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VOLUME:117 No.27, DECEMBER 31ST, 2019

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

WOMAN: LAST-MINUTE MAGIC FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE

‘Please forgive me for killing your son’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 25-YEAR-OLD man yesterday apologised to the family of a man he shot to death three years ago, asserting that he wishes he was the one who was killed because he has been tormented by his actions ever since.

Christopher McQueen, in reading a handwritten apology addressed to Martin Nixon’s loved ones in court, said he has been haunted “day and night” ever since he made the “terrible” decision to gun the other man down in August 2016.

McQueen, according to the evidence, murdered Nixon because the deceased threatened him and accused him of seeing his girlfriend while at a lounge on Baillou

Hill Road south.

McQueen was said to have walked away from an initial verbal altercation with Nixon, but allowed his “ego and anger” to cause him to return and confront the man, ultimately leading to his death.

Thus, McQueen said he is “very sorry and remorseful” for Nixon’s death, insisting that while he and the other man had their “differences”, he was still wrong for “taking matters into my own hands” and snuffing out the 27-year-old’s life.

Further acknowledging that his actions left a “scar” in the hearts and minds of Nixon’s family that “cannot be removed”, McQueen pleaded for the family, as well as God, to “have mercy” on him “for the wrong I’ve done”.

SEE PAGE FIVE

JUST MAKING THOSE FINAL TOUCHES...

JUNKANOO Corporation New Providence (JCNP) chairman Dion Miller has revealed that four to six groups are contesting the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade results.

Although Mr Miller did not name the groups, he confirmed that protests had stemmed from groups across all categories.

The Tribune understands that Roots, One Family and Saxon Superstars are among those who have launched protests.

Yesterday, the chairman

said he could not comment on the challenges as the JCNP’s independent committee handles those complaints, but he said an allotted time is set aside to consider protests.

“During the first week in January, the independent review committee will conduct hearings and investigations and then they will make the final determinations on the validity of any or all groups’ protests or challenges. After such the parades will be made official and we’ll move on,” he explained. “Groups protesting is not unusual.”

SEE PAGE SIX

SEE PAGE EIGHT

‘I COULDN’T MISS MUM’S CHRISTMAS DINNER’

By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net

A 43-YEAR OLD man who escaped police custody on Christmas Day told his lawyer he just wanted to spend Christmas with his mother and family.

Donald Lightbourne was arrested on Christmas Eve for possession of marijuana worth $30. According to his lawyer, Jomo Campbell, while being in police custody on Christmas Day, Lightbourne was not cuffed to use the bathroom and took the opportunity to leave the Quakoo Street police station.

SEE PAGE THREE

JUNKANOO GROUPS IN BOXING DAY PROTEST

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

‘WE HAVE TWO HANDS. ONE FOR OURSELF, THE OTHER TO HELP SOMEONE UP’

GUNMEN IN YEAR’S 96TH MURDER

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A JUNKANOOER makes the final touches to a costume ahead of the New Year parade - a scene mirrored in Junkanoo shacks across the island as groups vie to win the title. Valley Boys won the Boxing Day parade and will be vying to make it a double - while rival groups will be looking to earn some bragging rights of their own.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

A MAN is dead after a shooting incident in Coconut Grove early yesterday morning, police have said.

According to reports, shortly before 2am officers received reports of gunshots in the Robinson Road area.

Shortly afterwards a man’s body was found lying on the ground at Second SEE PAGE FIVE

PALACIOUS BACKING MARIJUANA (JUST)

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FATHER James Palacious is a reluctant supporter of marijuana decriminalisation, warning yesterday that legalising the psychoactive substance may be fair for some reasons but harmful to the country.

“I wish we could ban alcohol,” he said yesterday, “but that’s not possible, it’s

FATHER JAMES PALACIOUS not practical, they tried it, it went underground during

prohibition and of course it persists today, so if alcohol is legal, marijuana perhaps should be too.”

The draft preliminary report of the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana recommends the decriminalisation of up to one ounce of marijuana.

Several religious figures have expressed their views since the report’s leak.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SIX

WHAT TROUBLES LIE AHEAD AS THE YEAR ROLLS ON?

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Concert scrapped as Lil Durk denied entry

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE promoter behind the “Fresh Unwrapped” concert is hoping to bring back famous American rapper ‘Lil Durk’ to perform for his Bahamian fans in an effort to make amends for the cancelled Christmas event.

The concert was called off after the celebrity rapper was refused entry into the country.

The rapper was initially set to perform in New Providence alongside “JayDaYoungan” on December 28.

Department of Immigration officials have not said why the rapper was refused entry.

However, it is believed the entry refusal stemmed from an ongoing criminal case involving a shooting incident that had occurred in Atlanta earlier this year connected to the rapper..

Speaking to The Tribune on the matter yesterday, Mr Crispin Cleare, owner of Fresh Entertainment Bahamas, said: “We (went) through the proper channels and we applied for work permits for four weeks in advance and we got a call about two weeks saying that we had to go through FIB to get a clearance report. “(But) when we went there, FIB said that that’s not our procedures because it’s a personal document and that’s between the two agencies… being the immigration and police and so we went back to immigration…

“And fast forward, we received a rejection letter JACK HARDY, who has died after a fight with cancer. He was a Tribune columnist for 31 years.

FAREWELL TO GARDENER JACK JOHN “Jack” Hardy, known to gardening aficionados as “Gardener Jack”, passed away on December 27 at 5:18am at the Princess Margaret Hospital after he lost his fight with cancer.

Jack had been a Tribune columnist for 31 years delighting readers with his words of wisdom on what to do in the Bahamian garden. He wrote the Green Scene for a number of decades before his column moved into the paper’s Friday Weekend section.

Jack was born in Durham, England, on March 1, 1942, and moved to The Bahamas in 1966 as a contract teacher for the Ministry of Education and serving ln the islands of Abaco, Ragged Island, Long Island and North Andros.

He was forced to relocate to New Providence from Central Pines, Abaco after Hurricane Dorian in September. He never fully regained his equilibrium after

experiencing and witnessing the vicious devastating destruction wreaked by the vengeful Dorian.

Losing his home and almost his life he rapidly went into a decline. On December 16 he was admitted to Princess Maragret Hospital where he passed away just 11 days later.

What started off as a hobby quickly grew into an obsession which he shared with his wife, the former Valerie Pinder, of Sandy Point, Abaco. He even grew tomatoes on Ragged Island using goat droppings for soil. He started writing his weekly column, ‘The Green Scene’, for The Tribune in 1988.

Jack had seven children who together brought him 22 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

His funeral will be held on January 11 at 11am at St Martin’s Anglican Church, Sandy Point, Abaco.

a day before the show, but the artists was already (on his way) and my personal feelings is that immigration is in their rights. We did not expect this to happen, but our intention is to revisit this and bring Lil Durk back.”

After hearing news of ‘Lil Durk’ being forced to leave the country, many fans took to social media to express their disappointment and outrage over the whole ordeal.

One Facebook user wrote: “Jeezy, Rick Ross, Meek Mill and 50 Cent has been here and all of them is convicted felons and ya’ll making noise.”

Another Facebook user added: “The Bahamas is a joke.. The laws are a joke to this country. All I’m saying is that America has it together and they are more strict on their laws… if they allowed him to travel and that Is where he was charged when why deny him here!!

After planning the concert for over a month, Mr Cleare said he too was disappointed when the highly anticipated event did not go as planned. But, Mr Cleare said he could not fault immigration officers for doing their job.

“For me, I felt bad that Lil Durk was here with his pregnant girlfriend and they was actually going to stay here until the new years and enjoy the holidays. And I felt bad for that situation along with then disappointing fans, “ he added.

“A lot of them were disappointed. Lil Durk was disappointed that he didn’t have the opportunity to come here and perform and he was looking

forward to it.”

Despite this, Mr Cleare maintains the company will work towards getting ‘Lil Dirk’ to perform for the first time in the country once all matters pertaining to his criminal record has been dealt with.

“Once he goes to court and all the charges are dropped off him, then we will revisit with all these proper documentations and we will re-apply to immigration for a short-term work permit and we are hoping that the documents will be granted,” he said.

In the meantime, immigration officials are urging all Bahamians to seek the necessary approvals and to go through the proper channels when bringing international artists for entertainment purposes in the country.

“The Department of Bahamas Immigration regrets to advise having taken the very conscientious decision to deny entrance to an international rapper over this holiday weekend, in accordance with Section 22 (1) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 191 Statute Laws - Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” the department said in a statement.

“In spirit of the co-operation, The Department wishes to advise all Citizens seeking to employ/engage the services of non-Bahamian Artists of any genre to perform in this country, to first seek and secure the necessary approvals in Advance of booking such artists, so as to avoid any unnecessary inconveniences to artists and members of the public.”

The entertainment company has said ticket sales will be refunded.

BPL: BOAT PROPELLER DAMAGED CABLE

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power and Light Company yesterday revealed boat propellers were responsible for damaging undersea cables, which caused a major blackout in Harbour Island over the Christmas holiday.

In a company statement BPL confirmed that cables connecting Harbour Island at the Three Island Dock site were damaged by the propellers.

Last week, the company issued a series of statements explaining the power outage was caused by two unrelated incidents involving cable failures and the breakdown of the on-island rental generation.

On Thursday, BPL confirmed the rental generators had since been replaced, but said investigations into the cause of the cable failures would not be completed until Friday.

“There are two circuits connecting Harbour Island

to mainland Eleuthera at the Three Island Dock crossing, either of which can maintain the supply to Harbour Island. Each circuit is made up of three individual cables. Our investigations have confirmed that four cables were damaged in the incident, effectively knocking out both circuits,” the statement read.

“On three of the cables the damage has been repaired, allowing the return of one of the circuits to service. The fourth cable was damaged in multiple locations and repairs are ongoing.”

According to the statement, both the cables and the on-island generators were used to supply power to Harbour Island.

Still, due to the breakdown of the rental generators, when the cables were damaged by the boat propellers it created an “unavoidable outage”.

BPL said that since the incident was not “immediately reported,” it took some time for their team to

find the damage and carry out the needed repairs.

“The damage to the cables, and the fact that the rental generators had failed due to mechanical defects, caused serious power supply issues on the island for a period of over 48 hours,” the statement also said.

“However, as reported, a new cable installed at the Whale Point/South Barr crossing as part of our planned reinforcement works for Harbour Island was used to restore power to portions of the island.”

The company further explained that partial power was restored to the island using the new cable and confirmed that all customers on the island had service restored on Thursday, December 26 by 5pm.

The situation drew the ire of many on the island who complained that the outage ruined the holiday, adding that they suffered through the blackout until about 9.30pm Christmas night.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 31, 2019, PAGE 3

THE POTHOLES at the traffic light of Village Road and Shirley Street at the weekend.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Drivers urge BPL to fix potholes properly

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net MOTORISTS forced to navigate the potholeriddled road at the traffic lights of Village Road and Shirley Street are calling for something to be done about the junction.

Many of the drivers who use the road as part of their daily commute, told The Tribune the deep potholes are interfering with the flow of traffic and damaging their vehicles.

Two weeks before the Christmas holiday, parts of the road were dug up when

Bahamas Power and Light carried out work in the area.

As of yesterday, the pot holes were filled in but many motorists are concerned that the makeshift repair will not last and that proper resurfacing must be done immediately.

John Lisgaris, an employee of Yanni’s Security, located right after the traffic light, said the road repair is long overdue.

“It’s unacceptable that you would dig up a road and leave it like that,” he said. “It’s getting worse, because right now how it rained, the potholes sunk in

even more.”

Mr Lisgaris said the potholes affect traffic “more than anything,” because they force cars to stop and slow down as they attempt to go over the rough area, causing the cars behind them to “back up”.

“You dig up a road you suppose to patch it back,” he insisted. “I heard there was a BPL truck and they said they were supposed to come back and patch it but they haven’t. I haven’t experienced any car damage yet, but if you’re running over that everyday you’re bound to have a problem eventually.”

Andrea Johnson, another motorist attempting to navigate the uneven road, also told The Tribune she felt as if the potholes were a “serious safety hazard”.

“It’s ridiculous because I wasn’t expecting it,” she said. “You can’t see it until you get to it and then it’s so deep.”

Mrs Johnson said the holes make driving on the road extremely stressful because it forces her to “crawl her way through them” and some of the cars behind her are impatient.

“The worst part is it’s not only one, it’s a couple of them and they’re huge.

These aren’t any mini holes, these holes are huge. It’s very, very dangerous and they could cause your car to have to have to go through excessive damage. It really needs to be fixed.”

Other drivers said they feared the potholes would gradually worsen and make the junction impossible to use.

“If you hear my car right now, it has plenty of bumps and makes a rickety-rackety sound,” Delores Gibson said.

“I just hope that the government is trying to do better with these roads because all the cars now in

bad condition because of roads like this.”

The Tribune reached out to BPL who told this newspaper that the road was dug up because a high-voltage cable in the vicinity of the Shirley Street and Village Road junction had faulted.

The company said extensive trenching is required to replace the cable, but the process is incomplete at this time.

BPL said crews were scheduled to begin work in the first week of January, which are contingent upon securing the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Works.

‘I COULDN’T MISS MUM’S CHRISTMAS DINNER’

from page one

Mr Campbell told The Tribune his client was remorseful and realised that he should not have escaped custody but said he really wanted to spend the holiday at home.

“While in custody he was having chest pains and seizures and that’s how he was hospitalised. Later when he was uncuffed to use the restroom, he went straight home in South Beach. This was Christmas Day. He voluntarily turned himself back him. He just wanted to go home to see his mummy and see his family.

“He admitted it was a silly thing to do. But he apologised to the court and the police officer who was overseeing him. He just really wanted to be home on Christmas Day. It was the whole fear of being arrested over Christmas and not being with family,” said Mr Campbell.

Magistrate Derrence Rolle imposed a fine of $1,000 for possession of $30 dollars-worth of marijuana and $1,000 for escaping police custody. The court

ordered fine totalling $2,000 has to be paid by February 3 otherwise Lightbourne could face a custodial sentence of one year.

Attorney Campbell used Lightbourne’s case as an example of young men who end up paying high penalties or even prison time due to small issues relating to marijuana. Campbell said the decriminalisation of small amounts of marijuana will help young Bahamian men and also free up the court system.

“It costs the public thousands of dollars when these men get custodial sentence for small quantities of marijuana. Forced to be sent to jail for small quantities is wasting public funds. The courts are already inundated with these matters and our courts are already overburdened. Cases continue to be backlogged so some of these matters should not be coming to court in the first place,” said Campbell.

The Bahamas National Marijuana Commission is recommending that recreational marijuana be permitted for adults over

21 years old and medicinal marijuana for adults 18 and over.

The draft report from the commission recommends the legalisation of

marijuana and decriminalising possession of the substance up to one

ounce. The final report is expected to be reviewed by Cabinet.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

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Get these potholes fixed quickly IT’S a bumpy drive to work if you have to cross the junction of Shirley Street and Village Road at the moment.

On yesterday’s front page, we highlighted the patched-up mess left behind

by BPL for weeks. By later in the day, lo and behold, someone had been out and thrown a bit more sand in the holes, a fix that will only work for as long as there’s no wind, rain or traffic. Good job it isn’t a busy junction by the coast, isn’t it?

BPL said the road was dug up because of a fault in a high-voltage cable – and they need to come back to dig a sizeable trench. That’s due to start in the first week of January, but in the meantime, it’s bump bump bump for anyone driving through the area. It leads to traffic queues as cars slow down to deal with the mess, and we hope no one’s car is being significantly damaged as they cross it.

We dread to think what the first day of school will be like if the situation is unchanged.

If only there was a solution... but wait!

There is! Why, back in July, showing excellent foresight, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister tabled an amendment to the Roads Act, seeking to raise the fine for contractors leaving roads in a poor state of repair from $75 to $10,000. An extra $5,000 would have to be paid for each extra day.

We suggest he raises the matter promptly with the minister with BPL in his portfolio... Minister of Works Desmond Bannister.

When Parliament first passed the amendments, the wise Mr Bannister said: “Utilities have by and large been too lax in restoring roads properly. This amendment will bite them in the pocket book if they are lax.”

Looking at the junction of Shirley Street and Village Road, we suggest Mr Bannister takes the matter up with himself promptly. And tells BPL to get it fixed. Now.

An unwanted Junkanoo tradition It wouldn’t be Junkanoo if there weren’t protests.

It seems like every year there is niggling and nitpicking over this score or that, meaning the final result drags on well into the new year.

To draw a parallel with American Football, imagine if you were watching a game and there was a flag thrown on every play, leaving the audience twiddling their thumbs waiting for the outcome.

Certainly, there can be major things to investigate - such as the corruption claims that came with the 2018/19 Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades, though they petered out into nothing, with the Junkanoo corporation saying there was no “definitive or provable evidence that corruption took place”.

That investigation took too long as well – with that statement only emerging in November, and after repeated nudging from the press to find out the status of the investigation.

Wouldn’t it be something if we could find out the result - the final result - much sooner? If the celebrations of the winning group weren’t so unofficial after all?

Every year, we talk about ways in which Junkanoo can improve, from the speed of groups moving along Bay Street to the disputes over which groups can take part.

Minister Lanisha Rolle has had her own troubles with her relationship with Junkanoo groups –- but there’s an opportunity to turn over a new leaf and maybe solve some of these issues at the same time. A meeting between Junkanoo leaders and the minister is to take place next year. Let’s put that meeting to good use, and find ways to improve Junkanoo for all – and help it to thrive at the heart of our nation’s culture.

NATIONAL Honours - when given/awarded like they have in 2019 become, in my opinion, worthless and totally redundant and unimportant.

Regrettably through political madness when the Bahamas National Honours were created it was not decided to retain “one set of honours” but now we must retain the honours given by Her Majesty (British honours) as the muck-a-mucks want their knighthoods — cheap man’s knighthood/CMGs, etc, etc.

Well striking 10.30pm London time yesterday the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for 2020 were announced. The Bahamas list read like a fairy story of antiquity and why double dipping.

Good news for ‘Sir’ Godfrey Kelly in his 90th year has finally been given a knighthood served under the UBP in politics — contributed to sailing and was an attorney for ever.

Now Dr Bishop, Rev Samuel Carrington Pinder we all have to ask why

after being awarded in the summer of 2019 in the Bahamas National Honours... Order of Merit Cabinet thinks he should be sponsored for a CBE/ Commander of the British Empire in the 2020 Queen’s Honours?

Again, Hon Tommy ‘T’ Turnquest in summer 2019 honoured by the Bahamas honours with Companion of Order of Distinction to also be honoured in the 2020 Queen’s Honours Awards with the Empire.

Contrast Tommy did not qualify seemingly for the Bahamas Order of Merit on the level of Rev Carrington Pinder.

The sole and logical reason seems to be that Cabinet does not recognise the Bahamas National Honours on par with the Queen’s Honours.

Both our past Governments have been guilty of partisan choice and nomination of citizens for honours — for years now the UK Queen’s Honours have been awarded more and more to inspiring much younger people not people in their late 70s or older

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS the curtain comes down on 2019 and we begin our journey into another decade.

As we embrace each other with agape love. Let us pray that we leave all of the hardship and trials behind.

This year has been the most challenging year we have ever seen. But we held on and God is giving us another opportunity to rebuild, not only structures made of mortar and wood, but the love of family and friends whose unity was frayed because of the burdens we bore under the strain of the unexpected.

When we look back and review our actions of the year, if we were to be honest with each other we would admit that a lot of what we said and did is not who we really are.

Already we are seeing signs of repentance – one need only to look around and certainly not with the and see the kindness being prerequisite that the person shown to others from those has had to have some politi- least expected. Adversity brings out the best and cal linkage.

There are hun- worst of us.

Sotomayor, dreds of meritorious Sonia citizens residing in the the first Hispanic jusFamily Islands who have tice on the United States contributed as much as Supreme Court, author of the big boys in Nassau or My Beloved World, wrote Freeport; there are Nas- the following. “There are sau-based business people who have contributed enormously through their businesses employing hundreds, but for ‘politics’ no recognition.

Clean this mess up, Government, political patronage should not be attached to these Honours. Cabinet you have to explain just how Rev CarEDITOR, The Tribune. rington Pinder and Hon Tommy Turnquest were WE don’t know who the able to double-dip in both lucky hog, or hogs are, who the Bahamas National come to The Downtown Honours and now in the Nassau Trough each year, 2020 Queen’s New Year’s shoving and pushing all List… four months between the other lesser pigs aside, the two honours being as they slop up everything announced… nominations they can during the last two are processed and agreed weeks of each commercial solely by Cabinet. year.

We don’t even know if it/ T K SMITH they pay anything into the Nassau, public purse at all, such as December 28, 2019. the other pigs have to do,

Why have two sets of honours?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I hope you dance LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net uses to adversity, and they don’t reveal themselves until tested. Whether it’s serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.”

If any country has known adversity America is definitely one of them. Here at home in The Bahamas we are being challenged to tap into that reserve. But we are a resilient people and as long as we are willing to leave the shackles of last year behind with God’s help we will bounce back.

The day Nelson Mandela walked out of prison he said: “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.

“Holding grudges only makes one bitter, forgiveness sets you free.”

Prayerfully next year will be our year of release. No more this and no more that – exhale let it go.

2019 reminds me of an old song: “Life is very short, and there’s no time for fussing and fighting, my friend.

I have always thought that it’s a crime. So I will ask you once again to see it my way to see it your way. We can work it out”.

In Mathew 15 Jesus said: “Are ye also yet without understanding? Do ye not yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the sewer? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man”.

Many times out of frustration and anger we say and do things that we later regret – things that can haunt us for the rest of our lives.

Let us not be harnessed with the shortcomings of 2019. And as we share in the joy of renewing old acquaintances and drink a cup of friendship let all we do and say, be filled with kindness and love.

Let 2020 be our year of release and when given the chance to either sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.

We can work it out.

March on, Bahamaland!

God bless you and have a wonderful and prosperous New Year.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, December 26, 2019.

The game is up for us all by way of real property tax, import duties, and Value Added Tax, but hopefully our DPM is keeping an eye on that.

It won’t be long though, to be sure, when the cancer that has eaten through Bay Street, east of East Street, metastasizes and eats up everything west of East Street and then the powers that be will be happy, and we can have Junkanoo every night of the year.

Even the occasional

protest march over this or that would be fine because nobody will be getting off the cruise ships by then.

There will be nothing for them to see or do.

Minister D’Aguilar speaks of upping our game.

I wonder if he passed through Bay Street during these last two weeks? Yes, our Game is Up Sir! BRUCE G. RAINE Nassau, December 30, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 31, 2019, PAGE 5

‘Please forgive me for killing your son’ from page one

However, he said he would understand if Nixon’s family members do not want to forgive him.

During the last hearing, McQueen had expressed his desire to apologize to Nixon’s family, stemming from his previous intimations to a probation officer that he wished he could apologize because he “did not intend” to kill Nixon.

Yesterday, after Mr Bain testified in court about McQueen’s good character, the young man was finally given the opportunity to apologize to the family.

Only Nixon’s father was present in court as the apology was read.

“Dear mother and father of Martin, with (all) respect due, I would like to tell all the family that I am very sorry and remorseful for your loss,” McQueen said. “And I, Christopher McQueen, with deepest apologies, know I am wrong

for what I have done to the Nixon family; I made a scar that cannot be removed.

“I wish it was me instead of Martin. Even though we had our differences, I am still wrong for taking maters into my own hands and took away the life of Martin. It haunts me day and night for all of the terrible things I’ve done.

“I, Christopher McQueen ask for your mercy, and dear Lord to have mercy upon me for the wrong I’ve done. And if the family of Martin could find it in their hearts to forgive me—and that’s okay if you cannot. I understand. But I am very sorry about what happened to Martin.”

McQueen’s statements came during what was supposed to be his sentencing hearing. The Crown is seeking 18 to 35 years for the crime - manslaughter by provocation - while his attorney, Bjorn Ferguson, is seeking a sentence on the lower end of the spectrum.

According to the facts,

McQueen was hanging out at S & Y Sporting Lounge on Blue Hill Road south on the date in question. He left the lounge and walked towards a nearby store to purchase a cigar.

While walking towards the store, he saw Nixon and his girlfriend in the road arguing. As McQueen approached the pair, Nixon accused his girlfriend of “seeing other people” and turned to look in McQueen’s direction.

When McQueen asked Nixon who he was referring to, Nixon said he meant him and stated, “You know we get all the guns.”

McQueen said he felt threatened, and consequently returned to the lounge. While there, he told his friend, Kyle Newbold, his former co-accused, about what had happened.

McQueen said Newbold suggested that they go back to where Nixon and his girlfriend were, and said he agreed with the plan.

McQueen said as they

were walking towards the area where Nixon was, the deceased walked towards them with his hand under his shirt. Newbold subsequently pulled out a gun from his trousers. McQueen then took the gun from Newbold and shot Nixon once in the leg; however, three bullets came out of the gun.

McQueen and Newbold subsequently left the scene and returned to the lounge, where McQueen said he called for an ambulance. He did not remain in the area however, and was arrested several days later.

Nixon, meanwhile, was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries early the next morning.

Yesterday, the probation officer said McQueen was reared in a nuclear family until the age of six, when his parents separated. As a result, his relationship with his father, after whom he is named, was fractured until his teenage years.

McQueen matriculated

through both the public and private school systems until the 10th grade, when he became a teen father and dropped out of school. However, he pursued higher education a few years later at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), and earned a certificate in auto mechanics.

McQueen then sought employment and worked at various places until approximately a few months before his incarceration for the offence.

According to the probation officer, the people she interviewed spoke favourably of McQueen’s character.

He was described as a quiet, mannerly, supportive and attentive father. Dwight Bain, a former employer, described the young man as a great employee and someone who stayed to himself, the probation officer said.

She also said the people she interviewed expressed shock at McQueen’s criminal actions. According

to the probation officer, McQueen’s mother even stated that “his actions is not the person that she knows.”

Yesterday, in responses to questions by Mr Ferguson, the probation officer said while she wouldn’t agree that McQueen pursuing higher education after dropping out of high school is uncommon, she could agree that he is an industrious young man. She also agreed that McQueen is productive and can be rehabilitated. She further agreed to suggestions that it is not common for a man his age to have a clean record based on her experiences.

According to Justice Grant-Thompson, McQueen didn’t plead guilty at the first opportunity, but did so at the point when the jury was empaneled.

The matter is adjourned to January 13th.

McQueen is represented by attorney Bjorn Ferguson.

GUNMEN IN YEAR’S 96TH MURDER from page one

Street, Coconut Grove, with injuries.

Police said paramedics were called to the scene and attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead.

According to The Tribune’s records, this latest killing has pushed the country’s murder count to 96.

It has been two weeks since a mother-of-six, Cleo Lockhart, was found shot to death on a track road in Nassau Village. This death marked the country’s 95th murder.

Last year, police recorded a total of 91 murders, which was a considerable decrease from 122 in 2017. It was also the first time since 2010 when fewer than 100 murders had been recorded in a single year.

In June, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said he was hoping for a murder count this year that fell below 85. It was a more ambitious goal than the one set by the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, which said they wanted to reduce

POLICE investigate the scene of a murder on Second Street off Robinson Road. the number of murders in with the aftermath of Hur- more fear into the minds of criminals. the country to the same ricane Dorian.

However, well-known “As a society, we’ve number by 2021.

But, with the country’s religious leader Bishop done miserably in placmurder rate having already Simeon Hall has said in ing fear in the minds of surpassed last year’s count, order to curb the esca- criminals. Most hardened officials have since noted lating homicides in the criminals in our country the increase to be a result capital, the country needs are not afraid of the police of police resources being to stop “playing the blame and believe they could stretched thin in dealing game” and instead inspire beat the court system,”

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff Bishop Hall said. “…We must match this culture of death with a national approach where the fear of crime by the public will be outdistanced by the fear to commit crime by criminals...We need to send a strong message that if you do the crime, you will

do the time.”

In the meantime, anyone with information on the country’s latest homicide and/or other crime matters can contact the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991/2, Crime stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Breanna killing accused wait as prosecution rests

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE Crown has formally closed its case against two women accused of murdering teenage mother Breanna Mackey last year.

Prosecutor Cassie Bethel announced yesterday afternoon that the Crown would not be calling any more witnesses to testify against Zaria Burrows and Dervinique Edwards.

The announcement to Justice Cheryl GrantThompson and the jury came just after the lead investigator, Sergeant Makelle Pinder, concluded her evidence in the matter.

Both the Crown and the defense will make legal submissions in the absence of the jury. The matter is adjourned to next month.

Burrows and Edwards remain on bail until that time.

The two women are both facing a murder charge in connection with 19-year-old Mackey’s death on January 25, 2018.

According to the evidence, Mackey was killed because five girls who were supposed to be her friends wanted her to pay for a broken $80 Huawei

cellphone that belonged to one of them.

According to reports from police, shortly before 6pm on the date in question, police control room was contacted about reports that a female was stabbed about the body in the Key West Street area off Cordeaux Avenue. Police officers were dispatched to investigate.

Upon their arrival, a woman who was identified as the victim’s sister, Latisha Woodside, directed officers to a brown and white apartment complex on the eastern side of Key West Street. On the porch, just in front of door number nine, officers discovered Mackey, semi-conscious, lying face down and suffering from four stab wounds to the upper back and two stab wounds to the right arm.

Mackey, who had turned 19 the day prior, was subsequently transported to Princess Margaret Hospital where she died around 8.28pm.

According to the record of interviews of both women, conducted two days after the incident, Burrows was driving her car in the area of Key West Street with Williams, Edwards, Davanya Lawes, Yolika

Domesle aka “Gabby”, and Matia Sylverain as passengers when Williams spotted Mackey.

Edwards said when Williams spotted Mackey, she started saying “see Breanna, see Breanna on the corner”, before asking Edwards to open the car door and let her out.

Edwards said her door wouldn’t open, so Williams exited via the opposite door.

Domesle, who was seated in the front passenger seat, subsequently exited the vehicle and threw a bottle at Mackey that ended up hitting her in the face.

Burrows said after that, Mackey’s older sister, who according to the evidence was Naffetera Brown, consequently told her to run, which she did. Williams and the others gave chase.

Burrows said Mackey ended up running in a yard and called out the name “Justin”. While fleeing however, Mackey slipped and fell in some mud, according to Burrows. When Mackey slipped and fell, Williams then grabbed her by the head and “to me what it look like punching her up”.

Edwards, in her interview, said she saw when Williams “snatched”

Mackey, and said she thought she was punching the victim. However, she said when Williams drew back her hand, she realised she was brandishing a knife.

When asked how many times she saw Williams stab Mackey, Edwards replied: “All I know is a lot, I couldn’t keep up”.

“That’s when I told Zaria ‘she jooking her’, let’s go around here,” Edwards said in her interview.

While that was happening, Sylverain was kicking Mackey, while Lawes was running in the road as if she was making a beeline for Mackey. However, Williams had since stabbed Mackey, and so Lawes ran back to Burrows’ car.

The other girls eventually made their way to the car, which was when Burrows realised Williams had a knife on her the entire time. After Williams drew all of their attention to the bloody weapon, Burrows consequently ordered her to throw the knife out of her car. Burrows then dropped the girls off at their respective homes.

Edwards, however, said she did not stay home after the incident, and went “riding out Gambier” with Burrows, Williams,

Domesle, Lawes, and Sylverain after the incident.

Burrows meanwhile, said after the incident, she picked up her girlfriend and went “riding looking for something to eat”. It is was only when she dropped her girlfriend off that she discovered that Mackey had died.

Burrows subsequently drove to Lawes’ mother to ask her if she would accompany her to the police station. When they got there, officers from the Central Detective Unit (CDU) asked her about the whereabouts of “the rasta fellow”. In response, Burrows said the “rasta fellow” was her, and that she was the one who was driving the silver Honda.

When asked if the group was driving around with the sole purpose of finding Mackey, Burrows said no. Burrows, as well as Edwards, also denied any prior knowledge that the other girls wanted to fight the deceased.

The pair also said they never heard Williams say she wanted to harm Mackey.

However, both women acknowledged that one of the other girls, Domesle, had a beef with Mackey

that stemmed from an $80 Huawei cellphone, according to the evidence.

Edwards, in her ROI, said Domesle had a “problem” with Mackey because she (Mackey) broke Domesle’s phone and “promised to pay back for it”, which apparently never happened.

Burrows, meanwhile, explained in her ROI that Mackey’s and Domesle’s “situation” stemmed from an iPhone 6. She said that on an unspecified occasion, Mackey told Williams to tell Domesle to go by her mother’s house to get $50, allegedly for the phone’s repair. However, Burrows said when she and the other girls went to the house, Mackey’s mother told Domesle that she never authorised anyone to get the $50.

Burrows said Mackey’s mother and sister subsequently “started to run on” about the issue, and when she suggested that they “go deal with this in the police hand”, Mackey’s mother said “ya’ll could go to the police, I’ll be here waiting on the police”.

Dervard Francis represents Burrows. Eleanor Albury represents Edwards.

JUNKANOO GROUPS IN BOXING DAY PROTEST from page one “It’s a custom and it’s just a part of the process at this point. A group can protest and say ‘Our scores were low. We want you to look in why are scores were low’.

They have any grounds to which they can protest on – it’s up to them.”

This comes after the Saxon Superstars Co-chair Kendenique CampbellMoss told The Nassau Guardian that group was disappointed about not winning this year’s parade.

Groups were given 48 hours to contest the results and had until this past Sunday at 8pm to launch their protest. After doing so, they cannot publicly speak about their protest or the process of the protest according to the JCNP bylaws. Any mention or discussion in public will deem it null and void.

The Tribune was told

yesterday that there was confusion over certain aspects of the parade caused by it being postponed to midnight. Yet, Mr Miller argued that certain decisions were agreed on by the groups.

He added: “The majority of groups agreed that they wanted to postpone the parade because of the rain until 12am - that passed by a way of majority vote.

Groups were told and voted on the number of laps that they wanted to rush during the parade.

“They voted and agreed by a majority that they wanted three laps. Groups were then asked if they wanted the parade to be a normal parade, a full parade, a full penalty parade. Passed – groups agreed that it would be a normal penalty parade.

“What should have been done and to make the parade a full non-penalty parade was another meeting would have had to have been called and the groups would have had to been pulled and the majority of groups would have had to agree for the parade to be a non-penalty parade. That did not happen.”

The same rule for protesting the results apply for the New Year’s Junkanoo Parade.

Mr Miller anticipates all the hearings will wrap up by January 15.

Death Notice For

Rosalee Myrtle Roberts “Rosie”, 86 of Shirlea, passed away at Doctors Hospital on Friday, December 27, 2019.

She is survived by her Sisters and Brother: Cassandra Repanshek, Christine Lowe, Mavis Treco, and Lester Carroll; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service is scheduled for Saturday, January 04, 2020, 11a.m. at Calvary Bible Church, Collins Avenue.

A JUNKANOOER making final preparations for the New Year’s Day parade.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

PALACIOUS BACKING MARIJUANA (JUST) from page one Bahamas Christian Council President Delton Fernander said he will comment when the official report is released.

“Unfortunately, people see marijuana as another means of changing their mood and that is extremely unfortunate, but I think that as an adult you have a right to that,” Father Palacious said.

“I don’t agree that you should use it. I don’t think it is a good thing for the country to have people smoking marijuana but if that is your

choice, especially since we’ve legalized alcohol and cigarettes, which appear to be killing more people than marijuana, then that’s your choice. But it is not good for our young people because I don’t think we need something else to alter our mood, something else messing with our heads and whatever effect marijuana has, it is a fact that it has some negative impacts on people’s behaviour. It can be addictive and can be an introductory drug to other things. Like they did with the numbers, are they going talk about how you’ll have more counsellors available

to deal with this? We ain’ see that happen with numbers yet.” Research is inconclusive on whether marijuana is a gateway drug.

Father Palacious expressed concern that the drug users with flaunt the substance in public.

“If you at the party, you could be inhaling weed, if you on Bay Street, people could just be passing you smoking your weed if it’s under one ounce,” he said.

“Ten fellas could be coming down Bay Street just smoking. You could be out on the church porch smoking your weed. I think that’s an extremely bad image, a bad

thing to see.”

More than anything else, the retired archdeacon is concerned the government won’t adequately enforce the rules it ultimately applies.

“Part of my reluctance is that enforcement processes in this country is so weak, that even when you say certain things, we don’t enforce them,” he said. “People don’t do what’s expected, they do what’s inspected and our inspectorate programme is just about zero.

Look at how many people are running red lights. How are we going to enforce these rules?”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 31, 2019, PAGE 7

CRAWFISH season is back under way, but 20 men who either have spousal permits or are permanent residents have been denied permits to harvest the fish.

Foreign fishermen sue over crawfish permit rejection

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE government is being sued for denying 20 foreigners permits to harvest crawfish.

The applicants are mostly nationals of the Dominican Republic and Honduras. According to a lawsuit filed by their lawyer Dion Smith, they have either spousal permits or are permanent residents and are employed on Bahamian-owned fishing vessels as divers. The vessels are used specifically for capturing crawfish during crawfish season between August and March.

Mr Smith says the

decision to deprive them of dive compressor permits, which are essential for harvesting crawfish at certain depths, has affected their livelihood.

Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard announced the Bahamian-only policy earlier this year. He said under no circumstance would compressor permits be issued to people who have work permits.

Mr Smith says this not only contravenes the Immigration Act, which empowers people with spousal permits and permanent residency to be gainfully employed, but also Article 26 of the Constitution.

Mr Smith wants the Supreme Court to grant an injunction allowing his clients to fish until the case is finished because they would lose their jobs if they can’t before the end of the crawfish season.

He wants a declaration that the failure to issue compressor permits to his clients on or before August 1, 2019, was a violation of the principles of natural justice. He wants judicial review proceedings over the matter.

“All applicants have been granted permission by the department of immigration to engage in gainful employment without restrictions or conditions,” the lawsuit says. “The decision taken

PRAYERS FOR TWO MEN MISSING AT SEA

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HAROLD Fitzgerald was expected home before the end of Christmas.

Instead, his family wants help over his disappearance at sea.

His stepson, Kortney Cartwright, told The Tribune the fisherman went to catch conch and crawfish on Christmas Day morning with Tenille Russell, an Andros native. But no one has heard from the pair since. The men, Mr

Cartwright said, were expected to return by 6pm on the holiday.

He said Mr Fitzgerald was last seen leaving Lowe Sound, Andros, for the Northwest Channel Light at 8pm on a 25ft white open hull Mako, single engine 200 HP. “A caring husband, father, uncle and friend to many has been missing since Christmas Day,” he wrote on Facebook. He said Mr Fitzgerald is a pastor who regularly goes on fishing trips.

The family has faith

the missing men will be returned safely.

“We are firmly grounded by our Christian ideologies, always have been in, we find comfort in that,” Mr Cartwright said.

“My mom is a praying woman and we are going to keep trusting in God. Now is not the time to doubt him.”

A spokesman for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force said the organisation is searching for the men. The RBDF did not release a statement on the matter up to press time.

by the first responded (Minister Pintard) was predetermined by him without regard to the regulation, statutory protocols and provisions of the Immigration Act and the Fishers Resources Jurisdictions and Conservation Act, as it relates to the rights of applicants. The applicants are all employed but unable to work as a result of the decision taken by the first respondent and therefore, they have received damages and they are continuing to suffer damages each day they are not allowed to work on the fishing vessel as a diver.”

The Fishing Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act mandates that no

foreign fishing take place in fishing zones of The Bahamas unless authorised. Such provisions do “not apply to the applicants,” Mr Smith notes. His clients received compressor permits last year.

At the start of the 2018 crawfish season, Mr Pintard said a new training initiative was being targeted to grow the number of Bahamian divers and reduce reliance on foreign nationals in the field.

“We have sent a stern message to the commercial fishermen that it is our intention to carry out a vigorous recruitment drive for Bahamians to function in the dive industry, to be on these commercial vessels,

and we have already come to an agreement with the National Training Agency in principle to train as many Bahamians that are committed to ongoing hard work so they can eliminate the demand that presently exists for divers from other jurisdictions, whether that is from Honduras, the Dominican Republic or Cuba,” Mr Pintard said.

However, he noted at the time that while some divers were not Bahamianborn, some of them were permanent residents and that once such a certificate has been issued, his ministry is mandated to review the application for a compressor permit that they submit.

TARIFFS DROPPED FOR PLASTIC BAN THE law has been amended so biodegradable materials can be imported tariff free before the singleuse plastic ban goes into effect tomorrow.

The amendments, circulated yesterday by Bahamas Information Services, were gazetted on December 19th.

Among the items that can be brought in duty free are compostable food waste bag liners, cystalized PLA, CPLA and RCPLA tablewares, kitchenwares and

biodegradable straws; and wooden stirrers and wood cutlery.

Once the ban takes effect, businesses will not be able to import plastic straws, styrofoam food containers, plastic utensils and single-use plastic shopping bags.

Stores will be allowed to charge customers a per bag fee of between 25 cents and $1. The cost of the bags must appear on a customer’s receipt as a “check out bag fee”.

Companies will be allowed to keep the fees collected for the sale of these bags and a record must be kept of the number of bags supplied during the reporting year along with the gross and net proceeds of the sale.

Failure to keep these records could result in fines up to $2,000. Failure to supply a copy of the record to the Ministry of the Environment carries a fine up to $1,000.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

‘We have two hands. One for ourself the other to help someone up.’

IT’S THE finale! The end of 2019 and the end of an entire decade! Many people are in reflection mode today as the year 2020 is imminent. Tomorrow, it will be a brand new day, a brand new year and a brand new decade. This is the time of the year that is often spent with family, friends and loved ones. But there are those who don’t have the luxury of having blood relatives to be with.

Mark Brown remembers those days. He and his twin brother Matthew spent the first 13 years of their lives in children’s homes.

Their single mother struggled with a drinking problem, and they were the last of eight children. The situation led to the Ministry of Social Services taking the last of her four children – all boys. Because the Brown twins were babies at the time, the children’s homes were all they knew.

Luckily, they were never separated, so at least they had each other. There were times when people wanted

THE TRIBUNE

Face to Face

By FELICITY INGRAHAM

to adopt Matthew and not Mark, and vice versa; however they were fortunate to stay together. Most of their time was spent in homes in New Providence, but they also spent a year in Freeport. It was a way of life that didn’t seem out of the ordinary until they started attending school.

“I wouldn’t say it was a bad experience (growing up in a children’s home) because it was all I knew,” Mark said.

“Being born in a particular situation, you would feel no way about it because it’s normal. I didn’t know something was different about my life until I went to school… not until I saw other kids being picked up by their parents. It caused

me to have an enlightening about what life should have been. So then, you would have feelings about it. Wishing you had parents, your own room and your own space.”

When the twins were 13, the social worker who was responsible for them was being moved to another department. She made it her mission to reunite all the children in her case files with their parents, once they were worthy, before she relocated. By the time they were 14, they were back in their mother’s care and so were their two elder brothers.

“It was an indescribable feeling; it was exciting to be home and out of the system,” said Mark.

MARK Brown looking on the bright side of life as he prepares for the new year, as he sits on a swing at his workplace, Atlantis Resort.

“Sometimes I sat in the classroom and looked out of the window like… ‘wow, I have a home!’ There were fun times. We lived near the downtown area, so my siblings and I would go window shopping at night.

I wouldn’t tell you every day was sunshine. We were trying to bring two worlds together. My brothers and I naturally had to adjust.

There were some heated arguments along the way as well. I remember one time, my mother said to me: ‘You never miss something you never had!’ And I told her that she never missed something that she never had, either. It’s a conversation most people couldn’t even imagine having with a parent. But when you love someone, you forgive and let go. There is no perfect relationship. It’s how you handle it and how you work MARK Brown with Deandre Ayton. through it.” who went through what quality time. He enjoys Mark pointed out that they went through. From mentoring and is setting children all over the coun- when I left the home I a good example for the try, in an out of children’s wanted to do something. kids through his own life homes, are going through In 2014 I came up with the testament. He is an Atlanthings and often need idea to start a foundation. tis Resort employee of people in authority in their I chose the name ‘A Hand 21 years. He started out lives to come from a place Up’ because God gave us as a telephone operator of love and understanding. two hands and I think we and today, he is a conferDuring the Christmas have an obligation to help ence service host. He is an season, gifts pour into the others. One hand is for you, ordained minister at Word children’s homes from the next one is to reach of Life Kingdom Ministry around the country. Kids down and help someone in Oakes Field. He is the are happy to be remem- else up. The motto is “A author of two books: A bered and to be blessed touch of hope” because all Hand Up: Mark Brown’s with presents - but there’s it takes it a simple touch story and A Positive more they need, Mark – showing you care – to Touch. Both are available believes. For this reason, he change someone’s life for on Amazon. If you wish started “A Hand Up Foun- the better.” to donate or be a part of dation” to reach out to kids The foundation has his foundation, visit: www. who are in the same posi- programmes that assist chil- ahandupbahamas.com. tion he was. He knows all dren, from babies straight The foundation has a mistoo well what they need is up to age 18. Mark strives sion - “to actively prepare time. They need attention, for consistency – sticking our young people to make mentoring and consistency with the kids as they grow ethical and moral choices in their lives.

– because it was something over their lifetimes by “I found that lot of the lacking in his life grow- instilling in them the proper kids coming out of the ing up. Having people values and giving them the home, especially young constantly coming in and tools necessary to excel men, were ending up either going out of their lives once transition from the in jail or they had a hard made it hard for them to children’s home into socitime getting a footing in trust people. ety.” The vision of A Hand life,” he said.

In times like these, Up is – “to fund, source, “I was concerned because when it’s the holidays distribute and create opporI knew what it was to go and people are giving tunities that will improve through it. It’s easier for the kids presents, Mark every day life, education young persons to listen to and members of A Hand and future for disadvanand understand someone Up are giving the kids taged children”.

MARK Brown with kids at an Atlantis basketball clinic held at Mt Carmel Prep school, visited by Bahamian NBA star Deandre Ayton.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 31, 2019, PAGE 9

TECHTALK

DOZENS of Amazon robots transport packages from workers to chutes that are organised by zip code, at an Amazon warehouse facility in Goodyear, Arizona. (AP)

WORKING WITH ROBOTS: WAREHOUSE STAFF PUSHED TO ADAPT

By MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Robots haven’t replaced warehouse workers yet, but they’re here — and they need some human supervision.

Doing your job side-by-side with robots isn’t easy. According to their makers, the machines should take on the most mundane and physically strenuous tasks. In reality, they’re also creating new forms of stress and strain in the form of injuries and the unease of working in close quarters with mobile half-tonne devices that direct themselves.

“They weigh a lot,” Amazon worker Amanda Taillon said during the pre-Christmas rush at a company warehouse in Connecticut. Nearby, a fleet of 6-foot-tall roving robot shelves zipped around behind a chain-link fence.

Taillon’s job is to enter a cage and tame Amazon’s wheeled warehouse robots for long enough to pick up a fallen toy or relieve a traffic jam. She straps on a light-up utility belt that works like a superhero’s force field, commanding the nearest robots to abruptly halt and the others to slow down or adjust their routes.

TAHSHA Sydnor stows packages into special containers after Amazon robots deliver separated packages by zip code at an Amazon warehouse facility in Goodyear, Arizona. (AP)

Moving “When you’re out there, and you can hear them moving around, but you can’t see them, it’s like, ‘Where are they going to come from?’,” she said. “It’s a little nerve-racking at first.”

Taillon says she’s gotten used to working with robots — something Amazon and its rivals are increasingly requiring warehouse employees to do. Amazon now has more than 200,000 robotic vehicles it calls “drives” that are moving goods through its deliveryfulfillment centers around the U.S. That’s double the number it had last year and up from 15,000 units in 2014.

Its rivals have taken notice.

Many are adding their own robots in a race to speed up productivity and bring down costs.

Without these fast-moving pods, robotic arms and other forms of warehouse automation, retailers say they wouldn’t be able to fulfill consumer demand for packages that can land on doorsteps the day

AN AMAZON robot moves along the warehouse floor with a package. (AP) after you order them online.

But while fears of fully automated warehouses haven’t come to fruition, there are growing concerns that keeping up with the pace of the latest technology is taking a toll on human workers’ health, safety and morale.

Warehouses powered by robotics and artificial intelligence software are leading to human burnout by adding more work and upping the pressure on workers to speed up their performance, said Beth Gutelius, who studies urban economic development at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has interviewed warehouse operators around the U.S.

Much of the boom in warehouse robotics has its roots in Amazon’s $775 million purchase of Massachusetts startup Kiva Systems in 2012. The tech giant re-branded it as Amazon Robotics and transformed it into an in-house laboratory that for seven years has been designing and building Amazon’s robot armada.

Amazon’s Kiva purchase “set the tone for all the other retailers to stand up and pay attention,” said Jim Liefer, CEO of San Francisco startup Kindred AI, which makes an artificially intelligent robotic arm that grasps and sorts items for retailers such as The Gap. A rush of venture capital and

private sector investment in warehouse robotics spiked to $1.5 billion a year in 2015 and has remained high ever since, said Rian Whitton, a robotics analyst at ABI Research.

Canadian e-commerce company Shopify spent $450 million this fall to buy Massachusettsbased startup 6 River Systems, which makes an autonomous cart nicknamed Chuck that can follow workers around a warehouse.

Other mobile robot startups are partnering with delivery giants such as FedEx and DHL or retailers such as Walmart.

Warehouse work is transforming in a way that the head of Amazon Robotics says can “extend human capability” by shifting people to what they are best at: problem-solving, common sense and thinking on their feet.

“The efficiencies we gain from our associates and robotics working together harmoniously — what I like to call a symphony of humans and machines working together — allows us to pass along a lower cost to our customer,” said Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics’ chief technologist.

Brady said worker safety remains the top priority and ergonomic design is engineered into the systems at the beginning of the design stage. Gutelius, the University of Illinois researcher, said that the aspiration for symphonic human-machine operations is not always working out in practice.

“It sounds quite lovely, but I rarely hear from a worker’s perspective that that’s what it feels like,” she said.

Gutelius co-authored a report published this fall that found new warehouse technology could contribute to wage stagnation, higher turnover and poorer quality work experiences because of the way AI software can monitor and micromanage workers’ behaviours.

A recent journalistic investigation of injury rates at Amazon warehouses from The Center for Investigative Reporting’s Reveal found that robotic warehouses reported more injuries than those without.

The Reveal report found a correlation between robots and safety problems, such as in Tracy, California, where the serious injury rate nearly quadrupled in the four years after robots were introduced.

• UBER is increasing its footprint in the Pittsburgh area with the purchase of a $9.5 million parcel to be used as a new test track for self-driving cars.

Uber Technologies spokeswoman Sarah Abboud confirmed the purchase to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review but said she could not immediately share more details about the plan.

The San Francisco ridehailing giant bought the nearly 600-acre parcel in Findlay Township through an Uber affiliate from a developer, the Imperial Land Corp., according to land company President Jerry Bunda.

The headquarters for Uber’s autonomous vehicles branch, the Advanced Technologies Group, remains in the city’s Strip District, where it leases a 50-acre plot in Hazelwood Green to test self-driving cars.

But the company has been looking for a new location for the test track.

That lease expires in 2023 and is not expected to be renewed, Abboud said.

• THE new year will bring new charges for some owners of electric vehicles in the US, as an increasing number of states seek to plug in to fresh revenue sources to offset forgone gas taxes.

In Hawaii, the charge will be $50. In Kansas, $100. In Alabama and Ohio, $200.

New or higher registration fees go into effect Wednesday for electric vehicle owners in at least eight states.

For the first time, a majority of U.S. states will impose special fees on gas-free cars, SUVs and trucks — a significant milestone as the trend toward green technology intersects with the mounting need to pay for upgrades and repairs to the nation’s infrastructure.

Though electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles comprised less than 2% of new vehicle sales in 2018, their market share is projected to rise substantially in the coming decade.

State officials hope the new fees will make up for at least part of the lost gas tax revenue that is essential to their road and bridge programmes.

“I think states are still trying to determine what is a fair or equitable fee on these electric vehicle owners,” said Kristy Hartman, energy programme director at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Imposing fees on electric vehicles is one of several societal trends reflected in laws taking effect in 2020.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

What troubles lie ahead as the year rolls on?

WRITING this column on the eve not only of another year but a new decade as well, it is almost obligatory to reflect on immediate past events as well as to look at prospects for the foreseeable future.

On the world stage, the last two decades saw the horrors of 9/11 and the Iraq war together with the financial crisis as well as Putin’s illegal occupation of Crimea and eastern Ukraine, the terrible conflict in Syria and the rise of the brutal socalled Islamic State - and the spectre of terrorism in Western Europe and of the plight of huge numbers of refugees in distress was always there on people’s television screens.

In my own country, Britain, there was a long period of austerity during the last decade, with budget cuts by a coalition government in order to place the nation’s economy back on to a firm footing while Prime Minister David Cameron destroyed his own political career by holding a referendum about the UK’s relationship with the European Union. This past year has ended with an election victory by sitting Prime Minister Boris Johnson who won the biggest Tory majority since Margaret Thatcher during her heyday in the 1980s – and that was surely an apt conclusion to the decade. Like Donald Trump’s success in the US in 2016, it partly represented a populist revolt of working-class voters across the Western world against what have been regarded as the excesses of globalisation and, in Britain’s case, it was a defeat of hard-Left extremism and a victory for Brexit.

This past decade was also a time of patriotic spectacle

The Peter Young column in Britain like the weddings – with all the traditional pomp and pageantry for which Britain is famed – of Princes William and Harry and a triumphant London Olympic Games. At the same time, there was the downside of a perceptible lowering of standards of politeness and decency in public life brought about partly by the ease of communication via the internet and social media which has spawned so much hatred and vitriol.

What amounts to illiberal and joyless intolerance, sometimes characterised as political correctness, has grown ineluctably in recent years. It seems to me that far too much importance is being given to the views of minorities who are determined to be outraged at the drop of a hat about matters which to most fair-minded people are trivial at best.

The new expression ‘woke’, which is loosely defined as being committed to social and political justice - not least being alert to injustice such as racism - is surely an admirable aspiration. But

WHAT will 2020 bring? One thing likelier to happen now is Brexit, now that Boris Johnson has secured a majority for his Conservative party in Britain.

Photo: Rui Vieira/AP trouble arises when those concerned all too often become intolerant in their beliefs and refuse to accept that alternative views exist, let alone that they should be respected. But there has already been a backlash of ordinary people – sometimes referred to as the silent majority – who resent being harangued by selfstyled and self-righteous fanatics.

Meanwhile, what interests most people at this time of year is what may happen during the coming months that will affect their own lives. While conclusions can be drawn from data and trends, the fact remains that much forecasting is flawed because there are invariably too many imponderables.

Historically, many were

convinced that the French astrologer, Nostradamus, accurately predicted global events from the French revolution to the rise of Hitler, the atom bomb and the assassination of President Kennedy.

Apparently, it can also be inferred from his writings centuries ago that a large earthquake will hit the North American continent in 2020 and that sea levels will rise abruptly because of the melting of Antarctica.

Then there was the Bulgarian blind mystic and clairvoyant, Baba Vanga – dubbed as the Balkan Nostradamus – who is said to have predicted the 9/11 terror attacks and the rise of ISIS. Sceptics question all this. But, just to frighten us all, modern astrologers are now predicting the new decade will kick off with an unspecified oncein-a-generation event that will significantly change the world.

Economic predictions and those related to the weather and climate change tend to be more accurate because they are based on specific data and experience.

Reportedly, the evidence

suggests growing global prosperity in the coming year, with world stock markets continuing to forge ahead. Following the rise of internet-based firms and the development of new technology, clean energy, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, the way people work, shop and relax will continue to change. The evidence about climate change is also becoming clearer and suggests the global warming crisis is going to get worse, with higher carbon emissions, temperatures and sea levels. This should surely send a strong message to small island developing states like The Bahamas that urgent action is required in preparing for hurricanes and dealing with their effects - including the need for stronger defences like sea walls - and that there should be strict requirements, for example, in relation to rebuilding in Abaco post-Dorian.

Another major concern is rising inequality has produced a backlash against globalisation. Nations are becoming increasingly inter-connected by air,

land, sea and cyberspace.

They are bound together by complex and extensive economic networks crossing international borders, and events in one place can have a ripple effect and consequences in others.

Economic interdependence based on trade, which creates value and should also help to deter conflict, ought to be welcomed. But a problem exists when some people perceive that they are being left behind by globalisation – and that makes it incumbent on political leaders to ensure that the sovereignty and interests of the nation state are adequately and appropriately protected.

As far as Britain is concerned, it is worth noting - now the argument about Brexit has been resolved - that for the first time in 47 years it will become an independent country again, responsible for its own destiny and its laws, finances, trade and borders. This could herald the advent of an economic surge and national renewal. It is likely that the public will now trust government officials to work out the details of a trade agreement with Brussels so that the emphasis in 2020 can be on domestic politics, with effective action to fulfil the new Tory government’s numerous manifesto pledges; for example, in relation to the National Health Service and social care, crime and the economic resurgence of the North of England.

Amid all this, at a personal level the start of a New Year and another decade is a moment for many people to take stock of their lives and consider whether changes are needed. What about New Year resolutions like losing weight, giving up smoking, joining a gym and taking up yoga, reading more books or simply flossing your teeth daily? For what it’s worth, a Google search will provide the largely useless information that, statistically, more and more people are sticking to their resolutions – as if they would ever admit otherwise!

QUEEN’S CHRISTMAS SPEECH – FOCUS ON MESSAGE NOT THE ATTIRE I MENTIONED last week the Queen’s Speech to the nation which, after being pre-recorded, is broadcast on BBC television on Christmas Day. It always contains an inspiring message for people to reflect on at this time of year. The Queen has addressed the nation annually in this way since 1952, with the exception of 1969 when she opted not to do so because a special documentary – “Royal Family” – had been produced during the summer in connection with the Investiture of the Prince of Wales.

That year she sent a written message to the people instead.

The speech usually contains a chronicle of the year’s main events and the sovereign’s own personal milestones, and normally there is a theme. This year it was the Christian message of peace and goodwill which, she said, had relevance in modern times and was a reminder of what can be achieved when people abandon their differences and “come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation”.

According to reports, it was assumed she was referring to the need to heal differences over Brexit as she stressed the path is never smooth but small steps can help to heal division. She also spoke about climate change and acknowledged the contribution of young people in helping to spur international action to combat global warming.

The Queen talked of “a bumpy year”.

This was thought to refer both to the

controversy over Brexit and to the various problems of the Royal Family over the past year, from the Duke of Edinburgh’s car crash in January to Harry’s and Meghan’s difficult relations with the media and, more recently, the Prince Andrew scandal.

For her Christmas Day address, the monarch was wearing a royal blue dress and a sapphire brooch set with 12 diamonds. Her outfit prompted the UK press to run an extraordinary story that some academics had claimed that it resembled the EU flag which features a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. They concluded from this that the Queen was sending a hidden message of support to the EU. What they failed to realise, however, was that this particular brooch was a gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria on the eve of their wedding in 1840 which had been willed to the Queen and is, apparently, one of her favourites. Nor must they have taken into account that publicly the Queen always stays politically neutral and impartial. So, despite the wide press coverage, perhaps it was really a spoof because the thought of the monarch acting in such a way is so patently absurd as to be laughable. As for the blue dress, one might equally stupidly suggest she was sending a message that she supported Chelsea Football Club as a famous star of England’s Premier League whose kit is royal blue shirts and shorts!

VALUE OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP ANOTHER topic that comes to the fore and gives food for thought at this time of year is the value of friendship as people review their relationships, often with a view to making fresh beginnings.

There is insufficient space here today to do justice to such a broad and fascinating subject. But, just to touch on it, I happen to believe that those who claim to have countless friends often confuse ephemeral acquaintanceship with true and lasting friendship which, as a form of unconditional love, mutual trust and commitment, is both rare and greatly valued by those concerned.

As such, when found it should be nurtured and sustained in accordance with the famous dictum of Dr Johnson, England’s 18th century distinguished man of letters, about the need to keep one’s friendships in good repair.

Some other wise advice, attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, America’s renowned essayist and philosopher, is that if one wants a friend it is important to be a friend. This surely means becoming positively involved in the life of another person and genuinely keeping their interests at heart - give and thou shalt receive.

A Happy New Year to all.