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VOLUME:117 No.10, DECEMBER 4TH, 2019

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ALICIA WALLACE: DON’T BLAME US, MR JOHNSON

SENSELESS ‘Drive safe’ then minutes later he was shot dead

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A CLOSE relative of the man fatally shot on Monday night said yesterday that the family is in shock over his murder and wants justice.

“Everybody is shaken up. His mother, who is not in town, couldn’t get on the first flight. We are shaking. We are upset and we just don’t know or understand why this happened,” said the relative, who did not want to be named, in an interview with The Tribune yesterday.

“Our family is really hurting and it’s a death of no reason. Why would they kill him? He just came to drop off some kids and he end up dead.”

According to police, shortly after 6pm on Monday, two men were at a residence on Dominica Way when they got into an argument. One of the men left, then returned with a gun and shot the other man before escaping, she said.

The victim has been identified by relatives as Brian Evans Jr, 29, a father of an 11-year-old.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, a relative said she spoke to Mr Evans shortly before he was killed. Relatives have suggested the killing was a result of a domestic dispute connected to a woman the victim knew.

GRAND Bahama Chamber of Commerce boss Greg Laroda is calling for major stakeholders here to come together to develop a “generational” plan for the island’s recovery, and its battered economy following Dorian.

He stressed that the island is facing many challenges and uncertainties with no answers from anyone in authority

THE government is today expected to clarify the “confusion and frustration” surrounding the post-Dorian Economic Recovery Zones, amid warnings that the uncertainty is fuelling “a loss of confidence”.

Marlon Johnson, the Ministry of Finance’s acting financial secretary, told Tribune Business the Minnis administration should introduce the enabling legislation today.

He explained that a fifth government “exigency Order” had taken effect over the weekend to ensure residents and businesses in Grand Bahama and Abaco could still access VAT and import duty exemptions while the details for the zones were still being worked out.

FRANCE ACTS ALONE TO PUT BAHAMAS ON BLACKLIST

SEE PAGE THREE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER Attorney General yesterday warned The Bahamas must “stand up in a smart way” to ensure the survival of its financial services industry amid a threatened “blacklisting” by France.

Alfred Sears, who is also an ex-Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) chairman, said that “appeasement” through seeking to comply with the various regulatory initiatives imposed on this nation over the past two decades had never worked because “it’s a constantly moving target”.

to questions concerning Grand Bahama’s recovery.

Mr Laroda believes that the government, Grand Bahama Port Authority, and the chamber must work together to come up with the best possible plan that will put the island on the right path to recovery.

“What we need is a plan for the recovery of Grand Bahama,” he told The Tribune. “There are lots of different stakeholders doing lots of different things to assist with the recovery SEE PAGE SIX

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

‘GB NEEDS GRAND PLAN FOR THE YEARS AHEAD’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GOVT MOVES TO CLARIFY RECOVERY ZONE RULES

THE VICTIM has been identified by relatives as Brian Evans Jr, 29, a father of an 11-year-old.

RESIGN? I’M GOING NOWHERE

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel said Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis needs “to stop playing politics” after the Cat Island MP called for him to be fired or resign.

His comments came a day after Mr Davis said the Attorney General brought

AG CARL BETHEL the criminal justice system into “ill repute” due to the

handling of the trials of two PLP members. Speaking to reporters outside of Cabinet yesterday, Mr Bethel said Mr Davis is just playing politics.

“He knows that the Attorney General plays no role in the conduct of any investigation, so I have nothing further to say at this time,” Mr Bethel said.

“They (are) calling for

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY

FACEBOOK TO LET YOU MOVE PHOTOS TO RIVALS

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, December 4, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Tensions rise as NIB workers continue to take industrial action

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net TENSIONS continue to flare between the National Insurance Board and its employees, who held another demonstration yesterday over failed negotiations for workers’ new industrial agreement.

“This fight has been long, and this fight has been hard.. (but) we going to continue this fight and we have to change our approach a lil’ bit and we have to turn the heat up a little bit,” Union of Public Officers (UPO) president Ghion Roach told workers during their morning tea break yesterday.

“Now they’re waiting for me to pull the trigger and they’re waiting for me to say I gone use my strike certificate so they could go to the courts and file an injunction. They did it to the doctors. They did it to the nurses. They did it to the teachers. But, we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing.”

Since last week, NIB workers have been protesting at the agency’s headquarters on Balliou Hill Road, calling for officials to finalise a new labour contract, which was originally supposed to be completed November 30 - the deadline given by Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle.

But, according to the union president, negotiations over the new agreement had stalled.

Workers also protested in October before taking a strike vote over their issues.

“We went back to negotiations on the 5th, we stalled, and we have not been in negotiation since the 8th and so the 30th has passed. The deadline is over and so we will continue to do what we have to do,” Mr Roach told reporters on Monday.

“I can’t speak to the finances of the board, but I know the talk at least that was stated in their press release is that we are seeking to raise administrative (costs) by some exorbitant amount.”

His comments to the press came after workers walked off job due to a breakdown in talks over one or two clauses in the new industrial agreement.

But, in a statement released on Monday, NIB officials said that in current negotiations, the board has agreed to monetary increases in almost every category of staff benefit, including month mileage allowances, acting and responsibility allowances etc.

However, for some employees, according to NIB, the outstanding issue is “automatic promotions.”

The statement continued:

“The outstanding issues remain around automatic promotions of certain groups of employees and the compensation schedule (ie lump sums and salary add-ons).

“The UPO has been asked to present a clear, written counter proposal which reflects the views of their members. The board will also be seeking a clear commitment to productivity and service level improvements.”

As it relates to automatic promotions, Mr Rolle told reporters on Monday that he does not support the move because upward movement should be based on performance.

He also suggested the latest protests are politically motivated.

“If you’re saying to me that your average performance is the basis for which you should be promoted, then I say that your average performance is a base for you to have a a job, not to anything else. If you want to be promoted, then you have to perform. You have to do better than the average,” he said.

However, during yesterday’s demonstration, workers pledged that they will continue to exercise their rights until all issues at the agency have been resolved.

Nadia Vanderpool, an NIB employee, said: “We’re

PENILE

GHION ROACH, Union of Public Officers president, left, as NIB workers continued their protests yesterday.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

very upset with the way they’re dealing with the entire situation and as we understand, they are not agreeing with anything that has been brought to them.. any of the terms and conditions.

“They sent out an email yesterday by senior management in HR, telling the supervisors and managers of the areas that they want a list of the name of persons

who are not at their desks after tea break and who actually clocked out and left.

“But, we are prepared to fight for our rights and more Bahamians need to do this. We need to come together and stand together as a people when we want to see changes.”

Garrett Bullard, another NIB employee, added: “We are the backbone of

the social structure of the Bahamas… it’s more than an increase. We have mothers. We have fathers. The light bill has gone up and we have not received a new union deal since then. The people just want what is fair to us. We only want what is right and we will continue to fight and ask for what is right.”

During yesterday’s demonstration, Mr Roach told members that he would be meeting with an attorney to seek legal advice for the union’s next move.

THE TRIBUNE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net RENALDO Hudson walked out of the Supreme Court a free man yesterday and pledged to lead a “productive life” after a jury found him not guilty of two counts of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.

“First of all, I got to say God is good,” said the 22-year-old. “Three years and seven months I spent on remand for this.”

A jury of five men and eight women brought back unanimous not guilty verdicts shortly after 4pm yesterday on all four counts in a retrial.

Justice Estelle GrayEvans acquitted Mr Hudson of all the charges and told him he was free to go and thanked the jury for their service.

Outside the courtroom, Mr Hudson told reporters that he had faith he would be acquitted of the charges.

“I wasn’t really worried, but I had to wrap my mind around putting my life in them people hand, the jury hand. Other than that, I wasn’t really worried

Wednesday, December 4, 2019, PAGE 3

Man found not guilty on two murder counts because I had that faith in God,” he said.

The young man had been remanded to prison at age 19 after he was arrested and charged for the armed robbery and murders of Jacklyn Armbrister and Noel Hamilton, and the attempted murder of Agatha Gaitor that occurred on March 21, 2016, in Freeport.

The court heard that sometime around 11.30am that day, police received a call about a shooting in the Hearn Lane west area.

On arrival at a shack, officers discovered three persons had been shot in the head.

The man was dead at the scene, a woman was unconscious, and another woman was calling out for help. Ms Gaitor was taken to hospital suffering from gunshot

injuries and was later airlifted to New Providence.

After conducting investigations, police arrested Mr Hudson on April 8, 2016 who had allegedly confessed to police while on inquiries of shooting three people and robbing a lady.

At the trial, Mr Hudson claimed the confession was not voluntary and that he was forced to say what he did. His first trial in 2018 ended in a mistrial when a juror was contacted by individual and threatened.

Yesterday Mr Hudson thanked his attorney Carlson Shurland and the jury.

When asked what are plans his now that he is a free man, he said: “To start leading a productive life.”

Mr Shurland said the outcome was just, but that it was unfortunate that his

RENALDO Hudson yesterday.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

client was incarcerated for three years pending his trial.

“I think the police did a very poor job in the investigation. It was very evident by the verdicts that they should not (have) charged Mr Hudson. It is unfortunate that he had to spend three years on remand.

“Whenever the jury come with a 12-0 verdict on all charges, there is no doubt in their minds that this young man is innocent. As we went through the trial, I realised a lot of the key witness the prosecution intended to rely on did not show up.”

Mr Hudson was initially represented by Mario Gray, but during the trial they had a misunderstanding, and Mr Shurland elected to finish the trial.

Father, 29, shot after he drops kids off at house from page one

“Last night, (Evans) picked up my kids and the two lil’ boys that he dropped off by his children’s (relative). I came there and saw him and spoke to him because I asked him where he dropped my children,” the family member said.

“And he said he dropped them by my other sister.

This happened before (or) around six. Me and him was speaking in the yard or whatever and he said he dropped the children right

THE VICTIM has been identified by relatives as Brian Evans Jr

by your sister. I was like, ‘okay, thanks.’

“And, he was like, call me when you reach home to make sure you get the children and make sure you reach home safe. I said okay and he said, ‘I soon go home and leave from here.’

So I said, ‘alright then, drive safe.’”

Those were the last words she had with Mr Evans, who she described as a happy person always ready to lend a helping hand.

“He was an outgoing, happy person and he liked to help everybody. He was very family oriented. I

could’ve called him for anything,” she said.

“If I wanted him to pick up the kids for me because I can’t make it, he would say fine. He has one son.

He was an outgoing, happy person because he liked to work. He was close with the family.”

Yesterday, Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Superintendent Shanta Knowles confirmed that a man is in custody in connection to Evans’ murder.

The killing pushed the murder count to 92 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

COURT RESERVES DECISION ON NIGHTCLUB DEATH

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal is currently considering whether to accede to two convicts’ claims that they didn’t murder another man execution style after beating him up outside of a New Providence nightclub five years ago.

Appellate Justices Jon Isaacs, Roy Jones and Milton Evans reserved their decision on whether to overturn the convictions of Milargo “Mally” Humes and Anthon “Crazy” Meadows for the 2014 shooting death of Teran Greenslade.

The announcement came after a full day of submissions by the attorneys of the two men, Christina Galanos and Stanley Rolle, respectively, as to why their clients should get off the hook for the December 1, 2014 murder. Both Humes and Meadows are currently serving 40-year sentences for the crime.

According to reports at the time, the 23-year-old Greenslade died after he was shot in the head following an argument at a nightclub with other men over a woman. Local pathologist Dr Caryn Sands said Greenslade died from a single gunshot wound to the head. He also suffered an abrasion to the face, a laceration to the left side of his lower lip, an abrasion overlying his right collar bone and abrasions on the back of both of his hands and right elbow.

Dr Sands said those injuries were consistent with blunt force, which meant

that either an object struck Greenslade or he struck an object.

According to the evidence led at trial, the Crown’s key witness, a woman by the name of Gabrielle Rolle, testified that on the date in question, she went to the High Rollers nightclub in Coral Harbour with both Humes and Meadows in a gold-coloured car. While in the club, she met several people, including Greenslade, whom she knew as “World Boss”, and Jamaal Johnson, with whom she had graduated from CC Sweeting High School.

Ms Rolle said while in the club that night, she danced with “plenty people”, including those four.

According to Ms Rolle, at some point, Mr Johnson said something to her and, as a result she approached Meadows and asked him why he bumped into her old classmate. In response, Meadows told her that while Mr Johnson was dancing, he pointed his “gun finger” at him like “he had a vibe”.

Ms Rolle further testified that after awhile, she went outside to sit in the car because she was drunk. Afterwards, Humes, Meadows, and someone she referred to as “Dapper” came out of the club and started dancing in the road next to the car. She said Humes was leaning on the hood of the car. He and Meadows then walked over to a crowd of people.

Ms Rolle said Humes eventually came back to the driver’s side of the car where she was seated

before returning to the crowd. However, she testified that after Humes came from the driver’s side of the car, he went into the hood of the car, closed it and returned to the crowd.

Ms Rolle said that was when she heard two gunshots and saw Greenslade fall to the ground. Afterwards, Meadows, Humes and “Dapper” got in the car and she sped off in the direction of the Lynden Pindling International Airport. She said she was swerving as she was driving because she was both afraid and drunk. She also said the three men were shouting at her to drive off.

Afterwards, “Dapper” started driving the vehicle and dropped Ms Rolle off at her house in Cable Beach.

Meanwhile, Jessica Charles testified that while at the club sometime after 1pm on the date in question, she heard an altercation outside and upon investigating, saw a man—Greenslade—getting beat up by three or four other people. One of those persons was beating the deceased with crutches, she said.

Ms Charles said one of the people doing the beating was Meadows, and although she didn’t know the other persons, one of them was dark-skinned and had “funny eyes”.

Ms Charles said as she was walking away from the altercation, she heard gunshots that caused her to drop to the ground for safety. Afterwards, she heard people screaming and observed a crowd gathering around Greenslade.

She said she then observed Meadows put a gun in his waist, though she did not see him shoot anybody.

Afterwards, a slim, fairskinned lady she had seen Meadows with earlier in the evening pulled up in a gold-coloured Honda, at which point, those who were beating up Greenslade hopped in that car and sped off.

After the gold coloured Honda left the scene, Ms Charles assisted a screaming female in placing Greenslade in her (Ms Charles’) car to take him to the hospital. She said while driving, they saw the police and an ambulance, the former of whom made

them get out of the vehicle.

Ms Charles said she subsequently observed an officer go into her car and check Greenslade’s pulse.

Afterwards, she said someone said to them: “Ya’ll did a good job. He died.”

During yesterday’s proceedings, the issue arose as to whether the object Humes retrieved from the car was a gun, much less a weapon. Crown prosecutor Abigail Farrington submitted that based on the circumstances of the incident in question, it was likely a gun. Additionally, Ms Farrington submitted that based on the surveillance footage of the incident, the object retrieved was in fact a weapon.

However, Ms Galanos submitted that the surveillance footage was “extremely unclear”, and from her perspective, she could not see the alleged weapon “at all” due to the poor quality of the footage. Meanwhile, Justice Isaacs suggested that the object in question could have been a cudgel, a knife, or even a bat.

Meanwhile, Mr Rolle submitted that while Meadows was present when the fight took place, he was involved in no plan to shoot Greenslade, and neither did his client shoot the deceased. Mr Rolle also encouraged the appellate judges to find Ms Rolle’s evidence unreliable.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, December 4, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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Grand Bahama needs a Grand Plan - and so does The Bahamas WHERE does Grand Bahama go from here?

When Hurricane Dorian hit the island, it didn’t just create a whole new set of problems – it magnified the problems that were already there.

High unemployment beforehand has now reached crisis levels – one in two of the island’s residents are out of work.

For the government, it’s an unenviable task. If this was a medical case, the first task would be to stop the bleeding – and that’s exactly what Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest is trying to do when he says the goal is to get small and medium businesses back up and running. Large-scale projects such as resorts might be the big building blocks people might call for – but the network of smaller businesses around them is the mortar that holds them in place. People need food stores, garages, doctors, importers, hardware stores, and, dare we say it, newspaper offices.

A pledge conference is also planned to stir up donations and support for recovery efforts after the storm – turning to the world and asking for help.

Any such help that comes will be welcome – but do we need to fundamentally rethink what is happening with Grand Bahama? Indeed – will doing so teach us lessons for The Bahamas as a whole?

When the Grand Lucayan fully reopens, it will be a welcome shot in the arm for the economy – but is a reliance on tentpole tourism products always going to be our fallback answer?

Can’t Grand Bahama be… well, grander? In short, don’t we need a Grand Plan for Grand Bahama?

The world is changing, and with it the nature of jobs. The devastation wrought by Dorian can’t be described as

an opportunity – but it can be a turning point.

The local chamber of commerce is right when it says that all sides need to get together to talk about what comes next – rather than each stakeholder dashing along doing their own thing without discussing whether what they are doing is the best option.

More than that, bring in some of the best and brightest minds outside The Bahamas too. If we want to attract industries other than tourism, then let’s hear from the leaders of such industries what they need.

There are issues that need to be resolved quickly – sort out the airport, for starters – but beyond that let’s not rebuild a Grand Bahama fit for the century gone by, but one fit for what the future will throw at us.

Hutchison Whampoa seems to lack the interest it had in years gone by, so either get them to be re-engaged in the island or find a way to ease them out.

There were vague discussions of creating silicon islands – parts of The Bahamas that could entice technology companies – but what has happened to that? Can we envisage a technology campus for both established names and exciting start-ups and provide them the power and internet platform they need to succeed?

Dorian was a disaster – but it may not be our last. Hanging our entire futures on tourism when climate change and rising waters may increasingly threaten our shores is short-sighted. We must diversify, and we must start now – and it starts by talking about what Grand Bahama needs.

The recovery effort there is crucial – but if it is done right, it may just prove the model for all our futures.

No sugar? Well that’s not very customer friendly EDITOR, The Tribune I DECIDED to purchase a breakfast sandwich through the drive through of Wendys, Bernard Road.

When I received the order I asked for a few packets of sugar and was told by the staff that sugar could only be given to those purchasing coffee or tea from the store.

This, though an exceedingly trivial issue, is symptomatic of the fact that although the primary pillar

of this economy is customer service, so many do not seem to understand what that means, based on how widespread these kinds of responses are.

A basic premise in customer service businesses is to encourage customers to return. Every business needs customers, not every customer has to purchase the products or services of a particular business! It is unfortunate, given the current state of the economy that businesses are not more

proactive in retaining customers and properly training their staff. Much training is needed in customer service in this country!

It would be helpful for businesses and their employees to remember that the customer is doing the business a favour by using their services or purchasing their products, not the other way around!

JB Nassau, December 2, 2019

Haunted by ghosts of our past EDITOR, The Tribune THE after Dorian illegal Haitian drama has ran the gamut yet there is no letting up. “No retreat no surrender everyone has their minds made up. Love them or hate them no in the middle.”

The Bahamas law like all international laws on illegal immigrants are on the books. All law-abiding citizens are supportive of these laws. But not all immigrants are illegal and should be treated accordingly. During my daily trek the chatter on the grapevine is not so much about expelling the illegals it’s the way the Haitian community is being treated and how they are being singled out, and there is no disputing that a minority of them who stick out like a sore thumb is bringing their community into ill repute by their conduct.

Now is the time to remind them that as sojourners in our country they should conform to our standards and not vice versa.

Nevertheless, instead of condemning all of them

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net because of the few we should be praying that their country quickly regains some semblance of normalcy so they can return and start to rebuild.

Suddenly this aggression is spreading, it is everywhere. In the schools, in the church on the bus, it’s everywhere. Now there is talk of an alliance. A coup is afoot. One of survival’s law is: When a sector of society is being ostracised they will unite. While the country’s law must be maintained there is another law. God’s command in the Bible is clear as to how we are to treat immigrants in our land. Three reminders of God’s law that’s most prominent are Exodus 12:49 “There shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you” – Genesis 12:10. “Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien,

for the famine was severe in the land, (Sounds pretty much like what’s going on in Haiti). And Deuteronomy 24:19: “When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” God cares as much for the foreigners as he does for the widows and the fatherless.

In a Christian nation God‘s word should prevail. Sadly we are a people haunted by ghosts of our past, By what we should have addressed years ago now instead of facing up to our frailties we have shifted the blame. It‘s time for us to let it go. Too many feelings are being hurt.

Family and friends are being hostile towards each other. Like love begat love it is the same with hate. Let it go, we are better than this.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau November 28, 2019

We can’t let customs hold our businesses to ransom Time to decide where EDITOR, The Tribune WHAT in the world is going on at Bahamas Customs!

With only a few weeks left before Christmas, Bahamian merchants are seeing their opportunities for badly needed Christmas sales slipping away because of holdups with Customs not clearing their Christmas inventory in a timely manner.

Is this because of added pressure from the hurricane, the malfunction of the new and much touted Click2Clear system or have they reverted to their time-honored habit of shaking down the merchant community for additional Christmas cheer?

With the local economy in such a precarious state, every hour, every day

and every sale leading up to Christmas is of vital importance to the majority, if not all, of Bahamian retailers.

This practice of holding businesses for ransom by Bahamas Customs must end. Hoping and praying for a few crumbs.

HOPING Nassau December 2, 2019

Seems like a short order EDITOR, The Tribune Re:Parts Of Grand Bahama Still Without Power. The Tribune, November 26, 2019.

The article states that the Dome houses for Dorian victims are 20 feet in diameter and two feet high. Hopefully,

some domes capable of accommodating people taller than two feet will also soon be available.

KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau, November 27, 2019

we want to be heading EDITOR, The Tribune THE Merriam-Webster dictionary defines progress as a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal): Advance or gradual betterment especially: the progressive development of humankind.

Factories have been instrumental in modernisation and delivering technological advance to all societies. Whether Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, dictatorship or democracy the factory has delivered all our appliances, vehicles, electronics, medical equipment and many other advances that

define modernity and have improved the quality of life of billions. Nothing is perfect therefore everything has benefits and drawbacks.

Has the cost of modernity been too high for mankind’s long term survival?

One of the major contributors to global warming are factories.

They release greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Global warming and other environmental degradation presents an existential threat to human survival. I am not saying to stop using factories to merchandise, but we need to use technology to mitigate the environmental damage. This can be done, but profit will be lowered so it will not be done.

The other aspect of worshipping big business is the huge tax breaks big companies (factories) get when they come to developing countries like the Bahamas. They will eventually leave after they have exhausted our resources.

Will helping local entrepreneurs be a better model? That’s what south Korea, Japan and China did.

Let’s engage in discussion on what progress is for the Bahamas. What is the Bahamas’ goal or final destination?

BRIAN E PLUMMER Nassau November 26, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 4, 2019, PAGE 5

RESIGN? I’M GOING NOWHERE, SAYS AG BETHEL from page one everybody to resign, I mean I’m only being added to a very long list of people that they want to resign.

“At the end of the day you know we have a duty to protect and observe every provision of the constitution of The Bahamas. Chief among which is that in the exercise of the discretion of the Attorney General, he does so under the command of no man.”

On Monday, the opposition leader called for the resignation of the Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Mr Bethel, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands and National Security Minister Marvin Dames following the “political prosecution” against PLP members.

Mr Davis recounted some of the facts related to former Labour Minister Shane Gibson’s bribery case and that of former PLP Senator Frank Smith who was also acquitted

of bribery charges earlier this year. “Throughout the two cases that have been completed, we have witnessed with great horror and disbelief, incontrovertible evidence of grave and rank prosecutorial misconduct and corruption,” Mr Davis said on Monday night.

In Mr Gibson’s case, the lead police investigator admitted it was wrong to meet key witnesses to synchronise their statements, something Supreme Court

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis says he will establish a commission of inquiry as soon as he gets into office to examine matters relating to the investigations into PLP politicians acquitted this year of bribery.

“The state is a powerful entity,” he said yesterday, “and a commission would be about purifying the administration of criminal justice in the country.

“As soon as I’m in power, I would establish a commission of inquiry to stamp out unjust practices and hold accountable anyone who was found responsible,” he said. “The recommendations from the body will be used to determine the way forward to avoid these things happening in the future to anyone, not just Shane Gibson, but your sister, brother and the man on the street.”

The Free National Movement promised to root out corruption during the 2017 general election campaign, with its party supporters popularising the rally chant, “they goin’ to jail.”

The subsequent arrest and trials of Frank Smith and Mr Gibson have therefore been analysed through an unusually political lens, drawing into the fray law enforcement officials not usually caught up in political debate.

Sergeant Sonny Miller, head of the Police Staff

Association, said yesterday he has been uncomfortable with the way law enforcement officers have been caught in the middle of the political warfare.

“It’s not something we would like to see happening,” he said. “We try to stay out of the political arena in terms of party politics because we know the ones who may criticise us today will be the ones who we have to report to tomorrow. I tell my members let’s do our job, let’s not listen to the party politics because it’s our job to work for the people of the Bahamas.

“We don’t want members of the public to lose trust and confidence in us because we’re out there to serve them. We want them to continue trusting and having faith in us that we will do the right thing.”

Among those now targeted by the PLP is Assistant Superintendent of Police Debra Thompson who testified during Mr Gibson’s trial that not only was she wrong to meet with witnesses to synchronise their statements, but that such coordination happens frequently.

She testified that Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson and Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin were aware that it happened.

Yesterday, Maurice Glinton, QC, said this was a “serious breach that should not have happened.”

“I hope it doesn’t repeat itself but what if the kind

GOVT WANTS TO IMPROVE SECURITY ON NIB CARDS AFTER an arraignment of a Haitian man accused of applying for two Bahamian birth certificates with a fake National Insurance Board card, Public Service and National Insurance Minister Brensil Rolle said officials are looking at ways to improve the card’s security.

Mr Rolle told reporters outside of Cabinet yesterday that people being able to obtain a fraudulent NIB card is concerning.

He said: “We just came from a conference where one of the things that we looked at carefully is how we could improve, not only the security on the card, but

to put more information and data on the card.”

On Monday, a Haitian man stood before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with applying for two Bahamian birth certificates with a fake NIB card.

The 36-year-old man of Gibbs Lane, denied the allegations.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Forbes consequently adjourned the matter to January 27 for trial. Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim.

did absolutely nothing save for a wink here and a nod there, bringing the administration of the criminal justice systems into ill repute and the laughing stock of the region,” Mr Davis said. “Carl Bethel must explain to the Bahamian people how we got to where we are - placing the government in a position to be sued in a court of law for malicious prosecution.

And while he is at it, he has to explain to the Bahamian pole how much these

persecutions have cost the taxpayers with nothing to show.”

Mr Bethel has so far refused to reveal the legal fees associated with the cases. “We are hearing all kinds of numbers from $20,000 per day to $1.4 million in total,” Mr Davis said.

“This government could find huge sums of money to pay lawyers for these politically driven cases with trumped up charges but refuses to pay the workers monies duly owed to them.”

Davis: I’d establish commission of inquiry to examine court cases

PHILIP Davis speaking at a special meeting on Monday called to discuss Shane Gibson’s acquittal.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

Justice Carolita Bethel also said was “very wrong”.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Debra Thompson testified that this is a common practice and that Commissioner Anthony Ferguson and Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin were aware it happened in the case.

“In the face of all this, the Attorney General who is the head of the bar, an officer of the court and the chief legal guardian of the integrity of the judiciary,

of people you have in those positions are prone to making those mistakes?” he said. “There needs to be more of an effort made to insulate the administration of justice from political influence.”

Sgt Miller declined to comment on ASP Thompson’s actions, saying the association is there to advocate for police officers, nor to make pronouncements on investigative practices.

In a recent interview, Alfred Sears, QC, said the government should pass the Integrity Commission Bill as a way to help distance the potential prosecution of public officials from political contexts.

The bill would establish an Integrity Commission that would be akin to a law enforcement agency, one empowered to investigate allegations of corruption.

“It is unfortunate that this vital measure of public integrity has not been put in place as was promised,” Mr Sears said. “We have to focus on system.

We focus on people, and parties and personalities and preferences and that’s where we have gone wrong. It’s imperative that the government conclude its consultation and enact a robust Integrity Commission Act where these

investigations and prosecutions of alleged public misconduct would be conducted in a manner to ensure fairness and public confidence. Such an entity properly resourced with the expertise and funding would have a deterrent effect as well and may be able to pursue justice in a manner that secures the trust of the Bahamian public and the international community.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, December 4, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

MAJOR CONFERENCE TO HELP BAHAMAS RECOVER THE Minnis administration and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom will stage a pledge conference on January 13, 2020 in Nassau to mobilise financial and technical support for recovery efforts following the passage of Hurricane Dorian.

Dorian, a Category Five hurricane, hit the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama in September and left widespread devastation

from page one effort, but what I don’t see is those stakeholders like the government, GB Port Authority, and the chamber getting together and talking to each other about what is best for the island of GB and coming up with a strategic plan everyone can buy into – a plan that needs to be generational, not just a plan for the next three years.”

He stressed the need for a plan that can get the island and its economy back on track. “It must be a plan that…where no matter who is the government after the next general election and after that, they buy into the plan and are committed to seeing the plan work, so we can get this island and the economy to where we would like to see it, not just preDorian, but where we can have a robust economy on Grand Bahama, and it will take that kind of foresight.”

Mr Laroda indicated that one of the major concerns is the island’s airport.

“Everyone on the island wants to know exactly what is happening with the airport, when it is going to open to the public from a domestic and international standpoint. We know that is being worked on, but again communication is not always forthcoming,” he said.

He believes that once the airport is open for travel, it will help speed up recovery efforts in terms of getting people to and from Grand Bahama to assist, and tourists coming in and providing

estimated at $3.4 billion, according to assessments conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The pledge conference will be held on New Providence and aims to galvanise support from the private sector, high-net-worth individuals, other governments and donors who have expressed interest in assisting with the recovery.

The government’s recovery priorities will be outlined during a

press conference scheduled for December 11.

“Parts of Abaco and Grand Bahama were decimated by Hurricane Dorian. To date, the official death count stands at 70 with more missing. Thousands of residents have been displaced. We are a resilient people and the government of the Bahamas welcomes all initiatives that will help us move along the path of recovery.

Support from the private sector and from persons who consider the Bahamas a second home will

help to augment our efforts to build back better and stronger and with more resilience,” said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

UNDP resident representative to the Bahamas, Denise Antonio explained, “The high-income classification for the Bahamas means that the government will have to mobilise private sector or other donor financing to pay for its short and medium-term recovery needs.”

She said the UNDP is committed to supporting the government

to mobilise recovery financing because the country has limited access to overseas development assistance and concessional financing due to its classification as a high-income country.

Companies and donors interested in participating in the pledge conference can visit the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s website at https://www. thebahamaschamber.com or the government’s website at www. bahamas.gov.bs to access registration information.

Laroda: GB needs a grand plan for the years ahead a customer base for persons in the tourist industry.

“So, it (the airport) is really critical to our recovery,” Mr Laroda added. “We feel like it is the good time for the government of the Bahamas to take control of that airport and think it would be in the best interest of Grand Bahama and the wider Bahamas. (They need to) do whatever is necessary to get ownership of that airport so we can have a direct say in the future of the economy of Grand Bahama.”

Another critical issue, Mr Laroda said that needs to be addressed is the restoration of potable water on the island. Since the storm, water quality was significantly reduced when storm surge affected the island’s well fields, affecting the fresh water supply.

According to GB Utility, well fields one and three were flooded with four feet of sea water, while well field six was flooded with 21 feet of sea water for 36 hours during and after the storm.

The flooding destroyed the company’s entire vertical infrastructure including utility poles, wires, electrical components, control and motoring systems.

Mr Laroda said that potable water is vital to restaurants and the food service industry.

When asked about the impact on foreign direct investments to Grand Bahama, the chamber president agreed that challenges regarding the basic infrastructure has affected investments to the island.

“I think it has hindered all investments in Grand

Bahama because basic infrastructure has been challenged and compromised -- just getting to the island is a challenge, and someone intending to invest in Grand Bahama would ask questions that we do not have answers to at present, and there is a lot of uncertainty,” he explained.

He said the natural disaster also forced many people to decide to leave Grand Bahama and relocate to Nassau, the US or Canada.

“What we have to deal with in terms of local businesses as well is that residents decided to leave the island after Dorian; they left seeking job opportunity,” he said. “We are not aware yet how many businesses on the island will survive the impact of Dorian in terms of just getting back up and running.

Once they do, the lack of the critical mass on the island has only been magnified now and so there is a lot of uncertainty.”

A recent post-hurricane report on social trends in Grand Bahama found that nearly 50 percent of people on the island are unemployed after the storm. The report, prepared by staff at the Department of Social Services, found that 60

THE DESTRUCTION of Hurricane Dorian seen in Freeport percent of people in West End, 47 percent of people in Freeport and 48 people in East End were unemployed as of November

5. The data came from a door-to-door assessment by social services workers.

Editorial View - Page 4

TURNQUEST LOOKS TO SMES AS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PUSHES 50% IN GB

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a recent assessment of Grand Bahama revealed that nearly 50 per cent of the island’s residents are unemployed post-storm, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest said assisting entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises to reopen is the government’s goal.

Speaking to reporters outside of Cabinet, Mr Turnquest said he knows there has been job losses in Grand Bahama, particularly during this time period.

He said: “Businesses were not able to get back up either due to damage to their infrastructure or because of the lack of electricity or just because of the way things are in Grand Bahama at the moment.

“We do know that every day that there are people who are making steps to reopen their businesses and start to re-employ those persons who maybe have been temporarily laid off or have been terminated or made redundant as a result of the fact that their businesses had been destroyed.

“It is certainly the goal of (Ministry of) Finance and the government to assist

many entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises to get back into business as quickly as possible. Hence we have put aside $10m to assist with hurricane relief efforts through either grants or capital low interest loans supported by our financial industry partners.”

He also said: “We are continuing with our small business development programme for new businesses and to provide capital for new start-ups to try to get people back into business as quickly as possible.

The truth of the matter is we were on a fairly decent path to growth prior to the storm.”

Mr Turnquest said the fundamentals have not changed and it is just a matter of restarting the economy.

“Putting the support in place for those businesses that may have found themselves without insurance where they don’t have the capital to restock their inventory to replace equipment that may have been lost and so we are putting some dollars into that. Hopefully to get them back up and going,” he said.

“We’ve made…both Grand Bahama and Abaco (into) special economic zones which entitles them to

duty and VAT exemptions.

Again, all in an effort to get inventory back into storage, to get equipment back into business so the people can get up and going, start to re-employ people to get the economy going again as quickly as possible.

Mr Turnquest also told reporters that the government is working on an assistance programme to help persons with medium to moderate damage return to their homes as quickly as possible.

An assessment released in November by the Department of Social Services revealed, post-Hurricane Dorian, 47 percent of the people in Freeport were unemployed. In East End, 48 percent were unemployed while West End had the highest unemployed rate of 60 percent.

The assessment read: “West End reports the highest proportion of unemployment, with a very even distribution across all settlements. Similarly, the East End employment is quite even across the east settlements. However, in the Freeport area, some subdivisions report very high unemployment or very high employment. This suggests that a more in-depth assessment is required inside of Freeport to better understand this indicator.”

THE TRIBUNE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A FORMER police constable has vowed to fight the government all the way to the Privy Council to get justice for being fired from the Royal Bahamas Police Force because of his unwillingness to compromise a key component of his Muslim faith.

Bertram Bain, in an interview with The Tribune, said he and his attorney Maria Daxon are still fighting former Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade’s August 2017 decision to fire him for his unwillingness to shave his beard in accordance with the RBPF’s grooming policies.

His comments came less than a month after he received a letter from the permanent secretary in the Ministry of the Public Service that stated that Governor General C A Smith advised that his appeal against Mr Greenslade’s decision be “set aside” due to the expiration of his contract.

The November 15 letter further stated that Governor General Smith advised that Mr Bain will be “awarded” gratuity benefits for his 17 years of service to the police force, with effect from August 2, 2017, the date Mr Greenslade fired him.

The letter bore the signature of “M Hanlan”, permanent secretary.

Mr Bain told The Tribune that in setting aside his appeal “due to the expiration of (his) contract”, was not in line with the reason why he was fired — which was because his “conduct and general character (had) been unsatisfactory”.

And in doing so, Mr Bain asserted that the Governor General effectively set aside Mr Greenslade’s decision in its entirety.

As a result, Mr Bain posited that the proper course of action would have been to advise the commissioner of police to rescind Mr Greenslade’s decision to fire him for failing to carry out a lawful order, and subsequently draft and serve him with a new discharge certificate. “(Mr Greenslade) never discharged me for not having a contract, because I was still working and I had applied to be re-engaged,” Mr Bain said. “So my intention was never to quit. And so now, if the Governor General is stating that I should remain discharged based on the fact that I don’t have a contract. He has to show me that in law and give me a new discharge certificate and state where in the Constitution or the Police Act a police officer could be dismissed because they don’t have a contract.”

Meanwhile, Ms Daxon asserted the process that led to her client’s termination

Wednesday, December 4, 2019, PAGE 7

Muslim takes police fight to Privy Council was entirely “wrong in law”. And as it pertains to the letter from the Ministry of the Public Service, she questioned whether Governor General Smith actually had any say in drafting the letter, and if he did, why his signature wasn’t attached.

Ms Daxon further asserted that in any event, the Governor General has no authority to “advise” on such matters, but must take the relevant instructions from the Police Service Commission. She referred to various sections in the Police Act, the Constitution, and the Police Service Regulations to support her argument.

“Nothing in law gives the Governor General the authority to advise anybody,” she asserted. “The Governor General must go on instructions or recommendations from the Police Service Commission.”

Ms Daxon said in light of the government’s latest move, she and her client will petition the Public Service Board of Appeal to seek some redress. She further stated that she has sought advice from two local Queen’s Counsels on the matter, both of whom she said are prepared to lend their assistance, and both of whom said that “this whole entire procedure was wrong in law”.

“They looked at the law and stated that ‘no, they had no grounds to do what they did,’” Ms Daxon said.

She added: “This matter needs to be addressed right away. It is unfair for police officers in this day and time in this country, with the laws that are in place, and cannot get justice in a timely fashion in this country.

“So we are moving on.

My client is very adamant.

He is saying to me that he wants justice, he doesn’t want it to happen to anybody else. And if we have to go all the way to the Privy Council for them to address it, my client is willing to do so.”

Meanwhile, Mr Bain said dealing with all of the legal hurdles for two years and counting has proven to be a challenge, but a “necessary” process nonetheless.

“I think for me it’s a tiring one, but it’s a needed one,” he said. “While I’m affected by it in many ways, my hope is that after this process, somebody else won’t have to go through this experience, because it’s a needed

RETRIAL ORDERED FOR PASTOR ACCUSED OF FONDLING BOY

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial in the case of a pastor who allegedly gave a teenage boy alcohol and fondled him.

Arsenio Butler was initially charged in 2014 with indecent assault and child cruelty, the latter charge he shared with coaccused Devin Sears. Their case has been bouncing between courts since then.

In the initial trial, Butler was acquitted of indecent assault but convicted of child cruelty along with Sears and sentenced to a 12-month prison term. That sentence was suspended pending appeal. When the Crown appealed the magistrate’s decision to drop the indecent assault charge, the Court of Appeal sent the matter back to the Magistrate’s Court to be retried.

According to a Court of Appeal ruling dated October 29, a further appeal in the matter has been allowed and the judges have ordered that it be sent back to the Magistrate’s Court for rehearing before a different magistrate. A lawyer for the men said yesterday the appeal has been allowed with respect to the charges of indecent assault and child cruelty.

The virtual complainant

in the matter alleged that after the pair gave him alcohol, Butler touched him, then 15, against his will.

Magistrate Andrew Forbes, in October 2015, determined that a sufficient case had not been made by the Crown for Butler to answer to the charge of indecent assault.

However, Magistrate Andrew Forbes also found that Butler’s and Sears’ testimony was unconvincing.

“If one accepts all they have said, two adult men elected to transport a minor out after 11pm. It is clear they were irresponsible,” he said. “And then suggest that the minor was somehow leading them in this foray.

“The evidence of the virtual complainant coupled with evidence of the virtual complainant’s mother and the opinion of the doctor suggests that he was plied with substances which caused the effects that were observed,” the judge said before convicting them of child cruelty.

“This court accepts the evidence of the virtual complainant that he was given alcohol by these two individuals, the reasons are unclear, but this court accepts that he was provided the substance by Mr Butler and Mr Sears,” Magistrate Forbes said during the trial.

one. When the last defence of our country which is the law, when that crumbles, then what is it that we have forward to look to?”

Previously, The Tribune exclusively reported how a copy of Mr Bain’s discharge certificate showed that in August 2, 2017, the officer of 17 years was discharged from the RBPF “in accordance with Section 7 (c) of the Police Disciplinary Regulations No 1965 and Section 21 (1)(c) of the Police Force Act 2009.”

The discharge certificate noted that during his tenure with the RBPF, Mr Bain’s “conduct and general character has been unsatisfactory”. Mr Bain first joined the RBPF in 2000, and converted to Islam sometime in 2011.

However, according to court documents seen

by The Tribune, Mr Bain claimed his dismissal was the end result of his multiple attempts at having Mr Greenslade acquiesce to his pleas to adhere to the Muslim practice of not shaving one’s beard while serving as a member of the RBPF. According to an affidavit filed July 6, 2016, which lists Mr Greenslade as one of seven defendants, Mr Bain met with the former commissioner and/or other senior officials no less than three times on the matter, dating as far back as early 2015. And each time the relevant parties met, Mr Bain informed all present of his Muslim faith, according to the affidavit.

In one such instance, on June 10, 2016, Mr Bain said he “humbly requested Mr Greenslade to assist with some accommodation to Muslim practices to wear a beard.” In the affidavit, Mr Bain said he did so “with humility and out of respect to consider awareness of my constitutional rights, and status as a police officer and as a Muslim.”

This represented an immediate conflict, Mr Bain acknowledged in a previous interview with The Tribune.

According to the affidavit, Mr Bain reported to the maintenance section of police headquarters from early 2015 to mid-2016, an area he suggested was more accommodating of his Muslim faith due to the ‘back of the house’ nature of the job and it not requiring him to be in standard police uniform.

However, on June 21,

2016, Mr Bain said he was instructed by Mr Greenslade to report to police headquarters, where he was informed by the former police chief that he would be transferred from the maintenance section to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station, and thus required to be in uniform.

According to the affidavit, from that date up to

June 23, 2016, Mr Bain was informed by three separate senior police officers that he had “defaulted” for either not complying with a “lawful order” to shave his beard, or not shaving while in uniform.

Two tribunals later, both of which he said he was found guilty for his refusal to shave his beard, Mr Bain said he was officially discharged from the RBPF.

Funeral Service for RICHARD ALEXANDER SHERMAN, 74 of Warren Street, Oakes Field, will be held on Friday, December 6th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Church, West Hill Street. Officiating will be Rev’d Fr. Glen Nixon, assisted by other ministers of the Clergy.

Interment will follow in the Catholic Cemetery, Infant View Road.

Left to cherish his fond memories are his Brother: Marcel T. Sherman; Sisters: Paula Sherman, Stephanie Higgins, Cecile Sherman and Tanya Sherman; Nephews: Donnaveo Sherman, Amahl Higgins, O’Neil Sherman (care giver), Mikhail Higgins, Albreon Pennerman (care giver), Shaquille and Claushawn Pennerman; Nieces: Antoinice Sherman and Anahdia Sherman Gibson; Grand Nephews: Stephen Munroe, Shekem, Sekani and Zion Sherman and Nour Higgins; Grand Nieces; Ania and Arianna Gibson, Aamirah and Luna Higgins and Zanae Sherman; Great Grand Niece: S’Leah Munroe; Aunt: Miriam Symonette; Numerous Cousins including: Jeannine Weech Gomez, Mark Weech, Stephanie Symonette Goodman and Brenda Symonette; Other Relatives and Friends: The Families of the late Nora, Ambrose and Lewis Symonette, the Families of the late Benjamin Brooks Sherman Sr. and Arthur Sherman Sr., Donna Sherman, Claudette Sherman, Anthony ‘Deuce’ Gibson, Dalila Higgins, Kathleen Dummett, Jennifer Davis, Joan Pinto, Maxine Soles, Ambrosine Ingraham, Frederick ‘Papa’ Smith, Patrick Bethell, Elaine Thompson, Renee Knowles, Archbishop Patrick C. Pinder STD, Reverend Glen C. Nixon and the Parish Family of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, the Clergy of the Archdiocease of Nasssu and the Sisters of St. Martin Monastery.

Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium #44 Nassau Street on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, December 4, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

WHAT MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, NOW 100, HAS TAUGHT ME MY great-grandmother became a centenarian this week. There are not many people who have had the pleasure of knowing any of their great-grandparents. I have spent a great deal of time with my great-grandmother, seeing her in various contexts including home, work, church and social and service clubs, learning more from the way she has lived than from her firm instruction.

I have never known my greatgrandmother to sit down for very long, much less watch soap operas, knit, keep children or spend very long talking on the phone. She has always had an active life, largely outside of her home. A business owner, she chose to work until the age of 90, fully enjoying daily interaction

with people. I have never met anyone quite as enamoured by fashion and style as she has always been. When we travelled together, I got to see her make thoughtful selections for her store, carefully choose pieces for her own wardrobe and items perfectly suited to family members.

She has always been about the business, determined to have fun and thinking about everyone else, all at the same time.

Whenever I am tempted to make a decision based solely on what is expected of me, I think of this fierce woman. While she would like to push in certain directions from time to time, she always concludes, with sincerity: “It’s your life. Do what you want with it.” She reminds us

The

Alicia Wallace column IT IS, unfortunately, not unusual for Members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers to insult the Bahamian people, especially in their bids to excuse their own actions. They believe we can be shamed into silent submission when our criticism is characterised as ignorance. We have heard from several messengers, and now we add Minister of Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration Elsworth Johnson to that list.

We have been on the losing end of a battle to get reliable - dare we say renewable - electricity supply we can afford. After suffering through months

of outages, we have been presented with a solution to refinance a legacy debt of $321 million and raise additional funds by increasing electricity bills by $20 to $30 per month. It, like other measures taken by this administration, will disproportionately affect people experiencing poverty. Apparently, this is our own fault because we travel and buy clothes too much.

The people we elect - some of whom are appointed to the Cabinet - swiftly forget they represent and are paid by us, not a political party or a particular government administration. It is unacceptable for them to suggest the Bahamian

her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren that we have been raised with a set of values we will not forget, but have to choose to activate. She has always encouraged us to make the right choices for ourselves, even if others disapprove. What has been non-negotiable from the very beginning and will not change, no matter how old we get, is that our presence is required at family gatherings and we keep in touch as best we can if we happen to be away. If she cannot see us, she wants to know that we are doing well.

She did not allow herself to be boxed in by convention, tradition or social constructs. Many of her achievements, especially when put in historical context,

are beyond commendable. It is clear she has, for most of her life, done exactly what she wanted to do and been unafraid to speak her mind. Most of what I have learned from her has come from close observation. If you’re going to do it, do it well. Don’t just be grateful, but express your gratitude. When you need help, ask for it, and don’t be too proud to accept it. Focus on learning from your mistakes instead of blaming another person or a circumstance for them. The things the world decides you are supposed to do are not always as important as the things you know you need to do for yourself. Go out and see the world.

These days, she is not hustling and bustling about as she did

before. “The shop,” as the family has always called it, is closed.

Since then, she shifted to a more relaxing life with word search and crossword puzzles, game shows, world needs, midweek church service, regular ladies’ luncheons and receiving visitors. She has admitted to missing the go-go-go we all know her for, preferring to be occupied in different ways, but is making her peace with the changing seasons of life. I take pleasure in telling her who I’ve seen recently, how much they miss shopping at Oralee’s, and the personal message they sent. I can only imagine what it is like to have so many years of memories and the joy that must come with being remembered and endlessly loved.

Don’t blame us, Mr Johnson people are struggling financially because of our spending habits.

Johnson is correct in saying we “have not been as diligent as we should have been” because we have certainly done a fair amount of complaining without taking action. We have watched as this administration made decision after decision that negatively affects us. Free National Movement supporters insisted we give this administration a bit more time, pleading “they just reach”. Others did not want

to be branded as supporters of another party or simply did not have the interest, time and energy required to do anything about their dissatisfaction. We, as citizens, have not done enough. That said, our spending has nothing to do with the situation Bahamas Power and Light is now in, or the decision to pass the burden on to us.

There are a few things to highlight for Johnson, in no particular order. The cost of living in the Bahamas is one of the highest in the world.

It is recommended that no more than 30 percent of gross income is spent on rent, and many people are currently spending at least 50 percent of their income on rent. Many people in The Bahamas are not able to save the recommended 20 percent of their incomes.

It was reported in 2017 that 90 percent of deposit accounts had less than $5000. These facts are not unrelated. People cannot afford to save. If given a choice between clothes and electricity, we would all choose electricity.

It is easy to look from the outside and draw completely incorrect conclusions about people.

Yes, people are traveling.

I know numerous people who travel for work, training and to gain access to other opportunities. They do not announce the source

MINISTER: Elsworth Johnson of funds to travel because it is both unnecessary and no one’s business. Can you tell how a trip is financed by the stamps in a passport?

No, and you also cannot determine the purpose. I know several people who have no choice but to travel to access medical care and medication. It does not mean they can afford to travel. Some cannot afford not to travel.

On another note, people deserve leisure. We deserve pleasure. We should be able to visit other places. People deserve clothing. We have come to think that people receiving low incomes must satisfy themselves with the little they can afford and be both unseen and unheard.

They do not deserve the blazer that, in this environment, could help them to move to the next level.

They do not deserve a wig or manicure because these are frivolous. If only more people were exposed to the true requirements of the business world and the informal economy. Not only are these “frivolous” items often necessary, but sometimes people want something nice, just once.

Does than mean they should have to pay $30 more per month on their electricity bill?

Consider the situation.

The cost of living is high.

Taxes are increasing. There is no social safety net.

Rather than blame us for the symptoms of the system we are stuck in, our representatives need to find ways to serve us better. If they are concerned about our spending, they can help improve financial literacy. People need to have a better understanding of money - income, taxes, loans, savings and investments. What is an interest rate? Why it is easy to get some loans, but difficult to get others? How do you build credit? What is required for a mortgage?

Can we buy stocks and bonds?

Where are people to get this information? When they have it, what are they to do with it when they make $210 per week? Make no mistake. The issue here is not plane tickets and new jeans.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, December 4, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Brownies on the march

GIRL Guides and Brownies on their recent march from Christie Park to Xavier’s.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

AFTER Minister of Works Desmond Bannister said the government is “likely” to raise the $300 VAT-free threshold on electricity bills to minimise the impact from Bahamas Power & Light’s $650m refinancing, readers reacted on tribune242.com.

Porcupine had this to say: “Well now, a whole article discussing whether our BPL bills will be $20 to $30 higher, or $22.40 or $33.60 higher. Let’s not argue with the Tribune’s statement that, ‘Bahamian households and businesses are effectively being made to pay for years of mismanagement, poor governance and political interference at BPL by bailingout the state-owned electricity provider through this bond issue’. As to Mr Bannister, they say, ‘His comments come amid general anxiety as to what BPL’s upcoming bond refinancing will mean for already sky-high consumer electricity bills, coupled with the potential knock-on impacts for household finances and business profitability/investment’. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the PM to speak on whether they will up the VAT exemption.

Wow. And, I am so waiting on any further words to tumble out of Mr Bannister’s mouth. So enlightening.”

ThisIsOurs asked: “Who is this initiative supposed to help?

Raising the VAT exemption will do nothing to help poor people.

You caught them already at ‘bills under 200 dollars’. You won’t catch them again even if you move the exemption to 10,000. The higher they make the exemption, the less it’s relevant for poor persons.”

BONEFISH said: “Just toss out ideas as they go along. This idea only got mentioned after it became apparent what a 30 dollar hike in the bill would mean to lower income persons.

One thing with this government, they don’t understand economics, finance or public policy.”

And there was this comment from The_Oracle: “Emera is no better in electric costs than BEC/BPL, but they do keep the power on more consistently.

The quality of their power is infinitely worse though. No, this over the top scam is beyond the pale, adding injury to insult.

Forcing people to pay for utility misfeasance opens the door for all sorts of ‘forced’ billing, added costs – easily challenged in the courts.”

Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 4, 2019, PAGE 11

Trump takes bold stance at NATO as impeachment boils LONDON Associated Press

ON THE day the House released a sweeping impeachment report outlining evidence of what it calls Donald Trump’s wrongdoing toward Ukraine, the president himself was thumping his chest on the world stage in London, claiming credit for transforming NATO as the military alliance marks its 70th anniversary.

The 300-page report from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee makes the case that Trump misused the power of his office and, in the course of their investigation, obstructed Congress by stonewalling the proceedings.

Based on two months of investigation, the report contains evidence and testimony from current and former US officials.

“The impeachment inquiry has found that President Trump, personally and acting through agents within and outside of the US government, solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, to benefit his reelection,” said chairman Adam Schiff in the report’s preface. In doing so, “the President placed his own personal and political interests above the national interests of the United States, sought to undermine the integrity of the US presidential election process, and endangered US national security,” the report said.

The report does not render a judgment on whether Trump’s actions stemming from a July 25 phone call with Ukraine president rise to the level of “high crimes and misdemeanors” warranting impeachment, leaving that to Congress to decide.

PRINCE Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, right, with US President Donald Trump and wife Melania as NATO leaders gather in London yesterday Trump began the first of two days at the NATO conference by publicly rebuking French President Emmanuel Macron, once arguably his closest European ally, for recently saying the post-World War II alliance was experiencing “brain death” as a result of diminished US leadership under Trump.

“I think that’s insulting to a lot of different forces,” said Trump.

“It’s very disrespectful.” But the president himself has questioned whether the alliance has become

“obsolete,” and he accused NATO members anew of shirking national commitments on military spending.

Hours later, Macron and Trump sat side by side for a media session, and Macron said he stood by his comments about the health of the NATO alliance. He also firmly expressed his frustration that Trump withdrew hundreds of American troops from Syria in October The US president slammed the ongoing Democratic-led

impeachment inquiry back in the United States as a “”hoax” and professed to be unconcerned about declines in the stock market spurred by his remark that a trade deal with China might not materialise until after the 2020 election.

Trump later called on Prince Charles and his wife Camilla and attended a NATO welcome reception at Buckingham Palace, before proceeding to an event at the prime minister’s residence at Number 10 Downing Street.

KAMALA HARRIS ENDS WHITE HOUSE BID, CITING LACK OF FUNDING CALIFORNIA Associated Press

KAMALA Harris told supporters yesterday that she was ending her bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, an abrupt close to a candidacy that held historic potential. “I’ve taken stock and looked at this from every angle,

and over the last few days have come to one of the hardest decisions of my life,” the California Democrat said.

“My campaign for president doesn’t have the financial resources we need to continue.”

A senior campaign aide said Harris made the decision

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after discussing the path forward with family and other top officials over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Her withdrawal marked a dramatic fall for a candidate who showed extraordinary promise in her bid to become the first black female president. Harris

launched her campaign in front of 20,000 people on a chilly January day in Oakland, California. The first woman and first black attorney general and US senator in California’s history, she was widely viewed as a candidate poised to excite the multiracial coalition of voters that sent Barack Obama to the White House.

EX-POLICE CHIEF SAYS HE DIDN’T DECEIVE ANYONE ON PURPOSE CHICAGO Associated Press OUSTED Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said yesterday he didn’t “intentionally mislead or deceive” anyone about the mid-October night he was found sleeping behind the wheel of his SUV. Johnson, 59, released a statement through his attorney a day after Mayor Lori Lightfoot fired him for “ethical lapses,” just weeks before he was set to retire. She said an inspector general’s report, which hasn’t been released publicly, revealed he misled her and the public about the circumstances of that evening and showed “flawed decision-making.”

Two Chicago newspapers published reports on Monday that seem to contradict Johnson’s public account in which he blamed an issue with his medication, saying he felt lightheaded while driving home and fell asleep after pulling over. Lightfoot said he’d told her he had “a couple of drinks with dinner.”

But the Chicago Sun-Times reported he was drinking for hours with a female member of his security detail at a downtown restaurant. The Chicago Tribune reported that the inspector general’s investigation includes video showing Johnson drinking for hours with a woman at a Chicago Board of Trade building restaurant. Both newspapers attributed the information to sources they didn’t identify.

“One thing I want everyone to know is this: I did not intentionally mislead or deceive the Mayor or the people of Chicago,” Johnson said in the statement.