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The Tribune

Volume:117 No.22, DECEMBER 20TH, 2019

Established 1903

Weekend

WEEKEND: AWARD-WINNING PATRICE, A RISING STAR

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

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Weekend

Charged with child abduction - again ALLEGED child abductor De’Edra Michelle Gibson broke down in tears and blamed the “lodge” for “plotting” against after being charged with attempting to steal a seven-year-old boy while on bail ahead of her Supreme Court trial on similar charges.

The 30-year-old was arraigned before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a single count of attempted child stealing yesterday, eight months after she stood before the magistrate

THE government is seeking to have Abaco’s five shanty towns removed as beneficiaries of a standing injunction prohibiting it from eradicating unregulated communities throughout The Bahamas.

The Office of the Attorney General, in a summons filed yesterday, asks Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson to vary her August 4, 2018 order by having Abaco shanty towns and its

faced with charges that she abducted four little boys from various places in New Providence between February and March.

Although she was not required to enter a plea to the charge, Gibson, who was on $20,000 bail for the previous allegations, maintained her innocence, and insisted that she would never compromise her freedom by committing such an act. She further insisted that she does not know what she could have possibly done to “deserve” such allegations being levied against her.

Pages 14 & 15

Behind the music pages 4 & 5

A COMIC’S VIEW

HOW JEFF LLOYD’S SPEAKING SENSE ON MARIJUANA

SEE PAGE EIGHT

EX-TOP COP SUPPORTS STRACHAN A FORMER high-ranking police officer has said he would have also rejected a transfer to the Ministry of Social Services if he were in the same position as Assistant Commissioner of Police Kendal Strachan.

Paul Thompson, former assistant commissioner, told The Tribune yesterday something different like a consultancy should have been created for an officer of Mr Strachan’s calibre.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

DOCTORS WILL ALL RECEIVE $1,400 - SANDS

SEE PAGE FIVE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

residents “excluded” as applicants in the matter.

The basis for the application for a variation, the government asserts, is that the “very basis” of the injunction has fallen away, as Hurricane Dorian virtually destroyed all of Abaco’s shanty towns.

According to the summons, there was “nearly 100 per cent” destruction” of houses in the Mudd, Pigeon Peas, Sand Banks, Farm Road and Leisure Lee shanty town communities.

SEE PAGE FIVE

A CAKE FILLED WITH LOVE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

‘EXCLUDE ABACO SHANTY TOWNS FROM INJUNCTION’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

Friday, December 20, 2019

Patrice Murrell’s star on the rise

Woman accused of trying to grab boy while on bail

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

events food puzzles histor y

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands said all doctors, including interns and those on contract, will receive a $1,400 lump sum payment as promised to workers in the public service.

Junior doctors became concerned after the Public Hospitals Authority, in a letter signed by PHA Deputy Managing Director Lyrone Burrows, said only DE’Edra Michelle Gibson outside court yesterday

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

SEE PAGE SEVEN

SALVATION ARMY DONATIONS DOWN 10%

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Salvation Army have experienced a ten percent decrease in donations this Christmas season.

Divisional Commander Major Clarence Ingram explained to The Tribune this week that the decrease in the charity’s Christmas kettle campaign was due to “so much demand for the donation dollar” after Hurricane Dorian. “People have been giving and giving and

MAJOR Clarence Ingram giving since the 1st of September,” Mr Ingram said.

“You know it’s a challenge.

There’s only so much to give that people can give, right?

So I think at this particular time you know people are very much stretched financially and they’re doing the best they can.”

Money collected from the campaign provides funding for programmes and events throughout the year which includes providing food for families and individuals and toiletries for the elderly and institutionalised.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

DIANE PHILLIPS

WHY THE BAHAMAS OWES RICHARD COULSON SO MUCH

SEE PAGE NINE

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 20, 2019, PAGE 3

SALVATION ARMY SAYS DONATIONS ARE DOWN 10% from page one

Mr Ingram said the charity is doing “10 times as much” compared to last year. Since Hurricane Dorian made landfall, the Salvation Army has received locally and internationally 2,000 pallets of materials worth an estimated

$6 million. The supplies were distributed to the Family Islands and to evacuees in Nassau and now the organisation is completely out of those donated goods.

He added: “We have been so busy during Hurricane Dorian.

We have been initially, of course, providing food, water, clothing—those types of things and

then as the effort has moved from response to recovery we have extended that to provide the other necessities and to help people start to get back on their feet a little bit and get their homes back in order a little bit.

“I really don’t have a number on what we’ve received financially for the Hurricane Dorian efforts

right available to me but you know it has been a very significant amount which we’ve largely had to put into transportation and purchasing food and to get all of the materials we’ve received out to the people.

“So when you’re trying to move 2,000 pallets or maybe $6 million worth stuff—you can’t do it for

Getting in tune with Christmas

free and so some of the donations had to go to what we call logistics.

The transportation and storage and all those things.”

The Salvation Army will still be providing food and water to evacuees in the capital into the new year. The public is welcome to donate online at http://salvationarmybahamas.org

THE MINISTRY of Tourism & Aviation’s team performing downtown for Christmas shoppers.

Photos:Kemuel Stubbs/BIS

No surprise in crash report, says missing pilot’s brother

By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net THE brother of Byron Ferguson said the findings of an Air Accident Investigation Department into the pilot’s crash did not surprise the family, but stressed those responsible for “shortcomings” in the rescue efforts must be held accountable.

The report into the November 8, 2018 crash concluded that the 34-year old pilot could have survived up to five days under the most optimistic scenario.

The Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) also 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 report also revealed 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.

His brother, attorney Bjorn Ferguson told The Tribune: “This report does not come as a surprise to us. We were saying this from the beginning. This is not new; we know that more could have been

CORPSE FOUND

HUMAN remains were found in bushes on Paradise Island on Wednesday, police said. Shortly before 4pm, a corpse was discovered at Light House Beach, Paradise Island. Details were scant up to press time, however police said there will be an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

done in the search and rescue of my brother. It doesn’t bring him back.

Ultimately things need to change so that no one else experiences what we experienced, that’s our ultimate goal at this time.”

The Bahamas is a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN agency which provides international standards for aviation disasters. Mr Ferguson was adamant that had the necessary government agencies followed the benchmarks, his brother’s life may have been saved.

He believes the country cannot expect to grow in aviation unless it pays attention to basic standards of the industry.

“I am fully aware, I know the regulations and the treaty provisions and what it calls for in those incidents.

That’s why when I saw things being played out from the onset that was the criticism we raised. Everything is provided for by ICAO, as a signatory country they basically provide you with the blueprint. Just follow what the people say that’s all,” Mr Ferguson said.

He added: “We need an independent search and rescue agency to address those sorts of issues. We can’t be talking about controlling our airspace and having an aviation registry

if we don’t plan to do the fundamentals. We have to put the fundamental things in place in order to be a sensible participant in the global industry of aviation; to have standards on a global level. It’s just outlandish goals with signing and talking if we cannot do the basics in aviation, just the fundamental things otherwise people will continue to suffer.”

There are 12 annexes relating to search and rescue under ICAO which AAID Chief Investigator Delvin Major said the country is required to comply with but has not placed emphasis on. Currently, the government has hired an American consultancy group to improve compliance with these international standards.

Meanwhile, Mr Ferguson says his brother continues to be deeply missed during this festive season. He said his family used to look forward to this time of year as all the siblings and family members were able to come together.

“He (Byron) worked out of the country, so Christmas used to be a time when we looked forward to having him here with us and we would all go to our parents’ house. But we have to find a new way to celebrate. I mean really Christmas this year, it’s really nothing to

celebrate for us, we miss him. Right now it’s just painful, it brings back so much painful memories that he’s not here.”

While an application for judicial review has been filed into the handling of the search and research efforts for Byron Ferguson, his brother emphasised that this needs to be a wake up call for the industry and

PILOT Byron Ferguson

that those responsible for the shortfalls should pay the penalty.

Mr Ferguson said: “In the legal sense, the person or persons responsible must be punished for their shortcomings and a precedent must be set in the aviation industry in relation to the conduct and how things should go. We want a precedent to be established.”

PAGE 4, Friday, December 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Time for change - and a change for good THE end of the year is coming – and with it, the end of an era.

Single-use plastics are to be banned from the start of next year, but it seems clear that some retailers – and likely a number of consumers – are not ready for the change yet.

Among those not prepared yet is Centreville Food Store – whose owner back in April was asking “What can we do? We don’t have anything else for the people to put their groceries in”, and today is still saying he hasn’t made any kind of preparations because “so many other things have been on my mind”.

We hoped back in April that the government would reach out to the likes of Centreville Food Store with information about how they could make the transition – and we would reiterate that now.

Time is short to make the change, and it’s going to be the law of the land, so the change will have to be made.

We would on the other hand applaud those businesses who have made their preparations – the likes of the Village

Grocery Store which is looking forward to a smooth transition, or Variety Disposal Products, whose purchasing manager said they are already prepared.

With grocery stores using around 26 million plastic bags a year, this change will stop clogging up our waste sites, and stop bags floating through our seas to do harm to marine life.

We recognise the difficulty that it can bring for some businesses – but fair is fair, if some businesses have gone out of their way to make sure they are prepared, so should others.

Customers too should be prepared for a change to their routines. Carry your reusable bag to the store. Find suitable reusable containers for carrying food, rather than a throwaway Styrofoam box.

And don’t gripe if you aren’t prepared and have to pay a little extra for a bag if you didn’t bring one.

The goal of this is to improve our environment – and a quarter here or there is a small price to pay to benefit us all.

Be ready – the change is coming.

Don’t welcome hate “THERE is no need for the level of vitriol or prejudice that some may be putting (out there),” said Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest last month.

He was speaking after members of a group called Operation Sovereign Bahamas gathered outside Kendal GL Isaacs Gym to shout “Haitians go home” at the hurricane victims inside the shelter.

Mr Turnquest was right – and the vile actions of these protestors who decided to shout at those who had their homes destroyed by Hurricane Dorian, whether they were Haitians, Bahamians or from elsewhere, resonated internationally. Their protest was reported in the Associated Press, and on the Conversation website, among other places.

Not content with yelling at hurricane victims, Operation Sovereign Bahamas took to marching in front of the Haitian embassy last week. Leader Adrian Francis said not enough was being done to address immigration, and said “We have to punch the nation where it hurts the most”.

So it is with some surprise that we note that while the Deputy Prime

Minister says there is no place for such vitriol or prejudice, the Immigration Minister opens the door to the group for what they described as a “very cordial meeting”.

According to Mr Francis, Elsworth Johnson “basically agreed on everything except the urgency in moving forward”.

Of course, we are only hearing one side of that meeting right now – so we urge Mr Johnson to give his own view of matters. Does he “basically agree” with the people who yell abuse at storm refugees? Does he reject the view of his own deputy leader?

Normalising this kind of behaviour encourages xenophobia, it encourages hatred – and we have already seen how it can affect the country’s reputation internationally.

At the moment, Mr Francis is being allowed to say what he wants about this meeting without contradiction – we should hear the other side.

After all, if the government is rejecting hate publicly but welcoming it in through the back door, what does that tell us about our nation?

Sorry, but no, Mr Lloyd EDITOR, The Tribune CONGRATS Minister of Education on developing courses to teach the youngest and up all about alcohol - drugs etc…unfortunately the parents-guardians can’t as a high percentage use on a regular basis.

Sorry, Minister, because someone breaks the Law possession of marijuana is breaking the Law I make no excuses you broke the Law and you should be punished couldn’t care less AFTER a report was tabled in the House of Assembly recommending judges receive an overall increase of six percent in their current salaries, readers responded on tribune242.com.

Mandela said: “WOW, and 75% of the working class which falls under the minimum wage is forced to live on $10,800 per annum.”

That prompted this response from Joeblow: “. . . an education significantly improves employment opportunities! This

you prejudicing the rest of your life or going to the US – you broke the Law. Even if The Bahamas decriminalises marijuana and the possession of small amounts as the sun rose this morning in the east when you apply to the US Embassy for a Visa you will be asked a simple question….Have you ever used narcotic drugs? Have you ever been arrested and charged for possession of drugs? You lie brother you will prejudice you ever

country does not have enough good judges and far too many gas pump attendants!”

And this comment from Sheeprunner12: “Minimum wage is for entry-level workers . . . if any worker is on a job for FIVE years and still making ‘minimum wage’ he/she must examine him/

trying to get a Visa. The US has access to the Bahamas Criminal Records that is how you can travel on a Police Certificate if you didn’t know…the eve when any liberalisation of possessing of drugs, etc, or a past criminal record the US will have your record.

No, Minister Lloyd, surprised you seem to have become a liberal!

W THOMPSON Nassau December 19, 2019 herself. An employer is not obligated to give a wage increase without some ‘value-added’ service being provided by the employee.

Too many unskilled employees are either complacent or unmotivated to improve their ‘value’ in order to DEMAND a wage increase from employers. Also, many employees are afraid to move on from a ‘sure job’ and take risks to find a better option due to family or parental commitments that consume their stable (but low) income.”

We need to be given a fairer view EDITOR, The Tribune THE editorial of The Nassau Guardian of December 18, 2019, has reaffirmed my belief that the editors of the newspaper have hijacked the operation to turn it into an opposition vehicle to remove Dr. Hubert Minnis as Prime Minister.

The only question is: have the editors gone rogue or is this biased approach with the blessing of The Nassau Guardian’s owners?

The editorial in question was filled with upset that the governing party won the recent confidence vote in the House of Assembly.

It went on to list a series of issues facing the Government. It referred to the two corruption cases in which the PLPs in question were found not guilty.

It talked about high crime in the country. It talked about tension with labour unions. It talked about the VAT increase and impending BPL fee to pay for past debt and future investment.

Then it went to Hurricane Dorian and said not enough is being done, according to people in the disaster zone.

The editorial read like a post from the PLP on Facebook. It listed out-ofcontext criticisms, offering no positives of the Government’s performance. If you read the editorial you’d think the Government has not done one good thing in more than two years.

The editorial also reads as if possibly inspired by a disgruntled former FNM senior individual upset that he is no longer the big dog in the party or the country and incapable of reconciling himself to his new status.

A balanced paper trying to be objective would have listed accomplishments and failures. A balanced paper would have commended the Government for the things it did well in addition to criticising the Government for what it did wrong.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Here are a few facts I add to The Nassau Guardian’s editorial – which was filled with biased talking points – to present a more accurate picture of the Government’s performance.

Last year under the Minnis Administration there was the lowest murder count in a decade in The Bahamas. It was also the first time in a decade that murders were under 100. Overall crime also fell last year.

In all my long years I have never seen a tax increase welcomed anywhere in the world. This issue must be put in context, however.

The Christie Government ran large deficits. The country’s finances were in such bad shape that the Minnis Government had to increase VAT to stabilise the situation. Under the FNM we stopped getting downgraded by the ratings agencies.

Having a sound financial footing has allowed us to borrow to help rebuild after the devastation of Dorian.

If the PLP super-deficits had continued, the creditworthiness of the Bahamas would be zero and borrowing would be very, very difficult.

When it comes to BPL, the Minnis Administration has built the largest single power plant in Bahamian history. Station A is now online.

There was a disaster with power in Nassau this summer. The Government made a plan. It has purchased new generators (with more to come). It is switching to natural gas and building solar in the Family Islands. There is investment in transmission. As is seen with Station A, this is a plan that is in the works – not just talk.

All of this has to be paid

for. The $320 million of old BPL debt has to be paid.

There is no magical way to pay for new equipment. If no one wants to pay then we could keep the same disastrous BPL we have.

Tensions with labour unions come with every Government. What we are experiencing here is nothing close to what they are facing in France at the moment, for example. Our situation is much, much better.

And as for the cases of the two PLPs who were exonerated, two other cases remain before the courts. Where there is a case of malfeasance to be answered, the relevant authorities have a duty to launch a prosecution. It is then up to the courts to do their duty: convict or acquit.

There are other accomplishments.

There has been $8.6 billion in foreign direct investment lined up under the FNM. Unemployment was down except for the effects of Dorian.

There have been consecutive years of economic growth. There is free tertiary, full-time education for all Bahamians at the University of The Bahamas and The Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute.

The Universal Preschool Programme has greatly expanded the number of children getting early education.

The Nassau Guardian should decide if it wants to be a paper of record or the propaganda instrument for certain individuals. It is free to be either.

If it chooses to be the opposition’s communications arm or is unduly influenced by others with certain biases and grievances, it should tell the Bahamian people. That way we would not have expectations of reason or fairness in the paper’s opinions.

ECM Nassau December 19, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 20, 2019, PAGE 5

from page one

‘Exclude Abaco shanty towns from injunction’

Before the hurricane decimated them, they had more than 1,000 homes and an estimated population size of 3,500, according to government reports.

“Accordingly, the very basis for the grant of the injunction has disappeared in relation to these communities,” the summons asserted.

Martin Lundy II, who represents the applicants in the matter, Respect Our Homes Limited (ROHL) and 177 shantytown residents from both New Providence and Abaco, requested an adjournment to give his legal team an opportunity to respond.

Last year, the government announced plans to demolish shantytowns nationwide. Residents in such communities on New Providence were given until August 10 of that year to leave while Abaco shantytown residents were given until July 31 of this year.

On August 4, 2018, Justice Grant-Thompson granted an injunction barring the Minnis administration from moving ahead with its August 10, 2018 eviction deadline for

unregulated New Providence communities.

At the time, she prohibited the government, whether directly or through its agents, appointees or employees from taking possession of, demolishing any building on, or otherwise interfering with the 177 applicants’ and other residents’ and occupiers’ enjoyment of land in shantytowns in New Providence.

Justice Grant-Thompson also ordered government and utility providers to halt any planned service disconnections or evictions in shanty towns pending a judicial review of the Minnis administration’s policy to eradicate those communities.

Justice Grant-Thompson further prohibited any of the 177 applicants or other residents and occupiers of

the land in shantytowns in New Providence from constructing, erecting and/or altering “any further buildings or structures otherwise than in accordance with the relevant laws”.

After Abaco’s shantytowns were demolished

by Dorian, the Ministry of Housing and Environment issued an order prohibiting the construction of residential or commercial buildings in the Mudd, Pigeon Pea, Sand Bank and Farm Road communities.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis later announced that Mr Bethel had been instructed to compulsorily acquire land where those several communities once stood. The government had also started to clean the areas, including bulldozing a few existing structures in Sand

Banks and Treasure Cay after Dr Minnis gave an order to do so.

At the time, Dr Minnis stressed that the government was intent on returning law and order to the country. He further asserted that those unregulated communities needed to be removed because they pose imminent health risks.

However, attorney Fred Smith, QC, said he believes the government is acting outside of the limits of its powers, and, he said, the government’s actions not only go against Justice Grant-Thompson’s injunction, but do not conform to the Acquisition of Lands Act. He further accused Dr Minnis of heeding the cry of the “lynch mob” instead of rising above the fray to demonstrate respect for the

PM Hubert Minnis rule of law and compassion for fellow Christians that have just suffered a terrible disaster.

In a 12-page strongly worded letter, Mr Smith said the law was not a one-way street and should be respected by the government as the same is required by citizens.

“Accordingly the injunction covers all shanty town land in New Providence

as well as such land on Abaco as is occupied by specific applicants who are residents of shanty towns in Abaco,” the letter read.

“We stress that recent events do not change the terms of the injunction, which remains in full force and effect unless and until varied by the court.

“Hurricane Dorian has not magically swept away their rights, as are being determined by this action,” Mr Smith’s letter asserted. “…Nor can the injunction be overridden or side-stepped by the use of other executive powers, which are alarmingly being vocally expressed, in very draconian and terrifying terms, to our clients, by the executive. The use of such powers for that purpose would be improper. The injunction must be obeyed.”

Charged with child abduction - again from page one

“I feel as though, this that they putting on me, I did not do it,” she insisted. “I’m not guilty and I would not jeopardise my freedom…”

Despite her pleas, however, as attempted child stealing is an indictable offence and one that can only be tried in the Supreme Court, she was ordered to be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until the end of February, when a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) will be served.

Prior to being remanded, Gibson, a hair-stylist by profession, had alerted Magistrate McKinney to her other charges, and that she was on bail in relation to those. She then asked if she could be remanded to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) as opposed to going to prison, given her documented mental health issues.

“Is it okay if I go— because I’m a Sandilands patient and I take medication and everything—is it okay that I go to Sandilands? Because I have court January 16 for my other case,” she asked.

However, Magistrate McKinney maintained that she would be remanded to BDCS, and that the best he could do in the circumstances is order that she be seen by a psychiatrist while at the Fox Hill facility. That is, unless she is successful in securing bail a second time from the Supreme Court.

He subsequently adjourned the matter to February 28.

As she was being escorted away by the officers, Gibson, visibly frustrated, tearfully said: “All of this is because of what I do? Because I here?

And like I tell them I feel as though the lodge is plotting on me. So I really don’t know what I did to deserve this, sir.”

In April, Gibson was charged before Magistrate McKinney with abducting three eight-year-old

boys and a three-year-old between February 16 and March 29.

During her initial arraignment, her attorney Howard Thompson Jr told Magistrate McKinney that his client has a history of mental health issues. In fact, he said, just last October, Gibson spent some time in the psychiatric ward of the Brookdale University Hospital in New York.

At the time, Mr Thompson said he had also received legal instructions from Gibson that ranged from “incomprehensible” to “bizarre”.

As a result, Magistrate McKinney remanded the woman to the SRC and adjourned the matter to have a psychiatric report on her mental fitness presented to the court. That psychiatric report revealed she was in fact fit to plead to the charges. She subsequently elected to be tried in the Supreme Court.

At the time, however, Gibson appeared initially not to want her matter to be tried in the Supreme Court, and at the very least, seemed to be opposed to her family having a part in the decision making. She could be overheard telling her attorney that “they don’t have no say”.

Nonetheless, after she told Magistrate McKinney of her selection, and he remanded her to the BDCS to await the service of VBI, in a disgusted voice she remarked: “I hope they happy.”

Gibson was later granted $20,000 bail with two sureties by Justice Gregory Hilton.

As part of her bail conditions, Gibson was ordered to have regular check-ups at the SRC every two months, follow her treatment plan and provide proof of compliance to the court.

She was also ordered to surrender her passport and wear an ankle bracelet. She was also ordered to report to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On July 31, when Gibson was presented with her four

DE’EDRA GIBSON, outside court yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff VBIs, it was revealed that the Crown had upgraded her charges from child abduction to child stealing.

Child abduction carries

a maximum prison term of two years. However, if convicted of child stealing, Gibson would face up to 10 years in prison.

MAN ACCUSED OF MURDER GRANTED BAIL

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 27-YEAR-OLD man charged with gunning another man down two years ago has been granted bail ahead of his trial.

Justice Cheryl GrantThompson granted Edlin

Severe $20,000 with two sureties ahead of his trial over allegations he killed Marco Neely on August 18, 2017.

Severe was further ordered to be outfitted with an electronic monitoring device, and also given a curfew of 8pm to 6am daily.

The judge also ordered that he report to the Central Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday before 6pm. He is also ordered not to interfere with any Crown witnesses in the matter.

Police allege that around 8am on the date in question,

they received a report of a man found dead on Hospital Lane. Responding officers arrived on the scene and found the lifeless body of a man who had been shot.

Attorney Allan Emmanuel represented Severe during Wednesday’s bail application.

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PAGE 6, Friday, December 20, 2019

By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net OPERATION Sovereign Bahamas met with Minister of Immigration Elsworth Johnson to discuss concerns on Wednesday after their protest last Friday in front of the Haitian Embassy.

Leader of the nationalist group, Adrian Francis said the meeting with Mr Johnson went well and that he was open to hearing the concerns they have about illegal immigration and they expressed their view on the government taking a more urgent approach.

“It was a very cordial meeting, it was based on information,” Mr Francis said. “He wanted to know what we were doing, our mandate, our thrust and he also wanted to share with us what the government is doing in immigration.

He’s very concerned about what happening and we basically agreed on everything except the urgency in moving forward with certain immigration issues.

We stressed to him the urgency of the matter, how urgent the situation really is in the country. The critical issues were citizenship

THE TRIBUNE

Activists meet Johnson to voice their concerns over illegal immigration MINISTER Elsworth Johnson and transparency, who is getting citizenship and why, persons who are changing their last name. And so, we are going to keep the pressure on the government of the Bahamas, so he is aware of who we are and what we are doing.”

Operation Sovereign Bahamas has been conducting several protests, the latest one last week Friday outside of the Haitian Embassy where the group demanded Haitian officials cooperate with the government on dealing with their citizens.

They accused Haitian officials of not contributing to their citizens impacted by Hurricane Dorian.

On February 28, 2020, the group will be hosting a regional migration conference under the theme “Understanding Regional Migration – Protecting Borders” at the National Training Agency.

“Haiti has been a burden

to many nations not just the Bahamas. Turks and Caicos for example they are going to have a senior representative here at the conference.

We are bringing in persons from throughout the region in leadership positions from immigration. We’re bringing persons to deal with major issues including economic impact, the cultural impact, the educational impact, the social impact and the impact regional migration is having on sovereign nations. The pressure should not just be put on the Bahamas but on the region to ensure that there is some form of cohesiveness and continuity in

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

300 turkeys add to the festive fun in Grand Bahama

HUNDREDS of families will have a merrier Christmas this year thanks to the Grand Bahama Port Authority, which presented vouchers for the distribution of about 300 turkeys to those in need.

Sarah St George, vice chairman of the GBPA, made presentations to 15 local organisations and charities on Wednesday.

She said that more than ever families on Grand Bahama need support as a result of the devastation the island experienced because of Hurricane Dorian in early September.

“This is a more special Christmas as so many homes here on GB were damaged and destroyed by Hurricane Dorian, the magnitude of which has made it

the region when it comes to sovereignty and migration,” said Mr Francis.

While some may see his group as insensitive, Mr Francis says that successive governments have not seen the urgency of dealing with illegal immigration, causing the crisis to flourish to where it is today. As far as he is concerned, no time will ever be right to address the matter.

“We are not being harsh, in fact we are being very slow. We have been kicking this can down the road for a very long time. We are not being harsh. People are asking, ‘why would you send people back to Haiti, when there is a catastrophe going

very difficult for families to fix their homes in time for family Christmas,” she said.

“Today, more than ever before families rely on the support of our local NGOs, such as (those represented here) who give tirelessly every day, especially on holidays,” said Ms St George.

The GBPA annual turkey drive started a decade ago and has grown over the years from 100 to about 300 turkeys.

Mrs St George thanked the organisations and charities which serves as “the gatekeepers, goodwill, and are central part of the social fabric” of the Grand Bahama community.

She added: “It is our hope it would spread some Christmas cheer to the old and young, and to those who need it most in our community. Christmas is a time for reflection, rebirth, reconciliation, and no one

on right now?’ The reality is I am 53-years-old and from the time I’ve known myself they have always been in crisis.

“So no time is ever right.

We can no longer take pills to heal the headache of Haiti. We did not elect the government of the Bahamas to take care of Haiti and to solve the problems of Haiti, we didn’t do that.

We elected a government to create avenues of opportunity for the Bahamian people. At some point, the Bahamian people have to enjoy their country. This is not about hate, this is about sovereignty.”

Editorial View - Page 4

should feel forgotten during this season of compassion.

“I am hoping that this Christmas we provide some closure to these turbulent months that we’ve all been through, and we can start thinking of this as a new beginning, and indeed the rebirth that came with Jesus Christ.”

Reach Out Ministry was one of the recipients of the donation. The organisation’s founder Dudley Seide said each year, groups like his look forward to the GBPA’s turkey voucher distribution to help them reach families.

“Today is a great day for GB,” he said. “After Dorian we had a hard two to three months, and today the GBPA came through with their turkey distribution, and a lot of families will be grateful that the port authority did not forget us,” he said.

I’m leaving town, says woman who accused PM’s brother of hitting her

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net TIFFANY Dennison said she is leaving the country after making an assault allegation against Cyril “Boxer” Minnis, the brother of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

When contacted yesterday, Ms Dennison said she is fleeing the “racism and misogyny” in The Bahamas.

“It’s a criminal matter and as a litigator, I’ve actually quit doing litigation…

I think our courts in Grand Bahama with one civil judge only for Supreme Court is very congested and

this will take years to go through court,” Ms Dennison said.

“I just don’t have the strength. I want to make it clear it’s not that I don’t believe in my court system, but with only having one civil judge and with Hurricane Dorian you know kind of setting things back.”

She added: “It’s something that is going to be heard in years to come and I won’t even be here. I’ll let karma take its toll. Honestly, I’m tired and Dorian didn’t help. My office hasn’t been reopened and you know they haven’t fixed anything and I’m just, yeah over it. I’m tired and I need a break.”

Ms Dennison said in the new year she’ll be moving to England, a place where she’ll have equal rights.

“I’ve just left it to the police they’ll have to deal with it. I’m quite frankly moving, I’m done. I’m getting out of a country that is this racist and this misogynistic. For 22 years I’ve been home and I’ve been trying to change it, I’m tired.

“I’ve experienced this kind of behaviour — not the physical hitting but the threats, the misogyny and the racism since I’ve been home and now it has gotten to the point where people are taking it out physically on me and I’m just not interested.”

Last week, Ms Dennison accused Mr Minnis of punching her in the face at the Registrar General’s Office in Grand Bahama.

Kevin Mortimer, chief superintendent of police, confirmed at the time that there is an active investigation into this.

Ms Dennison, a lawyer with whom Mr Minnis has had a long-running legal dispute, filed the complaint with police.

She claimed Mr Minnis called her “a white (expletive)”, prompting her to tell him to “shut the (expletive) up” and “sit the (expletive) down”. Afterwards, she was allegedly struck on her jaw.

CYRIL ‘Boxer’ Minnis and, right, Tiffany Dennison at the time of the alleged incident Two alleged witnesses corroborated her claims to The Tribune, saying many people witnessed the incident. However, when contacted last week, Mr Minnis alleged it was Ms

Dennison who assaulted him “with her finger.”

Asked if he punched her, he first said “no comment.”

However, he later said: “If I strike her, and she a big, red woman, wouldn’t she have marks all over her?”

Meanwhile, Ms Dennison said she wants the matter handled properly. #“I would like to see justice done and attended to as it normally would be if any other person was involved and I do hope this is treated appropriately,” she told this newspaper. #For his part, Mr Minnis said police did not arrest him for a reason.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 20, 2019, PAGE 7

SANDS: DOCTORS WILL ALL RECEIVE A $1,400 PAYMENT from page one junior doctors identified as permanent and pensionable would be eligible for the payment. The Bahamas Doctors Union said doctors have not been made permanent and pensionable since 2008, therefore only a quarter would be eligible for the payment under this scenario. from page one “I would not have accepted it,” Mr Thompson said, adding: “Give me another job. Give me something with a bigger name.

Like consultant or adviser on law enforcement to the prisons, something separate, not calling me a chief security officer at a girls (and boys) institution. I felt that was bad.”

The new post would give ACP Strachan a new role of chief security of the Willie Mae Pratt School for Girls and Simpson Penn Centre for Boys. However he has refused to report to his new post.

As of Wednesday, some of Mr Strachan’s privileges were revoked due to him resisting the transfer. His lawyer Wayne Munroe said his radio and his profile on Lotus Note - a police service network - have been disabled and his access card to police headquarters has been deactivated.

ACP Strachan is one of eight senior police officers who were directed to take vacation leave in March.

The Minnis administration has said this action was part of its mandate to not have members of the civil service and law enforcement accumulate large amounts of unused vacation time ahead of retirement. Upon his return from vacation, ACP Strachan was advised of his new role.

However, Mr Thompson said the situation is the consequence of a large-scale

Dr Sands said the letter was an instance of misinterpretation and miscommunication by the PHA. “The letter has been rescinded,” he said. “I have given assurances that all will get their money and the BDU received an apology for the miscommunication.

There was never any intention to not pay them but there was an error in interpretation that led to the

letter being put out and it has since been clarified and a new letter will be issued.”

Mr Burrows’ letter indicated there was a delay in confirmation of the lump sum payment.

Dr Sands explained: “When money first came from (Ministry of) Finance, doctors and nurses were not included. The prime minister explicitly said doctors and nurses will get $1,400

NATIONAL Insurance Board workers will have a new industrial agreement by the end of this month, according to Union of Public Officers president Ghion Roach.

After several protests this year, the UPO president revealed this week that the union and NIB management went back to the table and hashed out all the outstanding issues, in particular a standoff over promotions.

“There were no changes as far as the salaries went,” he said. “There were a couple (of) clauses that were related to promotions that the union and the management were able to come to an agreement on and outside of that we were good.

“The issue with promotion (was) there were some promotions that were based on tenure combined with performance and I think the point of contention was management felt the requirements were a little too low but like I said we sat down, we worked through it, and we came to an agreement on it.

“Your promotion is based on your performance and I think it was ….. above standard or something similar to that.

pay owed to them over the past decade but returned to work when the government secured an injunction against their action.

More recently, the BDU raised concerns about the job future of more than a dozen doctors who have acted as senior house operators but were not promoted to the substantive roles. Dr Sands has since assured them that

no doctor will be fired. A statement from the Cabinet Office yesterday said: “Lump sum payments will be paid as scheduled in December to all public servants, PHA staff, doctors, nurses, teachers, members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Bahamas customs, immigration and correctional officers.”

Former top cop backs Strachan

promotion exercise under the former Christie administration.

In 2017, 10 chief superintendents, including Mr Strachan were promoted to assistant commissioners. At the time, then Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dean was promoted to senior assistant commissioner.

“I think this situation is the result of the huge promotion that was made,” Mr Thompson added. “See the force always had a limit to the number of people in the ranks and as far as I can remember they called it establishment and strength.

“There is a board that has the commissioner, one the deputy commissioner (and) at one point it was one and then two, assistant commissioners I think it was just five.

“But then suddenly before the PLP administration was voted out, we had that last promotion where there were so many

ABOVE: Paul Thompson and, top right, Kendal Strachan superintendents and so many assistant commissioners. It went beyond that number, way beyond and that caused a problem because they were overweight with people in those higher ranks and also it put a strain on the police budget because you were paying higher salaries to a number of persons now.

Union says NIB will have deal by end of month

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

but the payroll went out and it didn’t include that for them so on (Wednesday) we would’ve made a correction so I was shocked when I saw the letter circulating because we had spent hours (on Wednesday) rectifying the matter.”

The relationship between junior doctors and the PHA has been difficult this year.

In August, doctors went on strike because of holiday

“This was offered to the (union) members before we went back into negotiations….they were fine.

They didn’t have any contention amongst the body at all.”

The union and NIB have been at odds for several months over stalled negotiations for the outstanding agreement, which expired last December.

Currently, the union is waiting for the go ahead from NIB and Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle.

Mr Roach said he did get in contact with Mr Rolle three days ago but only briefly by phone.

Prior to the phone call, Mr Roach said he was unable to get in contact with Mr Rolle since the two last met on November 8 to try and meet the November 30 deadline set by the minister to discuss the outstanding industrial agreement. Yet, with the deadline fast approaching and no resolution, the union decided to protest towards the end of November.

Mr Rolle told reporters earlier this month the protests were politically motivated and would not ensure an agreement.

He said previously: “We negotiate in good faith, gave them a commitment, they did (not live up) to their part of the deal now

it’s back to me. I don’t know how that’s possible in the Bahamian context. They protested three days before so if we had a deal for a certain date and a certain time and you go out and protest then that means you have another motive and I can’t measure your motives and I suspect those motives can’t be professional, must be something other than professional.”

Nonetheless, Mr Roach has moved on from the situation.

He said: “I had not been in communication with (the) minister for quite some time prior to that and it was just at the boiling point.

“I don’t really know. I don’t know. I can’t say how he would feel. If it were me, it would cause me to get to the table faster.

“All of this stuff is kind of in the rear view. I understand a lot of the comments he would have made and why he would have made them but you know we’ve moved past it and both parties kind of turned it down a little bit. We sat down and we worked through it.

Like I said we went back to the table and we got the agreement worked through and you know it’s just all of those official things we need to get done now, but we’re done.”

BAD WEATHER NOW BLAMED FOR BLACKOUTS BAD weather conditions caused technical difficulties that took power out in several communities yesterday. The areas included Gamble Heights, Nassau Village, the Grove, South Beach Estates, Carmichael West, Ferguson Estates and Collins Avenue, according to Bahamas Power and Light.

Lines were also knocked down in Pinewood

Gardens and Kemp Road while a pole was down in Adelaide. BPL recently brought online its seven, 132 megawatt, $95 million Wartsila 50DF tri-fuel engines. It came after the power company faced one of its most brutal summers in memory, with its loadshedding programme frequently knocking out customers’ power for hours at a time.

“I was happy for the guys who got the promotion because they got some more money.”

He continued: “The then government should have been told by the police commissioner, ‘we only have an establishment of so many and we shouldn’t go beyond that.’ Maybe they could have given an

increase in salary without doing the promotion.”

Mr Thompson said there also needs to be a shift in culture among the top ranks in the force that prepares them for retirement at the appropriate time.

“Now I always believed that when you reach the age of retirement you should retire. That was my feeling to make way for the people below you so they have this thing moving. A young fellow would know that at some point he will be moving into the higher rank. I know that in training in the UK they tell you

about preparing for retirement. That’s one of the subjects they talk about.

“When I finished my 30 years, I was preparing two years before that for my retirement so when I reached the age for retirement I went straight from the police into a job.”

ACP Strachan is presently on sick leave but by the time he returns to work next week Mr Munroe says he expects to have already initiated legal action on his behalf.

National Security Minister Marvin Dames has said this is a “tough situation”.

“This is a very sensitive one and I’m very mindful of that,” he said Wednesday, “because I know there are varied positions out there and I am always cognisant of the officers involved because I know them personally and their families.”

He said ACP Strachan is exercising his rights, but the government maintains its position.

PAGE 8, Friday, December 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Good to hear Jeff Lloyd speaking such sense about marijuana I MUST admit I was pleasantly surprised to see in a Tribune article, the stance taken by Education Minister Jeff Lloyd, regarding the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana in The Bahamas.

Speaking quite candidly, Lloyd offered these comments on one of the most controversial topics in society today.

“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 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.”

Lloyd goes on: “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.”

Seeing how now, as a nation, we are having consistent dialogue on the subject, and more and more

MPs are taking a public stance on it, we as a nation need to examine some of the other international models in regards to the legalisation and decriminalisation, and Kentucky has an excellent model.

Yes, Kentucky! I know, I know, but don’t let the stereotypes kick in.

If you look at it, it offers many options that could be applicable and beneficial on many levels, to all Bahamians.

THE BLUE GRASS BILL: Kentucky the ‘blue grass’ state, is generally one of the slower states to adopt any new progressive laws, especially cannabis related.

Currently, recreational marijuana remains illegal. So does medicinal

EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd spoke candidly about the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana in The Bahamas.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

marijuana. As a matter of fact, Kentucky is one of the 17 last states to implement any form of a legal medicinal marijuana programme.

This week, that all may have changed. Lawmakers in the state pre-filed a new marijuana related bill.

If the bill passes into law, it would bring sweeping changes to the state’s currently very restrictive, antiquated marijuana laws.

THE KENTUCKY PROPOSAL: The potential new bill was pre-filed by Representative Cluster Howard.

His proposal would make a number of big changes to Kentucky’s marijuana laws.

It will be legal for adults 21 and older to purchase, possess, and consume marijuana.

The bill would

decriminalise the possession of less than one ounce of cannabis.

Similarly, the proposed bill would establish a framework for regulating and taxing recreational retail sales.

Howard’s proposal would put the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in charge of administering legal weed.

Specifically, their Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, (or our Business Licensing Board) would issue four types of licences. These include cultivator licences, processing licences, lab testing licences, and retail licences.

Also local businesses would have to renew their licences every year.

Each county in the state will be allowed to have up to two legal retailers.

Larger counties can have more than two retailers, but

no more than one retailer per every 2,300 residents.

Legal retailers in Kentucky will only be allowed to sell cannabis and cannabis products.

Under Howard’s bill, tax revenues would fund public retirement funds.

Specifically, reports indicate that his plan will allocate 75 percent of weed taxes to the Kentucky Employees Retirement System.

Meanwhile, the remaining 25 percent would be to the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System.

More importantly, Howard’s bill also takes into account some of the social ills already caused by current prohibition laws.

Specifically, his bill would create a pathway for people convicted of a marijuana misdemeanor to have their records expunged.

Just something to consider, Mr. Prime Minister.

We won’t be ready for plastics ban, says shop owner

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net AS the country braces for the government’s upcoming ban on singleuse plastics, some local retailers are saying they have not yet made preparations for the 2020 ban, which will come into effect next month.

In an interview with The Tribune, owner of Centreville Food Store, Horace Miller said his store is still using single-use plastics, adding that the retailer has not made much progress in preparing for the looming plastic-ban deadline.

“I really haven’t made any kind of preparations per se as yet because so many other things have been on my mind. You have a business to run and then to be saddled with this again. Yeah, you’re trying to move in the right direction, but you know it’s a cost factor that (is) involved,” he said.

“It’s hard enough trying to keep your doors open and you know to be saddled with another expense.

Light bills are extraordinarily high and I can’t absorb another (bill) so it’s going to be an added cost to me on top of everything that’s going on.”

Mr Miller said while he has not purchased any bio-degradable alternative

products for the store, he intends to do so soon.

“I’ve been online to locate some that I may have to purchase and let customers buy them from me….it’s not easy because people are accustomed to having the bags at their disposal…but, I guess that’s the way the world is heading so we have to fall in line,” he continued Last year, Environment and Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira announced his ministry’s initiative to ban single-use plastics and Styrofoam in the country by January 1, 2020.

By implementing the ban, The Bahamas will join more than 40 countries around the world including parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Kenya that have already enforced or are in the process of formulating bans on selected plastic and Styrofoam products.

While many stores and businesses in the country have already refrained from using plastic and Styrofoam ahead of the ban, some stores told The Tribune that they are still in the process of preparing for the upcoming deadline.

One of the them is the Village Grocery Store.

Having already purchased eco-friendly products for the food store, the shop’s owner Kim

Smith said she feels the transition will be a smooth one.

“We’re going to get the bio-degradable bags and we’ve already started ordering those in and then we’re going to have our own reusable bags (for) when customers come in if they don’t bring their bags, we’ll have re-usable bags on hand for them to purchase at a minimum price.

(But), we feel as though we’re going to have a pretty smooth transition with that,” she said.

Meanwhile, Candia Rolle, purchasing manager for Variety Disposal Products, added: “I would say we are already prepared.

We started to distribute. . .the reusable bags sometime in September at no cost to customers. Now, we sell those bags. We’ve already stopped bringing in all the foam products and we have the sugar cane and paper as replacements,” she said.

With grocery stores bringing in an estimated 26 million plastic bags a year, the ban is also predicted to help businesses save more money. However, some business owners have expressed fears that the upcoming ban will result in a decline of customers purchasing disposable food packaging items.

Editorial View - Page 4

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 20, 2019, PAGE 9 LEFT: Richard ‘Dick’ Coulson, standing far left, was an integral part of the team that took the little known Abaco Markets public. Others included standing l-r, Greg Cleare, Diane Phillips, Richie Sawyer (now deceased). Seated Franklyn Butler (deceased) and Craig Symonette.

Right: Dick Coulson in his younger, business days

Dick Coulson never had to hold an elected office to be voted one of the most influential men in Bahamian history

T

HERE are men whose lives are remembered because of the high office they held, titles they dined on, money, women or fancy toys they accumulated. Richard ‘Dick’ Coulson’s life mattered not for any of the obvious reasons. Richard Coulson’s life mattered because of what he stood for and what he railed against, a writer and thinker known for his invaluable insight and sage advice that impacted nearly every business and public enterprise in a modern Bahamas. His life mattered to the many people and young start-ups he lent a hand to, quietly and without fanfare, and to those for whom his forensic-worthy analysis and public discourse mapped a way forward. His life mattered to those friends he held close, and to the two daughters and grandchildren who brought such joy to his life.

Lawyer, banker, financial adviser, author, columnist, world traveller, poet, competitive sailor, husband, father, grandfather, romantic, dreamer, Dick never had to hold an elected office to be voted one of the most influential men in Bahamian history. He just was.

Dick died last week after a brief illness. He was 88.

We had lunch only a few weeks before and his e-mails about a topic close to his heart, important for ongoing accountability, inspired him to stay in touch until the last few days. I considered it a privilege to be his friend and, in some ways, confidante, someone to bounce ideas

into marshmallow mush.

Once when Emily was about 12 and named the Student of the Year at St Andrew’s, Dick called her to apologise that he could not make the ceremony because of an unexpected medical appointment. He waxed eloquently about how proud he was of her, told her she inspired him and he loved her, waxing so eloquently, in fact, that he had to hang up quickly lest she hear the break in his voice and hear the tears he was about to shed.

He took the same pride in daughter, Amanda, Director of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, and her husband, Ulrich ‘Uli’ Voges, who was like a son to him. With his older daughter, Diana, he took it upon himself to be the first to introduce her to London night life and with granddaughter, Daisy, he showed the best dance moves an octogenarian could make while seated in a car, listening to rap music on the radio that he insisted she keep on so he could give it a try.

Beyond that, Dick (born in Nassau to a Farrington, adopted by Coulson, a British citizen, thanks to Dick’s glamorous mother who split her life between two husbands, managing to keep both entertained and engaged at different times), Dick was a nation-builder, an Andover and Yale graduate who grew up with

off, review a column for this paper before it ran, think through a sticky issue out loud. I will never know why he trusted my judgment so when he was far savvier than I. In all the decades we have discussed everything from multi-million-dollar deals to poetry, there was only one thing we truly disagreed on, his support for oil exploration. “Forget it,” I implored him, pleading in vain. “I don’t care how much oil is down there.

Let it stay right where it is.

The risk is too great for the reward. Think renewable, 10 years from now no one is going to be searching for more fossil fuels.”

But one thing about Dickie Coulson, he was as stubborn as a rusted bolt.

You couldn’t argue publicly because his hearing challenge would have both of you sounding like hyenas with their tails on fire. So to fight with Dick, you had to do it with the written word, not that you would ever win once he made up his mind about something.

The deal-maker or breaker who probably engineered more IPOs, private placement offerings and partnerships than anyone in Bahamian business history had a softer side that showed itself nowhere more so than when he was around his grandchildren, Emily, 16, and Daisy, 14. He merely had to hear the voices of the two beautiful girls to turn

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CHRISTIE AS HE HUMILIATION FORAFTER 4O YEARS LOSES HIS SEAT

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By RASHAD Reporter told him party would winning the the party has a wonderful repeatedly lead- the Tribune Staff stand the any a better chance rebuild and emedia.net could not he been victori- opportunity to rrolle@tribun of the country per- election had itself,” he said. leadership for for- ership despite their ous in the PLP’sadding that reengineer longer, him.

AS HE called SEE PAGE SIX RASPBERRY Minister Perry sonal affection for was pro- race in January, made a mistake” mer Prime who ICED TEA “the party resign as leader Mr Sears, Mr Christie.

Free NaChristie to Liberal in choosing to lose to the Al- jected Movement’s (FNM) of the Progressive last night, the tional Party (PLP) said he saw fred Sears

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(CDU) while projecting the Baha- must carefully Though most Police aimed at eliminating tive Unit SEE PAGE 11 units counHe added: near the Southeast Prime was spared gang activity in the morning, of mas Friday Hubert Minnis of the Bahamas the number try, reducing Minister Dr of those SEE PAGE TWO and is urging residents be vigilant to islands

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By RASHAD Reporter not a pain “I assured her that the family the yard, struggle with spotlight yet again, them was doctor, to will have we see in Tribune Staff ance before called on women said. today (Friday) we to look the national as a medical emedia.net acute. rrolle@tribun come my my years political move,one day this week time her pain remained live a life, medical personnel she’s pregand comforting cried.

“He ain’t even to wear blackfor murder victims.

Dr THE hugs her because sure that Prime Minister wife God,” Mrs Woodsidegive my upon after in mourning I’m calling words of I have to make infant are and his a baby. I could my really nant.

“As a mother, Hubert Minnis couldn’t answer “He’s right now just for because I this,” her and her unborn will also make take all mothers can stop Patricia Minnis that consumed breath be right here. They well and we sure the believe mothers who was tearful both as baby to ts to make body. the questions my yesterday arrangemen Minnis, out who said Mrs medical personnel eight- my heart my only son. They Kendera Woodside have our sons on a too for her son, killed times. “We birth and as they necessary her and see her “This after she grieved of them at my daughter from the safety who was still with look almost shoot (the house) with would’ve delivered most knowing we cradle basis to ensure infant.” year-old Eugene, men we are to me with regular they inside four days ago. people ain’t tell- and What they do to my family? so they are closer patients,” Dr becomeWe have to speakshould of her and her unborn PAGE TWO SEE them. are my former “Why these bringing my son me. they do to us? st by pro- them. I think all women week me? I they we ain’ carry one day this ing me they she cried between What Minnis, a gynaecologi “The message “Why they wear black what’s happening in a baby.” tried to right now?” fession, said. the entire Bahamas 29 years, He’s Dr Minnis and mourn Eugene’s Rose- live screams as must send to this alone.

Tonio Woodside, family at theirEugene wife even is the police can’t fight console the consoled his home where on father, struggled to maintain bud Road a stray bullet as he was shot by did his homework. he Monday as

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the man. As daughter Diana explains, “Daddy passed between two worlds,” the stuffy Wall Street and London lawyer in pin-stripe suit and a culturally rich Bohemian world his late wife preferred filled with parties and poets, writers and a never-ending smorgasbord of art and cocktail of ideas.

His was, as Sunday Today host Willie Geist says every week, a life well-lived.

Please be advised that

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TAKE THE LEAD

Prime Minister rings the bellrace for election

traditions. just a short ROLLE “Earlier today,present ParBy RASHAD Reporter the while ago, Tribune Staff officially disemedia.net liament was Christie said. rrolle@tribun Mr of Perry solved,”seat in the House “Every PRIME Minister the prover- Assembly is now vacant. the to you, Christie rang morning, “It is now left beloved bial bell yesterday that the 2017 citizenry of our who will announcing be held on nation, to decide next election will seats in the 10.

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PLP CASUAL HIRES COST EXTRA $10M

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By NEIL HARTNELL Editor Rolle, minForce’s (CFATF) BRENSIL et Tribune Business services he included that were not The Bahamas ibunemedia.n report on his staff ister of public nhartnell@tr 1,700 workers Gen- that he instructedaddressing and National Insurance, in his original count.

December Progressive THE Attorneyslammed to begin work on June.

Amid the said between 2017, the criticism May flaws from early eral yesterday

by Liberal Party’sadministrablasted the 2016 and in the nation’s the ballooned Mr Bethel deficiencies adminis- public purse laundering of the of the Minnisof its firings anti-money former Christie to tackle $16,532,738 because on’s tion because “entirely unacfailing administrati regime as SEE PAGE SIX they had tration for with the Christie service ceptable”, warning “in great known weaknesses of new public period. hiring during that put The Bahamas necessary urgency.

BUSINESS workers danger”. told Trib- FULL STORY - SEE Carl Bethelhe had been une Business

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monthly, making complex issues easy to digest, was mirrored in the way he lived. Dick drove a small, used car, said the best way to get the news was to read it, and preferred the artists’ community of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico or the quiet of Eleuthera for his routine getaways.

For those he allowed to get close enough like the family he cared for deeply, there was so much more to

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privilege and in his early life as a rising Wall Street lawyer dabbling in sophisticated financial worlds in sophisticated offices and glamorous parlours from London to Saudi Arabia, he was never a snob, but remained a Bahamian who abhorred racism, ageism, egotism and ethnic rebukes with a passion.

The simplicity with which he wrote his Business Bits column in this paper

Merry Christmas & A Prosperous New Year

PAGE 10, Friday, December 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

IMPEACHMENT OF A PRESIDENT

Pelosi demands trial info before sending charges WASHINGTON Associated Press HOUSE Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday insisted that before she will send the Republican Senate the articles of impeachment her Democratic chamber approved against President Donald Trump, GOP leaders must provide more detail about how they will handle the expected trial.

“We’d like to see a fair process, but we’ll see what they have and will be ready for whatever it is,” Pelosi said at the Capitol. “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us,” she had said on Wednesday night, just after the House approved the two charges that could evict Trump from office if the Senate agrees.

The parties’ Senate leaders, Mitch McConnell for the Republicans and Chuck Schumer for the Democrats, were meeting yesterday on trial arrangements. The two men have a tense relationship, and McConnell holds a tactical edge if he can keep his 53-member Senate majority united.

Wednesday’s vote, almost entirely along party lines, made the president just the third in US history to be impeached. The House impeached Trump on two charges — abusing his presidential power and obstructing Congress

HOUSE Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on the day after the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump, top right, on two charges, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. and from Democrats didn’t transmit — stemming from his McConnell the charges, “they would pressure on Ukraine to Trump himself.

McConnell said Demo- lose by default,” though announce investigations of his political rival as Trump crats were “too afraid’’ to there is no constitutional send the charges to the requirement to send them withheld US aid.

Pelosi’s unexpected pro- Senate, where Trump would swiftly, or at all.

The trial has been cedural delay in taking the be expected to be acquitted next step — apparently in by the Republican majority. expected to begin in search of leverage in lock- Trump tweeted, “Now the January.

Along with her tough ing in trial arrangements Do Nothing Party want to Pelosi appeared — got a sour response from Do Nothing with the Arti- talk, Senate Majority Leader cles.” He claimed that if the upbeat the day after the impeachment votes. “We’ve been hearing from people all over the country,” she told reporters. “Seems like people have a spring in their step because the president was held accountable for his reckless behavior.”

Pressed about next steps, Pelosi wouldn’t say. Democrats are insisting on more witnesses, testimony and documents than McConnell appears willing to provide before they name the House “managers” who would prosecute Trump in the Senate.

“The next thing will be when we see the

process that is set forth in the Senate,” Pelosi said.

“Then we’ll know the number of managers we may have to go forward and who we would choose.”

The Democratic speaker and the top Senate Democrat, Schumer of New York, met privately at the Capitol after Republican McConnell signalled in the strongest terms yet that his chamber intended to hold a swift trial and acquit the president of both charges.

McConnell denounced the “most unfair” House impeachment and reassured Trump and his supporters that “moments like this are why the United States Senate exists.”

As for what the Senate would do, he said, “It could not be clearer which outcome would serve the stabilizing, institutionpreserving, fever-breaking role for which the United States Senate was created and which outcome would betray it.”

The Kentucky Republican described Trump’s impeachment as “the most rushed, least thorough and most unfair impeachment inquiry in modern history.”

Fighting back using McConnell’s own words, Schumer said the Republican leader was plotting the “most rushed, least thorough and most unfair” impeachment trial in history by declining to agree to call witnesses including former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, who declined to testify before the House.

REPUBLICANS GIVE TRUMP COMPLETE SUPPORT WASHINGTON Associated Press

MAJORITY Leader Mitch McConnell yesterday called on his Republicanled Senate to keep the impeached President Donald Trump in office, as the chamber edged toward a fray that spotlights the GOP’s most unapologetic embrace yet of Trump.

“A political faction in the lower chamber has succumbed to partisan rage,” said McConnell, R-Ky., a day after the Democraticcontrolled House voted to impeach Trump, despite an extraordinary show of fealty by Republicans voting unanimously against the move. He added later: “‘The Senate must put this right. We must rise to the occasion.”

The Senate seems certain to keep Trump in office with overwhelming GOP support in a trial likely to start in January. Coupled with House Republicans’ solidarity, that underscores a remarkable turnaround from four years ago, when many GOP lawmakers wanted nothing to do with the insurgent and inflammatory Trump campaign.

Now, the impeachment battle spotlights how firmly Republicans are tethered to a president whose loyalty from his party’s core conservative voters is matched only by his opponents’ loathing for him.

Trump boasted about GOP unity during the impeachment vote. “You’ve never seen a Republican Party, zero negative votes.

Zero,” he said. “That hasn’t happened almost ever because the Republicans are not necessarily known for that.”

GOP solidarity behind Trump on impeachment contrasts with past battles over Trump priorities, such as his failed effort to repeal former President Barack Obama’s health care law.

Republicans strongly rallied behind him, but there were small but significant numbers of defectors.

FEUD BETWEEN WARREN AND BUTTIGIEG ERUPTS ON STAGE

LOS ANGELES Associated Press

THE long-festering feud between Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg erupted last night in a high-stakes debate that tested the strength of the Democratic Party’s shrinking pool of presidential contenders just six weeks before primary voting begins.

Buttigieg, the 37-yearold mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has emerged as an unlikely presidential power player, gaining ground with a centrist message. Warren, the Massachusetts senator who has become his progressive foil, attacked Buttigieg’s fundraising practices. And Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is competing with Buttigieg for moderate voters, challenged his limited governing experience.

In the most pointed exchange, Warren zeroed in on Buttigieg’s recent

PRESIDENTIAL candidates Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg private meeting with wealthy donors inside a California “wine cave”.

“Billionaires in wine caves should not pick the next president of the United States,” she charged.

Buttigieg, who has surged into the top tier of the Democratic Party’s 2020 primary in part because of his fundraising success, did not back down.

“We need to defeat Donald Trump,” he responded, noting that Trump’s reelection

campaign has already accumulated millions of dollars.

“We shouldn’t try to do it with one hand tied behind our back.”

The confrontation raised concerns about the direction of the race: Democrats are not close to unifying behind a message or messenger. In fact, as the debate revealed, the party is still consumed by a highstakes tug-of-war between feuding factions that must ultimately come together in order to beat Trump.

ROWLING CRITICISED FOR TRANSGENDER COMMENTS

NEW YORK Associated Press

JK ROWLING is facing widespread criticism from the transgender community and other activists after tweeting support for a researcher who lost her job for stating that people cannot change their biological sex.

The researcher, Maya Forstater, had been a visiting fellow at the Centre for Global Development, which in March declined to renew her contract. A London judge this week

upheld her dismissal, finding that her views of sexual identity were “absolutist,” even if they violate someone’s “dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.”

Yesterday, Rowling tweeted a response that said: “Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their

jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill.”

The “Harry Potter” author is otherwise known for her liberal political views and many on Twitter labeled her a TERF (Trans Exclusive Radical Feminist).

Among those criticizing her was the Human Rights Campaign, which tweeted: “Trans women are women.

Trans men are men.

Non-binary people are nonbinary. CC: JK Rowling.”