s Union of Students) in my sophomore year during the administration of Alphonso Major. I liked the things that were going on at the time and I also saw some things that I had issues with and I wanted to see them change. So I wanted to be a part of the change,” he ex-
plained. Mr Smith says he has seen many of the changes he wanted come to fruition during his administration in the body formerly known as COBUS. One of the major changes was the push to get additional course sections added for students who desperately needed them. His
THIS WEEK IN THE TRIBUNE Today
Thursday
Business - will large global banks terminating their correspondent relationships with institutions in the Bahamas make it more difficult for the local commercial banking industry to accept web shop deposits?
Obituaries and Religion, a weekly review
Sports - pictures and reports from the Bahamas half-marathon and 5km races, plus Fourth Quarter Press.
Tuesday Woman and Health - weekly advice on taking care of your mind and body and women making waves in the Bahamas Plus comment from Nicole Burrows and sporting mischief and mayhem with Inigo “Naughty” Zenicazelaya
Wednesday Tribune Tech - a weekly look at what’s new in the world of technology Plus Larry Smith’s Tough Call column
Young Man’s View - trenchant opinion from Adrian Gibson on the hot topics in the country
Friday Weekend - a 28-page section devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness and history Plus A Comic’s View - Naughty’s unique take on the week in the Bahamas
Saturday The Tribune’s Top 5: a video review of the week’s top stories by Khrisna Virgil on www.tribune242.com Plus breaking news and updates on your mobile-friendly tribune242.com
Funeral Service For
Dr. Gonzalo Bote Bolisay, 79
of #9 Hampshire Street, will be held on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2016, 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Shirley Street. Father William Quiamjot will officiate, assisted by Father Anselm Russell and Deacon Keith Roberts. Cremation will follow.
say and family.
Left to cherish his memory: Wife: Dr. Iluminada Garcia Bolisay; Son: Dr. Arnold Bolisay and family; Daughter: Liecel Mennes and family; Daughter: Clarissa Dillet and family; Son: Ronald Boli-
Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians #34 Nassau Street, on Tuesday from 11:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until service time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: Filipino Association of the Bahamas, c/o Lerry Ramirez or Librada Quiling Capuli.
passion for leadership has led to other positive changes. “Seeing policy reform, science, mainly biology, and being involved on campus are my passions. I never thought that I would be so much in love with the aspect of policy. For instance, I was able to see a policy that I
had drafted passed for students to walk at graduation with six credits or less outstanding,” he recalled. In addition to COBUS, Mr Smith lists as his college highlights his involvement in Sons of Service, relationships with his lecturers and winning the Prime Minister’s Cup and National
Youth Leader Award in 2015. Playing a major role by representing the student body during COB’s transition to University was “humbling and exciting,” he said. He recalled many late nights of reviewing the draft Bill and wanting to ensure the students’ perspectives were appropriately represented. He is an example of the talent and potential manifested in the student body of the University of The Bahamas. • “Gain An Edge” is a collaboration of the Lyford Cay Foundations, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, and University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on higher education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia. net
PAGE 12, Monday, November 21, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Uniting to offer support
THE BAHAMAS Association for the Physically Disabled (BAPD) held a walk and pushathon on Saturday morning, accompanied by the Barabbas and The Tribe Junkanoo group. The event sought to raise awareness of the group and donations. Photos: Aaron Davis
“THEFT OF OUR BIRTHRIGHT” COMMENT BY MINNIS UNCLEAR YOUR SAY By ELCOTT COLEBY
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FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis on Wednesday renewed his call for Prime Minister Perry Christie to reveal whether he supports the proposed $2.1bn agrifisheries venture with Chinese investors as he said Mr Christie’s “stony silence” may very well “go forward with this theft of our birthright”. Dr Minnis is on record as calling this proposed investment initiative secret and lacks transparency. He was speaking at the ratification ceremony at the FNM headquarters. It is important to note that all of the genesis, the facts and the documentation surrounding this investment initiative are a matter of public record. The announcement of the $35bn fund earmarked for CARICOM by the President of the People’s Republic of China is a matter of public record; the announcement was made four years ago in Trinidad and Tobago during the CARICOM-CHINA Summit. The draft paper “for discussion only” prepared and submitted by the Bahamas Ambassador to China to Agriculture Minister, Alfred Gray, has been published in its entirety in the local newspapers. The authorisation letter submitted by Mr Gray to pursue this economic opportunity was also published. The Ambassador shared both documents with the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), BREEF and a number of local stakeholders as part of his consultation to solicit the input of industry stakeholders. I note that consultation with stakeholders by its very definition denotes transparency so this charge of secrecy appears to be at odds with the facts as we
know them. Regarding Dr Minnis’ comment “theft of our birthright”, it is unclear what Bahamian birthright is being stolen by the Chinese as the Fisheries Act is clear, allowing for Bahamian exclusivity in fishing in Bahamian waters. Seafood processing is allowed by foreign investors but not fishing. As for farming, well foreign companies have leased large tracts of land on Andros, Eleuthera and Abaco and engaged in large scale commercial farming in this country for more than a century. To ask a Prime Minister, the head of the Cabinet, to make a policy decision based on the suggestion of a civil servant is not only unfair but inconsistent with the manner in which informed public policy is formulated at the Cabinet level. The Agriculture Minister asked the Ambassador to gather information from various stakeholders, prepare a report and submit for active consideration. If the report makes its way onto the Cabinet’s agenda, no doubt the Attorney General and her senior lawyers at her office will have sight of the report and will render legal opinions to protect the best interests of the Bahamas and its people. At that point, it is reasonable that the Prime Minister will be in a position to take an informed policy position on the matter. In the meantime the novice Opposition leader continues to try to bait the Prime Minister into public commentary on this matter. Mr Christie, a political sage with 40 years of battles under his belt, remains silent on this issue while insisting that this so-called “Chinese deal” is a “non issue” - and at this point it is. Elcott Coleby is the Deputy Director of Bahamas Information Services
THE TRIBUNE
ATTORNEY DIES AFTER COLLAPSE
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net LOCAL attorney Michael Kemp collapsed and died on Thursday night on West Bay Street in what police have described as a “sudden death”. According to reports, Mr Kemp, 60, pictured, was leaving a business establishment around 8pm when he fell and was believed to have had a heart attack. EMS personnel were called but Mr Kemp was pronounced dead on the scene. Bahamas Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson said Mr Kemp was a personal friend and mentor. He said despite Mr Kemp’s sudden passing, his presence is already missed. “Unfortunately we have lost a valuable member of the Bar,” Mr Johnson told The Tribune. “He was very involved in the Bar and very unassuming. He was a lawyer’s lawyer and provided sage advice, especially on what he thought the Bar’s role was in protection of the judiciary. “He had strong views on how he felt the judiciary was being treated and one of his pet peeves was how young persons and poor people were (being tried). He was of the view that young people should not be housed with hardened criminals because they would turn into one. He was an advocate of an independent Bar and he made his views known. He had his challenges but he was immensely intelligent. He was a personal friend and mentor and I love him. He may have just passed away but he is missed already. On behalf of the Bar Council and the Bar Association, I want to extended my sympathies.” An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
Monday, November 21, 2016, PAGE 13
Helpful tips to resolve conflict safely EVEN though conflict is a normal and necessary part of healthy relationships, the mere fact that people are sometimes unable to come to a settlement is bothering. With the understanding that individuals are not expected to agree on everything at all times, it is imperative that they learn how to deal with conflict rather than avoiding it. When conflict is mismanaged, it can harm any relationship. But when handled in a respectful and positive way, conflict provides an opportunity for growth, ultimately strengthening the bond between individuals. However, based on the daily acts of violence that occur in our country, it clearly indicates that how
Police advice
By CORPORAL MAKELLE PINDER
we handle our anger and how we deal with other people who are angry can make the difference between managing conflict effectively and having conflict end in violence. It can be agreed that too often in The Bahamas, people are losing their lives because of this particular social ill. The Royal Bahamas Police Force National Crime Prevention Office offers tips on how to safely resolve
conflict. Unhealthy responses to conflict • An inability to recognise and respond to the things that matter to the other person. • Explosive, angry, hurtful and resentful reactions. • Quick to resort to the use of weapons and profanity. • The withdrawal of love, resulting in rejection, isolation, shaming and fear of abandonment.
• An inability to compromise or see the other person’s side. • The fear and avoidance of conflict; the expectation of bad outcomes. Healthy responses to conflict • The capacity to recognise and respond to the things that matter to the other person. • Calm, non-defensive and respectful reactions. • A readiness to forgive and forget and to move past the conflict without holding resentments or anger • The ability to seek compromise and avoid punishing • A belief that facing conflict head on is the best thing for both sides. Remember that conflict is a normal reaction, therefore choose your battles,
and learn how to walk away. Have the mental ability to ignore ignorant people and senseless conversations. Compromise, and think before you act and speak. Remember that life does not have a restart button, therefore choose your battles wisely. If applied, the safety tips provided can minimise your chances of becoming a victim. Nevertheless, should you fall prey to any criminal act, call the police as soon as it is safe to do so. If you come across any suspicious person(s) or have any information pertaining to any crime, please contact call the police emergency at ‘919’ or Crime Stoppers at 328-tips (New Providence), 1-300-8476 (Family Islands).
DAVIS PRAISE FOR SANDALS REOPENING DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis congratulated officials from Sandals Royal Bahamian on the resort’s reopening at event on Friday night. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the reopening, Mr Davis said: “Many speculated as to the rationale for the closure on August 15 this year. They could not know that Sandals is continually in evolution. Today, the hotel has been refurbished and boasts a full complement of 750 employees.” He added: “The human resources of any organisation is its most valuable asset. For this reason, I am very happy to learn that Sandals Royal Bahamian will relaunch the campus of Sandals Corporate University. Training is imperative for success and nothing has greater economic impact on the viability of hotel operations and the sustainability of livelihoods than a professionally trained and certified workforce.” He also thanked the
resort’s owner, Gordon “Butch Stewart, and management team for their confidence in the Bahamas as a tourist destination. “Your choosing us adds to our portfolio of successful global hospitality brands and to the development of hospitality professionals in The Bahamas. I continue to wish you well in all of your endeavours,” Mr Davis said. The luxury resort closed temporarily on August 15 and made more than 600 workers redundant in the process. The move was unavoidable and necessary to carry out needed repairs, resort officials said. However Minister of Labour Shane Gibson has criticised hotel officials, saying executives could have laid off the employees instead of making them redundant. Mr Gibson has also said the hotel did not give his ministry early notice of the planned redundancies, only informing the ministry by letter one business day before the changes took place.
DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaking at the Sandals Royal Bahamian grand reopening ceremony. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
ENTERTAINMENT at the ceremony included performances by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force band and, right, the Valley Boys Junkanoo group.
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PAGE 14, Monday, November 21, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
‘Govt has failed children in wake of hurricane’ By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest says the Christie Administration has failed to help childen and schools in Grand Bahama in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. “The lack of action from the PLP Government, specifically Ministers Darville, Gibson and Fitzgerald, towards the schools and students in Grand Bahama has been despicable following Hurricane Matthew,” Mr Turnquest said on Friday. “Repairs on schools have not been started and the blame is placed at the feet of generous donors. Lunch programmes are in jeopardy due to a lack of payment since the beginning of the school year. Our children and their future are our most precious commodity and the PLP government does not seem to care about them and their wellbeing. “I recently visited Eight Mile Rock and saw the continued disrepair that the schools are in more than a month after the hurricane and work has
K PETER TURNQUEST
not even started. Teachers, students and parents are holding sit-ins and protests over the horrible environment that the Government is forcing our children to endure to learn. “And now Minister Darville seems to blame the Grand Bahama Container Port for the slow reaction of his government to fix the school. We should not have to rely on generous donations to fix our schools. This should have been a priority of the government from the start. Even though they have not been able to process the $150m loan weeks after it was approved, the government has claimed to bring in millions of dollars in donations and spent $7m in cleanup efforts yet our schools still sit unrepaired in Grand Bahama.” Mr Turnquest said in the wake of the problems, reports indicate that the School Lunch Programme across the island is in jepoardy because the Christie Administration hasn’t paid for them to continue. “Luckily the contractors have continued to provide lunch to those students most in need so they do not go hun-
gry,” he said. “Since the hurricane passed and students’ homes were destroyed even more students need lunches provided by the government but they are not there to help. I am proud of our young people, though, as they have stepped up and shared their lunches with those that the government is failing. This meal is the only meal that some of our students are getting for the day. The PLP government should learn from these students and step up and do their job to help our children.” “Ministers Darville, Gibson and Fitzgerald need to step up and start doing their jobs. Minister Darville needs to stop blaming our generous donors for the slow response of his government, Minister Gibson needs to use the money at his disposal to immediately fix all our schools and bring them back to working order, and Minister Fitzgerald needs to ensure that our School Lunch Programme is paid for so that our students do not go hungry. It is time for the PLP government to finally show leadership in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.”
GRAND LUCAYAN REOPENS ONE OF ITS HOTELS AFTER HURRICANE By DENISE MAYCOCK and KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporters
THE Grand Lucayan Resort has reopened one of its two hotel and hundreds of hotel workers on Grand Bahama are now back to work following Hurricane Matthew. The 196-room Lighthouse Pointe, which was closed temporarily because of storm damage, opened its doors on November 10 to guests. The 500-room Breaker’s Cay Resort, however, remains closed until early next year. In a statement released
by The Zimmerman’s Agency, a public relations firm contracted by the resort, on Friday, the Grand Lucayan hopes to have the entire property operational by February, 2017. Veronica Clarke, hotel manager, said the staff have worked tirelessly to get Grand Lucayan ready for guests. “We are so thrilled to be open,” she said. The Grand Lucayan Resort, with its 738 guestrooms and suites, along 7.5 acres of beach, is the island’s major anchor resort property. The property is currently up for sale by the
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owners. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Perry Christie revealed that Hutchinson Whampoa, owner of the Lucayan group of hotels on the island, has “suffered significant losses” and continues to search for potential buyers. This process, Mr Christie told reporters, is a move by the company to streamline its investments and to determine whether it can get value for money from the properties. Mr Christie said, the government is “just a bystander” and will support Hutchinson Whampoa in “whatever it is doing”. Lighthouse Pointe, the traditionally all-inclusive portion of the resort, will temporarily accommodate all guests, whether or not an all-inclusive package is
booked. The Waves Pool Bar, Portobello’s, Pizzeria Capri and Aroma Café are open. There is also a new Sunday champagne brunch, served from noon until 4pm. A Fish Fry Party is offered every Wednesday evening, featuring live entertainment, and ‘Welcome Back’ Bahamian cuisine nights on Fridays. The Convention Center and wedding gazebos are fully functional and ready to host weddings and groups. The Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed Reef Course also fared well and is looking forward to hosting golfers. The remainder of the resort, including Breaker’s Cay, the Lanai Suites and additional dining venues, will open in the first quarter of next year.
DOUBLE RAPIST TO ARGUE OWN APPEAL By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A DOUBLE rapist challenging two convictions in the Court of Appeal will have to argue his own cases. Oscar Ingraham was due to appear before the appellate court for his substantive hearing of his appeals concerning the separate sexual assaults of two women in 2012. He and his lawyer Ryszard Humes were at odds for more than a month on what arguments should be made concerning the appeal. That remained the case when the matter was called on Thursday, when Mr Humes’ application to withdraw as counsel was
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granted. Ingraham’s new substantive hearing will be fixed and published on the appellate court’s website. For the first attack, which took place on February 28, 2012, Ingraham was given ten years for burglary, 15 years for each of the two counts of armed robbery and 25 years for rape. Regarding the second incident, which happened between 11pm on May 29 and 5am on May 30, 2012, Ingraham was sentenced to 15 years for burglary, 20 years for the single count of armed robbery and 30 years for rape. The sentences for the two incidents were imposed on the same day - October 7, 2014. They were ordered to run concurrently.
COAST GUARD SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR MISSING FLORIDA BOATER
JENSEN BEACH (AP) - The US Coast Guard has ended its search for a boater who went missing off the Florida coast on a fishing trip last Monday. Crews covered nearly 31,000 square miles between Port St Lucie and West End, Grand Bahama, the Coast Guard said. They officially suspended the search at 7.45pm on Saturday. Search crews began looking for 66-year-old Stuart Savanuck when he did not return a rental boat last Monday, the Coast Guard said. He had left at about 10am on Monday in a 23foot beige centre-console boat he rented from Jensen Beach Boat Rentals and was heading south to fish. He had been expected back by five o’clock that evening.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 21, 2016, PAGE 15
DNA warns PLP will use landfill as election gimmick By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney on Friday slammed the Christie administration for its silence on management of the New Providence landfill in the short to medium-term, as he suggested that the government is likely using a resolution to the landfill’s management woes as an election gimmick. Mr McCartney told The Tribune that the only time the government will address the matter is on the campaign trail. Nonetheless, Mr McCartney, who has long been a vocal critic of the current state of affairs at the Harrold Road site, particularly its controversial fires, lamented that it has been “four and a half years and we’re still in the same position as we were prior to them coming into office regarding that dump”. Mr McCartney’s comments came almost one month after Renew Bahamas, the company engaged by the government to manage the Harrold Road site
THE SCENE at the landfill on Easter Monday as a fire damaged the Renew Bahamas building. in 2014, confirmed that it pany would return. Nonehad suspended its services theless, Mr Cox hit out at as the New Providence what he described as the landfill manager, after government’s “two-and-ashootings, tyre slashing and half-year” failure to propwidespread theft in Hurri- erly engaged with Renew cane Matthew’s aftermath Bahamas. He added that the commade operating conditions pany’s request to the govunsafe. Michael Cox, Renew Ba- ernment for post-Matthew hamas’ CEO, confirmed financial support, and other to Tribune Business that assistance, had yet to result Renew Bahamas had ex- in a meeting, and suggested ercised the ‘force majeure’ this indicated it wanted Reclause in its contract, add- new Bahamas’ contract to ing at the time that it was die. The Ministry of the Enviuncertain whether the com-
ronment and Housing, in a statement, responded by ultimately stating that in light of “all of the challenges facing the New Providence landfill, the ministry recommended “the full takeover of operations at the landfill by the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS)”. The DEHS would have assumed that role on October 17, according to the statement, with the department to continue in that capacity until November 1. Almost one month after Renew Bahamas’ suspension of its managerial services at the landfill, and 18 days past the November 1 deadline. However, Mr McCartney hit out at the government for not yet publicly addressing the matter. “The government will continue to be quiet which they have been over the last four and a half years on the landfill, just as they have been quiet on where our VAT money has gone, just like they have been quiet as to the deal regarding Baha Mar, just like they’ve been quiet with regards to their governance of this country,” he said.
“I don’t expect to hear anything from them because they’re not going to do anything. Nothing’s going to happen. And that’s typical PLP style. The only time you will hear them talk about it, is gearing up to election to say what they’re going to do or what they’re want to do in their next term. But they can forget about that next term, that next term ain’t there for them. “So I don’t expect nothing from (Environment and Housing Minister) Ken Dorsett, don’t expect nothing from the Prime Minister, I only expect to hear what we heard last year from the (DEHS) when that dump started to burn, that we must close our windows. That’s the only thing I expect them to say. Because that dump (is going to) start burning again.” He added: “They (the government) have no answers to give us, like they have no answers on everything else. They talk more foolishness than you could shake a stick at. They’re good at talking but they have no answers. And they cannot execute. It’s four
and a half years and we’re still in the same position as we were prior to them coming into office regarding that dump.” Renew Bahamas had earlier this year sought to engage the government in negotiations over revisions to its five-year management contract, having argued that its business model was unsustainable and had produced “millions of dollars” in losses. In response, the Christie administration appointed the Kikivarakis & Co accounting firm to analyse Renew Bahamas’ financials, and determine whether its request was justified. However, there were indicators then that the government was seeking a ‘Plan B’ option as an alternative to Renew Bahamas, as it had approached a Bahamian consortium over landfillrelated proposals. The Waste Resources Development Group (WRDG) is understood to have expanded beyond its original four members Wastenot, Bahamas Waste, Impac and United Sanitation - to now include a total of ten fully Bahamianowned companies.
PAIR GUILTY OF MURDER AND KIDNAP ‘HAVING DIFFICULTY ADJUSTING TO PRISON’ By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
TWO men convicted of the murder and kidnapping of an Immigration Department officer and his girlfriend in Andros have had difficulty adjusting to incarceration, a judge was told on Friday. Zintworn Duncombe, 28, and James Johnson, 22, appeared before Justice Indra Charles for the penalty phase of their trial
for their respective roles in the murder and kidnapping of Shane Gardiner and his girlfriend, Tishka Braynen, in 2013. Dr John Dillard, a licenced psychiatrist with the Public Hospitals Authority, testified on Friday that he found no evidence or record of mental illness in Duncombe or Johnson. However, he did note that Duncombe said he had experienced nightmares since his incarceration and that Johnson had suffered from
a mild adjustment disorder. Both men, he said, were co-operative and able to communicate effectively with him during their clinical interviews that aided the preparation of psychiatric reports for the court’s consideration. The psychiatrist said he could not say definitively whether either man was incapable of reform when probed by Duncombe’s second lawyer, Jerone Roberts. He did stress that neither Duncombe or Johnson displayed anti-social or psy-
chopathic tendencies. The matter was adjourned to November 28 at 10am for submissions from defence and Crown counsel. Gardiner and Braynen were allegedly killed after a failed plot to take $8,000 in gambling winnings from the immigration officer. Braynen, of Cargill Creek, and Gardiner, who lived in Love Hill, both in Central Andros, were reported missing around 1.45pm on November 24, 2013. Gardiner had recently been as-
signed to the island. On December 21, 2013, police in Andros discovered the remains of a man with “items related to a female”. Duncombe, Johnson, Daniel Coakley, 28, and Cordero Saunders, 26, were unanimously convicted of double kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and attempted armed robbery. The Crown is seeking the death penalty for Duncombe and Johnson, who were unanimously con-
victed of murder. Because of the request for the death penalty, the court ordered the production of a psychiatric report and social inquiry report with respect to the two convicts. Duncombe, Saunders, Johnson and Coakley, who all maintain their innocence, are respectively represented by lawyers Ian Cargill, Moses Bain, Donna Major and Terrel Butler. Darnell Dorsett and Patrick Sweeting prosecuted the case.
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PAGE 16, Monday, November 21, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Tribune scores triple success in Bahamas Press Club awards
FROM left, Lamech Johnson holding his award for political journalism, photographer Shawn Hanna holding the award won by The Tribune for newspaper design, and managing editor David Chappell with the award for website of the year. Photo: Franklyn Ferguson
THE Tribune picked up three prizes as the best in Bahamian media was recognised at the Bahamas Press Club second annual Media Awards at the British Colonial Hilton on Saturday night. Nine awards were handed out during the ceremony hosted by journalist, lawyer and talk show host Jeffrey Lloyd while P J Patterson, the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, delivered the keynote addresss, “A Responsible Press”, during which he highlighted the hallmarks of journalism including ethics, accountability, integrity and not only getting the news first, but getting it right. Tribune staff reporter Lamech Johnson was recognised with the outstanding political journalism award for his story “$150,000 fine for Jerome Fitzgerald in Save The Bays email row”. The newspaper also won best website of the year and the newspaper design award for its front page “Diving for Gold” depicting Shaunae Miller’s Olympic 400m triumph in Brazil in the summer. The Sir Etienne Dupuch
Lifetime Achievement Award went to Calsey Johnson, the former broadcast journalist and chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (ZNS) and now Bahamas High Commissioner to Canada. President of The Bahamas Press Club Anthony Newbold congratulated the winners for their hard work and also encouraged other members of the media in the country to “get involved” in building the organisation. The Sir Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award - named after the long time Editor and Publisher of The Tribune - went to Calsey Johnson, the former broadcast journalist and chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (ZNS) and now Bahamas High Commissioner to Canada. The award winners were: The Leon Turnquest Award for Sports Print Journalism: Nassau Guardian Sports Editor, Sheldon Longley for his story:” Dive For Gold” Website of the Year Tribune242.com
The Kenneth Nathaniel Francis Award for Newspaper Design and Composition: The Tribune: “Diving For Gold” The Leslie Higgs Feature Writer of the Year Award: Journalist/writer Tosheena Robinson-Blair “The Life and Times of a Master Hotelier”. The Award for Best Television News Story: News Reporter, Clint Watson for “Life Lost During Storm”. The Bursell Bradshaw Press Photograph of the Year Award: Ahvia Campbell, photojournalist, The Nassau Guardian for “After The Storm” The Best television Documentary: Karissma Robinson & Andrew Burrows, ZNS for “The Underneath: Transgenders in The Bahamas”. The Cyril Stevenson Award for Outstanding Political Journalism: Lamech Johnson, The Tribune for “$150,000 fine for Jerome Fitzgerald in Save The Bays email row”. The Sir Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award: Calsey Johnson. See Editorial, page 4
SHELDON LONGLEY, Nassau Guardian Sports Editor, receiving The Leon Turnquest Award for Sports Print Journalism during The Bahamas Press Club awards at the British Colonial Hilton. Pictured from left are Sheldon Longley; Anthony Newbold, Press Club president and Lindsay Thompson, Press Club secretary.
TWO HELD OVER FIREARM AND MARIJUANA FIND POLICE arrested two men after seizing an illegal
firearm and 22 packages of marijuana in separate incidents on Friday. The first arrest occurred shortly after 5pm when Mobile Division officers, on routine patrol, conducted a search of a home on Mackey Street. Officers uncovered the marijuana and arrested a man inside the home. Then shortly before 7pm, Mobile Division officers were on Ida Street when an adult male was searched and found with a .38 revolv-
er in his possession. The man was arrested. Police also seized 10 pounds of marijuana during a special operation on Friday afternoon in the Fox Hill area. According to a police report, shortly before 4pm officers from the Selective Enforcement Team carried out an operation at Cox Street, resulting in the seizure. No arrests were made but an adult male is being sought for questioning.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 21, 2016, PAGE 17
THE ETIENNE Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award went to Calsey Johnson, Bahamas High Commissioner to Canada, former broadcast journalist at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (ZNS). Receiving the award on Mr Johnson’s behalf is his brother, Steven Johnson, flanked by Anthony Newbold, Press Club president and Robert Carron, president of the Tribune Media Group and grandson of the late Sir Etienne Dupuch.
TRIBUNE owner Eileen Carron with former Prime Minister of Jamaica PJ Patterson. Photoi: Franklyn Ferguson THE LESLIE Higgs Feature Writer of the Year Award went to Journalist/writer Tosheena Robinson-Blair for her work, “The Life and Times of a Master Hotelier”. She was presented with the award by club president Anthony Newbold.
THE AWARD for best television documentary went to Karissma Robinson and Andrew Burrows, of ZNS, for: “The Underneath: Transgenders in The Bahamas”. The award was accepted on behalf of Ms Robinson by Alexus D’Marco.
THE BURSELL Bradshaw Press Photograph of the Year Award went to photojournalist Ahvia Campbell of The Nassau Guardian for her photo “After The Storm” – Hurricane Matthew. She was presented with her award during The Bahamas Press Club awards banquet on Saturday at the British Colonial Hilton. Pictured from left is Bursell Bradshaw, Ms Campbell and Press Club president Anthony Newbold.
THE AWARD for Best Television News Story went to ZNS News reporter Clint Watson for “Life Lost During Storm” – Hurricane Matthew. Mr Watson is pictured with Anthony Newbold, Press Club president.
PAGE 18, Monday, November 21, 2016
A fun weekend at
Jollification
THE annual Jollification event was held this weekend at the Bahamas National Trust, with a host of gift ideas available as the countdown to Christmas begins. There were arts and crafts, refreshments, jewellery and more - drawing a good crowd to the event. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
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