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The Tribune

Volume:116 No.5, DECEMBER 28TH, 2018

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WEEKEND: RAISE A GLASS TO THE NEW YEAR

IT’S ALL ABOUT COLOURS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net PUBLIC schools across the country will reconvene January 7, five days later than originally planned, the Ministry of Education has announced.

This comes amidst reports being circulated yesterday that featured a communication between Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson and several of her members, in which she attempted to solicit support for a potential sit-out to force the government’s hand in delaying its January

2 return date in favour of January 7.

However, in a statement issued yesterday evening, education officials said the move was being made to “celebrate” teachers and administrators.

The statement read: “With schools originally slated to reopen on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, the Ministry of Education saw fit to provide an additional five holiday days for our hard-working and dedicated educators throughout The Bahamas, many of whom worked throughout the holiday season.”

SEE PAGE SIX

THE Government would have placed increased “financial strain” upon itself had it gone through with the initial Non-Profit Organisations Bill version, sector representatives warned.

Civil Society Bahamas, in a report to Attorney

General Carl Bethel, said the Government would have been forced to fill the vacuum created as a result of “devastating” legislation that would render many Bahamian non-profits “incapable of operating”.

The analysis warned the bill would have “a devastating impact on the civil society organisation sector”.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Page 9

7

GLENYS RENEWS ATTACK ON OBAN

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna Martin has questioned whether the government is truly committed to transparency as it prepares for new negotiations with Oban Energies next month with a new environmental impact assessment not yet made public.

The former Cabinet minister also raised concern over a $25,000 donation from Oban to a Grand Bahama Junkanoo group suggesting it appeared to be an effort to influence the outcome of the project and shape public perception.

Her rejection of the Minnis administration’s handling of the $5.5bn oil refinery and storage facility proposed for Grand Bahama this time around came after Labour Minister SEE PAGE SIX

TRAVEL WOES DRAG ON FOR AIRLINE PASSENGERS

‘GOVT BLUNDERED ON NON-PROFIT BILL’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

DUA LIPA IN NASSAU

Start with a sparkle

Drinks to see your new year in page

School’s out - for three more days Teachers’ threat of action results in extra holiday

Friday, December 28, 2018

A MEMBER of the Colours group as they marched to victory in the B category during the Boxing Day Junkanoo parade. See pages two and three for more from the event.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

‘FACTS DON’T MERIT CRIME ALERTS’

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames rejected Royal Caribbean’s warning to its passengers calling Arawak Cay’s Fish Fry a concerning crime area, insisting yesterday there is no statistical evidence to support the assertion.

However, as the alert for the area is the second for the year – the first issued by the US State Department in January – Mr Dames admitted there is a need to clean up negative perceptions of the major hub where tourists can experience Bahamian culture and cuisine.

Mr Dames pointed to overall crime figures being on the decline with the

exception of rapes, which saw a slight increase this year over last year.

In a letter to Anthem of the Seas passengers dated December 26, Captain Srecko Ban wrote that the cruise line felt it was important to inform guests that Nassau had been experiencing an increase in crime, adding non-violent crimes,

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

DESPITE announcing earlier this week that its schedule was back to normal after a weekend of chaos, Bahamasair said yesterday “weather related challenges” at Lynden Pindling International Airport left some flights grounded and delayed.

According to a statement issued by the governmentowned airline, the weather forced Air Traffic Control (ATC) to hold a number of flights on the ground.

“As a result of these Air Traffic Control related challenges, a number of our flights are now carrying significant delays, as well as our flight 320 which was returned to Freeport after holding in the air for 35 minutes,” Bahamasair said yesterday.

SEE PAGE EIGHT

ARE YOU DUE TO SERVE? FULL JURY LISTS INSIDE TODAY’S TRIBUNE

PAGE 2, Friday, December 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Victory Colours THE COLOURS Junkanoo group on their way to victory in the B category during the Boxing Day Junkanoo parade.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 28, 2018, PAGE 3

Original Congos MEMBERS of the Original Congos.

The group finished second in the B category.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Fancy Dancers

The Fancy Dancers, who finished fourth in the B category.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

WATERS: I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO A WOMAN PRIME MINISTER

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

US Congresswoman Maxine Waters at Boxing Day Junkanoo.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

ONE FAMILY CORRECTION IN the December 27th edition of The Tribune, under the headline “Happy Family: Junkanoo Winners Tell Own Story,” it was incorrectly reported that One Family first won a Junkanoo parade in 2014.

The Tribune would like

to clarify that One Family has won several parades, with the group receiving its first victory on New Year’s Day in 1996 for the theme “African Spirits Rejoice”.

The Tribune apologises for the error.

US Congresswoman Maxine Waters was a well known spectator at the 2018 Junkanoo Boxing Day Parade — a tradition she and her husband have shared for more than a decade.

Ms Waters sat in the front row in Parliament Square and avidly watched the festivities.

The well-known politician, fondly known as “Aunty Maxine” by legions of supporters, took a few moments to speak to reporters about her history with The Bahamas, her love of the culture, the political climate of the United States and the status of women

politicians worldwide.

“My husband (Sidney Williams) was a former ambassador to The Bahamas from the United States for four and a half years (1994-1998), supported by (former US President Bill) Clinton,” Ms Waters said.

“And so we’ve been coming here for many years and certainly we love Junkanoo. So we try to get here every year. I think we’ve only missed two years in the last 10 or 15 years.”

When asked if she has a particular group for whom she roots, Ms Williams name-dropped one but expressed her admiration for all the participants.

“I have to be careful,” she said. “But everybody loves the Saxons, and all of them are great.”

Ms Waters also discussed her feelings regarding spending the holidays in a majority black nation such as the Bahamas compared with the current raciallycharged political climate in the United States. She reiterated her love for The Bahamas while revealing her aspirations for the future of the US. “Well, I want to tell you — I’m always very, very happy to be here. I love the culture, I love the music, I love the people,” she said.

“And I want you to know that despite the fact that we are struggling in the United States with some very difficult situations, we just have to keep working at it, we have to keep trying. And I believe that if you fight you can win.”

Ms Waters also expressed her hopes for female politicians in The Bahamas.

“Women are on the move all over the world and it’s inevitable,” she said. “It’s just a matter of time. Women are (going to) emerge here. I’m looking forward to a woman being prime minster someday.”

Ms Waters currently represents the 43rd District of California. The Democratic Caucus recently selected her to serve as the first woman and first African-American to chair the House Financial Services Committee of the United States. Ms Waters will assume office on January 3, 2019.

She has also verbally sparred with US President Donald Trump, saying he deserves to be impeached.

PAGE 4, Friday, December 28, 2018

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

THE TRIBUNE

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A time to listen and live up to expectations IN this column last week, we took pleasure in wishing everybody a Merry Christmas and emphasised the importance of peace and goodwill in the festive season as families and friends gathered together to celebrate.

We urged our fellow Bahamians to give thanks for our many blessings. But we also took the opportunity to draw attention to the poverty and social deprivation that is all too prevalent in our country. We expressed, too, the disappointment of so many that on a broader front our current political leaders have not been living up to the expectations of those who voted them into office.

Nonetheless, as a tumultuous 2018 is nearly over, we encourage our fellow citizens today to recognise the many advantages we enjoy in our small island state and to remain grateful for the benefits of living in an ordered and generally peaceful environment. This should surely help us to look forward to the coming year with hope, faith and confidence and to remember our duty to be kind, caring and generous towards others – in particular, the needy and less privileged in our society.

We were struck by the inspiring tone and content of this year’s Christmas Day speech by The Queen, our Head of State, and the sound and uplifting advice offered. While recognising human beings have a huge propensity for good but can fall victim to the divisiveness of tribalism, she spoke of the need for civility both in public discourse and at the individual level. She stressed the importance of treating one another with respect and common decency as an essential first step towards greater mutual understanding.

Many contend that, if such wise advice could be applied to the conduct of international relations, the world would be a better and less dangerous place. Instead, it seems to be increasingly chaotic and out of control and on the edge of disaster with a permanent fear of nuclear destruction at the flick of a finger on a button.

This has been made worse by the uncertainty surrounding an unpredictable and impulsive US president with no political experience who appears to be reluctant to listen to advice despite being faced by numerous international crises – for example, the Middle East (including Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq), a trade war with China, Afghanistan, North Korea, Ukraine and

Russian expansionism, the Sahel, the Congo, and a humanitarian emergency in Venezuela.

In such dangerous times, the allies of the US as the leader of the Free World rely on it to formulate a considered and sound foreign and defence policy so that its overwhelming military and other powers are used in the defence and furtherance of Western interests.

Small countries like our own, without a seat at the top table, can have little influence on global events. But it is incumbent on us - through, for example, membership of United Nations bodies and of CARICOM or as the world’s fifth largest shipping registry – to play our own role in other more limited spheres.

A current instance is Japan’s announcement this week of its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission and its intention to continue commercial whaling. This should be of concern to The Bahamas given our interest as a maritime nation in co-operating with the international community in conservation and other issues affecting marine life.

Despite this, we believe in the coming year there should be more emphasis on matters here at home. Many consider that with a huge parliamentary majority the Prime Minister and his colleagues have become arrogant and should be willing to listen more readily to constructive criticism and consult the people as required in a democracy.

A telling recent example of the government’s failure to do this was the rushed Non-Profits legislation which was poorly handled.

This advice is based partly on what we are hearing from a variety of sources; but we fear it may not be heeded as government ministers become seduced by the power of high political office which can turn out, all too often, to be short lived if they fail to deliver what the people want.

In 2019, let us all resist tribalism and, while showing respect in our dealings with one another, seek to avoid the marginalisation or exclusion of individuals and groups.

If Bahamians can only pull together in a spirit of goodwill, unity and cooperation – and build upon our many blessings and advantages – our nation can surely prosper in the coming year.

We wish all our readers a Happy New Year.

Church and State EDITOR, The Tribune.

BAHAMAS Christian Council (BCC) President Delton Fernander’s apprehension regarding the Free National Movement (FNM) administration’s Non-profit Organisations Bill may be legitimate. The front man for this controversial bill is Finance Minister K Peter Turnquest. The East Grand Bahama MP and deputy prime minister has shown that he is not timid in pushing the envelope, no matter how unpopular, as was the case with the 60 percent hike in VAT earlier in the year.

Turnquest’s argument is that this particular bill is aimed at bringing The Bahamas in full compliance with the standards of the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development. Christian

fundamentalists typically view such international bodies as organisations which will be used by the Antichrist in the last days.

Nassau Guardian columnist Simon took aim at Fernander and the BCC in a recent column, which suggests to me that the columnist views the BCC president as a Progressive Liberal Party supporter.

Whatever Fernander’s political persuasion is, the Christian community will view this NPO Bill as an encumbrance and an intrusion by the FNM administration into the affairs of the church.

I cannot imagine any of the thousands of churches facilitating terrorist activities, unless someone within the FNM administration believes that churches in The Bahamas

will engage in terrorism much like Irish Republican Army Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland or like Shiite and Sunni Muslims in Iraq and Iran. Christians are of the view that taxes belong to the government, while tithes and offerings belong to God. The government should not be poking its nose into the financial affairs of the church, as such a move could be viewed as an overreach. And the church should not be poking its nose into the financial affairs of the state.

Both institutions have divine roles to play and must stay within their respective lanes. That’s just my view on this matter.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama December 9, 2018.

Marijuana EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE issue of legalisation of ganja has become a popular issue in the global discourse on drugs since the pioneering role of countries such as Uruguay and Canada led the way regarding the legalisation of ganja for medicinal and recreational purposes.

However, the road to legalisation is not as easy for everyone. The struggle for legalisation has to do with more than ganja. It has to do also with racial and social and political struggles. The approaches to legalisation activities must be grounded in this framework. This article embraces and firmly supports the calls for reform of the Single Convention Treaty on Dangerous Drugs, with emphasis on removing cannabis from schedules I and IV, thereby legalising cannabis. It calls for reform to the 1961 Single Convention in terms of cannabis scheduling, thereby making cannabis legal.

While some countries can withdraw from the international treaties, others will have to creatively operate within the international treaties and lobby with “like-minded” nation states to reform the international treaties. This is a call for a Caribbean collaboration and consensus; and also for the active role of the region in international bodies such as the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

There is also the need for increasing the role of civil society groups to provide the leadership aimed at strengthening the position of the governments of the region as well as have cross regional exchanges on ganja and international relations.

This struggle for legalisation must be taken beyond the boundary of ganja.

There is also the opinion that the international regime for the control of psychoactive substances is defined beyond any moral qualities; it is characterised by racism and imperialism.

In late 1896, the Christian missionaries working among Indian labourers began to ask questions about ganja smoking in Jamaica. In February 1898, the Synod of the Presbyterian Church petitioned the Legislative Council “on the evil use of ganja among the East Indians in the island”.

The Daily Gleaner Editorial, “Ganja Smoking as a Danger to the Natives of the Colony” (June 10, 1913) was an early “treatise” on weed smoking in Jamaica.

According to the white elites in Jamaica it was in the characteristics of the Indian to become passive when they smoke ganja. The view was expressed that the practice of widespread use of the weed among the black majority was a dangerous

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net mix: because when black people smoke the weed they express themselves in terms of violence.

At the very early International Opium Commission meeting convened on February 26, 1909, in Shanghai that represented one of the first steps toward international drug prohibition.

Dr Hamilton Wright and Episcopal Bishop Charles Henry Brent headed the US delegation.

According to the notes the first US Drug Czar Dr Hamilton Wright (appointed by Theodore Roosevelt), was a fanatic racist. He believed that “drugs made blacks uncontrollable, gave them superhuman powers, and prompted them to rebel against white authority”.

The views of that meeting had influence on the 1913 and 1924 Opium Treaties.

The mention of cannabis to the 1924 Geneva Convention by the delegates from South Africa “took some of the delegates by surprise”.

South Africa has already banned the cultivation, sale, possession and use of cannabis in 1922 from the perspective that cannabis was “a dangerous habitforming drug”. There is the view that the perspectives of the South Africans were grounded in fear because of the smoking of marijuana among the black Africa liberation fighters.

There were cases of racism an anti-drug crusade in Canada in the 1920s and later in the United States in the 1930s. During the campaign 1923 drug law in Canada, Emily Murphy, a magistrate from Alberta her book, The Black Candle directed explosive outrages against the Negro drug dealers and Chinese opium peddlers; that these two races with opium and marijuana were political conspiracies aimed “to debase the white race”.

Harry J Anslinger, American Drug Czar during the 1930s publicity and exposed the alleged relationship between marijuana smoking and crime; his anti-marijuana propaganda was reinforced by reports from the federal police that 50% of crimes committed in the districts occupied by immigrants from Mexico, Spain, Latin America, Greece and Negroes may be traced “to the evils of marijuana smoking”.

In his hallmark testimony to the American House of Congress in April, 1937, Harry J Anslinger declared that “most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, jazz musicians and entertainers; and that the “satanic” music is driven by ‘marijuana smoking”; and that

white women were duped into sex by these marijuana smoking black musicians.

The imperialistic quality of the current drug treaties is reflected in the geopolitics of North-South political relations in the 20th century. The strictest controls in the treaties were placed on organic substances — the coca bush, the poppy and the cannabis plant — which often form part of the ancestral traditions of the countries where these plants originate; whereas the North’s cultural products, tobacco and alcohol, were ignored and the synthetic substances produced by the North’s pharmaceutical industry subject to regulation rather than prohibition. The international conventions constitute a “two-tiered system that regulates synthetic drugs and prohibits the organic substances produced by the South”. They force developing countries to abolish all non-medical and non-scientific uses of the plants that for centuries had been embedded in historical, social, cultural, and religious traditions.

“The treaties were negotiated and adopted in an era when both illicit market and understanding of its operation bore little resemblance to those of today”.

However, there is “growing and much-needed attention being devoted to the legal technicalities of treaty revisions”. There is, of course, widespread activities in decriminalisation and legalisation in North America, South and Central America, the Caribbean and Europe.

It is against this background that I call for a resurrection of the activist role of Caribbean countries in both the Commonwealth and the United Nations during the 1970s, especially in the era of its role and activities for the liberation of Southern Africa. In today’s world countries of the Commonwealth, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica, among others, gave made major strides in new regimes for ganja. There has been increasing progression in England for change in the drug law especially for medical marijuana. For example, the pioneering work of GW pharmaceutical makes that country a leader in the export of legal (medical) marijuana products.

The struggle for legalisation ought to be considered as a continuation of our struggles against racism and the deliberate strategies of the West aimed at fostering a setting characterised by selfhate, inferiority complex, dependency and persistent underdevelopment.

LOUIS EA MOYSTON, PhD thearchives01@yahoo. com December 19, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 28, 2018, PAGE 5

Dames: Facts don’t merit crime alerts from page one such as theft of personal items, are the most common types of crimes.

But the letter did note that thousands of visitors routinely travelled to Nassau without incident before offering personal safety tips.

These included leaving “valuables and irreplaceable items” in the cabin safe; avoiding wearing expensive jewellery and flashing cash; and taking only the cash and credit cards that are required.

Captain Ban then recommended guests not venture too far from tourist areas and consider participating in an organised tour. He noted particular areas of concern included the Sand Trap on West Bay Street, the Fish Fry and other areas of Nassau referred to as ‘Over-the-Hill’ by locals, which should be avoided

after sunset.

The letter appeared to mirror the concerns outlined in the US State Department’s January 2018 travel advisory on The Bahamas, which also urged American visitors to stay clear of the Arawak Cay Fish Fry. “The statistics will not bear that out,” Mr Dames told The Tribune when contacted about the cruise line warning, which came six days after the Canadian government warned its citizens to exercise caution when visiting the country due to increased violent crimes and sexual assaults.

“But everyone has a right to issue whatever they want to their guests or customers.

They have a certain perception of Arawak Cay. While the statistics may not bear that out, it may be pointing to a number of issues that we have to look at collectively and I think this

speaks to this whole sense of collective responsibility really and what it will probably mean is us meeting with the cruise lines and sitting with them and understanding exactly what are their concerns because it’s not reflected in the statistics.

“But if people perceive something to be a certain way then something obviously is triggering that and so once we understand what those overall concerns are, then we must now work towards bringing all of the respective stakeholders together and see how collectively we can address those concerns. The concerns don’t always have to be reported crimes or crime related matters because if people perceive something to be a certain way, that’s just as bad as something happening.

“We must ask what are people seeing when they go

out there and that too can play a very important part.”

He also said: “This is not the first time we have come to this place and I don’t suspect that it will be the last, but we always have to look at how can we improve the delivery of service to our customers and it doesn’t always have to do with the police that is why I said it calls for a collective effort to improve the environment - the conditions of that place. I am certain we will get everyone together and find a solution to the problem.”

Regarding the advisory from the Canadian government, Mr Dames said he did not know what prompted the warning but

he said it was not the end of the world.

“Crime is the lowest it’s been in years,” he said. “We will have to find out exactly what’s precipitating this and see how we can work with the Canadians and whomever to find ways to addressing this problem. I mean in Toronto crime’s up, murders and homicides are up in Toronto, Canada.

“The commissioner will very early in the New Year will give you a more microlevel overview of the crime statistics but as I said before when you look at serious crimes armed robberies and homicides these are down.

“They are never as low as we would like them to be but this is something

that we promised and we will continue to work to bring the level of crime down, but also reduce the level of fear because sometimes numbers don’t always determine fear levels. You can have one incident and that could evoke fear and so we understand that there are any number of variables impacting how people perceive crime and we’re looking at every one of those variables.

“Do we have work to do?

Of course we do. I’d be the first one to tell you we have work to do despite the numbers being down, but one thing I would say is that we are on the right track and we’re moving in the right direction,” Mr Dames said.

HIs statement came as the RBPF said no major matters were reported on Christmas Day. Police officers have swarmed the streets this holiday season.

There have been 90 murders so far this year; 2010, when 94 people were murdered, was the last year the country recorded fewer than 100 murders. The country last recorded fewer than 90 murders in 2009 when 87 people were killed.

When asked about the matter, Mr Dames said: “Ninety and under is the target for next year, absolutely. I want to see these numbers continue to

decline. If our policies are working then we can expect to see further declines.

“We’re not celebrating,” he said. “Even the numbers for this year, while we have improved from a statistical standpoint, with the assistance of the public we may achieve lower records in a number of critical areas.

We are not resting because we feel these numbers can and will continue to decline as we begin to follow the recommendations outlined in the manpower audit, one which is bringing the number of constables up to an acceptable level. We want to see almost every

time you turn a corner a police car is not far away.

We are well on the way to achieving that because the last 134 officers that would have passed (through the Police Training College) this month have already been assigned in a number of critical areas in mass numbers. We are working towards achieving what the manpower audit called for so very shortly you will begin to see the presence that the public has been longing for for maybe decades. This is the first true audit we conducted. We walked into a failed model and if we say model is

broken, how do we fix it?”

The manpower audit, released in May, concluded the RBPF needs 791 additional constables to effectively fulfil its mandate. The audit determined the RBPF is too top-heavy. It lambasted recent promotion exercises.

Among the other initiatives Mr Dames credited for the murder rate decline is the expansion of neighbourhood watch councils.

“There are some things, like the National Neighbourhood Watch Council I am upbeat about, that are really exciting,” he said.

“We have mobilised well into New Providence with

over 70 councils and the numbers are growing. In Grand Bahama the numbers are in double digits.”

The incident of a man who was found shot dead outside an abandoned building in Stapledon Gardens on December 21 has not been classified as a murder, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash told The Nassau Guardian recently. It had previously been reported this killing pushed the murder count to 91 for the year. Police have suggested the deceased in this matter was the aggressor and may have been killed in self-defence.

MARVIN DAMES, Minister of National Security.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

POLICE AIM TO REDUCE MURDERS TO LESS THAN 90 NEXT YEAR

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

WITH the country on pace to record fewer than 100 murders in a year for the first time in nearly a decade, National Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday declared his goal for the year ahead: fewer than 90 murders.

He said this can be achieved if the Royal Bahamas Police Force hits its human resources targets, reaching a point where people will see that “almost every time you turn a corner, a police car is not far away.”

ACTIVISTS AGREE WITH CANADA WARNING TO LGBTQI COMMUNITY

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

TWO LGBTQI activists yesterday agreed with Canadian government’s crime advisory warning Canadians to consider the risks of travelling to The Bahamas because homosexuality is not widely accepted.

Alexus D’Marco, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex advocate, told The Tribune that for many in the community The Bahamas does not offer the needed resources and there is rampant discrimination when it comes to essential services.

Another spokesperson for the community, Erin Greene, added the advisory was “reasonable” and was not offensive. Ms Greene said The Bahamas need not pretend there was no violence toward the members of LGBTQI community for the sake of tourism.

Both said the advisory could be based on complaints from those in the community who seek asylum in Canada.

Ms D’Marco said: “So for LGBT Bahamians, their claim is based on stigma and discrimination. They can’t get married. They can’t advance if they are a public LGBT person, they are discriminated in that area. They can’t advance in their career. There is no access to marriage, hormones, medications and all of that so that will be their claim.

“We should acknowledge that LGBT people do exist in The Bahamas that they have been stigmatised and discriminated against.

They’ve been used in voluntary attacks even through political statements.

“There is no trust when it comes to the police.

That’s another reason why they don’t trust the police

because when they go to the police station, they are in a same-sex relationship and the police says to them ‘well if you weren’t like this this wouldn’t have happened to you, sit over there,’ and they make them sit there for hours and no reports are filed nothing like that so there is no trust.”

She said there needed to be more sensitisation for authorities.

For her part, Ms Greene said she has experienced violence regularly, adding that over the last several years, slurs had become more prevalent especially in the political arena.

“As an advocate on the ground I think it’s fair warning, I think considering travel culture generally, I am not concerned that Canada would have issued this advisory,” she said.

“I will be making inquiries . . .if there is a particular or significant incident or event that caused them to begin (issuing a warning to LGBTQI people).

“But generally, I think it is a sound, a reasonable advisory to LGBTQ Canadians. I am not offended or concerned that Canada has decided to issue this advisory.

“As an LGBT Bahamian that regularly if not frequently experiences violence as a human rights advocate that concerns myself about violence towards and within the LGBT community locally, I think that it’s a sound and reasonable move for us for the sake of tourism not to pretend that we don’t experience violence towards the community locally and that by extension LGBTQ visitors might experience that violence.”

Canada also warned its citizens of crime in general in The Bahamas. However the advisory, which was listed on the Canadian government’s website travel.

gc.ca, did note that crime here has decreased.

“There has been a decrease in violent crime since the beginning of 2018,” the advisory said.

“Crime, however, including violent crime, still occurs, mainly on the islands of Grand Bahama and New Providence.

“Armed robberies,

burglaries, purse snatchings, theft, fraud and sexual assaults are the most common crimes committed against travellers in Freeport and Nassau. Incidents

of robbery also take place in cruise ship terminals and in and around popular resort areas, even in daylight hours. Crime increases during the holidays.”

PAGE 6, Friday, December 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

School’s out - for three more days from page one When contacted for comment on those reports around noon yesterday, Mrs Wilson confirmed that plans were in place to have “some level” of action if union officials were not successful in getting a postponement.

In a brief conversation with The Tribune, Mrs Wilson said aspects of the BUT’s plan were still being worked on, adding that union representatives were in meetings for most of the day trying to finalise some of the details.

“Yes, there is truth to (those reports),” she said.

“If you give me some time … I’ll be able to get back to you later this evening or tonight with what we have decided to do.”

Less than two hours later, The Tribune received an unofficial notice that a decision had been made to delay the January re-opening date by several days.

One well-placed source with knowledge of the situation told The Tribune that the Ministry of Education had rebuffed an initial request made by the BUT for the same earlier this week.

This ultimately led to BUT officials making a

direct request of the Office of the Prime Minister, resulting in a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday and an official decision to delay the re-opening of public schools.

That same source claimed the decision was made given the current “union climate,” insisting Dr Minnis opted to relent in hopes that the move would be seen as a “step towards peace.”

The BUT is one of several labour groups that have been locked in varying levels of talks with the Minnis administration in recent months.

A number of these unions have made industrial threats as a means to get the government to budge on labour disputes.

In late November, in the face of mounting labour unrest across multiple sectors, it was announced that Dr Minnis would sit down with union leaders in a large-scale meeting.

After that December 3 meeting, many of those leaders, including Mrs Wilson, branded the sitdown a flop.

“There was no commitment to anything,” Mrs Wilson said at the time, summing up the consensus.

“All I saw it as was an opportunity to regurgitate the same problems we have been articulating for years and years and years. I knew having a large number of labour leaders in one room for a few minutes could not give adequate time for the concerns.”

In the weeks following the meeting, the government struck deals with both the Consultant Physicians Staff Association and the Bahamas Doctors Union to quell work slowdown from the former and avert strike action from the latter group.

Meanwhile teachers at C H Reeves overwhelmingly voted in favour of a strike during a poll earlier this month.

Last week, Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd said the matter of the teachers being awarded a strike certificate is still before the Office of the Attorney General, which is determining the validity of the strike vote.

This decision was a result of issues at the school that included a suspicion of mould in 12 classrooms, leakage in a few of the classrooms, termite infestation and leaky toilets in one block of the girls’ bathrooms.

BUT president Belinda Wilson.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

GLENYS RENEWS ATTACK ON OBAN from page one

Dion Foulkes told The Tribune on Wednesday the project’s EIA would likely not be made public until a new Heads of Agreement is signed.

The government’s negotiating team and Oban representatives are set to meet on January 7, but in the meantime Mr Foulkes stressed the government was committed to being accountable and transparent throughout the entire process.

However, Mrs Hanna Martin said this process is shaping up to be anything but transparent.

“I think it is a complete about-face of the FNM’s pre-election stance on transparency and all of

the associated claims they made in this regard to influence voters,” she told The Tribune yesterday.

“It is yet another cloudy aspect of this whole deal.”

Regarding the donation to the Superstar Rockers Junkanoo group on Saturday, Mrs Hanna Martin also said: “I am very leery and wary of foreign investors who through Heads of Agreements or in anticipation of a Heads of Agreement, as in the case of Oban, dish out trinkets to our people while they gobble up a lion’s share of our patrimony.

“It is a very old trick going deep into our history now becoming more and more transparent. It is both annoying and insulting at the same time.

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“Frankly this government is bankrupt of ideas and has nothing on offer.

Their best foot forward is putting an oil refinery in one of the most ecosensitive areas of our country when the enlightened world is advocating for more green energy,” she continued.

“When you consider the scientific research which demonstrates the negative effect this type of activity has on climate change, our peculiar vulnerability in this regard as a small island developing state, the disturbing controversies surrounding this company and its key players, why would this government insist on binding our beautiful geography, our superb geology in this narrow and

destructive way with questionable economic impact including and limited job creation?

“While I do not object to corporate sponsorship and I am hopeful we will develop sustainable measures to fuel cultural development in general and Junkanoo in particular, I do have a problem, however, with what appears to be efforts to influence outcomes or shape perceptions by these types of interventions especially at the local level.”

Earlier this week Mr Foulkes confirmed the completion of the EIA and that technical officials were looking at the document. However, he said the review of the document was a very complicated process

involving several government agencies that would also have to weigh in on the matter.

“We’re going to be transparent about the whole process,” said Mr Foulkes.

“Oban will be accountable at every stage of the way.

The prime minister has asked me as the chairman of the committee to keep the public informed every step of the way.

“So there is nothing that’s going to happen unless we have full disclosure. The EIA has already been presented to us, the review of it is a very complicated process, several government agencies, including Town Planning (Committee) and the BEST Commission, certain regulations and laws that have to be complied with.”

When pressed further, Mr Foulkes said: “But that’s all I am prepared to say at this time. Cabinet has to make decisions every step of the way. I don’t want to preempt or presume what Cabinet will say, but the prime minister wants it to be done thoroughly.

The government’s initial agreement with Oban sparked intense criticism, including points of opposition from several environmental organisations that took issue with the lack of an environmental impact assessment, given the project’s risk factors.

The fallout prompted an admission from Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis that there were gross missteps in the government’s process.

BIOMETRICS CHANGE FOR CANADA TRAVEL Death Notice For

Bethsheva Paul, 73

of South Beach Estates & formerly of The Bluff, South Andros died on Monday, 24th December, 2018 at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Location Based in Nassau, but travel to the islands will be required.

She is survived by her Husband: Daniel Paul; 1 Daughter: Deborah Brown; 1 Son-In -Law: Pastor Joseph Brown; 1 Grandson: Joel Brown; 4 Brothers: Rev. Moses, Apostle Elijah, Isaiah and Bishop Alton Ferguson; 8 Sisters: Ulean & Maxine Ferguson, Pastor Blooming Neely, Vernita Johnson-Mackey, Malvease Moxey, Ruth Pinder, Miriam Braynen and Willamae Hanna; 12 in-laws: Jeffrey & James Ferguson, Captain Leserdo Moxey, Benjamin Pinder, Leroy Mackey, Priscilda Ferguson, Alice (Yvon) Cherenfant, Sybil (Anthony) Archer, Vernice Paul, Garfield Brennen & Euricka Ferguson.

Please send your resume to jobvacancybs@gmail.com by January 4th 2018.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced changes to Canada’s biometrics programme, which will now require Bahamians applying for various permits or residencies to provide biometrics beginning December 31.

The technical term biometrics refers to the measurement and analysis of unique human characteristics, and is mainly used for identification and authentication. Common identifiers used for passports are finger scans, iris scans or digital photographs.

The change comes by way of a regulatory amendment by the Canadian government and includes all foreign nations, unless exempt, who are applying for a visitor’s visa, a study or work permit excluding US nationals and/or a temporary resident permit.

This also includes those applying for permanent residence or claiming refugee or asylum status.

However visa-exempt nationals including citizens of the Bahamas visiting Canada who hold a valid electronic travel authorisation (eTA) and who do not require a work permit, study permit, or temporary resident permit, do not need to provide biometrics.

“As a result, Bahamian citizens in the certain

categories of applications, will need to provide biometrics effective 31st December 2018,” officials said in a press release.

“Citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas between the ages of 14 and 79 (inclusive) who apply on or after 31st December, 2018 for a study permit, a work permit, or a permanent resident (immigrant) visa to Canada, will need to provide their biometrics at any visa application centre (VAC) or application support centre (ASC) of their choice.

“Applications submitted before 31st December, 2018, are not affected.”

It continued: “Citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas who are applying for a study permit or a work permit will only need to provide their biometrics once every ten years.

“Visa-exempt nationals (including citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas) coming to visit Canada who hold a valid eTA and who do not require a work permit, study permit, or temporary resident permit, do not need to provide biometrics.”

Officials strongly advised persons seeking to travel to Canada to visit the Canadian government’s website to ensure that they comply with entry requirements.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 28, 2018, PAGE 7

Golden Gates residents: Why are businesses being allowed?

By FARRAH JOHNSON SOME Golden Gates residents are protesting alleged zoning law violations they claim have allowed street vendors and commercial businesses to operate in the single-family residential area.

Lead organiser, resident Carol McDonald told The Tribune the community is frustrated about the number of buildings that have been constructed in the area for commercial use.

“Everybody who has a conveyance document for this subdivision (knows) it will say you cannot build anything other than a single-family residence, and if you do intend to do so, you have to go to the residents and get their permission.

Nobody comes to us,” she said.

“There are about four vacant lots on this stretch because a lot of people who bought them didn’t want to build single-family residences, so they eventually sold them. What is happening now is people are buying them and trying to turn them into commercial spaces,” she explained.

Ms McDonald said in August she approached Senator Ranard Henfield who she said told her she needed ten signatures to start a petition.

After collecting support from 32 of her neighbours, Ms McDonald said she returned to Mr Henfield, who took their complaint to the board of the Ministry of Works.

Ms McDonald explained

that initially, the board members said they were unaware of any buildings being constructed in the residential area; however, she said they have now been informed that the government owns a building in question.

Ms McDonald said the situation is escalating rapidly, because construction is currently underway for a building that will host a liquor store, along with a restaurant or clothing shop.

She added the foundation for a clinic has already been laid on the street next to her home.

“We don’t want that because we don’t want any stray people through our corners or through our neighbourhood. (So) we need to know what is going there, (and) who’s doing it (and) why, because we need

it stopped,” she said.

The petition is also calling for the “permanent relocation” of street vendors who pose a major inconvenience to homeowners in the area.

“We have a problem with the fact that you can hardly get in your driveway some days (because) people are all over the place, (plus) it’s a traffic congestion zone,” said Ms McDonald.

She added many residents have been battling with “rude” vendors who curse at them or tell them they can do whatever they please because they have permits.

“We have some who are here every week...they just set up and every day they come, or every weekend they come. If that’s not bad enough, sometimes you have the fish and conch

vendors who join in,” she said.

“The police, sometimes they would come and they would say ‘Okay you can’t set up the stall directly in the front of this person’s house,’ if we file a complaint with them, but we do it so much that it’s exhausting,” she said.

She said the police have advised residents to contact the Parks and Beaches Division of the Ministry of Works, but said when they do call, they find it “challenging” to speak to someone.

“What they said at town planning was that they rezoned the area so people could do whatever they want to do – that doesn’t sit well with me because legally I don’t think you should be able to re-zone a

strictly residential area for commercial (use) without first speaking to someone.”

In response to the petition, Works Minister Desmond Bannister said there is a “process in the law” that must be taken into consideration when dealing with such matters.

Speaking to The Tribune, he said that if someone “applies for something” and receives a work permit and another person finds an issue with it, there is an important procedure to follow.

“People can come through the media and put together whatever they want (but) it doesn’t work like that. And we have to tell Bahamians that the proper process is to follow the process through the Ministry of Works,” he said.

$4.8M SEAWALL CLOSE TO COMPLETION AT SMITH’S POINT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE $4.8m seawall and road repaving project at Smith’s Point in Grand Bahama is just about finished and residents are eager for the community to be reopened to the public.

The Tribune understands the only hold up is the installation of a protective railing on the seawall to ensure public safety.

Yesterday, a construction fence was still erected barring public access to Smith’s Point until the area can be inspected by officials of the Ministry of Public Works and officially declared safe.

Marcel Wilson, a resident of Smith’s Point, thinks the seawall project has been carried out successfully but said residents are now waiting for the fence to come down.

The Smith’s Point settlement is well known for its weekly Fish Fry on Wednesdays. Residents operate small family restaurants and bars in the community and rely on local residents and visitors that frequent the area.

“The seawall and repaving of the road have really enhanced our area to a greater potential,” Mr Wilson told The Tribune.

“We are just a little frustrated because everything is done, and they are waiting for the rail to go on top of the seawall. That is the hold up now for the community

being opened back up to the public.”

Mr Wilson, of the Outriggers Beach Club, had initially expressed concern about the delay in the project after the initial contractor was terminated last June due to construction flaws and deadline failures.

The Minnis administration hired Waugh Construction to replace Smith’s Construction, which was awarded the contract in June 2016 under the Christie administration.

After almost two years since the seawall’s contract signing, Mr Wilson was very pleased with the completed work.

“We are happy with the job; just a little frustrated now because it has been two years. We need it to be open because people are starting to feel the pinch economically from the road still being closed,” he said.

“But for the most part the job is a professional job, it is well done, and we are very impressed with the finished product. It is time to open (the area up) so people can get some relief for their business,” he said.

Mr Wilson estimates that there are between 80 to 100 residents in the community.

He said that reopening the community is vital to their businesses.

On Wednesday, he noted that the members of the public attending the weekly fish fry took down a portion of the wooden fencing at his family’s business to gain

A NEW seawall has been constructed at Smith’s Point in Grand Bahama. Road paving has also taken place.

Photos: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff “For me, I feel very access to the eastern end of proud about it because we the settlement.

“It was crowded out here, hope it would bring more and people broke our fence business for the commuto walk down into the set- nity; it is a highlight for the community. tlement,” Wilson said.

“I believe everybody Coastal erosion has been a serious concern for the should be pleased with it estimated 80-100 residents, even though it takes so and there has been a sig- long. It was a stretch, and it nificant loss of land due to really put a damper on our erosion along the Smith’s business. But right now, it Point shoreline in the past is very satisfactory, and we appreciate it,” Ms Williams 30 years.

With a new seawall con- said.

Ms Williams was also structed, the community is now protected from any relieved that the seawall will combat any further erofurther erosion.

“We can’t begin to sion of the area.

“We really appreciate express how important that is to us,” Mr Wilson said. that part because the ero“We probably will still have sion was really bad and did water coming over the sea- some heavy damage here,” wall during a hurricane, but she said.

The Tribune sought comit would lessen the force and avoid much damage. ment from Parliamentary From that point of view, Secretary in the Ministry of we can’t stress enough how Public Works Iram Lewis regarding when the rail important that it.”

The Tribune also spoke for the seawall would be with resident Penny Wil- installed, and the commu- MARCEL Wilson seen standing outside Outriggers Beach Club liams who said the seawall nity reopened to the public, where a construction fence has been erected at Smith’s Point in and repaving make the however he could not be Grand Bahama. Residents are waiting for government officials to remove the fence so they can access the area. community more attractive. reached up to press time.

$500,000 UPGRADE FOR ZNS IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ZNS’ Northern Service in Grand Bahama will undergo a complete digitalisation of its television facilities to the tune of some $500,000, it was announced yesterday.

Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas Mike Smith and executives signed a contract with Broadcasting Video System (BVS) Group to carry out a digital upgrade over the next three months at ZNS from its current analogue system.

At the signing were Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe, parliamentary secretary for information and communications in the Office of the Prime Minister; Darren Meadows, deputy general manager at ZNS; Karen Knowles, acting general manager,Keith Gomez,

assistant general manager of engineering and Pablo Goldstein, principal of BVS. Mr Meadows said that it is an “exciting day” for the staff at ZNS in Freeport who are looking forward to the transition from analog to digital television.

“It has been a day we have been waiting for many years to sign a contract to begin the process of digitalisation of our television department,” he said. “I am especially excited for the staff and television department who have been labouring in sub-standard conditions. I have seen what they can do with analog equipment, and I know with the state-of-the-art equipment that we are about to get they will do us proud.”

Meanwhile Mr Smith indicated that the digital upgrade is in keeping with what is taking place in Freeport, regarding the development of Grand

Bahama as a technology hub.

“The board of directors, in particular, was mandated to carry out this upgrade and modernisation of our facilities in Freeport,” he said.

“We do apologise as the board to all staff here at the Northern Service for having to operate under such strenuous and uncomfortable conditions. I honestly do not know how they do what they do, and how they produce what they produce in the facility that they have (here).”

Mr Smith said that the BVS Group is no stranger to the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas, having carried out the digital upgrade of ZNS facilities in New Providence some years ago.

Mr Goldstein said that the upgrade would significantly improve quality of television content to HD.

He said the upgrade includes new state-of-theart television cameras, teleprompters, a new LED light system, new switching system and processing gear, a play out system with media asset management in place to reuse material generated, among other things.

According to Mr Goldstein, the BVS Group has been in existence for 15 years, operating in the Caribbean and Latin America, with offices in Miami, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay.

Mrs Parker-Edgecombe said that the Minnis administration is keen on ensuring that the BCB is provided with the tools and resources it needs to compete not only locally, but globally.

“It has been a long time in coming, and I must congratulate the board and executive management for what they are about to do. As we advance in

technology globally, we want to ensure that not only are our staff equipped with the relevant tools that will not only make their work easier but of better quality,” she said.

She believes that the upgrade is a step in the right direction.

“With the challenges we have had over the years, the staff has endured much with the analog system. I do believe we are on the right track as far as training our staff is concerned, and management and the board behind that to make sure they are well ready for this new process that is going to be implemented,” Mrs Parker-Edgecombe, a former journalist, said.

Mr Smith said that while this particular contract with BVS does not include a new television production set, they intend to have a new set designed for an entirely new look to accommodate

all new technical background and support.

Mr Meadows indicated the new equipment is expected to arrive in about six weeks on the island.

“Within six weeks and two months we will start seeing movement on the ground,” he said.

Mr Smith stressed the main focus of ZNS as a public broadcaster is providing programming that will help build the country.

“We are not to compete with fad broadcasting. We have a sustained mandate to stay focused on programming that is development-oriented and educationally-oriented.

However, we do have a hybrid situation where we have . . .radio stations, and two television channels, and we will be able in some way to appease our entire audience, and appeal to a significant broad audience,” he said.

PAGE 8, Friday, December 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Travel woes drag on for airline passengers from page one “Other airlines, as well as our remaining schedule have been impacted by these ATC related delays by as much as two hours.

Furthermore, we regrettably advise the travelling public that some of our outbound US flights may not be able to clear customs in Nassau and may have to be post-cleared in the United States.

“Additionally, due to ATC related delays and official sunset regulations, Bahamasair will give priority to our Long Island and Rock Sound flights,” the statement said.

“Nevertheless, despite these challenges we anticipate that we will complete our entire schedule for today, albeit with some delays.”

This comes after the airline’s officials had a press conference on Monday to explain what led to cancellations and lengthy delays days before Christmas.

Bahamasair Managing Director Tracy Cooper blamed the airline’s recent failures on several “mitigating circumstances,” which he said were

compounded despite the company’s best efforts to right itself.

“We didn’t anticipate something like this happening a day or two before Christmas with all of those circumstances,” he said on Monday. “We would just like the public to know that it was not the fact that Bahamasair was just delinquent, but really it was mitigating circumstances that caused Bahamasair not to be able to operate as it should have.”

He later added: “We operated these three days around the clock. We were operating flights well into the night, we had flights coming in from Miami at 3am, 5am and we kept our staff in place to make sure that they can deal with the passengers.”

Over the weekend, several Bahamasair flights servicing Florida airports were cancelled or delayed due to a “massive weather disturbance” and power failure.

Tensions ran high in Florida airports according to passengers, some of whom also took to social media to voice their frustration at delays of over 12 hours.

BARGE BREAKS FROM MOORINGS A LARGE barge broke its moorings in Montagu harbour yesterday and was adrift for a number of hours before being captured and secured.

Images of the barge floating near other anchored vessels were widely circulated on social media.

According to a Royal Bahamas

Defence Force spokesman, the Harbour Patrol Uni was alerted to the breakaway barge but found it too big to contain by itself. The Port Authority was subsequently informed and successfully hired a local company to secure the barge and bring it under

control and safely back to harbour.

There were no reports of any injuries nor damage.

Up to press time, the RBDF could not provide details about the origin of the barge nor who would carry the costs of the recovery operation - the authorities or the owner?

Funeral Service For

Dianne Elizabeth Sands, 57

of Christie Avenue will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 10:45 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Boyd Road. Officiating will be Rev. Monsignor Alfred Culmer assisted by Deacon Peter Jones. Interment will following in St Joseph’s Cemetery, Tyler Street.

Left to cherish her memories are her 9 Children: Otherine Humes, Doreen Humes-Campbell, Sophia Humes-Ferguson, Lofornia and Lamarison Rolle, Parris Richemond, Christopher, Chrisnell and Donnell Metayer; 22 Grand children: Lynden Humes, Alexandria and Alexander Russell, Dennis Jr and Keno Harris, Keon, Denero and Kenisha Joseph, Randy, Randera, Dorrie and Logan Andy Campbell, Parris Jr, Alvin Sands Jr, Sklar Brown, Dianna Mackey, Shanton Bethel and soon to be (D’anne Elizabeth Metayer); One Great Grand: Larroune Major; Sisters: Kaylana Bouier of Detroit, Carmetta Christie, Michelle Turnquest, Apostle Judy, Raquel, Rochell, Malaysia Curry and Almaden Demeritte; Brothers: Cardnell, Heinrich, Lynden, Harry, Talmadae Curry, PC. Rudolph Belle and Alexander Gibson of Grand Bahama; Father: Godfrey Curry; Step Father: Johnny Davis; Sons-in-law: Cory Ferguson, Randoph Campbell and Dennis Harris Sr; Brother-in-law: Author Bouier; Three adopted Siblings: Evalyn, Wanny and Abbie; Two Adopted Daughters: Kenisha Wilson & Joycelyn Knowles; Uncles: Sidney Cooper, Frederick King, Wendell Deveauxe, Rev. Kirk Curry, Edgar Curry, Warren Curry, Rev. Lieut Curry, Evie and Joseph Johnson; Aunts: Morley Curry, Vernie Curry, Anita Bain and Valery Seymore; Nephews and Nieces: Joseph Pugh, Aliyah Fowler, Candida Thompson, Raquel Curry, Constance Davis, Alex Paul, Natalie Paul and Chanderia Curry; Close family and friends: Alvin Sands sr, Ken Joseph, Laurrie Destin, Keturah Clarke, Rico Brown, Luke Ford Richemond, Debbie Davis, Ann Major, Sharon Brown and the Brown family, Basil Inghram, Laverne Gardner, Ruth Bobb, Sheila and family, Wallace Family, Curry Family, Turnquest family, Collie family especially Ruth Collie, Dawkins family, Lord family, Hart family, Lamm family, Moss family, Humes Family, Hanna family , Bethel family, Mr Miller, Mrs Lynette, Frank Saunders and Family The Bain and Grant’s family, Gambier community, Pit Road family, The Punch, The Tribune, The Guardian and The Journal Families, Coca Cola Family, Brady Laundry’s Family, Malia Family, Island Cement and CEMEX Family Atlantis Family, KFC Family The St Joseph Parrish Family especially Monsignor Culmer, Fr. Oswald Ferguson and the Archdiocese of Nassau. Special thanks to all the news paper vendors, The Cancer Society, The Heart Center, PMH staff, the nurses and doctors in Female Surgical 1 especially Dr Issacs, Dr Munroa, Dr. Rick Newbold, The doctor and nurses at Seagrapes Medical Center especially Dr Charles Osazuwa, Mrs Mort, Bahamar Family and a slew of numerous friends and family members too numerous to mention, all the people that supported us during her treatment and care..Thank you all !!

ARTIST Dro Capone with youngsters during the YES event at Fusion Superplex.

Youth Empowerment Solutions NEWLY founded Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES), had its inaugural empowerment workshop on Saturday.

The workshop, held at the Fusion Superplex, brought to life a fun-filled mentorship programme with the children from Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home where they learned about dealing with peer pressure and find their own niche in life.

The event was hosted by local celebrity artist Dro-Capone and included dynamic local presenters such as Onike Archer, Barry Griffin, Kenise Darville and YES founder Jerad Darville.

The YES group gives thanks to Tecoyo Bridgewater, Kayan Thompson and the Fusion Superplex team who provided the kids with a wonderful experience at their new facility on Gladstone Road. Further, this was all made possible by donations from the group’s charitable friends, especially Tanya Carey.

JOIN THE CLUB OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers.

To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line.

For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 5022373 or 826-2242.

ATTENDEES at the YES event enjoying ice creams.

Viewing will be held in the Blessed Redeemer Chapel at Ferguson’s Funeral Directors, 7th Terrace Collins Avenue on Friday from 12 noon – 5p.m. and again at the Church on Saturday from 9:45 9a.m. until service time.

Death Notice For

Patsy Patricia McPhee, 70

of Guinep Tree Street, Pinewood Gardens, died on Tuesday, December 25, 2018.

She is survived by 2 Sons: Darrin and Durant Roker; 2 Daughters: Nichelle Pinder nee Roker and Nocyia Saunders nee Johnson; Grand children: Demetranique Kelly, Troy Brown, Aleah Pinder, Durant Roker Jr., Tas’hanique Roker, Dajah and Dajaharro Roker, Nikejo and Rayden Saunders; 1 Great Grand: Chrispin Culmer and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

BARRY GRIFFIN

JERAD DARVILLE

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 28, 2018, PAGE 9

Killer jailed for 40 years has court appeal rejected

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing another man in a row over money has had his attempt at contesting his sentence dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

Appellate Justices Stella Crane-Scott, Roy Jones and Milton Evans dismissed Lathario Miller’s appeal concerning the September 25, 2010, shooting death of Marco Smith.

According to the Crown, sometime after 1pm on the date in question, Smith was the driver of a car in the area of Market Street, with a woman named Otishka Gibson as his passenger.

Ms Gibson testified that while on Market Street, Smith called Miller over to the car and asked about money Miller owed him. The two men started to argue and during the exchange, Smith insulted Miller’s late mother and threatened him.

The altercation was witnessed by Luckson Veus, a friend of Miller’s, who testified that after Smith called Miller over to the car, he heard Miller raise his voice to Smith.

According to Mr Veus, he then heard Smith say to Miller: “If you think this is a game, you lucky I ain’t take your mother from you yet,” to which Miller replied: “My mother dead.”

Mr Veus said Smith then retorted by saying: “Well, I ready to send you to your mother because you think this a game. You all hang up here ‘til I come back.”

Mr Veus also testified that following the argument, Smith drove off but returned to the Market Street area a short time later brandishing a firearm and making more threats.

Mr Veus said he heard Smith saying: “People don’t always save your life.

Before the end of the day we ga buck and you ga be dead.”

Ms Gibson, meanwhile, testified that after the argument, Smith drove to a nearby residence of a food vendor named “Mama’s” that sold cooked food in the Colleton Street in Ridgeland Park. She said that on arrival at the food vendor’s house, Smith left her there, but returned shortly afterwards. She said upon his return, he exited his car and placed his order with the food vendor.

While standing in the doorway waiting for his food, Smith was approached

by Miller who came into the area on a bicycle. At the time, Ms Gibson was sitting in the front passenger seat of Smith’s parked car.

She said she watched as Miller got off the bicycle and approached Smith, who at the time had his back turned away from the other man.

Ms Gibson said as Miller approached Smith from behind, he drew a handgun from his waist. She said she called out to Smith to warn him but Miller fired at Smith, who then turned and ran at his assailant and tried unsuccessfully to struggle with him for the gun. Ms Gibson said Smith then tried to run away, but as he did so, was shot in the back

of his head. She said Miller subsequently stood over Smith’s body and fired the gun again.

Ms Gibson said Miller left the scene on his bicycle and mocked her by uttering the words “Marco ay, Marco ay” to her before riding off.

According to Forensic Pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, Smith died from three gunshot wounds: one to the back of the head, one to the back of the neck and one to his front shoulder.

A fourth wound, which she described as a graze wound, was observed to Smith’s back. Dr Sands recovered three bullets from Smith’s body during the post-mortem examination.

At the close of the Crown’s case, Miller took the witness stand and repeated much of what he told police in his statement under caution.

Miller acknowledged the initial argument and later going to the food vendor to buy food, but maintained it was Smith who came at him with the gun, and that having managed to pry the gun away from the deceased’s hands during a subsequent struggle between the two, the gun discharged when Smith charged at him again in an effort to retrieve the weapon.

Under cross-examination, Miller denied, among other things, approaching Smith from behind or pulling a gun from his waist while doing so. He further denied suggestions that as Smith tried to run past him, he shot him in the back of the head. He also denied

MAJOR UPGRADE TO WATER SUPPLY FOR NORTH ELEUTHERA

By KATHRYN CAMPBELL

RELIEF is on the way for the water woes of approximately 5,000 residents of North Eleuthera. A major upgrade is presently underway to the water supply in that district that will bring relief to complaints of no water, salt water, low pressure and brown odorous water.

Adrian Gibson, Water and Sewerage Corporation executive chairman, led a small delegation to North Eleuthera on December 21 to inspect a new salt water reverse osmosis plant that is presently being constructed on the island.

The team included Elwood Donaldson, general manager; Cyprian Gibson, assistant general manager and Thomas Desmangles, distribution operations manager.

“We are trying to give the residents of North Eleuthera decent water,” said Mr Gibson. “We have had some issues with water here over the last few years, either brown or not having the best taste.

“What you are seeing here is construction of a brand new 600,000 gallons reverse osmosis plant. That plant will be expandable up to two million gallons if, and when, the economy of North Eleuthera grows.

ADRIAN GIBSON, Water and Sewerage Corporation executive chairman, is pictured (right, front row) inspecting the site for a new reverse osmosis plant in North Eleuthera. Also shown (front, left) is Gaddy Senatus, service manager, Suez Aqua Design Bahamas Ltd; back row from left, Thomas Desmangles, distribution operations manager; Cyprian Gibson, assistant general manager and Elwood Donaldson, general manager.

Photo: Patrick Hanna/BIS “We think it is necessary. Eleuthera has a booming economy.

A new airport is forecasted to come on stream. We expect more investment to come to Eleuthera so why not make that investment on the water side and ensure that headaches with respect to water are all solved.”

Suez Aqua Design Bahamas Ltd, a water technology and solutions company, has been awarded a contract for approximately $2m to construct the plant.

Work on the project, including a 300 feet disposal well, has already begun and is expected to be completed in April 2019. Ten to 15 local residents of Eleuthera will be employed to carry out the work.

Residents in Spanish Wells, Harbour Island and Russell Island will benefit from the new reverse osmosis plant.

“The locals will get quality water and the investors that come to Eleuthera will have no water concerns,” said Mr Gibson.

EMBASSY OPERATING THROUGH SHUTDOWN

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE US Embassy in Nassau will provide scheduled passport and visa services despite the partial shutdown of its government, officials said yesterday.

In a message posted to Facebook and Twitter, the US Embassy said: “Due to the lapse in appropriations, this Facebook (Twitter) account will not be updated regularly. Please note that scheduled passport and visa

services will continue in the US and overseas during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits.”

US embassies around the world released identical statements as work resumed following the holidays.

According to Boundless, a US immigration advocacy group, long shutdowns known to approach one month “have sapped resources from the State Department as a whole, and led consulates to restrict visa processing activity to only emergency situations.”

The State Department collects user fees to fund its visa operations. The Washington Post has also reported that although the State Department says it will keep issuing passports and visas, it has warned that such activities “will remain operational as long as there are sufficient fees to support operations.”

The US government shutdown comes amid a standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over funds for a wall along the US-Mexico border.

walking over to Smith as he lied on the ground and firing another shot that hit the deceased in the back of the head. He also denied mocking the female passenger in Smith’s car, or that he wanted to kill Smith or see him dead.

Miller was arraigned on June 1, 2015 before Justice Ian Winder and a jury on a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) that charged him with Smith’s murder.

He was found guilty of the crime on June 8, 2015 and sentenced to 40 years in prison minus three years and three months to represent the time he spent on remand, to take effect from the date of his conviction.

Miller appealed his conviction and sentence on six grounds — five against conviction and one against sentence. He complained the sentencing judge failed to give the jury the standard direction on how they should have approached

the evidence and opinions of Dr Sands; that such an error by the judge was further compounded by him mischaracterising Dr Sands’ claims about there being no evidence of ‘close-range discharge’ on the skin surrounding the entry wounds, which in her opinion caused Smith’s death; and that the sentencing judge failed to address the jury on the issue of whether the shooting was an accident, which Miler claimed arose based on the evidence.

The appellate judges said while they agreed the jury was given no instructions on how to treat Dr Sands’ expert evidence, and that the trial judge mischaracterised Dr Sands’ evidence, they were still of the view that the jury would have convicted Miller anyway.

The appellate judges said as there was no evidence from Miller or Ms Gibson as to how far he was from Smith when the gun discharged,

the judge’s mischaracterisation of Dr Sands’ evidence “neither detracted” from Miller’s testimony that the gun went off during the struggle for possession; or from Gibson’s evidence about seeing him standing over Smith’s body and firing more shots.

Conversely, the appellate judges said the jury had Ms Gibson’s eyewitness testimony which described a deliberate shooting; Dr Sands’ evidence that explained that Smith had four wounds in completely different locations, as well as Miller’s own statement under caution that during the struggle with Smith, he took the gun and pulled the trigger.

As a result, the appellate judges said they were satisfied that even if the jury were properly directed on all of the issues Miller identified in his grounds of appeal, they would, “without a doubt, have convicted”.

PAGE 10, Friday, December 28, 2018

FATHER OF DEAD GUATEMALAN BOY: WE HEARD WE COULD CROSS

THE TRIBUNE

US MAN FIRST TO COMPLETE ANTARCTICA’S ‘IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY’

GUATEMALA CITY Associated Press THE father of an 8-yearold Guatemalan boy who died in US custody took his son to the border after hearing rumours that parents and their children would be allowed to migrate to the United States and escape the poverty in their homeland, the boy’s stepsister told The Associated Press.

Felipe Gomez Alonzo died on Monday at a New Mexico hospital after suffering coughing, vomiting and fever, authorities said.

It was the second such death this month. Another Guatemalan child, sevenyear-old Jakelin Caal, died in US custody on December 8. Both deaths are under investigation.

“We heard rumors that they could pass (into the United States). They said they could pass with the children,” said Catarina Gomez Lucas, the boy’s 21-year-old stepsister, explaining why Felipe and his father, Agustin Gomez, made the dangerous journey.

Gomez Lucas would not say who spread the rumors or who transported the father and son to the border from Yalambojoch in Huehuetenango province, a poor community of returnees from Mexico who had fled Guatemala in the bloodiest years of that country’s 1960-1996 civil war.

SHAKE-UP OF SAUDI CABINET AFTER DEATH OF JOURNALIST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Associated Press SAUDI Arabia’s King Salman issued a wideranging overhaul of top government posts yesterday, including naming a new foreign minister, following international fallout from the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi nearly three months ago.

He also ordered a shake-up of the kingdom’s supreme council that oversees matters related to security. The council is headed by the king’s son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose powers including roles as deputy prime minister and defense minister, were untouched in the overhaul.

The changes appear to further consolidate the crown prince’s grip on power by appointing to key posts advisers and members of the royal family seen as close to him.

It may also signal further efforts to show that changes are being made after the US Senate passed a resolution saying it believes the crown prince is to blame for Khashoggi’s grisly murder.

AN OREGON man became the first person to traverse Antarctica alone without any assistance on Wednesday, trekking across the polar continent in an epic 54-day journey that was previously deemed impossible.

Colin O’Brady, of Portland, finished the bonechilling, 930-mile journey as friends, family and fans tracked the endurance athlete’s progress in real time online.

“I did it!” a tearful O’Brady said on a call to his family gathered in Portland

COLIN O’Brady speaks on the phone in Antarctica on Wednesday and, above, he is pictured during his trek. for the holidays, according to his wife, Jenna Besaw.

“It was an emotional call,” she said. “He seemed

overwhelmed by love and gratitude, and he really wanted to say ‘Thank you’ to all of us.”

O’Brady was sleeping near the finish line in Antarctica late Wednesday and could not immediately be reached for comment.

The 33-year-old O’Brady documented his nearly entirely uphill journey — which he called The Impossible First — on his Instagram page. He wrote Wednesday that he covered the last roughly 80 miles in one big, impromptu final push to the finish line that

took well over an entire day.

“While the last 32 hours were some of the most challenging hours of my life, they have quite honestly been some of the best moments I have ever experienced,” O’Brady posted.

The day before, he posted that he was “in the zone” and thought he could make it to the end in one go.

“I’m listening to my body and taking care of the details to keep myself safe,” he wrote. “I called home and talked to my mom, sister and wife — I promised them I will stop when I need to.”

Though others have traversed Antarctica, they either had assistance with reinforced supplies or kites that helped propel them forward.

In 2016, British explorer Henry Worsley died attempting an unassisted solo trip across Antarctica, collapsing from exhaustion toward the end of the trek.

Worsley’s friend and fellow English adventurer Louis Rudd is currently attempting an unaided solo in Worsley’s honor and was competing against O’Brady to be the first to do it.

No end in sight for US govt shutdown WASHINGTON Associated Press CHANCES look slim for ending the partial government shutdown any time soon.

House lawmakers are being told not to expect further votes this week, all but ensuring the shutdown will enter a second week and stretch toward the new year.

Lawmakers are away from Washington for the holidays and have been told they will get 24 hours’ notice before having to return for a vote. And although both the House the Senate were slated to come into session briefly yesterday afternoon, few senators or representatives were expected to be around for it.

President Donald Trump is vowing to hold the line on his demand for money to build a border wall. Back from the 29-hour trip to visit US troops, Trump tweeted Thursday that “we desperately need” a wall on the Mexico border, funding for which has been a flashpoint between the White House and Congress ever since Trump took office.

He called on Democrats in Congress to fund his wall, saying the shutdown affects their supporters. He asserted without evidence: “Do the Dems realize that most of the people not getting paid are Democrats?”

Virginia Democratic Sen Mark

THE CAPITOL Dome is seen from the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington during the partial government shutdown.

Photo: J Scott Applewhite/AP Warner called Trump’s comments “outrageous”. In his tweet, he added: “Federal employees don’t go to work wearing red or blue jerseys. They’re public servants.

And the President is treating them like poker chips at one of his failed casinos.”

After a weekend and two holiday days for federal employees, Wednesday was the first regularly scheduled workday affected by the

closure of a variety of federal services. A brief statement yesterday from the office of Louisiana Rep Steve Scalise, the No 3 Republican, spoke to the dim prospect for a quick solution. “Members are advised that no votes are expected in the House this week,” the statement said. “Please stay tuned to future updates for more information.”

The shutdown started on

Saturday when funding lapsed for nine Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies. Roughly 420,000 workers were deemed essential and are working unpaid, while an additional 380,000 have been furloughed.

While the White House was talking to congressional Democrats — and staff talks continued on Capitol Hill — negotiations dragged on Wednesday, dimming hopes for a swift breakthrough.

Republican Rep Mark Meadows of North Carolina, a Trump ally who has been involved in the talks, said the president “is very firm in his resolve that we need to secure our border”. He told CNN, “If they believe that this president is going to yield on this particular issue, they’re misreading him.”

The impasse over government funding began last week, when the Senate approved a bipartisan deal keeping government open into February. That bill provided $1.3bn for border security projects but not money for the wall. At Trump’s urging, the House approved that package and inserted the $5.7bn he had requested.

But Senate Republicans lacked the votes they needed to force the measure through their chamber.

That jump-started negotiations between Congress and the White House, but the deadline came and went without a deal.