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Party search BUTLER-TURNER for candidate APPOINTS in Long Island DNA LEADER By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net   FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis confirmed yesterday that the FNM has started to search for a new Long Island candidate to represent the party in the 2017 general election. The seat is currently held by Loretta Butler-Turner, who is one of seven FNM MPs who ousted the Killarney MP last week as leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly. While Dr Minnis would not say much about this, he told The Tribune that the party was “going through the process� and was reso-
lute in declaring that he would ensure disciplinary proceedings – now underway against the “rebel seven� – would be handled as “expeditiously as possible�. This also comes amid harsh criticism from some in Long Island who insisted that there is “no place� in the constituency for their current representative. Mrs Butler-Turner, who was already ratified to run on the party’s ticket in 2017, along with six other FNM MPs, orchestrated Dr Minnis’ removal as leader in the House of Assembly last Wednesday. She was also chosen to replace Dr Minnis in the lower chamber.
along with businessman Dionisio D’Aguilar both insisted that while the party is going through a contentious time, they remained confident in the leadership capabilities of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis. Mr Lloyd said while the FNM’s seven dissenting MPs were constitutionally permitted to act as they had by ousting Dr Minnis from the post of leader of the Official Opposition, at the end of the day those with the real power in society will soon have the final say. SEE PAGE FIVE
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie announced the official sale yesterday of Baha Mar to CTF BM Holdings, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong conglomerate, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd. Mr Christie said Baha Mar is set for a phased opening beginning in April 2017 and a full completion by the fall of next year. “In the forthcoming months, imminent economic opportunities will be realised in more and more homes throughout The Bahamas,� he said. “Baha Mar will create an estimated 5,500 to 7,000 jobs for Bahamians.� Mr Christie did not disclose the sale price of Baha Mar, adding that details of the deal are still sealed by the Supreme Court at the request of the Export-Import Bank of China. The heads of agreement between the government and CTF Holdings, however, will be tabled in Parliament once negotiations are complete, he said. SEE PAGE SIX
TEACHER FOUND STABBED TO DEATH IN HER HOME
SEE PAGE SIX
LLOYD AND D’AGUILAR BACK MINNIS FOR FNM LEADERSHIP By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  DESPITE turmoil in the Free National Movement, two of the party’s newest candidates told The Tribune yesterday they have no regrets about joining the party, one of them insisting that the FNM has an “excellent� chance at toppling the Progressive Liberal Party led government in the 2017 general election. In separate interviews yesterday, talk show host and attorney Jeff Lloyd
TO SENATE
BAHA MAR TO OPEN IN APRIL AS SALE IS COMPLETED
LORETTA BUTLER-TURNER, leader of Opposition in the House of Assembly, with Branville McCartney, leader of the DNA, as she announces his new position as leader of Opposition business in the Senate. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net SIGNALLING his return to Parliament after losing his seat in the 2012 general election, Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday accepted his nomination as leader of opposition business in the Senate. His appointment by the newly-minted Official Opposition Leader Loretta Butler-Turner has deepened speculation over the “end goal� of the seven Free National Movement MPs who wrote to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling
expressing no confidence She said: “The signifiin FNM Leader Dr Hubert cance is that we were able to Minnis. even get this collaboration, Flanked by DNA execu- that is the most significant tives and her fellow FNM thing. The second signifiMPs at a press cant thing is that conference in ‘We have told we respect the difthe House of As- you we have a ferences we bring sembly’s Minorto the table, but ity Room, Mrs plan, and we more importantly are moving Butler-Turner we understand maintained that now in the commonality she and her colthat we share and leagues will not building out all of our people, be joining the that plan.’ our supporters third party, but Loretta share, and that stopped short of is people have revealing how Butler-Turner been begging the resulting coland asking us to laboration will influence please either come together the election campaigns of SEE PAGE THREE either party.
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
THE lifeless body of 61-year-old veteran educator Lauramae Adderley was discovered in her Stapleton Gardens apartment early yesterday morning with multiple stab wounds. She was one of two people killed in separate incidents yesterday. Last night, police reported that they were at the scene of a shooting at Washington Street which left a man dead. According to reports, Ms Adderley was found by officers sprawled across her apartment’s living room floor. A male relative is assisting police with their investigation. SEE PAGE SEVEN
WOMEN’S BODIES WASHED ASHORE AS MIGRANTS DETAINED By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
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THE SCENE in Marshall Road where the bodies of three women were found in waters near a ramp. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
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THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 13, 2016, PAGE 3
New era of Opposition leadership starts with arguments over seats By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ALTHOUGH Parliament began yesterday with a pleasant exchange of formalities between House of Assembly Speaker Dr Kendal Major, Prime Minister Perry Christie and Loretta Butler-Turner over her new appointment as leader of the official Opposition, the session quickly turned contentious as the drama in the Free National Movement exploded into full view amid arguments over issues of legitimacy and the meaning of seating arrangements. It was clear that the effects of last week’s decision by the “rebel seven” FNM MPs to express no
confidence in FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and to seek Mrs Butler-Turner’s appointment as his replacement as leader in Parliament remained at the forefront. For her part, the Long Island MP said she viewed her position as a privilege. Her appointment, she said, “Did not occur outside the parameters of democracy and the parliamentary system of government which we adhere to and follow.” The pleasantries, however, subsided when Dr Minnis began to speak. The Killarney MP said he has no plans to resign as leader of the FNM, a response to social media rumours. He said the FNM remains
BUTLER-TURNER APPOINTS DNA LEADER TO SENATE from page one
formally or to work together to pool your resources to rid yourself of the PLP government.” “We have a work in progress,” Mrs Butler-Turner told reporters when asked for more details, “we have told you we have a plan, and we are moving now in building out that plan. The only thing that stops us now from rolling out the rest of our senators is the fact that we understand from the prime minister that there has to be clarification as to whether we will be able to use three senators or whether we will be able to appoint four senators.” “So in that regard that is what we’re concentrated on, I ask you to stay tuned because essentially what is going to happen is going to be so dynamic and you’re going to be able to see that we’re able to do something totally different from what you look at in terms of just party politics in The Bahamas.” Mrs Butler-Turner added: “Party politics has not served us well at this juncture, we have become very tribalistic and what we’re showing is that we’re able to move away those tribal barriers to work together for the common good and that is to prevail.” The FNM has initiated disciplinary proceedings with the view of expelling those “rebel” MPs, all of whom have stated their refusal to quit the party. Although the MPs are still members of the FNM, Mrs Butler-Turner yesterday revealed that she was awaiting legal clarification from Parliament on a request made by the remaining three FNM MPs to appoint a senator. Sources close to the matter have confirmed that Dr Minnis intends to issue a formal request to House Speaker Dr Kendal Major. Mrs Butler-Turner said: “We had to put everything on hold after the prime minister indicated that he’s gotten information that the three FNM MPs might be asking for a senator, that is the hold up right now, and if you look at it they have a tenth (in the House) and so they may want to be able to do that. It’s a real split in there.”
Yesterday, Mr McCartney congratulated Mrs Butler-Turner on her historic appointment as Official Opposition leader in Parliament, and remarked on the historical significance of his own appointment given his leadership of another political party. Pressed for details on how the collaboration will take shape, Mr McCartney said: “My answer is this, at the end of the day we must come together as Bahamians who want what is good for the country to rid ourselves of the PLP and that is what has happened here. “We must rid ourselves of this inept, ineffective, nontransparent, unaccountable government - period. This should be something that is welcomed in order to change this country. We have absolutely planned beyond and they will come out in due course.” For her part, Mrs ButlerTurner underscored that one the most salient political questions following the 2012 general election has been the impact of the third party on the FNM’s defeat. Highlighting that the DNA had captured some eight per cent of the electorate, the Long Island MP said that many voters were uncertain whether the FNM has the political maturity and support to form a coalition capable of ousting an “incompetent and inept” PLP government at the polls in 2017. “Today it is a distinct honour, it’s also very historic to show you exactly what it takes when you’re able to work across borders to achieve a common good for the Bahamian people. “We are very delighted to be able as Her Majesty’s Royal Opposition to welcome the forces and the strength and to name today as opposition business leader in the Senate Mr Branville McCartney. “He is a colleague that I have worked with very closely in the Cabinet of The Bahamas. He has parliamentary experience, he has leadership experience,
stronger than ever. Regarding his opposition adversaries, he said: “In all of this, those seven members have caused more damage to themselves. As a matter of fact, they can now be referred to as a tumour that is cancerous. “I speak on behalf of the FNM. The leader of the opposition, the member for Long Island, does not speak for the FNM.” Parliamentarians have seating arrangements based on their roles in the House of Assembly and rank, and in light of his demotion, Dr Minnis, Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells and East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest were made to sit at the end of the first
row on their side rather than their previous positions in the middle. “This morning I was told that I have to sit in the extreme seat,” Dr Minnis said of the arrangement. ‘I was reminded that it was the seat that (former Prime Minister Sir Lynden) Pindling took.’” However, newly appointed leader of Opposition business Theo Neilly later stood and said it was not his team’s decision to place Dr Minnis near the end of the row. His statement prompted Mr Wells to rise and respond as he accused Mr Neilly of misconstruing Dr Minnis’ words. Mrs Butler-Turner then rose. “I do not believe the re-
sult of what has happened need to be belaboured,” she said. “The Bahamian people are anxious. We have in fact been referred in this House as a tumour or a mass. That is very well; we will not answer that call. We must be very careful when we refer to things such as that. This country is filled with people suffering from cancer that is carrying and taking their lives. Cancer in fact can be malignant or it can be benign. I imagine in this instance we will be that tumour. We will be highly malignant and we will grow.” Before the spat, Mr Christie, in his first public remarks on the matter, said the governing party is not “concerned about the
process that led” to Mrs Butler-Turner’s appointment, a likely response to the characterisation by Dr Minnis that his removal was undemocratic. “There is a requirement for consultation between the person holding the office of leader of the opposition and the person holding the office of prime minister,” Mr Christie noted. He encouraged Mrs Butler-Turner to make the most out of her new responsibilities and to engage “constructively” with the governing side. After the argument with the opposition concluded and Dr Major moved to the next item on the list, Mr Christie took to the floor to announce the sale of Baha Mar.
LEADER of the Opposition Loretta Butler-Turner MP at yesterday’s press conference alongside DNA leader Branville McCartney and his team to announce his new position as leader of Opposition business in the Senate. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff he has the ability to ask the tough questions, and we will be collaborating on every piece of legislation as we move forward to ensure that we are able to keep not only the PLP’s feet to the fire but to make them transparent and accountable to the Bahamian people.” Turnaround The concept of a coalition between the FNM and DNA has been publicly considered by both parties for much of this year, and this recent move appears to be a turnaround on statements made by Mrs ButlerTurner earlier this year. Following reports that party leaders Mr McCartney and Dr Minnis were both open to talks in May, the Long Island MP told The Tribune that such a
coalition was “not a good idea” given the third party’s fledgling status. At the time, she suggested that the way forward was a merger of the two parties and the disbanding of the DNA, whose only appeal she said was the “Branville McCartney brand”. In that interview, she said the DNA was not strong enough to sit at the table with the FNM because they held no seats in the House of Assembly. Noting the staunch desire to unseat the PLP, The Tribune questioned her yesterday about how the collaboration would work if the FNM obtained the majority of seats at the polls in 2017 with Dr Minnis at the helm. “To be very honest with you that is a huge hypoth-
esis,” Mrs Butler-Turner said, “and I will remind you once again that we don’t operate in hypothesis, right now we are operating in the now. “We are operating in the what is needed, what is the medicine that is needed for us to get past an election where we are able to eliminate the PLP. The same way we’re able to work together here, we know that we have no barriers to working together for that common good. “So whatever the outcome is,” she continued, “and we believe the outcome will be, once we stick together, we in this collaboration will be the ones that will prevail. But should there be another outcome we believe that at the end of the day that we must work
together to ensure the Bahamas is the one that wins, not the egos of any of us as individuals.” DNA chairman Andrew Wilson also sought to dispel rumours that the appointment was predicated on the disbanding the third party, or a change in leadership, in a statement posted on the party’s Facebook page. Touting that the party’s emblem, a lighthouse, stood tall in the midst of “national confusion,” Mr Wilson maintained that Mr McCartney’s new official title did not change his advocacy or the party’s platform. Mr Wilson said the party has demonstrated the will to disrupt the status quo of political mediocrity, and as such, the appointment demonstrated that the DNA would once again “step up
PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 13, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
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Who’s naughty, who’s nice... DEAR SANTA, It’s the holidays and that means we get to rub our hands together, scratch our chin, ponder awhile and pronounce who’s been naughty and who’s been nice in 2016. We know that with millions of people scattered all over the world, you do not have time to check every one of them yourself. So we hope this little guide helps. Of course, we are mightily tempted to start with those local politicos who have us dancing through hoops and guessing at their plans because we in the Bahamas believe the world revolves around us and there is nothing more important on the entire planet than whether or not a local political party is fractured or can pull it together to provide a little honest competition prior to a general election. But the reality is that, much as we love ourselves and our country, there is a whole big world out there, Santa, so we will start with who deserves praise and who should get a big fat spanking this year. Then we will turn the topic back to whose front room you should visit while you are dashing through the sands of the Bahamas. Who leads the list of the naughties? No inhumanity since the Holocaust has been more heinous, more horrific than Aleppo, the Syrian city under siege where many have seen family members slaughtered before their eyes, a city that is running out of food and water and hope. Blocks of ancient buildings are dust-sodden tons of rubble. Even as news of the end of fighting reaches us as we write this today, there is little left to pray for. Sadly, there is no place for you to stop in Syria, Santa, despite all the attempts by Americans and others to rescue the oppressed. Let us check back next year to see if a new postrebels Syria emerges. Santa, please feel free to skip settlements and cities in parts of Central America where cruelty abounds, where women and children are routinely kidnapped, raped and sold into sex slavery. And Rudolph and the other reindeer can skip the rooftops of those who killed unarmed black men in America. Speaking of America, we don’t even begin to know what kind of advice to give you when it comes to a presidentelect who has named as his choice for
head of the Environmental Protection Agency someone who is suing the agency. Maybe you can drop an iceberg with a message about climate change down what would surely be the biggest chimney of any hotel anywhere in the world and make the understanding of the importance of climate change great again. Locally, who are the nice? Surely, beyond the sadness of the past year, Santa, we want you to know that there are so many who have been nice and they deserve your attention. We start with a man in The Bahamas by the name of Frank Crothers. He founded the Bahamas Feeding Network which now helps 130 churches, soup kitchens and feeding centres that feed the hungry every week. With his dedicated sidekick Philip Smith, who has been feeding the hungry for a decade, he is helping all those who are working together to wipe out hunger. If you have time to cast a smile on a few corporate citizens, may we suggest Abaco Markets for the work they do with fighting hunger and Commonwealth Bank for its hurricane relief programme and its half million donation to fight cancer? Oh, and please remember Earla Bethel for her McGoodness in everything she does. There are lots of others, too. We think, Santa, you will want to stop by the home of Shelagh Pritchard who has a heart as big as all outdoors. And how about those HeadKnowles members who kept us informed every minute of Matthew? They could use a little love, too. There are the young people like a 15-year-old girl who works at a food store every day and every weekend to earn enough money to go to college one day but had a hard time this year because gang members bullied her so. She’s a survivor, but a little visit from you would help build her confidence. There are the Rotarians who give of themselves unstintingly. There are the brilliant among us, like Dr Nicola Virgil Rolle who guided the National Development Plan, and Khaalis Rolle whose idea the plan was. Please stop by The Salvation Army, too, which provides food for the spirit as well as the soul. We wanted to tell you who we thought was naughty and nice in the political world of The Bahamas but I guess you will just have to figure that out for yourself. And, if you get it, would you share it with us?
The facts of the letter EDITOR, The Tribune. IN this age where everything for knowledge is available on the internet, suggest there is absolutely no excuse that people do not take the time before opening their mouths and talking so much rubbish. Listen to the Talks Show callers, not one checked. The Letter to the Governor-General from the Seven FNM MP’s; Editor unlike the Article of the Bahamas Constitution which governs who will be selected to be Prime Minister there is in the case of the Leader of Opposition no mention of ‘Party’ - the Article. for reference - please look it up. Article: 82-2 simply states the MP who is on the opposing side to the government who has the majority support of those opposing.
Correctly The Constitution provides for the removal of the Leader of Opposition and the Prime Minister - in the case of the Leader of Opposition the process is clear in Article: 82-4.... Simply by showing the Leader no longer holds the majority support of those MPs who are in opposition to the Government then that person on bringing that to the attention of The Governor-General the Governor-General shall remove that person from the position of Leader of Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition. On Wednesday last the majority of MP’s who are on the opposing side to Government wrote to the Governor-General and confirmed they no longer support Hon Hubert Minnis as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. For the Executive of the
FNM to send a communication to the seven-MP’s charging them with anything is totally ridiculous and shows that Dr Minnis and his advisors put emotion before Law and compliance with the highest authority - Bahamas Constitution. The seven-MPs have absolutely nothing to answer to - they complied totally with the Law. Where to now? Good question - if the FNM Executive refuses to comply with the Constitution of The Bahamas then it has to be suggested Hon Loretta Butler and her six-MPs commanding the majority will have to bring a Writ in the Supreme Court to require the FNM Executive to be compliant with the Constitution. Exit Minnis. Only solution. W THOMPSON Nassau, December 10, 2016.
Property tax and public disclosures EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Tribune published today a notice to real property holders. It requires us, among other things, to file with the Chief Valuation Officer (CVO) a form of the particulars of the property we hold, to enable the CVO “to compile and maintain accurate assessment lists, and such owner shall declare to the correctness of such return before an authorized person.” The purpose of this list is to enable the CVO to re-assess property for real property tax next year. But what is the value of our property in a country where• The economy is depressed • We are still recovering from the damages of hurricanes Matthew and Joaquin • The power fails on a regular basis • smoke from the dump can engulf a good part of New Providence • corruption, crime and taxes are at an all time high
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net • the ease of doing business or getting a job is at an all time low • the Government is in contempt of Court orders • the emails of private citizens are exposed in Parliament • The Government puts the people’s NIB money into the failed Bank of Bahamas to keep it afloat • The Government fails to account for how public money is spent AND attacks the Auditor General • The Carnival is over and the public deficit is taking us to the edge of the cliff. In the interests of the Rule of Law and levelling the playing field, we have to ask our Members of Parliament: • When are all of you going to comply with the provisions of the Public Disclosure Act? • When are you going to
file with the Public Disclosure Commission the value of the assets you have, for each year you have had a seat in Parliament? • When is the Prime Minister going to ask the Attorney General to take action on the list of MPs who have not filed disclosures? We are asking you, our elected representatives and law-makers to lead the way: we are asking you to step up and in good faith observe our laws for the sake of the public you were elected to serve. We respectfully ask you Prime Minister, Ministers of the Government and members of the Opposition, to meet your obligations under the Public Disclosure Act, and disclose a list of the value of assets you hold - for every year you have had a seat in Parliament. Please show us you can lead by example. LEANDRA ESFAKIS Nassau, December 9, 2016.
Time for Doc to go EDITOR, The Tribune. WE have to ask - when Renward Wells and Andre Rollins crossed the floor of the House Dr Hubert Minnis embraced them as heroes in fact truth be told Wells and Rollins saved Doc as then his leadership was already being challenged. It is frightening that a person in the position of such an elected Office and subsequently a Constitutional Office seems not to be aware of the most fundamental processes and suggests what the seven did was contrary to tradition – sorry, Doc, this has
absolutely nothing to with tradition it is Law and the Constitution. If the writers of the FNM Party Constitution eroded in the drafting then it is their fault and the subsequent fault of the inheritors and the current Council and their legal people. The FNM have a gaggle of QCs who should know better. The action post the seven’s letter of the FNM is totally laughable if you refer to their Constitution - they could expel (if they do then Doc has no chance in hell to be the leader of the Opposition as he needs to have
the majority support of the MPs) - they could put them in the corner and don’t allow them to attend Council Meetings or remove them as candidates (only Hon Loretta Butler is a candidate all the six others Doc rejected them because of their stance at the Convention). Surveys indicate, for what they are worth, that Doc is unpopular - Parties go into elections with the intent of winning - easy decision ... Doc resign as Party Leader. S HUTCHINSON Nassau, December 11, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 13, 2016, PAGE 5
BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY, leader of the Democratic National Alliance, arriving with his team at the House of Assembly yesterday.
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Abaco FNM chairman says Key offfered ministry role by Minnis By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net THE Free National Movement’s Central and South Abaco Constituency Association Chairman Victor Patterson yesterday defended FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis against accusations of betrayal and dishonesty levelled by area MP Edison Key last week regarding his candidacy snub. Instead, Mr Patterson said it was Dr Minnis who continuously argued with the association that Mr Key should be given another run. According to Mr Patterson, Dr Minnis’ intention was to reward Mr Key’s loyalty by offering the 78-yearold MP a Senate appointment and the agriculture and fisheries portfolio if the FNM was elected to office following the 2017 general election in exchange for his blessing for the party to use
another standard bearer. However, Mr Key objected and insisted that if he could not be the MP, then he wanted nothing at all, Mr Patterson said. He said factoring in everything that surrounded this situation, he along with the association did not know why Mr Key had reacted with animosity towards Dr Minnis over the last several days. “Mr Key announced that he would not be running again at the end of his term. This is not in dispute, it’s in The Tribune of March 16, 2015,” he said. “He told us we would need to find another candidate and so did the national party. “We went about the constituency talking to people about who they would like and that sort of thing. In the course of doing that we also discovered though that that wasn’t the point of our investigation, that there was no enthusiasm for Mr Key to run again be-
cause basically when we’d say ‘well who did you like,’ they would say to the effect of ‘anyone but Mr Key’ and we would have to probe a bit further to find out who they would really want. “At some point we started hearing that Mr Key might be interested in running again, but he never came back to us as the branch either to me as the chairman or to the branch to say that he changed his mind. He started talking about it in the press as a possibility, but he never came to us and we interpreted that as saying well if they can’t find anybody well maybe I’ll do it again. So we said we better wrap this up and make our choice.” He added: “When we picked our likely candidate, I personally called Mr Key because I wanted him to come and meet with our potential candidate because the person who we chose, his late father was actually one of Mr Key’s big gener-
als from back in the 1980s. I actually thought that Mr Key might be pleased to hand it off to the son of somebody who had worked really hard in the ’80s to get Mr Key elected. “Mr Key rather colourfully informed me that he wouldn’t be interested in meeting with our choice, which was rather disappointing but it was what it was,” he claimed. Mr Patterson said Dr Minnis insisted on rewarding Mr Key. Given this, he said, the association was surprised to hear accusations of “back stabbing and betrayal”. “Obviously, Mr Key showed great loyalty to Dr Minnis in this whole leadership struggle with the rest of the party. We kept trying to get our candidate ratified and Dr Minnis who very clearly felt loyalty and appreciation to Mr Key, kept wanting us to reconsider Mr Key because obviously he wanted to reward him for
being loyal to him. “I understand politics, but we kept having to say ‘Doc you know the support just isn’t there’ and he kept asking if we were sure. “To say that Dr Minnis was trying to get rid of Edison Key is wrong. He was doing everything and finally when he realised that we just weren’t going to break he came to me - and I can now say this because Edison Key has admitted this to the press - he (Dr Minnis) offered to make Mr Key a senator and the minister of agriculture.” “I don’t know why Mr Key was not happy with that offer. So he basically said no to Dr Minnis. He wanted to be the MP or nothing.” Mr Patterson also reiterated that no secret meetings took place on the island. He said on one occasion Mr Key welcomed party officials at the airport when they arrived. On another occasion, Mr Patterson admitted that there was a
from page one
exercising what they consider their contemplation to be. “So those who have chosen this path, eventually the real power base of any society will have the final say and they will decide whether they approve of this or disapprove. I am sure that at the end of the day that decision will not be mistaken by anyone. It will be very clear,” Mr Lloyd added. For his part, Mr D’Aguilar said he still believed the FNM is the better alternative to the failed PLP. He said he will refuse to take a side in this battle, but instead will remain neutral as a member of the FNM. He said: “I obviously
made a decision to join the FNM and I am quite comfortable in that decision. I think they offer the best chance to rescue this country from five years of a completely inept and corrupt government. “I am a man governed by numbers. So I made my decision to join the FNM based on the fact that there were a certain number of factors on the ground. Our economy was on the decline, unemployment was up, we received three downgrades in the last five years, our debt to GDP has gone from 60 per cent to 86 per cent, taxes are up and debt is up. I thought that as a businessman I could bring that expertise into the realm of government.
“Dr Minnis is the duly elected leader of the FNM and there is nothing you can do about that,” he said. Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner was appointed to lead the Official Opposition on Sunday after
she and six other FNM MPs submitted a letter of no confidence in Dr Minnis to House of Assembly Speaker Dr Kendal Major and Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling last week.
meeting, but neither Mr Key nor the candidate, who the association was backing, was invited. He said this decision was made so that those attending this meeting could speak freely. Last week, Mr Key told The Nassau Guardian 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. Mr Key also claimed that there were “a few white dissidents”, led by the association chairman, who were involved in this conspiracy. Mr Key admitted that he made the decision to join the “rebel seven” MPs in ousting Dr Minnis from the post of leader of the Official Opposition because of this situation.
LLOYD AND D’AGUILAR BACK MINNIS FOR FNM LEADERSHIP Meanwhile, Mr D’Aguilar said FNMs would be naïve to think that the recent events have not hurt the FNM’s brand. However, he insisted that the FNM is still the better party when compared to the PLP. The talk show host was ratified as the party’s South Beach candidate nearly one month ago and Mr D’Aguilar was announced as the official Montagu candidate in October at the party’s headquarters on Mackey Street. “They are not an authority unto themselves,” Mr Lloyd said when he was contacted yesterday. “They (the seven dissenting MPs) were not appointed by anybody other than the electorate guided by their political affiliation.” He went on: “As nature teaches us there is process and the process is defined in all organisations by its rules, regulations, its charter, its constitution. There are clearly defined documented processes and every member of an organisation duly authorised by virtue of membership is entitled to participate in the choice of management or leadership. “People have had that chance and the results are well known, but if persons have another ambition and if roles benefit them, in this case the House of Assembly permits it, which obviously it does, then let them go ahead. “This is a democratic society. There are no bounds except those which are prescribed and defined in the Constitution or other laws that prevent people from
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PAGE 6, Tuesday, December 13, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
FNM seeking to replace Loretta from page one
On the heels of this stunning move, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie confirmed yesterday that the party received a petition from voters in Long Island who say they do not want Mrs Butler-Turner to represent them in 2017. Mr Collie would not say how many signatories were on the petition, but he said it, along with the opinions of constituents, would play into whatever decision the Executive Committee makes. “The Executive Committee of the party commenced a procedure prescribed by the FNM constitution,” Mr Collie told The Tribune. “So the voices, opinions and positions of the constituents of Long Island at some point during this procedure will be factored in. You could never ignore what the people in the constituency are saying. “We have started a procedure (to look for a new
candidate). Immediately (after Dr Minnis’ removal) the Executive Committee commenced an investigation and by the constitution, the procedure is a five-step process, and we have completed two steps so far. “The first step was a debate first of all to discuss the move, which was the letter for revocation. So we debated it following the constitution in regards to what the Executive Committee deemed a breach of the constitutional provision. I won’t go into the provision, but the Executive Committee deemed it a breach. The Executive Committee took and preferred a charge and took that to the council the same night.” He continued: “The council approved the letter to be sent to each of the seven offending members and they have seven days to reply to the charge that has been laid out in the letter. “So if they choose not to reply in writing as they are invited to do or they choose to reply in writing, but the
Executive Committee does not in its absolute discretion deem that they have exculpated themselves from the charge then the executive committee has another step that it takes but that step will go into discipline.”
Rejection Former Cabinet Minister Tennyson Wells insisted yesterday that Mrs ButlerTurner and her colleague’s efforts were “going nowhere.” He said: “She wouldn’t even get her deposit back. Mark my words. Whoever controls the torch symbol, the name and the council will be the winner in this. At the end of the day, all of this will lead them nowhere.” Meanwhile, Dillis Smith, former FNM Long Island constituency association chairperson, confirmed to this newspaper that a petition was completed and sent to party executives on Sunday night. She said it was formal notice that “Long Island don’t
want lazy Loretta.” According to Ms Smith, contention between certain constituents and the MP has been building since 2012. However, she said the “stunt” the MP pulled last week was all they could take. “Let me tell you,” Ms Smith said when she was contacted, “This didn’t just start. I am the chairperson, or the former, actually I am still the chairperson by the constitution. “In 2014, Loretta and (former FNM Chairman) Darron Cash came here and had an election of officers behind our back because she wouldn’t listen to us here,” she claimed. “This started way back in 2012 when she came in here because we weren’t really having meetings after she came in. So I said to her, ‘Loretta we are up for re-election and we need the party to come in and have the election’ because I wasn’t going to run for the position anymore, since I had the seat from
2002. But she said when she was ready for an election she would call it. That didn’t sit well with me because I’m not no lazy person and our association isn’t lazy. “She met us here working and she is a lazy person. She don’t like to work. She came in here and she took advantage of us. Now because we stood up to her that’s when 2014 convention came and she had Darron Cash to come up and have the election behind our backs and throw all of us out of the association,” she further alleged. “All I know now is Long Island is shut down and if she come back in here she ain’t coming on the FNM ticket,” Ms Smith continued. “The torch is the only symbol we know in Long Island. Whatever she decides to do, she could go where she going because she carrying the whole six with her. This is the end of her political career.” Another constituent
told The Tribune the party should “move with haste” in finding another candidate. The resident, who requested anonymity, said there was no reason for Mrs Butler-Turner to seek any support in Long Island because voters wanted change. Mrs Butler-Turner, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key and Ft Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins each signed a letter of no confidence last Wednesday in Dr Minnis as the leader of the official Opposition. The letter was submitted to House Speaker Dr Kendal Major and Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling. The group also voted to be led by Mrs Butler-Turner in the House of Assembly. She was officially sworn in as leader of the official Opposition on Sunday.
SURVEY SHOWS BAHAMIANS DISILLUSIONED WITH PLP By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIANS disapprove of the direction The Bahamas is headed and have grown disillusioned with the governing Progressive Liberal Party, according to a scientific poll of 400 Bahamians. The poll was conducted between November 29 and December 5 by the American company Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research (WPA) on behalf of the Free National Movement. The Tribune has obtained a copy of the poll results. The data shows that the people surveyed had a higher favourability rating for the FNM and its Leader Dr Hubert Minnis compared to Prime Minister Perry Christie and the PLP. When asked who they would vote for if the general election was held today, 40 per cent of respondents said they would support the FNM, 15 per cent said they would support the PLP, 16 per cent said they would support the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and 27 per cent said they were undecided. According to the data, 26 per cent of respondents said they approve of the direction in which the country was headed while 69 per cent said they were not. The poll also noted that 37 per cent said they have a favourable impression of Mr Christie while 49 per cent said they do not. Regarding FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, 57 per cent of respondents
said they have a favourable view of him while 26 per cent said they do not. The data shows that 33 per cent of respondents said they saw the PLP favourably while 49 per cent said they do not. Likewise, 57 per cent said they view the FNM favourably while 26 per cent said they do not. Asked if they approve or disapprove of Mr Christie’s performance as prime minister, 31 per cent said they approve, 55 per cent said they disapprove. Similarly, 29 per cent said they approve of the job the PLP has done in the past five years while 58 per cent said they do not. Researchers said: “Voters in the Bahamas are clearly unhappy with the current administration and the direction of their government.” The correspondence obtained by The Tribune was written by Chris Perkins, partner at WPA. “The final results were stratified based on gender, age and geography,” Mr Perkins wrote. “Respondents were contacted by phone via live telephone operator interview…utilising random digit dialing.” The poll had a margin of error of +/4.9 per cent. The poll comes after seven FNM parliamentarians sought Dr Minnis’ removal as leader of the Official Opposition last week, replacing him with Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner. The parliamentarians have said Dr Minnis is ill equipped to lead the challenge against the PLP and Mr Christie, a notion Dr Minnis and his supporters have rejected.
HUBERT MINNIS, leader of the FNM, leaving the House of Assembly yesterday. A survey conducted on behalf of the FNM shows he has a higher favourability rating than Prime Minister Perry Christie. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
BAHA MAR TO OPEN IN APRIL AS SALE IS COMPLETED from page one
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe later told The Tribune that the agreement
will be tabled before the end of the year. “I can disclose that the
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construction concessions provided to CCA (China Construction America) by my government are identical to those provided by the former administration,” Mr Christie told the House of Assembly. “Further, I can state unequivocally that successive governments of The Bahamas are constrained and bound by the heads of agreements provided with respect to the Atlantis resort.” Mr Christie touted the merits of the Baha Mar deal. “Baha Mar is anticipated to generate approximately 315,000 additional air passenger guests annually to The Bahamas. This is a 19 per cent increase over the total arrivals in 2015,” he said. Mr Christie, referring to the EXIM Bank’s exgratia payments to former employees and contractors of Baha Mar, said the bank supplied $101.5m. Mr Christie added: “CTF and its operating companies will have to meet the normal due diligence requirements of the government, including the rigorous investiga-
tion and licensing process of the Gaming Board with respect to its casino operations. “CTF has begun developing and planning for an extensive marketing plan. CTF has indicated its vision for the resort as a sophisticated blend of luxury choice in lodging, entertainment, gaming, dining and retail – all while remaining uniquely and authentically Bahamian. To further substantiate its commitment, CTF has committed to invest tens of millions of dollars ahead of the phased opening through pre-opening activities, and employment.” Graeme Davis, president of CTFE’s Bahamas subsidiary, said his company has already signed the ownership agreement with the government. “CTFE will dedicate significant, ongoing investment and resources towards the pre-opening and opening of Baha Mar resort,” he said in a press release. “We will also ensure that the Bahamian people and the region benefit fully from the project, which will create tremendous
job and economic stimulus opportunities. Further, by combining our global hospitality expertise with the vibrant and authentic Bahamian culture, we will create a memorable, unmatched experience for guests of which all Bahamians can be proud.” Within the first phase of Baha Mar’s reopening, CTFE said it estimates that 1,500 jobs will be generated for Bahamians. In August, Mr Christie announced that a deal had been reached between the government and the EXIM Bank to have the resort remobilised. The opening of the resort was scheduled for December 2014, but was delayed to March 2015 and again to May 2015. Baha Mar’s developer Sarkis Izmirlian filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States on June 29, 2015. However, the Supreme Court rejected the resort’s application for the verdict to be recognised here, claiming that having it adjudicated in a Delaware Bankruptcy court would be in breach of Bahamian “sovereignty”. As a result, the US judge threw out the bankruptcy application for Baha Mar’s Bahamian companies. Joint provisional liquidators (JPLs) were appointed in September 2015 to protect and prevent the depletion of the resort’s assets before an expected full winding-up of the resort took place. However, the resort was placed into receivership last October.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 13, 2016, PAGE 7
Women’s bodies washed ashore as migrants detained from page one Defence Force and Department of Immigration officials yesterday indicated they received reports that dozens of suspected migrants could be seen attempting to make it to land from a stranded vessel in waters next to the Misty Gardens community. Once on the scene, RBDF officers intercepted about 42 suspected Haitian migrants at various points throughout the community - 20 in waters near the capsized vessel and the remaining 22 in bushes near the coastline. The group included 29 men and 13 women. The group, some naked, all visibly shaken by the journey were taken into custody and transferred to immigration facilities in New Providence. A further investigation by officers at the scene uncovered the body of woman who had washed up at a nearby ramp. Officers with the Royal Bahamas Police Force were then notified, and responded a short time later. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Stephen
THE SCENE in Marshall Road where three dead women were found in waters near a ramp. Dean while at the scene Monday, told reporters that officials were at the time, unable to connect the discovery with the incident just a short distance away. “There may be a correlation between this discovery and the scene earlier this morning,” stated ACP Dean on Monday morning. “While there is specula-
tion that she may be connected to that group, we are in no position to say so at this time. “An autopsy will have to be performed in hopes of determining who she is and once that is done, we will then be able to move forward with this matter.” Hours later, police were called back to the community as three additional
bodies were discovered by immigration and RBDF officers who remained behind to canvass the area further. ACP Dean said officials made the discovery just further west from the original scene sometime around 3pm. In his second address to the press Monday, ACP Dean said officers would follow the same protocol,
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff performing an autopsy on the women. He again suggested that there could be some correlation between the discovery and the capsized vessel discovered earlier in the day. ACP Dean again appealed to the public for help, expressing concern that not every migrant was apprehended by officials
TEACHER FOUND STABBED TO DEATH IN HER HOME from page one The killings brought the nation’s murder count to 104 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. Regarding the earlier killing, Officer-in-Charge of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said officers responded to calls of a woman screaming for help from an apartment on Turnquest Avenue, just off Bethel Avenue. Police were called to the scene after 3am. “On arrival they discov-
ered the lifeless body of a female in the living room area of that apartment,” Chief Supt Fernander said. “The female was pronounced dead on the scene. After an initial canvassing of the immediate area, enough information was gained to lead officers to an adult male near the apartment. “He was found soon after with minor injuries, taken into custody, he was transported to hospital, treated and discharged. That man – believed to be a relative – is assisting police with this investigation and we hope
to conclude this matter shortly.” Education officials have indicated plans to speak to the loss of the Sybil Strachan Primary School teacher in the coming days, with Director of Education Lionel Sands reserving official comment until after Ms Adderley has been formally identified by family members. Anyone with more information on this homicide is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
A JUDGE yesterday said she required more time to consider what punishment she will impose on two men convicted of the murder and kidnapping of a Department of Immigration officer and his girlfriend in Andros. Zintworn Duncombe, 28, and James Johnson, 22, were due to appear before Justice Indra Charles yesterday to learn their fate for their respective roles in the murder and kidnapping of Shane Gardiner and his girlfriend, Tishka Braynen, in 2013. Duncombe, Johnson, Daniel Coakley, 28, and Cordero Saunders, 26, were all unanimously convicted of double kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and attempted armed robbery. The Crown is seeking the death penalty for Duncombe and Johnson. In yesterday’s hearing, none of the defendants was brought down from the Department of Correctional Services, which Justice Charles explained to counsel.
“Because of the nature of the matter, I’m unable to render a decision today. I need more time,” the judge said. Justice Charles has adjourned her ruling to January 17, 2017. Gardiner and Braynen were allegedly killed after a failed plot to take $8,000 in gambling winnings from the immigration officer. Braynen, of Cargill Creek, and Gardiner, who lived in Love Hill, both in Central Andros, were reported missing around 1.45pm on November 24, 2013. Gardiner had recently been assigned to the island. On December 21, 2013, police in Andros discovered the remains of a man with “items related to a female.” At a hearing last month, the prosecution argued that the case met the “worst of the worst” threshold set out in the 2011 amended Penal Code for the discretionary death penalty to be imposed. Darnell Dorsett said the victims, based on the testimony of Terrel Mackey, were taken to Newbold Farms where Duncombe and Johnson, armed with handguns,
CHIEF Supt Clayton Fernander, who said police found the body of a woman in an apartment on Turnquest Avenue.
ZINTWORN DUNCOMBE JAMES JOHNSON demanded money from and so there was evidence form, which is a hurdle the of suffering. Crown must get over in orGardiner. Jerone Roberts, Dun- der for their application to “Duncombe shot Shane Gardiner in the head when combe’s second lawyer, succeed. Duncombe, Saunders, Gardiner maintained that countered that this case did he had no money. Braynen not warrant the imposition Johnson and Coakley, started screaming and Dun- of the death penalty as it did who all maintain their combe shot her to the head not fall within the “worst of innocence, were each execution style,” the pros- the worst” threshold set out represented by lawyers in prior rulings by the Privy Ian Cargill, Moses Bain, ecutor added. Donna Major and Terrel Ms Dorsett reminded Council. Mr Roberts stressed that Butler. the judge that the paMs Dorsett and Patrick thologist said that based the psychiatrist could not on Gardiner’s wound, his definitively say that the two Sweeting prosecuted the death was not immediate convicts were beyond re- case.
FILE MIX-UP FORCES NEW TRIAL DATE IN SEX CASE By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A NEW trial date will be fixed for a man who denied having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl seven years ago due to a mix-up in the prosecution’s file. Eric Dean, 26, appeared
before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs yesterday for the expected start of a hearing into an alleged sexual assault that occurred on December 16, 2009. However, prosecutor Koschina Marshall informed the court that the file that was recently given to her listed the matter for a status hearing and not a trial.
She asked for an adjournment of the matter in the circumstances. Senior Justice Isaacs noted that there were two prior status hearings held in June and November where different prosecutors - Anishka Hanchell, Darell Taylor and Erica Duncombe - appeared and the case was set down for trial for yesterday’s date.
MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS MOTHER FACES COURT HEARING By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
SENTENCE DELAYED FOR THE KILLERS OF IMMIGRATION OFFICER AND HIS GIRLFRIEND By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
yesterday. “We are appealing to members of the public for information if they are aware where some of these persons might have been, because we are not sure, according to reports by immigration and Defence Force officials who are actively on the ground, we are not sure that everyone was accounted for,” he said.
“I’m not sure why the file says for mention but obviously there’s nothing you can do about it because you were not it court,” the judge said. Ian Cargill, Dean’s lawyer, confirmed that Ms Marshall did not have initial carriage of the case and did not object to the adjournment in the circumstances.
“Notwithstanding what your file says, we cannot adjourn sine die (without a date),” the judge said. The parties agreed to set a new fixture hearing for January 25, 2017. Dean, who pleaded not guilty to the charge when formally arraigned in December 2013, remains on bail.
A MAN accused of murdering his mother appeared in the Supreme Court for a status hearing yesterday. Jerome Butler, 57, is scheduled to be tried before Justice Indra Charles on January 16, 2017 for the death of 81-year-old Princess Butler. The victim was found dead in her home at Petersfield Road in Highbury Park shortly after 8am on February 4, 2015. An autopsy revealed that she died of asphyxia, which resulted in police launching an investigation. Her son, Jerome, was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court 12 days later in connection with the death. He pleaded not guilty to murder when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court three months later. Yesterday’s status hearing before Justice Charles concerned whether the trial will proceed on the fixed date and the judge confirmed that she will be able to hear the matter. Butler’s lawyer, Ian Cargill, was not present, however, and a further status hearing was set for Tuesday, December 20. Darnell Dorsett and Patrick Sweeting appeared for the Crown.
THREE CHARGED OVER MURDER IN FREEPORT
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THREE persons, including two juveniles, were charged in the Freeport magistrate’s court with attempted murder on Monday. Drexton Belony, 23, of Frobisher Circle, Freeport, was arraigned with a 17-year-old youth of Gordon Avenue, and a 15-yearold youth of Tamarind Street, in Court One before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson. The three males, who were not represented by counsel, were not required to enter a plea to the charges. Their case was adjourned to April 6, 2017 when a preliminary inquiry will be held into the matter. The three were remanded to the Department of Correctional Services until then.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, December 13, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Leadership coup proves FNM is a failure and unelectable T
HE sympathetic, empathetic me which, in spite of my sharp tongue, does exist - wants to feel sorry for Hubert Minnis, seeing the shock and upset on his face on the floor of Parliament when the “subversive seven” defied him, and hearing his recent public statements that amount to desperate pleas to keep what he perceives as his leadership of the Free National Movement (FNM). But I can’t feel sorry for him. He invited the doom upon himself. He asked for all of this turmoil, not because he bothered to throw his hat in the political ring in the first instance, but because he has clung on to leadership when he really should have walked away long ago. Minnis was told repeatedly by the public, by FNM supporters, by FNM members, by FNM parliamentarians, that his leadership was ... is ... flawed at best, pathetically weak at worst. But he chose to refuse to see it. And even if he might have thought of those judgements bearing any amount of truth no matter FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis, flanked by Renward Wells and deputy leader Peter Turnquest, speaking to Prime Minister Perry Christie in the House of Assembly on the Photo: Peter Ramsay/BIS how small, he is still too day the letter of no confidence was revealed. stubborn to accept that as a reality. Minnis is in a broken marriage with leadership of the FNM. His FNM children want him to stay in that marriage. He feels he By NICOLE BURROWS is obligated to stay, that it is unholy of him to leave his And for every bit of re- can allow him to live out ordination as party leader and his vows to his FNM sistance he has met along his delusion. It might be the wife. He believes his FNM the way, Minnis has never only political thing he has wife needs him to survive, taken it as constructive crit- left. Loretta Butler-Turner, in but in spite of their being icism. He clapped back. He poorly suited, or like the always claps back. He’s like stark contrast, is not a leadreligious people like to say, a child in a game; when he’s er like Minnis; that is, ununequally yoked, Minnis losing he snaps back with less she planned this coup some silly retort that makes since the FNM convention and his FNM neither sense and this is the reason why struggle to stay nor difference. she changed her mind about ‘As a viable together. I mean Any amount leading the party back then. they literally political leader, leadership Perhaps it was evident to struggle. With Hubert Minnis is of skill he may her at that time just what each other. They fight to rubbish. He has have had could she was up against in the remain a unit, made a mockery not hold the FNM to challenge Minnis’ party together, leadership, being jeered at when it is clear of his own self whatever its on stage by a rabid group they are, for all issues, so, afof Minnis faithfuls. But she DR Hubert Minnis with Loretta Butler-Turner when they stood side-by-side at an FNM rally. and whatever involved, better ter all that has has shown us all that, clear- ity about Butler-Turner as a the disunited farce that it is. is unlikely to be in the direcoff apart. leadership Until new players join tion of the Progressive Libtranspired in ly, she can be rabid too. leader that is unsafe. I don’t But Minnis ability he the past week, And now the scrapping of believe she can be relied their team, the FNM is fa- eral Party (PLP), no matter doesn’t get it. Baha- Minnis and Butler-Turner upon to be consistent in her tally divided, so much so how many jobs Perry ChrisHe’s never got- thought he had.’ which mian is going to in our back yard has pro- efforts. I applaud her (and that the current situation in tie can squeeze out of Baha ten it. He will seriously think duced a stinking mess. her six compatriots) for ex- Parliament will never work. Mar by Spring 2017. never get it. And now it How on earth is ercising what has Watching a PLP admindoesn’t even matter. As a he can hold their country it supposed to istration fumble and fall retogether? s a woman, I’d like been affirmed viable political leader, he ‘There is work? I wish that he would just to support Mrs as a democratic peatedly over the last four is rubbish. He has made a a certain Democratigo quietly and save himself Butler-Turner, right to chaland a half years has made mockery of his own self and cally, Loretta it clear that party is unsuitwhatever leadership ability from eternal shame, but he but I can’t support her only lenge their own unpredictability Butler-Turner is able to govern. Now Hubert leader, but other he thought he had. His un- just won’t. So, whatever is because she’s a woman. about Loretta now the Leader Minnis and Loretta ButlerShe is a stronger person- than becoming suitability as a leader was coming his way politically, I Butler-Turner as of the Official Turner have proven that the say let it come. ality than Minnis, a more the Leader of and still is about more than Opposition in FNM is also unsuitable to I don’t know what sense confident person than he the Official Op- a leader that is his inability to properly the House of govern The Bahamas. it makes to be so proudly amongst political rivals, but position in the communicate with words; unsafe. I don’t Assembly. HuBut, in spite of all of this, he is incapable of even con- in charge of failure, but he I don’t think that makes House of Asbelieve she can bert Minnis is it could be the best thing seems to think there’s merit her a good leader. There sembly, I don’t vincingly acting the part of still leader of ever for Bahamians. The or credit there. Maybe we is a certain unpredictabil- think that chal- be relied upon a leader. the FNM, also truth is as clear as day now. lenge gets her anything. If her to be consistent democratically. The PLP is a failure and They both sit unelectable. The FNM is objective was to in her efforts.’ in the House of a failure and unelectable. rid the FNM of Minnis, then maybe she has Assembly, next to each oth- There is no other place for er. Hubert Minnis has two a Bahamian voter to cast succeeded. In fact, she may have FNM House supporters out her/his vote but to the ingone a step further and rid of nine - lackeys Turnquest dependent candidates, the the country of the FNM, and Wells - and the subver- Democratic National Allibecause Minnis is most ob- sive seven are still members ance (DNA) candidates, or viously now no leader, and of the FNM. But how in the another smaller political orthere is no other person fit hell is anything supposed ganisation’s candidates. to lead the party out of the to get accomplished in the What we end up with as a House after now, when, ef- new government could very darkness that enshrouds it. In the aftermath of their fectively, Parliament is di- easily now be extremely dif‘no-confidence’ action, Lo- vided into three instead of ferent from what we see toretta Butler-Turner and her two? And two of the three day and what we’ve seen for colleagues couldn’t possibly parts are consumed with the last two decades. And it expect to remain represent- fighting one another instead would be a welcome change. atives of the FNM in Parlia- of their own real opposi- Never mind the people who ment, even if they remain tion, the governing party. say it’s not possible - those All there is is bitterness. who say that they are happy members of the party. Given his snapback, clap- Minnis only just called But- to keep either the FNM or back way, Minnis will see ler-Turner and her faction PLP in governance. to it, if it’s the last thing he a cancer, having already So, thank Loretta Butlerdoes before he puts his po- called them rebels and mu- Turner and company, and litical leadership desires to tineers. And Butler-Turner Hubert Minnis, and the permanent sleep, that But- disappointingly bothered to PLP, for this much: they ler-Turner and the six oth- answer back. just made a case for all senThis does not bode well sible Bahamians to vote ers never get another FNM for Minnis or Butler-Turn- against them all and take (except for net items) nomination. So what will they do? If er, or the other six FNMs their chances with a newany one of them - includ- backing Butler-Turner. This er, cleaner, less-baggaged ing Butler-Turner - intends does not bode well for the group of elected representto run for a seat in the next Bahamian people’s busi- atives in 2017. general election, and be ness in Parliament and as The only baggage will be taken seriously, they will such this does not bode well what’s left behind of PLP have to do so as an inde- for the Bahamas, at least in and FNM mismanagement pendent candidate, or a the short-term. The current and implosion. That will be candidate of another politi- business, which was chal- a lot to contend with, let’s cal party. I don’t see any of lenged enough before to be not deceive ourselves. But them joining another party, executed, will now be slow- people who mean right by and none of them have the er if not altogether stalled. their country will find it an On the up-side, what the honour to clean up what’s overwhelming support of high level decision-makers Bahamian people will do left and discard any ineffecof the FNM, Butler-Turner now and for the next five tive remnants of our first 43 perhaps being the least anticipated months until the years. liked among them. Even if next general election is look somehow their candidacy elsewhere to throw their Comments and responses was forced upon FNM sup- support. And contrary to to nburrows@ Jolly Roger Building | 130 Shirley Street | t 393 2836 or 393 2966 porters, it would show as widespread hypothesising, it tribunemedia.net
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Tuesday, December 13, 2016, PAGE 9
Long Islanders still waiting a year after Hurricane Joaquin By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
LONG Island farmers have not been able to collect on relief vouchers issued by the government for losses incurred by Hurricane Joaquin more than a year ago, according to one resident who criticised the stalled pace of relief for the island. Nor have any of the 12 homes constructed by the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) National Repair and Reconstruction Unit been completed. Bernard Adderley, 61, criticised the government for its “neglect” of the island. Yesterday, NEMA Director Captain Stephen Russell confirmed that homes in Long Island were at the 97 per cent mark of completion. Capt Russell said officials were working to get all displaced residents into their homes “before the holidays”. “We still have a problem in Long Island,” Mr Adderley said. “They issued vouchers to farmers on June 28, 2016 from the Ministry of Agriculture for
YOUNGSTERS on Long Island last year exploring the wreckage following Hurricane Joaquin. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff farmers in Long Island for Mr Adderley acknowl“We are taxpayers of this all the losses that they had edged that he spoke with country,” Mr Adderley addfrom Hurricane Joaquin. Agriculture Minister V Al- ed, “and we want what is “I went to the packing fred Gray, who referred him rightfully ours. Long Island house (yesterday), to see to his permanent secretary. people are tired of being about the material and the It was ultimately explained, trampled upon”. supplies that they issued Mr Adderley said, that the Hurricane Joaquin batvouchers for, all the farmers supplies had been held up tered the central and southhave the voucher, but not for some two weeks due to ern Bahamas on October one item has been delivered an issue with the Depart- 1 and 2, 2015, destroying to Long Island. ment of Customs in Nassau. homes and buildings and “When I went there, I Mr Gray told The Trib- leaving severe flooding in asked for the supplies that I une last night that he was its wake. signed up for, and there’s no aware of the matter, and Long Island, Crooked supplies here.” would respond today. Island, Acklins, San Sal-
vador, Rum Cay and Long Cay sustained the most damage from the category 4 storm. At a briefing in September, Melanie Roach, technical director of the National Repair and Reconstruction Unit, said NEMA had conducted repairs on 383 homes - 88 in Acklins, 37 in Crooked Island, 117 in Long Island, 29 in Rum Cay and 112 in San Salvador. NEMA, at the time, had 25 repair projects in progress - four in Acklins, nine in Crooked Island, ten in Long Island, one in Rum Cay and one in San Salvador. Mrs Roach confirmed that 24 homes were still under construction: three in Acklins, five in Crooked Island, 12 in Long Island and four in San Salvador. “Two of the three homes in Acklins are nearing completion and one is much delayed,” she said in September. “In Crooked Island, three of the five are nearly completed and two are delayed. In Long Island, the majority of them are about 60 per cent completed and they are awaiting the arrival of additional equipment
that are required for completion and the Ministry of Housing is working with the Ministry of Finance to try and get those materials there as early as next week.” Yesterday, Mr Adderley said the government’s disaster relief agency had also overlooked six Long Islanders who still had no roofs. He pointed out that this oversight was a consequence of the lack of collaboration between relief officials and island representatives. “NEMA should never have a hand in making decisions with homes,” he said, “it should be persons from Long Island along with the representative to decide the persons desperately in need. Some government people, they getting assistance. With Matthew, the government decided to give a loan with a two per cent interest rate. He continued: “This is because New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco were impacted. After Joaquin, Long Island didn’t even get a loan. We have to stand up because these poor people, they don’t know where to turn or what to do.”
SOME of the goods gathered by Atlantis employees to help those affected by Hurricane Matthew.
ATLANTIS STAFF HOLD FOOD DRIVE TO ASSIST THOSE HIT BY HURRICANE SCORES of Atlantis employees answered the call to come to the aid of those still left affected from Hurricane Matthew recently. Canned goods and other non-perishable items began appearing on tables strategically located at security checkpoints located at The
Cove and Coral Towers and dressed up for harvest following the announcement of a food drive, spear-headed by Atlantis’ public relations team. “This initiative was born from an idea presented by one of our desktop publishing team members and
it’s being received so well. As this is a time of harvest and thanksgiving, we felt it was the perfect way to assist those who are still in need; those who lost so much and those who were left with nothing, and we are so happy to see the number of employees who
are jumping on board to assist with the effort,” said Atlantis Public Relations Director Katie Longley. The items donated were presented to The Bahamas Red Cross for distribution to victims most affected by Hurricane Matthew.
THEFTS DELAY GRAND BAHAMA RESTORATION BTC has advised that restoration efforts in Grand Bahama continue to be compromised as there has been increased theft of equipment on the island. In a statement released on Monday, CEO Leon Williams said: “Since Hurricane Matthew, BTC has
worked aggressively to restore services to all affected areas. “However, in Grand Bahama, our efforts continue to be sabotaged. We have found that as our technical teams restore services, fibre, copper and cables are stolen. Today, (Monday)
again there was another fibre cut on East Sunrise Highway and as a result services to over 500 homes in East Grand Bahama are affected. Additionally, mobile services in this area are also affected.” BTC is currently working to restore services to East
Grand Bahama. The public is advised to report all instances of theft or equipment tampering directly to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. BTC will be offering a reward for information leading to the prosecution of any individuals caught stealing its equipment.
BTC HANDS OUT $50,000 FOR FESTIVE SEASON BTC has given over $50,000 in donations and support just for Christmas. Over 30 organisations throughout the country received donations enabling them to lend a helping hand for those in need, according to a press release from BTC. The Boy’s Brigade in Inagua, the Senior Citizens Recreational Centre in Long Island, The Old Bight Mission Home in Cat Island, Lovely’s Feed the Children project in Abaco and the Beacon School
for exceptional learners in Grand Bahama are among the organisations in the Family Islands to receive donations. In New Providence, the Great Commission Ministries and The Bahamas Red Cross are among the recipients. “Giving back is a part of the DNA of this company. We appreciate the support of the public and we take every opportunity to show just how much their support means to us. In all things, it is important that we continue to be our brother’s
keeper. There are so many people in this country that have been met with difficult times, especially since the passing of Hurricane Matthew. We hope that this small deed of kindness extends where it should to help those in need,” said Leon Williams, CEO. In addition to sponsorships and events, BTC continues to give back to the community wherever it can. BTC also has its iVolunteer programme, which lends a helping hand to support community initiatives.
Recently, the programme delivered lunch to the homes of over 100 retirees in Grand Bahama and New Providence for Thanksgiving Day, an American holiday. The iVolunteer Programme will host children from various homes throughout the country for a special Christmas party on December 23. The iVolunteer team, through its partnership with the Kiwanis Club, will deliver Christmas meals to over 50 families on Christmas morning.
FUNERAL SERVICE MRS. SETELLA LETINA COX, 83 of #5 Balcony Street, Dannottage Estates, will be held on Thursday, 15th December, 2016, 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s the Virgin Anglican Church, Virginia Street. Rev’d Fr. Dwight M. Bowe will officiate. Interment will follow in the Western Cemetery, Nassau Street. Memories are cherished by her husband, George V. Cox; her son, John Edward Cox; her daughter-in-law, Erica Wells Cox; grandchildren, Shelter Xian and Story Holiday, her sister, Iris Dillet Knowles; her sister-in-law, Thelma McWeeney; her aunts, Tennie Isaacs (Fla.) Hazel Moore (G.B.) and Norma Allen; her uncle-in-law, Dr. Bert McPhee (Bermuda); her nieces, Danielle Knowles, Eugenie, Lady Nuttall (Genie), Denisia Burnside (Denny) and Mary El Fituri; her nephews, Dillon and Dale (Happy) Knowles, Sean, (Dr.) Vincent, William Jr. (Billy) and Paul McWeeney. Cousins include Neville Bethel, Herman Sawyer, Eloise Whitten (Detroit), Olga Jenkins (N,Y.), George Linton, (N.Y.), Lorraine Turnquest, Sandra Byles (G.B.), Antoinette Carroll (G.B.), Cynthia Turnquest (L.I.), Delores Miller (L.I.), Anne Curtis (G.B.), Grace Sullivan (Fla.), children of the late Jean, Bernard, John, Tony Dillet and Shirley Skees, Marty, Niven and Cindy Allen, the Neelys, Stephen Dillet and William (Perkins) Bethel Clans, godchildren, caregivers, Olige (Wesley) Laine, Mechia Benjamin, Eda Bourne and Alia Lincisort, Doctors, Ilsa Grant-Taylor, Agreta Eneas-Carey, Duane (Ernie) Sands, Angels-Elite, parish family of St. Mary’s and a host of other relatives and loved ones. Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians #34 Nassau Street, on Wednesday from 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. and at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until service time.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, December 13, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
18 murders this year so far in Grand Bahama By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
WITH three weeks left until the end of the year, Grand Bahama has already recorded 18 homicides, one more than the total the island saw in 2015. That number could be surpassed before 2017 rolls in, creating a new record high for the nation’s second city. According to statistics from police, Grand Bahama had ten murders in 2014 and five in 2013. As the yuletide season approaches, police are expected to increase their presence on the streets in an effort to clamp down on criminal activity. Despite the numbers, the island is relatively safe and the police said they have solved 90 per cent of the murders committed this year and have got dangerous criminals off the streets. Tragically, 17 men and
one woman lost their lives to violence in Grand Bahama this year. The most recent killing took place on December 4 when police discovered the body of a man in a car at the Imperial Gardens Apartment complex on Tangelo Lane, Freeport. The victim, 24-year-old Dominique Munnings, had been discovered stabbed to death around 10am in a grey-coloured sedan car. He was pronounced dead at the scene by doctors. On December 3, around 3am, Kasson Flowers, 21, was shot to death outside an establishment on East Mall Drive, near the International Bazaar. Flowers had just left the establishment and was in the parking lot when a gunman opened fire on him. A week later, another man was stabbed outside the same establishment, but survived his injuries after being rushed by private vehicle to hospital. The deaths were the is-
land’s 17th and 18th murders, respectively. On November 22, Dwayne Jackson, a harbour employee, was found murdered in his apartment at Maxim Court Apartments off Ponce de Leon Drive in Freeport. His death was the 16th murder of the year. A 19-year-old, Naki Roberts, has been charged with Jackson’s murder. The island recorded its 14th and 15th murders on November 4 when police were called to the scene of a double homicide in East End, Grand Bahama. Two brothers – Carlton and Carlos Hamilton - were gunned down and three others were injured at the public cemetery in McLean’s Town. When contacted on Monday for his views on the murders, former FNM Senator Michael Pintard, a well-known resident of Grand Bahama, expressed concern about the high murder rate in Grand Bahama, as well as the need for
more youth programmes, and transforming of inner city neighbourhoods. “With respect to the high murder rate in Grand Bahama, 18 would have tied the largest number of homicides in the history of Grand Bahama,” he said. “We need…to once and for all eliminate habitats that breed criminality. Some neighbourhoods have become incubators producing young men and women whose mindset and values are skewed - who see criminality as normal behaviour,” he said. “You can’t expect to transform people’s mind and behaviour, but leave the environments untouched that are contributing to that. It is inexcusable that we are not prepared to transform some of these neighbourhoods that are, unfortunately, the site for many murders, and the place from which many victims or murderers come,” he said. Mr Pintard noted that
less than two blocks away from the two government complexes and the Grand Bahama Port Authority buildings are habitats that continue to flourish. “They are not producing the results we desire, and we owe it to the children who live there and parents who cannot do better to transform those neighbourhoods.” “We have to engage residents, landlords, and be prepared as leaders to take some risk in remedying this awful urban challenge we have creating habitats that are breeding criminals,” he said. There has also been concern about the presence of gang violence in Freeport. Mr Pintard noted that youth programmes such as Reach Out Ministry founded by Dudley Seide, Leadership Training Programme by former FNM Cabinet minister Zhivargo Laing, and Boys to Men group at the Tabernacle Baptist Church are doing a
great job with transforming youth. “We need to adequately fund organisations that have a proven track record of reaching people and growing males and females into wonderful men and women,” he said. Mr Pintard said the country needs to establish youth programmes that target young people between the ages of 17 and 29. “Many young people are not attached to a uniformed organisation after graduation….there has to be ongoing interaction positively directing them whether it is through apprenticeship programmes, sporting and social initiatives,” he said. “There is an absence of representatives having meaningful relationship with constituents beyond the politicking season. And in the absence of employment, and positive social engagements, young people are likely to get themselves in a wide range of problems,” he said.
MARCHING TO SAY THANK YOU
MEMBERS of the Grand Bahama community held a march to thank workers who rallied to help the island following Hurricane Matthew. THE community of toration of the island fol- crews are still on the island Grand Bahama recently lowing Hurricane Matthew. assisting with the restoracame together and held A march and celebration tion of utilities on the isa march in honour of the was held at Pirate’s Cove land. workers who came from Adventurer Water Theme abroad to help with the res- Park on Taino Beach. Some Photos: Derek Carroll
READERS RESPOND TO POLITICAL TURMOIL AS DNA LEADER GIVEN SENATE POST THE turmoil in the FNM continued yesterday, with Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament Loretta Butler-Turner announcing that DNA Leader Branville McCartney had been appointed leader of opposition business in the Senate. Readers on tribune242.com gave their views. Sheeprunner12 said: “We need to look at country first not red, green or yellow . . . Loretta may be a hot mess, but a ‘coalition of better interests’ looks far more acceptable than a dead-head Perry or a bungling Minnis.” Millennial242 sounded optimistic: “This seems to be more like a coalition . . . and in some ways does indicate an attempt to work for the common good (over party loyalties). I still haven’t decided where my vote will be cast . . . but after what has transpired last
week, I know that I’m ready now to update my voter registration card! Ha . . . seems like change is possible in this country.” BahamaPundit was happy with the appointment: “This is good news. Bran is the man. Time for change.” Jackbnimble praised Mrs Butler-Turner: “Dang! In less than a week LBT has gotten more done than the bungling Minnis. Keep this up and you may just get my vote.” ThisIsOurs was critical of the Long Island MP: “The weird thing is, she’s acting as if she represents the FNM, but she doesn’t.
She didn’t even consult them on this move. Bungling is the right word. She’s also assuming that anyone wants Bran or her, pretty big gamble when her own constituency is rejecting her. I suspect the one thing she has succeeded in is handing the country to the PLP.” But Economist responded with: “Minnis had handed the country to the PLP. The question is if the LBT and Bran coalition can save it from the PLP.” Zakary said: “This is mostly a PR exercise. Until we see what happens on the ground (i.e nominations, candidates, delegates),
there’s not much going on here. The election is right here, and I really hope these set know that they are fighting PLP machinery, with seemingly low voter registration mixed in for extra uncertainty. I’d love to see what’s happening with the DNA base.” Honestman thought it was time for Dr Minnis to step aside: “This is an astute move by LBT (and her hidden backers). This looks like the start of a united Opposition coalition. This may force FNM dinosaurs to recognise that this partnership has more possibilities than anything Hubert Minnis has to offer. Surely
it is time for the Doctor to step aside for the good of the country and allow LBT and Bran to work out an FNM/DNA deal.” MassExodus said: “This is obviously signalling a combination of the FNM and DNA. Don’t expect to see the DNA on the ticket in 2017. This is a clear sign that Bran does not want to split the vote and that they are uniting to oust the PLP! There is hope for a brighter Bahamas!!!!” And there was this from Baha10: “If the PLP were well advised, they would call a ‘snap election’ and claim victory while this bunch of misfits are still
bungling around trying to figure out who is who and, perhaps more importantly, with who?!?” Paul_vincent_zecchino believed Mrs Butler-Turner was a “natural leader”: As previously posted, instinct has said for years that LBT was smart, elegant, a natural leader. Always trust instinct, pay heed to it, and never ever doubt it. This is just the beginning of the turnaround.” In The Tribune’s latest online poll we asked readers if they agreed with Edison Key that FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis should resign. The majority of those voting - 57 per cent – agreed that it was time for Dr Minnis to step down. Fortythree per cent believed he should stay on. • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
THE TRIBUNE
‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’
Tuesday, December 13, 2016, PAGE 11
PAGE 12, Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Aquinas student rises to top spot in art competition
THE TRIBUNE
ARTWORK “Fallen, Yet We Rise”, by Sonae Smith. AN Aquinas College stu- of us that no matter how dent has won first place in bad things appear, there is the high school category of always hope. the 33rd Central Bank Art “The painting symbolCompetition and Exhibi- ises the tension between tion. despair and hope,” Sonae Sixteen-year-old Sonae explained. “Due to the inSmith’s winning piece, creased crime in the Baha“Fallen, Yet We Rise”, im- mas, everyone has become pressed the judges with its filled with fear and grief. vibrant colours, thought The dancer at the bottom provoking social context of my painting depicts these and mesmerising under- emotions. The dancer on tones. The winning piece the top displays the resurcompeted against an im- rection of hope out of the pressive number of entries grips of despair.” by young artists enrolled in Sonae had dreams of besecondary schools through- coming an art curator. She out the Bahamas. explained that future goals Established in 1984, the include assisting young BaCentral Bank Art Competi- hamian artists to gain more tion has been instrumental exposure so that a broader in uncovering and showcas- range of persons recognise ing young Bahamian talent what Bahamians can offer in the visual arts. For many, in the art field. She identhe competition and exhibi- tified Eddie Minnis and tion have served as an in- Maxwell Taylor as those troduction to the Bahamian who have influenced her arart world and the exposure tistically. received has been an inval“On behalf of Aquinas uable first step in growing College we would like to their gifts. Past winners in congratulate Sonae on her the high school category in- recent success at the 33rd clude Jackson Petit, Jessica Central Bank Art CompeMiller and Jordanna Kelly. tition & Exhibition,” said Throughout history, so- Shona Knowles, principal cial change and art have at Aquinas College. had a symbiotic relation“As a Catholic Board of ship. Social change is one Education (CBE) school we of the driving forces that are committed to the educainfluence what artists pro- tion of the whole child. This duce. Art can effect social translates to a dedication change, encouraging inner at Aquinas College to proreflection and reawakening vide all our students with a resolve to transform our the opportunity to discover communities. what they excel at across all Sonae’s winning piece is subjects, including art, auto one in a series focusing on mechanics, electrical instalthe issue of crime in the lation and cosmetology. SoBahamas. Her paintings nae, through her artwork, highlight the effects crime has shown that our young and poverty have on a per- people are not oblivious to son’s mindset. The winning our social ills. I hope that piece, though, illuminates her work encourages other hope as the indomitable young persons to become a dancer eludes strength, de- part of the social dialogue termination and unfettered and reflect upon how they joy. Her piece reminds all can make a difference.”
ARTIST Sonae Smith with her trophy.