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The Tribune

Volume:115 No.09, DECEMBER 1ST, 2017

Established 1903

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THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

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BIFF 2017 Page 11

The lady of Shanghai

WEEKEND: JAZZ SINGER TAKES CHRISTMAS CAROLS TO CHINA

Akia takes carols from Nass au to China Music, page

MELTDOWN Witness has ‘attack’ after questions on Smith loans

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE chief magistrate yesterday said she was “concerned” about the complainant in former PLP Senator Frank Smith’s bribery and extortion trial after she suffered an apparent meltdown and expressed frustration over her involvement in the matter.

Barbara Hanna, while in the witness box before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, took a seat and remained unresponsive for at least five minutes after repeatedly telling defence attorney Keith Knight, QC, she did

not “feel good” and was too “frustrated” to answer any more of his questions.

Despite repeated attempts by the judge to address Ms Hanna, there was no response from the witness, who was leaning forward to rest on the witness stand. An officer standing nearby Ms Hanna had to inform the chief magistrate the witness was “venting”.

Ms Hanna later complained that she had a headache.

Her apparent meltdown came after she confirmed she was borrowing money from Pouland Limited, a SEE PAGE THREE

TIGER SHINING BRIGHTLY IN ALBANY COMEBACK

THE Minnis administration has been given seven days to reinstate those Gaming Board employees terminated this week or risk facing “some action” from a united and furious union movement.

“We want to say to the government, you said that ‘it is the people’s time,’ we need to know which people and when is the time coming,” Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU)

President Kingsley Ferguson said during a news conference yesterday.

“Let me put it this way, we are going to do what we have to do. We do not want to put a timeframe on what it is that may be necessary to do to get the government’s attention – some action will be taken.”

Mr Ferguson was backed by representatives from several other unions and the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB).

SEE PAGE FIVE

BAHAMAS BORN - BUT HELD FOR 3 MONTHS

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net A 34-YEAR-OLD man born in The Bahamas is petitioning the courts over the lawfulness of his detention of some three months at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

Jean-Rony Jean-Charles was arrested in early September by immigration officers, according to his sister Clotilde JeanCharles’ affidavit, which alleges her brother has never left the country.

SEE PAGE FIVE

EVER-CHANGING DIRECTION OF DR MINNIS

SEE PAGE EIGHT

UNION’S THREAT OVER AXED GAMING JOBS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

13

SANDS - NHI HAS TO BE PAID SOMEHOW

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

TIGER Woods reacts on the fourth hole at the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas, yesterday as he had a strong showing on his comeback. See Sports for the full story.

Photo: Dante Carrer/AP

ONE YEAR DEADLINE TO HAND OVER FOREIGN JOBS

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel yesterday said for every foreigner given a work permit under the Commercial Enterprises Bill, a Bahamian must be trained for that position

within a year.

Appearing as a guest on ‘The Revolution’ with Juan McCartney, Mr Bethel said despite the “noise in the market” the CEB will guarantee jobs for Bahamians.

The bill would allow foreigners or Bahamians to receive “economic concessions” if they establish

specified types of businesses in the Bahamas with an investment of no less than $250,000. Such businesses would be entitled to a specified number of work permits for executives, managers and people with “specialised knowledge”.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SIX

THE Minnis administration has not made a decision on whether an additional tax must be introduced to fund National Health Insurance (NHI), Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands told The Tribune yesterday.

Describing this aspect of planning the universal healthcare scheme as “a major hurdle”, Dr Sands suggested a new tax might SEE PAGE SIX

ENTERPRISE BILL - WE WERE NOT CONSULTED

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

TRADE union leaders yesterday claimed they were intentionally “left out” of discussions surrounding the controversial Commercial Enterprises Bill.

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Friday, December 1, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

SANDILANDS’ UNSUNG HERO WINS OCTOBER HOSPITAL AWARD

By MORGAN ADDERLEY

THE PRESENTATION to the Octobers winner of the PHA/Unsung Heroes Award Diana McPhee Austin.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

DIANA McPhee-Austin was yesterday named the October recipient of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Unsung Heroes Award.

Mrs McPhee Austin is an administrative assistant at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre. In a press conference held at the PHA’s Third Terrace Corporate office, Mrs McPhee-Austin was celebrated as “a caring colleague and a diligent employee who knows the value of hard-work”.

Hannah Gray, acting managing director of PHA, said Mrs McPhee-Austin joined the Sandilands family in 2008 as a cook.

“From the very beginning of her career at Sandilands she made a name for herself as a stickler for excellence in her performance,” Mrs Gray said.

“In 2010, Mrs McPheeAustin transferred to a position in the Human Resources Department at Sandilands where she continued to build her reputation as…[an] employee who knows the value of hard work. After five years in HR, [she] transferred to Sandilands Communications Unit, where she continues to shine today.”

Speaking to Mrs McPhee-Austin directly, Mrs Gray said: “Your colleagues observed that you are hardworking, committed, self-motivated, and a team player. You are noted as being fiercely protective of the image and reputation of the hospital and its staff

Unsung

HER ES

and according to your boss, Mrs Betsy Duvalier, you show the qualities of a true servant leader.

“In many respects, you fulfil a role behind the scenes, and many of your duties are performed outside of the public’s view. It is my hope that upon receiving this award you will encourage others whose duties may not bring them into the clinical environment.

“But healthcare is a team sport. Whether on the front lines or in a supportive role each one of us is important to ensure that the standards of quality, excellence, and patient safety are achieved.”

Of her accomplishment, Mrs McPhee-Austin said: “I am honoured and grateful to be a recipient of this award. I am especially grateful to my mother who has taught me to always put my best foot forward in whatever I do. Thanks Mrs Duvalier for allowing me to be me, even though I am often compared to [you], which I’ve found to be a good thing. I look forward to [continuing] my positive, exemplary work ethic for my colleagues and the clients of PHA.” The Unsung Heroes Award is the result of a partnership between the PHA, The Tribune Media

Group and the Aidan Carron Children’s Foundation. It is presented monthly to those who “go beyond the call of duty” in the field of public health.

Kevin Darville, The Tribune Media Group’s special projects manager, presented Mrs McPhee-Austin with a certificate of recognition, a cash prize of $1,000, a dinner voucher for two at the Dune restaurant at the One&Only Ocean Club, and a commemorative pin.

Mrs McPhee-Austin joins previous award winners Patricia Laing, Una Bain, Veronica Ferguson, Glynis Armbrister, Zhivago McPhee, Carolyn Nortelus, Lacreasha Thompson, Yvonne Johnson and Keith Wedderburn.

Nomination forms and full criteria for eligibility and selection can be found on the PHA website (phabahamas.org) or submitted via email to or obtained from the Department of Human Resources.

They also will be available to patients and visitors at all facilities. Nominations must be submitted by the last day of the month and an independent selection committee will judge the entries. Employees can only win one monthly award in a calendar year.

THE TRIBUNE

Witness has ‘attack’ after questions on Smith loans from page one lending company said to be owned by Smith, at the same time she was allegedly making $5,000 monthly payments to the former Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) chairman.

Former Prime Minister Perry Christie, former Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald and former PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts attended Thursday’s proceedings, which marked day two of the trial.

Before that admission concerning Pouland Limited, Ms Hanna was shown documents that contained two separate cheques made out in her name in the amount of $5,000 each, both of which she confirmed.

Despite adamant objection by the Crown to his use of those and various documents to conduct his cross-examination, Mr Knight explained to the court that in doing so he was seeking to prove it was improbable for what Ms Hanna said took place to have occurred, and that it was impossible for Ms Hanna to have made the $5,000 monthly payments to Smith given her personal and/or financial circumstances at the time.

Mr Knight submitted that he was thus seeking to prove that she had no disposable income to use to pay Smith, and ultimately was aiming to verify whether the Crown can

prove all of the essential elements of the case.

Following a lunch adjournment, Mr Knight resumed the task of interrogating Ms Hanna on the particulars of various documents, and particularly the signatures affixed to them.

One document he presented to her contained her signature, which she acknowledged, as well as the name Adrian Hanna, which she confirmed is the name of her son. However, Ms Hanna said while she accepted that her signature was on the document, she could not recognise the signature purported to be that of her son.

Ms Hanna further charged that she never cosigned on a loan with her son, and that her son and “someone else” got a loan.

When asked if she ever recommended her son for a loan, she replied by saying the opposite was true, that he recommended her.

Mr Knight then asked Ms Hanna if she ever wrote a letter to “whom it may concern” on her son’s behalf as an employee at her company, Magic Touch Cleaning Company, to which she answered “yes”.

A document was subsequently submitted into evidence, which was written under the head of Magic Touch Cleaning Company, signed by Ms Hanna in reference to her son.

When probed by Mr Knight, Ms Hanna confirmed that the document

was indeed in reference to her son; that it identified her son as a part-time worker at her company; and that it showed her son earned a weekly salary of $350 per week. When asked why she wrote the letter, Ms Hanna said she did so because he asked her for a job letter.

However, it was when Ms Hanna was probed about the Finance Corporation of the Bahamas Limited (FINCO), and specifically an individual by the name of Edgar David Hanna, that she suffered her apparent meltdown.

After initially responding to the question about Edgar Hanna by saying she doesn’t recall, which in turn elicited astonishment from Mr Knight and him repeating the question, she responded by repeatedly saying she was “frustrated” and that as a result she would not be able to answer the way he and the court would like her to answer.

After repeatedly saying she was “frustrated,” Mr Knight asked her if she would like some water, to which she refused. Apparently overwhelmed with frustration, Ms Hanna then took a seat and stayed seated for at least five minutes in silence. She did not respond when the chief magistrate called her name.

She later said her head was hurting.

After expressing her concern for Ms Hanna’s actions, Chief Magistrate

Ferguson-Pratt submitted to counsel that it would be best to adjourn the matter.

The trial continues today at 12.

Smith is on trial over allegations he solicited $65,000 in bribes from a woman he is said to have assisted in getting a contract.

It is alleged Smith, between April 2016 and April 2017, in respect of his duties as a public officer, demanded and obtained $5,000 per month from Mrs Hanna, knowing he was not lawfully authorised to do so.

Smith is also alleged to have attempted to extort another $5,000 from Ms Hanna in May of this year.

Concerning the bribery charge, it is alleged he solicited $5,000 a month from Ms Hanna for aiding her in getting a contract with PHA, where he formerly served as chairman.

Smith pleaded not guilty to all of the allegations during his arraignment.

During day one of the trial Ms Hanna told the court that Smith asked her for $5,000 a month after she received a government contract to clean the Critical Care Block (CCB) at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

She said within a week of being awarded a oneyear, $500k plus contract in 2016, she spoke to Smith who told her she had to give him $5,000. Believing it to be a one-time payment, Ms Hanna said she obliged and

Friday, December 1, 2017, PAGE 3

FRANK Smith outside court yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff gave him the money. Upon stressed that she was not doing so, however, she said the one who pursued the she was told she had to charges against Smith, and make monthly payments in did not go to the police willthat amount. ingly concerning the initial During the first day of investigation. trial, Ms Hanna also told Ms Hanna also said the court she feels like she she felt “frustrated” and is being “used” to testify in “uncomfortable” by the the matter. She said while many calls she received she cannot say exactly who from police requesting she is using her, she feels she is come in for questioning at a “disadvantage” by tes- concerning Smith’s charges. tifying in the trial.

And although she said she She also expressed her ultimately went to police, disdain for being involved she admitted while being in the matter by repeat- cross-examined by an edly saying “I don’t want attorney for the accused to be here” while seated that she felt pressured to in the witness box. She do so.

CALL TO ACT ON PAROLE PROGRAMME RECOMMENDATION

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL LEAD Institute President Troy Clarke yesterday urged the government to act on recommendations submitted by the Parole and Re-entry Steering Committee concerning rehabilitation of prisoners.

Mr Clarke lamented while pilot projects were promising, there has been no real commitment from the government to fund the projects - one of which is a parole programme which was completed by 11 inmates.

The committee’s work, inclusive of a 2016 study of 350 inmates, is part of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme, a $20m InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) funded project.

Mr Clarke encouraged government to outsource work to civil society, whom he said had intimate knowledge of social challenges and could ensure the best value for money.

“All I see it is a public relations thing,” he told The Tribune.

“The government needs to move post haste, we won’t have crime reduction

without an effective reentry programme. These IDB loans focus a lot on governmental agencies, they do these workshops but nothing really comes out of it. It’s a lot of talk, good ideas but nobody saying, ok let’s do it now.

There is no coordination to see feasibility, success.

Every year it’s the same thing and I’ve been doing this for nine years.

“It’s sad that we cannot get our leaders to buy into the experts that we have here on the ground. These same experts have been trained with funds by the US embassy and other foreign bodies but if they use anybody to spearhead these projects, they will use someone who is not really qualified.”

Mr Clarke said: “It happens administration after administration, it’s a culture of governments anywhere, unless civil society pushes stronger the money is wasted anyway. Government doesn’t have the time and resources to match civil society but they can leverage us.”

As part of the 2016 study, researchers examined a range of factors stemming from prisoner psyche, conditions at the BDCS and the country’s legal system.

ARMED GUNMEN ROB COUPLE ON BEACH POLICE are looking for two gunmen who robbed a couple at a beach in western New Providence on Wednesday.

Around 6pm, a man and a woman were at a beach when they were approached by two gunmen, police said.

The gunmen robbed the pair of a black 2013 Kia Sportage, licence #AP1962, and escaped in the stolen car. About five hours later, shortly before 11pm, Drug Enforcement Unit officers found the stolen Kia. The DEU officers were

on routine patrol on Quarry Mission Road when they stopped and searched a silver Honda vehicle with two male occupants. Officers said they recovered a .40 pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition from the vehicle.

The men were subsequently taken into custody.

A short distance away, officers recovered the black Kia Sportage which was reportedly taken in the earlier armed robbery.

Investigations are ongoing.

Mr Clarke continued: “As a criminal justice consultant, and a former committee member, the recommendations are already there, the research has been done, organisations are already cited that can assist

in implementing programs.

Ninety-five percent of individuals will be released, the question is not when but how. If we don’t shore up the prison and put the right rehabilitative programs that are actually rehabilitative

then the problem will only feed itself.

“Sixty-five percent of inmates have anti-social behaviour characteristics, the research has shown this. If you just give them a skill-base those things

make it worse for those individuals unless you treat the disorder. If you don’t (treat disorder) you will be churning out individuals that are dysfunctional and that’s what the studies have shown us.”

PAGE 4, Friday, December 1, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

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Brexit talks reach important stage THE likely wide-ranging repercussions of Britain’s departure from the European Union make Brexit an issue of continuing concern not only in Europe itself but in many other parts of the world as well.

With only a small working majority, and in the face of controversy and domestic opposition on the part of some to its Brexit policies, there can be no guarantee that Prime Minister Theresa May’s government will be able to stick to the timing of the nation’s agreed departure in March, 2019. But, if Brexit is achieved, one undoubted effect will be a strengthening of Britain’s ties to the Commonwealth, and this should work to the benefit of smaller countries like The Bahamas.

Although the Brexit negotiations to agree detailed terms for leaving the bloc seem to have been deadlocked so far, they may now have reached a pivotal stage.

It is clear that three main issues remain to be resolved before moving on to discussion of a trade agreement between a post-Brexit UK outside the EU and the 27 remaining member states – a so-called divorce bill or financial settlement, the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa, and the arrangements for the border between Northern Ireland as part of the UK and the Republic of Ireland as an EU member state.

It appears that negotiations about all three have advanced recently to the point that an EU summit in December will decide whether “sufficient progress” has been made in order to move on to trade talks. The terms of any new trade agreement will be of prime importance in Britain’s future relationship with the EU – some 43 per cent of the UK’s exports go to EU countries, but it has a trade deficit with the bloc which therefore has a major interest in continuing to maintain full and free access to the UK market.

As regards a financial agreement, Britain has stated its commitment to meet its obligations arising from its EU membership, not least because it wants to keep on good terms with the remaining members after Brexit and to co-operate fully across-the-board.

However, the UK is the second largest contributor to the EU budget and certain demands for extended payments have apparently been resisted by UK negotiators as being excessive. Nonetheless, it seems that Mrs May has reached

an agreement in principle with Brussels about the size of the divorce settlement without confirming exact figures.

She has said, however, that this will be contingent on securing a good deal on future trade – and both sides have made it clear that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.

While Brexit is taking centre stage, the future of the EU itself is uncertain with increasing opposition amongst member states like Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, particularly in relation to matters like enforced immigration quotas. Another concern is the possible effect of political instability in Germany on the EU following Chancellor Merkel’s difficulty in forming a new coalition after her Party’s relatively poor showing in the federal elections in September.

Supporters of Brexit argue that, having earlier declined to join the euro single currency or the Schengen agreement to remove borders in Europe, this is the time for Britain to quit the EU as Brussels forges ahead towards greater political and economic union and creation of a federal state.

Despite the continuing controversy and doubts, it is now beginning to look inevitable that Britain will leave the EU. But it remains to be seen whether hopes will be realised of a national resurgence when the nation becomes truly independent once more – and, freed from what many regard as the shackles of excessive EU interference in the form of directives and regulations, it is able to make its own laws again that are justiciable in its own courts, control its own borders and, crucially, make its own trade agreements with the rest of the world. At this juncture, however, few observers dare look beyond the possibility of Britain being able first to negotiate a satisfactory bilateral trade deal with the EU. With public opinion in the UK about Brexit still divided, there are genuine fears about the nation’s future outside the bloc after more than forty years as a member. Even though Britain has the fifth largest economy in the world and in so many respects is a big hitter on the international stage, some people see the future as frighteningly bleak and threatening. But others welcome the prospect of new opportunities that herald an exciting fresh start leading to greater prosperity and influence in keeping with the nation’s history as well as its potential.

FRESH out of the Trump playbook, Minnis could not resist to condemn the same press that helped him gain power. Minnis, the whole Bahamas and the world, knew that the FNM won on “fake news!” He, in his naivety, literally castigated the press for doing their job. What a gaffe!!

The press cannot please everyone if it is to speak the truth. I wondered how and why the Fourth Estate appeared to be selling Minnis, “lock, stock and barrel!” I said to myself, do they really know the person they are really “rolling the dice” for? But I was comforted that time, outlasted anyone’s game. The slogan “It’s the people’s time” was swallowed “hook, line and sinker” by the people. Today, just seven months later, the people want to return the election and get their refund.

The pettiness that exists today in the dayto-day operation of the government is simply unexplainable, but not surprising. The inexperience and the team assembled, many who are indebted to

Minnis simply have no voice or guts to let their consciences lead them into to objecting to the childishness now being experienced.

All Bahamian are simply embarrassed. FNM, are egg faced and complaining, PLP are disappointed and the swing voters are shell shocked and now admitting that they were “hoodwinked”.

The Press are ashamed that the monster they created is now planning to devour them. Who among them would cash in their chips and save their integrity by responding to Minnis in kind.

He has drawn the line in the sand. The Bahamian people have had enough and now see that they cannot get value for dollar. The most disgusting, vile and crude behaviour displayed to destabilise The Bahamas must be met with equal force.

It is time for all Bahamians who have been wronged by this government, to express their displeasure by uniting and showing the seriousness of these last few months.

The Press made Minnis, and now they have every opportunity to express how they feel after being disrespected for no reason by

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM sorry to be beating the Airbnb drum again but one has to wonder if our Minister of Tourism even understands this business, or why the Government would waste its very scarce legal resources, in order to legislate a tax to be levied on 1,200, mostly Bahamian people in a population of nearly 400,000. Maybe 3/10’s of one per cent of the population.

The Minister also knows that successive Bahamas Governments, on both sides of the political divide, have greatly contributed to the demise of the traditional hotel. What they haven’t taxed, they have allowed public services like electricity, to become so overpriced, that the hotels can no longer compete with Minnis. other jurisdictions. Why not The sad part is, the counspend some of your Mintry has come to a standstill, isterial time on fixing that while familiar faces are get- little problem, sir? ting all of the big deals. We Perhaps you should legknow who and how much. islate a tax on Cruise Ship But we wait anxiously to see passengers or force the if Minnis is going to allow Cruise Lines to pay the total those around him who have departure tax that they colalready started to fill their lect to the country, rather coffers to “jam him”. than them taking a cut on There are already rum- it. I bet that would produce blings going on where some far more revenue than the are in the back room saying, two for me, one for you, three for me one for you and none for Minnis.

The public is waiting with baited breath to see if the porous boarders is significant in the overall scheme of things and if those who have the authority and oversight would impose themselves for the EDITOR, The Tribune. good of the country or seek to find ways to enrich themWITH as a major crisis selves, like how they were we have with our men espedoing with the dump, the cially young people how electricity, aragonite and other is it we have never had a lucrative ventures.

Men’s Week like we have Shine the light, shine the this week for women? light, The Bahamas seem to Does government underbe heading for a Commis- stand by not having a Men’s Week you are viosioner of Inquiry. lating Article: 26 of The Time longer than rope!

Constitution?

Prime Minister’s IVOINE INGRAHA announcement that as of Nassau, January 1st, 2018 the whole November 20, 2017.

Minnis and the press EDITOR, The Tribune.

Don’t kill the Airbnb business LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net 1,200 Airbnb Hosts would.

Yes, the Government can easily bring the legislation, and granted, where they cannot or will not collect Real Property Tax (RPT) from an enormous taxable population comparatively, Airbnb would take the money and just drop it in the Treasury’s bank account. Whereas with RPT they would actually have to do something to collect this.

It is the easiest thing in the world to kill a baby, and it doesn’t take very much of an effort.

You could simply cover its nose and mouth for a few minutes and it would be dead. You could drop it on its head from a high place and it would likely die as well. But just because you have the power, or strength to do it, doesn’t make it moral or right. Airbnb has blossomed before our very eyes. It is an extremely price sensitive business and it is a global business.

And No, the Airbnb Guest does not HAVE to come here. There are thousands of other destinations

and a lot are as good, or better than The Bahamas.

We don’t even have a reliable or consistent public transport system, which is one of the greatest detractions to Airbnb Guests in this country. Why don’t you put some effort into that ,Mr. Minister, and then you could legitimately say the Government has some skin in the game. Right now it doesn’t even have a dirty toenail.

It is not as if the Airbnb Guest has a tax free holiday in The Bahamas. They pay Government duty just like the Host does, and they pay VAT, just like the Host does. And they rent cars because there is no bus system, and they go on tours to local attractions, and they take trips to Harbour Island and Exuma and various other islands, and they go to the Fish Fry, and they pay the full Government departure tax, and the only thing they don’t pay tax on is the AIR, SUN and SEA. But now you want to tax that too. OMG !

Maybe we’ve gone from the frying pan into the fire.

BRUCE G RAINE Nassau, August 14, 2016.

Time to put the focus on men month of January it will be Men’s Month.

What’s this foolishness of saying we have too little females in the Parliament check around the majority by far of Permanent Secretary’s are women, Cabinet Secretary is a woman, there are senior gazette officers in the Police - Defence Force - Customs Immigration, the boss at NAD is a woman, at NIB is a woman, at BP&L a woman chair it seems women are in far more

appointed positions than men and where their feminine view dominates.

January - Men’s Month... not a week Prime Minister a month... time for it our men are is a critical situation and need focus and concentration for a whole month...

The excellent – the good and they need attention.

JUDE RAHMING Nassau, November 28, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 1, 2017, PAGE 5

Union’s threat over axed gaming jobs from page one

Yesterday evening, Gaming Board Chairman Kenyatta Gibson released a statement on the matter, saying some 30 employees were recently fired after a manpower assessment of the overstaffed agency.

Mr Gibson said over the past four years, staff at the Gaming Board increased by 40 per cent. He also said the entity is focused on engaging persons with a certain skill set who can properly regulate the gaming sector.

Earlier yesterday, when asked what impact the firings could have moving forward, Mr Ferguson said: “We are indeed concerned that if the government is exemplifying this type of behaviour, then it will be a precedent that the private sector may want to embrace.”

The union leader said the Gaming Board matter will not go unchallenged and the BPSU remains adamant that all workers be reinstated.

He continued: “We want to make it clear that these persons who were terminated were actually permanent and pensionable employees, and the union takes grave exception to the manner in which the Gaming Board abused its power in unceremoniously terminating the employment of members of our bargaining unit.

“We would have

KENYATTA Gibson issued a statement yesterday saying 30 employees at the Gaming Board were fired after a manpower assessment. communicated with the section 51, that wherever Gaming Board and sug- an industrial agreement is gested to them that they in place it is a binding docutake a look at the industrial ment, and we take exception agreement which governs to the blatant disregard the both us and them, that Gaming Board has had for states whenever there is our industrial agreement,” going to be any conditions Mr Ferguson said.

According to the BPSU, of employment or the security of the employment 17 employees, ranging from assistants of any of our members that administrative there must be joint con- to revenue collectors and sultation between the two managers, were terminated this week. Last month, parties.

“Hence, none of this is about 18 workers were sent taking place (legally). (This) home from the Gaming is a breach of our industrial Board.

Mr Ferguson said agreement. We are noticing that the Gaming Board the BPSU has made is drawing reference to the attempts to communicate Employment Act of 2001, with Gaming Board and which is a document that labour officials, but has is only referred to when a not received any sort of response or clarification. contract is not in place.

“We would have asked (if “Industrial regulations of The Bahamas suggests, in more firings were to come)

in the brief dialogue that we would have had when our shop steward was being terminated and the question was asked about six or seven times,” he said.

“The acting secretary said it depends on how the board feels. That was what I was told and it was shocking to me that we are going on feelings when it relates to the well-being of Bahamians that would have put a government in place to carry out the mandate of the constitution which is the desires and wishes of the Bahamians people by the Bahamian people.

“We need to cause the government to understand that while these persons were hired, they too were hired and they too can be fired.”

For his part, NCTUB President Bernard Evans called the terminations “shameful” and “embarrassing”.

He continued: “While we have allowed this to go on for so long, this is enough.

You asked about timeline, the BPSU is mandated by law to allow the process, I believe it takes about seven days to go through the process, but certainly after that seven days all gloves are off.”

Mr Evans added that labour groups were trying to “restrain” themselves, but said the time is coming for them to “protest and protest loudly”.

Last evening, Mr Gibson explained the staff reductions at the Gaming Board.

“The Gaming Board of The Bahamas recently conducted a manpower review which made it patently clear that the gaming industry in The Bahamas had in recent years transformed into a more technologically based business than had previously existed.

“The regulatory needs of the industry have become more techno-centric than labour intensive. In short, the board required the services of more technology analysts and personnel with specific technological qualifications.

“In order to properly regulate this jurisdiction, the 21st century Gaming Board will require the services of persons with professional qualifications in information technology and accounting, in order to properly and correctly regulate the industry.

“To efficiently carry out its pre-existing and current mandate, the board’s staff must be able to keep pace with the innovative and creative, avant-garde operators who populate the gaming industry of The Bahamas.

“In that vein, the board’s immediate past human resources director, Mrs Georgette Johnson, was mandated to carry out the manpower needs analysis and upon her specific recommendation, the board has immediately disengaged the services of some 30 employees.”

He said this group falls into three categories: recent

BAHAMAS BORN - BUT HELD FOR 3 MONTHS from page one

In her affidavit, Ms Jean-Charles characterises her brother’s detention as unconstitutional and unlawful, noting he has not committed any offence under the Immigration Act. Ms Jean-Charles further claims she has taken documents proving his birth to the Department of Immigration at the request of officials, only to be told repeatedly the matter was under investigation.

She wrote the family was recently advised by a ‘Ms Rolle’ of the department’s Enforcement Unit that the documents submitted for Mr Jean-Charles could not be found.

“It is now almost 12 weeks since he was illegally arrested and falsely imprisoned,” the affidavit read.

“He has not been charged with any offence in any court. He has not been given bail. He has not been taken before any court in the Bahamas. He has not been served with a deportation order. He has not been charged with any criminal offence.

“Despite numerous attempts by me and his family to secure his release, he is still unlawfully imprisoned by the Department of Immigration in contravention of the Constitution

and the Criminal Procedure Code Act. I am advised by counsel to Jean-Rony that the respondents are not entitled by law or otherwise to falsely arrest and falsely imprison Jean-Rony.

“Jean-Rony’s imprisonment is unconstitutional and unlawful.”

The applications for habeas corpus writs were filed in the Supreme Court against the attorney general, minister of immigration, director of immigration, and superintendent of the Carmichael Road Detention Centre on November 29.

Mr Jean-Charles is represented by Fred Smith, QC, of Callenders & Co. The application is one of scores of writs filed this year against detentions at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

In July, four refugees who were held without charge at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre for more than two years, were released by the government shortly after they filed their applications.

In separate cases, the men claimed they were never questioned by immigration officers during processing and highlighted their refugee status with the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR).

This week, seven international human rights groups have expressed concerns over the impact of the government’s December 31 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country. The groups have raised concerns about how this would affect children born in The Bahamas to nonBahamian parents and the compliance of state deportation procedures with international law.

In a joint statement, the signatory organisations urged the government to share a written policy on migration, which they noted should be human-rights based with detention used only as a last resort.

Signatories include: Amnesty International; Caribbean Institute for Human Rights; Centre for Justice and International Law (CEJIL); Centro para la Observación Migratoria y el Desarrollo Social en el Caribe (Observation Centre for Migration and Social Development in the Caribbean, OBMICA); The Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights; Robert F Kennedy Human Rights; and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

The statement read: “The signatory organisations call on the Bahamian authorities to urgently share a

written human rights-based migration policy that uses detention only as a measure of last resort; includes details of the processes available to those who wish to regularise their status; screening processes to avoid the expulsion of individuals born in The Bahamas with a right to Bahamian nationality; and processes to assess asylum

claims with all procedural safeguards.”

It continued: “We remind the Bahamian authorities that in accordance with international standards, any deportation procedures must ensure individual assessments of each case, provide individuals with deportation orders in writing, and safeguard the right of individuals to challenge

new hires within the past two years; employees who are eligible for gratuity and pension; and contract workers.

“It should be noted, that during the past four years, the staff complement of the board has increased by approximately 40 per cent,” Mr Gibson’s statement added.

“Unfortunately, some of those persons who have been engaged over that period and previously, are now ill-suited for the modern-day requirements of our current regulatory regime. Accordingly, best professional advice indicated that the board was severely overstaffed and that the future viability of the board as an effective regulator, with all of its regulatory obligations and responsibilities, required that changes, though stark and hard, had to be made.

“Let me say on behalf of my colleagues, that the decision taken to separate the board from these employees was a difficult and heart wrenching exercise. Nonetheless, it was a necessary one.”

He said all those who were fired were paid “equitable and fair separation packages, with each and every one of their entitlements having been dealt with in a very generous fashion.”

Mr Gibson said if any errors in separation payments were made, they would be corrected once brought to officials’ attention.

their deportation order before an independent court of law.”

The Immigration Act also calls for similar processing before the courts before a person is deported; however, officials have explained this process would severely backlog operations due to the high volume of irregular migrants.

PAGE 6, Friday, December 1, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

One year deadline to hand over foreign jobs from page one “A Commercial Enterprise Facilitation Unit is mandated to be established within the Investment Board to make sure applications are addressed in a timely manner,” Mr Bethel said yesterday.

“It is absolutely required that every application for a commercial enterprise certificate has to be

accompanied by a business plan which indicates specifically, meaning name and position, of its staffing needs, inclusive of the number of work permits that are needed.

“So as such, training and building opportunities may be agreed to be afforded to Bahamians in respect to that position staffed by work permit holders. So, it does guarantee Bahamians jobs in respect to positions,

staff, by work permit holders.

“That means for every work permit holder, you have to have at least one Bahamian in training for that position. The jobs for Bahamians must be in respect of positions staffed by work permit holders.

“The agreement follows the intention of the law that Bahamians be trained in those positions being staffed initially by work

permit holders.... They have one year. The commercial enterprise certificate is for one year and if at the end of the year, they have not complied with the contract, (the) certificate will be revoked.”

On Monday, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham criticised the controversial bill, saying the Minnis administration should “rethink the bill and make

necessary adjustments”.

His criticism during a rare interview with The Tribune came less than a week after the bill passed the House of Assembly with the unanimous support of Free National Movement parliamentarians.

Almost none of the bill’s key provisions were spared Mr Ingraham’s harsh assessment. The bill’s $250,000 threshold “is too low,” he said.

The bill’s lack of guarantee that a certain number or percentage of Bahamians be employed as a tradeoff for work permits is, he said, something he could not support.

The Progressive Liberal Party has also pledged to repeal the CEB when the party returns to power and warned investors and people who may accept the bill’s benefits to “think carefully” before doing so.

ENTERPRISE BILL - WE WERE NOT CONSULTED from page one

Bernard Evans, the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) president, during a press conference at BCPOU Hall accused the Minnis administration of rushing a bill which abuses the concept of economic development.

Noting the NCTUB hadn’t officially met as body to discuss the Commercial Enterprises Bill, Mr Evans said all the feedback he has received from the those who have reviewed it is in line with his view that the bill will not adequately generate jobs for Bahamians.

The bill, if enacted, would allow foreigners or Bahamians to receive “economic concessions” if they establish specified types of businesses in The Bahamas with an investment of no less than $250,000.

Such businesses would be entitled to a set number of work permits for

FROM left, Paul Maynard, Paul Ferguson, president of the Bahamas Public Service Union, and Bernard Evans, president of BCPOU. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff executives, managers and people with “specialised knowledge”.

The low investment threshold has been

met with harsh criticisms by many in the political and economic spheres of society; including former Prime Minister and Free National

Movement leader Hubert Ingraham.

Of the low figure, Mr Evans said yesterday: “We know that something has to

be done (to boost the economy), but it seems as if we are trying to do a fire sale and (it’s) cheapening what Bahamian is all about; and I don’t know if we need to do that.”

He added: “We cannot be prostituting ourselves at the expense of, at the risk that we suffer yet again the Bahamian working experience or guarantees, while the Bahamians or those who invest in The Bahamas don’t seem to get their fair shake.

“This whole thing seems to be stacked up (for) foreigners coming in.

We don’t have a problem with that, but again, you should provide better concessions or advantages for Bahamians so that we can have a leg up and have a real true piece of the pie and be able to participate in the economic success of the country.”

Asked by The Tribune about the level of input the union has had on the bill to date, Mr Evans said

frankly: “None.”

“As a matter of fact, we have drawn letters to that effect, to express that there are other issues that we have with the government since coming into power.

They don’t have any real intentions of involving the unions in true dialogue.”

When asked for his comments on the ongoing discussion surrounding the bill, Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) President Kingsley Ferguson questioned how many jobs could be derived from a $250,000 investment.

Mr Ferguson claimed enterprises of that value are normally small ventures manned by a single entrepreneur without hired staff.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Paul Maynard urged the government to reconsider the threshold, calling for it to be increased to as much as $6m or at least, $3m.

Debate on the bill begins in the Senate on Monday.

SANDS - NHI HAS TO BE PAID SOMEHOW from page one be the only way to fund NHI, adding the previous administration knew there was going to be some “obligatory requirement” to have Bahamians pay for services.

On Wednesday, Tribune Business reported Dr Robin Roberts, chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority Board, suggested there were several potential mechanisms for financing NHI with the payments linked to a person’s ability to pay. He made the comments during the Bahamas Insurance Brokers Association luncheon.

Besides salary deductions or an NHI levy, Dr Roberts said he wanted to create the Bahamian version of Medicare in the United States.

Considering the heavy lifting left to do including making sure the scheme operates within the confines of the law, the NHIA has said full benefits may not come for two years.

Asked about funding, Dr Sands said: “In determining how much you do and where you get the money from, there is obviously a political imperative to look at the public’s ability and appetite to tolerate any additional tax because right

now the public finds itself struggling.

“Many find themselves struggling to survive and so without deviating from the concept that healthcare and access to good healthcare is right and understanding that we already spend $2,500 per person per year for healthcare, if we’re going to increase that by another $1,000 to $1,500 per person per year then we also have to determine where that money is going to come from and what has to be in place before we go to the public and say this is what we believe makes sense.”

He continued: “No decision has been made as to whether or not the government of The Bahamas is minded to impose such a tax but the technical team have made it very clear that to get to this point then this is how you have to do it. I think that is the significant major hurdle because previously it was we are going to provide these benefits, this $124m worth of benefits and for free.

“Well clearly when the question was put and what happens in year two, three and four and the minister of health at the time, the prime minister and the minister of national security and minister of Grand Bahama all passed on that because they

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would have known that there was going to be some obligatory requirement to have Bahamians contribute to pay for the services.”

Dr Roberts has also said the NHIA was still awaiting direction regarding the establishment of a public insurer.

Regarding this, Dr Sands told The Tribune there is an awful lot of cleaning up to do with NHI, suggesting it was why a public insurer had yet to be established.

“There are a number of things that the board would have had to tackle,” Dr Sands said yesterday when The Tribune contacted him.

“One of the most pressing was the legality of the activity and decisions made by the secretary in apparent contradiction to the NHI Act. “Unfortunately, in the haste to roll out something called NHI prior to election 2017, some decisions were made that are clearly explicitly in contravention to the National Health Insurance Act, specifically the requirement that there be a board in place that there be registered insurers to determine the benefits and so on.

“Bear in mind that the National Health Insurance Secretariat would have been acting in the absence of a board and entering into contracts with providers and entering into contracts to provide services but that is against the law.

“Now the question is given the fact that there are people enrolled and already receiving services this is not now a hypothetical issue it’s a real legal conundrum and so they would have had to consider the various options.

“You may have heard some pundits would have suggested stop the programme completely until the matter was fully resolved. A decision was made to continue providing benefits to people enrolled in the programme, but to seek legal advice from the attorney general as to the appropriate remedies even as you constituted a board even as you hired a managing director and so on and so forth,” Dr Sands said.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 1, 2017, PAGE 7

‘LOWER BUSINESS LICENCE FEES TO HELP BOOST FREEPORT ECONOMY’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FAMILIES for Justice Founder Rev Glenroy Bethel is calling for the lowering of business licence fees in the Freeport area.

Rev Bethel appealed to the Grand Bahama Port Authority to reduce its licence fees in light of job

losses and the economic difficulties experienced by many small businesses on the island.

“We are making an urgent request to the Grand Bahama Port Authority president and its executives, particularly the business licence department,” he said.

Rev Bethel, speaking alongside two mothers who

recently became unemployed, said the island is experiencing significant job losses.

“Freeport has felt a shift in the economy and that is why we saw the need to reach out to the Grand Bahama Port Authority to reduce the business licence fees and any taxes that place a heavy burden on the economy of the

Freeport during this time,” he said.

The Freeport economy is in a downturn and hundreds of hotel workers are unemployed due to the closure of the Grand Lucayan Resort in Lucaya.

Rev Bethel is inviting new and existing businesses to send letters or emails to the Business Licence Department at the Grand

Bahama Port Authority in support for the reduction of licence fees in Freeport.

There are over 3,500 business licencees in Freeport.

He believes a reduction in fees would help businesses better survive the tough economic period.

“It is our belief that this would be a vital life line for all businesses, families, and investors in Freeport,” said

the civic leader.

“We believe that if every business owner can see the effort being made in reduction of fees, then there is a strong possibility that job losses would be greatly reduced.”

Rev Bethel said a reduction in fees would not only benefit businesses in Freeport, but the entire Grand Bahama community.

GB BILL ‘TO BRING JOBS’ GOVT PLEDGE ON PINDER’S POINT

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama (Port Area) Tax Exemptions Bill will create “additional jobs” for Grand Bahamians as well as well as “remove stumbling blocks for local businesses,” according to Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Carl Culmer.

Mr Culmer said the tax exemptions bill along with the Commercial Enterprises Bill “will encourage specialised investment in the Bahamas while bringing job security and higher paying jobs to our people,” especially in Grand Bahama which needs an “economic boost.”

The Grand Bahama (Port Area) Extension of Tax Exemptions Bill 2017 revokes the Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Regulations 2016. The new bill no longer requires licencees of the Grand Bahama Port Authority to apply to the central government to receive any concessions.

The 2016 act was passed under the former PLP administration and was criticised as being bad for business. Before the May 2017 general election, the FNM promised to repeal and replace it.

“Next week the government will continue to put the economy front and centre by ensuring that the Bahamian economy is working for the people of our country again.

The Grand Bahama (Port Area) Tax Exemptions Bill extends duty and tax exemptions to all licensees of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Ltd while removing stumbling blocks for local businesses,” Mr Culmer said in statement.

“This bill removes the added layer of bureaucracy for Grand Bahama businesses thus allowing them to expand and thereby

creating additional job opportunities for the people of Grand Bahama. It removes the discriminatory practices among licensees enacted by the former government and levels the playing field for all.

While our economy is starting to take a turn for the better, the government will remain focused on ensuring that we create an environment that encourages positive investment that are a good fit for the Bahamian economy and that provides high paying jobs and long- term job security. We remain committed to providing Bahamians with the same opportunities that are provided to others, to make investments in their own economy.”

Mr Culmer said the tax exemptions bill will also assist in economic recovery and “will also add transparency to the investment process, allowing the Bahamian people to know what their government is doing with their money.”

“This job creation legislation will establish the Port Area Investments Board. Members of this board will be appointed jointly by the government and business leaders in Grand Bahama to ensure that there will be none of the back room deals that the previous PLP government allowed,” the statement said.

“As our government continues to move towards creating an economy that benefits all Bahamians, we will work diligently to enact legislation that will create higher paying jobs for Bahamians, while at the same time creating the environment that will lead to job security and prosperity for all. The people deserve nothing less from their government and we will work hard every-day to deliver on this commitment to them.”

The House of Assembly has not begun debate on the tax exemptions bill.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Minister Kwasi Thompson has indicated that the government is “fully committed” to addressing the safety concerns of the residents of Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, and the surrounding communities near the industrial park in Grand Bahama.

The Grand Bahama Environmental Association (GBEA) issued a statement on Thursday accusing government of failing to respond to letters sent by the organisation, however, the minister said officials have been responsive to the group in the past three months.

He said officials are in receipt of the final safety assessment report conducted by the Antea Group and are presently reviewing it.

“We are able to say that we recently received the final report. I have not digested the report. We are reviewing that now and government will meet with all the parties to go over the report and indicate how the government will move forward,” Senator Thompson said.

GBEA claims that the minister has not kept his promise to meet with the group on a monthly basis.

Mr Thompson, who represents and oversees the Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama, said that he met with the GBEA’s president, Bertram Pinder, and with Shuffle Hepburn on August 24 and indicated his commitment to arriving at an amicable result for the residents.

“I committed to keep them appraised of what was going on, and that my office would meet with him on a monthly basis,” he explained.

MINISTER of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson.

The minister stated that his office forwarded to Mr Pinder a letter on August 29, which reaffirmed their commitment to the residents.

“It acknowledged receipt of all his letters and our commitment to the residents. I can also confirm that we sent him another letter on September 12 which acknowledged receipt of a letter sent on August 30,” he said.

In the letter, Mr Thompson said he again reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing dialogue with the residents and with the association.

The Office of the Prime Minister, he said, forwarded another letter on September 29, specifically as a follow up regarding the issue of a draft report to relevant stakeholders and extending an invitation to the GBEA to attend a meeting on October 4 at OPM at 3pm.

Mr Thompson stated that the purpose was for Mr Pinder, Mr Hepburn, and representatives of the GBEA to meet with the Antea Group which had drafted the initial interim report of safety risk assessment of Pinder’s Point and surrounding communities’ proximity to the industrial park.

“We wanted to make sure that they had an unfiltered access

to the Antea group which was preparing the safety assessment report. They had a productive meeting and the GBEA informed the group of all their concerns in reference to report,” Mr Thompson said.

He said that he received a letter from the GBEA signed

by Mr Pinder and Mr Hepburn, dated October 6, thanking him for providing the opportunity to the GBEA to meet with the group to discuss issues that they have with the study.

Mr Thompson stated that they were able receive clarification on a couple of issues, but were not satisfied that any significant adjustment to the body of the study was agreed to by the Antea group.

Nevertheless, he said the GBEA was very pleased they were able to submit their issues for inclusion in the addendum of the study.

He said the men thanked him for his courtesy and concern for the residents who live around the industrial plants.

Mr Thompson further stated that the OPM provided the GBEA another update by way of a letter to Mr Pinder on November 3, acknowledging receipt of their letter wanting receipt of the final safety assessment report from the Antea Group.

Mr Thompson said he spoke with Mr Hepburn on Thursday to reassure him of the government’s commitment to residents.

“We are committed to the residents and whenever he wishes to meet, I have no objection in having a meeting with him. I confirmed with him all my contacts and on previous meetings I gave him all my contacts, and indicated he can feel free to contact me because I have no difficulty meeting with him,” he said.

S I T S A E EAST

PAGE 8, Friday, December 1, 2017

I

N 2014, Dr Hubert Minnis stated: “As long as I am leader of this country, the FNM would not support any pay increase with all the pain and suffering that is going on in this country.”

Forward the tape to November 2017, when The Tribune queried PM Dr Minnis’ position in 2014, one where he was strongly against MPs receiving a pay raise, as proposed by the previous administration, and his recent about face in parliament.

Dr Minnis replied, “If I am headed out east then somewhere I decide to turn around and head out west, am I wrong?”

For the uninitiated, this is Minnis speak for “I could change my mind right? All right then, now leave me be, and don’t bother asking me to explain. ‘Ace’ ga

show you the time shortly.”

And yes, valiant Press Secretary Anthony ‘Ace’ Newbold has tried to defuse the situation by putting the whole “raises for MPs are dependent on an economic upturn” spin on things.

Too late, though. It was once again, for all to see, another prime example of our Prime Minister executing Trump-like double talk.

So why, now, is everybody all up in arms about the PM and Marathon MP Romauld Ferreira debacle?

Over the weekend, a document allegedly from the Cabinet Office, made the rounds on social media.

The document claimed Mr Ferreira is no longer responsible for relations with national and international organisations.

All environmental matters, the Bahamas Science and Technology

THE TRIBUNE

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

Commission (BEST), reefs and blue holes, international conventions, treaties, protocols and agreements relating to the environment, the Plant Protection Act, wild animal and bird protection and natural history specimens portfolios would now be forwarded to the Office of the Prime Minister.

When questioned about the document’s contents, Dr Minnis replied, “Fake news have said so many things about me, those things don’t bother me. I’ve told my entire Cabinet just to remain focused, just stay on the highway, you know where the goal, you know

what to achieve, just head toward the goalpost. Don’t worry about the sideways and don’t worry about the exit terminals, stay focused.

People have sent so many documents around… fake news. I know nothing about the document.”

Now it seems the alleged ‘Fake News’ document is actually legitimate.

I mean, “What you talking ’bout Ace?” As critics dissected the PM’s credibility, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold was quick to defend Dr Minnis, claiming the gazetted document is real, but has several errors.

Citing Ferreira as a frequent target by the opposition, on social media, resulting in numerous conspiracy theories spreading like wildfire, Mr Newbold said Dr Minnis had not seen the document when he dismissed it as “fake news”.

Rather he (Dr Minnis) assumed the document claimed there was a

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff complete transfer of portfolios from Mr Ferreira to him with the intent to demote (Mr Ferreira).

(Nice to know our PM does his due diligence before commenting. Maybe his Press Secretary should advise him on what happens when one assumes things).

Under the Constitution, the Governor-General, on advice from the prime minister, issues the responsibilities and functions to the relative ministers. So how did the error-ladened document get leaked in the first place?

And why was the PM so comfortable calling it “Fake News” when he knew the truth of the document’s origin all along?

Most importantly, why did these particular portfolios need to be placed under Dr Minnis directly?

Add this latest fiasco to the long list of previous “double talk” moments like FOIA, the Spy Bill, NIA, Over the Hill Tax Free

Zones, Crime, and Jobs (for starters) and it makes one wonder what’s really “fake” and “real” with this latest group.

Even Dr Minnis’ dubious analogy about driving East then heading west is remarkable because, technically, Dr Minnis and the FNM told the people that it “their time” to head out “East”. You know, toward a new day, a new beginning, a sunrise.

In light of all these “misstatements,” the PM’s whole going East then changing and heading West with no explanation just sounds like misdirection to me.

Or confusion.

Perhaps the good Doctor would do well to remember those lines from a great poem by the legendary Rudyard Kipling that goes, “Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet, Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment seat.”

THE TRIBUNE

A GROUPER seen underwater - the season for fishing grouper has now closed for three months.

Friday, December 1, 2017, PAGE 9

Grouper season has now closed GN1983

BAHAMAS Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) yesterday urged Nassau grouper lovers to support the closed season and choose an alternative fish as the endangered species is off limits for the next three months.

In a statement yesterday, BREEF warned that baby groupers were on the way, stressing the fish grows slowly taking more than seven years to reach sexual maturity.

“Around the winter full moons, they form large groups called spawning aggregations or ‘schools’ to reproduce,” the BREEF statement read.

“Their habit of aggregating together in predictable times and places to reproduce has led to the collapse of the fisheries in many other countries as well as it being listed as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

“It is critically important that the closed season continues from December to February and is enforced effectively, particularly from foreign poachers, but also from local illegal fishing.

Many fishermen have reported seeing more young Nassau grouper in the sea than in the past, and this may be a result of the closed seasons allowing their parents to spawn in previous years.

“The closed season, along with the creation of new marine protected areas that safeguard important habitats and act as fisheries replenishment

zones, are our best tools to sustain our fishing industry in the face of fishing pressure, coastal development, natural disasters and other threats.

“BREEF is working with fishermen, scientists and other partners to better understand the remaining grouper spawning aggregations and determine how best we can protect them.”

The conservation group thanked law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Marine Resources, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Royal Bahamas Police Force for their work to protect the country’s marine heritage.

The statement added: “We can all do our part to protect the Nassau grouper for future generations by obeying fisheries regulations, observing the closed season by not catching, purchasing or selling Nassau grouper during the closed season, asking government to both manage and establish more Marine Protected Areas to protect Nassau grouper spawning and home sites and last but not least, reporting any illegal activity to law enforcement agencies.”

For more information about the Nassau grouper closed season and why this species is endangered, visit the BREEF website at www.breef.org or call our office at (242) 327-9000.

The closed season begins December 1 and runs through the end of February.

PAGE 10, Friday, December 1, 2017

HAWAII TO TEST NUCLEAR WARNING SIREN

HONOLULU (AP) — Just days after North Korea tested its most powerful missile yet, Hawaii is dusting off a relic not heard on the islands since the end of the Cold War. The monthly test of Hawaii’s siren warning system for tsunamis and other natural disasters will have an added tone when it sounds Friday — one designed to alert residents of an impending nuclear attack.

“We believe that it is imperative that we be prepared for every disaster, and in today’s world, that includes a nuclear attack,” Hawaii Gov. David Ige said, adding that the possibility is remote.

Ige said the new test will ensure the public knows what they should do in case of an imminent attack. If a missile is launched, residents and tourists would have less than 20 minutes to take shelter, officials said.

JAPAN EMPEROR TO ABDICATE TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Akihito plans to abdicate on April 30, 2019, at age 85 in the first such abdication from the Chrysanthemum Throne in about 200 years, the government said Friday.

Akihito’s elder son Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend the throne a day later, on May 1, 2019, beginning a new era.

Akihito expressed his apparent wish to abdicate last summer, citing his age and health.

THE TRIBUNE

Senate may rein in tax cuts WASHINGTON Associated Press SENATE Republicans weighed scaling back the tax cuts in their massive package to secure crucial support as congressional analysts said Thursday the legislation would add $1 trillion to the nation’s debt over the next decade.

Republicans were making major changes to the bill up to the last minute, including one that would roll back some of the tax cuts after six years to appease deficit hawks.

The first revamp of the tax code in three decades — a top political priority of President Donald Trump — would affect nearly every American and business.

The scramble to alter the bill came after senators said the chamber’s parliamentarian had ruled that automatic “triggers” designed to guard against big deficits would violate Senate rules. GOP leaders’ main concern was winning over lawmakers, including Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee and Jeff Flake of Arizona, concerned about adding more red ink to the deficit.

GOP leaders also were struggling to placate Wisconsin Sen Ron Johnson, who wanted an increase in the deduction for business income.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, had expressed confidence early in the day, but he has little margin for error with a 52-48 majority. He can afford to lose two votes while counting on Vice President Mike Pence to break the tie.

Sen John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the bill will have “alternative, frankly, tax increases we don’t want to do” to deal with deficit concerns. Flake said the tax increases would raise about $350 billion over 10 years, though he didn’t specify which taxes would go up.

Forced to rewrite the bill behind closed doors, Republican hopes of passing the bill late Thursday slipped to Friday.

SENATE Armed Services chairman John McCain, R-Ariz, arrives for votes on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Monday evening.

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP In a dramatic turn, Democrats individuals and eliminate several forced a vote on whether to return popular deductions. the measure to the Senate Finance Lawmakers will then try to recCommittee so it could be rewrit- oncile the Senate bill with one ten to ensure smaller deficits. They passed by the House in the hope nearly prevailed in derailing the of delivering a major legislative measure as Corker, Flake and Ron accomplishment to Trump by Johnson of Wisconsin held out Christmas. Republicans have cast for just over an hour, repeatedly passage of a tax overhaul as a politcajoled by their colleagues. They ical imperative to ensure they hold eventually joined fellow Repub- their House and Senate majorities licans to scuttle the Democratic in next year’s midterm elections. proposal.

A new analysis by the nonpartiCorker has been pushing to add san Joint Committee on Taxation automatic tax increases in future found that the bill would add $1 years if the package doesn’t raise as trillion to the deficit. much revenue as projected.

The tax bill would increase With the provision seemingly economic growth, generating an dead, Corker said senators would additional $458 billion in tax revchange the bill to roll back some of enue, according to the analysis. the tax cuts in future years, regard- That’s far short of the $2 trillion less of whether tax revenues meet promised by Treasury Secretary expectations. Flake said the tax Steven Mnuchin. increases would take affect after six Two Republican senators, John years.

McCain of Arizona and Lisa The overall legislation would Murkowski of Alaska, announced slash the corporate tax rate, offer their support for the tax package more modest cuts for families and Thursday, giving it a major boost.

Both McCain and Murkowski had voted against the GOP bill to dismantle the Obama health care law this past summer.

Senators were still grappling with several issues Thursday, including a provision to add a deduction for local property taxes. The current Senate bill completely eliminates the federal deduction for state and local taxes, a popular deduction in the Democratic-leaning states of New York, New Jersey, California and Illinois as well as many wealthy suburbs nationwide.

Sen Susan Collins, R-Maine, proposed an amendment to let homeowners deduct up to $10,000 in local property taxes on their federal returns. It is similar to a provision in the House-passed bill.

Without the deduction, Collins said, it would be “very problematic for me” to vote for the bill.

Collins would make up the estimated $146 billion in lost revenue by keeping the personal income tax rate for the wealthiest earners at 39.6 percent and making a smaller cut in the corporate tax rate. Trump and other Republicans insist that the corporate tax rate must be reduced from 35 percent to 20 percent.

Sen Steve Daines, R-Mont, backed the package Wednesday after securing an increase in the deduction for business income from 17.4 percent to 20 percent. The deduction is for business owners who report their business income on their individual tax returns.

Johnson said Thursday he is still withholding support for the bill because he would like the deduction increased to 25 percent. He would pay for it by repealing the corporate deduction for state and local taxes.

The plan would nearly double the standard deduction to around $12,000 for individuals and about $24,000 for married couples. The tax cuts for individuals would expire in 2026 while the corporate tax cuts would be permanent.

CIA CHIEF MAY REPLACE TILLERSON WASHINGTON Associated Press

AFTER months of clashes on policy and personality, President Donald Trump is considering ousting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replacing him with hard-nosed CIA Director Mike Pompeo following less than a year on the job, senior US officials said Thursday as turmoil within Trump’s national security team burst into the open.

The White House plan, which Trump has not yet signed off on, would force a major realignment early in his term, also creating a vacancy atop the CIA

SECRETARY of State Rex Tillerson. that officials said could be filled by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas.

The overhaul could produce a significant shift in both the tone and direction of the president’s foreign policy, removing it from the understated former oil man whose style has never fit well with Trump’s.

It is exceedingly rare for a secretary of state, America’s face on the global

stage, to be fired or to serve for a year or less. Nor is it common for presidents to have such a significant Cabinet revamp so soon after taking office. Too much churn could fuel the perception of chaos in the Trump White House — perhaps one reason he has yet to pull the trigger.

Tillerson’s likely ouster, which was first reported by the New York Times, loomed awkwardly over an Oval Office meeting Thursday between Trump and the visiting Bahraini crown prince. Asked by a reporter whether he wanted Tillerson to stay on the job, Trump was coy, merely pointing out that Tillerson was in fact in the building.

“He’s here. Rex is here,” the president said.

Timing for any move was uncertain.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Tillerson’s closest ally in the administration,

simply brushed off the report. “There’s nothing to it,” he said when asked.

But White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders didn’t deny it. She did suggest that no move was imminent, saying the president and Tillerson planned to “work together to close out what we’ve seen to be an incredible year”.

Does the president still have confidence in Tillerson? “When the president loses confidence in someone, they will no longer serve in the capacity that they’re in,” she said.

Friction between the president and the nation’s top diplomat has grown increasingly public through the year.

After a report last month that Tillerson had called the president a “moron,” Tillerson was forced to appear before cameras at the State Department to pledge fealty to his boss.