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2016 in review

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ONE MAN FOUND BEATEN TO DEATH AND SECOND KILLED IN SHOOTING

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

POLICE discovered the lifeless body of a man who was beaten and wrapped in a blanket on a service road near Tom “The Bird” Grant Park in Yellow Elder Gardens yesterday.

He was one of two men who were killed on Thursday, with police reporting SEE PAGE SIX

Commissioner defends staff as women are turned away for ‘improper’ attire

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net AMID reports that some women have been turned away from registration sites because of “improper” attire, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall yesterday defended the right of his staff not to process people because of their clothing, telling The Tribune women registering to vote with “half their breasts out” is not permitted.

With voter registration performing sluggishly this year, concerns have been raised that citizens have been repeatedly turned away and reportedly prevented from registering for reasons ranging from registrar workers taking lunch breaks to what officials deem to be inappropriate clothing.

Yesterday, a pregnant woman who did not want

to be identified, told The Tribune she was told by registration officials at the Elizabeth Estates Post Office that she would not be allowed to register to vote on separate occasions because of what she was wearing at the time.

On her second attempt she went into the post office wearing an ankle length maxi dress, but was still not permitted to begin the process.

Returning for a third try, the expectant mother wore a jacket and was still told that she was too bare, so she had to put on a scarf in order to be registered.

The Parliamentary Elections Act makes no mention of dress code.

Mr Hall yesterday suggested that people may have been turned away and pointed to the public service having a “dress code” SEE PAGE FIVE

GINGER MOXEY, in yellow, centre, with supporters registering to vote in Grand Bahama on Wednesday as she declared she was vying to become the Progressive Liberal Party candidate for Central Grand Bahama. See full story on page three.

GALANIS TELLS MARCHERS: PRIORITY SCHOOL SUPPLY TEACHERS HAVE NOT GOES TO MAJORITY RULE CELEBRATION BEEN PAID SALARY FOR MONTHS

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP Philip Galanis yesterday warned organisers of We March Bahamas not to “kid themselves” in attempting to align or equate their campaign narrative to the country’s achievement of Majority Rule.

Taking a stance on the

drama unfolding around the historic holiday, Mr Galanis added that it was senseless to “cloud or confuse” the significance of Majority Rule Day with the group’s protest on national issues.

He declared that January 10, 1967, was second only to emancipation from slavery in 1834 and the attainment of Independence in 1973, all of which were sacrosanct.

“I think primacy or pref-

erence ought to be given to organisers of Majority Rule Day, because it is like a day unlike any other day in Bahamian history,” Mr Galanis told The Tribune.

“And also the We March people, while I fully respect their rights to protest, congregate and march as much as they wish, they can do that any other place or day other than what is being planned.”

SEE PAGE 16

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SOME 200 “supply” teachers across the country have gone months without receiving their salaries, Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) officials said yesterday.

The supply teachers are retirees who have mostly been re-engaged by the government because of short-

ages across the country, The Tribune was told.

According to one BUT official, about 160 such teachers were hired at the beginning of the most recent school term following an unusual number of teacher resignations.

Neither Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald nor Education Director Lionel Sands could be reached for comment up to press time yesterday.

However, Joan Knowles Turnquest, the acting president of the BUT, confirmed the problem, saying: “What would happen if the supply teachers say they won’t teach any more on top of the shortages we already have?”

Ms Turnquest said it is not just supply teachers who have not received salaries.

Union dues have not been SEE PAGE 16

GOVT FAILS TO MEET TRANSPARENCY PLEDGE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Christie administration failed to uphold its pledge for transparency several times in 2016, from failing to account for money given to the YES Bahamas constitutional referendum campaign to not tabling audits for several government institutions.

Following the June referendum on gender equality, Prime Minister Perry

Christie suggested that his administration would report how much money it gave to the YES Bahamas campaign.

The payments were criticised as unfair by some, since taxpayers’ monies were used to fund only one side of the debate.

“We just finished and we have to make that (financial) assessment moving forward,” Mr Christie said earlier this year about expenditure, adding that after

the mid-year budget debate had ended his administration would have “further time to reflect” on the matter.

However, as 2016 draws to a close, the Christie administration has yet to give an account of its referendum expenditure.

Peter Turnquest, Free National Movement (FNM) deputy leader, said yesterday that his party plans to press the issue.

SEE PAGE SIX

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Don’t miss breaking news throughout the New Year’s weekend and a video review of the week’s most important stories with The Tribune’s Top 5. And, on Tuesday, start the week as The Tribune returns to newsstands in 2017 with a round-up of all the weekend news, business and sport.

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MILITARY FUNERAL HELD FOR

ERRINGTON WATKINS A MILITARY funeral service was held yesterday for the late Deputy Superintendent of Police Errington Watkins.

The service was held at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.

Among those paying tribute at the service was Prime Minister Perry Christie, as well as a number of other dignitaries.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

ONE FAMILY LAST OUT AS THEY GO FOR THE DOUBLE WIN AT JUNKANOO

ONE Family, winners of the Boxing Day Junkanoo parade, will be the last of the six A Division groups onto the streets of downtown Nassau on Sunday night and Monday morning for the New Year’s Day showpiece.

Under the theme ‘Las Vegas’, One Family will be immediately preceded by the Valley Boys, who finished a disappointing last on Boxing Day after enjoying a run of three successive parade wins. The

Prodigal Sons, due to be second out this weekend, did not make it to the start line on Boxing Day after being disqualified from both 2015 parades for not having enough participants to conform to A Division standards.

The Shell Saxons Superstars, second on Boxing Day, lead out the A division groups for New Year under the theme ‘Kingdoms and Empires of the Great Migration - A Celebration of Indian Cultures’. They are

followed by The Prodigal Sons (‘Invasion of the Arthropods’), the impressive A Division newcomers Genesis Warhawks (‘Welcome to the Emanji Circus - It’s a Family Affair’), Roots (‘The Hawaiian Experience’), the Valley Boys (‘It’s Showtime’) and One Family (‘Las Vegas’).

With 13 groups, the B Division features its largest field in recent years, but will be missing Music Makers, whose shacks and costumes were damaged

by Hurricane Matthew and who withdrew from this year’s parades. Colours swept to victory on Boxing Day, winning every category except the best banner.

The order of entry for the B Division is: 1 Body of Christ (theme The Wonderful World of Super Heroes and Cartoon Characters) 2 Conquerors for Christ (theme Ancient African Royalty) 3 Colours Entertainment (theme Many Faces

One People) 4 Redland Soldiers (theme Celebrating 50 Years of Majority Rule) 5 Fancy Dancers (theme The Rise of Olympus) 6 Original Congos (theme The Royal Family of Cards) 7 Foundation 8 Mystical Bombers (theme All things Bright and Beautiful) 9 Englerston Pioneers 10 Chipping Knights (theme Food Feast) 11 Z-Bandits (theme Old

Time Junkanoo) 12 Vikings (theme When God Touched Egypt) 13 D-Division Tickets for the New Year’s Day parade are available at the Junkanoo Corporation New Providence Ltd’s Administrative Office, Norfolk House, Frederick Street, daily from 10am to 6pm until January 1. Ticket prices are: Rawson Square - $48.38; Parliament StreetCharlotte Street - $37.63; Charlotte Street-Frederick Street - $16.13.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 30, 2016, PAGE 3

17% RISE IN REPATRIATIONS BY DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

REPATRIATIONS by the Department of Immigration are up 17 per cent over last year’s figures, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.

The government has re-

patriated a total of 6,335 migrants up to December 26, with Haitians and Cubans accounting for 73 per cent and 18 per cent of that figure respectively.

The figures were included in a press statement sent on Wednesday, which sought to correct an erroneous online report concerning the recent apprehension of a Haitian vessel.

“For public information,” the ministry’s statement read, “the Department of Immigration received a report from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on Christmas Eve that a vessel bearing suspected illegal migrants had been detected off the Exuma chain. The vessel was interdicted near the southern end of the Exuma

chain by a Defence Force patrol craft.

“On board were 77 males and 22 females. The migrants were disembarked from the vessel and transported to Coral Harbour Base by the RBDF, arriving at about 1.30am on Christmas Day. “The arrested migrants were handed over to immigration officials and are

detained at the Detention Centre in New Providence, where they await repatriation.”

The ministry’s statement added: “So far up to December 26, 2016, a total of 6,335 migrants were repatriated to their home countries for the year 2016 as follows: Haitians, 4,655; Cubans, 1,179; Jamaicans, 214; Chinese, 73; Brazil-

ians, 59; Dominican, 47; Ecuadorian, 24; others, mixed nationalities.”

The press release did not include the amount of money spent this year on the exercise, and questions placed to Immigration Director William Pratt were not returned up to press time.

In 2015, 5,398 immigrants were repatriated.

Ginger Moxey aims to run for PLP

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT businesswoman Ginger Moxey is seeking the nomination as the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) candidate for Central Grand Bahama.

Ms Moxey and her team of supporters spearheaded a voter registration drive this week at the Parliamentary Registration Office in Freeport and reminded eligible voters not yet registered of their civic duty and the importance of being registered in preparation for next year’s election.

Ms Moxey is the president and CEO of Immerse Bahamas Company Ltd. Prior to going into business, she was vice president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

According to a public relations spokesman for Ms Moxey, scores of people queued early on Wednesday morning at The Parliamentary Registration Office in the National Insurance Building Complex eager to register for the 2017 general elections. The

spokesman confirmed that Ms Moxey has presented herself as a candidate and has applied to be the PLP candidate for Central Grand Bahama.

“The idea for the voter registration drive was a result of the overwhelming positive feedback she received after persons learned about her application for candidacy,” said the spokesman.

Ms Moxey said: “I recognised the desperate need for a voter registration drive based on the positive comments I received from numerous persons when they learned I had made application to be the PLP candidate for Central Grand Bahama,” she said.

“I decided to use that feedback as an opportunity to encourage persons to come out and register to vote. My campaign is a campaign of inclusion. It’s the people’s campaign and it’s for the people of Grand Bahama.”

‘Team Ginger’ supporters turned out in strong numbers at Wednesday’s Voter Registration Drive attired in “Vote 2017 Ginger Moxey for Central Grand Bahama” t-shirts.

GINGER Moxey at the front of the queue along with supporters signing up to vote in Grand Bahama on Wednesday morning.

SUPPORTERS of Ginger Moxey headed to the Parliamentary Registration Department on Wednesday morning to register to vote.

IRAM LEWIS TO CHALLENGE FOR CENTRAL GRAND BAHAMA SEAT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

IRAM Lewis, the Free National Movement’s (FNM) general election candidate for Central Grand Bahama, said yesterday that he has never had anything fall into his lap and is ready for the challenge to win and retain one of the party’s longest held seats on the island.

The seat has been a stronghold for the FNM for the past 24 years, initially as the Lucaya constituency and changed to Central Grand Bahama in 2011, following alterations by the Boundaries Commission.

Neko Grant, MP for Central Grand Bahama, one of the longest serving FNM MPs, announced in August that he would not seek renomination and criticised the state of the party under the leadership of Dr Hubert Minnis.

Mr Lewis, who was ratified as the FNM’s standardbearer for Central Grand Bahama on December 14, reached out to Mr Grant, whom he highly respects.

During an exclusive interview with The Tribune on Thursday, he said: “Mr Grant has done a great job and kept Lucaya and Central Bahama in the FNM for some 24 years; he and his team did a good job and you must recognise and

respect and honour that.

There is no denying that he did a good job.”

Mr Lewis tried getting in touch with Mr Grant prior to the Christmas holiday, but learned that he was on vacation.

“I sent him a text extending Christmas greetings,” he said. “I reached out to him and indicated that I would like to have a word with him when returns, and I see no reason why he would not sit and talk to me.

I want to show my gratitude and honour to him.”

Coming from the small settlement community of Waters Cay, Mr Lewis said he has always had to work much harder than the rest to be the best - in obtaining his education, as an international track athlete, as a businessman and now as a political candidate.

Although it is thought that Central Grand Bahama is a sure seat for the FNM, Mr Lewis is not taking that approach. “We are not going to accept that ‘easy seat’ approach,” he said. Mr Lewis has already started meeting key individuals to assemble his campaign team.

“Unofficially, I have gone out meeting some key individuals putting a campaign team together, and so far it is going good. Of course, there is going to be some resistance here and there, but so far from what I have seen

I am very encouraged,” he said.

Mr Lewis added that teamwork and hard work are important ingredients to his success.

“I have never had anything fall in my lap. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I had to work for everything (I have). I am used to working all my life - when I went to Freeport High, the College of the Bahamas, and Tuskegee University, I had to work; when I went to the Olympic Games I had to work to make the team. So, hearing people say it is a sure seat, I don’t buy that; hearing people say it is an easy seat to win, I don’t want to buy that.

“The seat is in the hands of the FNM and so we should not become complacent and give other party the upper hand. We have to work as if our lives depend on it. We are going to be fighting to keep what we have.”

Mr Lewis, 51, is one of 11 siblings. He is the son of the late Baptist Pastor Iram Lewis, of Waters Cay, Grand Bahama.

When asked his reason for entering politics, he said that he felt it was time for him to stop standing the sidelines. “For many years, I was of the opinion that someone else should do it.

You always hear that politics is a dirty game … but after returning home to

Grand Bahama now over three years and based on what I see now Freeport is not what it used to be as I remember growing up as a child. And so I decided to step in and see what I can do to make a difference in a very good way,” he said.

Mr Lewis is excited and humbled by the fact that he received the nomination over other qualified contenders, beating retired senior police Superintendent Welbourne Bootle, who has been a loyal campaign member on Mr Grant’s team.

Although Mr Lewis has never served on Mr Grant’s campaign team, he has served on those of former Lucaya MP Kenneth Russell on two occasions, and former FNM Deputy Leader Brent Symonette.

When asked whether he was promised the nomination for Central Grand Bahama, Mr Lewis said that was not the case.

“I’m not aware that both of us were promised it. I was told that based on the interview several names were sent into Nassau for consideration by the Central Council and my name was included.

IRAM LEWIS “The day prior to ratifica- together as a unit.” tion I was asked to come to Mr Lewis said that Mr Nassau and to be prepared Bootle told him that he because no final decision stands by his word. was made until after coun“I invited him on stage cil meeting that night. Mr with me because it is not Bootle and I were the final about me, it is about the two and we needed to be team. He was gracious and in a position to accept and came on stage with me to give a brief speech at the show that there is no divirally. My name was called sion or spilt and we will and we greeted each other continue to work to ensure afterwards and we made a that Central Grand Bahacommitment that no matter ma stays with the FNM,” he Friday, who was selected, we 30th workDecember said. 2016

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US punishes Russia for hacking presidential campaign THE United States struck back yesterday at Russia for hacking the US presidential campaign with a sweeping set of punishments targeting Russia’s spy agencies and diplomats.

The US said Russia must bear costs for its actions, but Moscow called the Obama administration “losers” and threatened retaliation.

A month after an election the US says Russia tried to sway for Donald Trump, President Barack Obama sanctioned the GRU and FSB, leading Russian intelligence agencies the US said were involved.

Those sanctions could easily be pulled back

by Mr Trump, who has insisted that President Obama and Democrats are merely attempting to delegitimise his election.

In an elaborately co-ordinated response by at least five federal agencies, the Obama administration also sought to expose Russia’s cyber tactics with a detailed technical report and hinted it might still launch a covert counterattack. “All Americans should be alarmed

by Russia’s actions,” the President said, adding, “Such activities have consequences.”

He said the response was not over and the US could take further, covert action - a thinly veiled reference to a counterstrike in cyberspace the US has been considering.

Mr Trump issued a statement saying it was “time for our country to move on to bigger and better things”. Yet in the face of newly public evidence, he suggested he was keeping an open mind. “In the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation.”

As part of the punishment, the US also kicked out 35 Russian diplomats who the US said were actually intelligence operatives, and shut down a pair of Russian compounds, in New York and Maryland. The US said those actions were in response to Russia’s harassment of US diplomats, calling it part of a pattern of aggression that included the cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman.

It was the strongest action the Obama administration has taken to date to retaliate for a cyberattack, and more comprehensive than last year’s sanctions on North Korea after it hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment. The new penalties add to existing US sanctions over Russia’s actions in Ukraine, which have impaired Russia’s economy but had limited impact on President Vladimir Putin’s behaviour.

Russia, which denied the hacking allegations, called the penalties a clumsy yet aggressive attempt to “harm Russian-American ties”. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would take into account the fact that Mr Trump will soon replace President

Obama as it drafts retaliatory measures.

The day marked a low point for US relations with Russia, which have suffered during President Obama’s years as he and Mr Putin tussled over Ukraine, Edward Snowden and Russia’s support for Syrian President Bashar Assad. Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, took to Facebook to call the Obama administration “a group of foreign policy losers, angry and ignorant”.

It was unlikely the new sanctions, while symbolically significant, would have a major impact on Russian spy operations. The sanctions freeze any US assets and block Americans from doing business with them. But Russian law bars the spy agencies from having assets in the US and any activities they undertake would likely be covert and hard to identify.

“On its face, this is more than a slap on the wrists, but hardly an appropriate response to an unprecedented attack on our electoral system,” said Stewart Baker, a cybersecurity lawyer and former National Security Agency and Homeland Security Department official.

Indeed, senior Obama administration officials said that even with the penalties, the US had reason to believe Russia would keep hacking other nations’ elections and might well try to hack American elections again in 2018 or 2020. The officials briefed reporters on a conference call on condition of anonymity.

Though the FBI and Homeland Security Department issued a joint report on “Russian malicious cyber activity” - replete with examples of malware code used by the Russians - it still has not released a broader report President Obama has promised detailing Russia’s efforts to interfere with US elections.

US allegations of hacking have ignited a heated debate over Mr Trump’s approach to Russia and his refusal to accept the assessment of US intelligence agencies that Russia’s government was responsible and wanted to help him win. Though US lawmakers have long called for President Obama to be tougher on Russia, some Republicans have found that position less tenable now that Mr Trump is floating the possibility of closer ties to Moscow.

“While today’s action by the administration is overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan.

US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia was trying to help Mr Trump win when hackers connected to the government breached Democratic Party computers and stole tens of thousands of emails that were then posted on WikiLeaks, some containing embarrassing information for Democrats. Clinton aide John Podesta’s emails were also stolen and released publicly in the final weeks of the campaign.

Associated Press

A house divided EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT is so sad to witness the abject melt down of the once fabled Free National Movement under the debilitating and slash and burn style of leadership by Dr. Hubert Minnis (FNM-Killarney). When he was first elected many persons inclusive of myself, held out high hopes for him. Alas, he has proven to be a literal disaster and a whirlwind in a tea cup. The party of Sir Cecil; Sir Kendal and Sir Arthur Foulkes is no more. Minnis and crew have emasculated the party and gutted it like a fish.

The ignoble forced departure of many of its sitting MPs does not bode well for the electoral chances of the FNM in 2017. In fact, on the ground, countless Bahamians are turned off by Minnis’s antics and boorish demeanour. If the FNM were to win ten seats in the general elections I would be absolutely surprised and floored. Bahamians are a strange people who, despite our own childish collective behaviour sometimes, we

desire a sense of cohesiveness and stability.

The FNM is not providing either of these and it is not likely that it will get its act together in time for the general elections. The Hon. Edison Key (FNM-South Abaco) has been a fixture in both major parties for eons.

Why at his advanced age he is still interested in elective office is beyond me. There must be something “sweet” about power because few, once elected, ever want to retire with dignity and while there is still time to enjoy family life.

Key said that Minnis is not to be trusted and that Minnis is deceptive in the extreme. In fact, Key stated that he will not run under the FNM banner next year.

Bradley Roberts, the best National Chairman, ever, of the iconic and enduring Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), has thrown open the doors of our party to Edison and, once we are returned to office, Key is assured, God willing, of a senior cabinet position. If the foolish FNM does not want Key, we will take him, again.

Under Dr. Minnis the FNM will be wiped out in 2017. That ‘doll house’ political marauder guised as the DNA (led by boys in short pants and girls in crinoline skirts) has no real traction and will, again, act as a petulant spoiler for the FNM. Minnis is dead set on becoming Prime Minister, God forbid. The leader of the boys in short pants and the girls in crinoline skirts is an egomaniac and delusional politically. The rest of the fringe groups and bug eyed individuals may as well sit small and shut up.

Even as you read this, Minnis is gone as Parliamentary Leader of the FNM. Loretta and crew are in charge. Wow, what a difference a day makes! The only realistic path forward is with the PLP. Yes, we are badly flawed and mauled, but we are simply “the best” and “better” than all of the rest. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H. BODIE JR. Nassau, December 7, 2016.

Government behaviour EDITOR, The Tribune.

“DISAPPOINTED” at The Bahamas’ creditworthiness downgrade to junk status? Is the current government serious, when this fall from grace was foretold by the international agencies who make these decisions?

Wasn’t there the pattern for financial disgrace evident in all the bad financial decisions manifested in this government’s behaviour from the beginning of its non-consecutive second term? Isn’t it a well-known fact that if you outspend your income, you will come to disgrace?

Shouldn’t we be asking why the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is doing everything in its power to sideline Alfred Sears from the leadership of their party, when he has obviously been endowed with more thinking ability than more than half of the current slate of government MPs and Cabinet leaders?

What is it about Dr Hubert Minnis that has the “Free FNM”, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and several opinion column writers actually joining the PLP campaign against him? Should they be abandoning the urgent holding of the PLP to account, rather than assaulting the public ears with stories of his lack of leadership qualities, and then move on to blaming him for all of the PLP’s execrable record of governance that will surely make the record books?

As concerns leadership capabilities, shouldn’t the Progressive Liberal Party be busy cleaning the dross from its own house before pointing out the neighbour’s failings in housekeeping?

Despite our despair at the mess they have made of this country, don’t we just have a grudging admiration for the PLP’s Machiavellian ability to employ expensive PR, smoke and mirrors, sleight of hand and various other Houdini tricks in deflecting public attention from their mismanagement and internal fighting?

Will DNA leader Branville McCartney’s truth stand up and be recognised

by Bahamians who are seriously longing for a government that is not vying for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Comedy, and Best Picture also in the Comedy genre?

Wasn’t it a week after McCartney declared that he had no interest in the FNM’s troubled affairs, that he was calling for the resignation of Dr Hubert Minnis as Leader of the FNM? Isn’t this a marked detour from what a serious third party should be doing

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net ie calling the PLP government to account for wild spending, the promotion of corruption, the denial of basic rights to a large segment of the population, cronyism in the award of government contracts and benefits and many, many unexplained losses of funds across a swathe of government agencies and public companies, eg Bank of Bahamas and, last but not least, the slide to unbankable financial disrepute in international investment circles?

Why have the so-called “splinter” groups that were doing so well in keeping the people’s causes to the forefront turned into political parties promising to field candidates in the upcoming general election?

Have they become infected with the cancer that is the outsize Bahamian ego and constant itch for elevation above all other Bahamians?

Will Dr Andre Rollins kindly explain why his loyalty is a moveable feast?

Could it be that his allegiance is to self rather than to the people of The Bahamas? Could it be that his new best friends are pretty much in the same boat?

Should not Christians strive to find out if there is a new brand of redemption that has the formerly bitter, face-slapping enemies like Loretta Butler-Turner and Dr Andre Rollins now locking in embrace every chance they get? Should we not be concerned that political expediency will soon outrun the gospel?

Are we to take the new Butler-Turner/McCartney love affair seriously, when two giant bodies moving into the same space are likely to collide in mutual destruction?

Of prime and urgent importance—Why has vying for a seat in Parliament or the control of the Bahamian government become more important than the well-being of the Bahamian people?

The biggest questions are the following: Can’t any of these powerdrunk men and women see the growing suffering here in the capital, in Grand Bahama and Andros? Joblessness, a seemingly unstoppable rise in murder and other crimes against persons, including domestic abuse of many forms?

Why aren’t all these “concerned citizens” crying out against the government’s determined intent to squander NIB funds and ream the already suffering

middle class with more taxes to make us pay for their heedless misses—mismanagement, misappropriation, misalliances and mistakes?

Why, why would a responsible government think it fit to spend $334,000-plus on wrapping trees after a devastating hurricane that has punched a hole not only in the already riddled economy and even bigger holes in the homes and pockets of the people? Can you imagine how much sheetrock for the repair of flood-damaged walls and how many bundles of shingles that $334,000 could have purchased? I would gladly have foregone this brand of “Christmas cheer” to have a few more hurricane-impacted homes made whole again.

And by the way, what is happening with the newly borrowed $150m in this debt-ridden economy?

Will there be a formal audit of the spending and the revelation of the result of audit to the public, despite the fact that this government has shown a distinct aversion to accounting and accountability?

Why have Bahamian politics become more about public relations, grabbing headlines and false camaraderie in an effort to hornswoggle, dupe, hoodwink and confuse the Bahamian people, than about thoroughly researching longstanding problems and coming up with intelligent plans for remediation and advancement?

Has democratic governance changed so much in the 21st century that it begins to rest on the most fundamental plank of dictatorship; that is, keeping secret vital information about national affairs and disregarding the voice and treading on the rights of the people?

Has statesmanship and love of country and people finally been KO’d and now lies bleeding and breathing its last in the ring of Bahamian politics and governance?

I love my country fiercely and hope with all my heart that Bahamians will start asking questions and learn to distinguish truth from expedient, self-serving lies.

People, go register today if you can. Be sure to turn out to vote on election day 2017, armed with prayer for divine guidance in marking your ballot. What is good in this country should be accessible to all, not just a favoured few. Just know this, this country cannot bear up under five more years of the same.

God bless us everyone!

PATRICIA GLINTON-MEICHOLAS Nassau, December 21, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 30, 2016, PAGE 5

‘Cover breasts to register for vote’ from page one

for how people are to present themselves in public.

“Because you have to take photographs, so if someone comes with half their breasts out and cleavage showing, this isn’t permitted,” Mr Hall said when he was contacted.

“This has been around not just under my administration but other previous ones where we ask people to dress in decency and in order. So if my people feel that someone is not properly dressed for the photograph, we ask them to kindly put on the proper attire. That’s not out of order. It’s trying to help them. So it’s not to be rude, it’s too make sure that things are done in decency and in order.”

He added that that the number of registered voters in the country is now nearing 75,000. This is a little more than half of what the register was at the same point in 2011.

To encourage Bahamians to register, Mr Hall said the government plans to open more evening stations on January 1 in various constituencies.

“We have additional manpower to go into the constituencies from 5pm to 9pm. So we hope that might be a stimulus to encourage people to come out to present themselves to register. You must also

remember that this is a voluntary process. We cannot force people to vote. It is a voluntary thing. You come forward and present your documents to fulfil the law.”

Meanwhile, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said quite a number of people have complained that registration staff were not pleasant and refused to assist voters because they were headed on breaks.

In a recent interview with The Tribune, he questioned whether these issues among other things have impacted the voter registration numbers.

“Quite a number of people have said when they went to register the staff were not too pleasant and said they were on their break and to come back.

“When you turn them away, what are the odds that they will come back?

Some of these people are coming on lunch breaks and are making time on a hectic schedule. We have been getting a lot of those kinds of calls,” Dr Minnis said.

Regarding this, Mr Hall admitted that some stations might not have the needed manpower because some workers are on leave for the holidays.

“Our staff is normally in place from 10am to 4pm and they take a break at 4pm for one hour. Then

they re-open again at five.

That’s their lunch hour basically.

“But there are one or two persons on leave because it’s the Christmas season. So some stations we normally have four persons per station and some stations may not be fully manned so to speak because one or two persons might be on leave.”

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Perry Christie indicated that a potential election date could hinge on voter registration in the coming weeks, implying that he could make a determination as early as February “if we get the numbers right”.

The next election must be called by May, 2017.

Mr Christie, speaking to voter registration numbers on the sidelines of the 2016 Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade, admitted to The Tribune that the process has been “a struggle” for his administration, pushing officials “back to the drawing board” as they look for ways to encourage voters to “support the process”.

Mr Christie told The Tribune that “surprising forecast” has led his administration to steer “tremendous resources” towards voter registration with the hopes of “convincing eligible voters to first register and secondly, take part in this vital process”.

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis said that a number of people have complained that registration staff have refused to assist voters because they were headed on breaks.

CRUISE PASSENGER ‘THOUGHT MARIJUANA WAS LEGAL’

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

PAY the fine or do the time was a magistrate’s order yesterday to an American man who pleaded guilty when charged with possession of dangerous drugs.

Magistrate Andrew Forbes chastised 39-yearold Joshua Adam Hardy for not apprising himself of the Bahamas’ laws before deciding to use and possess marijuana on December 28 that Hardy himself said was not legal in his home state.

Hardy, of Beccaria, Pennsylvania, was a passenger on board the Carnival Ecstasy cruise liner. When he was returning to the ship, security officers found the illicit drugs on Hardy that had a total weight of nine grams.

Hardy was asked by the magistrate if he accepted the facts read by police prosecutor Supt Ercell Dorsett.

“Yes sir,” the American said.

“Is it legal to be in possession of it in Pennsylvania?” the magistrate asked.

The American said no.

He was unsure whether it was a felony or misdemeanour when asked.

“I was under the assumption that it was legal here. I’ve never left the state of Pennsylvania before,” Hardy said.

“Congratulations to you on that. However, the prerequisite for travelling to any country is to familiarise yourself with its laws,” Magistrate Forbes said.

Hardy was told that he could face a $50,000 fine and/or seven years’ imprisonment.

“I will not move to the higher penalty but I will convict you and fine you $500. If the fine is not paid you will spend three months at the Department of Correctional Services,” the magistrate ruled.

Hardy was told that the

MAN ACCUSED OF RECEIVING STOLEN CAR IS DENIED BAIL

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after he was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court concerning a stolen $28,000 car that was allegedly found in his possession.

Tameko Coleby, 22, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney facing a charge of receiving contrary to Section 358 of the Penal Code, Chapter 84.

It is alleged that, on December 21, he “did dishonestly receive a black fourdoor 2016 Kia Rio VIN KNADN412BF6530300 valued at $28,128 knowing the same to have been obtained by an offence.”

Coleby elected to be tried in Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the allegation when asked by Magistrate McKinney.

Given the nature of the charge, however, he was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services as the magistrate does not

have the jurisdiction to consider bail.

He was advised of his right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court if he desires to be released from custody ahead of his trial, which scheduled for January 23, 2017.

The section under which Coleby was charged notes: “Whoever dishonestly receives any property which he knows to have been obtained or appropriated by any offence punishable under this title shall, if the offence was a felony, be guilty of felony, or shall, if the offence was a misdemeanour, be liable to the same punishment as if he had committed the offence.”

If convicted, Coleby can face up to seven years’ imprisonment.

Department of Immigration would assist him with

exiting the country after he either paid the fine or

served his sentence.

The drugs were ordered

to be confiscated and destroyed.

PAGE 6 , Friday, December 30, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

GOVT FAILS TO MEET TRANSPARENCY PLEDGE from page one

“The Prime Minister and the government have an obligation, as it does with any number of expenditures it makes, to report to The Bahamian people

what their spending was,” he said.

“All these expenditures they have been making and have refused to be held accountable for is very arrogant with respect to dealing with the Bahamian people. We as the

FNM do continue to ask the Christie-led government to be accountable to the Bahamian people and advise us on this referendum.”

Furthermore, several ministers in 2016 once again failed to table au-

dits for government institutions, ensuring that the law continued to be contravened.

Legislation for various institutions mandate that the relevant minister hire an auditor every year and table a report in Parlia-

ment within a set period of time.

The Tribune reported in May that it has been years since an audit has been tabled in Parliament for the Public Hospitals Authority, the Water & Sewerage Corporation, the Bahamas

Broadcasting Corporation, the College of the Bahamas (now the University of the Bahamas) and the Hotel Corporation of the Bahamas.

That status quo continued for all five institutions in 2016.

One man found beaten to death and second killed in shooting from page one last night that another man had been shot to death in the Jubilee Gardens area.

Earlier in the day Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander, officer-incharge of the Central Detective Unit, told The Tribune that a passerby in the area discovered the first victim and notified the police.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean

said authorities suspect foul play.

They also believe the man was murdered at another location and later dumped at the service road several hours before he was found.

The two latest killings pushed the country’s murder count to 111 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records, and marked four homicides this week.

“Shortly after 1pm, the lifeless body of a male appearing to be in his mid

CHIEF Superintendent Clayton Fernander speaking to the media at the scene of yesterday’s killing near Tom “The Bird” Grant Park.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

POLICE at the scene in Yellow Elder yesterday near Tom “The Bird” Grant Park, where the body of a man was found.

20s was found wrapped in a blanket right through this service road off Graham Drive, Yellow Elder,” Chief Supt Fernander said at the first crime scene yesterday.

“On examination of the body it appears that the deceased was beaten. We don’t know the motive, but we are following some lines of inquiry to see if we could find out the motive of this latest incident.

“We are going to await the autopsy report as well to determine the cause of death, but we are appealing to the general public (and) persons living in this area if they have any information to please reach out to us.”

He added: “Based on our preliminary inquires thus far it is believed that the body was dumped here (and) that the incident did not occur here in this gen-

eral area.

“So we are reaching out to members of the public if they would have seen something out of the ordinary in another location to please reach out to us to assist with respect to this investigation.”

Last night, police said another man was fatally shot in an area near Cowpen Road. The victim’s identity is not known.

On Tuesday, a man was killed in the area of Millennium Gardens after armed men forced a couple to stop their vehicle in the middle of the road before shooting and killing the driver.

Chief Supt Fernander said police believe armed robbery may be the motive for that killing. He said the incident could have “happened to anyone.”

The victim, identified by

police as Kendrick Simms, was driving with his wife, when another car pulled ahead, forcing them to stop.

“The man was driving through Millennium Gardens in his Kia (vehicle) with his wife, when a male in a Nissan vehicle forced him to a stop. A man came out of the car with a handgun and pointed it toward the couple,” Chief Supt Fernander said earlier this week.

“The husband tried to move around the vehicle and the suspect but was shot several times. The victim crashed into a nearby fence and died on the scene. The wife was unharmed during the incident.”

Simms’ wife, Tamara, posted on social media that the day of her husband’s murder “was the worst day of her life”.

“Someone came and took

you away from me,” she posted. “Someone please wake me up and tell me it’s all a dream. Babes please come back. I miss you so much. Jesus please help me.”

Chief Supt Fernander said police believe the incident was isolated, but warned motorists to be careful while driving home at night.

Another man was killed on Boxing Day during a drive-by shooting on Tonique Williams Darling Highway. Four other people were injured during the shooting and taken to hospital.

Anyone with information on any of these homicides is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 30, 2016, PAGE 15

PRIME Minister Perry Christie alongside leader of the Opposition Loretta Butler-Turner during Boxing Day Junkanoo.

Photo: Peter Ramsay/BIS

Bathed in BPL light, Perry will be on time in 2017 G

LAD to know so many of you enjoyed last week’s column; in all honesty this week, like most Bahamians, I’m still fighting the Christmas hangover.

Whatever, we shall have some fun, while keeping it short and sweet.

I need time to practice my New Year’s drinking ‘stance’ before New Year’s arrives - and we all know practice makes perfect.

So here are my Top 10 predictions for 2017: 1 The PM will park his outriders Prime Minister Perry Christie will be on time for events, driving himself in a hybrid Honda Fit, retiring his RBPF outriders, allowing them to return to fighting crime ... and the PM to call a snap election in February, while the nation is distracted by his new wheels.

2 ‘Branetta’ will slap and say goodbye ‘Politics breeds strange bedfellows’ so the saying goes. ‘Branetta’ is living proof everything is rosy now; come mid-January as the silly season heats up, one will kick the other out of the political bed they are sharing presently (Bran is the early favourite to line up a swift one).

Maybe that’s what LBT and ‘Cool’ PGC were so chatty about in those pictures from the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade?

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA 3 Rodney tweets Senator and JP Rodney Moncur’s Twitter account will go viral globally, eventually gaining more followers than US President elect Donald Trump. Incurring the wrath of women’s rights groups worldwide, begging Moncur ‘not to save the woman dem’.

4 Let there be light BPL will finally get it right! No more load shedding and blackouts late at night, along with accurate monthly bills, not wild ‘guesstimations’.

And no more press conferences from BPL CEO Pamela Hill, safely tucked away in the comforts of the Atlantis (no wonder Paradise Island never went off) while the rest of the Bahamas rode out Hurricane Matthew in the heat and darkness (‘The Potcake’ never do us bad like dat’).

5 The PM will get S&P to upgrade us Our PM will negotiate successfully with S&P to have our status upgraded, explaining “Y’all jus’ hold tight. Fook gern bus’ us with da bub in short order, so we could work da Baha Mar vibe, and erryt’ing ga

be jus’ cool.”

6 The marketing and promotional teams from BTC and Aliv will imitate the WWE The telecoms war is on in the 242, with guerrilla marketing the order of the day. I must admit the earlier jousts between the two entities, captured on video, posted on FaceBook were quite comical and entertaining.

As competition for your communications dollar intensifies, I see a WWEstyle battle royal erupting between the respective marketing teams, at some neighbourhood park.

Cell phones, SIM cards, phone cards and various promotional BTC and Aliv paraphernalia will be hurled with reckless abandon, and a winner will only be determined when one of the two CEOs from the respective companies executes a ‘moon sault’ off the bouncy castle on the other.

I just hope I’m there on live remote, so I can tap into my inner Gordon Solie and deliver the play-by-play.

7 The Miami Dolphins will play in the AFC Championship game

SENATOR Rodney Moncur speaking to reporters yesterday.

The ‘Fins won’t win it, but they will have had a good run getting there, reestablishing themselves as a force in the AFC for years to come and setting ‘loopy’ ‘Dolfans’ loose all over social media, posting their corny memes in unison.

Sadly, despite all their success, they will still be inferior to the eventual Super Bowl champions ... Dallas Cowboys.

8 Stores will run out of Depends Stores will be out of Depends adult diapers for the first six months of the new year, after the Valley finishes fifth - again - in the

New Year’s Day Junkanoo parade.

9 The Prison Bus will drive with sense The Prison Bus will transport remanded prisoners to and from court in a safe and orderly manner, via an efficient, secure land route. Obeying the rules of the road in the process.

Yes, no more ‘shell shocked’ motorists on the road and prisoners bouncing out of the bus.

10 A famous person will die I’m not trying to be insensitive, especially in light of recent events. However, statistics show that a famous

Photo: Aaron Davis person will die in 2017.

I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.

• Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident stand-up comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net

PAGE 16 , Friday, December 30, 2016

GALANIS TELLS MARCHERS: PRIORITY GOES TO MAJORITY RULE CELEBRATION from page one

Mr Galanis was responding to questions on the announcement by We March organisers that they will lead a march in downtown Nassau and occupy areas surrounding Rawson and Parliament Squares despite having their request for a permit rejected by the Cabinet Office.

In a post on Facebook this week, lead organiser Ranard Henfield revealed that the Cabinet Office on Wednesday rejected the group’s application to protest in Rawson and Parliaments Squares because the “event conflicts with another event” already booked for that date. The group has titled its march and demonstration, “United People Day”.

Mr Henfield, in a press statement yesterday, termed the latest development a petty, borderline desperate attempt to subvert the democratic expression of the people. Calling on supporters to wear all black and bring placards, Mr Henfield said the We March event will begin at 10am at a location to be announced on January 9.

“From there, we will peacefully proceed to Bay Street where we will silently occupy the areas surrounding Rawson and Parliament Squares to advance the people’s demands for progress and herald the inevitable tsunami of change that is coming to sweep over this Bahamaland,” Mr Henfield said. “The We March movement increasingly strikes fear in the hearts of those who seek to maintain the status quo as they slowly awake to the realisation that they have no weapon strong enough to hold back a ‘freedom movement’ that has been born of the people and is energised by a commitment to unity rather than division.”

He continued: “We will stand up for our rights and this 50th anniversary of

Majority Rule will witness a ‘United People’ march without fear of petty politics and political mischief as we demand better governance by the people we put in power. We ask the Church, the business community, the police, the opposition parties and candidates along with the members of Parliament who place the Bahamian people above party politics to stand with the Bahamian people on January 10 as we exercise our constitutional rights.”

The group’s first demonstration on November 25 - ‘Black Friday’ - saw just over 1,000 protesters march from Arawak Cay to Rawson Square singing the Bahamian national anthem and chanting things like “the power of the people is better than the people in power”. A large group also occupied Rawson Square for 12 hours as part of the protest, with scores of people remaining until the end.

Given that the Black Friday march was also billed as a silent protest, it is unlikely that demonstrators will be able to occupy the surrounding areas without clashing with ongoing celebrations.

Mr Galanis said he understood that We March organisers strategically chose the holiday in a bid to draw the most attention to their cause, but felt that their efforts would seem more transparent and successful if they rescheduled the event for a different day.

“They should be respectful of that day; that’s symptomatic of a level of disrespect that is inexcusable,” Mr Galanis said. “It seems to me they are attempting this, on a day that should be cherished, for their own personal selfish political ends. I would say they should not be disrespectful. We should be respectful of each other’s right to disagree and the method of protesting things we don’t agree with.”

After parliamentary elec-

tions ended in a tie between the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the ruling United Bahamian Party led by Sir Roland Symonette with 18 seats apiece, one Labour MP, Randol Fawkes, sided with the PLP to enable majority rule for the first time in Bahamian history.

While January 10 ushered in the country’s first black premier, later Prime Minister, Sir Lynden Pindling, the political movement began more than two decades prior with the agitation by labourers for equal pay for equal work known as the Burma Road Riots, and incensed by the Women’s Suffrage movement and the 16day General Strike of 1958.

It is also inextricably linked to the formation of the first national political party, the PLP, in 1953.

Yesterday, Mr Galanis also hit out at attempts by march organisers to characterise the commemorative events planned by the government as partisan, or a propaganda exercise for the governing PLP. “It should not be a partisan celebration,” Mr Galanis said, “it’s a celebration of the country where black and white came together. We all should celebrate, and that has to take precedence over any other march. What they are doing has absolutely nothing to do with Majority Rule, it’s senseless to cloud or confuse the issue.”

Mr Galanis said: “A lot of people don’t have appreciation and significance of this day, it was really the culmination of a long fought battle. Let’s not confuse the issue and let’s not kid ourselves while they have legitimate concerns in the public domain, as opposed to what they’re attempting to achieve.”

An official from the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture advised that a full listing of events planned to commemorate Majority Rule will be released today.

THE TRIBUNE

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

School supply teachers have not been paid salary for months from page one

taken from the salaries of teachers and paid to the union as well, she said.

“Staff and officers of the union have not been paid,” she said. “We have called the Prime Minister countless times. We have called Simon Wilson (the financial secretary) countless times.

Either they are ignoring us or they feel they don’t have

to worry about people who are not being paid. We want them to pay the late fee for every worker who has not been paid and cannot pay their mortgage and is encountering the fees the bank is putting on us.”

Regarding supply teachers, one source within the BUT said: “A lady just quit in Inagua because they sent her there, promised her rent but didn’t pay for it.

“It is very unusual be-

cause the supply teachers are paid from a budget the Director of Education has, not from the Ministry of Education. This is the worst I’ve seen it. Also, there are teachers in the Family Islands who are afraid to face their landlords because government hasn’t sent them money.

The supply teachers hired in August haven’t received their money since August.

They call us every day to

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complain and unfortunately we don’t have the right to bargain for them because they don’t pay dues as they’re retirees.”

The source said education officials have blamed the problem on the Treasury Department.

“Education people are, just like us, trying to figure out what’s happening with the Treasury. They’re telling us there’s some kind of a mix up. What’s problematic is how can it be a months long problem?”

One teacher told The Tribune yesterday that his wife, who is a supply teacher for a government school, has not been paid in the

past three months. “It is putting a strain on the family,” the teacher, who did not want to be identified, said.

He said school officials have failed to reasonably respond to the issue. “This one blames this one, this one blames the next,” he said. “(Some say) it’s the principal’s responsibility to make arrangements. It’s scary to me being a teacher to think this may be a widespread problem in public schools. “(I am) concerned about the children, a supply teacher at another school said she may have to leave, my wife has said she may have

to leave but she loves the children. I don’t know what the government is doing, they are hurting people who are on the frontline - maybe they are saving money for carnival.”

In August, Mr Fitzgerald expressed concern over the “unexpected” applications for early retirement from more than 100 public school teachers this year.

He said 119 teachers applied for early retirement, which he said was a “big number” by the ministry’s standards.

He said at the time that the ministry would likely employ some 30 supply teachers to fill vacancies.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 30, 2016, PAGE 17

NURSES LABOUR DISPUTE REFERRED TO TRIBUNAL MINISTER of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson has referred a trade dispute filed by the Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) to the Bahamas In-

dustrial Tribunal.

The dispute was referred on December 22, in accordance with Section 72(1) of the Industrial Relations Act 1970.

According to a statement

from the government, the dispute was referred after Labour Director Robert Farquharson personally intervened and concluded that all outstanding issues

between the Health Ministry and the BNU were either resolved or a procedure for resolution was agreed by both parties, however, executives of the BNU refused

to withdraw the matter.

This referral, “made in the public’s interest,” prohibits members of the BNU from taking any industrial action in pursuance of the

aforementioned trade dispute according to Section 72(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, Chapter 321, the government’s statement added.

MEMBERS of the Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM helping to bring supplies to help families in Eleuthera.

Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM

K-Kids and Builders Clubs

Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM. - Members of the Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM went to solicit sponsors and made personal donations to assist more than 40 families on the island of Eleuthera.

This initiative took great time, effort and co-ordination. However, members pulled it off and 40 families had a hot meal during the holidays.

K-Kids and Builders Clubs. - The Bahamas District of K-Kids and Builders Clubs had Doris Johnson campus buzzing with excitement as officers were installed on Saturday, November 12, under the leadership of district administrator Latoya Burrows and her team of Kiwanis and faculty advisors, who

had full support from the large number of parents in attendance.

T he tra i n i ng of off ic ers bega n w ith a motivationa l ta l k f rom A neth ra C a r t w r ig ht, a fel low K iwa n ia n a nd teacher.

The day concluded with outside games, treats and prizes for the kids.

Then, on Sunday, November 13, a service was held at the Bahamas Harvest East campus where everyone was blessed.

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UNIVERSITY MILESTONE KEY TO JCN AWARD JONES Communications Network announced yesterday that it will honour Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald and University of The Bahamas President Dr Rodney Smith as its persons of the year for 2016.

In a press release, officials from JCN said: “The establishment of the University of The Bahamas on November 10, 2016 was the most significant achievement for the year and a milestone in national development.

“Minister Fitzgerald and Dr Smith drove the vision of the government for the establishment of the university, thus advancing modern education for The Bahamas.

“It is a major paradigm shift in the culture and fabric of our country as it relates to tertiary education and national development as a whole.”

JCN CEO Wendall Jones said while the road to uni-

Job Functions: Inspect food preparation and serving areas to ensure observance of safe, sanitary food-handling practices. Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking.

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JEROME FITZGERALD, Minister of Education, Science and Technology.

UNIVERSITY of the Bahamas President Dr. Rodney Smith.

versity status was “mapped out” by Prime Minister Perry Christie 14 years ago, it was Mr Fitzgerald who was “responsible for the execution and for the vision to be realised,” by getting the necessary legislation through Parliament.

“And it was the competence and professionalism of a team headed by Dr Smith that created a modern space at the Oakes Field campus for learn-

ing and a commitment to service and excellence. In addition, Dr Smith has established a high quality of programmes for the university,” Mr Jones said.

The JCN Person of the Year Award will be presented to both men at a gala ceremony in January 2017.

Prime Minister Perry Christie and then Financial Secretary John Rolle received JCN’s Person of the Year Award in 2015.

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PAGE 18 , Friday, December 30, 2016

SOME of those gathered at the party in Pinewood Gardens hosted by constituency MP Khaalis Rolle.

Photos: Felicity Ingraham

KHAALIS ROLLE HOSTS HOLIDAY PARTY IN PINEWOOD GARDENS PINEWOOD Gardens park was filled with holiday cheer last weekend, as Khaalis Rolle, member of Parliament for the area, hosted a Christmas Eve party for his constituents.

Nearly 200 children attended along with parents, grandparents and other community members who came together for a funfilled affair.

The afternoon started with a prayer, followed by Christmas carols.

DJ Funtime then kicked off the party with popular music, including Christmas carols, hits from the lat-

THE TRIBUNE

est children’s movie sound tracks, and the most popular hits all remixed in a kidfriendly format.

A truck replaced Santa’s sleigh.

It pulled up on the park loaded high with gifts for the children.

Mr Rolle greeted residents and even served food as he enjoyed their company with his own family. An inspector from Pinewood Urban Renewal also greeted residents, and thanked Mr Rolle for his efforts in assisting them with the delivery of 700 food care packs in November.

OIL SPILL WORKSHOP HELD AT CORAL ISLAND MARITIME INSTITUTE FIFTEEN countries participated in a four-day oil spill workshop in mid-December at the Lowell Mortimer Maritime Institute on Coral Island.

Under the theme Networking and Enhancing Partnerships, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin said that such workshops were extremely important, and

comprised a mechanism for evaluating the National Maritime Policy Plan.

“Regional co-operation is crucial in planning and responding to oil spills,” she said. “The objective is to review and improve national and regional oil spill plans.”

Once the plans have been reviewed, they are enhanced in order to further

strengthen the region’s response capabilities.

She said that the protection of the marine environment is “crucial” to sustained development of the wider Caribbean region and The Bahamas. “It must be remembered that the oceans are connected, hence what impacts one nation potentially impacts all,” she said.

She said The Bahamas is committed to the protection of the marine environment, which is considered to be one of the most precious resources next to human capital.

“The establishment of the National Oil Spill Advisory Committee and National Oil Spill Plan was critical in the assisting to protect the marine

environment. There are several governmental and private sector entities that comprise the national oil spill advisory committee.

All stakeholders were consulted in the establishment of the plan, which is constantly reviewed by stakeholders,” said Mrs Hanna Martin.

The Bahamas is party to the International Conven-

tion on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC), an international maritime convention establishing measures for dealing with marine oil pollution incidents, nationally, and in co-operation with other countries, and MARPOL, an International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 30, 2016, PAGE 19

DEBORAH Cox distributes food to elderly residents and sick children provided by the Santa Claus Christmas Committee on Boxing Day. Photos: Schamel King

FOOD being distributed to elderly residents and sick children by the Santa Claus Christmas Committee on Boxing Day.

THE Tribune Media Group’s Santa Claus Christmas Committee, fresh from hosting the 25th annual ‘Toys for Tots’ party at Atlantis on Monday, carried on the good work by providing food for 300 elderly residents and sick children who were unable to get out of their inner city homes.

On Monday afternoon, holiday meals were distributed to residents in the Grove community from Prayer and Praise Asssembly, those located on Bimini Avenue and Market Street off Balliou Hill Road, residents on First Street, Second Street, Third Street,

Almost 700 less privileged children from inner city communities in New Providence were taken by bus to Atlantis on Boxing Day, for many the first time they had crossed the Paradise Island bridge. Donations of new toys and funds came from corporate Bahamas and from the public while more than 50 volunteers - including young children - helped out in the Crown Ballroom for over four hours, serving food and drinks, supervising the bouncey castle, dance floor and basketball hoops and helping the children choose their presents in Santa’s ‘toyland’.

Taking food to those in need at the festive season Hard Rock Alley and from Pastel Gardens to Kemp Road. The food donated by SuperValue (baked chicken, peas and rice, macaroni and cheese and Sunny D) and by Atlantis (chicken nuggets) was given to members of Cynthia “Mother” Pratt’s team to distribute. Mrs Pratt, the former Deputy Prime Minister, is a figurehead in the St Cecilia community and was instrumental in the start of the Santa Claus Christmas Committee’s campaign to provide a party, meal and toy for the children from the Coconut Grove area a quarter of a century ago.

FOOD being distributed to elderly residents and sick children by the Santa Claus Christmas Committee.

DEBORAH Cox distributes food to elderly residents and sick children on Boxing Day.

PAGE 20 , Friday, December 30, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

PATS Senior Citizens Centre along with Nassau Village Urban Renewal held a Christmas luncheon for residents of several senior citizens homes in the area yesterday.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

Helping spread festive cheer