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VOLUME:115 No.26, DECEMBER 28TH, 2017
OBITS
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Sarkis: I stopped $169m bogus bills By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
SARKIS Izmirlian is claiming Baha Mar’s main contractor would have cost him $169m in “grossly overvalued bids” had he not intervened in its procurement process. Baha Mar’s original developer, in his $2.25 billion damages claim against China Construction America (CCA) and its affiliates, alleged that the Chinese state-owned contractor “misused” and failed to properly control the $4.2 billion development’s tendering system. Mr Izmirlian, and his family’s BML Properties vehicle, are instead claiming that CCA used the project’s Tender Event Schedule (TES) to “improperly” advance its interests by submitting bids on Baha Mar work ‘packages’ that were “far higher” than the project’s budget and market rates. “In light of CCA’s failures, Baha Mar was forced to seek its own savings in
procurement,” Mr Izmirlian alleged. “Baha Mar had to intervene on certain packages as CCA’s initial recommendations or bids were grossly over-valued or proved to be uncompetitive. “If Baha Mar had not acted to protect its interests and those of BML Properties, CCA would have placed orders for works approximately $169m over the amount it should have paid.” CCA, as Baha Mar’s main contractor, was responsible for breaking the multibillion dollar project down into work “packages” that would then be awarded to sub-contractors. This meant CCA was responsible for determining the scope of each “work package”, pricing it, putting it out to tender, and then hiring the best bidder. Mr Izmirlian, though, alleged that the Chinese stateowned contractor sought to retain most of the work for itself so as to maximise profits. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
ROOTS REIGN
THE government will investigate allegations regarding the standard of work at Baha Mar, Works Minister Desmond told The Tribune yesterday, following the resort’s original developer Sarkis Izmirlian’s massive law suit against China Construction America (CCA).
In the $2.25bn damages claim filed in the New York State Supreme Court on Sunday, not only does Mr Izmirlian accuse CCA of conducting “one of the largest construction-based frauds in this hemisphere,” he also claims Baha Mar was used as a “massive training exercise” for young and inexperienced workers among other serious allegations. SEE PAGE FIVE
A MAN was shot dead after two gunmen entered his home in Coconut Grove and opened fire yesterday afternoon, police said. Superintendent Shanta Knowles said the victim was at home at Sixth Street with relatives around 3pm when the two gunmen stormed inside, shot him about the body and fled the scene in a Honda. The man died at the scene. His killing brought the country’s murder count to 123 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. On Tuesday, a man was shot dead at a party at Commonwealth Boulevard in Elizabeth Estates shortly before 1am. Police have identified him as 25-year-old Alex Rahming of Elizabeth Estates. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 919, 911 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328-TIPS.
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A MEMBER of the Roots group in action during the Boxing Day Junkanoo as they marched to victory. The group was yesterday named the overall winner of the event. See pages 2,3,11,12,13 and 14 for more Junkanoo coverage.
PRESS Secretary Anthony Newbold admitted yesterday the Minnis administration has hired people on contracts worth more than $100,000 per year. In July, during his national address, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced that as part of his government’s cost-cutting measures, there would “be no renewal of contracts for emoluments which exceed $100,000 per year.” This, Mr Newbold said in a statement to The Tribune yesterday, does not mean the new administration won’t hire people above such a threshold. SEE PAGE FIVE
AIDAN CARRON - LOVED AND LOST TOO SOON TWO-year-old Aidan Roger Dupuch Carron, son of Mr and Mrs Robert Dupuch Carron, died in Baltimore, Maryland, on Christmas Eve after losing his long battle with cancer. Aidan spent 515 days of his short life battling therapy-related Leukemia which was caused treating the lethal auto-immune disease he acquired from vaccinations given when he was six-months-old. Specialists at Miami Children’s Hospital and John Hopkins Childrens Hospital worked tirelessly with
Aidan and his family to try and beat this highly aggressive Leukemia On his second birthday, November 24, Aidan was discharged as an outpatient but sadly just a month later, at 8.24am on Christmas Eve he finally lost his battle for life. Death came quietly Sunday morning. Aidan’s parents – Robert and Elizabeth – each held his hands, his mother stroking his brow while his grandmother, Tribune publisher Eileen Carron held his feet in her hands, the Gregorian
chant playing quietly in the background. Aidan’s mother Elizabeth said: “Aidan was an amazing child who lit up our lives every day. He was so brave and an inspiration to everyone who came into contact with him through his ordeal. In the end the battle just proved too much. We will forever carry him in our hearts.” The family is still in Baltimore and a funeral date will be announced for later next week. • For the full obituary see today’s Obits section.
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BANNISTER: WE WILL CHECK DEFECTS CLAIM By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
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PAGE 2, Thursday, December 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
THE ROOTS group on its way to victory at Boxing Day’s Junkanoo.
THE TRIBUNE
Roots reign By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ROOTS rushed to its second consecutive Junkanoo parade victory, according to unofficial results released Wednesday, dominating most of the categories in the Boxing Day event with its “Educate Ma Bahamas” theme. The group received 90.15 points, beating One Family (87.80), the Shell Saxons Superstars (86.92), the Valley Boys (83.47) and Genesis (80.05) in the A group category. The Music Makers group was disqualified. Roots fans chanted “two straight” and “Roots coming – move out the way” to celebrate their victory and pledged to repeat the performance in next week’s New Year’s Day event. The unofficial results were released at Arawak Cay last night where a crowd of spectators gathered to hear the news.
“This one is for all the hard-working people in this group,” said Keith Johnson, group leader. “This group did its homework; we executed, we learned from our mistakes. They said we beat ourselves. We made sure (we covered) every base; no cloth, fully pasted, fully fringed, everything they asked for we gave them and this morning belongs to this group.” About the margin of victory, he said: “Our margin was made possible due to the rules of Junkanoo, fringed 75 per cent, we went 100. Everything was immaculate. We lined up on time, we performed and our musicians were awesome. We going for three straight.” He added: “(We won) due to chairman Wendall Francis, the hardest working man in Junkanoo, that fella ain’t easy and I would like to thank Atlantis who been with us from day one to now, through the loss, through the victories, this one is for you.”
Roots has about 450 members, more than 300 of whom participated in Tuesday’s parade, Mr Johnson said. Controversy erupted earlier this year when Roots was upgraded from fourth to first place in the 2017 New Year’s Day Junkanoo Parade event after the Valley Boys had originally been declared the unofficial winner. The error occurred because officials wrongfully deducted more than six penalty points from Roots. Anthon Mortimer, chairman of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence’s (JCNP) Parade Management Team, said organisers were extra careful this time to prevent such a dramatic reversal of results. “Basically, the official results as normally we have to go through a process,” he said. “We will meet the groups tomorrow (Thursday). We will give all the groups our flash drives with all of the different scores
and then they will get back to us, if we put them on a 48-hour clock and they would send any type of protest to myself or to the deputy. If no one sends any penalty or infraction then the scores go official. We took the measures and steps to make sure that this time around we were very, very careful in everything that we did as it relates to the unofficial scores.” Roots won seven of the ten categories, including off the shoulder, best lead costume, best choreograph, best overall performance, best Shirley Street performance, best banner and best overall costume. Genesis won best music while One Family and Saxons won the best free dance and best step-down categories respectively. Genesis received a penalty of three points while the Saxons was penalised 2.5 points. In the B division, Colours won with 77.18 points followed by the Original Congos and Fancy Dancers.
PM MET JUNKANOO LEADERS OVER DELAY By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis met Junkanoo leaders at his office yesterday to express his “pain and disappointment” at their decision to postpone the Boxing Day Parade, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard confirmed yesterday. Mr Pintard, who arranged the sit down, described the mood and tenor of the meeting as “serious” and said Dr Minnis emphasised unless something catastrophic happens, dates for the parade should not be changed. He said Dr Minnis encouraged the leaders to consider whether they want the parade to be for an international audience as opposed to just a national one. The change of the Boxing Day Parade from Monday night to Tuesday evening attracted widespread criticism, even though Tuesday’s event attracted a typical crowd size. While many blamed forecasts from the Department of Meteorology for the postponement of the festival, officials have said Junkanoo leaders agreed to postpone the festival even after it was determined bad weather would not interrupt proceedings. Mr Pintard said despite
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis rushing during Boxing Day Junkanoo. Dr Minnis’ serious message, the tone of the meeting was “cordial” and the parties experienced “some lighthearted moments after the main business was taken care of”. He said once the meeting concluded, leaders of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JNCP) acknowledged “some work has to be done” and they “committed to making sure” the parades are international events. “The prime minister requested a meeting with the Junkanoo leaders which I organised in conjunction with the JCNP,” Mr Pintard said. “The prime minister wanted to express the pain and disappointment he experienced as a result of the decisions taken by the Junkanoo leaders and wanted to pose the question to them as to whether they
have an interest in ensuring that Junkanoo is a national parade or an international parade; in either case the government intends to support them but depending on what they decide they have to appreciate there are certain decisions that must be made to make sure it’s a success either way. “One thing they have to do is ensure that only catastrophic events or exceptional, unusual events could interrupt a date that is designed for the parades. Obviously this would allow careful planning by persons who wish to visit, who apply for vacation, etc. He wanted to reaffirm that the government is committed to Junkanoo. It has been his passion all his life. He was not going to be preoccupied with the sequence of events, how the decision was arrived at, just how it impacted him and the goal was really to get all stakeholders to see that if this is going to be an international expression of our culture, then we have to do some things that would improve the chance of its success. One thing I have mentioned is there has to be predictability in the process.” Mr Pintard also revealed next month the government will host a Junkanoo conclave. He said it will be the largest event of its kind ever held in the country. “In January, there’s
going to be some meetings between the leadership of my ministry, the JCNP and the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC), followed by an in-depth conclave,” he said. “We are going to look at all things Junkanoo, including the number of parades to be held, the possibility of the implementation of a festival structure, the tens of thousands in the stands, a lot of whom would like to be in the streets, and whether Bay Street is the most suitable location to have the parades. One thing we will deal with is the fact that we’ve ceded a tremendous amount of influence and decision making to Junkanoo leaders by way of the JCNP; we have to look at how we execute our relationship with the the NJC and the JCNP and we are going to take a hard look to ensure that while we give tremendous weight to the opinions of Junkanoo leaders, we do not disadvantage all other stakeholders, and that includes members of the public, the corporate and business community such as taxi drivers, hoteliers, etc. We are going to take a hard look at how that is being done.” Mr Pintard said the vast majority of Junkanoo groups, including representatives from A and B groups, were represented during yesterday’s meeting.
confirmed the post was edited to remove the comments referencing dressing appropriately but refused to comment on the post itself. Senior ACP Dean said the RBPF would issue a statement after he spoke with Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson and the RBPF’s lawyers. Last night, police press liaison officer, Superintendent Shanta Knowles said Commissioner Ferguson and the RBPF’s leadership team are aware of the public uproar over the Facebook post. She said the matter was being dealt with internally. Several people shared the RBPF’s post on Facebook before it was edited, criticising the RBPF for promoting “rape culture”. One person said: “While the grammar is an issue, it pales in comparison to the fact that the RBPF just blamed women for men groping and touching them inappropriately. Long story, short men should not be
expected to control themselves but totally gauge their behaviour based on what women choose to wear.” Another wrote: “This is really some silly foolishness. Dress appropriately and take away the chances of being groped. Any suggestions as to what females ought to wear. Ironic how we still feel ‘she asked for it,’ ironic how we sign on to rape and promote this rape culture.” Human rights activist Erin Greene shared a post that changed the words of the original statement to reflect what she claims the post should have said “in the first place”. “Refrain from touching or groping anyone in a manner which is considered inappropriate,” Ms Greene’s post said. “A person’s clothing is definitely not an invitation for harassment. Respect boundaries by seeking their clear consent first. If it is not yes, then it’s no.”
POLICE CRITICISED OVER WARNING ON HOW TO DRESS By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) came under heavy fire yesterday for victim blaming, after warning the public to “dress appropriately” while at Junkanoo to “take away the chance of being groped or touched inappropriately”. In a statement titled “Junkanoo Safety Tips” posted on the RBPF’s Facebook page, which has since been edited to remove the offending suggestion, the RBPF urged members of the public to “leave unnecessary items at home, please dress appropriately and to always be aware of your surroundings.” The post was seen as offensive and was also criticised for its grammatical errors. Under the heading “Please Dress Appropriately,” the statement said: “To avoid unwanted attention, please dress
appropriately. If you are appropriately dress, it takes away the chance of being groped or touch in an inappropriate manner (sic).” The Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Junkanoo Parades have been marred with violence in the past. Many women have also complained about being sexually harassed or groped by men attending the parades. In response, police have ramped up their presence at Junkanoo and even hailed last year’s Boxing Day Parade as “great success” and being relatively incident free. However, police still sent out the warning as thousands of Bahamians and tourists prepared to head to the highly anticipated festival. The post drew criticism from members of the public who demanded the RBPF issue an apology and take the statement down. When contacted, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean
Thursday, December 28, 2017, PAGE 3
A ROOTS group member during the Boxing Day Junkanoo.
PAGE 4, Thursday, December 28, 2017
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As China smothers Xinjiang, even mild critics are silenced BEIJING (AP) — Zhang Haitao was a rare voice in China, a member of the ethnic Han majority who for years had criticized the government on social media for its treatment of the minority Muslim Uighurs. Zhang’s wife had long feared some sort of backlash despite her husband’s relative obscurity. He was a workingclass electronics salesman, unknown even to most Uighur activists. So she worried that authorities might block his social media accounts, or maybe detain him. Instead, he was arrested and prosecuted for subversion and espionage. His punishment: 19 years in prison. “They wanted to make an example of him, to scare anyone who might question what they do in the name of security,” Zhang’s wife, Li Aijie, told The Associated Press earlier this week, one day after she arrived in the United States and asked for political asylum. “Even someone who knows nothing about law would know that his punishment made no sense.” Elsewhere in China, Zhang would have been sentenced to no more than three years, said his lawyer, Li Dunyong, and may not have been prosecuted at all. But Xinjiang, the tense northwestern region where most Uighurs live, has been enveloped in recent years in a vast dragnet of police surveillance, which authorities insist is needed to root out separatism and Islamic extremism. Zhang, who moved to Xinjiang from central Henan province more than a decade ago in search of work, wondered in his social media posts whether these policies were stoking resentment among Uighurs. He warned that China’s restrictions on the Uighurs’ religious practices risked sparking an insurgency. But questioning government policies in Xinjiang has become an untouchable third rail in today’s China. Court records say Zhang was convicted of sending 274 posts from 2010 to 2015 on Twitter and the Chinese social media service WeChat that “resisted, attacked and smeared” the Communist Party and its policies, earning him 15 years in prison for inciting subversion of state power. He was given another five years for talking to foreign reporters and providing photos of the intense police presence in the streets of Xinjiang. That, the court said, amounted to providing intelligence about China’s anti-terror efforts to foreign organisations. The court said it would combine the two punishments and sentence him to 19 years in prison. He was convicted in January 2016. An appeals court in December 2016 refused to hear his petition, noting he had never expressed regret or admitted guilt. Hoping to draw attention to Zhang’s plight, Li provided her husband’s court documents and letters from jail to the AP, as well as her own account. The daughter of a farming family in Henan’s hardscrabble hill country, Li met Zhang in 2011 after stumbling across a personal ad he had arranged to have placed in a local park where singles sought partners. The flier said he sold wireless routers and listed his modest height: 168 centimeters (5-foot6). On their first date, when Zhang was
back home in Henan, he wore a jacket with threadbare cuffs but showed Li his identity card in an awkward attempt to prove he was genuine. That simple directness was something she grew to love, Li said, but it was also Zhang’s downfall. He had been repeatedly warned by police about his social media activity, but he always ignored them. When the authorities finally arrested him in 2015, they told Li he was suspected of inciting ethnic hatred. The charges were raised to subversion and espionage, Li suspects, after he refused to confess. In a letter he wrote to Li and his sister earlier this year, Zhang described how Nelson Mandela, who spent nearly three decades in prison, had become an inspiration. “Life must have greater meaning beyond the material. Our mouths are not just for eating, but also for speaking out,” Zhang wrote. While the severity of Zhang’s sentence stands out, others in the region have been punished for mild criticism. Ma Like, a Muslim hostel owner in the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, was accused in April of “propagating extremism” because he had retweeted two Weibo posts — one about how Chinese policies were alienating Uighurs, the other a veiled reference to restrictions on the Islamic headdress — according to two of Ma’s friends, who provided copies of Ma’s indictment and spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government retaliation. Wang Lixiong, a Han Chinese writer and dissident, said that when it comes to Xinjiang, even calls for dialogue can result in imprisonment. “The government removes the middle road so it leaves two extremes,” Wang said. “You’re either their mortal enemy or their slave.” Zhang was arrested when Li was three months pregnant. She gave birth to their son two years ago, while he was being held in a desert prison. She returned home to Henan to raise him and began blogging and speaking to the overseas media. The authorities tried to silence Li, pounding on her front door as she did a phone interview, for example, and threatening to derail the careers of her two brothers, low-level government workers. Li’s family begged her to divorce Zhang, even give up their child. When words didn’t sway her, in October her siblings and parents beat her, leaving her bruised on the family home’s floor. “I cannot hate them,” Li said. “They were trying to resist enormous pressure. But after that, I had nowhere to go.” A month ago, she sneaked away and made her way to Bangkok. With the help of US aid organisations, she flew to Texas, where a host family had been found for her, and where she hopes to start a new life with her son. When she files her asylum paperwork, she lists the boy’s legal name. But in quiet moments, she calls him by his nickname: Xiao Man De La. “Little Mandela.” By Gerry Shih, Associated Press
Good luck, Baha Mar EDITOR, The Tribune.
I SAW in the newspapers that the Baha Mar sale has finally closed. The new owners are a company from Hong Kong. To be honest, I don’t care where the new owners are from. I care that they are competent
business people and that the investment they have made led to the hiring of 3,500 Bahamians. Baha Mar expects to employ 5,000 Bahamians by the end of next year. We should be excited that someone is hiring. There are not that many jobs being offered in the country
right now. I want Baha Mar to be a big success. The Bahamas does well when businesses in the Bahamas are doing well. Good luck, Baha Mar! It’s a beautiful place. MARTHA S GREENE Nassau
A scandal that won’t go away EDITOR, The Tribune. WE have read many letters and commentaries on the postal service, or, more correctly the lack of it. Here is a letter which was written, unbelievably, back on November 23, 2010... seven years ago! If you check your archives you will be able to verify this fact. The title was “A Scandal that requires explanation”. “Is there a reasonable postal service in The Bahamas? What should we expect for the delivery of mail delivered to the GPO and delivered to a mail box at the GPO? Throughout the summer we heard the gripes of the postal workers with the lack of air-conditioning in the GPO building but the weather is very much cooler so surely Joe Public should be receiving their mail at a reasonable time, but no. Letters mailed: October 29th, received today November 23 - over 25 days to be delivered! November 1st, received today November 23 - over 23 days to be delivered! November 5th, received November 23 - over 19 days to be delivered! November 8th, received November 23 - over 15 days to be delivered! November 10th, received November 23rd - over 12 days to be delivered! November 18th, received November 23rd - o ver five days to be delivered! Editor: The Post Office does not deliver to our residences or offices, God only knows if we would ever receive the mail but surely this is a total disgrace and requires some explanation from Minister X?
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net We are a financial centre – documents have to be sent by mail – bills from the utility corporations are mass mailed and we receive them weeks after the due date to be cut off if you don’t bother to check with BTC-BEC, etc. This is a scandal and unacceptable”. I merely repeat this letter to indicate how problems were already evident at the main post office in 2010. We then read on July 20, 2017 that the Union was still waiting on the deal to relocate the post office. The then National Congress Trade Union Bahamas President, John Pinder, made this amazing statement: “Right now the staff is only working three hours a day, and that isn’t too good because we have to meet and keep up with some international standards as relates to how long it takes for mail to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. Right now, we’re not looking too good, so we are trying our best to get the post office up and running efficiently once again with eight hours of operation’. Wow, what an understatement! Has the international standards commission been made aware of this complete break-down in the delivery of mail? Some while back we saw photos of loads of mail and boxes thrown in a heap which were damaged by water. I asked a lady at a branch office what would actually become of that “damaged” mail. She
replied that it would have to be thrown away! Is this true? Surely the law requires that all attempts should be made to see that any damaged mail is still delivered to the recipient! I once received a damaged letter in England and it was accompanied by an explanatory note saying that the envelope had been received in that state. I think we the public are entitled to an explanation of what becomes of such damaged goods. What is also particularly worrying is the rather nonchalant attitude that postal workers seem to regard OUR mail. In most countries (first world, anyway) it was always considered sacrosanct to ensure mail reached its intended destination. At the rate we are going and considering how many issues date back to 2010, perhaps it would be essential to re-train all postal workers in their duties and obligations to the paying public as soon as a new location is established. Also, who is the Postmaster General, does such an office still exist? I did read that the previous Phil’s Food Services building on Gladstone Road had been selected for the new post office. I seem to recall also that the main building on East Hill street would be imploded. From the sounds of it, the sooner the better. What a great tragedy that it has all come to this state. I can recall when the GPO first opened there were so many interesting historical exhibits held on the ground floor, a great benefit to residents and students alike. Gone with the wind. CATHERINE KNOWLES Nassau
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 28, 2017, PAGE 5
Bannister: we will check defects claim from page one
In the claim, it is also alleged the Chinese contractor earned “tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions” more than it should as a result of uncorrected defects plus inflated and “sham” billings. And the lawsuit also details numerous alleged construction defects that, if not caught, would have compromised the health and safety of thousands of tourists, hotel guests and Baha Mar staff. Asked pointedly about
this aspect of Mr Izmirlian’s suit and whether this was of concern to the Ministry of Works, Mr Bannister said: “Yes and we’ll look at what the allegations are and we’ll look at whatever has to be done and make appropriate decisions. “I will tell you this, when we were last in power we had an independent engineer Mr Reece looking at the issues with respect to work and construction that was done at Baha Mar. “So it was not simply the ministry, it was also independent outside highly experienced engineers and
we anticipate that he would have done his work properly. So in addition to our people, he did his work appropriately. “The government would have expected all professionals who were engaged by us to do their work properly.” Mr Bannister told The Tribune he was not surprised by Mr Izmirlian’s latest move. “I am never surprised. I am in public life now. Nothing that happens ever surprises me anymore. No I am not surprised. It’s just that whenever anything comes up, we look
at whatever it is and we will react and deal with it appropriately.” Meanwhile Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, declined comment, saying this is a private matter between Mr Izmirlian and CCA. It also appeared yesterday the Minnis administration was taking the same position as sources within the Attorney General’s Office said this was not cause for concern from the government’s perspective. Another well-placed source within the AG’s
Office agreed this is a foreign action between civil parties, which does not make any allegations against the government. Just last month, a local tabloid published reports that the resort had been operating on a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) because of alleged structural issues. However, Mr Bannister rejected this speculation, telling The Tribune at the time there was “absolutely” nothing concerning the structure that was a cause for concern. The action, filed in the
name of Mr Izmirlian’s BML Properties vehicle, claims the Chinese stateowned construction firm deliberately concealed its intention to use Baha Mar as “a massive training exercise” that ultimately doomed the project to failure. Besides alleging CCA’s “real intent” was never to complete Baha Mar “on time and on budget”, Mr Izmirlian and BML Properties also claim it falsified and misrepresented reports on the mega resort’s construction progress and the size of its workforce.
PLP CLAIMS IZMIRLIAN IS ‘VINDICTIVE’ WITH DAMAGES CLAIM By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
THE Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) yesterday accused Baha Mar’s original developer Sarkis Izmirlian of being “vindictive” and “seeking revenge to injure the Bahamas” after it was revealed Mr Izmirlian filed a $2.25 billion damages claim against Baha Mar’s main contractor, China Construction America (CCA). In a statement, PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell said the most “egregious insult in the entire filing” was the suggestion the bankruptcy of Mr Izmirlian’s operation was somehow influenced by dealings of the PLP administration, which were “secretive and suspect” because the documents were sealed by the Supreme Court. Mr Mitchell said Mr Izmirlian needs to remember he was “unable to complete the project not once but twice” and he “must take responsibility” for whatever faults are uncovered. Mr Izmirlian launched the damages claim against CCA, accusing it of “one of the largest construction-based frauds in this hemisphere.” The $4.2 billion project’s original developer, in a lawsuit filed in the New York State Supreme Court, alleged CCA and its subsidiaries perpetrated a “massive” scheme of “cover up,” “deceit,” and
“outright sabotage” to both conceal its failures and “extort more money than it earned”. The action, filed in the name of Mr Izmirlian’s BML Properties vehicle, claims that the Chinese state-owned construction firm deliberately concealed its intention to use Baha Mar as “a massive training exercise” that ultimately doomed the project to failure. Besides alleging CCA’s “real intent” was never to complete Baha Mar “on time and on budget, Mr Izmirlian and BML Properties also claim it falsified and misrepresented reports on the mega resort’s construction progress and the size of its workforce. “Recalling that Izmirlian and his group lost the project because of his own acts and omissions and irresponsibility, the filing of the latest legal action in the United States comes off as vindictive and an act of revenge calculated to injure The Bahamas and its reputation and to cast aspersions on the PLP,” Mr Mitchell, former minister of foreign affairs and immigration, said. “When one looks at the words of the documents filed, this seems nothing more than a rehash of the narrative which Mr Izmirlian is determined to tell, although the actual facts bear no reality to his narrative. The most egregious insult in the entire filing was the suggestion that the bankruptcy of his
operation was somehow influenced by dealings by the government then a PLP administration which were ‘secretive and suspect’ because the documents were sealed by the Supreme Court of The Bahamas. “This is outrageous. The FNM parroted this nonsense during the campaign only to have to be shown that it was simply untrue. Why is this back in the public domain in official court documents? Reasonable minds can conclude that it is being done to cause injury to The Bahamas and to this important economic project in The Bahamas.” Mr Mitchell said he believes the filing is an attempt by Mr Izmirlian “to trying to muddy the waters and sully Baha Mar which is now well on the way to success.” “The first developers of Baha Mar must simply be reminded that they were unable to complete the project not once but twice. They failed in their payments to Scotiabank and then failed again in their responsibilities to the China Export Import Bank. The company suffered a fate no worse than any other mortgagees who cannot pay their bills, the bank realised its security and acted to protect its risk by selling the asset on the open market, in this case supervised by the courts. There was nothing secret or suspect about it,” the statement said. “When, if as alleged there were issues with construction, surely those were matters which could
GOVT HIRED STAFF OVER $100K LIMIT from page one “The government is systematically reviewing all the human resources needs, particularly the significant number of consultants hired by the former administration,” Mr Newbold said. “Unless there is a demonstrated need – and the person has the commensurate skill set that underlies their salary – the government is not renewing their contracts. Yes, the government has in exceptional cases hired persons and consultants at that level since taking office. These are in places where there is a clear need and market rate for the talent is simply at a premium level.”
Mr Newbold did not provide requested information on how many people hired on contract by the former Christie administration received emoluments of at least $100,000 and have either since had their contracts terminated or renegotiated. During his July address, Dr Minnis also announced all government ministries would have their expenditure cut by ten percent. “There will be no new public sector hiring at this time,” Dr Minnis said at the time. Mr Newbold did not respond before press time yesterday to whether the government’s hiring freeze has remained in force. “We must get our
financial house in order,” Dr Minnis said during his address months ago. “We must reverse the arc of government deficit and debt… Unlike the former head of government, I will be extraordinarily more vigilant in ensuring that my ministers adhere to their budgets and to financial constraints.” The Central Bank reported in October that the 2017-2018 first quarter deficit was down by almost $19 million compared to the same period last year. “Underlying this development was a $17.1m (3.2 per cent) decrease in total expenditure to $517.7m, together with a $1.7m increase in revenue to $452.2m,” the report noted.
have been spotted and reconciled long before the company got to the point of bankruptcy. The developer must take responsibility for faults uncovered. The first developers should give it a rest and stop defaming The Bahamas. “The PLP administration worked hard to ensure a successful development after the first developer failed to deliver on the project. The rescue of the project was carried out in an open and transparent
fashion and despite all the propaganda, the good results are there today for all to see.” Back in June, Tribune Business reported Mr Izmirlian urged the Minnis administration to impose “a moratorium” on the completion of Baha Mar’s sale and warned he was considering legal action against the Christie administration’s “state sponsored discrimination”. Last month, Attorney General Carl Bethel said
the government received a letter from Mr Izmirlian in response to questions from The Tribune over whether the government would investigate the issuance of a casino licence to CTFE. The letter, said to be dated October 17, and sent to the Office of the Attorney General purportedly called on the Minnis administration to look into the previous government’s April 5, 2017 issuance of the licence, a source told The Tribune.
PAGE 6, Thursday, December 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
A GOVERNMENT delegation during a visit to the site of an abandoned barge in Long Island earlier this year.
Photo: Carlyle Sands/BIS
Status on barge clean-up in Long Island unclear By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE pleas for a resolution by Long Island MP Adrian Gibson earlier this month, government officials have been unable to clearly state the status of operations related to remediation of a wrecked barge that washed ashore in October. This comes as residents on the island continue to express frustration with the status of operations there. One resident, who asked not to be named said: “The message being tossed
around Nassau is that everything was being handled. How can that be when the barge is now in pieces and everything that was on it is still floating around in the channel? “I guess they figured it isn’t a big deal because it’s here and not in Nassau. Meanwhile everything from the light poles to the machines still in the water.” The government has been somewhat tight-lipped on its handling of the matter, with the latest coming from Transport and Local Government Minister Frankie Campbell last week during
his ministry’s recent holiday road safety event. The Southern Shores MP, in response to a question on whether he had communicated with the barge’s operators in recent weeks, said: “No, I haven’t heard any word from the owners of the barge in Long Island, but if I hear anything from them, in addition to the legal message that we’re sending out to them, I’ll remind them of my road safety tips.” Mr Campbell, at that time, did not clarify the extent of clean-up efforts or how the government was being aided by the residents
and local stakeholders. When contacted Tuesday, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Anthony Newbold told The Tribune Mr Campbell’s comment would have to stand as the government’s message as the Cabinet hadn’t authorised an official statement on the matter since then. “At this time, whatever it is that he would have said, that would qualify as the latest from the government as he is the substantive minister with that issue and the latest to speak to it,” Mr Newbold said. Earlier this month, Mr Gibson, in his call for
government intervention, said: “Mr Speaker, in recent weeks, a barge wrecked on the shorelines of Long Island. Among the many other items, the barge carried 37,000 gallons of diesel, almost 200 poles, vehicles, wire, telephone substations and a crane etc. “Today, the barge has broken up along the shoreline. The diesel has spilled into the water. The vehicles and other items are in the water. Poles are floating into shipping lanes and we have still not seen any real effort to remove the barge or to have the debris removed.
“I am calling upon the Minister of Transport (Frankie Campbell) to address this matter as it is a hazard to boaters and the environment and an eyesore,” he contended. The government has suggested the barge’s owner, R R Caribbean Marine Operators of Trinidad, was preparing a salvage team to remove the barge off the shore, and to transport the same for dry dock repairs. Items on the barge were reportedly were earmarked for St Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
SENIOR SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR RESIGNS HER POST By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
GAYNELL Curry has tendered her resignation as the director of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development. Ms Curry advised colleagues her resignation would take effect from March 8, 2018, in an email on Friday. “It has been a pleasure working with you during my tenure,” the email read.
“I am sure that there will be opportunities for us to continue to work together, even beyond my remaining time in post, toward gender equality, women’s empowerment, and a culture of rights, dignity and respect for all in The Bahamas.” Ms Curry formerly served as a gender and women’s rights advisor, and acting chief of global issues for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her resignation was described as a major loss for both the department
and its mission by former Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin, who oversaw the establishment of the department in November last year. Formerly the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, Mrs Griffin lamented the move as a setback given Ms Curry’s qualifications and expressed concerns over the status of the overall ministry. “It’s most unfortunate that the ministry itself is facing some really serious problems,” Mrs Griffin said. “Ms Curry is a young
Bahamian with international experience. We wanted to move the bureau forward, we wanted to improve the extent of the work of the bureau. Ms Griffin continued: “That’s why it was developed and transitioned into a department, where it doesn’t just deal with women issues but it also dealt with the family. Gender and Family Affairs so you have women and girls, men and boys because gender-based violence impacts the entire family. This is really a step backward. We speak to
consultants and see fit to pay hundreds of thousands to foreign consultants and when our own people come back home we can’t keep them. I think it’s highly unfortunate and really a backward step for the ministry. “She’s a major asset to the ministry,” Mrs Griffin added, “we are dealing with violence and crime, and we had the report of the commission that actually researched the whole issue of gender-based violence. It was presented to Cabinet and Parliament, and Ms Curry and her team
had already begun the work to deal with the issue and now for her to be leaving. I lament, it’s something to be lamented.” Ms Curry’s resignation also follows scheduled departures from the Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, a statutory body. Secretariat Executive Secretary Lester Ferguson, and Deputy Executive Secretary C Anna Cote have tendered their resignations and are expected to leave office in 2018.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 28, 2017, PAGE 7
Knifepoint robber has appeal dismissed By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN sentenced to 15 years in prison for the knifepoint robbery of a tourist in a hotel room roughly five years ago has had his legal bid to contest his sentence dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Former Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen, and fellow Justices Jon Isaacs and Stella CraneScott, dismissed Stephen Anthony Greene’s appeal concerning his conviction and sentence for robbing Mark Kowalski in December 2012. According to the written ruling, Mr Kowalski, his wife Victoria and his mother-in-law were on vacation in The Bahamas to celebrate Mr Kowalski’s 65th birthday. On the morning of December 13, 2012 the three, who were staying at the Sheraton Hotel in Cable Beach, left their hotel room and went down to the beach. Mr Kowalski returned to the room, leaving his wife and motherin-law on the beach. Shortly after his return there was a knock at the door. As Mr Kowalski opened the door two men pushed it open and forced their way inside, tied him up, blindfolded him and searched his room. During the search Mrs Kowalski returned to the room. A struggle ensued between the men and the Kowalskis but eventually Mrs Kowalski was able to break free, run to the balcony and raise the alarm. During the course of the
STEPHEN Greene pictured at a previous court appearance. struggle with the men, Mr He was arraigned on a Kowalski was stabbed. voluntary bill of indictThe men ran away, leav- ment (VBI) before Justice ing behind a plastic bag Ian Winder with being concontaining the Kowalskis’ cerned with another in the camera and other items commission of armed robthey had collected during bery (of the iPod and a $4 their search of the room. cash tip), attempted murder According to the Crown’s and causing grievous harm. case, an iPod Shuffle along He elected to represent with $3 to $5 they usually himself at the trial. On left in the room as a tip for February 13, 2015, he was the maid were not in the unanimously acquitted of room after the men left. the charge of attempted Mr Kowalski was taken murder, but was convicted to Doctors Hospital and of armed robbery and treated for three main inju- causing grievous harm. ries: a stab wound to the Following his conviction chest which caused his lung and during the course of to collapse, a second wound his sentencing hearing, he to the left thigh and a third signalled his wish to plead injury to his left ring finger guilty and to be sentenced which required partial at the same time on a amputation. pending indictment which Greene, who was wear- charged him with houseing an ankle bracelet at the breaking and robbery. time of the offence, was Following his guilty pleas, alleged to be one of the Greene was sentenced men who forcibly entered on both indictments to 15 the hotel room. years for the armed robbery
SENTENCE CUT BY A THIRD FOR FORMER DRUG DEALER WHO MURDERED RIVAL By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A FORMER drug dealer sentenced to effectively 60 years in prison for murdering a rival drug dealer in order to protect his “turf” almost 20 years ago has had his sentence shortened by almost one-third by the Court of Appeal to reflect a more “appropriate” sentence. Former Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen, along with since departed fellow Justices Abdulah Conteh and Neville Adderley, quashed Ernest Lockhart’s 60-year sentence for murdering Caxton Smith, and instead imposed a sentence of 45 years. This, the appellate judges said in a written ruling, would further be reduced by three years to reflect the time Lockhart spent on remand. The consequent 42 years would thus commence from the date of his conviction in 2006. The judgement was posted on the court’s website on December 14. According to the ruling, Lockhart was convicted and sentenced to death on July 24, 2006, for the 1999 murder of Smith at Fowler Street in New Providence. According to the ruling, Lockhart murdered Smith to “protect” his turf – the territory in which he conducted his drug business. Lockhart subsequently appealed both his conviction and sentence to the appellate court, and though differently constituted at the time, his appeal and sentence were both affirmed. He then appealed to the London-based Privy Council who, on August 9, 2011, remitted the matter to the COA with a direction that it should remit the question of sentence to the Supreme Court. On January 27, 2012, then-Senior Justice Jon Isaacs considered that a sentence of 60 years from the date of Lockhart’s conviction would be appropriate in the circumstances of the case.
However, counsel for the Crown suggested to the court that the sentence should instead run from the date of imposition, and subsequently relied on the COA decision of Cornelius Knowles and others. On that basis, Lockhart’s sentence was recalculated to run from the date of re-sentencing – January 27, 2012, so that he would serve 54 years imprisonment. According to the ruling, Lockhart’s appeal is on the ground that the trial judge “erred in principle” by determining the appropriate sentence for him that the sentence is “too severe”. Lockhart submitted that the judge failed to give “adequate weight” to the mitigating factors in his favour, that the judge failed to consider comparable cases, and that the judge “erred in focusing his mind on punishment and retribution” and simultaneously “giving little weight to the circumstances of the offender and his prospect of rehabilitation”. The Crown countered by submitting the sentencing judge did not exercise his discretion unreasonably by taking into account “irrelevant matters” or by failing to consider relevant matters. The Crown further submitted that before an appellate court can interfere with a sentence, the court must be satisfie the sentence passed was unduly severe or excessive. Ultimately, the appellate judges ruled Lockhart’s appeal should be allowed “as the learned judge at the re-sentencing hearing erred when he started at the top end of 60 years as appropriate for a murder offence. “The murder for which the appellant was convicted in the instant case, deplorable as it was, was not so heinous or depraved or the worst of the worst as to merit that level, as the learned president correctly stated...” the ruling said. “Accordingly, I agree that the appeal against sentence should be allowed and the term substituted is appropriate.” Lockhart’s appeal stems
from a murder that took place on June 8, 2009. According to the ruling, sometime on the day in question, Smith, 23, was shot in Fowler Street and died shortly afterwards from the injuries he sustained as a result of a single gunshot wound to the back. At the trial for Smith’s murder, Lockhart, then 21 years of age, was identified as the gunman who fired the fatal shot, while Jeffrey Prospero had acted as a look-out. Both Smith and Lockhart were drug dealers at the time; prior to his death, Smith had been convicted of selling drugs and had served a term of imprisonment. The trial judge found the murder had been carried out by Lockhart in order to protect his turf. And although it was not “expertly executed,” the ruling noted, the killing was planned by Lockhart with others. According to the ruling, the trial judge, in his sentencing remarks, recounted evidence given by the deceased’s girlfriend. She testified that some six months before the deceased was killed, he was threatened by Lockhart, who told Smith something to the effect that if Smith thought he had come out of prison to take bread out of Lockhart’s mouth, he would be killed. Smith’s girlfriend also said a bout two weeks before the killing, Lockhart and another individual came to the home she shared with Smith. On that occasion, she said, the second man spoke with Smith outside the house but she could hear what was being said. That man asked Smith to sell drugs for him and Lockhart, but Smith replied by saying he was not interested. At that point, Smith’s girlfriend said Lockhart, who had been lurking by a coconut tree, said something to the effect that because Smith did not wish to sell drugs for them, “he could die like others before him.”
and five years for causing grievous harm. He was further sentenced to 10 years each for both housebreaking and robbery. All four sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Greene, who conducted his own appeal, filed a notice of appeal on June 15, 2015, setting out six grounds initially. At the hearing however, he abandoned the sixth ground and the appeal proceeded on the other five. Greene’s grounds of appeal included, but were not limited to, that the presiding judge in his summing up in the armed robbery matter told jurors to bring a not guilty verdict on all counts due to the evidence but he was still convicted; that the judge allowed additional evidence during the case which was unfair; and that he was found guilty on armed robbery when the virtual complainant stated he wasn’t robbed. All of Greene’s grounds of appeal ultimately failed and/or were dismissed by the appellate judges. For that reason and those outlined in the ruling, the appellate judges dismissed Greene’s appeal against his conviction for causing grievous harm and affirmed his five-year sentence for that offence. Regarding Greene’s appeal against his
conviction for armed robbery of the Kowalskis’ iPod and the cash tip, the appellate judges said they are “satisfied” that the jury could have, on indictment, found Greene guilty of armed robbery of Mr Kowalski’s camera and “other property which had been appropriated by the armed intruders without his consent.” Instead of allowing the appeal against his conviction for armed robbery of the iPod and the cash tip, however, the appellate judges, pursuant to Section 13A of the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Act, 2011, substituted for the jury’s verdict, a guilty verdict of armed robbery of Mr Kowalski’s camera and other items. The appellate judges also ordered a 15-year sentence for armed robbery in substitution for the 15-year sentence passed at trial for armed robbery of the iPod and the cash tip. And, for the “avoidance of doubt”, the appellate judges said Greene’s convictions and 10 year sentences concerning the housebreaking and robbery charges were both affirmed. “All four sentences shall run concurrently and shall take effect from the date of incarceration at Her Majesty’s Prison,” the ruling said.
MAN HELD BY POLICE AFTER FIREARM FIND GRAND Bahama police arrested a man in the Lucaya area on Tuesday after he was allegedly found with a firearm in his possession. Police were on mobile patrol in the area of Midshipman Road around midnight when they observed an altercation in a parking lot, near a business. The officers searched one of the men and found a black and silver .45 pistol with nine .45 rounds of ammunition. The man was taken into custody and is expected to be formally charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court this week.
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PAGE 8, Thursday, December 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Don’t fret, what’s there to worry about?
M
Y late mother-inlaw, God rest her soul, was such a worrier that one day when she had nothing to worry about, she confessed she was worried that she had nothing to worry about, as if she had overlooked some major reason for worry, and would regret it. She spoke about worry as if it were a place that should have been dusted but wasn’t and would be revealed to her extreme horror by distinguished guests later. Maybe not to the extent
By Diane Phillips that my mother-in-law was, but we are all worriers. We are a society of worrier warriors, ready to do battle with our brains for something we did not get right, did not get finished and are worried we may not be able to do. It
is not just us in The Bahamas. It’s everywhere where modern technology is. We worry more than we used to even though we should have less to worry about. After all, Alexa can alert us when it is time to walk the dog or turn off the oven.
We have appliances that hormones including cortido half our work and tech- sol. And what does cortisol nology does much of the do? It speeds up the aging rest, right? Yet we worry. process. Just look at those We worry that we are not stressed people in TV comas good as the technology mercials before they have we hold in our hands. We taken stress relief medicaworry that when we do use tion. Did you ever notice it, we do not keep up with how they have so many the last bit of wrinkles and news because We worry from how tired it happened a the time we get they look and second after then, during we stopped up in the morning the time the staring at the until the time we TV voice is screen expect- go to bed at night. peeling off all ing breaking the possible It’s like a thread news. side effects We worry that runs beneath including an from the time the skin, a lowincreased risk we get up in of suicide, the the morning grade current medicine takes until the time that hums along effect and we go to bed at inside, there but the patient night. It’s like I mean a thread that invisible, out actor - looks runs beneath of reach and younger, hapthe skin, a untouchable. pier, wrinkle low-grade curfree. They rent that hums probably along inside, there but weren’t paying close atteninvisible, out of reach and tion to the thought of untouchable. increased risk of suicide. But I wonder if it really Worry is closely linked to is untouchable. Maybe if stress as you already know we talk about how much we but I am only mentioning worry, and we are honest it because we do not think about it, it will release some so often about how stress of the pressure and we will increases blood sugar levels. worry less and have more We do not walk through the available brain time to front door and say, “I’ve figure out how to do more had a really stressful day to assuage the things we and my blood sugar levels would otherwise be worry- are through the roof.” ing about. In other words, It’s just as unlikely that we could act instead of wor- we stop to think about how rying about not acting on stress interacts with our the things we worry about blood flow. When we worry – or we could do, like we and we are stressed, our do with a lot of things that heart rate increases, our cause us to worry, we could breathing becomes heavprocrastinate our fretting. ier, we may sweat and we Personally, it’s a toss-up, can even become paler, as but that’s besides the point. blood moves away from the We should probably take skin and toward the muscle a closer look at what worry to prepare for the fight or does to us as humans. flight. That paleness may According to researchers, be more obvious on some worry is really bad for you. than others but the part It’s a ticking time bomb for about blood moving toward our health. Worry causes muscle is universal even if the body to release stress you can’t see it. Your brain
is telling your body what to do. None of this information is original. I Googled it, of course, because how else do you ever get information and then worry because you want to make sure it is right. The main point is that worry doesn’t get you much, but it can lead to a heart attack, stroke and stomach ulcers (thanks again, Google) and wrinkles as we said at the beginning. Worry and stress keep your body in a constant state of anxiety. That state of steady readiness causes the brain to release hormones that obey instructions from that same stressed brain and zip around the body like a hyperactive kid on a chocolate bar washed down by hot chocolate. So why are we talking about worry? It started with a conversation about wrinkles when this friend of mine, a professional colleague I respect commented that the picture of me in The Tribune was good, youthful, and when he saw the look on my face, he tried to backtrack but it just got worse. The more he talked, the deeper his foot went into his mouth. “As we all get older, we ALL wrinkle more…” he said, trying to get out of the mess he just got into by including himself (though he has not aged in 30 years). So I wanted to know where wrinkles came from and now I know. They come from not understanding how to use all those smart devices that are supposed to make our life worry-free. If you figure out how to worry less, please let me know. Post a comment at the end of the column online, Whatsapp me at 376-2177, text, message or Facebook me. Just don’t twitter, or is that tweet?
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 28, 2017, PAGE 9
‘It’s time to do away with colonial honours’ By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE Minnis administration’s refusal to fully drop colonial awards was yesterday slammed as a “regressive step” by National Heroes Committee chairman, Reverend Canon Sebastian Campbell. In a statement released on Tuesday, Rev Campbell urged the government to halt its plan to reintroduce several segments of the colonial awards system rejected by the Christie administration with its National Honours Act. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis tabled the National Honours Regulations 2017, which, among other things, aimed to refocus the government’s position in the national awards discussion by setting provisions for the establishment of an advisory committee. According to the new legislation, the new advisory committee would make recommendations to both the prime minister and governor general of those who are worthy of a national award. Additionally, the new legislation allows for the use of several schedules ended by its predecessor; with only small aspects of those awards adjusted. The schedules proposed by the new National Honours Regulations include the Order of National Hero, the Order of the Nation, the Order of The Bahamas, the Order of Excellence, the Order of Distinction, the Order of Merit, and the Order of Lignum Vitae. However, according to Rev Campbell’s statement, he and other members of his committee were of the understanding that all aspects of the former schedules would be retired, and several new schedules would be introduced as early as 2018. “Our National Awards received unanimous support by all parties, in Parliament in 2015. We, of the National Heroes Committee, as with all patriotic Bahamians, had every reason to believe that such a system would have been
REVEREND Canon Sebastian Campbell in full bloom by now.” He continued: “We therefore urge our beloved prime minster to resist reintroducing the colonial awards on the following grounds: The march from issuing these awards is already in place, as it has been more than four years since they were last awarded. “The policy of not continuing this colonial habit is well noted and accepted by many Bahamians. To revive this system of awards will only slow down our march towards ever again trying to march away and into our own. Not issuing them again will show that government is continuous and will bring a greater sense of unity in our nation. “Continuing to award colonial honours will stagnate the growth and will definitely belittle the importance of our National Honours. We must be honest with our cultural reality where we as a people accept that foreign is better. “The National Awards are to be seen, accepted and felt as the highest award
UNION WELCOMES HOTEL MOVE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
PRESIDENT of the Commonwealth Union of Hotel Services and Allied Workers (CUHSAW) Michelle Dorsette is pleased that progress is being made regarding the sale of the Grand Lucayan Resort property in Grand Bahama. Last Friday, the government announced the hotel owners had signed a letter of intent with Paul Wynn of the Wynn Group for the sale of the property, and that it was commencing formal discussions on a heads of agreement with the prospective buyer. The government expects the matter will be concluded in the next 30 to 60 days. About 1,000 hotel workers have been unemployed since last October when the 1,200-room anchor hotel and casino closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. In response to the recent announcement regarding the LOI, Ms Dorsette, who represents the line staff at the resort, told The Tribune yesterday the union believes the government will do all it can to ensure the property is reopened as quickly as possible. “The CUHSAW is pleased that the government of The Bahamas continues to aggressively work to put hundreds of hotel workers back on the job,” she said. “As stated back in October, the union remains confident that
the government will make every effort to ensure that Grand Lucayan is reopened in the shortest possible time, allowing hundreds of hotel workers to return to their jobs.” Ms Dorsette said the hardworking and dedicated employees have endured much hardship since Hurricane Matthew one year ago. She said as a result of the step forward in the sale of the Grand Lucayan, the union is hopeful workers will be able to return to normal work schedules soon. The union president said that following formal discussions with the minister of labour she is satisfied that the rights of workers will be protected. The Port Lucaya Marketplace is also seeing a pick-up in visitor traffic with the return of the Grand Celebration cruise ship to Grand Bahama on December 24. Many cruise ship passengers were out walking and shopping at Port Lucaya, which was also significantly affected by the ship’s three month departure on hurricane relief duty in the southern Caribbean. “We are very happy that the Grand Celebration is back and visitors are here again walking and shopping,” said vendor Gordon Higgs, a wood carver at Port Lucaya Marketplace. In November, the government signed a contract with Bahamas Paradise Cruises for a second ship which will commence ferry service to Freeport in April.
our nation will award her citizens. Let us give our new awards a chance to get off the ground and running without a paralysing and intimidating competition. “Let this be seen as truly an ongoing step in our liberation as a people and therefore leaving the past in the past.” Rev Campbell insisted the time was now for Dr Minnis and his Cabinet to take a “bold” step with this issue, continuing the march of liberation started in 1834.
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PAGE 10, Thursday, December 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
MITCHELL WANTS EXPLANATION OF UN VOTE DECISION By MORGAN ADDERLEYÂ
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell has called on the government to explain The Bahamas’ decision to
abstain from a controversial United Nations (UN) resolution against the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The former minister of
foreign affairs said the current government should have provided “an explanation of (the) vote� or a written statement elaborating “why we took the course we did�.
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Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump overturned decades of US foreign policy when he recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s. He also vowed to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Last Thursday, an emergency vote at the UN General Assembly saw a huge majority reject this decision. Thirty-five countries abstained from the vote, including Canada and The Bahamas. In his statement, Mr Mitchell said, “The government speaks for the country on foreign policy matters so there must be something within their peculiar knowledge that led them to vote as they did, that is to abstain in the vote on Jerusalem. “The PLP tries to avoid division beyond our borders in foreign policy. “Some observers argue that it is however difficult philosophically to reconcile our support for the principle of the two state solution and the larger UN peace process for the Middle East and our actual vote. “Whatever the position is, however, the PLP
PLP CHAIRMAN FRED MITCHELL believes that foreign policy requires the public to be properly briefed on our positions once taken. In this case, the government ought to have provided a written statement called ‘an explanation of vote’ to say why we took the course we did.� US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley warned the US would “take note� of countries that “disrespected� America by not supporting their action. Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield said last week The Bahamas’ decision to abstain was not a result of being “bullied� by the US, but due to a belief
“every sovereign state can determine and declare where they will put their mission, an embassy.� Mr Henfield continued: “We didn’t see the need to interfere with the Americans’ decision to put their embassy in Jerusalem. Abstention doesn’t mean agree or disagree, what we must do is contextualise that a resolution is just a resolution and you may not agree with all the contents of the resolution before you. And so you have to contextualise everything and determine what’s in the best interest of our country.�
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 28, 2017, PAGE 11
One Family Photos: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff
Black Souls Colours
PAGE 12, Thursday, December 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Saxons Superstars
PHOTOS: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff
Kalikers Original Congos
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 28, 2017, PAGE 13
Valley Boys Photos: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff
Fancy Dancers
Omega Psi Phi
PAGE 14, Thursday, December 28, 2017
Genesis
Music Makers
THE TRIBUNE
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 28, 2017, PAGE 19
~ Celebrate
at ~
Overlooking Beautiful Nassau Harbour & Paradise Island Bring in the New Year right with our delicious Six Course Gala Menu. Featuring fantastic culinary creations like Butter and Lime Poached Tuna; Filet Mignon on Lump Crab Cake topped with Hollandaise Sauce; Pan Roasted Sea Bass with Ruby Red Grapefruit Butter and Chocolate Truffle Cake. $185.00 per person
(Inclusive of Six Course Gala Menu, Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail, Party Favours, DJ, Champagne Toast at Midnight, 15% Gratuity + 7.5% VAT)
Reservations Required: T: 323-7770 | www.lucianosnassau.com
PAGE 20, Thursday, December 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
new skins available now
ocean
pineapple
rain
boom boom
start the year off fresh $ available at:
+ ALIV Flagship stores
believe in best
10 VAT incl. $10.75