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Christie ‘distressed’ by latest outages

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday bemoaned Bahamas Power and Light’s inability to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to the island, telling The Tribune he was not only “distressed� by the outages, but that he ordered a probe to uncover the root cause of the most recent island-wide power cut.

Mr Christie suggested that the latest mass disruption had brought the government embarrassment as it took place the day before the opening ceremony of an international civil aviation conference, which began yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium.

While the prime minister said he was unofficially advised that the incident was the result of “human error,� he insisted that it was too “catastrophic� and “unusual� to let it pass without

the “highest investigation�.

Mr Christie’s position regarding BPL’s service inconsistency is in stark contrast to that of his Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, who is also minister of works.

In a recent interview, Mr Davis backed the electricity provider saying he has “no regrets� over handing over the day-to-day operations of the former Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) to American company PowerSecure.

He told this newspaper he thinks BPL is “meeting its mandate� and blamed the constant power outages on “aged machines�. “I am as distressed about this as every Bahamian,� Mr Christie said when he was asked by The Tribune to give Bahamians a word of comfort when it came to the constant outages, which have angered many.

SEE PAGE SIX

CASE IS DROPPED AGAINST MAN ACCUSED OF SEX ATTACK ON CHILD

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A CASE was discontinued yesterday against a man accused of sexually assaulting a minor nearly five years ago.

Anthony Sullivan, 31,

faced a single charge of unlawful sexual intercourse stemming from alleged sexual relations with a then 12-year-old girl, who could not give consent, on June 20, 2012.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

CEO of BPL Pamela Hill speaking at yesterday’s press conference, as the company seeks to begin “much-needed� upgrades.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

BPL CHIEF ASKS FOR ‘PATIENCE’

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  BAHAMAS Power and Light CEO Pamela Hill yesterday asked the public for “patience� as the utility provider begins “much needed� upgrades and “investments� in its system.

Speaking at a press conference at BPL headquarters yesterday, Ms Hill said she knows it has been “extremely frustrating� for customers having to endure frequent power outages and blackouts but she said during the next four to six months, customers can expect to see significant changes in the system that will lead to reliability, especially during the summer months.

Her comments came after New Providence residents suffered another island-wide power outage on Sunday following a weekend of electricity challenges. Residents complained of intermittent outages on Friday and

Saturday.

Last Thursday, BPL blamed a “damaged underground cable� for power cuts on Tuesday and Wednesday and customers were warned at the time that they might experience “intermittent challenges with their power supply until operations have stabilised.�

Yesterday, Ms Hill said an “overloaded cable� at the Clifton Plant was the cause for the Sunday’s islandwide outage. She said BPL will focus most of its efforts on upgrades and repairs at the Clifton Pier Plant to ensure that Summer 2017 will be much better than this past summer - which was plagued with power outages.

Ms Hill remained tight lipped on how the cash strapped company will pay for the upgrades but she said it will cost around “10 per cent or so of the total value of investment we already have in our fleet�.

SEE PAGE SIX

‘DISAPPOINTMENT’ BEHIND KEY CRITICISM OF FNM LEADER

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  THE Central and South Abaco Free National Movement Constituency Association yesterday attributed area MP Edison Key’s criticism of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to “disappointment� that he will not be the party’s candidate for the 2017 general election.

Early last year, Mr Key confirmed to The Tribune that he would not be seeking a nomination from the party for the seat.

According to chairman of the association Victor Patterson, it was Mr Key who specifically told them to seek another standardbearer because he would be stepping down.

SEE PAGE THREE

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SEE PAGE NINE

MAN SHOT DEAD AS HE PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  A 37-YEAR-OLD man was shot multiple times and killed early Monday morning as he pulled into the driveway of his home off Mermaid Boulevard.

According to police reports, shortly after midnight, the victim had just pulled into his driveway through Walton Street and was sitting in his car when he was approached by a man in a black hooded jacket.

The gunman opened fire on the vehicle hitting the victim multiple times. The man was able to get out of the car and run into a neighbour’s yard for help, but collapsed and died a short time later.

SEE PAGE TWO

PAGE 2, Tuesday, December 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

MAN SHOT DEAD AS HE PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY from page one

Police have not identified the victim but The Tribune understands he is Ronald Sands.

The shooting marked the second homicide in 12 hours and took the country’s murder count to 102 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

The shooting death comes hours after a man was found dead in his vehicle in Grand Bahama around 10am on Sunday. According to Inspector Terecita Pinder, the police were called to an apartment complex on Tangelo Lane in Freeport where a black man was discovered inside a grey-coloured sedan with injuries to the body. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor.

Insp Pinder said police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, Grand Bahama’s 18th homicide for the year.

Last week, officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander insisted the country is still a “safe” place despite a spate of murders.

However, he acknowledged that there is a problem with drug dealers starting “turf wars” in communities over unresolved conflicts and prolific offenders getting bail, which contributes to the crime rate.

Chief Supt Fernander warned Bahamians to be “aware of their surroundings” and appealed to members of the public to assist the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) with their investigations.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

THE SCENE in West End after two people were killed and three left in hospital after a Ford Taurus crashed into a utility pole.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

Two dead and three hurt as car crashes into utility pole

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TWO persons are dead and three others are in hospital following a horrific traffic accident in West End, Grand Bahama, early Monday morning.

The accident happened around 2am when a Ford Taurus with five people crashed into a utility pole on Bay Shore Road, just east of Chicken Nest Restaurant.

A female passenger, who was ejected from the vehicle, and a male were pronounced dead at the scene. The other three pas-

sengers were injured and taken

by EMS personnel to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where they are listed in serious condition.

A crowd, including family and close friends of the victims, gathered at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency section after learning news of the crash. Those

who knew them are said to be devastated by the tragedy.

Graphic photographs of the crash scene were circulated on social media.

Police have not released the names of the victims, but it is believed that they are Ryan Pinder and Kadeisha Perpall.

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THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 6, 2016, PAGE 3

Island Luck boss denies PLP has asked him to run in North Andros

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck CEO Sebas Bastian yesterday said it is “100 per cent false” that he has requested Prime Minister Perry Christie to nominate him as the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for North Andros, maintaining that he can be a “greater benefit” to the Bahamas by “remaining in the private sector”.

Mr Bastian, in an email in response to a query by The Tribune, said he “never asked or was asked by Mr Christie to run in any seat in the upcoming election”.

Mr Bastian said he has “no political aspirations” and instead remains “committed to nation building and being the best corporate citizen I can to help shape the kind of Bahamas I want for our future”.

Mr Bastian also said he is neither a FNM nor a PLP

supporter, and regardless of which party wins the 2017 general election, he will “support them in any way I can to help build and move the country forward”.

However, he said the North Andros constituency can be assured that his organisation “will be aggressively providing resources and support” as well as “partnering with the government so together we can make Andros great again”.

Mr Bastian was responding to a report in a local tabloid that claimed he was seeking to get the nod from Mr Christie on being the PLP’s candidate for North Andros, a post currently held by Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez, who is also the member of Parliament for the Berry Islands. “…I can confirm that it is 100 per cent false,” Mr Bastian said in response.

“At this point in my life I have no political aspirations

as I feel I can be a greater benefit to my country remaining in the private sector. For the record I am neither FNM nor PLP, I am a Bahamian and regardless of which government wins the next election, I will support them in any way I can to help build and move the country forward.

“I am grateful and flattered that many persons would support me if I did in fact decide to run, but maybe next time around.

I remain committed to nation building and being the best corporate citizen I can be to help shape the kind of Bahamas I want for our future.

“North Andros can, however, be assured that our organisation will be aggressively providing resources and support to the island and partnering with the government so together we can make Andros great again.”

In January, Mr Bastian

denied similar rumours that he had been tapped to receive the PLP’s nomination to run in North Eleuthera - although insisting at the time that having to “toe the party line” as part of a political organisation is the primary reason he would “never enter politics”.

Mr Bastian said previously that while he has “zero” interest in being a politician, his only incentive for entering politics would be the absolute assurance that he would be leader of the party of his choice, be it the FNM, PLP or Democratic National Alliance (DNA).

However, Mr Bastian said he already sees himself as a member of Parliament of sorts because he represents the “hopeless and everybody that needs opportunity and help on a daily basis”.

“I leave politics to politicians; I am not a politician,” Mr Bastian said at the time.

SEBAS BASTIAN, CEO of Island Luck.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

‘DISAPPOINTMENT’ BEHIND KEY CRITICISM OF FNM LEADER from page one

Meanwhile, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts used the situation to question Dr Minnis’ loyalty not only to his party but to Bahamians.

He defended Mr Key, suggesting that his loyalty to the FNM leader was allegedly rewarded with “backstabbing, disrespecting and undermining”.

Responding to this matter yesterday as a guest on 96.9 FM radio show ‘The Revolution’ with host Juan McCartney, after the 78-year-old Central and South Abaco MP lambasted Dr Minnis in a report in The Nassau Guardian, Mr Patterson sought to clarify the constituency association’s part in Mr Key’s candidacy.

It came after the MP told the local daily he will not run again on the FNM’s ticket and claimed that the Killarney MP was not a man of his word. Mr Key further claimed that Dr Minnis conspired with certain FNM supporters to end his political career. A part of this plan involved not informing him about secret meetings that took place in his constituency, the daily reported. Mr Key also claimed that there were “a few white dissidents” led by the association chairman, who were involved in this conspiracy.

However, Mr Patterson said during the radio interview that the association was led by a “diverse” group of black and white people.

He said there was support for the new candidate, 24year old James Albury, because although young, he impressed everyone during the interview portion of the vetting process. He has not been officially announced by the party as its pick for the area. However party Chairman Sidney Collie told The Tribune on Friday that the organisation planned to ratify several Family Island candidates in the coming weeks.

“I do want to say that our branch is a diverse group of black and white people, some younger and (some) older. So I think that needs to be said,” Mr Patterson said. “I do happen to be a white person, but our deputy is a black person and we have a mix of people.”

Asked to explain the party’s reasoning for choosing to support another candidate, Mr Patterson said the association has acted based

on Mr Key’s public announcement back in March last year that he was stepping down.

“Remember, Mr Key announced that he was stepping down. He announced in late 2014 (or) in early 2015. You can check the paper March 16, 2015 it’s right there in The Tribune that he was stepping down and he wouldn’t be running again. And we were instructed to find a candidate, which is what we did.

“He did change his mind at one point, but he never contacted us as a branch to say he had changed his mind and so we have tried to follow proper procedure.

We haven’t put anything in the press. We have tried to handle things the way they should be and so that’s what I’d like to say about that.”

He continued: “Mr Key specifically told us that we would have to find another candidate when he stepped down.”

Mr Patterson, who insisted that he would not say anything unkind of the MP, said he believed Mr Key is disappointed that he would not be the candidate because he has been in politics for a long time.

Mr Albury, he said, descended from Hope Town and from Man-O-War Cay, Abaco and also has a college degree in political science.

“When he heard that we were looking for a candidate, he threw his hat into the ring and obviously (because of) his age we were like well this is a very young person.

But upon meeting with us we were all extremely impressed. So we brought him to a larger group and everyone has been impressed with him so that is why we are going with him.”

A matter of trust In a press statement yesterday Mr Roberts said Mr Key has always stood firmly on Dr Minnis’ side. He said Dr Minnis’ alleged actions have continued to fracture the party and has deepened distrust among supporters.

He said by all accounts, Mr Key was one of Dr Minnis’ trusted and ardent supporters.

“When the sharp knives, fiery darts and arrows took aim at Minnis from within the FNM to remove him as leader, Edison Key stood firmly by Minnis’ side, al-

EDISON Key in the House of Assembly. ways standing on a point of Minnis’ dishonorable beprinciple,” the press state- haviour because I know Mr. ment read.

Key personally and have “Dr Minnis apparently worked with him for many rewarded Mr Key’s hon- years in public life. our, principled position, “At the very least, Minpolitical support and un- nis’ inner circle should trust wavering loyalty by back- him and his word. If there is stabbing, disrespecting and mistrust of him among his undermining Mr Key to his parliamentary colleagues, constituents in his own con- then why should Bahamistituency. This is unseemly ans trust Dr Minnis? He behaviour for a leader and already has a well-earned should be roundly con- national reputation as a flip demned by all and sundry flopper and his latest acas it can only deepen the tions only serve to entrench divide and cause further this jaundiced and cynical harm to the FNM brand. I view of him and his leaderam personally offended by ship.”

He added: “Further, it is apparent that Minnis has kicked new generation leader Theo Neilly to the curbs in favour of Richard Lightbourn in North Eleuthera.

With each of these moves, Minnis has managed to alienate segments of his party and support base, fracturing his party further and deepening the mistrust and distrust of his leadership and his word.

“As critical as Minnis is of Prime Minister (Perry) Christie and the PLP, he could learn much from the seamless transition of the

PLP candidacies in both the Carmichael and Exuma and Ragged Island constituencies.”

Mr Key entered front-line politics in 1977 and served two terms as a senator and chairman of the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation.

He resigned his post as a PLP senator in 2005, and then left the party. He became a member of the FNM later that year.

He was elected to Parliament by the South Abaco constituency in the 2007 and 2012 general elections.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

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Time to pull the plug on BPL deal ON SUNDAY, as hundreds shouted and cheered the sailing at the Best of the Best Regatta at Montagu Park and as others revelled in the elite world of Albany with golf greats like Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson and Tiger Woods vying for a $3.5 million purse, the Bahamas must have seemed from the outside to be idyllic. To the unknowing eye, we were an island nation bathed in sun and glory. Large screens by the beach. TV cameras rolling for golf aficionados around the globe.

What could possibly be wrong?

Plenty.

In the heart of Nassau, far from the winds and waves on the beach or the manicured greens and fairways of the golf course, a man was fighting for his life.

He was hooked to oxygen and to painkilling drugs being administered intravenously. When the power went off, his life was nearly snuffed out, just like the blackout that knocked out TVs and refrigerators and computers and lights. But this was not a light or a refrigerator. This was a life. A life hanging in the balance where home care was the final stage but there were still precious moments ahead.

And this was not just any man. This was a young 40-something man who had spent the last years helping hundreds of others.

Yet the company charged with - and being handsomely paid to - provide a reliable supply of electricity was robbing him of time. With the help of friends, he was moved to the home of a caring person who had a generator. This was the second time in a week that he and his wife were forced to leave their home and settle in someone else’s residence so they could keep his oxygen flowing.

It is one thing to talk about how annoying the power cuts are. Or to complain that we deserve better. And we do.

It is another matter altogether when you consider that a life is hanging in the balance, a life already being cut short is being threatened every day by the lack of reliable power.

How, we have to ask, did we arrive at this point, where power outages that would make national news in other countries are routine?

How did we reach a point where power can go out for five, six, seven hours or more when there is not a drop of rain, or clap of thunder, or bolt of lightning to disturb generation and distribution?

How did we wind up in this place where it has become routine and infuriating and frustrating for tens of thousands who experience power outages that last for the better part of a day or, like Sunday, from afternoon until 10pm?

In eastern New Providence that evening, only the fireworks display provided light.

An ironic, almost cruel, contrast of celebration as so many suffered in darkness.

How did we get here, we ask again?

In May, 2015, the government announced that following an intense 20-month bidding process it had reached a decision to award a management contract to North Carolina-based company PowerSecure. It was, the government said, a company that specialised in management, and its familiarity with solar micro-grids would serve the Family Islands of the Bahamas well. Praise for the new

saviour of reliable power at reasonable costs flew fast and furious. A new day lay ahead. Better power. Lower prices.

Greater consistency and reliability.

PowerSecure would “bring a lot of value to the table”, we were told. There would be “a substantial reduction in the cost of electricity”, we were promised.

A business plan would be forthcoming and we would see the light. The electricity legislation would be passed allowing us to enjoy solar power and tie in to the grid, even if we could not sell back to it.

Meantime, the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) had signed an $8 million contract to rent temporary generation of power during peak periods; $8 million not to own anything, but to rent 40 megawatts of power for a 30-week period. Costs did go down and we had power. That was before the new management that came with so much hype and hope took over.

Nearly 18 months after the announcement that the state-owned monopoly so critical to business, health, education and life itself would finally be managed professionally by a private company, all hope for better to come has been extinguished.

In addition to being in the dark about a business plan that we have yet to see, we still do not know how much Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) management is being paid. There are reports that the contract could be worth as much as $25 million.

In all fairness, it has also been reported that PowerSecure was burdened with old equipment, making it hard to locate parts and expensive to purchase. That same old and inefficient equipment is hard to keep operational. We have heard reports that PowerSecure inherited a system so antiquated it should have known better. But it has also been noted that the very experts like Kevin Basden, former general manager of BEC, who spent their lives keeping that antiquated equipment humming, were told they were no longer needed.

The result is that no one is happy.

The management company cannot possibly be enjoying the anger and screaming. The Bahamian student who wrote and told us she is trying to prepare for BGCSEs and having to study by flashlight is not happy. The homeowner who is losing appliances is not happy. The business that is still paying a high price but losing productivity for hours of not being able to operate machinery is not happy.

That dying man must wonder how this final insult could be occurring.

The Bahamian people who have been kept in the dark and live too many hours without light are not happy.

The time has come to pull the plug on the contract, bring back the experts who know the current system while we find a professional, experienced company with deep pockets willing to invest heavily and form a public-private partnership to own the power company.

There is no other solution and only then can we explore and engage as many renewable sources of energy as possible.

There is a time for patience and a time to act. This is a time to act. If performance is to be rewarded, non-performance can be dealt with just as strongly. All it takes is courage.

The cause of the crime waves EDITOR, The Tribune.

THERE is absolutely no doubt the liberal granting of bail to persons who must be locked up because they are a constant threat to the peace and tranquility of our neighbourhoods is the cause.

How many charged persons for murder are roaming our neighbourhoods every hour every day and through the silence of the night?

Last year, 2015, there were 147 murders - 2016 there have been 100 murders so probably there are

247 persons charged with murder roaming free as a bird, free as a good citizen with the same privileges, but terrorising everyone.

When the good AG comes home from Hong Kong maybe she can instruct her Legal Drafters to draft an Amendment to the Bail Act which finally will control the granting of Bail to persons who are charged with the act of murder.

It is a rather an easy exercise ... maybe a single paragraph - get it approved

by Cabinet and sent to the House for legislating - fast track and by January, 2017

no longer will a person charged with murder roam the streets not in fear, but causing extraordinary fear in the public.

If this Christie Government can’t do this then all I can say they endorse crime - illegal activities and do not have the heart, safety and security of the public to heart.

The Bail Act is the fault - we have 300 charged criminals for murder freely roaming the streets terrorising everyone.

W THOMPSON Nassau, December 2, 2016.

Is this really paradise?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS an intelligent, Bahamian teenager at my peak of high school, I am appalled by the utterly terrible services provided by the country’s electricity company, be it BEC or BPL. Is it because the fuel being used isn’t what is needed to run such a modern society? Are they ALWAYS fixing a circuit? Personally, I seek that there is absolutely no need to have such circumstances of outages every day or every other day.

While they’re “fixing” their circuits during outages, a few of mine are being blown. This is totally

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net unfair. Several electronics of mine have need of being replaced due to this “current” situation. Also, some of the lighting in my home by turning off the electricity in stages!

How about homework and assignments? The sun sets earlier now due to Daylight saving.

Having to do my assignments with a flashlight, especially being a person who is already in need of glasses is remarkably uncomfortable. What about research when the internet cuts out?

I write this article with all students in mind! I find it ridiculous! Is this how it will be during my college years which is only about a year away (intentions of attending University of the Bahamas)? How about the sick at home using oxygen machines, ventilators, life support systems, etc.?

It upsets me that it is nearly 2017 AD and I must still face such frequent cave-like circumstances due to this electricity company.

Something must be done.

So… is this really paradise?

ISRAEL MOSS (Student) Nassau, December 4, 2016.

Will candidate help FNM campaign?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE FNM under the leadership of Dr Hubert Minnis seems to be making good progress in terms of its candidates for 2017. And, a good group of candidates being presented to the electorate for their consideration is vitally important.

There is a concern that one of the current prospective candidates in Grand Bahama, if nominated, might not help the National Campaign given that the person was involved in a very public and contentious matter between two billionaires and the issues are still ongoing in the courts today.

The party needs to seriously consider whether it

wants to take on, own or get in the middle of issues between the two billionaires with its former Senior Party Officer being at the heart of the issues dealing with at least two very unsavoury characters.

It is truly, an unfortunate set of circumstances (as a result the party is in a bit of a pickle) because had the person not involved themselves in the dispute he would have unquestionably been a shoo-in for a candidacy as the person has tremendous talent, promise and certainly much to offer.

It was widely reported that the party very recently did not nominate a popular radio talk show host, for whatever reason, who

reportedly had strong association and community support, who might not have had potentially the same negative or level of negative impact On the National Campaign and at no time was he a senior party officer.

The organisation needs to carefully and seriously consider the prospective candidate because while the public is disenchanted, fed-up and wants to see the back of PM Christie and the PLP the FNM will not win by default and the electorate will make various judgments.

CONCERNED FNM Nassau, November 30, 2016.

Tourism statisics EDITOR, The Tribune.

TOURISM - past experience with Ministry of Tourism giving accurate statistics is certainly questionable.

Cleverly, so they think by combining Cruise and Air (stay-over) arrivals the number looks great but in reality the facts say totally different.

This sort of thinking has to affect the planning and marketing of MOT so DG come clean and say it as it is.

For the past ten years, little if any increase in ‘stay-

over visitors’ in fact the inventory of hotel rooms decreased cruise arrivals shot up but only 39%+- of them ever leave the ship in port.

As we move forward - incredibly Baha Mar, 2,300 rooms requires 80% occupancy which means they must have 1,840 rooms filled at least Thursday-Sunday, double occupancy 3,680 persons.

3,680 persons arriving by air = a whopping $920,000.00 a three-day stay in promotional support or $47.8m...

Budget whipped out.

Why has the little Netherlands Antilles island of

Aruba done so much better than The Bahamas? Now that is what DG Tourism should be looking at. Aruba is spotless - no crime great shopping and US Preclearance. 16% increase last year, stay-over visitors.

Compare it to Nassau Nassau dirty, litter everywhere - crime murder a day because all the bad boys are out on bail - shopping mediocre high priced - US Preclearance.

MARCIA SMITH Nassau, December 4, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 6, 2016, PAGE 5

DAMAGE TO ROOMS AT EL GRECO HOTEL AS FIRE BREAKS OUT

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THREE “high end” rooms at the El Greco Hotel were damaged after a fire reportedly broke out in the attic of the West Bay Street hotel in the early hours of Monday, according to senior hotel employees.

Hotel officials told The Tribune that while the cause of the blaze is still unknown, it likely started in the hotel’s large attic to the north of the building complex, before spreading throughout the roof and damaging some of the hotel’s “most expensive rooms” in the process.

One room in particular, room 14, sustained the most damage, after the “fire came straight through” from the roof, hotel employees said.

“A number” of other rooms received “smoke damage,” according to Police Fire Services Chief Superintendent Walter Evans, although he said fire services personnel observed three rooms that were “directly affected” by the fire.

No guests or hotel personnel were harmed as a result of the fire, according Supt Evans, who added that all of the 17 rooms that were reportedly occupied by guests were successfully evacuated.

DAMAGE to the El Greco building after the fire.

According to El Greco floor manager Hubert Knowles, it was between 2am and 3am when he, along with the security on duty noticed a large plume of smoke emanating from the northwestern section of the hotel. Mr Knowles said he and the security guard initially thought the fire was at the nearby Ichiban restaurant, prompting them to check it out.

“So we went out the

building and ran around, and when we were running around the police were coming around to us telling us the hotel was on fire,” he said. “So I then ran back inside and pulled the fire alarm, I ran upstairs, the area the fire was in and I started banging on all the guest doors, letting them know they had to evacuate.”

Fire services personnel were subsequently noti-

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff fied, with crews from police headquarters and both the Cable Beach and Paradise Island fire station’s summoned to combat the blaze, according to Supt Evans.

Meanwhile, Mr Knowles said all of the hotel’s guests were evacuated without incident, after which he said he personally assisted fire services personnel in extinguishing the blaze, which took roughly an hour and a

half, according to officials.

In a post-fire interview with The Tribune at the hotel, Mr Knowles revealed the extent of the damage El Greco had sustained.

“We had five king sized beds up there, five TVs, the suite has two beds,” Mr Knowles said. “Plenty damage. The roof even came in.

All the bathroom fixtures, damaged too. The tubs, toilets in three of the rooms

have to come out. You might could salvage two, in two of the rooms. But it’s plenty damage. I can’t really give an estimate how much, but it was a big loss.

“The good part about it was that some of those rooms were not occupied.

They are our high-end rooms. They are some of our most expensive rooms but were not occupied.”

He added: “I suspect the fire started in the attic because we have an attic where we can access the air condition systems which covers the rooms. It’s a big attic and you can walk in it, but at the front entrance was plenty smoke and a little fire there, so we contained that but we couldn’t get down in the back to the next section.”

Mr Knowles said some of the guests opted to relocate to the nearby Marriott hotel, while other guests placed in a section of the hotel that was not damaged by the fire.

“We automatically gave some of them some refunds for the inconvenience,” Mr Knowles added. “And then some of them when they come back some of them are our regular customers, and we say we’ll discount them one or two nights.

Everybody was in good standing. It wasn’t no problems.”

Two years on and family has no answers over man shot by police

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE family of a man shot and killed two years ago by police officers in Grand Bahama is frustrated over the lack of co-operation from police concerning the matter, which has yet to be brought before the Coroner’s Court.

Joanne Lockhart, the widow of 37-year-old Detandrion Lockhart, said something is not right about the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death. He was killed during a reported chase and shootout by police in May 2014.

“My family and I need closure, my family and I need answers,” said Mrs Lockhart. “It has now been two and a half years now since my husband was shot and killed by the police.”

She claimed that she nor her attorney have been provided a police or medical report concerning his death, despite their requests from officials.

Mrs Lockhart said that about two days after the

DETANDRION Lockhart, who was killed after a reported chase and shootout by police in May 2014. incident her attorney con- provide any information. tacted Commissioner of Po“To date, I have not relice Ellison Greenslade and ceived a police report nor requested details relative to a medical report after havthe incident. ing paid for one two weeks She said two weeks later after the incident, and my another letter was sent to attorney was advised that Commissioner Greenslade the file is not pending in the requesting a police report.

Coroner’s Court. In fact, he The commissioner, she said, the file could not be losaid, responded advising that cated,” she claimed. the matter had been forwardIn a police report reed to the Coroner’s Court leased to the press, police and consequently could not said they received infor-

mation around 9.45pm on Monday, May 5, 2014 of gunshots being fired from a white Chevy truck in the Bartlette Hill area in Eight Mile Rock.

Officers responded and intercepted the truck.

There was an exchange of gunfire between the occupant of the truck and officers. The driver then sped off and officers gave chase.

The truck later crashed in bushes off the Warren Levarity Highway, where it was discovered that the occupant had been fatally injured. Officers also recovered a firearm at the scene, police said.

Mrs Lockhart is not satisfied with the way her husband’s case is being handled and has tried to get answers, but has got nowhere.

“I am baffled at how many dead ends I have encountered since my husband was shot and killed by the police. Something is just not right about the circumstances surrounding his death,” she said.

She alleged that several police officers have approached her in private expressing their displeas-

ure about her husband’s shooting, and have strongly advised her to pursue legal action until someone is brought before the courts.

She has now sought assistance of self-proclaimed activist Omar Archer to assist the family.

Mrs Lockhart said she has turned over photographs taken of her husband’s truck after the incident and other evidence.

Mrs Lockhart said they are now preparing to forward their findings to Amnesty International.

“We seem unable to get any justice here in the Bahamas. There are too many inconsistencies in the initial verbal statement given to me when compared to the evidence gathered,” she claimed.

When she went to the hospital to identify her husband’s body, she alleged that the doctor told her that her spouse had been shot only once to the back of the head and died instantly, contrary to reports in the media, which reported that he had multiple gunshots wounds to the body. She also does not believe her

husband was involved in a shoot out with police and questioned if the officers involved had proper firearms training.

“I’m left to question then why is there blood all over the exterior of the truck, including the tailgate and the truck bed that he was driving? Why is there no trace of blood in the driver’s seat but blood is present on the passenger door and seat?

Additionally, why is the bullet hole in the headrest in a downward position when it should have been in an upright position as the police car is much lower than the truck? How is it possible that he could have been in a high speed shoot out with the police while driving a standard shift truck and could drive from Eight Mile Rock to the Fishing Hole Road with a shot to the back of his head? These are just a few of the questions that have been left unanswered,” Mrs Lockhart said.

Mrs Lockhart said the family just wants answers.

“Our five-year-old son still asks for his daddy everyday with no answers,” she said.

RISE IN REGISTERED VOTERS - BUT STILL BEHIND SAME POINT IN 2011

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS from the Parliamentary Registration Department have reported that nearly 10,000 eligible voters have registered for the upcoming general election over the last month, suggesting a sharp rise in those “frightening” low voter registration numbers reported in November.

Speaking to The Tribune on Monday, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall said that his department’s register has expanded to some 67,000 registrants, but stopped short of clarifying where those new registrants were located.

Despite being pressed for more information, Mr Hall

would not say much on the new numbers, stating firmly: “We are now at 67,000, that is all I can say at this time.”

As of November 4, roughly 57,000 people had registered throughout the country, a number that was dwarfed by comparison to the same period ahead of the 2012 general election.

At the same point in 2011, 134,000 persons were reported to have been registered across the country.

At the closing of that register, April 2012, a little over 172,000 voters had been registered.

FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest has taken issue with the government’s handling of the voter registration process Recently, the East Grand Bahama MP insisted that

the “issues” affecting the Parliamentary Registration Department was hindering registration numbers.

However, speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Turnquest reflecting on those initial criticisms acknowledged what he termed the “traditionally laid back” nature of Bahamians as a major factor in low registration numbers to date.

He told this daily that he remains “confident” that Bahamians would eventually see the bigger picture and register to vote in larger numbers.

“We are traditionally a laid back people and do things last-minute,” he said.

“If you would recall in 2012, there was similar slowness not as slow - which necessitated the then Prime Min-

ister (Hubert Ingraham) to go on a deliberate campaign to get people registered.”

He said both the government and the Official Opposition have to do their part to encourage voters to get more involved.

Mr Turnquest also suggested that the naming of Family Island candidates by major parties could aid registration numbers, implying that voters in those constituencies would be more inclined to register if they are aware of their options.

Over the weekend, political analyst and professor of English at the University of The Bahamas, Dr Ian Strachan speculated that the country could experience its lowest voter turnout in history, due to lack of faith in the current political sys-

POLICE HUNTING FOR MAN ON 37-YEAR-OLD MAN FACES COURT SUSPICION OF DRUG POSSESSION IN FREEPORT ACCUSED OF RAPE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama police are searching for man who they believe can help in an ongoing investigation into possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

Police want to speak with

Howard Garnette Thomas, 48, of East Indianman Road, Freeport about the investigation.

He is described as 5’ 8” tall with an average build, weighing 160 pounds with a dark brown complexion.

Anyone with information is asked to call 242-3503125, 242-350-3123 or 242350-3119 or 911.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A 37-YEAR-OLD man was charged with rape in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Romeo Major, of Balao Road, appeared in Court Three before Magistrate Rengin Johnson. The rape

is alleged to have occurred on November 25.

He was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the case was adjourned to March 2017 for a preliminary inquiry.

In the meantime, Major was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in New Providence.

tem and “weak” alternatives to the current administration.

Speaking as a guest on 96.9 FM’s “Eye Opener”, Dr Strachan suggested that a “crisis of representation” could be the dooming factor for the next general election.

The 2012 register marked the largest in the country’s history.

According records, 172,085 persons registered

to vote.

Of that number 118,236 (68 per cent) registered in New Providence, 26,966 registered in Grand Bahama and 26,883 in the Family Islands.

Legal Notice

NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a) LOBSTER LIMITED is in dissolution under the provisions of the International Business Companies Act 2000 (b) The Dissolution of said Company commenced on December 5, 2016 when its Articles of Dissolution were submitted and registered by the Registrar General. (c) The Liquidator of the said company is Zakrit Services Ltd. of 2nd Terrace West, Centreville, Nassau, Bahamas. (d) All persons having Claims against the above-named Company are required on or before January 2, 2016 to send their names and addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the company or, in default thereof, they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts are proved.

December 6, 2016 ZAKRIT SERVICES LTD. LIQUIDATOR OF THE ABOVE-NAMED COMPANY

PAGE 6, Tuesday, December 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

PM orders probe into blackouts from page one He spoke on the sidelines of the opening ceremony for the ninth International Civil Aviation Organisation Air Services Agreement. Several hundred representatives from around the world are attending the five-day event at the gymnasium.

He continued: “I spent yesterday (Sunday) between church services and public functions talking to all of the persons that I could with respect to the cause of it. I have asked them, I know that they are troubleshooting now to determine.

I have been advised that this could be human error and I have a view on that and I am asking them to investigate it to determine what happened and I am

too concerned about a Sunday afternoon when people are home.

“When internationally events are taking place at Fort Montagu. Where people of world prominence are in The Bahamas. When Bahamians are home watching sports as they do. But this happened for the second time in a week.

That is too catastrophic, too unusual and is deserving of the highest investigation.

“I have been unofficially advised at this point that it’s human error. I want to see what that really means… human error because to me it is just too amazing to have happened twice in a week.”

There have been three blackouts and frequent disruptions in supply for several days. Sunday’s out-

age followed a weekend of power issues as residents complained of intermittent outages on Friday and Saturday.

Last Thursday, BPL blamed a “damaged underground cable” for blackouts on Tuesday and Wednesday and customers were warned at the time that they might experience “intermittent challenges with their power supply until operations have stabilised”.

When asked about BPL’s challenges last week, Mr Davis said: “I have no regrets, because I think BPL is meeting its mandate as we have outlined it.

“The challenge has been we still have the aged engines and we have not been able to address them in the way we had anticipated much earlier. That requires capital. Remembering that

BPL is still a Bahamianowned entity and they look to government for the raising of their capital, therein lies the challenge at the moment. We need to be able to replace the aged engines and that is what is giving us the challenge that we have today.

“I think reliability has been improved. What I say to residents that you would have seen improvements in reliability, you would have seen improvements in the bottom line of your bills since 2012. Take heart from that to realise that we will fulfil the other end of the bargain, that is reliable generation, which will come and replace those engines that are aged.”

At around 2pm on Sunday, New Providence was plagued by a power cut.

When The Tribune spoke

to President of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union Paul Maynard around 4.30pm, he indicated that the company “had no idea” what caused the problem.

“All we know right know is that several engines shut down at Baillou Hill (power station) and we are trying to get them back on but these engines are old, there is only so much we can do,” he said.

BPL posted updates about the blackout on its Facebook page.

Around 4pm, the company said BPL said teams were working to restart engines and eventually begin restoring power to customers.

“BPL apologises for the system instability issues today and in the past few days and assures you that

every reasonable effort is being made to correct the problems. We will continue to update you on the progress of our restoration effort,” the brief statement said.

Around 7.30pm, BPL said it had started restoring power to some areas as it asked for patience, saying the process would be a slow one.

“Despite some challenges restarting engines, BPL has managed to get several units back up and running and has started to restore power in New Providence,” the company said on Facebook.

“We do advise that given the existing system instability, this will be a slow process as we work to restore power without causing another total system shutdown.”

BPL CHIEF ASKS FOR ‘PATIENCE’ from page one

ing. That is the approach we are taking at Clifton Pier.

Clifton is a particularly im“Over the coming few portant asset because that months, you can expect to is where our lower cost gensee additional investment eration resides. It doesn’t in the system, so we will be help us to continue to rely strengthening those cables, on Blue Hills, despite the underground cables, over- fact that it is there and we heard lines, transmission love it and we give it a big and distribution systems hug every morning. We just and certainly our plant at want to bring Clifton up to Clifton, in both generation par.” and training,” she said.

Ms Hill explained that “What we are doing is Sunday’s power outage was focusing on what is going a “worst case scenario” and to be needed to turned out to stabilise the sys- ‘What we be “more chaltem this coming lenging” than summer. It is are doing is BPL originally not that spring focusing on thought. or this winter what is going “Around 2.45 doesn’t count pm is when we but we need to to be needed had our outage use this lower to stabilise and it stemmed load period, the system at Clifton Pier. when there is We had an isnot as much this coming sue, essentially strain on the summer. It is with one of the system to take not that spring power plants advantage and and it led us to ready ourselves or this winter start to think for the summer. doesn’t count about how we So what that but we need to can very quickly means is, since prevent a major we are four to use this lower outage. So what six months from load period, we were looking feeling the sumto do when that when there is mertime load, issue flared up that is the time- not as much at Clifton was frame we are strain on the to make sure it looking at to wouldn’t cassystem to take execute those cade into major major projects... advantage and outage,” Ms Hill Clifton is like an ready ourselves explained. old car.

“So we took “You can get for the summer.’ some immediquite a lot of ate measures to miles out of the car and you do that but what ended up don’t have to get rid of the happening was exactly our car just the older parts and worst fear, which was that that’s enough to keep it go- upon taking those measures

BAHAMAS Power and Light Company Limited held a press conference yesterday to address the recent power outages in the country.

Pamela Hill, BPL CEO, is pictured alongside Shevon Cambridge, BPL’s deputy general manager of engineering and operations.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff within four or five minutes one of our cables became overloaded and that in turn led to the outage occurring island-wide. So initially when we had the outage most everyone was still on, there were just a few customers that were off. Most unfortunately all of our customers did go off and

that outage turned out to be more challenging than it appeared at the outset and it took a while longer than is the norm for us to return power.”

BPL’s failure to keep the lights on comes months after American company PowerSecure was contracted to take over manage-

ment at the governmentowned utility provider. The new management deal was touted by the government as being the answer to subpar electricity service and high electricity bills.

Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis recently said he has “no regrets” handing over the day-to-

day operations of the former Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) to PowerSecure.

Mr Davis, who is also the minister of works, told The Tribune he thinks BPL is “meeting its mandate” and blamed the constant power outages on “aged machines”.

FOLLOWING the recent power outages and Deputy Prime Minister Phillip Brave Davis’ declaration that he has “no regrets” over handing BEC’s operations over to PowerSecure, readers gave their views on tribune242.com.

CommonSense referenced the downtown Christmas decorations: “Should’ve put the $500,000 that you guys authorised for those hideous decorations on Bay Street towards obtaining NEW generators.”

Emac said: “Unfortunately, this admin and the former FNM crew have been playing the people on this matter for years. The sad thing is leaders past and present don’t understand that it is imperative for Bahamians to at least enjoy the basic necessities of life, such as power and communications without disruptions, since everything else in The Bahamas is messed up and compounded by the high cost of living.”

And there was this from Jus2cents: “So many reasons and people to blame, starting with government not paying their own power bills for decades, customers not paying power bills, not upgrading and maintaining equipment, cronies getting contracts and doing nothing, not investing in renewables, etc. But mainly it’s the inept government getting the wrong generators, not training workers and making bad choices that benefit themselves, their cronies and shaft the rest of us.”

Also making the news was newly-elected NCTUB VicePresident Paul Maynard’s call for Royal Bank of Canada and Scotiabank to “allow their employees to be unionised”.

Readers weren’t impressed.

Lkalik, referenced Mr Maynard’s use of the expression “puppets for the white man” and said: “This is why the unions in this county are irrelevant. They are full of hateful, spiteful, vindictive racists and small petty men whose egos know no bounds. It is 2016, we’ve had 40 years of Majority Rule and these jackasses are still talking about race.”

Sheeprunner12 had this to say: “Unions serve no purpose in our economy anymore. Just look at what has become of the Teachers’ Union and the Hotel Union in the past five years . . . unions have become businesses and plush jobs for so called ‘executives’. Whatever happened to the trench ‘fighters’ with no vested political allegiances? Randol Fawkes and the early Labourites fought too hard for this lousy set of union leaders to represent him on Labour Day.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

READERS GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON RECENT BPL POWER OUTAGES

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 6, 2016, PAGE 7

THE MUSIC Makers pictured taking part in last year’s Boxing Day Junkanoo parade.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

HURRICANE EFFECTS FORCE MUSIC MAKERS TO PULL OUT OF JUNKANOO

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE Music Makers Junkanoo group yesterday announced that it would not be participating in either of the upcoming holiday parades, with officials blaming the effects of Hurricane Matthew for the group’s inability to field a perfor-

mance.

In a statement released to the media last evening, group organisers said their hopes of returning to parades routes were “crushed” by the unfortunate devastation inflicted upon their shacks and costumes by the passage of the massive category four storm in early October.

Monday’s statement read:

“The Music Makers Junkanoo group has a rich and winning legacy that dates back to the early 1970s and this year we were anticipating that we would return with the competitive spirit and pride through costuming and performance, that had once propelled us to the top.”

It continued: “Unfortunately, due to the devasta-

tion that Hurricane Matthew left on our shacks and costumes, our dreams of a triumphant return to the top were crushed.

“In light of this horrific fact that has been documented, the executives of our group were forced to make a rather difficult decision of not participating in this year’s Junkanoo parades.

“We intend to refocus and reorganise ourselves.

Our desire is to pick up and create the spirit of excellence once again and settle for nothing less.

“The message must be clear that we wish to compete and be taken seriously by all junkanooers and fans alike. We want to give sponsors, our fans and spectators their monies worth.”

The announcement marks another set back in the group’s storied history.

The group finished fifth in last year’s Boxing Day Parade in the A Division, and was disqualified from the 2016 New Year’s Day Parade for failing to complete the compulsory third lap - the second lap on Bay Street.

January trial for ten accused of damaging Cabbage Beach fence

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net TEN people facing prosecution stemming from the destruction of a fence blocking an access point to Cabbage Beach, including talk show host Lincoln Bain, will now return to Magistrate’s Court in January 2017 for the start of their trial.

Bain, 39, Urvan Moxey, 46, Miguel Joseph, 26, Derek Thompson, 64, Hubert McIntosh, 59, Sam Butler, 52, Trevor Lightbourne, 46, Francis Johnson, 50, Derek Cox, 58 and Jharo Saunders, 23, were initially to have their case heard before Magistrate Carol Misiewicz on charges of damage, disorderly behaviour and three counts of obstruction relating to a protest on March 1.

However, after a series of adjournments, the case is now before Magistrate Constance Delancy who yesterday told the accused, who anticipated that they would be discharged for want of prosecution, that the matter

will proceed to trial as the initial magistrate had left no notes or ruling indicating otherwise.

Don Saunders, one of several lawyers appearing for the aforementioned accused said that a preliminary objection would have to be raised.

Magistrate Delancy said that before the objection could even be heard, she would have to ascertain from the defendants whether they retained their answers to the charges they individually and/or collectively faced.

The magistrate inquired from police prosecutor ASP Clifford Daxon if the 10 defendants all faced the same charges. He said they did.

Defence attorney Halson Moultrie said the dockets in his possession appeared to be different from that of the prosecutors.

Lawyer Lanisha Rolle, who also said she wished to make a preliminary objection, asked for a short adjournment of the matter to allow attorney Branville McCartney to be updated

as he was unavailable for the hearing.

She also said the defence would need to know what charges they were defending against.

The parties agreed to adjourn the matter to January 18, 2017 at 10am.

“I do apologise but I don’t have a ruling and I don’t rule on what I haven’t heard,” the magistrate told the 10 accused.

In an initial arraignment in March, Moxey faced three counts each of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

It was claimed that he harmed Chief Superintendent Leamond Deleveaux, Supt Philip Hinzie and Inspector Lloyd Rolle during his attempt to resist lawful arrest during a massive protest at Cabbage Beach earlier this year.

All 10 persons faced three counts each of obstruction and a charge of disorderly behaviour, as it was alleged that they disturbed the peace and blocked the senior policemen who were acting in the course of their duties.

TWO-WEEK DELAY FOR MURDER CASE TRANSFER

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO men awaiting trial in connection with a triple shooting that occurred in September will have to wait another two weeks for their case to be transferred to the Supreme Court.

Quentino Carey, 23, and Jakota Johnson, 19, were due to appear in Magistrate’s Court yesterday for the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment in the deaths of Mackenzie Telusnord and Mark Davis in Peardale. However, as was the case in October, the documents were not ready and the matter was further

adjourned to December 19.

Both men face two counts of murder and a charge of attempted murder. The murder charges fall under Section 291 (1)(B) of the Penal Code, meaning the accused will not face the discretionary death penalty if there is a conviction at the end of the Supreme Court trial.

It is alleged that the pair, being concerned together on September 13, caused the deaths of Telusnord and Davis.

It is further alleged that they attempted to cause the death of eight-year-old Avanti Morley.

According to initial police reports, shortly after

7pm, a group of men were standing outside a home when three individuals emerged from nearby bushes all with handguns and opened fire into the crowd.

Telusnord and Davis were struck about the body along with young Avanti, who was also shot. Telusnord died at the scene while Davis died of his injuries in hospital three hours later.

The pair will not be allowed to enter a plea to the allegations until they are formally arraigned before a judge in the Supreme Court.

Elsworth Johnson and Domek Rolle are the respective lawyers for Johnson and Carey.

CASE IS DROPPED AGAINST MAN ACCUSED OF SEX ATTACK ON CHILD from page one The trial was set to be heard before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs.

Prosecutor Terry Archer presented a nolle prosequi signed by the attorney general asking that the charge

be discontinued against Sullivan.

The judge was given the document and a copy was given to defence lawyer Calvin Seymour.

The Attorney General’s Office could bring the case against Sullivan again at any time in the Supreme

Court, but it is unlikely.

He had denied the allegation since his formal arraignment in Supreme Court in February 2013.

A person tried and convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse faces between seven years and life imprisonment.

They also faced a charge of damage when it was al-

leged that they destroyed a chain link fence valued at

just over $800 on Casino Drive.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, December 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

We’ve come a long way and no way at all in 40 years

By NICOLE BURROWS

W

HILE researching video footage for a film project, I came across some clips from the 1970s and 1980s, including old video recordings of Lynden Pindling around the time of Bahamian independence from Britain.

Pindling was asked what he thought about the ‘whites’, ie, expatriates, who packed up and left, some assumed, because The Bahamas became an independent country under a black leader and a predominantly black Cabinet. The question posed to Pindling essentially asked what he thought of the departure of these folks from the country and what he would say to the matter.

Pindling replied: “I think it’s a question of what’s the rightful place of a national in his own country ... the overall objective still is to advance Bahamians to the very top spot in this country.”

And I thought, how utterly ironic.

In nearly half a century, this one thing he said he wanted to do still has not been done. In spite of higher levels of educational attainment, in spite of the entrepreneurial spirit of Bahamians in The Bahamas, they are still second best to anyone from any other country with more money to buy the land and other resources in and of The Bahamas.

I have to wonder how it is Pindling thought he would insulate Bahamians from the impact of what the world already called a “millionaires’ playground”.

How would Bahamians ever compete with that, unless they too were to become millionaires? And how would they become millionaires when the basics of their economic, education and health and welfare systems offered them little opportunity for real advancement?

We wanted tourism without “the white man’s” help when it was he who created a tourism industry.

We wanted tourism without counting - in fact, never imagining - the costs, the longterm costs, it would have for us ... a cumulative cost far greater than the dollar amount tourists could ever spend overall in the Bahamas.

Why could it not have been the goal of Majority Rule crusaders to encourage Bahamians to be independent thinkers, inventors, creators of their own wealth, instead of encouraging them down a path of sponging off the wealth of others? I dare say there was a serious lack of vision there, one made less obvious to Bahamians by the quick and easy money to be gained.

These video clips of independence, most from Reuters’ archives, but one in particular from NBC’s

archives, were of course annotated, so that whenever anyone referred to them in the future they would know what was contained on the reel. One clip from 1987 read “Sir Lynden also came under attack during the campaign for padding out the civil service with friends and supporters and failing to tackle the high unemployment in The Bahamas, believed to be over 20 per cent in a total population of only 250,000.”

It seems we’ve come a long way and no way at all.

I’m sorry, but it’s very difficult for me to see, let alone exult, any good anyone in any political party might have done for this country two, or three or four decades ago, when today all I find myself looking at, along with my people, my Bahamian people - not the millionaires on the playground - is a big pile of mess.

In another video clip, the annotation says “Economic problems lie behind the idyllic facade. The Bahamas depend on tourism for four-fifths of their income; and in the past two years the number of visitors has been cut by world recession.

Unemployment is high, and the crime rate is rising.”

This could easily be today’s news.

Is that our country’s destiny? To be, for the most part, a visual gem, a playground for the wealthy and a basin of crime, with Bahamians having little to strive for unless it has something to do with tourism, becoming more idle and criminal with every year that passes?

Will the masses, the majority that rule, soon become the majority that collapses under the weight of everyone else’s prosperity?

One reporter back then, on the lead up to independence, asked Pindling “What is your party’s political philosophy?” He said he come equality.

Barely ten years into asked because it didn’t appear that anyone outside Pindling’s government, he The Bahamas knew what it and his administration was was. Pindling responded, “I already being accused of would say we’re essentially looking out for “friends a party of the masses.” In and family”. Perhaps that is something terms of right, so engrained left, and cen- ‘Is our country’s in our culture, tre, he said destiny to be, for our national the Progrespsyche, that sive Liberal the most part, we will never Party (PLP) a visual gem, a shake it. was a little left playground for Corruption of centre. starts when The closer the wealthy and you do things you get to the a basin of crime, for friends left, the more and family beyou suppos- with Bahamians cause they’re edly believe having little to friends and in the equal- strive for unless it family, when ity of people, others cannot equal rights, has something to get the same equal oppor- do with tourism, opportunities. tunities, equal becoming more That’s apparincomes, etc. ently where Do you see idle and criminal we were by any of that in with every year 1980, and 30 today’s PLP? that passes?’ to almost 40 In spite of years later, what they tell themselves, are they really we’re still there. Perhaps more “right” than “left”? it cannot ever change, beBecause the Bahamian cause that’s simply who we society is not reflective of are. We don’t, as a group of equality across the board, people, know another way, and most certainly not in- and we’re not even trying to

SIR LYNDEN PINDLING find another way. So maybe You could change the we will just continue to get name, change the logo, what that brings us. change the management, It will take an entirely but you can’t change the different way of thinking way the people who you deabout people and pro- pend on to get the job done gress, if we are to be bet- actually get the job done. ter, which is why I suppose And you definitely can’t many are adamant that advance the company with people over the age of 60 capital expenditure on new cannot remain in power equipment if the company because they simply can- never turns a profit. not understand that conI’m so thrilled to see Arcept of merit before rela- nette Wilson-Ingraham at tionship ... or they’re so BPL/BEC as communicaconnected to their way of tions manager - such an doing business they can’t intelligent and well-spoken separate themselves from woman. But I do not envy the old practices. But the her job of placating rightthing about that is that fully rabid Bahamian powthe younger people have er consumers. She does learned very well how to her job well, now that they carry through with that finally let her off the leash, same way of thinking. And but she can’t change the so the corruptibility still reality of the problems at exists, waiting to be uti- BPL/BEC. lised at any given moment.

What was PowerSecure It doesn’t matter who you supposed to do differbring in to ‘fix’ the problem ently than the old BEC, if if the key players are still both they (PowerSecure) operating in their old hab- and the government knew its. Case in point: Bahamas they couldn’t capitalise Power and Light (BPL)/ new equipment? What was Bahamas Electricity Cor- the point of bringing them poration (BEC), whose new in, if, in effect, as we’ve slogan should be ‘Where seen over the past days, there’s always a story’. weeks, months, nothing has changed? The only real reason to bring in foreign overseers would be to stem internal corruption and inefficiency, or at least, give the impression that you care enough to stem internal corruption and inefficiency, even if at the end of the day PowerSecure leaves the government holding the bag. And maybe that’s why no one at BPL/BEC bothers to speak out against them.

Minister of Works and Deputy Prime Minister Davis says that BPL management is “meeting the mandate” as agreed. And that “reliability has been improved”. How? By keeping the status quo? Where is he living?

Lemme trow some lowness. He can find a way to afford to have $93,000 worth of jewellery but he can’t find a way for the ministry under his leadership

to afford new power equipment. I guess he would say it’s not his job but the job of the Minister of Finance.

Guess who that is. Along with his lackey, poor Halkitis, who has to pretend as though he has all the answers.

Along with strategic planning, a very big part of management is problem solving.

If PowerSecure can’t solve the problems before them, why are they there? If BPL/ BEC is so cash-strapped with no light at the end of the tunnel, why are they still operating? They might as well sell candles and matches.

It’s certainly not a new problem, and not a revelation to anyone, but “aged engines” does not sound like the only problem at BPL/BEC. Last week the problem was underground cabling. After extensive and extended outages over the past weekend, who knows what the problem will be called after now?

I imagine the next scapegoat will be on deck by the time the morning news is out.

To the average thinking person, all electrical facility infrastructure sounds like the problem. In other words, the problem at BPL/BEC does not lie only with generation but with transmission and distribution.

Remind me, what was BPL’s/PowerSecure’s proposal to improve generation, transmission and distribution? Oh, that’s right.

That’s all supposed to be in the $900,000 business plan we have yet to - and probably never will - see.

Guess the next thing we’ll hear is that the Chinese overlords are paying for all new power equipment. I’m surprised they asked for a hotel instead of a utility company. Oh wait. There’s still time.

Send comments and responses to nburrows@ tribunemedia.net

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 6, 2016, PAGE 9

PRIME Minister Perry Christie at the launch fo the National Development Plan earlier this year.

Transparency and accountability key in National Development Plan

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE potentially seminal National Development Plan will urge the government to prioritise enhancing transparency and accountability in its operations, the latest in a long line of official plans and reports that have encouraged such reforms even as successive governments prove slow to adopt them.

The Christie administration believes the NDP will be a groundbreaking document that will occupy a central role in the development of the nation, providing future governments, civil society and businesses with a blueprint for the future.

Crucially, the plan will be accompanied with accountability mechanisms, with the University of The Bahamas expected to release ritual reports highlighting whether milestones have

been met “That kind of analysis is going to be embedded in the overall culture of the country like never before and that is going to be important,” Gowon Bowe, chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation and NDP secretariat member, said yesterday.

A comprehensive, 491page draft of the NDP was released over the weekend.

One area of focus has long been a rallying cry for activists, businesses and civil society: making government more transparent and accountable.

The NDP urges the government to post public tenders and contract awards online in order to ally “fears of favouritism”.

Bahamians frequently express concerns about how contracts are awarded. To address this, the NDP calls for the creation of a new Public Procurement Unit.

Developing a campaignfinancing framework is also emphasised.

The NDP specifies that donations to political parties should be disclosed and an independent monitoring body responsible for campaign financing should be established.

The NDP calls for the government to implement the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), calling it a “cornerstone in transparent governance”.

Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, the minister responsible for the FOIA, has said he expects to table a revised FOI Bill in Parliament before the end of the year, nearly five years after the previous Ingraham administration passed its own version of the legislation. However, that FOIA did not have an enforcement date.

In addition, the NDP says the work of the auditor general should be enhanced by increasing the budget for

that office, allowing more reviews of government programmes and ministries to take place.

The NDP also endorses the creation of an Office of the Ombudsman, which would be responsible for investigating complaints “from societies on how ministries are implementing their policies or programmes”.

Additionally, the NDP says legislation should require that ministers submit annual business plans to Parliament highlighting their major programmes and outcomes yearly along with key statistics.

The NDP calls for an independent task force that would propose revisions to the Judicial Service Commission, creating a procedure where judicial appointments are transparent and publicly known.

The plan urges the government to ensure transparency in the allocation of Crown land by digitising

Crown land grant and leases. At the moment, officials do not discuss information about Crown land grant and leases, usually saying they require permission from the prime minister to disclose it.

The Christie administration faces the challenge of proving it is committed to implementing the plan’s objectives.

Many of the aforementioned plans are not new and have appeared in various forms in other plans and reports dating back years.

The Constitutional Commission’s 2013 report, for instance, called for campaign financing frameworks and for government institutions like the Judicial Services Commission to be made independent.

Although the commission’s chairman, Sean McWeeney, has said several such recommendations do not require a constitutional referendum to be achieved,

the Christie administration has made no progress towards instituting such changes.

The government has also struggled to adhere to the accountability requirements of existing legislation even as the NDP urges it to increase its responsibilities in this area.

For years now several government institutions and quasi-government bodies have failed, for instance, to produce audits as required by law.

It has been years since the Public Hospitals Authority, the Water & Sewerage Corporation, the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, the University of The Bahamas and the Hotel Corporation of the Bahamas have had audits tabled in Parliament as required by the law.

If the NDP’s plans are implemented, these bodies will be required to annually produce much more information.

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

evaluate how successful the country is at implementing the plan, increasing pressure on politicians to implement the changes.

Regarding taxes, the NDP draft says: “Taxes are the main source of government revenue and the efficiency of their collection impacts government’s ability to deliver on services. Currently the government of the Bahamas relies heavily on indirect source of taxes with some significant leakages from the revenue stream.

Property taxes are mainly levied on foreign homeowners and Bahamian homeowners in New Providence.

The current project to improve customs collection is to be commended but only 40 per cent - 60 per cent of property taxes are collected.

Further as residents call on the government to provide better and more social services, the narrow tax base may be insufficient to fulfil these needs.”

The NDP said a lack of commitment by the government to change, a lack of understanding by the public

about the link between government revenue and the provision of services and a cultural bias against direct taxes are responsible for the general lack of tax reform in the country.

A four per cent annual increase in tax revenue would indicate success in reform, the NDP said.

The plan does not propose which taxes should be implemented, calling instead for a review of the existent system to identify its general impact, especially on businesses.

The plan calls for an evaluation and implementation of a revenue system that would diversify the tax structure.

It called for a tax structure that is more progressive, indicating the tax rate paid by a business or person should increase as the taxable amount of that business or person increases.

During the debate about VAT, some Bahamians called for the introduction of an income tax, emphasising its progressive nature as compared to VAT.

TAX SYSTEM TO BE ‘TRANSFORMED’ UNDER PROPOSALS THE National Development Plan will recommend that the country’s tax system be transformed to become more progressive and efficient, according to an NDP draft released online.

The Christie administration implemented value added tax (VAT) in 2015, responding to a need for more revenue to reduce the national debt and deficit.

While that change has been met with calls to improve government revenue collection processes, particularly with regards to real property taxes and customs duty, politicians have not indicated since then that further tax reform is in the country’s future.

The NDP could change that.

It is intended by the government to be a seminal document that enjoys bipartisan support.

The University of the Bahamas will be responsible for releasing reports that

SHIPYARD VERBAL ABUSE CLAIM INVESTIGATED from page one

He warned that industrial unrest is looming at the shipyard, where workers are in fear of their jobs and morale is at an all-time low.

According to Mr Wright, neither the union nor the employees were given reasons for the dismissals. He said talks between the union and executives broke down early last week at a meeting when he was insulted by the CEO who told him to go and run to his “lit-

tle begging government”.

Mr Mitchell issued a statement on Monday in reference to a complaint that was lodged by the GBPAWU regarding recent occurrences between the union and management at the shipyard.

The matter has also been reported to the Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville who is also investigating the issues arising there.

The findings of the investigations conducted by the Department of Labour and the Ministry for Grand Ba-

hama will be forwarded to Mr Mitchell for further determination.

In view of increased complaints, Mr Mitchell said he wanted to take the opportunity to give some general guidance to employers with regard to work permit holders in The Bahamas.

He said: “Quite apart from the instant case in the shipyard and in Grand Bahama and without referencing it in any way beyond mention, there are in my view too many complaints from Bahamian employees around the country against

employers in Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island and New Providence of a similar nature to the Grand Bahama complaints.

“I think that each expatriate employer should know that it is incumbent upon them to act consistently with the Code of Practice which is part of the Industrial Relations Act.” Mr Mitchell indicated that the Department of Immigration seeks to exercise its discretion in granting or rescinding work permits to include, but not limiting itself to situations where the

skill is not available in the Bahamas or where the individual is defacto the owner’s representative.

“This usually includes a managing director or president of a company or financial controller. However, implicit in any contract of employment is that employees will be treated fairly and with respect and not have any instances where they are stripped of their dignity.

“Therefore any language which is abusive, inflammatory, racist, misogynistic or discriminatory is to be dis-

couraged and is not acceptable,” he said.

He said that when a credible complaint comes to the Department of Immigration on such matters, they are routinely referred to the Department of Labour for investigation and advice.

The immigration minister, he said, may then exercise his discretion in accordance with those findings.

The department awaits the report on the situation in Grand Bahama and will continue to act in the best interests of the Bahamian public, Mr Mitchell said.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, December 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Eye doctor raises concerns at ‘discriminatory’ recruitment

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net ANOTHER senior ophthalmologist has issued a scathing critique of the Public Hospital Authority’s recruitment of two Indian eye doctors at the Princess Margaret Hospital, calling the move “unconventional, discriminatory, and unfair”.

In a letter to The Tribune, Dr Dawn Russell-Hermanns said the resignation of Medical Chief of Staff (MCS) Dr James Johnson and the total disregard for both his recommendations and the advice of the entire Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), should “speak volumes to the Bahamian people”.

“The Bahamian people should also be afforded the opportunity to consider why these two foreign doctors will not be going through the trial process prior to their promotion to consultants,” said Dr Russell-Hermanns, acting head of the Division of Ophthalmology at PMH. She said: “The Bahamian people can ponder this question against the factual background that in the past, we have brought in doctors who had seemingly glowing and very impressive resumes but their actual clinical work with patients left much to be desired.”

Dr Johnson resigned with immediate effect on November 22 after reaching an impasse with the PHA over its decision to disregard his recommendations on the appointment of the two Indian eye doctors.

He told The Tribune that he decided to step down from the post after it became apparent that the PHA, namely Managing Director Herbert Brown, had already gone forward with the recruitment exercise despite months of backand-forth discussion over the changes.

Dr Johnson forecast that the disparity in pay and procedure between the new recruits and previous local hires had the potential to create “big problems”.

His resignation was supported by the Consultant Physicians Staff Association, and its President Dr Locksley Munroe, who flagged issues over the tone and insulting manner in which Dr Johnson was treated.

However, in an email to The Tribune, Dr Jonathan Rodgers pointed to the critical shortage of eye doctors in the country as the motivation behind the apparent break from procedure.

In a detailed account of the appointment process that began in March of this year - from his perspective - Dr Rodgers alleged that there were currently only

four board certified or fellowship certified practising eye doctors in The Bahamas. He said that the two ophthalmologists “have written numerous academic papers published in accredited ophthalmological journals and have had more surgical experience, at this stage of their ophthalmic careers, than any other surgeon at PMH”.

In her letter, Dr RussellHermanns said that the motivation and rationale for the appointment, as previously outlined by Dr Rodgers, were misleading and unfounded.

Speaking directly to her own surgical experience, Dr Russell-Hermanns outlined her ophthalmology residency at Yale University/ Yale New Haven Hospital; two fellowships at prestigious universities: McGill University in Canada, and Cambridge University in United Kingdom; and another fellowship at the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust and Kidderminster Care Hospitals in the United Kingdom.

She pointed out that she returned home to The Bahamas in December 2013 as the only Bahamian retinal surgeon, adding that the training level of the recruited Indian retina specialist is on par to her level in 2013.

Dr Russell-Hermanns also included a listing of

SOME of the youngsters taking part in the REACH concert at Stapledon School on Friday.

DIRECTOR of Youth Darron Turnquest at the REACH event.

six fellowship trained and board certified ophthalmologists, inclusive of herself and Dr Rodgers. At the time of the recruitment process, she said, there were two additional doctors practising. Dr Russell-Hermanns also said that three ophthalmologists have completed residency training and are currently practising in the country.

“One of my concerns is and has always been that any ophthalmologist who joins the department ought not be handpicked by one practitioner in the manner in which these two foreign doctors were recruited by Dr Rodgers,” she said.

“The fact that they were hand picked by Dr Rodgers who over the period June, 2015 to September, 2016 has made the least surgical contribution to the Department of Ophthalmology in terms of clinic hours and surgical cases performed is also troubling.”

Comparing output this year, Dr Russell-Hermanns noted that while she has performed 174 public cases, and supervised resident doctors for a significant number of their 142 surgical cases at PMH, Dr Rodgers has performed approximately 30 public surgical cases in the same period.

Foreign doctors are typically recruited as senior registrars, and then become eligible for promotion after

one year if their performance was satisfactory.

In his earlier statement, Dr Rodgers said that the two Indian doctors accepted the appointment of senior registrars initially, but then advised that they had already been offered positions as consultants and requested an upgrade of the status being offered by PMH. Consultants have the right to engage in private practice.

Taking into account the level of expertise and the dire need for their services, Dr Rodgers said the PHA decided that the doctors be appointed full-time consultants on a three-year contract without the right to a private practice. He said this decision was agreed to by all save Dr Johnson and an Eye Department registrar.

For her part, Dr RussellHermanns acknowledged that she considered the “instant promotion” as a personal affront given that her official appointment and promotion to the position of Consultant was only formalised on November 7, after the decision to recruit the doctors, and subsequent criticism, was made.

“I have been home and at PMH since December 2013 working as a consultant, attending consultants meetings and functioning in every respect as a consultant, the exception of course

being that I was not officially promoted to the position and I was not paid as such,” she said.

“There is now a foreign retina specialist, to whom I am senior, who has been confirmed as a consultant even prior to her feet hitting Bahamian soil. She will be paid as a consultant from her first day on the job.”

She said: “This in my view is patently unfair and is discriminatory conduct against a Bahamian citizen.

The Bahamian public ought to be made aware of it.

“Why should the Indians doctors be brought in as instant consultants with higher pay when equally and more highly trained Bahamian doctors have had to wait for their promotions to this level? “ “I have taken the time to provide the underlying facts on this issue and to identify the inaccuracies and misrepresentations in Dr Rodgers’ statements not merely because it is a personal affront to me and to my colleagues,” Dr RussellHermanns said, “but also because what has happened affects the public at large not merely in terms of the ophthalmic medical care they will receive but also to alert them to more examples of the discriminatory practices which are allowed to prevail in our country even in the face of vehement objection.”

Photos: Aaron Davis

CALL FOR STUDENTS TO SEE POTENTIAL AT REACH CONCERT DARRON Turnquest, Director of Youth in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, called on Special Needs students to see the greatness and the potential within themselves to rise above challenges at a concert organised by Resources and Education for Autism and Related Challenges (REACH) at Stapledon School, Dolphin Drive, on Friday.

The concert highlighted the abilities of the students, who entertained the audience with a variety of music including Junkanoo, a hand bell performance, dance and songs.

“What you see in me as my disability is my ability.

Every individual has something to offer. The only way to demonstrate your talent is to look within yourself and say I am great. I have ability. It doesn’t matter what anyone says about me, I am who I believe I am,” he said.

Mr Turnquest cited Denair Rolle, three-time Special Olympian medallist who was present in the audience, to demonstrate his point. “When you believe you are going into the race a winner you’re already a winner,” he said. “Even when you

SOME of those taking part in the REACH concert on Friday at Stapledon School, which included Junkanoo music, a hand bell performance, dancing and songs.

lose you’re still a winner. Keep your eye on the prize. Your talent is in you. Bring the talent out of you and celebrate you.”

Schools participating were the Centre for the Deaf, Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled, Garvin Tynes Primary School, Sir Gerald Cash (Special Unit), T G Glover Primary School (Special Unit), Blairwood Academy, Sadie Curtis Primary (Special Unit), D W Davis Junior High (Special Unit), the Hopedale Centre, Anatol Rodgers High School, Training for Raining School and Stapledon School.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, December 6, 2016

ROYAL HISTORY IS REVEALED IN TURNQUEST BOOK

THE TRIBUNE

SIR ORVILLE TURNQUEST, former Governor General of The Bahamas, is pictured giving remarks at the launch of his book titled, “What Manner of Man Is This?” held at Government House.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff CELEBRATING an achievement 15 years in the making, loved ones and colleagues gathered at Government House for the launch of former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest’s book on the Duke of Windsor’s reign in The Bahamas.

The highly-anticipated book “What Manner of Man is This, The Duke of Windsor’s Years in The Bahamas” takes an historical lens to the Duke’s governance and impact on the fledgling colony, a departure from tomes written about the controversial royal couple.

It has been heralded as “an unvarnished fresh look” at a crucial period in Bahamian history by Sir Sidney Poitier, who pens the foreword.

Sir Orville presented his first copy to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling at a brief ceremony celebrating the book’s worldwide publication yesterday.

The fifth governor general of an independent Bahamas, Sir Orville served from 1995 to 2001.

At the event, he explained that he was inspired to write the book during his tenure as governor general as he sought to learn more about the early occupants of the residence. He thanked attendants for their effort and expressed hope that they will enjoy reading the historical offering.

The Duke served as royal governor of The Bahamas from 1940-1945 after he abdicated the throne as King of England in order to marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson.

While the world revelled in what was portrayed as both one of the greatest love stories of all time and the scandal of the century, the reality for The Bahamas was that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor viewed his assignment as royal governor as severe punishment, banishment to a far-flung island country without any of the trappings of a royal life.

Though they gave of themselves personally in times of crisis, they never truly warmed to the people of the island nation, nor did they reciprocate the warmth with which Bahamians showered them.

Turmoil surrounded his

tenure in this island nation – the Burma Road Riots, the Bay Street Fire, The Project, The Contract and the still-unsolved murder of Sir Harry Oakes, the richest man in the world at the time.

The Duke’s friendship with a German industrialist who had taken refuge in The Bahamas during World War II further aroused suspicion and, moreover, he never denied his affiliation and friendship with those who British allies would have considered their most bitter enemies.

He also never entertained a black Bahamian at Mount Fitzwilliam (Government House), though black Bahamians were so excited to see the “romantic couple” that they insisted on a ceremony at Clifford Park to welcome them to The Bahamas when only a private ceremony had been planned.

At yesterday’s launch, Sir Orville’s publisher Diane Gedymin of Grant’s Town Press, spoke warmly of the elder statesman, whose tireless conviction to his family, and the Bahamian people, she had come to love and respect. In her brief heartfelt remarks, she noted that his dedication to truth seeking was the driving force behind the publication.

Accolades have also come from former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who called the work “insightful, informative”.

Mr Ingraham noted that Sir Orville “has produced an easy, readable history of the period, well-informed by his own personal experience as a young black, who overcame the absence of the opportunities gifted to the Duke of Windsor to become the Duke’s successor in the office of governor general of an independent Bahamas.”

Other praise came from Tribune Publisher Eileen Carron, two former Governors General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Dame Ivy Dumont and from Lyford Cay resident Harry Oakes.

The book will be available at all major bookstores in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island and Abaco as well as the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and The Linen Shop on Bay Street, Nassau. An eBook is available at international online retailers.