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VOLUME:117 No.20, DECEMBER 18TH, 2019

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INSIDE: WHERE TO FIND THE BEST GIFTS THIS CHRISTMAS

Crash exposed rescue failings

Emergency Service not in place to deal with deadly crash By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE search and rescue effort for Byron Ferguson after his plane crashed last year exposed gaping loopholes in this country’s civil aviation regime, the final report into the accident reveals.

Investigators concluded Mr Ferguson, 34, could have survived the crash for up to five days under the most optimistic scenario.

However, the Air Accident Investigation

GOLDEN Isles MP Vaughn Miller had been absent both physically and “mentally� from the constituency long before he resigned from the Free National Movement, according to area association chairman, Brian Brown.

So it came as no surprise to him last week when the now-independent

SEE PAGE FIVE

SEE PAGE THREE

SEE PAGE SIX

LET’S PARTY

SANTA’S WONDERLAND CHRISTMAS, a four-day party, has kicked off in Grand Bahama, aiming to bring some holiday cheer to a community still trying to recover from Hurricane Dorian.

Report - Page 11 Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

‘STOP STEALING OUR TV SHOWS’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

$50M LOAN TO BOOST RECOVERY THE Minnis administration will bring a resolution to Parliament next month to borrow $50m from the Caribbean Development Bank to finance Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts.

Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest announced the fiscal year deficit has ballooned to $677.5m because of the storm, prompting the government’s need to borrow

Department (AAID) has noted in its report that the country does not have a designated search and rescue entity that meets international standards and has recommended that international requirements be fulfilled.

The AAID report also reveals that it took rescue teams one hour to reach the vicinity of Mr Ferguson’s downed plane after the pilot reported engine problems and crashed.

As a signatory to the

representative left the governing party to join the likes of Centreville MP Reece Chipman as the second parliamentarian to leave the FNM this year.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Brown said constituents had been left disappointed in the “downhill� trajectory of Mr Miller’s representation, having fully supported him in the lead up to the May 2017 general election.

SEE PAGE EIGHT

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

‘MILLER WENT DOWNHILL AFTER BEING DISMISSED’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

ALICIA WALLACE HONESTLY, IT’S NO SIN TO LIVE ON YOUR OWN

A PREMIER pay-TV content provider is demanding that the Bahamian government “takes action to stop the unlicensed transmission� of major US networks to subscribers in this nation.

HBO Latin America, a subsidiary of its Home Box Office (HBO) parent, is urging the Trump

administration to “consider withdrawing or denying� the one-way trade preferences that the US grants to The Bahamas and other Caribbean nations to press for a

region-wide crackdown on copyright and intellectual property rights violations.

The network argues the online piracy of TV programs and related content “has increased significantly in The Bahamas�.

HBO Latin America called on the Bahamian government to also crack down on IPTV and illicit streaming devices it says are facilitating these copyright violations.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

Nobody Does it Better!

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF AGAIN By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

TECHNICAL difficulties recently forced Bahamas Power and Light to leave customers in the western area of New Providence without power for hours.

A statement published on the company’s Facebook page on Monday evening advised the public that technicians had been dispatched to investigate the SEE PAGE SEVEN

TECHNOLOGY

SMART SHOPPING - AVOID FAKE REVIEWS AND THOSE TRICKY ADS SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, December 18, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Strong sales for Boxing Day Junkanoo

THE CROWD at last year’s Boxing Day Junkanoo

By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net JUNKANOO ticket sales for the 2019 Boxing Day Parade are strong, despite stakeholders anticipating that the economic impact of Hurricane Dorian may have negatively affected them.

According to chairman for the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence Dion Miller, tickets for the 2019 Boxing Day Parade are almost sold out.

“In terms of sales performance for the Boxing Day Parade, the corporation has sold out already 92 percent of tickets for that parade and that’s a normal occurrence for the Boxing Day Parade which is very strong. That was our number one concern earlier after Dorian, the

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

impact it would have on the national Junkanoo parades in New Providence. Initially we had a first slow week of sales and then it picked up and it is performing really well. So, I don’t think Dorian has affected the parades because Bahamians are actually patronising the parades,” said Mr Miller.

Mr Miller, a member of the Saxons, said corporate sponsorship for some Junkanoo groups took a nose dive since Hurricane Dorian due to the business community pumping resources into assisting storm victims.

“In terms of the groups and their corporate sponsorship it has impacted it because, you know everyone was participating in hurricane relief so they didn’t have the funds to forward to those Junkanoo

groups.

Everyone was trying to assist our brothers and sisters affected

by Dorian, it’s only a limited amount of funds, that they could spend with all those groups and so Junkanoo and their individual group sponsors have been impacted,” he said.

As usual, the New Year’s Day Parade ticket sales are slow. The JCNP is hoping to encourage the public in securing tickets for the upcoming parade by offering a free car and flat screen TV. “Where we are seeing a struggle is in terms of the New Year’s ticket sales so far with the New Year’s Day Parade, we sold only 50 percent of those tickets. On New Year’s there’s so many different things you are competing with, church that gets out really late, you have New Year’s parties and we typically have struggles with that parade so we are looking for creative ways. What we are going to be launching in a couple of days is a fun thing for persons to get involved in, we are giving away a Nissan Note vehicle, so anyone who purchases a New Year’s Day ticket will be entered into a drawing for the car or mega flat screen TV,” said Mr Miller.

This year the JCNP launched its online ticketing initiative in partnership with SunCash online at junkanootix.com and tickets can also be purchased at JCNP’s office on Fredrick Street from 10am to 6pm.

Junkanoo tickets range between $16 to $50.

MAN SHOT TO DEATH IDENTIFIED

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE man shot to death last week in Freeport has been officially identified as 34-year-old Walter Dremiz, also known as Walter Direny, of Lewis Yard and Limewood Lane.

According to police reports, officers responded to a shooting that occurred shortly before 11pm on Wednesday, December 11 at Redwood Lane and Carissa Street.

On arrival, police discovered the lifeless body of a male lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

Initial investigations revealed that Dremiz was riding his bicycle in the area when he was approached by armed culprits who shot him.

An investigation is ongoing.

THE TRIBUNE

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd yesterday said he supports the decriminalisation of small quantities of marijuana and wiping out the records of those found guilty for using or possessing the drug.

Speaking to reporters outside of Cabinet, Mr Lloyd said an education campaign on marijuana is being taught in the health science programmes in schools.

He said: “We have talked about the effects of dangerous drugs and let me just be very clear, I entirely support the decriminalisation of small quantities, recreational quantities of marijuana and the expungement of records of persons who are found to be guilty in those circumstances, absolutely. “. . .I’m looking forward to the delivery of the Marijuana Commission’s report. I feel and I’ve

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, PAGE 3

Lloyd adds his support for legal use of marijuana mentioned this many, many times over the years that we have unfortunately relegated a number of our young people to a life that is unfortunate to them. In terms of employment (and) in terms of travel as a result of this situation where they are found with a joint or two and again, recreational quantities.”

He continued: “And their life is really essentially come to a stop. I think it’s a great move to be considered by the government. I endorse the prime minister’s sentiments entirely. I have said it many times over the years and I look forward to when this could potentially be implemented. We have

alcohol which we many consider a dangerous drug; we have cigarettes that we consider a dangerous drug.”

Mr Lloyd said if marijuana is decriminalised, there will be regulations in place to avoid young people from easily accessing the drug.

“When we talk about the decriminalisation of these substances, we are not talking about throwing the door wide open so that young people can still have access to them. Just like they don’t have…access to alcohol, to cigarettes there will be regulations absolutely if it is being considered by the government no question about it,” he said.

JEFF LLoyd yesterday “But yes, I endorse an enhancement of the education programme that we must have over substances not only marijuana but all substances that can alter one’s consciousness.

You know people are now abusing today legal drugs

THE FAMILY of Byron Ferguson (inset) at Nirvana Beach soon after he went missing.

because again they are not aware of the potential dangers that these impose if they are not used and handled in a proper fashion.”

He added: “(We want to start) from the very beginning from grade—from preschool three-years-old.

According to their ability to understand but we need to get it at the earlier stages of life so they can begin to grow up in an environment of an awareness of what is dangerous and what is to be handled in a way that is effective and proper.”

Last month, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he favours decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana and

making the substance legal for medicinal and/or scientific purposes.

Becoming the first sitting prime minister to publicly support some form of marijuana decriminalisation, he told The Tribune he hopes the decriminalisation process will happen before the end of this term.

He said he is eagerly awaiting the release of a report by the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana to help chart the way forward on the substance, which has been illegal since 1929. He said as the country’s leader, he feels responsibility to have the matter properly examined.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Crash report exposes crucial rescue failings from page one Convention on the International Civil Aviation, the country is required to comply with Annex 12 by designating an appropriate entity to perform search and rescue services, by granting the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority the power to provide oversight of that entity and establishing a rescue coordination centre to support rescue services, according to the report.

AAID Chief Investigator Delvin Major said this country has done none of this.

“There are 12 annexes and (search and rescue) has not been given much emphasis,” he said yesterday. “There is a need for legislation and the designated body has to meet many specific requirements relating to budget, training, manpower, rescue plans and infrastructure and the defence force does not meet the requirements. It’s difficult therefore to blame any one particular body for how the rescue was conducted because none of them are legislatively mandated to be the official search and rescue entity for The Bahamas. The defence force, BASRA, the US Coast Guard, they all assist but none are officially and legally approved to perform the function.

We need to designate a body and in doing so equip them according to ICAO requirements.”

An effort to pass legislation for a designated body stalled under the previous administration, Mr Major said, with the current administration hiring an American consultancy group to boost compliance

with the annexes. The AAID concluded that because Mr Ferguson and his Piper Aztec aircraft were never recovered, it is impossible to determine his survival chances.

“The seat occupied by the pilot, or safety restraints used (which in some cases can aid in survivability) could not be determined.

Therefore crash survivability is undetermined,” the report said.

The US Coast Guard nonetheless conducted a Probability of Survival Decision Aid (PSDA), examining air temperature, water temperature and the pilot’s physical attributes to produce an estimated survival time. It was concluded that Mr Ferguson’s timeframe of survival was five days.

Mr Major said this could have happened in the most optimistic scenario, one where Mr Ferguson conducted a controlled landing in water, remained conscious after impact and escaped the downed plane.

“We don’t know what happened,” he said.

“Because this was at night, he may not have known which way to go after landing. We don’t know if he was conscious after impact or whether he sustained serious injuries. The status

of the cargo and whether that could’ve impeded his efforts to escape the plane is unknown as well so we can’t reach a conclusion on his survivability.”

Mr Ferguson’s plane departed the West Palm Beach County Park airport at 7.26pm on November 8, 2018.

Communication between the aircraft and both the Miami and Nassau air traffic control centres was difficult.

Eventually the pilot received and confirmed various instructions from Air Traffic Control, including to land.

However, at 8.50pm he said: “Tower, eight three Charlie, I’m having engine problems.”

Two minutes later, radar contact with his aircraft was lost and the emergency locater transmitter installed on the craft was activated “presumably when the aircraft made impact with the ocean,” the report notes.

ATC immediately initiated emergency response protocols, informing the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the US Coast Guard and BASRA. However, the first RBDF vessel did not arrive on scene until 9.50pm, followed shortly after by

vessels from BASRA, a RBPF marine unit vessel and the US Coast Guard helicopter.

The RBDF reported observing the tail section of the aircraft above water but Mr Ferguson nor his plane were retrieved. Search and rescue efforts were called off at 2am on November 9, 2018 and resumed four hours later.

The RBDF recovered parts of the airframe of

the craft and other debris between November 9 and 13.

Civilians with the HeadKnowles non-profit organisation found components of the craft and additional cargo on November 15.

The AAID said the “probable cause of the accident was loss of control inflight resulting in uncontrolled flight into” the ocean and that weather was

not a factor in the accident.

Mr Ferguson was in full compliance with laws to operate the plane and was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The search and rescue efforts for him came under withering criticism from his family and relatives have filed an application for judicial review into the situation.

Editorial View - Page 4

PAGE 4, Wednesday, December 18, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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Byron Ferguson was failed by our nation BYRON Ferguson was let down by our nation’s search and rescue services.

That’s the simplest conclusion to draw from the report into his plane crash last year.

One of the scenarios in the report suggests he could have survived the crash for up to five days – but whether he died instantly, whether he survived for one day or whether he lived for five, there wasn’t a functional search and rescue organisation that meets international requirements in The Bahamas.

Radar contact with his plane was lost at 8.52pm on the night it went down – but the first rescue vessel – from the RBDF – wasn’t on the scene until nearly an hour later, at 9.50pm. The RBDF reported seeing the tail section of his plane above water that night – but his plane, and Mr Ferguson, were never found.

Over the following days, there was a sense of frustration with the pace of the search – so much so that civilians started their own search and found pieces of the plane just 40 minutes into their search.

At the time, National Security Minister Marvin Dames insisted that authorities were doing all that they possibly could – but then both managed to warn about spreading false information while at the same time incorrectly saying Mr Ferguson hadn’t filed a flight plan.

He had, and Mr Dames was forced into an apology.

Among the other reasons given at the time for lacklustre rescue efforts were vessels not having enough gas, low visibility, needing extra equipment, and simply fatigue.

Even Attorney General Carl Bethel, speaking in the Senate, suggested that the crash may not have been “properly” investigated – which led to a backlash from Mr Dames.

“We have to be careful not to get caught up in the frenzy of attacking

an entire agency in the absence of evidence,” said Mr Dames, “whether it’s my party or anybody else’s party, okay?

We as leaders ought to set the example and when we fail to do that, then anything follows.”

Well, Mr Dames, the evidence is in.

The Bahamas is a signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which requires the country to designate an appropriate entity to perform search and rescue services, and granting the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority oversight of that authority, and also to establish a rescue co-ordination centre.

The Bahamas has none of this. None.

Laws are supposed to be established and the designated body is supposed to meet specific requirements on budget, training, manpower, rescue plans, and infrastructure. We don’t have that.

Instead, we have a hotch-potch of different organisations trying to do their best to patch together a response, but which feature individuals who quite simply aren’t trained for this. RBDF officers try their hardest, but this isn’t their sole focus.

We will never know if all these things had been in place if it would have meant Byron Ferguson would be with his family this Christmas.

But we do know this – none of these things are in place still. Right now, we are all being let down by our nation’s search and rescue services.

Mr Ferguson’s family is owed an apology – and our nation is owed action, to put in place the emergency service the country should have had, and that might have saved Mr Ferguson had it existed.

Mr Dames may have said that authorities were doing all they could – but clearly they didn’t do all they should have done before that night. The question is: what is being done to put that right now?

Over to you, Mr Dames.

Dreaming of Christmas lights CHRISTMAS is coming - and across the country, children are writing letters to Father Christmas. Let’s take a peek inside one to see what it might say: Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is the lights to stay on.

Bahamas Power & Light said you gave them some shiny new engines so they’d have enough power – but how then did the power go off on Monday?

They said something about it being

a ‘short in a circuit’ that left my Daddy with a short in his temper.

It seems odd that they would get their shiny new present and still not give us power because of ‘technical difficulties’.

So if you could get some of your elves to sort them out, and make sure we have power to cook Christmas dinner and watch the Junkanoo parade too.

Thank you.

PS If they don’t fix it, maybe next year you could give them a lump of coal instead.”

Mr Fox shows us how to do it EDITOR, The Tribune IF THERE is any community in Nassau that has reason to be proud of one of their own sons of the soil that community is the Kemp Road St James Road, Balls Alley and the surrounding neighbourhoods. For several years Adrian Fox, CEO of Fox Foundation, has generously made donations of toys, school materials, food clothes and electronics to everyone during the summer and at Christmas time. He has paid college tuition and school fees for scores of young

people in the community.

This year he has taken it up a notch by hiring more than one hundred persons to assist in cleaning up the entire area. Old furniture, broken down cars and debris have been removed. Yards weeded and cleaned, hedges along the roads and trees trimmed.

Giving the neighbourhoods a new look. It is all too well known that a lot of persons after having become successful move out from their childhood homestead never caring to look back. Not so with the young man from Balls

Alley. He has made it his life’s commitment not to forget from whence he came. Adrian makes it a point to visit those in the community regularly, especially the elderly who love and appreciate him to the fullest. 0n behalf of the Kemp Road, St James Road and the Balls Alley community I say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the Man From Balls Alley.

Thank you, Adrian Fox and Merry Christmas!

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, December 17, 2019.

Stand by for contentious election in 28 months EDITOR, The Tribune FORMER Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader and Free National Movement (FNM) Parliamentarian Branville McCartney’s presence at a recent FNM event has seemingly sparked excitement among supporters at a time when the party is purportedly haemorrhaging support.

A Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) propaganda news site has speculated that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will reshuffle his Cabinet in January, transferring Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Lanisha Rolle, to Legal Affairs in the office of the Attorney General. This would be the third time in less than three years that Rolle has been transferred. As a Minnis loyalist, Rolle, in my opinion, is simply not worth the trouble she is causing the FNM. In addition to Rolle not being renominated in 2020, the website has also stated that Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest and Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell will also suffer the same fate. There are also rumours of an FNM senator being sacked to make room for McCartney, who will be appointed minister of immigration.

With few opinion polls being conducted in The Bahamas, the claim of the PLP currently holding

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net a 15 point lead over the incumbent appears to be farfetched.

Admittedly, it wouldn’t surprise the writer if the PLP wins in 2022, as the impatient Bahamian electorate has developed the mindset of voting parties out, rather than voting them in. If it is true that McCartney is returning to the FNM, it would be a move to bolster the party. And if it is true that Turnquest, the minister of finance, is one of the casualties of Minnis’ restructuring exercise, him being included on this list raises a whole host of questions, especially seeing that his East Grand Bahama seat is an FNM stronghold.

However, with the devastation to Abaco and Grand Bahama by Dorian – islands with a total of seven FNM MPs, the political pendulum may have serendipitously swung in the PLP’s direction due to the many hardships caused by the storm. As for the DNA, even if McCartney remains with the party, it will undoubtedly suffer the same fate as it had in 2017 and 2012. McCartney is a far more recognisable figure on the political landscape than DNA leader Arinthia Komolafe. Consequently, if the DNA

failed to gain traction with the former Bamboo Town MP, why should anyone think it will with Komolafe? Moving forward, I expect the DNA to remain a non-factor.

As for the PLP, the recent acquittals and vindication of two former parliamentarians are now being viewed by political pundits as the country being primed for another PLP administration.

New Providence seats such as Golden Isles and Centreville, held by erstwhile FNMs Vaughn Miller and Reece Chipman respectively, are likely to return to the PLP. I believe other FNM seats in New Providence, which were traditional PLP strongholds, are just as likely to return to that party. Whatever one’s assessment of PLP leader Philip Brave Davis is, the fact remains that he is at the helm of a political organisation that has governed The Bahamas 35 out of the past 52 years since Majority Rule. In a word, the PLP has staying power.

The 2022 general election is gearing up to be the most contentious in recent times. With approximately 28 months before Bahamians head back to the polls, I anticipate more political manoeuvring by the FNM and PLP. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama December 15, 2019.

A charitable gesture EDITOR, The Tribune Re: Churches Warned -- Don’t Set Up Any Unlawful Centres. The Tribune, December 12, 2019.

IN compliance with our laws, perhaps some church members will now consider

indulging in a truly charitable gesture and invite unfortunate illegal immigrants to share their houses ---- as well as our country.

KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau, December 12, 2019.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, PAGE 5

$50M LOAN DEAL PLAN TO BOOST RECOVERY from page one

$507.9m to meet the shortfall. The CDB announced its “Exogenous Shock Response Policy-Based Loan” in a press statement yesterday, saying: “The loss of life and massive destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian has placed a heavy

burden on The Bahamas.

The loan will support the people and the country during the recovery and maintain the momentum of the ongoing reform programme to foster fiscal discipline and build resilience against natural disasters.”

The bank continued: “According to the United

Nations, the total value of the damage and loss is equivalent to 25 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), which exceeds by far the damage and loss – equivalent to 4.9 percent – incurred from Hurricane Mathew in 2016. The Exogenous Shock Response Policy-Based Loan is an instrument to provide

resources for financing needs that arise from external and natural hazards shocks that have a significant economic and social impact.

“In addition to providing finance for the ongoing recovery, the loan will support the implementation of the comprehensive reform programme of The

Bahamas that aims to achieve fiscal sustainability and enhance economic and physical resilience to external shocks and natural disasters, while bolstering growth and job creation.

CDB staff have estimated the impact of Hurricane Dorian on economic growth in The Bahamas over the short and medium term.

“Economic growth has been revised downwards from 1.7 percent to 1 percent in 2019 and from 1.8 percent to 1.5 percent in 2020. This translates to a total impact on GDP of one percentage point. Economic growth is expected to return to its long-term average of approximately 1.8 percent by 2021.”

Survivors struggling to find the Christmas spirit

THE TRIBUNE recently canvassed people in Marsh Harbour, Abaco to find out how they were coping with life after Hurricane Dorian.

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net WITH one week left to Christmas, many Dorian survivors are finding it difficult to get into the festive spirit as uncertainty still threatens their future.

Inez Maynard, of Spring City, Abaco, said she does not plan to celebrate the holiday this year. “At the moment, I’m uncertain about where my life (will take me). We came to Nassau about a week after the storm (and) it’s been rough over here... and to tell you the truth, I ain’t feel Christmas yet,” she told The Tribune yesterday.

After living in Nassau for three months post-Hurricane Dorian, Mrs Maynard said she and her three sons just want to return home for Christmas. “I just want to get a home. I have three boys; my (youngest) baby is five. And my boys and all don’t even feel Christmas

this year because my oldest boy said he doesn’t want to be here. He misses his daddy,” she said. “They’re used to being home, but over here they don’t have no freedom. My boys aren’t even in school yet and I just got them sorted out for school for January. Abaco is the island and that’s what they’re used to.”

Mrs Maynard and her family, along with some 60 Dorian evacuees, were evicted from the El Greco Beach Hotel earlier this month, after staying at the hotel following the monster storm. Now living in an apartment, Mrs Maynard said she wants to get her children presents for the holiday, but she is unable to do so as she cannot afford it.

“My sister said she will get something just to give them a little peace of mind because they’re kids and they (are used) to mummy always getting something for them. So, they didn’t have to worry about this

or worry about that,” she added.

Mrs Maynard, however, is not the only one who is not looking forward to the upcoming holiday.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Sita Silien, an Abaco evacuee, said this year’s Christmas will be the worst one for her yet. “It’s going to be hard celebrating this Christmas because my grammy just died so it’s a bad one for me. I’ve been living in the shelter since September (and) I’ll be staying in the shelters until it’s closed,” she said.

“So, this Christmas, I just gone sit in the shelter and cry my hip off because I haven’t been doing that. I don’t want to think on the memories of Dorian, (even though) I know it gone come.”

In the past, Ms Silien said she would celebrate Christmas along with her family in the comfort of their home.

“My mummy would have a family meeting in the yard

because everyone would be in the yard. We would go to church that morning. We would have to go and when she come back, she would cook white peas and grits, and everybody has to eat.”

But, after losing her mother in the monster storm, Ms Silien said she does not plan to celebrate the holiday.

Her only wish this Christmas, she said, is to give her mother a proper burial.

“The (government) still have not released her body to me. If I had a wish, it would be for my mummy to be buried. Even if it’s in the day, I wouldn’t mind,” she said.

Meanwhile, Petra Rolle, an Abaco resident, added: “I’ll be in North Eleuthera this Christmas. I just came on Friday (because) I got a job offer. I didn’t want to leave. My mom is still in Abaco and her birthday is on Christmas, but I will be missing. So, I’m not feeling Christmas at all.”

... BUT THERE’S A PARTY FOR THE KIDS

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AN Abaco resort is hosting a Christmas party for the island’s residents today, to bring much needed cheer to the stormtorn community.

Treasure Sands’ “Treasured Christmas” event is expected to host more than 300 Abaco children, who will receive free gifts and other giveaways.

Treasure Sands Limited Managing Director Joshua Stivers told The Tribune the company had received six to

seven pallets of gifts donated from the resort Baker’s Bay and individuals from the United States. The children will be given a variety of gifts such as basketballs, footballs, dolls, shoes, books, and science kits.

Mr Stivers explained the children will be choosing gifts in respect to their ages.

Along with gifts, there will be a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, cookie decorating, Christmas carols, and Santa Claus will be at the event for pictures. Mr Stivers hopes the party will boost morale on the island.

“It’s kind of our gift you know to the community for this holiday season just so they can have some sense of normalcy during this very tragic aftermath,” Mr Stivers said. “You know a lot of building (is) going on and so many people lost so much and so you know it’ll hopefully instil hope, love, and compassion in the community. So that you know, just kind of bring everybody spirits up for the holiday.

“It was obviously, you know a venue and a platform for the children to

have a Christmas, have a picture with Santa Claus, and to play together and see each other but also a gift to all the adults that are a part of it to see the happy faces. To see the smile on the children’s faces when they come in and experience the games or doing cookie decorating.”

So far, 20 volunteers are slated to help at the event.

The party will be held at Head Start Academy in Treasure Cay, Abaco today from 3pm-11pm and the island’s residents are invited to attend.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 6, Wednesday, December 18, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

WELLS REJECTS MOVE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION OVER POST OFFICE

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net TRANSPORT Minister Renward Wells shrugged off the possibility of a legal challenge to Parliament’s resolution on the Town Centre Mall.

Earlier this week, The Tribune reported that Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has asked attorney Alfred Sears to examine whether parliamentarians have standing to challenge the resolution in

the Supreme Court with the hope of having it declared null and void.

Mr Wells said yesterday: “They can go to the courts.

I’m not a lawyer and I don’t know what the courts would say, but I do believe that there is separation of powers in The Bahamas.

You have three branches of government. You have the legislature; you have the executive of which I will be walking into Cabinet in a minute and then you have the judiciary. The legislature listened to the resolution, we debated the

resolution and we moved that we have full confidence in the prime minister of The Bahamas.

“Even those who had not too flattering things to say either abstained in regard to at least one of the members and the other voted for it. At the end of the day the legislature, the Parliament had its say. . .none of us believed the prime minister misled the Parliament and we’ve already had that debate. We went through that on Wednesday and to use a term that the PLP used to say, ‘so said so done.’”

Mr Wells also again defended the Minnis administration’s decision to move the General Post Office to Town Centre Mall.

He told reporters outside of Cabinet that for the first time in 25 years, the post office has been audited. He said while auditors found a few areas to improve on, the post office received “rave reviews.”

“The last time it was audited they said it was 25 years ago by the United Postal Union. I’m happy to report to the people of The Bahamas that their post

RENWARD Wells yesterday office passed the United Postal Union’s audit this past week this Friday.

And it was a direct result of the fact that we moved our employees from that

dilapidated structure on East Hill Street so those folks can say whatever it is they want to say and do whatever it is they want to do,” he said.

“I said in the House of Assembly the proof of the pudding is in the eating and it has been eaten. The results are that The Bahamas’ post office is where it ought to be and so we are looking forward to the final audit in January. The auditors were here, and they gave us rave reviews. They gave our procedures rave reviews.”

‘Miller went downhill after being dismissed’

from page one

It is now apparent, he said, the party needs to do a better job at selecting future candidates.

“It was not a surprise,” Mr Brown said of the resignation last week. “Mr Miller has been gone mentally from since he got fired (as parliamentary secretary) in 2018, so that’s not a surprise. After the firing for him voting against the VAT, things went downhill and that was it.”

In 2018, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis fired the

MP along with Bain and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson from their posts as parliamentary secretaries because the men broke ranks from the party and voted against increasing value added tax from 7.5 percent to 12 percent.

Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine was also dismissed from his post as chairman of the Hotel Corporation for voting against the VAT increase.

Mr Brown said constituents had complained of not seeing the MP in the area, adding he had also failed to work along with the

association to implement meaningful initiatives.

With failed representation now behind them, Mr Brown said the association is looking at several candidates who may be suitable to represent Golden Isles.

“I am going to tell you that as the chairman, Golden Isles is always on top. The executives have met already and planned the way forward. We’re going to do the Christmas holiday and in January 2020 we are going to resume our getting ready for the next election.

“We are going to make

GOLDEN Isles MP Vaughn Miller on the day he quit the FNM sure that the residents in Golden Isles have good representation from the Free National Movement.”

Asked whether this meant the party needed to do a better job at candidate selection, he said: “Definitely, definitely without a shadow of a doubt.

“It will not be as easy as the previous time before.

We will make sure to do a much better vetting of the candidates.

“You must be a member of the association, know how the association is ran and be well versed with the national party because most of them don’t know how the association runs and how the party runs. They don’t have any idea and so we are going to have to have it done.”

Mr Miller declined comment yesterday, saying he would speak at a later date.

After frequent critiques of the Minnis administration’s decisions, Mr Miller announced his departure before a confidence motion in the prime minister passed in the House of Assembly last week.

“Two cannot walk together except they be agreed,” he said at the time. “Our differences are irreconcilable. The FNM will not repent, and I shall not recant. Therefore, I am requesting as of the next sitting of the House of Assembly, I am seated among the independents.”

In resigning, Mr Miller backed opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis’ view of the circumstances surrounding the lease of the Town Centre Mall to house the General Post Office.

Mr Davis has argued the Minnis administration

misled Parliament when it tabled and passed a resolution last year that said St Anne’s MP Brent Symonette was not involved in discussions and negotiations over renting the mall when he was minister of immigration and financial services.

Mr Miller voted against that resolution last year, drawing the ire of FNMs everywhere, he said.

Signs of Mr Miller’s discontent with his party first appeared in March, 2018 during the mid-year budget debate. He said at the time that there appeared to be a disconnect between the Minnis administration and Bahamians.

Last week he said being a political martyr––“one who suffers political death for standing up for righteousness”––is the greatest honour he could receive.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, PAGE 7

No surprise as the lights go off again from page one

Still, he insisted the company is prepared.

“We have sufficient genissue. Still, the company did eration in our transmission not explain the exact cause and distribution network behind the incident. which is sufficiently strong, Speaking to The Tribune, and we are prepared for Quincy Parker, BPL’s direc- any eventuality, but we tor of communications, said cannot promise that there the technical issues that will be no interruptions.” caused power outages in During the outage, disNorth and West Westridge, gruntled customers in Sandy Port, Delaporte and affected areas took to the the western portion of The- comment section of the odore Lane, were caused company’s initial statement by a “short in a circuit” on to voice their complaints.

Munnings Road.

“This was not what I had He said the problem has in mind when it came to since been addressed. warm wishes for the holiWhen asked if the public days from BPL,” one user could expect any more dis- quipped. ruptions in the foreseeable “This is the second time future, Mr Parker said that for the evening that the was “ impossible” one to electricity is off. Just plain answer. lousy!” another one added.

“We are not expecting Other Facebook users disruptions, but we cannot pointed out that despite predict the circumstances BPL’s new power plant, the of everything,” he said. company was still battling

THE BAHAMAS Power and Light head office

issues keeping the lights on. “It’s been two hours and we’re still in the dark.

Those new power plants are working wonderfully!

Great job!” one remarked.

“Probably that brand new power plant you just bought. Nice work,” another asserted.

When asked whether this specific incident was related to Station A in anyway, Mr Parker insisted that was not the case.

“Last night’s disruption was not related to the start-up of Station A,” he insisted.

Earlier this week the company revealed its new multimillion power plant had been brought online.

The station is expected to boost energy and price security and increase reliability.

Editorial View - Page 4

Robber blames sins of his relatives for breaking law

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 40-YEAR-OLD man sentenced to over a decade in prison yesterday for robbing two food stores at gunpoint earlier this year attributed his criminal actions to a “generational curse” caused by incest in his family.

Tyrone Minnis, upon receiving from Justice Bernard Turner a 12-year sentence for robbing a Super Value food store and Budget Meat Mart in Fox Hill, blamed the “sins” of his relatives for causing him to commit the separate acts in July and September.

Minnis said while such issues shouldn’t be ventilated in public, he strongly believes that their relationship caused a “curse” to befall him in accordance with God’s law.

Minnis’ statements came shortly before he received his sentence for robbing Super Value’s East Street and Robinson Road location with an AK-47 of $18,000 worth of cash on July 7, and then robbing Budget Meat Mart at gunpoint of an undisclosed amount of cash a little over two months later on September 21.

It also came just before Justice Turner revealed that Minnis has been engaged in criminal activity from as far back as 1997, when he was just 18 years old. It is only recently that he has graduated to the “big leagues” by committing the two indictable offences of armed robbery, Justice Turner said, and in quick succession as noted by the Crown.

Concerning the first incident, police said Minnis entered the store shortly after 8am, held up the employees and robbed the store of an undisclosed amount of cash before

escaping.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

However, Justice Turner said one of the witnesses described how Minnis “cranked” the high-powered weapon, placed it to his head and threatened to blow his head off if he didn’t open the safe.

“So it’s not even just a matter of taking from the till,” Justice Turner observed.

In the second incident, Minnis was one of two armed robbers who held up the Bernard Road store and its employees of cash shortly after 8pm, before escaping in a light-coloured Nissan Cube.

Security camera footage from the food store, which was circulated on social media after the incident, showed two gunmen entering the store around 8.30pm, with handguns drawn. The men wore long sleeved shirts, hats and sunglasses. They are seen heading towards the cash register before the video clip ends.

Before sentencing Minnis yesterday morning, Justice Turner gave the man an opportunity to say something to the court. That was when Minnis said he believes a generational curse is on him.

“Sometimes I believe that it’s a curse on me, or generational curse,” he said.

“I don’t know. Because I from was a little boy, from primary school time I was getting into problems.”

Speaking of the incest he said occurred in his family, he added: “…And I know that that’s against God, that’s a sinful thing.

So I don’t know if what they dealing with lies on me, because I see myself as getting in problems from primary school time.”

In response to Minnis’ assertions, Justice Turner said that from a Biblical

perspective, whatever shortcomings Minnis may have has already been dealt with by the “dispensation of grace” from God’s son Jesus Christ. However, the judge noted that he was more concerned with the question of how to treat his criminal behaviour “that has fallen short of man’s laws”.

Prior to that remark, the judge had noted Minnis’ criminal history, which dates back to 1997 when he was charged in the Magistrate’s Court for stealing, assault, and throwing missiles as a teenager.

The next year, 1998, Minnis was charged with stealing, followed by unlawfully carrying a firearm in 1999. The following decade was a quiet one for Minnis, but by 2009 he was given a two-year sentence for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. In 2013, Minnis was convicted of causing grievous harm, which netted him a fiveyear prison sentence.

In 2017, Minnis was charged with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, and in 2019, he was twice charged with the same offence.

In September of this year, Minnis was convicted for stealing a vehicle. And in October, he was fined $5,000 and given two-anda-half years in prison for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He faced an additional six months in default of the fine.

Crown prosecutor Algernon Allen Jr said the prosecution was seeking a sentence of between 12 to 15 years. He noted that although Minnis pleaded guilty to the offences at the earliest opportunity, he questioned whether Minnis was someone who can be rehabilitated. Pointing to the man’s long rap sheet,

WOMAN ROBBED OF CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS OUTSIDE HER HOUSE A WOMAN was robbed of a basket of Christmas ornaments by an armed man on Monday night.

According to police, around 11pm the woman was outside her residence on Ivanhoe Road, off Mackey Street, collecting a basket of handmade ornaments from her vehicle. As the woman was walking inside

the house, the gunman approached her. Police said upon seeing this man, the woman dropped the basket and screamed, alerting her boyfriend who opened the door of the house allowing her to run inside.

The suspect then picked up the basket and fled on foot, police said.

Authorities are also

investigating a shooting incident that has left one man in hospital.

Police said shortly after 11pm a man was brought to Princess Margaret Hospital in a private vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim was then rushed to operating theatre and is listed in critical but stable condition.

Mr Allen noted the existence of a certain “level of recidivism”.

Justice Turner acceded to the Crown’s request, and sentenced Minnis to 12 years on each conviction to run concurrently with any

sentence he is currently serving, to take effect from December 10 of this year.

However, Justice Turner said if Minnis behaves himself and complies with the prison’s rules, he may be eligible for a decrease

in his sentence. Nonetheless, Justice Turner said to Minnis: “You’re 40 now.

You’re not a young man.

Quite frankly, Mr Minnis, you are too old to be robbing food stores with firearms.”

PAGE 8, Wednesday, December 18, 2019

T

HERE is, quite possibly, nothing more blissful than living alone. Everything is where you left it, you have the quiet time you need when you get in from a long day, the bed is all yours, and no one is making your bills even higher. Most of us are willing to admit these are simple pleasures we enjoy or miss having.

Living alone is a delight many people have never known, going from their parents’ homes to dorms, to shared apartments. To live alone is to foot the bill, entirely alone, and this is not feasible for everyone. Many couples cohabitate because is it more financially comfortable than living separately and seems to make more sense than paying two sets of bills. This is, of course, not the only reason; some want to be in one another’s company as much as possible, and some believe cohabitation is a natural step in romantic relationships.

Last year, I read “Why I’d Rather Live Alone” – an excerpt from Samantha Irby’s book of essays - “Meaty”. In five paragraphs, she uses humour and logic to explain her desire to live alone, even if

THE TRIBUNE

Honestly, it’s no sin choosing to live alone The

Alicia Wallace column she has a partner she loves and enjoys being around.

The opening line plainly states she and her partner would ideally have “separate apartments in the same building”. She mentions other options that progressively increase the distance between the two residences.

There is something about having enough proximity to make spontaneous quality time feasible, but not enough to consistently get in each other’s way that is both comforting and comfortable.

In Nassau, no one is very far away, but some people joke about “long distance relationships” when one

TONI-Ann Singh from Jamaica is crowned Miss World

person lives in Fox Hill and the other lives in Cable Beach. The exact distance we want – or are willing to tolerate – probably depends on traffic and the price of gas among other factors.

Samantha wrote what most people do not want to admit to themselves, much less say aloud. She does not want to share everything.

Some things are just hers, and if she has to put a name label on her leftovers, so be it. She also points out that by living together, what used to be magic easily becomes mundane, or even annoying. In her words, “my funny runs out; my cute runs out”.

At some point, at home, we are a different version of ourselves. What we give to the world – even family members, friends and partners – is not always 100 percent authentic. There are times when we feel the need to try to be nicer, more upbeat, or whatever we think the situation warrants and the people around us need or expect. Home is the place to exhale and just be. Can you do that with a partner sharing the space?

Can you do that without them getting upset about it, or imagining it is some kind of personal attack?

In 2016, Whoopi Goldberg said she does not plan to marry because she does not want anyone in her house. The topic has come up again with an article in Toronto’s Globe and Mail about older women choosing not to live with their partners, particularly after experiencing marriage and cohabitation. More people are choosing “living apart

together” which is about having separate residences while in a relationship. In Canada, the proportion of people over 65 living alone after divorce or being widowed tripled from 1981 to 2016. Seventy-two percent of women over 65 reported they are satisfied with solo living. The Globe and Mail article highlighted the extra, unpaid, often unnoticed work women do when living with men.

One woman said she spends three nights at her own house and the rest of the week at her partner’s.

Another woman said she has already experienced living with a man and has no desire to do it again.

She is happy to spend time together when mutually desired, and that is it.

There are many things to discuss when considering a relationship with someone else. Do you want to get married? Do you want to have children? Do you want to adopt? Do you

want to own a home? Do you want to share your living space with anyone else?

We often assume that everyone wants the same thing, or we are all going through certain experiences to hit prescribed milestones, but that is not the case. As we talk more about different lifestyles and desires and are exposed to options we may have never considered, it is becoming increasingly important to ask questions and see where we are aligned. It is also important we do not lock ourselves into tradition and expectation – like love, marriage and children – before we have the chance to explore other options and find the right fit for ourselves. Who knows? Maybe some of our relationships would thrive if we let go of the idea that we have to live together (and we could actually afford to live separately).

Watching a shift in rigid beauty ideals LAST week, Miss Jamaica won the Miss World pageant. It has been the topic of many conversations all over the world.

Toni-Ann Singh’s win represented a win for many other people. This is the second time Jamaica has held the title. Not only are Jamaican people celebrating, but people throughout the Caribbean see it as a win for the region. Headlines have also noted that Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America and Miss Teen USA are all Black.

It has been particularly satisfying to see Toni-Ann Singh win Miss World at this time when we are having conversations about beauty and blackness. It seems to signal a shift in the often rigid beauty ideals.

The beauty ideals of large machines like international pageants often define Black women outside of them. Eurocentric beauty standards have long ruled the pageant world, even prompting national

pageants to choose women with lighter skin, longer hair or extensions, hair of specific textures and certain body types.

What does this mean for the women and girls watching these pageants, looking up to the winners and watching their journeys? Do pageants have the power to change people’s perspectives about women, beauty and charitable work? It will be interesting to see how national pageants respond to Black women holding five titles, and whether or not they will push the constructed boundaries of beauty.

One of the highlights of the Miss World pageant was Miss Nigeria Nyekachi Douglas’ reaction to the announcement of Miss Jamaica’s win. The video clip has gone viral, many people saying Miss Nigeria is the friend we all want.

Nyekachi jumped, ran around and screamed in complete delight for Miss Jamaica. It was obvious she did not see a loss for

her, but a win for Toni-Ann Singh and the people it would inspire and excite.

The best of friends celebrate each other’s wins, on and off stage. They may compete, but they do not count losses when friends win. When we are overwhelmed by the reward for our labour, have moments of doubt about the value of our work, or feel less inclined to celebrate a victory, the best of friends rally around us and remind us of the work we have put in. They not only encourage us to celebrate our wins and accept rewards, but they help make it possible. Sometimes they take the lead in organizing the festivities. One time may be a celebration dinner, one time may be a floral arrangement, and one time may be running around on a stage and screaming, “Yes, girl, YOU!” We all need this friend. We should all be this friend. In the world this kind of friendship creates, everyone could truly win.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, December 18, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Majority now support Trump impeachment WASHINGTON Associated Press

JOSEPH Seals’ son, Ethan who, wearing his father’s police hat and standing beside his grieving mother Laura, raised his arm in salute as the coffin was carried from the church.

SON SALUTES FALLEN FATHER NEW JERSY Associated Press AS RAIN poured down yesterday, thousands of police officers lined the streets of Jersey City to honour a detective killed last week in what officials are calling a domestic terrorism attack that also left three other civilians dead.

Joseph Seals, a

40-year-old married father of five, was lauded as a model officer who helped get guns off the streets of the city of 270,000 that sits across the Hudson River from New York City. He was shot last Tuesday in a cemetery about a mile from a kosher market by two attackers who went on to kill three more people at a kosher deli before

dying in a shootout with police. Jersey City Director of Public Safety James Shea last week called Seals “the ultimate detective or officer we would point to to tell young officers, ‘This is how you should behave.’” In 2008, he was credited with saving a woman from a sexual assault inside her own home on Christmas Eve.

PRESIDENT Donald Trump is on track to be impeached by the House with the majority now in favour ahead of voting, according to a running tally compiled by The Associated Press.

No Republicans have indicated they will support impeachment, setting up a party line vote carried by Democrats. One by one, centrist Democrats, including many freshman lawmakers who risk reelection in districts where the president is popular, announced this week that they would support the articles of impeachment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is all but certain to have the numbers as debate begins today on the two articles of impeachment that charge Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The first article on abuse of power now has a majority.

Trump is angrily objecting to the impeachment charges, accusing Democrats of “perversion of justice and abuse of power” in their effort to remove him from office.

In a fiery letter Tuesday to Pelosi on the eve of his expected impeachment, Trump maintained that he

PRESIDENT Trump did nothing wrong in seeking foreign investigation of political rivals, and he attacked Democrats for focusing on impeachment rather than other issues.

Trump also repeated his objections to the process of the House inquiry, claiming “more due process was afforded to those accused in the Salem Witch Trials.”

Trump says he doesn’t believe his letter will change anything, but that he is registering his objections “for the purpose of history.”

Meanwhile at the Capitol, House Democrats and Republicans sparred over the rules of debate for today’s historic votes on impeaching Trump, dispatching the lofty rhetoric of constitutional duty for

the rugged politics of the House action and Senate trial that is expected to follow.

The Democratic-majority House Rules Committee met through the day yesterday, with lawmakers arguing over the parameters for today’s debate, which is expected to culminate in votes to make Trump the third president to be impeached in American history.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to be here today, but the actions of the president of the United States make that necessary,” said Chairman Jim McGovern, D-Mass. “The evidence is as clear as it is overwhelming.’’

He said the president “jeopardised our national security. and he undermined our democracy” and added that “every day we let President Trump act like the law doesn’t apply to him, we move a little closer” to rule by dictators.

Republicans disagreed, firmly. The top committee Republican, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, said the split view among Americans over impeachment should be reason enough not to proceed with the rare action. “When half of Americans are telling you what you are doing is wrong, you should listen,” he said.

The force is with it

AUDIENCES rose to their feet giving the latest Star Wars film a standing ovation after the credits rolled in Los Angeles at the ending of the franchise’s third trilogy. Cheers often erupted throughout The Rise of Skywalker on Monday night. After the screening, the film was met with a slew of positive reviews after director JJ Abrams told the audience before the film played he was “mostly terrified” to show the movie.

CHAOS ACROSS FRANCE AS COUNTRY GOES ON STRIKE PARIS Associated Press

FRENCH union activists cut electricity to nearly 100,000 homes or offices.

Eiffel Tower staff walked off the job. Even Paris opera workers joined in yesterday’s nationwide protests across France, singing an aria of anger as workers rallied against the government’s plan to raise the retirement age to 64.

Despite 13 days of crippling train and subway strikes, French President Emmanuel Macron and his government stayed firm. The prime minister declared his “total” determination to reshape a pension system that unions celebrate as a model for the rest of the world but that he calls unfair and destined to collapse into debt.

Lighting red flares and marching beneath a blanket of multi-colored union flags, thousands of workers snaked through French cities from Brittany on the Atlantic to the Pyrenees in the south.

PROTESTERS march in Lille, northern France Hospital workers in Workers from the scrubs, Air France staff in hard-left CGT union yesuniforms, lawyers wearing terday carried out what long black robes — people they called “targeted” from across the French blackouts on electricity workforce joined in the networks around Lyon and strikes and protests in Bordeaux to call attention higher numbers than the to their grievances, and last cross-sector walkout their power. last week.

Several European The retirement reform countries have raised the that has brought them retirement age or cut pentogether is just one of sions in recent years to their many gripes against keep up with lengthening Macron, a business-friendly life expectancy and slowing centrist they fear is disman- economic growth. Macron tling France’s costly but argues that France needs to oft-envied welfare state. do the same.

THE TRIBUNE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net SANTA’S Wonderland Christmas party kicked off on Monday evening, bringing holiday cheer to the Grand Bahama community still healing and trying recover from Dorian.

The four-day free family event is spearheaded by Bass Pro and Convoy of Hope, which has been partnering for the past 20 years in responding to disasters all over the world. The YMCA play field has been transformed into Christmas village abuzz with excitement of carnival-type rides, mega slides, and bouncing inflatable slides, lots of games, toys and food.

Santa Claus also made his grand entrance in a monster truck. The event climaxed

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, PAGE 11

FOUR-DAY CHRISTMAS PARTY GETS IN SWING with a Junkanoo rush-out and fireworks display. No one left empty-handed— each child received a Christmas present, and the adults were given a package of grocery items.

In order to pull off this big event, some 250 volunteers both locally and abroad came onboard to help. During the opening ceremony, event organiser Johnny Morris, of Bass Pro Shops in the US, thanked all the volunteers, sponsors and organisations and individuals that have contributed to the making the event a success. Additionally, Mr Morris made cheque presentations totalling $150,000 to the cause of three local organisations.

PHOTOS: Vandyke Hepburn

A $50,000 cheque was presented to Karen Pinder-Johnson, executive director at the YMCA, for roof repairs at the Y; to Pastor Robert Lockhart and his wife, Michelle, to continue their ministry at Calvary Temple Church, and to a young man identified as Justin Lewis, of Bonefish and Tarpon Trust of the Bahamas, a fisheries conservation organisation.