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VOLUME:115 No.251, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2018

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People’s Protest Minnis faces first major revolt over policies and prices

By RIEL MAJOR HUNDREDS of Bahamians stormed Bay Street yesterday to protest against the Minnis administration, high unemployment and rising electricity bills.

Tensions ran high during the protest, dubbed the “Enough is Enough” march, yesterday morning and shortly after 10am more than a dozen officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force tried to divert protesters by dragging barricades across Rawson Square.

However, Frederick McAlpine, Pineridge MP, approached the barricades and exchanged words with an officer. That officer then created a small opening between the barricades while another officer tried and failed to prevent Mr McAlpine and scores of protesters from forcing

themselves onto Rawson Square.

Mr McAlpine ultimately pushed through the barricades and others followed him.

Police said three people were arrested at the protest for “disruptive” behaviour and alleged assault of police officers. Many protesters held signs that read “FNM torch burn out”, “BPL robbing us, no weapon, no mask” and “Light bill too high” - all chanting “Minnis got to go” in solidarity. The House of Assembly was in session at the time.

Mr McAlpine, a Free National Movement backbench MP who at one point marched with the protesters, told reporters: “This is the people’s Parliament and this is about the people and I want to be here with the people.

BUDGET DEFICIT FORECAST $105M OUT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

DORMANT ACCOUNTS - THEY’LL DO NICELY

SEE PAGE FIVE

nation. “The symptoms can sneak up on you, interestingly some of the people that succumb from the swine flu can be younger, stronger individuals,” he said.

He added that persons most at risk who need the flu shot are all health care workers, day care providers and school teachers, children between six months and five years old, the elderly, persons with chronic, non-communicable diseases, women who will be pregnant during flu season and obese persons.

L SOUR CE

THE government’s 2017-2018 fiscal deficit has overshot the deputy PM’s year-end forecast by $105m due to a late spending “ramp up”.

Ministry of Finance financial secretary Marlon Johnson told Tribune Business there was “a much higher than anticipated spike” in spending towards the fiscal year-end because multiple government agencies were seeking to pay bills in the period when they were incurred.

He added that efforts to prevent the “carry over” of unpaid spending obligations had effectively blown KP Turnquest’s prediction that the 2017-2018 deficit would come in at $310m.

SWINE FLU DEATH - GET VACCINATED

A NUMBER of cases of swine flu have been reported in The Bahamas and one person has died from the illness, according to Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands who implored residents to get a flu vaccine.

“We have now had a number of cases of swine flu including one death,” Dr Sands told the House of Assembly last night.

He reminded the public that the flu vaccine is available free of charge at public health facilities across the country, adding that there is an adequate supply in the

$1

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE government is proposing to utilise $41.3m from dormant bank accounts to establish a disaster relief fund, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.

He made the announcement at Parliament during debate of the Bank and Trust Companies Amendment Bill and the Central Bank of The Bahamas Amendment Bill.

Once the changes are passed, the Central Bank of The Bahamas will have the legislative backing PROTESTERS marched in Nassau yesterday to protest against the Minnis administration, high unemployment and rising electricity bills.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

SEE PAGE SIX

WARNING OVER LETTUCE AND TURKEY PRODUCTS

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net SUPER Value president Rupert Roberts yesterday said the grocery store chain will likely not pull any lettuce or turkey products from its shelves in the wake of warnings issued by the Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority on these goods.

Mr Roberts said instead the company will apply

ROMAINE LETTUCE warnings to the products and allow consumers to choose whether or not they wish to buy or consume.

The BAHFSA yesterday advised local consumers,

retailers, and wholesalers to “voluntarily throw out” any lettuce purchased from stores selling US-derived lettuce products following the recent E coli outbreak and warning of romaine lettuce in the United States, which has caused more than 30 illnesses in the US. The BAHFSA also cautioned consumers about the “ongoing outbreak” in raw turkey products associated

DIANE PHILLIPS BACK TO SCHOOL AND OPENING EYES AND MINDS

SEE PAGE THREE

SEE PAGE EIGHT

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PAGE 2, Thursday, November 22, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

MICHAEL Foulkes gives the dates for the remaining pop-up farmers markets. From left: Bishop Gregory Collie, deputy chairman; Mr Foulkes; Debbie Strachan, senior deputy general manager; and Kervan Culmer, financial controller.

POP-UP FARMERS MARKET ENJOYING RISE IN EARNINGS MICHAEL Foulkes, executive chairman, Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation (BAIC) has revealed that, after a slow start, the pop-up farmers market on Gladstone Road has had an appreciable rise in earnings over the past months.

When they launched back in January they took $1,111.63 then, in February, they took $7,727.86 over the four Saturdays in that month. By September, though, they took in $39,939.00 and from January to October this year, they have taken a total of $230,566.42.

“About 73 per cent of that amount represents direct payments to Family Island farmers of approximately $176,629.84.

Further, based on our plan for the remainder of the

year, we expect that our total sales will be in excess of a quarter of a million dollars,” said Mr Foulkes.

“In terms of the Corporation’s finances more broadly, we are pleased to announce that through the first nine months of 2018 on a cash basis, the loss has been just under $12,000.

Compare that with the loss for the same period of 2017, which was over $1,042,000.00.”

The remaining pop-up locations for 2018 would include: • Friday, November 30 – The University of The Bahamas • Saturday, December 1 – Seabreeze • Sunday, December 9 – Seventh Day Adventist Church (location to be determined)

THREE ARMED ROBBERIES ON ONE DAY

POLICE on New Providence are searching for a number of men believed to be responsible for three armed robberies which occurred on Tuesday.

In the first incident, shortly before 7am, a woman was walking on Fire Trail Road off Carmichael Road, when she was approached by a gunman who robbed her of her handbag containing cash and other items before running away.

Later in the day just after 9pm a man was at a business on Gibbs Corner when he was approached by a gunman who robbed him of cash and a cell phone before getting into his 2016 silver Honda Accord and speeding away.

The last incident happened shortly after 11pm, when a woman was in a parking lot on West Bay Street. The victim was approached by an armed man who robbed her of her hand bag, which contained cash and other personal items, before getting into her red two door Honda Civic and speeding away. Investigations continue into these incidents.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 22, 2018, PAGE 3

Warnings over lettuce and turkey products from page one with an antibiotic-resistant strain of salmonella.

It noted the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recalled all raw ground turkey due to this outbreak, which has been linked to over 160 illnesses and one death in the US. The BAHFSA noted there have been no incidents in The Bahamas associated with either of these outbreaks and also advised all consumers to exercise “extreme caution and be vigilant” while handling, preparing, and cooking raw turkey this Thanksgiving.

When asked if Super Value is going to dump any of its lettuce products, Mr Roberts told The Tribune: “We’re deciding. I think we’re going to warn (consumers) there could be a problem, you buy at your own risk, or eat at your own risk.

“We put the warnings on the product that we’ve had that the US Food and Agriculture warned about,” he said, adding he personally will continue to consume romaine lettuce.

Regarding the Jenny-O Turkey Store’s self-recall over 91,000 raw turkey products, Mr Roberts said Super Value does not carry that brand.

He added the stores carry

A US shop where the romaine lettuce has been removed. one brand of ground turkey, Carolina Pride.

When asked if Super Value will continue selling that brand or if it will post any warnings, he said: “Consumers are wellinformed. We’re going to continue selling that brand because there’s no problem with it.”

However, he added, the warnings from the BAHFSA press statement are “going to be posted on the product” in question.

Regarding raw turkeys, Mr Roberts said: “There’s no problem with turkeys, other than the problem that you have every year you have to cook your turkey properly and make sure the inside’s cooked and so on, so forth.”

However, he said concerns about raw turkeys will be posted in stores.

“That’s going to be posted on the raw turkeys that we sell, the concern.

You put the warnings on the...product and people

can decide if they want to eat or they don’t want to eat it, but there’s no recall.

“Let the consumer decide if they want to buy it or consume it,” Mr Roberts said.

Barbara Lockhart, manager of Sea Shells restaurant, said the business has pulled lettuce, does not carry ground turkey, and is “aware” of the warnings associated with raw turkey.

In its press release, BAHFSA wrote: “The recent E coli outbreak and warning of romaine lettuce in the US is hereby extended to consumers in The Bahamas to voluntarily throw out any lettuce they may have bought from stores selling US derived lettuce products. The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention is still in the process of a traceability study to determine the origin of the outbreak; hence, no recall has been made.”

It noted 18 illnesses have been reported in Canada

and of the 32 reported US illnesses, 13 have required hospital care.

“However, those who continue to consume this product, do it at their own risk,” the statement continued, and provided a list of steps consumers should take to mitigate their risk of illness. These included thoroughly washing hands before handling lettuce and rinsing it “with a three or four to one ratio of water to vinegar using a spray bottle to remove any microbial presence then again with water.”

“Persons who consume contaminated lettuce may experience the effects of the illness 12 to 24 hours or up to a week after ingestion in the form of vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever or loss of appetite,” the BAHFSA said.

Regarding the salmonella outbreak, BAHFSA said: “Just one week before the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday, the USDA has recalled all raw ground turkey due to this outbreak. Many types and brands of turkey have been linked to the over 160 illnesses reported, three hospitalisations and one death in the US. The outbreak strain has been found in raw turkey products, including raw turkey pet food and live turkeys.”

Symptoms of illness are similar to those of the E coli outbreak, and BAHFSA noted young children,

the elderly, pregnant, and immune compromised people may experience a “more severe level of illness.”

“Further, BAHFSA wishes to caution those who grocery shop in the US to discard any lettuce or named Jenny-O brand turkey products they may have brought upon their return into the country and have in the refrigerator and to exercise caution in purchasing all raw turkey products.”

Those who may have

travelled to the US and consumed turkey products and have become ill should make a report with the Surveillance Unit at the Ministry of Health.

“A warning is also hereby given to local retailers and wholesalers who may have any of these items in their inventory to, in the case of the romaine lettuce voluntarily remove them from the shelf and to discard any Jenny-O brand Turkey products named in the recall,” the BAHFSA said.

COMPANY LINED UP TO PROBE RISING ELECTRICITY PRICES, SAYS PM MINNIS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday that a company was selected to probe the rising cost of electricity, but the details could not be made public because the matter had not yet gone before Cabinet.

His comments came after the government tabled an amendment to the Value Added Tax Act seeking to temporarily increase the VAT-free ceiling on electricity bills to $300.

The amendment will ensure the change does not expire until July 1, 2019.

Increased light bills have been a point of contention for consumers and was part of the reason for a large protest on Bay Street yesterday.

Recognising that many

people struggle to financially afford the spike in cost, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told reporters yesterday the government will do whatever it can to relieve this stress.

“We have committees looking at it,” Dr Minnis told reporters outside Parliament yesterday. “We understand that there are some people having challenges with light bills and we are cognizant of that and we will do whatever we can to try and relieve their pain and their stress.

“That’s what a good government does.”

Asked of the probe, he said: “I can’t tell you anything yet that hasn’t gone to Cabinet, the company has been recommended and it now must be taken forth to Cabinet.”

Earlier this month the prime minister announced the government decided to raise the VAT exemption

ceiling. At the time he said changing trends in the cost of the delivery of electricity will inform any decision to extend the increased exemption ceiling into the new fiscal year, beginning July 2019. He attributed the higher costs to fire damaged equipment at Bahamas Power and Light’s Clifton Plant causing the provider to rely heavily on its Blue Hills facility, which is more expensive.

The amendment came into force on November 1 and amends the second schedule to the VAT Act by “increasing the qualifying threshold for the value added tax exemption on a supply of electricity service by any utility service provider from $200 or below per billing cycle to $300 or below per billing cycle.”

Consumers are expected to see the change in their January billing cycles.

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THE TRIBUNE

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PROTESTERS MARCH AGAINST GOVT

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Be grateful - it makes you more charitable ‘TIS THE season when the conversation shifts to what you’re thankful for. Gathered with family and friends around a holiday feast, for instance, people may recount some of the biggies – like their health or their children – or smaller things that enhance everyday life – like happening upon a great movie while channel-surfing or enjoying a favourite seasonal food.

Psychology researchers recognise that taking time to be thankful has benefits for well-being. Not only does gratitude go along with more optimism, less anxiety and depression, and greater goal attainment, but it’s also associated with fewer symptoms of illness and other physical benefits.

In recent years, researchers have been making connections between the internal experience of gratitude and the external practice of altruism. How does being thankful about things in your own life relate to any selfless concern you may have about the well-being of others?

As a neuroscientist, I’m particularly interested in the brain regions and connections that support gratitude and altruism. I’ve been exploring how changes in one might lead to changes in the other.

To study the relationship between gratitude and altruism in the brain, my colleagues and I first asked volunteers questions meant to tease out how frequently they feel thankful and the degree to which they tend to care about the well-being of others. Then we used statistics to determine the extent to which someone’s gratitude could predict their altruism. As othershave found, the more grateful people in this group tended to be more altruistic.

The next step was to explore more about how these tendencies are reflected in the brain. Our study participants performed a giving activity in the MRI scanner. They watched as the computer transferred real money to their own account or to the account of a local food bank. Sometimes they could choose whether to give or receive, but other times the transfers were like a mandatory tax, outside their control. We especially wanted to compare what happened in the brain when a participant received money as opposed to seeing money given to the charity instead.

It turns out that the neural connection between gratitude and giving is very deep, both literally and figuratively. A region deep in the frontal lobe of the brain, called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, is key to supporting both.

Anatomically, this region is wired up to be a hub for processing the value of risk and reward; it’s richly connected to even deeper brain regions that provide a kick of pleasurable neurochemicals in the right circumstances. It holds abstract representations of the inner and outer world that help with complex reasoning, one’s representation of oneself and even social processing.

Beyond identifying the place in the brain that was especially active during these tasks, we also saw differences in just how active this region was in various individuals.

We calculated what we termed a “pure altruism response” by comparing how active the reward regions of the

brain were during “charity-gain” versus “self-gain” situations. The participants I’d identified as more grateful and more altruistic via the questionnaire had a higher “pure altruism” scores – that is, a stronger response in these reward regions of the brain when they saw the charity gaining money. It felt good for them to see the food bank do well.

In other studies, some of my colleagues had zeroed in on this same brain region. They found that individual differences in self-reported “benevolence” were mirrored by participants’ brains’ responses to charitable donations, including in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

So is this brain reward region the key to kindness? Well, it’s complicated. Practice makes grateful, makes altruistic?

The human brain is amazingly flexible. The absence of hearing in someone who’s born deaf opens up brain real estate that would have processed sound to instead deal with other sensory information, like touch. Neuroscientists call this plasticity.

In recent years I’ve been testing the idea that the plasticity of the mature brain can be used to enhance the experience of well-being. Could practise change how emotions that support social relationships – like gratitude, empathy and altruism – are typically programmed into the brain? Through practising gratitude, could people become more generous?

My colleagues and I decided to test whether by changing the amount of gratitude people felt, we could alter the way the ventromedial prefrontal cortex responds to giving and receiving. I randomly assigned study participants to one of two groups. For three weeks, one group wrote in their journals about gratitude, keeping track of the things they were thankful for. Over the same period, the other group wrote about engaging topics from their lives that weren’t specific to gratitude.

Gratitude journaling seemed to work.

Just keeping a written account about gratitude led people to report experiencing more of the emotion. Other recent work also indicates that gratitude practice makes people more supportive of others and improves relationships.

Practising gratitude shifted the value of giving in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. It changed the exchange rate in the brain. Giving to charity became more valuable than receiving money yourself. After the brain calculates the exchange rate, you get paid in the neural currency of reward, the delivery of neurotransmitters that signal pleasure and goal attainment.

So in terms of the brain’s reward response, it really can be true that giving is better than receiving. As you sail through the holidays – whether with a Thanksgiving banquet spread out for our friends and family, a busy shopping day on Black Friday or a pile of Christmas presents – taking time to practise gratitude can help make giving the most rewarding of activity of all.

By Christina Karns of the University of Orego.

This article first appeared on The Conversation.

FNM needs a better narrative EDITOR, The Tribune MARK Twain once said that a lie can travel half way round the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. The Free National Movement (FNM) administration’s public relations machinery is struggling to dispel the narrative that it has purged the public sector of thousands of Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters following its May 10, 2017 general election victory. In June Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle informed the media that the rumour of 2,500 individuals being fired or disengaged from the government was untrue. Rolle said that less than 500 persons were let go. There’s a massive difference between 500 and 2,500. I see no reason for Rolle to mislead the press as what he said could’ve easily been ascertained by media personnel.

Yet five months later the rumour that thousands of Bahamians, mainly PLPs, have been axed by Rolle and Co continues to persist through propaganda media outlets such as Bahamas Press, which is now harping on Cabinet Minister Brent Symonette receiving a five-year lease agreement of $900,000 per annum for his Town Centre Mall and Deputy to the Governor General C A Smith’s purported annual salary of $60,000 for the post of Nonresident Ambassador of The Bahamas to Panama.

So while it has no issue hanging thousands of struggling minimum wage Bahamians out to dry, the

FNM is busy fixing up its boys. A wealthy Bay Street Boys member gets another lucrative government deal and an alleged political pensioner and former FNM cabinet minister gets to take home two massive salaries from the Treasury, despite all the talk about taking austerity measures and tightening the belt after it was announced that VAT would be increased by 60 percent.

That’s the narrative that is being bandied around in media outlets such as Bahamas Press. The Minnis administration is being portrayed as aloof. Both the PLP and FNM have been known to reward their prominent supporters with government largesse and diplomatic posts that pays handsomely. Peter is no better than Paul in this regard.

If the FNM is going to be condemned for rewarding Smith with a high paying diplomatic post, then the PLP should be condemned too. As for Symonette leasing his Town Centre Mall to the government for $900,000 per annum, I have voiced my opposition to this transaction already. I warned the Minnis administration in a letter to the editor in The Nassau Guardian that the PLP will use this lease agreement as a political talking point in 2022. I hope this controversial decision will not come back to haunt the FNM. Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels said that if “you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even

come to believe it yourself.” If left unchecked, the rumour of thousands being mercilessly terminated will be considered infallible truth by thousands of uninformed and disgruntled swing voters in 2022. The FNM can ill afford for this to happen.

Rolle stated in Parliament that the PLP added 9,000 individuals to the public sector between 20122017. I’m guessing that the 1,700 contractual employees that were mentioned incessantly in the media in addition to the 3,000 52 week job programme workers were factored into the 9,000 figure.

The overwhelming majority of the 1,700 workers were hired within months of the election. Therefore, they can be considered political hires. They were never made permanent by the PLP. In fact, many of these workers’ contracts had expired months after May 2017.

Their dismissals cannot be considered terminations. This is a point that the FNM’s public relations personnel has to continue to stress ad nauseam to the Bahamian people, or it will lose the public relations war. Bahamas Press has a gullible readership and therefore will continue playing fast and loose with the facts. The FNM has got to dispel the narrative that it terminated thousands of Bahamians.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport Grand Bahama November, 2018

Why it’s now time to legalise marijuana EDITOR, The Tribune IN the coming months here in the Bahamas “white” men are poised to run huge marijuana businesses, dreaming of cashing in big. Big money, big businesses, selling weed, dope or whatever you may want to call it, after 50 years of locking up impoverished young and old black Bahamians for selling this same product.

Their families and future destroyed. Now “white” men are planning on getting rich doing precisely the same thing young black men did, that destroyed their lives, unable to travel to the USA, unable to get any good

meaningful job. As many of your readers know I am on several marijuana boards, and am a known proponent of medical marijuana as long as it benefits the patient who has no other alternative or option of getting better and recovering from their illness.

My judgment is that at this time I am a bit leery about the recreational use and should be placed on the back burner until the medical marijuana issue is running smoothly, however, I know recreational will eventually come, it is just a matter of time. However, I say and say it loud, that if passed by the present government, they should expunge all records of

convicted persons who were caught with a joint, a seed in their car ash tray, having a smoking pipe on their person. Expunging should go back at least 25 years, this would most radically empty the overcrowded prison, bring sanity to its everyday running, improve health issues at the facility, reduce stress from the lives of the guards, and give the youth a second chance at life.

Would you be surprised to know some current and former politicians, MP’s, senators at least tried marijuana at one point in their lifetime. It did not make them monsters, yet today those are the same men and women

making our laws, and bringing justice to the courts.

There has been talk for some time of Bahamian politicians already heavily invested in marijuana farms in foreign companies, if this is true I cry shame and holla “hypocrite!” There are a countless number of Bahamians that have been using medical marijuana before I was born for medical purposes, and countless numbers still using it in 2018.

There is a good chance that an older member of your family has been using marijuana as a tea and for various ailments. As a child you don’t dare question a grandmother or parent from old school

asking what they are giving you, you simply drank it.....am quite sure some form of marijuana was included in some of those drinks grandmother prescribed for you.

Make it legal, let the government control it, tax it to bring in revenue, this would stop the average citizen from making ghost moves at midnight from going out and trying to find a dime bag of weed for glaucoma or to ease some form of pain.

DR DEREK PINDER ND; PHD Naturapath Nassau November 19, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 22, 2018, PAGE 5

People should be allowed to protest, says PM

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday he was not worried about the protesters who marched yesterday, calling the protest a display of freedom of speech and democracy.

The angry display, Dr Minnis said, showed what was “good” about democracy.

“This is a democratic society,” the prime minister said following yesterday’s House of Assembly sitting.

“Individuals are within their legal right to demonstrate, that’s (what’s) good about democracy.”

Asked by The Tribune whether he thought this was an indictment of his leadership, Dr Minnis did not respond directly, only repeating: “That’s good about democracy.”

When his attention was drawn to his use of previous marches while in opposition to criticise the former Christie administration and whether he was now worried, Dr Minnis said: “No I’m not worried. Individuals (have) a right, the constitution allows them to demonstrate. That’s freedom of movement and freedom of speech.”

Before his comments,

House Speaker Halson Moultrie told Assembly members that he was not inclined to entertain comments about the protest as MPs contributed to debate on the Banks and Trust Companies Amendment Bill and the Central Bank of the Bahamas Amendment Bill.

Mr Moultrie spoke out against such comments as Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper who told the House he was offended that demonstrators could not occupy Rawson Square fully because Junkanoo bleachers had been erected there.

Mr Cooper said: “I want to point out how offended I was today as I drove into Rawson Square and

I saw all of the bleachers erected in the square. Notwithstanding that I was aware that just behind me there was a demonstration of the people coming through Rawson Square.

And I would have thought we would have facilitated their presence in the people’s square. I thought that we would have done all we can not to suppress associations.”

However, before he could continue a seated member of Parliament accused him of “grand standing.”

Another said: “Brave tell him what the PLP used to do.”

Yamacraw MP Elsworth Johnson also pointed out that this matter was under the purview of Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson and entailed an application process to demonstrate. He said to accuse the government of suppression was misleading.

Mr Moultrie then interjected saying in continuance with debate on legislation to regulate dormant bank accounts, the chair was “not minded” to accept any further comments and discussion in respect to the protest.

A seated government backbencher then shouted, “China town” and was reprimanded by Mr Moultrie.

PROTESTERS have every right to march, says PM Hubert Minnis.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Mr Cooper added: “I am delighted that we have an opportunity to gather freely. I am delighted that we have an opportunity to speak freely. I am delighted that I have the opportunity on behalf of the people of Exumas and Ragged island to speak freely in this House and, therefore, Mr Speaker, if I am offended as a citizen of this country, I believe I have a right to say so.”

MINNIS FACES FIRST MAJOR REVOLT OVER POLICIES AND PRICES

from page one

“My political future doesn’t matter, the Bahamian people matter. If I have to take a choice between party and people, I’ll always choose the people. I did burst through the barricades...I’m a parliamentarian and I have the right to come through.

“Those who (came) behind me... this is their House and they have a right also. We never did this... this was not done, we marched and my leader was a part of that march and this didn’t happen,” he said referring to previous protests when barricades were not blocking Rawson Square.

“We didn’t have all those barricades so you can’t talk about it being ‘the people’s time’ and when it’s your time for the people to talk to you...you don’t want to listen to them...you don’t want to

hear them. It’s the people’s time and the people will speak.”

Mr McAlpine, pictured below, said after two nearly years of the Minnis administration, this is the first time he has seen that level of anger and frustration from the people. He highlighted frequent industrial action or labour issues in government agencies and concluded that something is drastically wrong.

“That is bad, I often see this couple years into election and it hasn’t been two full years and this where we are at, this is deplorable and I’m afraid as to what could happen and what might be happening,” Mr McAlpine said.

“People are hurting in this country unfortunately many upstairs don’t understand that hurt. The people are going to be here I will be with the people.”

Protesters greeted and cheered for some politicians as Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip Davis, PLP Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper, Justice of the Peace Rodney Moncur, Democratic National Alliance Deputy Leader Arinthia Komolafe, and former PLP MP V Alfred Gray.

Mr Davis told reporters the march was impressive and it spoke to the frustrations and anger of the people. “With all the taxes and just the uncaring nature of their approach to governance as they feel it today - I hope they listen to the people, these people are crying, they want to be heard they want to be listened to, they want action to bring relief to the things they are complaining about today,” Mr Davis said.

Maria Daxon, a protester and

part organiser, said she wants the government to immediately end the controversial Oban deal, plans to join the World Trade Organisation and to create a national resort plan for the Bahamian people.

She said: “We are tired, we want them to create a land (registry), too much (stealing) going on by the land by these white knights.

We need to stop this mess.”

One protester, who referred to herself as “Queen Bee” told reporters yesterday citizens are demanding truth, respect, and honesty from the Free National Movement.

“I’m not here to baby those people in the House of Assembly...they my slaves, they working for me,” she said. “I paying them and I’m not here to baby them.

Who do they think they are?”

The protest’s organisers said they are giving the government 10 days to address their demands or they

will march again, this time demanding the entire Cabinet resign.

Yesterday, activist group Rights Bahamas weighed in on the protest and criticised the presence of the barricades in Rawson Square, accusing the government of trying to suppress free speech.

“It saddens me today to see the state of our country and how the powerful continue to attempt to oppress our people,” RB President Stephanie St Fleur said in a statement. “In all my years of demonstrating as a labour organiser, I have never, ever seen permits granted that limited protesters to the sidewalk.

Apparently, under the Minnis administration, the streets no longer belong to the people.

“Thankfully, the police did not enforce this dictatorial stipulation; nevertheless, the public deserves an explanation of how it came to be in the first place.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, November 22, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Dormant accounts - they’ll do nicely FROM PAGE ONE

to confiscate money in accounts that have been dormant for seven consecutive years and hold it in a disaster fund for government use in the event of a natural disaster.

Dr Minnis said while there were several compelling things the government could spend the money on, the “mature” thing would be establishing the disaster relief fund.

Currently there are 42,452 dormant accounts with a corresponding value of $88.716m as of June 2018.

However, once the amendment is made law an initial flow of at least $41.3m would be available.

Dr Minnis said: “Mr Speaker, governments must make mature decisions.

“You will hear arguments throughout the day that that money should be used for sports. Sports encourages discipline leadership and provides opportunity and most of all you cannot pay for the type of public relations that one receives.

“Others might argue that the money should be utilised for education and preparing of our schools with more teachers, preschool programmes and under construction of new schools.

“Some may argue, Mr Speaker, that the money should be utilised for health – repairing our clinics and hospitals and obtaining all the new necessary equipment and fast track the telemedicine programme that our minister speaks so passionately about and others may argue that salaries should be changed – doctors, nurses, public servants, yes, union contracts and some may argue that the $41.3m should be used to assist social

DAMAGE in Bimini after Hurricane Irma in 2017. The government is planning to establish a disaster relief fund.

services help more of needy.”

He also said: These

are all great arguments, Mr Speaker, but as I said government must make

mature, non-isolated decisions. An irresponsible opposition may argue, Mr Speaker, increased electricity costs and therefore the money should be used to decrease light bills and turn individuals whose lights are off to be turned on again. This might be a great argument, Mr Speaker, but this is an attempt to change social citing in the eyes of the people.”

He also said: “Our infrastructure could be so

damaged that investments in the country would crash overnight, our tourism industry would crash overnight, our banking financial system that needs digital systems and proper bandwidth would crash overnight.

“It’s essential to make decision whether you concentrate in silos and your infrastructure is destroyed plus your infrastructure, your tourism, your investment and your banking resulting in no economic

activity or monies generated to repair or carry on the school system social service your health your security.

“So, Mr Speaker, it is not my government’s intent to view this to meet normal budgetary operations as a responsible government we are proposing that these funds be utilised for establishing a disaster relief fund that was foreshadowed in the most recent budget exercise,” Dr Minnis said.

THE BAHAMAS EMBASSY IN HAITI REOPENS AFTER RIOTS

RESIDENTS walk amid road blocks placed by anti-government protesters along Boulevard Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a main commercial artery, during a strike against alleged government corruption in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday. (AP) Earlier this week it was protocols, Foreign Affairs Min- first day of the embassy’s cloTHE Bahamas Embassy in Haiti has resumed normal opera- reported that riots and a United ister Darren Henfield said on sure and came as Bahamasair tions after a temporary closure Nations enforced curfew in Haiti Tuesday that officials closed the suspended a flight scheduled due to riots in Port-au-Prince, prompted the closure of the embassy and were continuing for Cap-Haitien on Tuesday according a statement from Bahamas Embassy in Port-au- to be vigilant in monitoring the morning. situation.

Bahamasair has since resumed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Prince until further notice.

In line with United Nations He said Monday marked the flights there. yesterday.

SIX KILLED IN HAITI AFTER POLICE SAY GOVT CAR LOSES CONTROL

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A Haitian government car went out of control into a group of people on Wednesday, killing at least six and further inflaming unrest in a capital wracked by violent protests.

Police spokesman Michel-Ange Louis-Jeune told The Associated Press that one of the car’s wheels had come off.

Protesters later set fire to the car, which remained on the scene in the capital of

Port-au-Prince.

Louis-Jeune said he didn’t know how many people died, but an AP journalist on the scene counted the bodies of four men and two women on the ground.

The deaths come as Haiti faces a fourth day of protests to demand that President Jovenel Moise resign for not investigating allegations of corruption in the previous government over Petrocaribe, a Venezuelan subsidised energy programme.

At least nine people have died in the protests, not including those hit by the car.

The ninth death was reported on Wednesday.

Police spokesman Frantz Lerebours told the AP that authorities discovered the

POLICE inspect a car that careened out of control hit a group of persons in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday. (AP) body of a young man while clearing street barricades in the southern department of Nippes.

Schools and government offices remained closed on Wednesday, as did many banks and grocery stores.

However, hundreds of people stood outside one

bank that opened in the neighbourhood of Petionville, and public buses were running again.

Government trucks also cleared many streets blocked by barricades of tires, although some remained burning in parts of the capital.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 22, 2018, PAGE 7

UTEB members held a demonstration yesterday outside of The University of The Bahamas’ entrance. Pictured below speaking to media is Erecia Hepburn, Assistant Professor, School of Chemistry and Environmental Life Sciences.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

University staff demonstrate over ‘lack of negotiations’

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net AS SCORES of protesters demonstrated in downtown Nassau against the Minnis administration, a smaller demonstration was occurring on the campus of the University of The Bahamas as the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas posited a litany of complaints against the institution — chief of which is UB’s failure to negotiate a new industrial agreement.

Other major sources of discontent include delays in promotions, violations in faculty overload payment, and “union-busting”.

When asked if UTEB will take industrial action, membership secretary Erecia Hepburn was coy, but said university administrators have been given a timeline of until December 7 – after which it will be decided if industrial action will take place.

Ms Hepburn told reporters yesterday that UTEB’s biggest issue with UB is the “lack of negotiations.”

“We went to the Labour Board together as a collective,” she said. “UB did not bother to show up. They sent their legal counsel, which of course I assume infuriated the Labour Board.

But…everybody knows you can negotiate better than the (Industrial Relations) Act. That’s the whole purpose of having a union. So, we want them to come to the table and actually negotiate with us.”

When asked if failure to meet these demands will result in a strike or shutdown, Ms Hepburn replied: “Well, let’s hope people get their grades. That’s all I could say. We could hope. “(UB has) a timeline and hopefully, with all of you people here, they will see the news, we could get people to actually come to the table. And come to the table in good faith. I don’t need somebody coming to the table thinking they’re a dictatorship. The only dictator I have is the Lord. So everybody else has to come and understand this is a democracy.”

Regarding the timeline, she added: “Everybody

knows this is the end of the semester. So they have I guess until December 7.”

Ms Hepburn added UTEB has filed a number of trade disputes dating back to 2016.

In a press release, UTEB provided further background for its issues with the institution.

“The administration continues to flout the laws, policies and practices applying to the institution and has declared openly that the signed and registered industrial agreement, 2012-2017, which they intentionally failed to renegotiate has expired (or) is no longer binding on UB,” the union claimed.

“Negotiations for a new industrial agreement began eight months late on

February 19, 2018 and were suspended by UTEB on June 20, 2018, in an attempt to get a legal interpretation when the university refused to negotiate in good faith.”

The union provided reporters with 21 complaints. In addition to lack of negotiations, it blasted the university for “indefensible delays in effecting timely promotions exercises,” which have caused a “backlog of nine years of faculty advancement.”

According to UTEB, the most recent promotions exercise was for the 20102011 academic year, adding UB “refuses to conduct another exercise,” leading to employees being demoralised.

Another major issue is “violations in faculty overload payment.” The union alleges the university has failed to pay a faculty member who taught more than the full load of classes.

UTEB also said faculty contracts have been terminated “without just cause” and alleged UB has terminated faculty salaries “without cause or compensation.”

The union also alleged executive officers have experienced “several instances of intimidation.”

Other issues include two years of being excluded from representation on search committees, placing

a faculty member on paid leave “without just cause,” undermining the union through “anti-union activities,” “dereliction of fiduciary activities,” and delays in revising insurance proposals.

PAGE 8, Thursday, November 22, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

O

VER the past two weeks I have had the great pleasure of going to primary school. To say it has been a while since I last went to school would be an understatement on the order of well, let’s just leave it there. Some things are just obvious.

The occasion for my return to class, make that classes, has been in the position of assisting the Minister of Environment and Housing Romi Ferreira and his team - including the Department of Environmental Health - in spreading the word about the #Be A Hero campaign.

It’s Phase 2 of Ferreira’s commitment to leave The Bahamas cleaner, greener and more conscientious about the environment than he found it when he took office in 2017.

Please do not stop reading now thinking this is about politics. Far from it. I just wanted to give you a bit of background.

So the first phase of the clean-up was literally that.

Massive removal of abandoned vehicles. Collection of old appliances and tons of trash. Hundreds of tons of trash. But Ferreira knew that constantly cleaning up after people who had little or no respect for the environment was unsustainable, especially at about $100,000 per clean-up day, even with donations by companies like Bahamas Waste.

He knew that, to create a cleaner, greener Bahamas, you had to start with young people and change their mind-set. Change meant instilling two foundational values – a sense of pride and an acceptance of personal responsibility. You had to make young people understand how important it is to keep their surroundings clean, to be litter-free, to care about the environment in which they live and study and play and grow.

In case you slept through recent decades and had not noticed, impressing young people has gotten a lot tougher than it used to be.

A bunch of old folks (everyone over 20-something is old to a nine-year-old) saying ‘green space is safer space’ doesn’t hold a candle to a round of battle on Fortnite.

If it was going to be challenge, we were up to it as a team. Minister called on Barefoot Marketing in Grand Bahama and Diane Phillips & Associates to work with his team and we launched the #Be A Hero campaign.

We figured that one thing that hasn’t changed is young people like to look up to people. Offering the chance to be a hero themselves like the heroes they admire and to replace their pictures on billboards and bus bench signs, to meet Members of Parliament, to go to Government House, well, all that should get their attention. All they had to do was be one of the 10 best schools or classes to identify a clean-up or improvement project at their school or in their community and they could be the hero.

All we had to do was find a way to fund the campaign.

MINISTER ROMI FERREIRA, centre, and students at Lyford Cay International School

Back to school and opening eyes and minds Barefoot Marketing and DP&A approached sponsors to help cover the costs and the response was amazing – we got 10 leading companies onboard, AML, Atlantis, Bahamas Hot Mix, Bahamas Waste, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies, Commonwealth Brewery, Kelly, McDonalds, Seaside Media, Subway, The Sign Man, The Tribune.

This is still by way of background but don’t worry, we’re nearly there.

We got the heroes onboard – Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Jonquel Jones, Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, Wendy and Dyson Knight, civic leaders like Nancy Kelly and Ed Fields, fun folks like the 100 JAMZ Dynasty deejay crew. We selected two children to be our model kid heroes to kick it off, Sebastian Major from Summit Academy and Avani Sawyer from Kingsway. The Ministry of Tourism donated the use of billboards and the Ministry of Education paved the way for school visits.

And we set out to do school visits. Okay, now you know why I have been going to school. We are visiting nearly 20 primary and junior high schools in New

Providence. Schools that weren’t on the schedule are calling in from other islands, asking to be included. Community associations want to get onboard.

First, let me share this.

Going into classrooms and assemblies if you have not done it for a while is a moving experience. I’ve had the pleasure of accompanying athletes and others making a visit but not in this way where students listen intently to a member of Cabinet who explains why looking after their country is their responsibility. He is a

good speaker but more than that, he is believable, sharing credible facts and the students are listening intently.

I am impressed, but I am also seeing light bulbs go off. Impressed by the level of enthusiasm, especially by the way hundreds of kids in primary and junior high levels have embraced the idea that it is their responsibility to care about where they live and go to school.

Sometimes watching them raise their hands, waving them in the air, eager to offer suggestions about what kind of project they could take on to make their school or park or neighbourhood a better place, I am emotionally moved.

I know they want to be one of 10 winners in the #Be A Hero competition, but it goes beyond that.

There is an innate sense of pride and I am delighted by the level of engagement.

Then it dawns on me. It

is because they are being asked to think. To contribute. To be original. To be counted. They are being told that they matter. They are not being told to memorise something and prepare for a test. They are being asked for their opinion and prepare for life. They are responding with the enthusiasm their teachers must be wishing they would exhibit in math class.

For all the discipline in classroom problems we hear about, we are not seeing it and most of the schools we have visited so far are government schools.

We’ve had full assemblies with hundreds of students.

The totally unscientific conclusion I have drawn is that when young people see themselves as helping to create a solution, when young people see themselves as part of what counts, they rise to the occasion. They feel empowered and important and they are good. Their ideas flourish.

We’ve had students suggest everything from collecting trash by doing weekly bike rides with garbage bags so you get exercise while cleaning up to manufacturing edible straws from a vegetable base so you take in nutrients and leave no trash behind.

These are the students who believe they can make a difference and by believing that, they will.

But imagine if we did not ask them, if we did not give them the opportunity to express themselves.

Imagine if we taught environmental responsibility the way that most are forced to digest history or math or social sciences.

They are instructed to memorize this. Repeat what you memorised. Sponge up, wring out, spout back.

Would dozens or hundreds of hands be raised trying to catch our attention at the front of the auditorium so they can stand and speak up into the portable

microphone and want to be part of the solution?

Teaching methods that rely on rote memorisation for success stifle imagination. Yes, they serve a purpose. They allow us to keep 60,000 students a day confined in classrooms and for the fortunate ones, the staid method will teach them self-discipline, responsibility, some decorum but mostly the ability to study and regurgitate and earn the rewards that accompany good regurgitation.

Maybe I am being a bit harsh on current teaching methods though not without appreciation for how hard teachers work.

I get that, I did it myself, teaching economics and sociology trying to earn enough money to finish graduate school.

But imagine if we took some of those classes out of doors, not just on a field trip, but on a regular basis, to let students see and understand more about the world they live in, to exchange ideas as they will in college or in life. It is how the Greeks did it, Aristotle and Plato and Socrates. It is the way that the endearing and effervescent Mr Keating, played by the late Robin Williams in one of the greatest movies of all time, Dead Poets’ Society opened the eyes of young men in a stuffy boys’ prep school. He eschewed the mundane and he inspired, “Carpe diem,” Seize the day, he bellowed. “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” he pleaded.

He spoke of poetry, romance, love and beauty not as afterthoughts but the essentials of what makes life worth living.

He taught young men that their thoughts mattered.

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” He did not sit quietly behind a desk, he strode atop it to make a point. Some of his advice was practical. “Avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not ‘very’ tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use ‘very’ sad. Use morose. Language was invented for one reason boys – to woo women – and, in that endeavour, laziness will not do.”

He reasoned with humour, he engaged with passion. He understood, above all, that the real purpose of education is not to memorise facts, but to inspire curiosity, not to repeat dates, but to design solutions for today’s needs.

The ability to recite may earn an A. The ability to think and to create can change the world.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 22, 2018, PAGE 9

Murder accused ‘confessed to shooting three people’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

station around 8am to collect the accused who was taken back to CDU for more interviews.

Rolle said Hudson appeared to be good and he made no A POLICE officer testified complaints to him. The proson Wednesday in the Supreme ecutor asked whether he or Court that murder accused Sergeant Johnson had coached Renaldo Hudson confessed to the accused while he was in cusshooting three people during a tody at CDU. “No, ma’am,” robbery gone bad in which two Rolle replied. persons were killed in March During cross-examination, Mr 2016.

Gray asked the witness at what According to Detective Contime the record of interview was stable 3508 Patrick Rolle, he was conducted. Det Rolle said the present during a record of interinterview took place at 11.45pm. view that was conducted with “Were you on shift?” asked the accused on April 8, 2016, the defence attorney. Rolle sometime after 11pm at the Cen- RENALDO Hudson at an earlier court appearance. replied that he worked the tral Detective Unit. nine to five shift. “And the interConstable Rolle said Det Sgt 772 Johnson conducted the interview. After view was conducted at 11.45pm?” asked Gray.

The attorney put it to Det Rolle that Sgt Hudson was cautioned, the accused was told he was suspected of the murders of Noel Johnson was making faces at the accused Hamilton and Jacklyn Armbrister, and the in the interview room, but he denied the suggestion. attempted murder of Agatha Gaitor.

“When you were asked if the defendant Hudson, 20, who is on trial, is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted was in any discomfort you said no, did you murder, and one count of armed robbery. It observe the defendant put his head on the is alleged that on March 21, 2016, sometime desk?” asked Mr Gray. “Yes,” replied Rolle.

“He put his head down a few times,” Gray around 11am the accused armed with the firearm went to a wooden shack off Hearn Lane said. “During the interview was he sitting in and Bruce Avenue where he robbed Armbris- one place?” the attorney asked. Rolle said Hudson made some movements. ter, before shooting the three victims.

“I am going to suggest to you that the Mario Gray is representing the accused.

Constable Rolle said that he and Sgt John- defendant’s movements were not normal and son both signed the record of interview, but he was moving a lot because he was uncomHudson refused to sign it, indicating that he fortable,” Gray suggested to the witness.

Rolle said he did not recall that. could not read well.

Mr Gray also asserted that his client had complained of tightness in his chest to Detective Rolle when he had taken him back to the Lucaya Police Station, and when he picked him up the next morning, but the officer A video and audio recording of the record denied Hudson made any such complaint on of interview with Hudson’s confession was those two occasions. also made on April 8, 2016, at CDU, he said.

Mr Gray asked officer Rolle at what time Prosecutor Erica Kemp asked officer Rolle he took the accused back to the police station how the accused appeared during that time after the record of interview with Sgt Johnson. and if he had made any complaints to him.

The officer said sometime after 12am, but Hudson, he said, was calm and had made then Gray referred him to the Detention no complaints to him while in police custody record which showed that he left CDU with at CDU. the accused around 1.12am on April 9, arriv“Did you observe him sweating, shortness ing at the Lucaya Police Station at 1.25am. of breath, any discomfort?” asked Mrs Kemp.

Mr Gray claimed that while Hudson was “No, ma’am,” replied Rolle. being taken to the station, he complained to Prosecutor Kemp asked officer Rolle Rolle of tightening in his chest, and again later whether he had observed Sgt Johnson making that morning when he picked him up at 8am. facial expressions at the accused, but Rolle “I suggest to you that while you were taking said he did not. him to CDU, he said, ‘I need a doctor my After the record of interview, Hudson was chest feels tight.’” taken back to the Lucaya Police Station. He “No, sir,” replied Rolle. “The complaint said Sergeant Williams was driving the police was made to you, and you did not see fit to vehicle and he sat in the back with the suspect, take note of it or enter it on the detention who never made any complaints to him. record,” Mr Gray claimed.

When they arrived at the police station Rolle maintained that he did not make any in Lucaya, Constable Rolle said he took the entry because Hudson had made no such comaccused inside, and he turned him over to plaints to him. officers at the station who placed him in a cell Justice Estelle Gray Evans is presiding over for safekeeping. the case.

On the morning of April 9, Officer Rolle The trial resumes on Monday. and Corporal McPhee, returned to the

Recording

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PAGE 10, Thursday, November 22, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

SHONEL FERGUSON’S FIRM GIVEN THREE WEEKS TO VACATE BUILDING

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FOX Hill MP Shonel Ferguson’s investment company has three weeks to vacate a building it allegedly never paid real property taxes on since assuming responsibility for it some 13 years ago, a Supreme Court judge has ordered.

Justice Keith Thompson, in a November 20 written ruling, ordered Turtle Creek Investments (TCI), its agents, servants, assigns or subtenants to move out of the building in Centreville no later than close of business on December 15.

Additionally, Justice Thompson ordered TCI to pay all outstanding sums it owes Donna Davis’ Daybreak Holdings, the plaintiff, pursuant to a hire purchase agreement it entered into for the building in December 31, 2005.

The judge also ordered both parties to engage an accountant to determine

Company allegedly never paid real property taxes “the amount of arrears, outstanding bills, outstanding taxes, outstanding fees, outstanding duties, outstanding fines and outstanding registration charges” TCI owes Daybreak pursuant to the agreement.

Agreement Additionally, Justice Thompson ordered the sum of $150,000 to be subtracted from all sums TCI owes Daybreak Holdings pursuant to paragraph six of the hire purchase agreement, which stipulates that amount is to be returned to Daybreak Holdings upon termination of the agreement.

TCI is also ordered to pay all of Daybreak Holdings’ costs associated with “the bringing of and prosecution”

of the court matter, to be taxed if not agreed.

The order comes a month after The Tribune exclusively reported how TCI allegedly owed $70,000 in real property taxes having never paid them since it assumed responsibility for the building located in question, which houses the Crabhouse and Seafood Emporium.

Additionally, TCI was alleged to have owed the Water and Sewerage Corporation $22,173.15 as of July this year when it was disconnected, having not paid “any utilities and insurance” on the building for at least two years. The last time TCI paid its water bill was in July of 2014, it was alleged.

Concerning the building’s insurance, TCI allegedly did not pay any insurance premiums for the past three to

FOX Hill MP Shonel Ferguson.

four years, something that caused the building’s owner to recently pay $15,963.75 to J S Johnson Insurance Agents & Brokers in a bid to bring the insurance policy current.

Also, it was alleged that TCI had not paid its light bill for “some time now,” and was consequently utilising a generator for electricity.

Additionally, TCI allegedly did not pay any of the $10,833 monthly payments it agreed to pay for the building in question since September of 2016, resulting in the owner receiving no revenue from the agreement, despite the company currently subleasing a portion of the building for $12,000 per month.

Daybreak Holdings further claimed that notwithstanding the various breaches, TCI “failed and/ or refused” to bring the hire purchase agreement current or to vacate the building.

According to a sworn affidavit by Ms Davis, president of Daybreak Holdings, TCI Ltd entered into the hire purchase agreement with the company in 2005 for the building situated on the corner of Collins Avenue and 6th Terrace.

At the time of the agreement, TCI was already renting a portion of the building.

It was agreed that TCI would pay Daybreak a $150,000 deposit and thereafter the sum of $1,350,000 in monthly instalments of $10,833 per month over a

period of 264 months.

In exchange, Ms Ferguson’s company was permitted to assume responsibility and operation of the building in question.

TCI was also responsible for all maintenance, taxes, fees, and insurance over the building.

TCI was also given the option to purchase the building for an amount to be agreed. And in the event that happened, TCI would receive full credit for the $150,000.

According to the documents, TCI paid the $10,333 monthly sum for the most part until around December 2009, at which time there were some missed payments. TCI allegedly started making “reduced payments” in 2015, and by the end of September 2016, made no payments whatsoever.

Daybreak Holdings claimed in the meantime, it served “many letters” on TCI, all of which contained “numerous requests and demands” for all outstanding sums pursuant to the hire purchase agreement, but to no avail.

Rent In a sworn affidavit, however, Ms Ferguson claimed that Daybreak Holdings approached her and her company about the building on or about August 2005, with a view to selling it because it was in a “financial bind” and found it difficult to collect rent from its tenants.

Ms Ferguson claimed that as of August 17 of this year, her company has paid Daybreak Holdings $1,548,609, in addition to investing over $700,000 in renovations for what she claimed was initially a building in a “dilapidated state”.

Ms Ferguson claimed that as the $1.5m TCI paid to Daybreak Holdings exceeded the sum owing on the hire purchase agreement, and that as both parties concluded that the principal amount under the agreement was settled, the only outstanding issue was

the amount of the outstanding interest.

Ms Ferguson claimed that subsequent to entering into the hire purchase agreement, TCI opened several businesses in the building and made “timely” monthly payments.

However, she said as the economy declined and crime escalated in the area, both parties agreed to reduce the monthly payment to $5,000 until the $1.35m was liquidated.

When the economy didn’t improve, she said both parties agreed to put the building up for sale and distribute the proceeds between them. In particular, Ms Ferguson claimed both parties agreed that upon the building’s sale, TCI would be reimbursed for the equity it put into the building.

Concerning the outstanding taxes, Ms Ferguson claimed both parties agreed that all outstanding real property taxes would be settled at the sale of the building. And concerning the WSC bill, she claims Daybreak Holding’s previous tenant, Papa John’s, left the bill and that Daybreak Holdings was “fully aware” of that fact.

However, Daybreak Holdings refuted that last claim as “simply not true”, charging that TCI’s last payment to WSC was made in July 2014, according to the July 2018 bill. Furthermore, Daybreak Holdings said a copy of the WSC bill for the period October 2015 to July 2018 shows how the bill went from $8,040.13 to $22,173.15.

And concerning TCI’s claims that it had paid the principal under the agreement, thus leaving only the interest to be resolved, Daybreak stressed that the balance of the agreed sum was to be paid over 264 months at an interest rate of eight per cent per month, and that as with “virtually all agreements of this nature, each payment would be part principal and part interest.”

Attorney Christina Galanos represented Daybreak Holdings. Ed Turner represented TCI.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 22, 2018, PAGE 11

Inquiry ordered after man awaiting bail hearing walks free

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net A SUPREME Court judge has ordered an inquiry into the circumstances that allowed a man, awaiting his bail hearing, to walk free from custody at the Magistrate’s Court last week.

Justice Bernard Turner yesterday raised issues with the processing, holding and later release of DeAngelo Culmer, who stands accused of causing harm and assault with a dangerous instrument.

According to the facts presented to Justice Turner by Culmer’s attorney, Shaka Serville, the accused appeared last week in Court 10 at the Magistrate’s Court complex to answer a single charge of vagrancy.

The charge was ultimately dismissed.

Following the arraignment, Culmer and his attorney claimed he was taken to a holding area in the facility and informed that he would be released.

Mr Serville said Culmer, surprised by the indication,

told officers at the complex that he was still awaiting a bail hearing in a second case - on the charges he now stands accused - and was not eligible for release.

Mr Serville said despite his client’s insistence to have the decision reviewed, he was still released later that day.

Case One day later, Mr Serville said he was contacted

by Culmer and his mother, who informed him of what had transpired. Mr Serville said he instructed Culmer to return to Magistrate’s Court and tell the judge who oversaw his release of his pending status in his second case - instructions Culmer carried out.

Mr Serville said later that evening Culmer again contacted him, giving notice that authorities again refused to take him into custody.

Mr Serville said his client was told that he didn’t have to return to the precincts of the court until Friday,

November 23, to go ahead with his second case.

As a result of the indication, Mr Serville said he viewed it as best to have his client show up to the Supreme Court “on his on reconnaissance” yesterday and go ahead with his scheduled bail hearing despite already being out of custody. “(It was) clearly the responsible thing to do,” Mr Serville told the court.

Justice Turner, still visibly dismayed by the claims, shifted his focus case prosecutor, Denard Brown, asking: “How did we find ourselves in this position, Mr Brown?”

To which Mr Brown responded: “I am not sure.”

After a short exchange with both the prosecution and the lawyer for the accused, Justice Turner commended Culmer for his actions during the ordeal, ultimately telling him that his actions placed him “in good standing” with the court.

Culmer was granted bail in the sum of $2,000 with two sureties.

SENTENCING ADJOURNED FOR MAN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GIRL, 14

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

A 22-YEAR-OLD man who has admitted to carrying out an extended sexual relationship with 14-year-old girl yesterday had his sentencing hearing adjourned to January 25, 2019 to allow for a probationary report to be completed.

Costa Pierre, of Black Village, was offered and accepted an opportunity to have a state probationary officer review his case. The process will ultimately aid the court in its decision on sentencing.

The offer was presented by Supreme Court Justice Bernard Turner, who said the report would give the court an opportunity

to gather all the vital components of the case - mainly a closer look at the parameters of the relationship shared between Pierre and the minor.

Pierre, yesterday while in court, referred to the minor as his “girlfriend” whom he had sexual intercourse with, according to statements he gave to police, five or six times.

Upon hearing he was being sought by police for the offence, Pierre reportedly fled to Abaco. He was later arrested in the Mud. He told the court he fled because he was in fear after hearing rumours that arresting officers were “out to kill” him.

Pierre has no previous convictions and has been on remand since August 29.

He was not represented by an attorney.

CUBAN MIGRANTS TURNED OVER TO AUTHORITIES SOME of the migrants who were found in Bahamian waters.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net CLOSE to a dozen Cuban migrants, who were interdicted in Bahamian waters, were brought to Grand Bahama and turned over to Bahamian authorities earlier this week.

Immigration officer Napthali Cooper reported that a US Coast Guard Cutter transported the migrants to Freeport on Monday, November 19 after picking them up near Anguilla Cay. According to reports, a USCG aircraft on routine patrol around 1.40pm on Sunday, spotted a rustic vessel with 11 Cuban migrants some 12 miles southeast of the cay.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force was notified but was unable to respond to the area and requested US Coast Guard assistance. The USCG cutter Conchita responded and interdicted the vessel some nine miles southeast of the cay.

The migrants – all males – and a dog were brought to Grand Bahama and turned over to Bahamian Immigration officials. The men were processed and examined by the staff of the Disease Surveillance Unit at Public Hospital’s Authority.

The Cubans are expected to be flown to New Providence where they were will be detained at the Detention Centre to await repatriation. The dog was turned over the Bahamas Humane Society.

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PAGE 12, Thursday, November 22, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

“We are just now waiting to sign the contract and agreement with the company officially.”

Marvin Dames on new gun-detection technology ‘Sun Spotter’

Ministry set for gun-detection technology to tackle crime

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames has said his ministry will soon sign a contract for a new gun-detection technology called Sun Spotter, which will “revolutionise” crime fighting, according to officials.

The technology, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said at last week’s Grand Bahama Tech Summit, would provide police in patrol cars and police control rooms real-time data of the precise location of where a gunshot was fired.

Dr Minnis said such advancements in technology demonstrates his government’s commitment to utilising technology-based innovation to maintain safety and security.

While in Grand Bahama, Mr Dames said that Cabinet has already given the green

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light for the acquisition of the Sun Spotter technology.

He hoped that some work could start before the end of the year.

“We are just now waiting to sign the contract and agreement with the company officially,” he told reporters.

“It is just a matter of we are, working in concert with the Office of the Attorney General, looking over the contract to ensure that it meets our standards because at the end of the day we must move to a place when we sign contracts that it is in the benefit of our government, our country, and our people.”

Mr Dames said successive governments did not pay close attention to that in the past, but that the Minnis administration is taking a different approach.

He indicated that officials have already started some conversation with the company in terms of the direction they want to take and the implementation of the plan so that work can begin as soon as they sign off on the contract.

“So, it is hoped that maybe before the year (end) you can see some work starting in that area,” Mr Dames said.

The Ministry of National Security, he indicated, is looking at the use of other technology, including the use of drones, which have also been given the green light by Cabinet.

“The PM also spoke to the drones programme and Cabinet has already given the green light for that, and about a week ago we sent out a request for proposals locally and abroad,” Mr Dames said.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 22, 2018, PAGE 13

Roberts, Trump spar in scrap over judges

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Chief Justice John Roberts clashed Wednesday in an extraordinary public dispute over the independence of America’s judiciary, with Roberts bluntly rebuking the president for denouncing a judge who rejected his migrant asylum policy as an “Obama judge.”

There’s no such thing, Roberts declared in a strongly worded statement contradicting Trump and defending judicial independence. Never silent for long, Trump defended his own comment, tweeting defiantly, “Sorry Justice Roberts.”

The pre-Thanksgiving dustup was the first time that Roberts, the Republican-appointed leader of the federal judiciary, has offered even a hint of criticism of Trump, who has several times blasted federal judges who have ruled against him.

Before now, it has been highly unusual for a president to single out judges for personal criticism. And a chief justice’s challenge to a president’s comments is downright unprecedented in modern times.

It seemed a fight that Trump would relish but one that Roberts has taken pains to avoid. But with Roberts’ court feeling the heat over the president’s appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Roberts and several of his colleagues have gone out of their way to rebut perceptions of the court as a political institution divided between five conservative Republicans and four liberal Democrats.

Trump’s appointments to the Supreme Court and lower federal courts have themselves spurred charges that the courts are becoming more politicised. As the justice widely seen as closest to the court’s middle, Roberts could determine the outcome of high-profile cases that split the court.

The new drama began with remarks Trump made

“We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges.

What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.”

Chief Justice John Roberts Tuesday in which went after a judge who ruled against his migrant asylum order. The president claimed, not for the first time, that the federal appeals court based in San Francisco was biased against him.

Roberts had refused to comment on Trump’s earlier attacks on judges, including the chief justice himself. But on Wednesday, after a query

by The Associated Press, he spoke up for the independence of the federal judiciary and rejected the notion that judges are loyal to the presidents who appoint them.

“We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them,” Roberts said.

On the day before Thanksgiving, he concluded, “The independent judiciary is

something we should all be thankful for.”

Trump hit back from his resort home in Florida, questioning the independence of federal judges appointed by his predecessor and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He especially criticised judges on California’s 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have ‘Obama judges,’ and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country,” the president tweeted.

If the 9th Circuit judges are independent, he said, “why are so many opposing view (on Border and Safety) cases filed there, and why are a vast number of those cases overturned. ... these rulings are making our country unsafe! Very dangerous and unwise!”

Trump has never been reticent about criticising the judiciary. Last year, the president scorned the “socalled judge” who made the first federal ruling against his travel ban. During the presidential campaign, he criticised Roberts himself for the chief justice’s decisive vote in 2012 to preserve President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

Trump also referred to an Indiana-born judge of Mexican descent, who was presiding over a fraud lawsuit against Trump University, as a Mexican who would be unable to rule fairly because of Trump’s proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.

The president’s remarks on Tuesday came when a reporter asked for his reaction to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco that put the administration’s asylum policy on hold.

Under that new policy, Trump declared no one could apply for asylum except at an official border entry point.

That tends to back migrants up for weeks if not months. A number of migrants remain in Tijuana after traveling in a caravan to reach the U.S.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 22, 2018, PAGE 15

ISOLATED TRIBESMEN USE ARROWS TO KILL AMERICAN ON REMOTE INDIAN ISLAND NEW DELHI Associated Press

AN American adventurer who kayaked to a remote Indian island populated by a tribe known for shooting at outsiders with bows and arrows has been killed, police said yesterday.

Dependera Pathak, director-general of police on India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, said seven fishermen have been arrested for helping the American reach North Sentinel Island.

The Sentinelese people are resistant to outsiders and often attack anyone who comes near, and visits to the island are restricted by the government.

Pathak identified the American as John Allen Chau who was apparently shot and killed by arrows, but the cause of death can’t be confirmed until his body is recovered.

Chau arrived in the area on October 16 and

JOHN CHAU stayed in a hotel while he prepared to travel to the island. It was not his first time in the region: he had visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2015 and 2016, Pathak said.

Chau organised his visit to the island through a friend who hired seven fishermen for $325 to take him there on a boat, which also towed his kayak.

The American went ashore in his kayak and sent the boat with the fishermen out to sea to avoid detection. He interacted with some of the tribespeople, offering gifts such as a football and fish. But

the tribespeople became angry and shot an arrow at him, hitting a book he was carrying.

After his kayak was damaged, Chau swam back to the fishermen’s boat, which was waiting at a prearranged location. He spent the night writing about his experiences on pages that he then gave the fishermen.

He set out again to meet the tribespeople on Nov. 16.

What happened then isn’t known but, on the morning of the following day, the waiting fishermen watched from a distance as the tribesmen dragged Chau’s body. They left for Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where they broke the news to Chau’s friend, who in turn notified his family, Pathak said.

Police charged the seven fishermen with endangering the life of the American by taking him to a prohibited area.

MICHELLE OBAMA’S BOOK SELLS 1.4 MILLION COPIES IN A WEEK Michelle Obama’s Becoming has become a massive hit. The former first lady’s memoir has sold more than 1.4 million copies in print and digital formats in the US and Canada in the seven days since it

was released on Nov 13. Based on demand from retailers across all channels, the publisher has printed 3 million hardcover copies in North America. On its first day, the book sold more than 725,000 copies.