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VOLUME:115 No.260, DECEMBER 5TH, 2018
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
SPORTS: HIELD WINS BATTLE OF THE BAHAMIAN GIANTS
‘Give us justice for our lost son’
Couple launch action over toddler’s death
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
DEVASTATED by the sudden and unexplained death of their brain-injured toddler who spent his entire life in hospital, a couple are suing the government in the hope of bringing not just closure for loved ones but justice for their son. Joshua Bullard was born in December 2015, just three days after his mother Madeen had allegedly been given the wrong blood
during a transfusion. His family insists this critical error played a crucial role in his severe developmental issues at birth, and lifelong hospitalisation. Following his death on March 9, his parents Ricardo and Madeen Bullard said they remain haunted by the litany of unanswered questions, total institutional silence from hospital officials and an overwhelming despair over possible missed
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is not concerned about the talk of a general strike in the country. “I’m more worried about other matters,” he joked to reporters yesterday, when asked for his reaction to recent comments on a general strike from union leaders.
NURSES overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action during a strike poll held yesterday, Bahamas Nurses Union president Amancha Williams said. As the BNU awaited poll results from a number of Family Islands, she said the unofficial result was 570 “yes” votes and three “no” votes. This means turnout and support for a strike was more robust this time than when a similar poll was taken in June, when 377 nurses voted in favour of a strike. “That speaks volumes,” Mrs Williams said. “It says whatever it takes to make it work, nurses are willing to move forward so The Bahamas government can hear they are saying no to what they are proposing.”
DAMES: WE HAVE ‘FAIR IDEA’ WHO SHOT COUPLE
SEE PAGE THREE
“I’m more worried and concerned whether the Saxons are going to win Junkanoo this Christmas. That’s what I’m gearing up for,” he laughed. Nonetheless, Dr Minnis’ remark drew criticism across social media after a reporter posted his comments, recalling other times when the prime minister responded flippantly to questions about national affairs. SEE PAGE SIX
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
SEE PAGE TWO
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
PM: I WAS ONLY JOKING - HONEST By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NURSES IN HUGE VOTE TO STRIKE
RICARDO and Madeen Bullard, with a picture of their son, during their interview with The Tribune yesterday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
POLICE have a “fair idea” who was responsible for Monday’s brazen double homicide at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in Fox Hill and will “bring them to justice”, according to National Security Minister Marvin Dames. In an interview with reporters yesterday on the sidelines of a Department of Correctional Services parole symposium, Mr Dames also said serious offences like murder do give him cause for concern, asserting that in every case of a reported homicide he’s “sick to my stomach”. SEE PAGE FIVE
GOVT FAILS TO HALT JEAN RONY CASE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal has granted Bahamas-born deportee Jean Rony JeanCharles leave to appeal its revocation of a Supreme Court judge’s landmark decision concerning his controversial detention and removal from The Bahamas to the Privy Council, despite stern opposition from the Crown. Appellate President Sir
JEAN Rony yesterday. Hartman Longley, and fellow appellate Justices Jon Isaacs and Sir Michael Barnett found yesterday
that the Crown had not sufficiently convinced the court as to why they should prevent Mr Jean-Charles and his attorneys from appealing their October 17 written decision. Mr Jean-Charles, who was present in court yesterday, told reporters after the hearing that he feels “great” about the opportunity to continue fighting for his constitutional relief, while Fred Smith, QC, his
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SEVEN
ALICIA WALLACE TWO YEARS ON WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE 2016?
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Wednesday, December 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
570 vote in favour and only three against as nurses set to strike from page one
The government refused to give the BNU a strike certificate after the first strike poll this summer, saying the union did not give every nurse an opportunity to vote. The move was seen as a thinly veiled attempt at denying the union a strike certificate at all costs, considering fewer than ten nurses were denied the chance to vote, far less than what would have been needed to influence the outcome. Over the weekend the Public Hospitals Authority, however, pulled back from a shift change policy that has propelled the nurses toward industrial action. Health Minister Dr Duane Sands confirmed Monday that the proposed four on/four off to five on/ two off shift change has been indefinitely postponed. It is the second time
the PHA has postponed the shift. Although nurses have other disputes with the PHA, it is only the shift change that would cause them to take industrial action at this time, Ms Williams said. “The shift change is a ‘no no’ and we will not settle for pickings on the table,” she said. “Give us what is due to us. We are a professional body and we want to be treated as such. PHA hasn’t given a definite answer as to how they are going to move forward (on the shift change) but that’s the one we would move on. If that move in, without the approval of the BNU, ain’t no doubt we moving in.” Ms Williams said the union will give the government 48 hours to produce a strike certificate, which would give the union the legal right to strike. She also reacted to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ much-criticised comments about general strike threats.
Earlier yesterday, Dr Minnis joked to reporters that he’s more concerned about whether the Saxons will win Junkanoo than he is about a general strike. A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister released last night said Dr Minnis was sharing a “lighthearted” moment with the media when he made the comment and was not making light of union concerns. Ms Williams said she didn’t find the remark upsetting but considers it unacceptable. “I realise the prime minister is underneath pressure, so he diverts his feelings to something that is going to soothe him instead of adding more fire to the flames, but I think he should not have said that,” she said. “In this time, what are you saying? That we are jokers? Ain’t nothing to us? That’s disrespect. That’s unacceptable in a crisis like this.”
THE BAHAMAS Nurses Union protesting outside the Princess Margaret Hospital earlier this year. Photo: Terrel W. Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
Gabriella Martin, 78, passes away in France GABRIELLA Martin, 78, wife of former wine director Grahame Martin, died last month at the couple’s home in the southeastern Alpine village of Chorges, France, according to a notice from loved ones. She died on November 8. Mr Martin was wine director of Wholesale Wines and Spirits and later Butler and Sands during the 1990s. He was well known as “Martin on Wines” on ZNS TV for several years. Italian by birth, Ms Martin was a dame maitre de table restaurateur of the Chaine de Rotisseurs and before coming to the Bahamas, worked as a deputy hotel manager in England. She judged a number of
student cooking competitions in Nassau hotels and often assisted her husband with his wine classes for the Bahamas Hotel Training College and elsewhere. She was well known for her entertaining and cooking at home for their many friends and her husband’s clients – Bahamian and foreign. She was a member of Inner Wheel Club of East Nassau and The Nassau Garden Club. Ms Martin is survived by her husband; her daughter, Michelle Ford Biunno and son-in-law, Rosario Biunno and two grandchildren, Vittoria and Eduardo Biunno. Friends can contact Mr Martin at gandg. martin@orange.fr
PUBLIC NOTICE The Tribune apologizes to KFC for publishing the incorrect ad which appeared on the front page of Tuesday December 4th publication.
“The Buckets of Love” promotion has expired. The Tribune apologizes for any inconvenience caused.
MOTORISTS URGED TO AVOID EAST BAY STREET
THE Ministry of Public Works/Bahamix has scheduled milling and paving works for East Bay Street from 9.30am to 2pm Monday through Friday, beginning December 10 The exercise will take five working days. Bahamix will resurface a section of the roadway between Mackey Street and Fowler Street. “There will be single lane closures implemented for the duration of the works,” a notice from the ministry said. “Provisions will be made for residents and businesses where necessary. Motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible. You are asked to be aware of and acknowledge the posted traffic paving signs in the area.” For questions or concerns, contact us (242) 361-3886 or (242) 341-3886.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, December 5, 2018, PAGE 3
Devastated by the unexplained death of their brain-injured son, a couple are suing the government in the hope of bringing closure for loved ones and justice for their child
RICARDO and Madeen Bullard talking to The Tribune. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Give us justice from page one opportunities to access expert medical opinions outside the country. The couple, who also have two daughters aged eight and nine, spoke to The Tribune on Monday, which would have marked Joshua’s third birthday. “To be honest, you can’t even say what would bring peace,” Mrs Bullard said. “Basically you can’t really answer that but one of the things I really want is justice for him. So that we can get ourselves together. We know time brings on healing and it’s not an overnight thing.” She continued: “It’s been eight months since he’s passed. I would want justice for him…at the end of the day he’s not here. They never actually said, ‘this is what is wrong with him’.” “Yesterday I woke up crying,” Mr Bullard said, “because some days are good and then some days are not so good. They say well, we have centres you can go to and talk about it. But the trauma that we have experienced is not just gonna take sitting down and talking about this, unless you have been through it and experienced the coldness of the institution. “When Joshua passed that day, we got no call from administration, nobody called,” Mr Bullard continued. “My son never, never one day left the hospital. He went from maternity ward to operating room straight into NICU, it’s been a struggle. And we were the lenient and compassionate parents on the ward.
(Despite) what we were going through, we were able to encourage other parents, tell them it would be ok, your baby is gonna go home. “Joshua was the oldest baby on that ward. We started with God, if it wasn’t for my (faith community) just our faith in God, and different ones praying for us. When we go out there we put on a mask because you’re hurting, you’re angry, it’s a daily feeling,” Mr Bullard said. James R Thompson & Co filed a writ on behalf of the Bullards in the Supreme Court in Freeport on June 26 in an action against the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands and Attorney General Carl Bethel, who are the defendants. The Bullards, of Freeport and Fox Hill in Nassau, are the first and second plaintiffs, and Rev Marjorie LaFleur, Mrs Bullard’s mother who is representing Joshua’s estate, stands in as the third plaintiff. Joshua was born at PMH on December 3, 2015 with “fatal brain injuries” due to alleged medical negligence. The infant was never able to leave the hospital after his birth and remained
in the ICU paediatric unit up until his death. Despite challenges, his mother dedicated her life to caring for him and spent each day with him during visiting hours. “I came there that Thursday (March 8),” she said, “I cleaned him up. I normally call my mother on video call, let her see him. He’s used to, when we come in the morning, pray with him. He’s used to the voices, he knows the difference, Grammy, mommy, daddy, and the voices of his nurses believe it or not.” Ms Bullard continued: “Mommy was talking to him and he’s making sounds. Once I left I went back that evening. They never said. . . they tried to tell me he had an infection, but he wasn’t on antibiotics. As simple as if I know when they take blood from him. Once the BandAid there I’m asking what happen, what y’all taking it for? What was the results? None of these things happened. They never called us in a conference, nothing to say what he died from.” In the lawsuit’s statement of claim, the plaintiffs are seeking damages for Joshua’s wrongful death, misrepresentation and
BABY JOSHUA BULLARD, born in December 2015.
negligence, and for harm caused to Mrs Bullard and Joshua before he was born, and negligence generally in respect to the plaintiffs. On November 30, 2015, a pregnant Mrs Bullard was admitted to the PMH where she was given a transfusion of blood that was incompatible to her blood type. The parents claimed the hospital knew or ought to have known the blood type but still administered the wrong blood which then caused a severe reaction in Mrs Bullard and they believe severe injuries to her unborn baby. It is further alleged the defendants and their servants and agents did no treatment or took no precaution and/or took no account of the unborn baby or the mother’ severe reaction or injuries caused to both them. After Joshua was born, it is alleged the defendants did not advise Mr and Mrs Bullard of the permanent injuries and misrepresented to the plaintiffs that the child would survive giving them hope and expectation that the infant would recover. “The defendants kept the infant at PMH for approximately three years and the first and second plaintiffs visited and hoped and expected their child to come home relying on the said misrepresentation,” the statement read. The Bullards, who had expected that their child would recover, contacted various experts in the United States and other countries about treatment and recovery of their child without results. Mr and Mrs Bullard
wrote a letter on February 22 to Dr Sands about their concerns and requested his assistance and audience, but the couple claimed they never received any response from him. It is claimed that Joshua died this year after “several unusual treatments and visits by agents of the defendants at the PMH.” On Monday, Mrs Bullard recalled: “They just said they needed to see us, that was their words. They didn’t say nothing happen to him. The doctor came in and was like ‘Joshua is a fighter’ and I’m like ok, these are words I always hear. I said ‘yes he is, he’s a strong boy.’ (The doctor) said ‘I don’t know what took place but Joshua passed.’ I said, ‘Passed?’ He said ‘Yes, he’s gone,’ I said, ‘Gone where?’ “I heard them shuffling,” she said, “I heard the crib. What they did was take him out, have him wrap up in the blanket and they hand him to me. I’m like what happened?” The Bullards have questioned the time stamp on his death certificate, which states the child died at 11.31pm on March 9. His mother said: “Even if that’s the case, let’s say it’s a
grammatical error and they meant to put after 11am. I was there to the hospital from after 10am. How could that happen when I was already present at hospital? “It couldn’t have happened the night before (March 8) because we called and they said he was sleeping,” Mrs Bullard said. “They would call for anything, any time because they knew we were involved. You didn’t call, you didn’t say anything before we went to bed on Thursday, this was around 12am-1am we called, that’s a routine we do. They told us he was sleeping and I said let him know we love him and we will see him tomorrow.” In their writ, it is also alleged health officials had “secret visits to Joshua in the hospital” and “the defendants took steps that resulted in and caused the death of the infant, third plaintiff, and to effect and to minimise their liability that resulted and caused the death of the third plaintiff.” The plaintiffs also claimed the hospital has refused to give them the results of an autopsy.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, December 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
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May’s down to the wire with storm clouds on every side BRITAIN’S departure from the European Union is once again top of the international news agenda. With barely four months before the nation’s exit from the bloc next March 29 a draft agreement on the terms of Brexit has been approved by Prime Minister Theresa May’s government and by the 27 remaining EU members. But, before being formally endorsed by EU leaders, approval by the British Parliament is required. A so-called meaningful vote in the House of Commons is expected on December 11 following a five-day marathon debate and what is expected to be a titanic showdown among MPs. The agreement – as well as the separate political declaration outlining how EU/ UK trade, security and other issues will work - has already been fiercely opposed in recent parliamentary exchanges and the signs are that it will be ultimately rejected. If the House of Commons votes down the deal, EU leaders have made clear their unwillingness to renegotiate it. A no-deal Brexit would presumably follow, resulting in possible chaos, severe damage to the British economy and wide-ranging repercussions internationally. The Bank of England has predicted the UK could sink into a severe recession. For its part, the International Monetary Fund has warned of shockwaves through the world financial system that would put global economic stability at risk. It seems many in the UK have become increasingly concerned that, after more than 18 months of intense negotiations to implement the majority decision in the 2016 referendum to quit the EU, the best the government can come up with is a controversial draft agreement which satisfies few and is already strongly opposed on the grounds it does not deliver the Brexit demanded by the people. Mrs May now has to convince MPs the agreement is the best way forward for Britain. She claims it is right for the whole of the country because it will mean regaining control of the UK’s laws, money and borders, as well as its agriculture and fisheries, together with the right to develop an independent trade policy. Critics of the agreement maintain, however, these claims cannot be justified because the divorce terms are too vague and leave the UK half-in and half-out of the bloc for an indeterminate period. Those opposed to it contend that, while continuing to make huge payments to the EU, the UK will be consigned to what has been termed “a limbo of unknowable duration” through a transition period that could be extended while the nation continues to be tied to the EU’s rules (without any say in formulating them) and could be forced to stay in the customs union indefinitely because
of the backstop arrangements for the Irish border. Seen from this side of the Atlantic and detached from the controversy, it is easier to reflect on the main issue of Brexit which is essentially about UK sovereignty and control over the nation’s affairs. Some in Britain maintain the failure of Mrs May’s government to stand firm against EU intransigence and negotiate a clean break from a Brussels which is making the country’s exit as difficult as possible in order to deter other members from following suit - is tantamount to capitulation. As such, they compare it with the Suez crisis in 1956 or what historians regard as Britain’s blunder in sacrificing Czechoslovakia instead of facing up to Hitler at Munich in 1938. Others see a parallel with King Henry VIII’s schism with Rome and the rejection of Roman Catholicism. Still others regard Brexit as a modern failure in statecraft when Britain should be operating from a position of strength in its own interests as a sovereign nation. Many consider that Brexit was inevitable as the EU remains intent on ever-closer union and a federal superstate, despite the irony that European integration appears to have stalled with the election of populist governments in Hungary, Poland and, more recently, Italy. They see Brexit as a withdrawal from the EU’s political institutions so that Britain can indeed take back control of – in Mrs May’s words – the nation’s laws, money and borders. But they recognise the importance of close cooperation where possible and, in particular, frictionless trade with Britain’s European neighbours; and this was shown originally by the result of Britain’s 1975 referendum when a clear majority voted to stay in the then European Economic Community or Common Market. It seems that a “no deal” could lead to the ousting of Mrs May as Prime Minister and to a General Election or a second referendum which presumably would be billed as a people’s vote on the draft agreement. But, even if the House of Commons passes the draft agreement, she could still face a vote of no-confidence in the face of pressure from Brexiteers. At this critical stage nothing can be ruled out. Whatever happens, we reiterate our comment in an earlier column – as observers from afar - that this is a momentous time in British politics and an important point in the nation’s long history. It is no exaggeration to say the coming weeks and months could be crucial in determining Britain’s immediate political and economic future. We must also remember the warnings now growing louder that if this depending on how this all plays out the negative impact on the whole global economy could be seismic.
We need to tempt the tourists off those ships EDITOR, The Tribune TOURISM arrivals – well irony in that the FNM are now praising the economic effect of the Baha Mar project – had to be sort of a happy occasion for the good Minister seeing that his buddy Sarkis created it and PM Christie dug the whole mess out…thanks also to EXIM. Baha Mar, yes, is part of the increase in visitor arrivals but don’t underestimate the effects of the quiet tourism, created by Bahamians through AirB&B and other groups - AirB&B has more
rooms under their data base than a Baha Mar…what is the effect of this? 2,300 residences in Nassau times say two-bedrooms crashed the rooms available at Baha Mar or Atlantis. Does tourism have any concept of how many visitors this sector is bringing in and honestly have little promotion - affect on? Cruise arrivals… Whether Prince George Wharf looks good or not only a two percent increase…will the new concessionaire probably Arawak Port Development/ Global Holdings be able
to improve on that? Sorry – No-spend millions on a cosmetic improvement which you have only government to blame for unless the ships visit earlier on their itinerary forget any appreciable Cruise visitor spend…we need dem folks to disembark…have money in their debt and credit cards which only earlier visits on their cruise will create - if only Ministry of Tourism would understand. ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, November 24, 2018.
The CPSA’s shakedown of the Minnis administration EDITOR, The Tribune SENIOR doctors of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) and the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) remain in stalemate. Notwithstanding the assurances of CPSA doctors, the ongoing industrial action has the potential of exposing gravely ill Bahamians who depend on the Princess Margaret Hospital to unnecessary risks. Most Bahamians do not have the option of going to Doctors Hospital or other privately owned health institutions, simply because they cannot afford to. Most Bahamians do not have health insurance coverage. That too they cannot afford. I mentioned in the past that the Central Bank of The Bahamas revealed that 90 percent of working Bahamians do not have $5,000 on their bank accounts. For all intents and purposes, The Bahamas is a poor country. Multimillion dollar foreign direct investments over the past 45 years have cushioned the blow of this country’s true economic condition, at least with respect to indigenous black Bahamians, who constitute 85 percent of the population. Many of the Bahamians whose faces we see in the Thursday’s Nassau Guardian and The Tribune obituaries are dead because they could not afford the astronomical fees of private physicians, who are in the business to get rich. The current situation with many gravely ill Bahamians is similar to what Kino, Juana and Coyotito encountered with the rich doctor in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. The wealthy doctor refused to treat Coyotito because his father, Kino, could not afford to pay his fee. It was only when the doctor learned of Kino coming into possession of a massive
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net pearl that he decided to treat the child, who was stung by a scorpion. Many Bahamians can attest to the fact that the first question private doctors routinely ask is if they have health insurance. Like the doctor in The Pearl, many Bahamian private doctors seem to be operating in contravention of the Hippocratic oath, which states that doctors must concern themselves with the wellbeing of the sick, whether they’re rich or poor. If CSPA members are in the healthcare profession to become wealthy, they have chosen the wrong profession. CPSA members are obviously not taking into consideration the financial constraints of The Bahamas. Their initial asking price of $250,000 for each of their approximately 115 members shows a shocking naivety concerning the financial condition of the national coffers. Had the Free National Movement (FNM) administration of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis acquiesced to the $250,000 request, that would then mean that the state would then have to dole out a staggering $28,750,000 annually between 115 senior doctors. At $250,000, it would then mean that CPSA doctors would be earning $20,833 a month. The PHA’s proposal of $60,500 per annum or $5,041 per month is a fair offer, and is commensurate with the socio-economic state of The Bahamas. I honestly doubt The Bahamas can afford to give CPSA its minimum asking price of $75,000. Each year the massive civil service costs taxpayers nearly
three-quarters of $1 billion. The current situation is clearly unsustainable. If the FNM yields to the demands of each of the unions that are demanding money, it might be tempted to lay off in the civil service or increase VAT once again. VAT currently has no cap. It can be increased from its current 12 percent rate. In all things considered, at $60,500 per annum, CPSA doctors would be among the highest paid public doctors in the entire Caribbean. The issue with CPSA doctors as well as many other Bahamian professionals is that they unfairly compare this Third World country with First World countries such as the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Canada. However, these countries’ economies are in the trillions, whereas The Bahamas’ economy is in the single billions. The Bahamas is light years behind the foregoing nations with respect to finances, education, industry, technology and development. In closing, it is interesting that CPSA members have chosen to stage an industrial strike at this juncture, seeing that their reported grievances have spanned a decade, dating back to the last FNM administration of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. To the best of my knowledge, the CPSA never was a thorn in the side of the Christie administration. So why all of a sudden CPSA members appear to want to topple the public healthcare system? Could it be because one of their colleagues, Dr Minnis, currently serves as prime minister? Is there a hidden agenda in their shakedown of the Minnis administration? KEVIN EVANS Freeport Grand Bahama December 2, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, December 5, 2018, PAGE 5
We have a fair idea who shot couple, says Dames
from page one He added: “But it’s incidents like these ones that give you cause for pause and concern.” Neil Deveaux, 33, and his fiancée, Ashlee Hilton, 30 were ambushed as they attempted to leave Sandilands on Monday morning following a therapy session. Deveaux was said to be undergoing physical therapy treatment at the facility following a recent shooting several months ago. Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash said police suspected the couple was targeted by persons in search of Deveaux. CSP Cash also confirmed Deveaux was known to police, referring to him as “one of our prolific offenders”. Addressing this aspect of the case yesterday, the Mount Moriah MP said: “We will find those persons responsible and we will bring them to justice. We have a fair idea as to who we may be dealing with, and these are persons that are in the system already. “But, if you can recall, I think it was (a few months) ago, this same individual was shot and during that time, did not offer much
information to police as to how he came about his injuries. Whether these two matters are connected, it is too early to make those determinations. “But what I will say is this, the police have made tremendous progress over 2018. There is still a lot of work to do and they will be relentless; as relentless as need be until these individuals are taken into custody. “And, we want to make it very clear, that this is not the kind of behaviour that we are going to accept in this country anymore, and we will continue to press for the remainder of 2018 and into 2019, to ensure that all of those young men in particular, who are engaging in this kind of activities, will be brought to justice.” Mr Dames insisted that a comparative analysis of crime statistics of recent years would support his claims that the detection rate has improved significantly. However, he maintained his office would not celebrate this reality until circumstances like the one that played out Monday are considered non-existent. Mr Dames said: “And what I mean by that is, we are not going to allow in this country, persons to take the law into their own
hands and decide who lives or dies.” Reflecting on current crime statistics and what they should represent in law enforcement’s efforts to address pressing trends, he added: “I believe that at this time last year I think we were over 100 (homicides) and the figures to date, I think it is 81. While that is significantly lower than last year, I am still not satisfied. I am certain if you ask police, they are not as well.” Mr Dames said the downward trend of serious offences such as murder marks a start. He maintained that moving into 2019, as aspects of his office’s policing strategy are rolled out, there will be a greater push to lower those numbers even further. Meanwhile, addressing security measures at Sandilands, Mr Dames said his ministry is prepared to work with the Ministry of Health to determine what can be done to improve systems at the facility. Health Minister Dr Sands on Monday said the security and surveillance protocols in place at the facility would be reviewed in the wake of Monday’s incident. Mr Dames said his office is “always open to do and to make recommendations when necessary”.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE ACCUSED OF PERFORMING FRAUD MARRIAGES By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A 60-year-old justice of the peace was charged yesterday with performing fraudulent marriages with some of the fake marriage certificates he allegedly had in his possession bearing the name of his co-accused. Kenneth Livingston Burrows, of Blair Estates, was charged before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux on numerous fraud related charges concerning the false marriages he allegedly facilitated. His co-accused, Haitian national Louizelien Louis of Union Village, is accused, among other things, of entering into a fake marriage just to get a spousal permit from The Bahamas Department of Immigration. Both Burrows and Louis are accused of conspiring to commit fraud and then fraudulently obtaining a
marriage licence, number 72085, from the Registrar General’s Department on Shirley Street on June 6, 2017. The two men are further charged with conspiring to commit a fraudulent marriage on that same date. Burrows is further charged with conspiring to perform a fraudulent marriage; aiding and abetting in performing a fraudulent marriage; aiding and abetting in making a false declaration for marriage; uttering and being found in possession of a fake marriage certificate bearing the names Indira Indianna Wilson and Louizelien Louis, all on June 6, 2017. He also allegedly attempted to perform a fake marriage sometime between October 1 and November 29 of this year, and, being concerned with others, conspired to commit fraud between that same period of time. Concerning Louis, it is
alleged that he wilfully entered into a marriage on June 6, 2017 in the hope of obtaining a spousal permit from the Bahamas Department of Immigration, and made a false declaration for marriage to a Bahamian marriage officer so as to obtain a marriage licence. The 36-year-old is also accused of uttering and being found in possession of a fake marriage licence bearing his name and that of Indira Indianna Wilson while at the Bahamas Department of Immigration on June 23, 2017. The men pleaded not guilty to their respective charges and their cases were adjourned to January 2019 for trial. Bail was denied and they were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until that time or until such time as they are successful in securing bail from the Supreme Court.
CHIEF Superintendent Solomon Cash, above, at the scene of the double killing on Monday. The victims were Neil Deveaux and Ashlee Hilton, pictured right. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PAGE 6, Wednesday, December 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
I’m more worried about Junkanoo than a general strike, laughs PM Minnis from page one Asked once about appointing a substantive chief justice, he joked that he was going home to make stew fish. A statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister last night responded to the backlash Dr Minnis received online, stressing that, despite his joke, the nation’s leader was not seeking to make light of labour issues. “The prime minister, after addressing the Third Caribbean Infrastructure Forum at the Baha Mar Convention Centre on Tuesday, was asked by the media whether he was concerned about a general strike,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister noted. “The prime minister responded ‘No’. He went on to also suggest that there were additional matters upon which he had some worries and concerns.” The statement said Dr Minnis’ comments about Junkanoo was an attempt to engage the media in “a moment of light humour”. The statement continued: “He further joked with a member of the media and asked ‘You pull for us don’t you?’ And then asked, ‘You’re not a Saxon?’ The time with the media ended on a high note with the prime minister giving a hearty chuckle to members of the press before moving on to his next assignment. The prime minister at no time however sought to make light of or diminish the seriousness of labour issues or the concerns of workers within the country. It was only after giving a
A STATEMENT from the Prime Minister’s office last night stressed that, despite his joke, Dr Minnis was not seeking to make light of labour issues. Unions leaders disUnions have not held grumbling about their unreclear response to the question that the prime minister serious talks about a solved labour disputes with missed the prime minister’s large-scale meeting with sought to use the opportu- general strike, accord- the government. “There hasn’t been any them on Monday, saying nity, as an avid Junkanooer ing to Bahamas Union Teachers President discussions about a general they merely rehashed their and member of the Saxons of Superstars, to have a light- Belinda Wilson, though strike to my knowledge at concerns but got no closer hearted moment with the some union leaders have this time,” Mrs Wilson told to having them resolved. Dr Minnis also said mentioned it while this newspaper yesterday. media.”
yesterday: “Some of the problems were way back 15 years you know, I wasn’t even here and then I’m saddled with 15 years of problems but, so be it. (The meeting on Monday) was very informative. I obtained a lot of information. The information I have gathered from them I will inform my labour minister to meet with the relevant unions so as to deal with the matters. They had other concerns with respect to board and agencies, how they were functioning and I will ask the relevant ministers to speak with their chairmen of the various boards so you could have better communication between the boards and the union and employees (sic).” Dr Minnis had a more successful meeting with senior doctors of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association. He was expecting to meet with Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson yesterday, he said, adding the team “will look at whether we have any type of wiggle room but we have just introduced our fiscal policy programme so under no circumstance can we at any degree jeopardise our international financial standings. You know we’re being reviewed by the OECD, etc, so all those matters have to be taken into consideration. One cannot just look in isolation, one has to look at the global picture.” Doctors persisted with their industrial action yesterday after their meeting with Mr Johnson was postponed to noon today, however. “We are not returning to work at this time,” said one CPSA representative.
DAMES AIMING TO TRANSFORM BDCS FROM A PENAL FACILITY TO A CORRECTIONAL ONE By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames said yesterday the substantial role of commissioner of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services will be filled at some point in 2019, this as several “transformative” moves are being finalised as the facility moves towards its proposed parole scheme. Mr Dames also said officials were working to transform the BDCS from a penal facility to a correctional one; a move that will also feature a new commissioner and executive team that will place an emphasis on “rehabilitation and parole integration”. According to the Mount Moriah MP a tremendous amount of work has already been done with respect to reviewing the proposed Probation Bill, its implementation and the structures and systems that would be needed to have it fully operational at some point in 2019. “The Bahamas Department of Corrections is going through a transformative period that will certainly change it for the better,” Mr Dames told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of a symposium. “We are pleased with the direction in which we are taking the
Bahamas Department of Corrections and next year will be a very special year for them. We will have a new commissioner, a new executive team in place. That will be a transformative team, a team of individuals who understands the business of rehabilitation and parole integration.” The Ministry of National Security is expected to close out its two-day parole symposium later today. The forum brought together key stakeholders and personnel in discussion on ways to best implement a parole system in The Bahamas. The $20 million Inter-American Development Bank’s Citizen Security and Justice Programme is helping to fund the development the proposed system. Under the Christie administration, a Parole and Re-Entry Steering Committee was established to examine the matter. The recommendations of that committee have not been made public to date. As part of a 2016 study, which involved 350 inmates, researchers examined a range of factors, including prisoner psyche, conditions at the BDCS and the country’s legal system. Proponents of the implementation of a parole system have used aspects of this study to aid their calls for an immediate overhaul of the entire system.
However, in an attempt to balance public views on what BDCS presently represents, Mr Dames yesterday asserted that the culture highlighted in discussions on the facility is often void of all the facts. Mr Dames went on to use Monday’s double homicide as a point of observation, lamenting that there are people in the system that just cannot be helped. The male victim was reportedly a prolific offender, who was shot just months ago in a gang-related incident. According to Mr Dames, when given the chance to help police solve that matter, the victim offered little to no assistance. As such, Mr Dames said the
country’s reform system features more pragmatic components than are not often discussed, namely the country’s criminal, social and child rearing cultures. “Well, yeah, when we talk about the system, it is more than just the system; it is all of us,” he said. “Those persons who are responsible for these cowardly acts are our kid, they have a mother and a father, and love ones.” He later added: “As you know, a number of months ago, we would have signed a contract with BTVI where a number of inmates who are actually going through the BTVI training are about to graduate very shortly.
“We had the Ministry of Labour in the facility, along with businesses from throughout New Providence meeting with inmates and they are looking at (some as) prospects to hire. “We are moving along that path, but is that the panacea? I think for the mass majority of the inmates it is, but we are talking about that element, that very small element, that continues to believe that they can use a gun to change somebody’s life. That is what we are talking about. “And we will find them where ever they are. And those are the type of individuals I honestly do not know what you can do to help them. The only place for them is permanently behind bars. It is unfortunate.” The recidivism rate at the BDCS has long been an issue. In October, acting BDCS Commissioner Charles Murphy said the rate was at an “unacceptable” high. While he stopped short of giving an exact figure on recidivism at the correctional facility, he pointed to programmes like the BTVI initiative and the Department of Labour’s programme as elements helping to address the rate. Twenty prison officers were trained in the BDCS’s inaugural parole programme, which was supervised by Canadian correctional service experts earlier this year.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, December 5, 2018, PAGE 7
I think now the government has got the message - you can’t expel citizens born of the soil, says Smith from page one lead attorney, said having the Privy Council consider the case is “good for the development of jurisprudence in The Bahamas.” “We’re very pleased,” Mr Smith said outside of court. “As (Sir Hartman) said, this is a matter of great public importance and I think it’s going to be good for the development of jurisprudence in The Bahamas, for the Privy Council to have an opportunity to consider the issues. The case is not as simple, we think, as it was made out to be. “I know the Court of Appeal dismissed the habeas corpus aspect of it, but there are much larger constitutional issues. How you can bring a constitutional motion, what considerations the Supreme Court must take into account? If you remember, Justice Hilton’s judgment was basically all about (Mr Jean-Charles’) constitutional rights. And regrettably there are many people in Mr Jean Rony’s case who were born in The Bahamas and were most illegally deported. “So we feel that even in a habeas corpus case you can still raise that constitutional issue to be determined.” Mr Smith added: “One thing I want to make clear, is that the dismissal of the Supreme Court judgment in his favour doesn’t mean that (Mr Jean-Charles) still doesn’t have his constitutional rights to be determined. So even if his appeal doesn’t succeed, he still has the right to mount a fresh constitutional motion for damages, for his illegal detention, for assault, for battery, false imprisonment and illegal deportation. “And I think now the government has gotten the message…you can’t be expelling from your own country citizens or people born of the soil. Otherwise, there’s no limit to who they can start expelling from the country without issuing a deportation order.” Yesterday’s proceedings were the latest in Mr Jean-Charles’ legal battles concerning his expulsion from The Bahamas to Haiti on November 24, 2017, after being detained from September 17 of that year, and Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hilton’s subsequent landmark ruling that both his detention and expulsion were unlawful. At the time, Justice
WE’RE very pleased, said QC Fred Smith outside court yesterday when he left with Jean Rony Jean-Charles. Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff Hilton further found that was based on “flimsy” and Bethel described the appel- because of uncertainty over Mr Jean-Charles was “very dubious” evidence, late ruling as an important Mr Jean-Charles’ identity. deprived of his personal and that such evidence vindication of due process, In turn, the Crown, led liberty, unlawfully arrested warranted the ruling being but Mr Smith regretted by attorney Loren Klein, and detained/falsely impris- set aside or alternatively that the judgment did not opposed Mr Smith’s applioned in breach of his rights reheard with “proper sub- address the far-reaching cation for leave to appeal guaranteed him under the missions and evidence”. Constitutional issues raised to the Privy Council, chargConstitution. The Crown also submit- by the case. ing that while the Crown Justice Hilton thus ted that the evidence in In an affidavit sub- was not objecting merely ordered the government support of Mr Jean-Charles’ sequently filed to the to put “obstacles” in Mr to issue a travel docu- constitutional motion was London-based Privy Coun- Jean-Charles’ way, but to ment to Mr Jean-Charles “third-party” evidence and cil, Mr Jean-Charles’ fulfill its duty in assisting to “allow and permit” him not entirely reliable, as he lawyers argued that the the court in filtering out any to travel from Haiti into questioned the veracity of a Court of Appeal was wrong “unmeritorious” appeals. The Bahamas, and that it lot of the claims contained to conclude that their conMr Klein contended pay the “reasonable cost” in it. stitutional application that the appellate judges of Mr Jean-Charles’ jourIn their written ruling should not have proceeded dismissed Justice Hilton’s ney “forthwith upon his last month, after having return”. heard submissions from He further ordered that both sides, the appellate the minister and director judges said there could of immigration should, no be no finding of constitulater than 60 days after Mr tional breach relating to Jean-Charles’ return and Mr Jean-Charles’ detention upon his application, issue and deportation last year “such status” that would because of the uncertainty “permit him to remain in over his identity. The Bahamas and to legally There was much debate seek gainful employment.” during the appeal over However, Justice Hilton the discrepancy surdismissed the writ of habeas rounding whether the corpus Mr Smith had filed individual immigraon November 29, 2017 for tion authorities said they the government to produce deported — Jean Charles, Mr Jean-Charles, finding as and Mr Jean-Charles – are Mr Jean-Charles was not one and the same. in the custody of the state Thus, the appellate at the time the application justices found that any for the writ was made, the application for constituorder for the writ should tional, or any other relief, not have been issued. should not have been enterThe Crown subsequently tained until that issue was appealed Justice Hilton’s resolved. decision, contending that it Attorney General Carl
NUMBER OF CONFIRMED CASES OF SWINE FLU RISES TO FOUR By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the country has risen to four, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands. Yesterday, Dr Sands said around 2,500 people have been vaccinated since the onset of the 2018-2019 influenza season. He could not provide any details on the latest victim, who was presently in hospital for treatment. “I want to separate the discussion from swine flu,” Dr Sands told reporters outside Cabinet, “it sounds good, it sounds interesting. We are talking about seasonal influenza, and H1N1 has been tied to that term swine flu but it doesn’t really help the public to understand. “We are concerned that everybody understands the significance of flu. So the fact that the H1N1 subtype is one of the types of flu, doesn’t mean that the others are not serious. So what we’d like everybody to know is that you can protect yourself, you can protect your family, you can do it for free, go get
HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands is urging people to take the trouble to get vaccinated. your immunisation, make especially those in the highsure you use good hygiene, risk category, to get the make sure you use good shot. respiratory hygiene and Those in this category that is where the focus is.” are healthcare workers, day The United States-based care providers and school Centre for Disease Control teachers, children between (CDC) has maintained that six months and five-yearsan annual flu vaccine is the old, the elderly, persons best way to protect against with chronic, non-commuinfluenza and its potentially nicable diseases, women serious complications. who will be pregnant The organisation rec- during flu season and obese ommends that everyone persons. six-months and older be Last year, the US estivaccinated. mated that more than Dr Sands has also 80,000 died of the flu and its strongly urged people, complications.
decision on three main grounds, which were all procedural in nature, and thus did not make any determination on Justice Hilton’s findings on Mr Jean-Charles’ alleged constitutional breaches. Conversely, Mr Klein noted that the appellate judge’s ruling made it clear that Mr Jean-Charles is free to pursue any appropriate remedies, including launching a court action for Constitutional redress in the Supreme Court, based on his detention and removal from The Bahamas. Thus, Mr Klein submitted that for the Court of Appeal to grant leave to appeal to the Privy Council, when the appellate court has not ruled on the Constitutional issues determined by Justice Hilton, would have the effect of “sanctioning a leap-frog appeal from the Supreme Court to the Privy Council.” In response, Mr Smith said his client has a right to go to the Privy Council to have his constitutional relief reinstated, and argued that he cannot be denied that relief, or leave to have it reinstated, simply because of the appellate court’s decision to overturn Justice Hilton’s ruling on procedural issues. Additionally, Mr Smith said Mr Jean-Charles’ matter is “self-evidently” one that started from a constitutional matter, consequently raises constitutional issues, and is a matter of “tremendous public importance,” the likes of which the Crown relied upon to argue some of the submissions its attorneys made.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, December 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
What we saw in 2016 is what we have now
VACANCY NOTICE
Broadcast IP Video Specialist Cable Bahamas Limited is seeking to employ an experienced Broadcast IP Video Specialist. The successful candidate must be a highly motivated person, organized and detailed oriented. SUMMARY The position of Broadcast IP Video Engineer will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of all video equipment within the Headend and at field locations. This position is responsible for troubleshooting activities for outages in conjunction with the technical teams, and ensuring acquisition routing and quality control of incoming and outgoing video feeds. The position also requires occasional extended work in and around a typical data center, telecommunications facility, and/or Central Office. These environments may include loud machinery/fan noise, chilled temperatures and wind, and lowered humidity working with and around highamperage AC and DC power. JOB DESCRIPTION • Configuration, installation and management of Core Video Multiplexers, Edge Video Switches, Routers, IP Video Modulators; • Configuration and Management of IPTV, OTT, ATSC and all IP related video equipment. • Ensure the integrity of video and encoding hardware and software; • Perform analysis, diagnosis and troubleshoot root cause of issues/ outages related to IP video content; • Assessing the impact of content issues that arise as part of daily operations; • Review current IP video environment, product requirements, and determine gaps; • Liaise with new equipment vendors and middleware service providers; • IP Video Headend system monitoring and management; • Troubleshooting of all alarms in relation to IP video broadcast generated from the Headend monitoring systems; • Work closely with IP Engineers and Headend Technicians to identify and resolve issues that impact the IP video network; • Development of MOPs, Testing Procedures, Labs with ticket creation; • Meticulous documentation of video network infrastructure; • Liaising with internal and external clients to deliver new products and initiatives; • Working within a team with a focus on delivering the company’s yearly objectives; • Help facilitate new network projects ensuring minimal disruption to live services; • Ensuring the video network infrastructure is fit for effective and efficient service delivery and aligned with the company’s objectives; • Assisting in the maintenance and tracking of hardware and software owned by the company; • Perform all other Headend related duties as determined and assigned by management.
W
E are plagued by the desire for a hero. When anything goes wrong, we look for someone to save the day. When we are frustrated, we call radio talk shows and make angry posts and comments on social media until someone comes up with an action. Depending on who it is and how they position themselves, we may get on board. We are more prepared to follow than to lead and, when we have options, we follow the person who looks most like a hero. It is easier that way. Less is required of us. We can set high expectations and maybe even make a few demands, then wait for the hero to fight, conquer and deliver. Inevitably, the hero becomes a problem, whether we recognise it or not. What they accomplish is their victory alone. There is little interest in collaboration or feedback because we were all comfortable with being on the sidelines before they took the throne. The hero is prepared to lead, but not to represent. Decisions are theirs to make and they can do no wrong. How could they, after doing so much and having such strong support all along?
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED • A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent; • Two or more years of strong understanding and experience working with MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 (H.264) compression, MCPC and IPTV platforms, video transmission/reception equipment, video monitoring equipment and ancillary video equipment; • Two or more years of strong experience working with multicast and next-generation Video delivery technologies (IPTV, ABR HLS, Smooth Streaming, etc.); • Two or more years exposure with various test equipment, including: MPEG analyzers, optical power meters, RF signal level meters, RF spectrum analyzers; • Must have knowledge of and experience with a wide range of technologies including routers, multiplexers, switches, RF uplink and downlink hardware, and associated redundancy hardware; • A fundamental understanding of Linux command line; • Comprehensive understanding of IP Video Technologies and Network Environments; • Networking and IP multicast routing; • CCNA/CCNP, Comp TIA Network +; • IP transport of MPEG-TS over UDP/RTP multicast; • Strong understanding and experience working with TCP/IP technologies desired, including IPv4, addressing/subnetting, IP unicast routing and IP Multicast routing and associate technologies; • Able to Diagnose Network Connectivity Issues; • An understanding of digital modulation technologies (QPSK – 256 QAM) is desirable; • Working knowledge of RF systems, including: general understanding of the EIA spectrum, general understanding of RF performance requirements in a QAM environment, basic RF troubleshooting techniques, Working knowledge of the OSI model, specifically layers 1, 2 & 3; • Knowledge of multi-vendor middle-ware software such as Imagine, Arris, Builtwrite, Minerva, Anevia and TiVO/ROVI; • Ability to effectively use engineering NMS tools such as Solarwinds, Wireshark etc.; • Experience with MS Office and MS Visio; • Ability to isolate problems and troubleshoot issues down to the hardware level.
Before the 2017 general election During the campaign for the general election last year, Minnis was framed as an unlikely hero. While some saw an ill-prepared underdog, others saw characteristics that were unusual for a political contender and understood the difference to be positive. We did not need what we had been dealt before. He would bring a new attitude and a different energy to the position of Prime Minister. He was a lacklustre public speaker, but people were convinced he was more personable, humble and reachable that those we had seen before. He would be more likely to listen to our concerns, be open to our ideas and lead with compassion. He would be open to counsel. Minnis would be the change we needed, not because he demonstrated this to us, but because we chose to believe it at a time when we wanted a hero, different from the sort Christie was supposed to be. No one else who presented themselves had been able to get past the roadblocks of ancient intra-party politics. He was what the Free National Movement offered and we accepted. Before the election, Henfield organised a march. He convinced the Bahamian people that he, like us, was sick and tired of business as usual. He persuaded droves of people to wear black and march with him, but with their own causes. This impressed people. They could choose an issue they cared about and march for it. It gave the illusion of unity, capitalising on mass dissatisfaction. The only consensus reached was that people were angry, wanted change, and would use the impending election to pressure all parties and politicians to listen to hundreds of demands. Those demands have yet to be met, but the march did accomplish a few things. A few months ahead of the general election, the march gave the FNM reasonable certainty that it would win and this certainly affected its campaign (which hitched its wagon to the march). It also proved Bahamians have a general understanding of protests and what it communicates to politicians, but most are only willing to do so when the issue is their own — so not necessarily in support of others — and it feels like nothing else can be done. It did not, however, create a culture of shared responsibility, (appreciation for) activism, or collective action. It was a single event led by a perceived hero, powered by the people’s anger.
PERSONAL COMPETENCIES • Ability to exercise judgement within broadly defined practices and select methods and techniques for obtaining solutions; • Excellent attention to detail and methodical approach; • Ability to self-motivate and work independently; • Strong decision-making & analytical skills; • Customer service orientated approach; • Strong oral & written communication skills; • Ability to manage multiple tasks and priority levels; • Proactive approach to changing technologies; • Be able to work outside normal work hours; TgestriAndbBesut!ne to perform work/maintenance at all digital • Be able to travel TheBigperiodically Headend sites in The Bahamas and United States; ne T•heBiggTestriAndbu Best! This position requires on call support (Tier 2/3) and off-hours maintenance OBITS activities (weekends, weeknights and/or Holidays); INSIDE ribune honest, meticulous, • Possess personal traits: Friendly, mature, The eeTfactual, W kend self-starter. A1MAIN
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not be officials could T to press time. reached up By AVA TURNQUES to sources Reporter of According .net Tribune Chief matter, as tribunemedia close to the Wells has since aturnquest@ Mr Progres- Monday his accounts FOUR former Cabinet paid $9,000 on balParty an outstanding ARNOLD sive Liberal more than with $8,600. FORBES ministers owedat Bahamas ance of some also said as $62,023 The source Forbes was one $20,000 each Mr Light, with Power and in arrears of Monday the company former minister as of July, in talks with balance over settle the Mr for some $60,000 a list obtained to three-month period. to a according PLP Mount by The Tribune.and Collec- Forbes, former MP, was appointed The Credit 2015, listing of Moriah in January the tions Department as board to Cabinet and served MPs, senators the period and previouslythe Bahamas of for members 31, revealed chairman and Industrial ending July State Minister Agricultural . that former of Works Corporation the “do not on Ministry Others in the owed BPL list are: former Dr disconnect” Arnold Forbes of Health Tall $62,023.14. by The Minister former The list obtained delin- Perry Gomez, Leslie Miller, contains MP Tribune Youth of six Pines Minister of former quent accounts Cabinet minis- former Johnson, Dion former PLP PLP MPs, Dr Danny Village MP ters, two former Tourism DR DANIEL entities, and Nassau , two private Cabinet min- Smith, former JOHNSON Obie Wilchcombe one sitting $24,413 Town MP Minister South Beach MP and former ister: Bamboo Hamilton State Renward Wells. who owed Cleola of Mr Wells, $3,703.96 at former Minister Damian Affairs $9,277.07 and locations - for Legal two separatetotal – did not Gomez. SEE PAGE EIGHT $12,981.03 in yesterwant to comment other former day, and the
T By AVA TURNQUES Reporter t Tribune Chief ibunemedia.ne aturnquest@tr Sewerage WATER and Chairman Corporation yesterday Adrian Gibson existence the confirmed disconnect” of a “do not by scores list populatedthe governof elites at utility owned to ment he pledged provider as on initiate a crackdown accounts. delinquent told The Mr Gibson l “confidentia Tribune the 221accounts, list” held total of with a combined the period $175,000 for2017. ending June he plans He said that corporathe to direct all persons tion to notify arrears owing excessive or face debts to resolve n. disconnectio a list confi“There is the Long dential list,” Island MP said. would think “In fact, I s corporation that all the year or two, in over the last and more particularly year, there May of thisclose attenhas been that list by tion paid to t with the managemen changing the a view to lists usually way those operate. this con“As it stands, a number has fidential list on it, and of persons it’s being truly and really persons by used to notify or letters. courtesy call that as the I can say toothe corporachairman of to direct tion I am going owing that all personswho are excessive arrears EIGHT SEE PAGE at the end of
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Qualified applicants should submit ResumesWatc onh the or before Tuesday, December 11, ery CB-13050, Nassau, Bahamas or - evBOX 2018, to the Director of Human Resources,film PO ng, isi on ag n wi ide dsl sendFNelectronically with Ref: Broadcast IP Video Specialist to M roars to lan g, wrenchin PLP fired as humanresources@cablebahamas.com. awful second. Photo: Terrel
DION SMITH $9,275
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BPL WHO RUNS is quite willCRUNCH DAY OVER utilityto operator from it “walk away”
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CHRISTIE AS HE HUMILIATION FORAFTER 4O YEARS LOSES HIS SEAT
seats: Encaptured four Island and Cat were spent under to South Aners’ dollars administration. glerston; 1,900 votes and San Salvador; Christie the win with is evidence 2017 the as well as Exuma DORSETT Mr Christie’s 1,875. He said if there”, the new dros VIRGIL ELECTION Islands. By SANCHESKAReporter to the unofBy KHRISNA Reporter seat, Fox According the the Ragged of “criminality et Tribune Staff from the Parwill allow SPEAK An additional being reDeputy Chief bunemedia.n ficial results Registration government course. THE PEOPLE nemedia.net sdorsett@tri PAGE 4 was still its kvirgil@tribu his Hill, law to take to press time. and liamentary , Mr Chipman after ON’ decounted up his parMoments DNA ‘TO GO PAGE 5 IN a surprisingat the Departmentout of 12 pollas the na- This marked the worst in AFTER leadinglandslide defeat party won seven maiden speech MinLOSE humbling leader, Dr Prime Min- ing divisions in the former ty to a stunning feat for a governing Mr tion’s next PLP BIG NAMESPAGE 7 dealing a parapolls, outgoing that under recent history. victory and to the ProgresChristie lost PLP stronghold, while will nis promised victory came MPS ister Perry Bahamians The FNM’s won five. lysing blow Party last night, the Centreville five years his watch, from 9 YOUR PROJECTED rocky fear his seat in last night by Christie a PAGE to Mr Christie Liberal sive challengIn 2012, have nothing , pointing to despite conPrime Minister constituency representing FAR included two incoming the Centrevilleeighth said that Dr Minnis’ leadership, the government RESULTS SO PAGE 14 Minnis declared 25 votes aftermore than 40 won n, which he for the Dr Hubert of a frachave abused victimisatio tional” “im- es to the area for unof- stituency time with that those who trust “have continued reports according to consecutive He defeated is “unconstitu MORE COVERAGE and ultimately of 2-18 years, party “wrong”. PAGES positions the post 2,950 votes. moral” and to unofficial tured to fear”. ficial results. candidate Ella removal from has held Opsomething to thousands of According able his at the Mr Christie 1977 and the FNM’s of the Official FNM was Speaking by 1,349 votes at the Q House today. results, the stunning defeat of leader in the House of won all the Lewis the seat since a pledged that jubilant supporterslast night, ment Mr Christie leader of Dr Minnis on will give to pull off securing a mas- position has been Liberal Party time. polling division in E Sports Centre but one administrati Terrance of the PLP, constituencies. Assembly. a long fought National MoveProgressive 39 “This was victory is not the Free also announced his General it sive 34 of ry Regsince 1997. released a but the Prime 2012. ment leader be sworn in as Auditor the resources former is yours,” Although he the loss, The Parliamenta did battle, The about his seat to that he will fourth prime Bastianto probe how taxpay- istration Department re- mine - the victory told thousands Minister lost Movement statement did not speak election full Minnis carThe Bahamas’ at Govern- needs Dr Christie not release 5pm Free National packed on the with the last and po- Mr minister at SEE PAGE SIX sults last night, in from the of FNMs (FNM) candidate Reece nival grounds. people’s time numbers coming litical newcomer agency around “This is the and I who secured government from the and I am your servant Chipman, 11pm. However it apSEE PAGE THREE unofficial numbers, the PLP only of the conpeared that “The outcome trust according to vention did not inspireBahalast Mark Humes in the results, said coming afor confidence that’s “obvious” mian electorate but think sweeping defeat residents unofficial that it is I ROLLE have stood behind us now and they night ter Fort Charlotte By RASHAD Reporter told him party would winning the the party has a wonderful repeatedly lead- the Tribune Staff stand the any a better chance rebuild and emedia.net could not he been victori- opportunity to rrolle@tribun of the country per- election had itself,” he said. leadership for for- ership despite their ous in the PLP’sadding that reengineer longer, him. AS HE called SEE PAGE SIX RASPBERRY Minister Perry sonal affection for was pro- race in January, made a mistake” mer Prime leader who party ICED TEA as “the resign Mr Sears, Mr Christie. Free NaChristie to Liberal in choosing to lose to the Al- jected Movement’s (FNM) of the Progressive last night, the tional Party (PLP) said he saw fred Sears
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Now Prime Minister Minnis cannot even be bothered to speak to the press. He refuses to use the press secretary — a position of his own making — or keep his commitment to hold regular meetings with the press. When asked questions by members of the press, he deflects, insults them, or makes it clear he is more interested in his leisure time — from stew fish to Junkanoo parade results — than addressing the concerns of the Bahamian public. Yesterday, he
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G concern ADMITTIN Bernard Notin over what Dr have battled last tage may his isolation during Prime Minisdays, former yesterday for ter Perry Christie admiration the expressed forth by the effort put security to former national the build-up minister in election. the May general from his Breaking away since being silence hispublic of office in a voted out last month, toric fashion Mr Chrishis visibly troubled portions of his detailed tie with last conversation and longfriend childhood colleague on time political Thursday. Centreville The former Nottage as Dr MP saw “fought tehis someone who throughout naciously” he loved and life for thosetrait he said he a supported, up to their saw on display . last conversation PAGE SIX SEE
ROBERTS: PEET A ‘POLITICAL ENEMY’ FOR ANDROS BID
SIVE Liberal PROGRES Bradley Party Chairmanout at his Roberts lashed colleague Vinformer party night, accuscent Peet last North Aning the former Islands MP dros and Berry enemy” of being a “political an independwho mounted because he ent campaigna nomination was denied party. e governing
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TERS yesFIREFIGH a large blaze terday battled Providence at the New three weeks Landfill, nearly a massive that after tackling city dump fire at the nearly a month. burned for Charge of Fire Officer in Chief SuperinServices, Evans said tendent Walter is “not confire the the current any way to this nected” in and at previous blazedo not know time officials the fire. Howwhat caused t Minister ever Environmen told rehe Kenred Dorsett the site that porters at “sabotage” in said suspected the fire. He to relation the team he “instructed”to have the of firefighters “before and blaze extinguished day” today nomination Baha Mar’s certainly before Friday. opening on started shortly The blaze and Wednesday after 3am officEvans said Chief Supt battle the fire to but ers expect another day for at least wind is a “huge” he said the factor. SEE PAGE SIX
GATION SPECIAL INVESTI A TRIBUNE medical treatment.
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ROLLE By RASHAD Reporter Tribune Staff emedia.net rrolle@tribun Nottage’s DR Bernard forever be will “footprints the Bahamian etched on tal landscape” developmen work as a forthrough his of the Bahamer president of Athletic mas Association s, the Bahamas Association , the Medical Association and as a afDoctors’ Union consumer reminister for health and to accept theen I education, defeat, was
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TERED 170,000 HAVE REGIS NG DAY AHEAD OF POLLI
with correctnow engaged the voter ROLLE ing and editing it of its By RASHAD Reporter register, ridding Tribune Staff ised errors. emedia.net much-public enough staff to rrolle@tribun “We have “We 170,000 peo- do this,” Mr Hall said.certiJUST over sure it’s to vote have to make after tople have registered 10 general elec- fied some 14 daysdate.” for the May ry Com(Tuesday’s) tion, Parliamenta Hall said day’s accordance with the In Elections missioner Sherlyn ry pubParliamenta yesterday. what he de- Act, Mr Hall will give of This follows election in a “mad rush” notice of the week, statscribed as to vote lic this of newspapers people registering place in conthe last day ing the date, times when on Monday, and registration. 172,000 peo- stituencies papers must be There were to vote in the nomination delivered. ple registeredelection. SEE PAGE THREE 2012 general ry Regis The Parliamenta Department istration
THE ELECTION
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ARCHER PLP IS OMAR CONVICTED ARCHDEACON SAYS ITS LIFE’ OVER THREATS ‘FIGHTING FOR
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MINNIS CALLS FOR ON DECK ALL HANDS VIRGIL ISNA
was asked whether or not he was concerned about the possibility of a national strike. He said he was more concerned about the Saxons winning Junkanoo. Priorities. Minnis did a terrible job of selling himself as prime minister, but the Progressive Liberal Party did a great job at defeating itself, his constituents like him and people chose to read his indifference as humility. We are now saddled with a prime minister who is not interested in leadership, representation, or even communication. We are treated like children who do not deserve explanations, much less to be a part of decision-making processes. What we saw in 2016 is what we have now — a prime minister who is aloof as best, and disrespectful at worse. Many who found it endearing before now realise it is a problem. Henfield has not been much better. There was heated debate when he accepted the position as senator. He had convinced supporters the march was not an FNM effort, he did not have political aspirations and would always be with the people, agitating for change from the ground.
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PM MINNIS, an unlikely hero. It was not only disappointing, but insulting for many to see the swift change in position and prolonged silence about issues that matter since his appointment. He recently showed his ill-preparedness for the position he holds, not only as a senator, but as one many continue to regard as a hero. In addition to sensationalizing an event, suggesting that he saved people from harm, he got into an argument with someone commenting on a Facebook post he had made. He used a homophobic slur against the person and, after much rebuke, posted an “apology” that focused on his imagination that he was protecting someone else’s honor. He never acknowledged the harm caused to the LGBTQI+ community by using the slur meant to demean the person by comparing them to LGBTQI+ people. Conversations about this incident in other spaces proved such behaviour cannot be excused and has real impact on marginalised people, many of whom already live in fear. Henfield has clearly been seduced by the hero’s fanfare and fails to care about the lives of individuals. His behavior has been no better than Minnis’.
What do we need? What makes a person to fit to lead? Who is seen as a hero? Are these — leaders and heroes — what we really need? We need to reshape what we have come to think of as leadership roles. Our needs, along with our conditions, have changed. Our capacities for learning and participating are constantly shifting. Our willingness to collaborate and co-create need to increase. We can no longer be dependent on one person to bring change. Heroes have failed us. They have proven that they are either incapable or uninterested in participatory decision-making practices, acknowledging the expertise we have, or receiving criticism. By putting our burdens on their shoulders and following their lead without challenge, we communicate that we are unwilling or unable to be a part of the change. We signal that we will not stop them any more than we stopped the people before them. Heroes and leaders are just people, and they are likely given titles they do not deserve. There are more than the two mentioned here, one of less consequence than the other. It is difficult to talk about virtues like honesty when there is not even the respect to answer questions at all. Perhaps that is our biggest problem today. We make kings of men who would sooner rush down Bay Street than face the reality of a potential national strike. Some see it as a harmless joke, but the unions do not appear to be laughing. Their issue is our issue — lack of respect — and they are demanding it now.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, December 5, 2018, PAGE 9
Where are the drones? Amazon’s customers are still waiting
By DAVID KOENIG AND JOSEPH PISANI Associated Press
JEFF BEZOS boldly predicted five years ago that drones would be carrying Amazon packages to people’s doorsteps by now. Amazon customers are still waiting. And it’s unclear when, if ever, this particular order by the company’s founder and CEO will arrive. Bezos made billions of dollars by transforming the retail sector. But overcoming the regulatory hurdles and safety issues posed by drones appears to be a challenge even for the world’s wealthiest man. The result is a blown deadline on his claim to CBS’ “60 Minutes” in December 2013 that drones would be making deliveries within five years.
The day may not be far off when drones will carry medicine to people in rural or remote areas, but the marketing hype around instant delivery of consumer goods looks more and more like just that — hype. Drones have a short battery life, and privacy concerns can be a hindrance, too. “I don’t think you will see delivery of burritos or diapers in the suburbs,” says drone analyst Colin Snow. Drone usage has grown rapidly in some industries, but mostly outside the retail sector and direct interaction with consumers. The government estimates that about 110,000 commercial drones are operating in US airspace, and the number is expected to soar to about 450,000 in 2022. They are being used in
AN Amazon Prime Air drone in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, in 2016. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos might have underestimated regulatory obstacles and privacy concerns when he told CBS’ “60 Minutes” in December 2013 that his company would be making drone-borne deliveries within five years. Photo: Amazon/AP
rural areas for mining and agriculture, for inspecting power lines and pipelines, and for surveying. Amazon says it is still pushing ahead with plans to use drones for quick deliveries, though the company is staying away from fixed timelines. “We are committed to making our goal of delivering packages by drones in 30 minutes or less a reality,” says Amazon spokeswoman Kristen Kish. The Seattle-based online retail giant says it has drone development centres in the United States, Austria, France, Israel and the United Kingdom. Delivery companies have been testing the use of drones to deliver emergency supplies and to cover ground quickly in less populated areas. By contrast, package deliveries would
be concentrated in office parks and neighbourhoods where there are bigger issues around safety and privacy. In May, the Trump administration approved a three-year programme for private companies and local government agencies to test drones for deliveries, inspections and other tasks. But pilot programmes by major delivery companies suggest few Americans will be greeted by packagebearing drones any time soon. United Parcel Service tested launching a drone from a delivery truck that was covering a rural route in Florida. DHL Express, the German delivery company, tested the use of drones to deliver medicine from Tanzania to an island in Lake Victoria. Frank Appel, the CEO
of DHL’s parent company, Deutsche Post AG, said “over the next couple of years” drones will remain a niche vehicle and not widely used. He said a big obstacle is battery life. “If you have to recharge them every other hour, then you need so many drones and you have to orchestrate that. So good luck with that,” he told The Associated Press. Appel said human couriers have another big advantage over drones: They know where customers live and which doorbell to ring. “To program that in IT is not that easy and not cheap,” he said. Analysts say it will take years for the Federal Aviation Administration to write all the rules to allow widespread drone deliveries.
PLANET EARTH WORKING ON THREE MARS LANDERS TO FOLLOW INSIGHT CAPE CANAVERAL Associated Press AS MARS’ newest resident settles in, Planet Earth is working on three more landers and at least two orbiters to join the scientific Martian brigade. NASA’s InSight spacecraft touched down on the sweeping, red equatorial plains last week, less than 400 miles from Curiosity, the only other working robot on Mars. That’s about the distance from San Francisco to Pasadena, California, home to Mission Control for Mars. InSight — the eighth successful Martian lander — should be wrapping up two years of digging and quake monitoring by the time rovers arrive from the US, Europe and China. NASA’s Mars 2020 will hunt for rocks that might hold evidence of ancient microbial life and stash them in a safe place for return to Earth in the early 2030s. It’s targeting a once-wet river delta in Jezero Crater. The European-Russian ExoMars also will sniff out possible past life, drilling a couple yards (metres) down for chemical fossils.
THIS photo provided by NASA shows an image on Mars that its spacecraft called InSight acquired using its robotic arm-mounted, Instrument Deployment Camera (IDC) after it landed on the planet on Monday, November 26.
A spacecraft that was part of an ExoMars mission in 2016 crash-landed on the red planet. The Chinese Mars 2020 will feature both an orbiter and lander. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, aims to send its first spacecraft
to Mars in 2020; the orbiter is named Hope, or Amal in Arabic. It seems our neighbour Mars holds a siren song for Earthlings, even as NASA shifts its immediate attention back to our moon. Just three days after
InSight’s landing, NASA announced a new commercial lunar delivery programme. The space agency has chosen nine US companies to compete in getting science and technology experiments to the lunar surface. The first launch
could be next year. NASA wants to see how it goes before trying something similar on Mars. “The moon is where it’s at right now relative to commercial space,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, head of NASA’s science mission office, which is leading the lunar payload project. At the same time, NASA is pushing for an orbiting outpost near the moon for astronauts, at the Trump administration’s direction. It would serve as a steppingoff point for moon landings, according to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, and provide critical experience close to home before humans embark on a two- to three-year mission to Mars. Bridenstine envisions a trip to Mars for astronauts in the mid-2030s, admittedly a “very aggressive” goal. “The reality is, yes, your nation right now is extremely committed to getting to Mars,” Bridenstine said following InSight’s touchdown, “and using the moon as a tool to achieve that objective as fast as possible.” Mars is the obvious place for “boots on the ground” after the moon, said Zurbuchen.
• THE New York Police Department has shown off its first fleet of drones. The department said Tuesday that potential uses for its 14 drones include search and rescue, hard-toreach crime scenes, hostage situations, and hazardous material incidents. It says drones can reduce risk to officers and bystanders during a response to dangerous situations. They’ll be operated by officers who are specially trained and licensed. The NYPD says the drones won’t be used for routine patrol or traffic enforcement. The New York Civil Liberties Union says the NYPD’s drone policy doesn’t do enough to balance public privacy concerns with “legitimate law enforcement needs”. More than 900 public safety agencies nationwide already use drones. • A SPACEX rocket carrying 64 small satellites lifted off from California on Monday, marking the first time the same Falcon 9 rocket has been used in three space missions. The rocket blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, arcing over the Pacific Ocean west of Los Angeles as it headed toward space. Minutes later, the rocket’s first stage performed a socalled boost back maneuver and landed on an unmanned ship in the Pacific. The landing marked the first time SpaceX had flown a first stage three times. The first stage was previously launched and recovered during missions in May and August as part of a programme intended to make the equipment capable of being used ten or more times without refurbishment. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has made reusability a major goal. The payload of the Spaceflight SSO-A SmallSat Express includes satellites from 34 organisations in 17 countries. Full deployment into low Earth orbit was expected to take six hours. SpaceX also attempted to use an enormous net atop an ocean vessel to catch the Falcon’s aerodynamic shield over the payload that was jettisoned at high altitude and fell back to Earth. The two halves of the shield, equipped with parachutes, missed the net and landed nearby in the water. “Plan is to dry them out and launch again,” Musk tweeted. “Nothing wrong with a little swim.” The shield adds another reusable element to the spacecraft. The 64-satellite payload was a record for a US-based launch vehicle, SpaceX said.
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THE TRIBUNE
MACRON CAVES IN TO FRENCH PROTESTERS - TOO LATE, THEY SAY PARIS Associated Press
THE French government caved in after Paris’ worst rioting in decades and delayed an increase in energy taxes yesterday — but it was seen as “too little, too late” by many protesters whose anger seems increasingly focused on embattled President Emmanuel Macron. Demonstrators were back in the streets wearing
their signature yellow vests. They blocked several fuel depots and, on a highway near the southern city of Aubagne, commandeered a toll booth to let motorists pass for free near a sign reading “Macron dictator”. The protests began on November 17 with motorists upset over the fuel tax increase, but have grown to encompass a range of complaints — the stagnant economy, social injustice and France’ tax system, one
of the highest in Europe — and some now call for the government to resign. Last weekend, more than 130 people were injured and 412 arrested in rioting in the French capital. Shops were looted and cars torched in plush neighborhoods around the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue. The Arc de Triomphe was sprayed with graffiti and vandalized. Four people have been killed, officials said, and
more protests are planned for this weekend. One unifying complaint among the leaderless protesters, who come from across the political and social spectrum, has been the anger at Macron and the perceived elitism of France’s aloof ruling class. Since returning from the G20 summit in Argentina, Macron has either remained in his palace residence or else shied away from speaking publicly
A DEMONSTRATOR clenches his fist at the toll gates near Aix-en-Provence.
about the protests that have created his biggest political crisis since taking office last May. It was Prime Minister Edouard Philippe who announced a six-month delay in the fuel tax increase that was to have begun in January. Just three weeks ago, Philippe had insisted the government would be steadfast in the tax plans aimed at weaning French consumers off fossil fuels.
KILLED Flynn should not serve SIXIN MEXICAN jail time, says Mueller SHOOTOUT MEXICO CITY Associated Press
WASHINGTON Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s former national security adviser provided so much information to the special counsel’s Russia investigation that prosecutors say he shouldn’t do any prison time, according to a court filing yesterday that describes Michael Flynn’s cooperation as “substantial.” The filing by special counsel Robert Mueller provides the first details of Flynn’s assistance in the Russia investigation, including that he participated in 19 interviews with prosecutors and cooperated extensively in a separate and undisclosed criminal probe. It was filed two weeks ahead of Flynn’s sentencing and just over a year after he became the first of five Trump associates to accept responsibility by pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations with the Russian ambassador. Though prosecutors withheld specific details of Flynn’s cooperation because of ongoing investigations, their filing nonetheless underscores the breadth of information Mueller has obtained from people close to Trump as the president increasingly vents his anger at the probe — and those who cooperate with it. This week, Trump lashed out at his former legal fixer, Michael Cohen, saying he is making up “stories” to get a reduced prison sentence after his latest guilty plea to lying to Congress. Trump also praised longtime confidante Roger Stone for saying he would “never testify against Trump,” adding in his tweet, “Nice to know some people still have ‘guts!’” It’s unclear if Trump will now turn his fury on Flynn, whom Trump grew close to during the 2016 campaign and who has drawn the president’s sympathy since he came under investigation. Trump has repeatedly lamented how Flynn’s life has been destroyed by the special counsel’s probe. At one point, he tried to protect
SIX suspected highway robbers were killed yesterday in central Mexico in what appears to have been a shootout between gangs. Federal police said the shootout occurred on the main highway through the central state of Puebla. The dead men were part of a gang that robbed freight trucks on the highway, officials said. Local media reported that some of the dead were found with guns, and that the confrontation may have been part of a turf war between thieves. The shootout happened as President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador accused previous governments of having abandoned the fight against crime and violence. Lopez Obrador said “the focus was on raids against organised crime, and public and citizens’ safety was completely abandoned”. NATIONAL Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaking last year during a news briefing at the White House in Washington. Flynn by asking former FBI Direc- should be held to the highest stand- as Flynn, was denied probation tor James Comey to drop an ards,” they wrote. “The defendant’s because prosecutors said his coopgovernment service eration is lacking. investigation into his alleged false extensive But Flynn has largely remained statements, according to a memo should have made him particuComey wrote after the February larly aware of the harm caused by out of the public eye, appearing providing false information to the only a handful of times in media 2017 encounter. That episode, which Trump government, as well as the rules interviews or campaign events, and has denied, is among those under governing work performed on dutifully avoided criticizing the Mueller probe despite widespread scrutiny by Mueller as he probes behalf of a foreign government.” Flynn’s case has stood apart from encouragement from his supportwhether the president attempted to those of other Trump associates, ers to go on the offensive. He has obstruct the Russia investigation. Federal sentencing guidelines who have aggressively criticized instead spent considerable time recommend between zero and six the investigation, sought to under- with his family and worked to posimonths in prison for Flynn, leaving mine it and, in some cases, been tion himself for a post-conviction accused of lying even after agreeing career. open the possibility of probation. Flynn’s false statements stemmed Mueller’s office said Flynn’s coop- to cooperate. Trump’s former campaign chair- from a Jan. 24, 2017, interview eration merits a sentence at the bottom end of that range. But pros- man, Paul Manafort, stands accused with the FBI about his and others’ ecutors also say the long military of repeatedly lying to investigators interactions with Sergey Kislyak, and government service that sets since his guilty plea last September. Russia’s then-ambassador to the him apart from all other defend- Another Trump campaign aide, US, as the Obama administraants in the investigation makes his George Papadopoulos, is serving a tion was levying sanctions on the 14-day prison sentence and, though Kremlin in response to election deception even more troublesome. “Senior government leaders he pleaded guilty to the same crime interference.
UKRAINE THWARTS BIG CYBER ATTACK MINSK Associated Press UKRAINIAN authorities say they’ve thwarted a huge cyber attack and are blaming Russia for the alleged digital assault as tensions between the two countries have flared. The Security Service of Ukraine said that hackers used malicious accounting documents to target the information technology systems of the country’s judiciary. The SBU described the alleged hacking as “massive” but produced little detail about the extent, timing, nature or severity of the hacks.
GOOD BOY: SULLY THE SERVICE DOG VISITS BUSH’S CASKET WASHINGTON Associated Press
IT’S OFTEN said that if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. For the last six months, Sully the service dog was President George HW Bush’s. The yellow Labrador Retriever visited the president’s casket in the Capitol Rotunda yesterday, alongside people in wheelchairs who benefited from the Americans With Disabilities Act that Bush signed in 1990. John Miller, the president and CEO of America’s VetDogs, said the Bush family contacted Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after the late president’s wife of 73 years, Barbara, died in April. America’s VetDogs chose Sully in part for his calm temperament. “After Mrs Bush’s death, general companionship was a big part of Sully’s job,” Miller said in a phone interview. “One of the things that I think was important to the president was the rest command, where Sully would rest his head on the president’s lap.” Sully is two years old. He was named for retired airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, who became famous for landing a damaged passenger jet on the Hudson River in 2009, saving everyone aboard. Sully the dog achieved
SULLY, George HW Bush’s service dog, pays his respects to the former president as he lies in state in Washington yesterday. worldwide fame after a Bush family spokesman tweeted a photo of Sully laying by Bush’s flag-draped casket with the caption: “Mission completed.” The pup travelled to Washington with the funeral retinue. And yesterday morning, officials issued a two-minute warning for Sully’s arrival in the Rotunda. Sully padded in, his leash held by Valerie Cramer, America’s VetDogs service dog program manager. At her command, he lay down — and threw a glance over his shoulder at the photographers scrambling to get his photo. He didn’t seem fazed. Cramer then led him around the casket
to sit among the others. After a few minutes, the procession headed out. Sully is headed back to America’s VetDogs in Smithtown, New York, where he was born and trained, Miller said. Then he’ll go for training at Walter Reed to help brace, retrieve and otherwise help the veterans there get care. Sully will be working with two dogs already in service at the veterans’ hospital, Sgt. Dillon and Sgt. Truman. The dogs provided by America’s VetDogs are provided free of charge for a service that can cost upward of $50,000 to breed, train and place them, Miller said.
THE TRIBUNE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net SAVE the Bays environmental group believe the development of a land-based commercial coral farm in Freeport by the conservation group Coral Vita is a blessing for Grand Bahama. The group broke ground a week ago for construction of the facility that will grow coral in tanks for the restoration of dying coral reefs. It will be the first of a global network of coral farm. Joseph Darville, chairman of Save the Bays, was among those who attended the ceremony held at the site in the Discovery Bay Subdivision. He told The Tribune the project brings hope to the rejuvenation of the country’s coral reefs. “When we hear that already 90 percent of our coral reefs have been destroyed probably because of rising sea temperature, and we can
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Land-based commercial coral farm a blessing for Grand Bahama, says group see that these reefs can be regenerated and restored over a period of time, it gives us great hope for the continuation our marine ecosystem,” Mr Darville said. Coral Vita will grow coral 50 times faster than in the natural environment. By utilising the process of micro-fragmentation, the coral will take six to 12 months to grow at the farm as opposed to a lifetime in the ocean. Mr Darville stated that what Coral Vita will be doing will support the abundance of fisheries and marine life all around the world, not only in the Bahamas. “I am hoping that coming out of this we will be able to sensitise all levels of the Bahamian society
MINISTER of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Michael Pintard, left, and Deputy Prime Minister KP Turnquest during the groundbreaking ceremony.
that we have to have extreme respect for what God has given us with respect to the environment and Mother Earth; that all of these ecosystems are here for a particular purpose, and we should never ever destroy them willynilly,” he added. The environmentalist said that like the mangroves, the coral reefs also forms as a buffer to storms to protect coastal areas. Mr Darville warned that the environment is extremely delicate and the country cannot continue to destroy it with coastal development, oil refineries, and oil storage, etc. “One incident of spillage and we will destroy the whole
thing, and we will have thousands of years before they can be restored,” he said. “With the natural phenomenon of the sea level rise and the warming of the oceans and climate change we are in a detrimental stage right now, ninety percent have died, and we got to make sure we do everything, rather than continue to destroy the reefs and mangroves, we have to see how we are going to restore them. “This is a blessing to GB,” Mr Darville said of Coral Vita. The Save the Bays chairman said that the group plans to have environmental students visit the facility when it is open to see how coral grows from the ground up.
