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VOLUME:116 No.107, MAY 28TH, 2019
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‘Fred, stop suing’
Symonette calls on QC to work with him to avoid court By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
IMMIGRATION Minister Brent Symonette wants Fred Smith to stop suing the government, insisting yesterday the outspoken human rights lawyer has made his point. Mr Symonette, right, called for collaboration between attorneys representing clients on immigration matters and the Department of Immigration, to resolve issues without saddling the public purse with hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs. His plea for co-operation comes on the heels of retired Justice Rubie Nottage’s charge that people waiting more than five years for an answer to their application for citizenship have a right to sue the government.
KAYLA IN OUR HEARTS FOR EVER
SEE PAGE EIGHT
The government’s Citizenship Committee has now processed about 1,000 applications for citizenship but there are hundreds more to go, according to Mr Symonette. “I thought [Mrs Nottage’s comments] were unfortunate because every time you sue the government and you win…say you win $200,000 to $300,000 worth of damages, that’s less resources we have for the hospital for dying people, or to improve [Department of] Immigration. The only one who makes out in that is the lawyers.” Mrs Nottage was asked by a participant at a UB forum what she felt was a reasonable processing time for citizenship applications during a panel discussion on the Right to Nationality and Statelessness that
FERGUSON: ‘WE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE’
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Anthony Ferguson has defended the officers involved in an operation more than a week ago that resulted in police fatally shooting three men inside a Blair home, calling them “very responsible”. SEE PAGE THREE
...AS A YEAR ON ANOTHER FAMILY CAN ONLY MOURN
SEE PAGE SIX
UNION BOSS WARNS OF ‘INDUSTRIAL MAYHEM’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A TRADE union leader yesterday warned that industrial “mayhem” via a general strike will result unless employers stop attacking worker rights that have taken decades to build. Bernard Evans, the National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas president, told Tribune Business that this nation’s industrial relations climate was currently “a ticking
timebomb” amid fears that long-established benefits and protections are under threat. Affirming that the umbrella union body stood “100 percent” behind its hotel union affiliate ahead of this Thursday’s strike vote, Mr Evans said The Bahamas was “headed in the direction of a general strike” with workers withdrawing their labour en masse unless multiple disputes and grievances were swiftly resolved.
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
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BAHAMIAN model LaGrea Higgs made her country proud by being chosen by Vogue’s Italian edition for a special photo shoot. Full story - see Woman Photo: Jenn Terrell
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ONE year later, “Justice for Dee” markings still mark the walls of the Mason’s Addition community where Deangelo Evans was killed by police. The markings, plastered on homes and around the community park, are SEE PAGE TWO
FIRE RIPS THROUGH BIMINI BPL PLANT By TRIBUNE REPORTER
A MASSIVE fire ripped through a Bahamas Power and Light facility in Bimini last night, leaving the island in darkness. “BPL is confirming a fire at our facility in Bimini, a BPL spokesman said last night. “The Fire Department is on site and working to extinguish the fire. We will provide more information as it becomes available.” Cell phone videos of
the huge blaze circulated on social media last night, showing large flames and plumes of thick smoke emanating from the building as bystanders looked on in the dark. One resident lamented the fire meant islanders would have to rely on generators for power supply. “With the government we got, we gone be on generator for years,” one resident is heard saying in one video. The cause of the fire was not known up to press time.
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PAGE 2, Tuesday, May 28, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
THE FAMILY of Deangelo Evans remember the anniversary of his death yesterday. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
One year on a family mourns
from page one
the visible signs of a community that refuses to forget or move on. Evans was one of 11 people killed by police last year, his death sparking the most turmoil. His family and friends gathered at the Father Marcian Cooper Park last evening to mark the anniversary. Authorities said they were responding to an armed robbery of a store on East Street and Bethel Ground Corner on May 27, 2018 when Evans, one of the people they believed matched the description of the suspects, was shot and killed. They said he brandished a weapon. They also said they recovered a .40 calibre weapon from the scene. Residents disputed the police account of what happened. The family has hired Wayne Munroe, QC, to represent them. However, the matter has not yet come up before the Coroner’s Court. Wearing green shirts that said “One year anniversary - still no justice
for Dee,” the family visited Evans’ burial spot at Woodland Gardens before gathering yesterday evening at the community park. “We know there’s protocol,” said Evans’ aunt, Karen Russell. “We know there’s a waiting period, but still, all the family is crying out for is somebody to come to us and tell us what happened.” In the last year, the
Mason’s Addition community has found ways to highlight the incident. A music video was released, Evans was honoured during the 2018 Labour Day parade and was featured on costumes and placards during last year’s Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Junkanoo parades. “We’re not letting this die,” Ms Russell said. “The
spirit is still there. Right now we are in the lion’s mouth and whenever they call the inquest, they could be stink and wait two more years to do so, but we want people to realise we will be there to push for it.” Beverley Lee, Evans’ mother, broke down in tears at the burial site. “It was rough and empty,” she
said of the last year. “I’ve been in and out. Some days I have good days, some days I have bad days. There just no peace for me right now, no closure. If I sit down and my mind go on him, I’ll have a sad day because I keep replaying what happened in my mind.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, May 28, 2019, PAGE 3
POLICE KILLING A JUSTIFIED HOMICIDE, COURT DECIDES By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A CORONER’S Court jury unanimously concluded yesterday the 2010 police killing of Walden Mitchell, a former police officer, was a justified homicide. Mitchell was killed on First Street off Coconut Grove on November 22, 2010 after receiving three gunshot wounds to
his torso and buttocks. Jurors had the option of returning a finding of homicide, justified homicide or open verdict, with homicide requiring the highest standard of proof. They chose justified homicide, concluding that in the balance of probabilities, it was more likely than not that the force used against Mitchell was lawful. The inquest took place before Deputy Coroner
Kara Turnquest Deveaux. During her summation of the case, the coroner said there was some evidence Mitchell was seated on a motorcycle and was struck “almost from behind”. However, she noted that one of the officers who shot Mitchell, Officer Robinson, gave evidence that he was threatened by Mitchell and believed Mitchell was about to shoot. Officers testified the killing was the culmination
of a series of events. One officer, Officer Gaitor, said in the hours before the fatal shooting, intelligence led him and his partner to Kemp Road where they heard gunshots from Sutton Street. While responding, he said he passed Mitchell on the road and subsequently followed his vehicle. He said Mitchell’s vehicle eventually stopped and the former officer exited the car and fired multiple shots in the
direction of the officers. Officer Gaitor said his partner, Officer Johnson, was shot to his face. Officers testified they later encountered Mitchell and another man on First Street. The men wore dark clothing and this time were seated on a grey, black and white motorcycle. They testified that the passenger, John Roker, complied with their orders and dismounted from the bike, dropping
his black shotgun to the ground. Roker was later taken into custody. Mitchell, they said, was given multiple opportunities to surrender but remained seated on his motorcycle. Officers said they shot him when he reached for a pistol in his waist. Shakeyra Dean represented the family of the deceased in the inquest. Julika Thompson represented the police.
COMMISSIONER DEFENDS MEN INVOLVED IN CASE WHICH ENDED WITH THREE PEOPLE DEAD
The officers on that operation were very responsible and very experienced
from page one Asked if he was confident the proper procedure was followed, Commissioner Ferguson said: “Let me say the officers who were on that operation were very responsible and very experienced officers. That is as much as I will say in respect to that.” The police chief said his force has nothing to hide when he was asked about how utilising body cameras may come into play when there are differing accounts in such events. This was the first time he has addressed the controversial incident, as he was previously out of the country. Early on Friday, May 17, police stormed a large home at Newgate and Commonwealth Roads in the execution of a search warrant. In the end Jamaal Penn, Valentino Pratt and Trevor Cooper, whom relatives claimed were unarmed, were shot to death. Police have said the suspects opened fire on officers, who returned gunfire. However relatives gave The Tribune a differing account and claimed police ambushed the men. Following the incident, police said they found a few guns and 22lbs of marijuana on the property. Relatives have also raised concern that police carried out the raid on the home with a number of children inside the building. The incident has led to calls for an independent body to investigate all police involved killings.
Among them are Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis who last week said it was time for police to stop investigating themselves. “That is not within the leadership of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s domain,” Commissioner Ferguson said yesterday. “We don’t create laws, we follow the laws and that’s as (much) as I will say on that.” The Tribune also asked him about protocols that come into play when children are in the presence of police targets. “I haven’t heard it you know. I just came back into the country on the weekend and so I can’t respond to something I haven’t heard. I would really have to research it and see what the comments are. “I’m not going to respond to something I haven’t seen. It would be wrong for me to try to do that. “I don’t know what the family said and I’m not going to try to speak to what they say. (We) always have to remember that the police department is the legitimate law enforcement agency and until I am able to fully understand what is being said then I will be able to analyse all of the pros and cons but I cannot speak to anything that anybody would have said. It’s a disadvantage for me to try to speak to something I have not seen or heard,” the commissioner also said. The incident again highlighted the need for officers to be outfitted with body cameras. According to National
Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday, the body cameras cost the government just over $694,000. He previously told this newspaper that in the first instance 200 officers would receive the cameras. He said the equipment would provide accurate documentation of policepublic interaction and safeguard officers from undue criticism from the general public, false accusations and reduce leave time when investigations into their conduct is questioned. The footage will also be
used for evaluation and training of officers within the organisation, he said. Further, the body-worn cameras will also protect members of the general public from officers who do not uphold the tenets of courage, integrity and loyalty. He was unable to reveal the chosen vendor, but said it was considered a leading United States company. Mr Dames said at some point this summer officers would begin using them. However this was completely dependent on the
finalisation of the contract with the vendor, he told reporters. In this regard the commissioner said: “The police department has nothing to hide and a body cam will only enhance what you do. So there is always this issue of transparency and we welcome things like that.” However, he would not say whether footage obtained by body cameras would be made public. “I’m not going to comment. I think you’re jumping too fast because there are policies that will
be created. These things are subject to judicial review and you don’t want to be talking out of turn.” He spoke to the issue following the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Association’s 8th annual conference at SuperClubs Breezes. Representatives from several Caribbean countries in the region are attending the conference this week to discuss matters related to police welfare associations. The Police Staff Association is hosting the event.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 28, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Don’t blame the player, Mr Symonette, blame the game STOP beating us in court, Fred! That’s the cry from Immigration Minister Brent Symonette to the human rights lawyer. “Fred Smith and (Rights Bahamas) have the right to obviously in a democracy to make the issues they’re making,” said Mr Symonette. Quite right, they do. They also have the right to take issues to court when there are legal issues at stake. The response comes too after retired Justic Rubie Nottage noted that people waiting more than five years for a citizenship application decision have a right to sue the government too – comments Mr Symonette describes as “unfortunate”. Yes, we think it might be unfortunate too for anyone to be left waiting longer than five years. Instead, Mr Symonette has pulled the “our money could be better spent” card. “Say you win $200,000 to $300,000 worth of damages, that’s less resources we have for the hospital for dying people, or to improve [Department of] Immigration,” he said. Of course, minister, the only way anyone wins damages is if the court finds in their favour. Which means that Immigration was found to be acting in the wrong. Perhaps our money could indeed be better spent if Immigration did things the right way in the first place.
Mr Symonette himself even acknowledges as much when he invites Mr Smith to contact him about the cases in contention. “You’ve made the point,” he said, “the system is inefficient.” Not to sound harsh, minister, but if your system is inefficient, fix your system. You can’t fairly complain that people sue – and win – if your system is the problem. Fred Smith is very open about his views on Immigration – if you want to consult him on his opinion, you need go no further than the many articles he has written over the years, and the many arguments he has laid out in court. You want his view on the right way to detain a suspect? Look no further than his comments earlier this year after officers bundled someone into the trunk of an SUV when he called the matter “inhumane and degrading”. Need his feedback on random searches? Pick one of the many occasions he has pointed out the illegality of such, and there being no offence of not being able to provide identification. Fred Smith isn’t a man to keep his views on such things secret – but we do hope he takes the minister at his word and contacts him with a list of cases to be resolved. Then it’ll be over to you, Mr Symonette, to deal with the cases. We hope your appeal to Mr Smith is more than just talk.
Anything happen while I was away? POLICE Commissioner Anthony Ferguson must be the last person to know what went on inside the Blair home where three men were shot dead by officers from his force. Eleven days ago, police stormed the home at Newgate and Commonwealth Roads while executing a search warrant. Three men – Jamaal Penn, Valentino Pratt and Trevor Cooper – were shot dead. Relatives say the men were unarmed. Police say the suspects opened fire, and officers fired back. Eleven days is plenty of time for the chief of police to demand answers as to what went on that led to his officers to shoot three men dead – but apparently, he didn’t even know there were children in the house. Never mind the police on the scene right after the incident claiming the men were using children as human shields. Never mind that among the last words of one of the victims was reportedly the phrase “Don’t shoot, children in here!” Never mind children being taken from the scene in police vans after the incident. Never mind the children themselves talking to this newspaper about what went on.
Even the most casual observer might have put together from those that yes, indeed, children were at the scene, but not Mr Ferguson. “I haven’t heard it, you know,” he said yesterday. “I just came back into the country on the weekend and so I can’t respond to something I haven’t heard. I would really have to research it and see what the comments are.” Pick up our newspaper, Mr Ferguson, it’ll give you a head start. But what this really shows is how staggeringly little concern is shown by the police hierarchy when there is an officer-involved shooting. We appreciate you might have just been away, Mr Ferguson, but perhaps like the rest of us you might check your emails, or ask in the office “Anything happen while I’ve been away?” Three men were shot dead in the early hours of the morning in the house where they slept. If the police chief can’t pick up the phone within 11 days to even check the basic facts, how much faith can we really have that he really cares about whether the shooting was justified or not?
What now for post office? EDITOR, The Tribune KINDLY permit me to publicly solicit from the government some disclosure on the captioned subject matter. Now that the Government have finally achieved the task of relocating the Post Office to its temporary site at the Town Centre Mall, would the government now disclose, as a measure of good governance and proper planning, what are its plans for a permanent home for the country’s main Post Office, and what steps are being taken to achieve this by end of the five year lease. We have been told that the lease is for a period five years and the landlord was to outfit all infrastructure
necessary to operate a Post Office. If it is the honest intention of the government to relocate at the end of five years, a suitable and permanent site for a main post office ought to have been identified by now and a roadmap for its accomplishment put in motion. Or will the government at the last minute, seek to convince the public that an extension of this lease is necessary or it is in the public interest to purchase the mall? In the absence of a roadmap, one can reasonably conclude that the there is no intent on the part of the government to vacate at the end of the five years or anytime soon thereafter. Given the public outcry
over the government decision to lease this property, it cannot be the intention of the government to lease this facility indefinitely. Given what we have been told that the landlord is to invest and the rent to be paid, it is reasonable to suspect that the landlord must be fully aware or has been given sufficient comfort by the government that the post office isn’t going anywhere at the end of the five years or anytime soon thereafter. If such turns out to be case, this would be a classic example of governing by deception to achieve a desired end. CLAUDE HANNA Nassau May 26, 2019
We need a seven-year national crime plan EDITOR, The Tribune A SEVEN-YEAR National Crime Plan, that goes far beyond party politics and is agreed to by all major political parties, national civil society groups and non-governmental organisations, might begin to lift the dark cloud of crime from our land. It is always sad to hear leading politicians on opposing sides pointing fingers at each other regarding the crime epidemic as we did recently. The record confirms that both major political parties, while in opposition,
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net lay claim to possessing “a magic wand” to make crime disappear, until they became the ruling administration. The reality is “when two elephants fight, only the grass suffers”. This national crime nightmare has persisted under both administrations and is testament that the solution does not lie solely with the Government. Criminals do not inquire about how you
voted before they rob, rape, maim or murder. A seven-year National Crime Plan – supported by all political parties, major national civil society groups and non-governmental organisations – would result in a quantum leap forward out of this crisis. The insularity of party politics on crime and other national issues is the greatest impediment to our national safety and development. SIMEON B HALL Nassau, May 25, 2019.
Next time, call China EDITOR, The Tribune. PRAISE was showered on the People’s Republic of China in a letter mostly detrimental to the USA. Both countries have many shortcomings, of course, but when ‘levelling‘ the playing field it might be as well to keep certain historical facts in perspective………….. When the HMBS Flamingo was attacked from the air and sunk in 1980, four Bahamian marines were killed and helpless survivors in the water and
lifeboats were fired upon. The foreign military later landed on Bahamian soil and terrorised Duncan Town, Ragged Island. Fortunately, US fighter planes came to our aid immediately and the invaders were chased away. Later, we accepted millions of dollars as reparations from the attackers. Curiously, during our recent observance of the anniversary of this very sad event, the act of prompt and effective American assistance was largely ignored.
The US can usually be relied upon to help us with hurricane disaster relief, frequent search and rescue missions for Bahamians missing at sea, and so on. Should we ever have another major problem of this type, perhaps we’ll be calling upon our friends from The People’s Republic of China for help. KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau May 26, 2019
Question of shooting EDITOR, The Tribune WHEN can I shoot anyone using a licensed firearm someone or some people who are breaking the law and causing damage to myself or my property? Is the myth that you can shoot anyone who has broken into your ‘castle’, home, as long as they are in the bedroom - does that
hold water under law? Can I shoot anyone trespassing on my property, externally or internally who I have not invited? Can I shoot anyone even off my private property who endangers my life, naturally with a licensed firearm shotgun, etc? What are the specific limits and criteria to permit that? Attorney General, I think
it is time you issue a definitive statement as to what I can do because we seem to be going through an unacceptable level of shootings and a trend is developing which will cause chaos because no one knows: When can I? ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau May 25, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, May 28, 2019, PAGE 5
DAMES INSISTS PRISON CONDITIONS ARE IMPROVING By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
SIGNIFICANT improvements at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services over the past two years have made conditions at the facility better, National Security Minister Marvin Dames insisted yesterday. According to the minister, the poor state of BDCS is due to successive administrations not doing enough to maintain it, compounded by an ageing physical structure. He said upon taking office, the Minnis administration found many buildings on the compound By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A JAMAICAN woman yesterday claimed a senior immigration officer raped her shortly after she had had surgery to remedy an ectopic pregnancy five years ago. However, instead of taking her home afterwards as she had asked, he told her that he wanted to watch wrestling. Claudia Edwards Bethel, taking the witness stand before Justice Indra Charles, alleged that Norman Bastian raped her at a time when she was still “spotting” from having a salpingectomy and on medication in December 2014, and, therefore, in no physical condition to have sex. Ms Bethel filed a civil suit against the government after the rape charges against Mr Bastian were thrown out of court years ago. Her attorney, Fred Smith, QC, submitted yesterday that the senior immigration officer raped her on two occasions at his home on December 15 and 16, 2014, and also forced her to perform oral sex on him on two occasions. “I was really scared and terrified; I wanted to kill myself,” Ms Bethel said of her experience, adding that she could not effectively deal with her three children—a girl and two boys—after the incident. And those alleged incidents occurred after she was released from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre (CRDC) sometime around 2.30pm on December 15, 2014, following the second of two surrender release forms that ordered her to be specifically released in Bastian’s custody for “continuing investigation”. Ms Bethel complained further about her stay at the “very nasty and disgusting” CRDC, which she said featured water so “muddy” it was not even worth defecating in, forcing women like herself to go outside when nature called.
in a state of disrepair, including the administrative offices. Officials are now working to correct these issues, Mr Dames said, as he outlined various upgrades now in the works. However, he did not say how long the extensive upgrades would take to complete. “If you look at photos of the past compared to what’s taking place now, it’s a complete turn around,” the Mt Moriah MP said in response to lingering concerns regarding the state of conditions at the facility. “We are installing air-conditioning in areas of maximum security. We’re cleaning up the cells. We’re cleaning up the hallways and it’s a 360-degree about turn.
“How long will that take us — it’s a very large facility but we’re committed and every fiscal period we are budgeting funds to provide to allow us to continue on our programme of cleaning up the prison. I think too in addition they’ve always been that arm or that department in national security that has been neglected.” He continued: “We want to ensure that the people who show up to work there each day are working in an environment that is conducive toward good health and toward good performance and so we’re dedicated to that and are working to fix that.” Mr Dames, pictured right, added that officials were also providing additional tools and
equipment for corrections officers to properly do their jobs. “We want to ensure as well that they have the necessary equipment and tools to protect themselves as they go about the execution of their duties. That was something that would have been tremendously lacking and so we’re providing all of the tools for safety and security of our correctional officers and the requisite transportation that will allow them to safeguard and protect the prison. All of these things are happening and they’re happening now, “We are working on bringing
in a new squad because they are undermanned as well and understaffed so we had 60 graduate last year. We are going to move to bring in another 60 plus recruits. I think they are conducting those interviews now. “While we’re doing that, we’re working on our rehabilitation and probation model so we’re taking an holistic approach to correcting all of the deficiencies within that institution itself. “So I think we’re in a better place today than we would have been when we took office, a far better place,” Mr Dames said.
I wanted to kill myself, woman tells jury in civil rape case “The detention centre is a very nasty and disgusting place that you all keep people,” she complained from the witness box. “The detention centre, we don’t have nothing to bathe with. Y’all didn’t give me a toothbrush, y’all didn’t give me a face cloth, nothing. It’s a disgusting, nasty place. Y’all don’t even clean it. From I been in there, I’ve never seen that place cleaned. “I had to sleep on the floor. No beds…I had to step over kids, small kids, pregnant women; they was lying on the floor.” She added: “The toilets dirty, they don’t clean. In there muddy, like muddy water. There’s a stand up shower, and in there is muddy, muddy water. . .You can’t do nothing in there.” According to the evidence led, Ms Bethel, who is married to a Bahamian
by the name of Philip Bethel, was arrested by police at the Twilight Bar following a late night/early morning raid on December 13, 2014. At the time, she said she always kept a copy of her spousal permit in her bosom in the event she was picked up by the authorities. Government lawyers deny that assertion. After being transferred from police custody to that of the CRDC and immigration authorities, the evidence is that she was eventually released days later on December 16, but into Bastian’s custody for further investigations. After being released sometime around 2.30pm on that day, she said Bastian took her to several different places, including an upholstery business where he spoke to someone named “Candyman” and ate dumplings and sardines, to a mechanic, and finally to
where she lived at the time in Oakes Field. Ms Bethel said while Mr Bastian was taking her around, he said he was investigating her. After that, Ms Bethel said she was told she would be taken to the Department of Immigration for another interview. She said Mr Bastian took her to the Hawkins Hill office, where she briefly stayed while being questioned about her salary and National Insurance Board contributions. At some point, Ms Bethel said Mr Bastian told her that his nephew’s nickname is “Death”, and that he had a gun. “You told me that, I was really scared…I was really scared and terrified,” she said, addressing Mr Bastian directly in court. “… And you know it, and God knows it too.” At some point, she ended up in Mr Bastian’s home,
where the alleged incidences occurred. According to Mr Smith, Ms Bethel immediately reported the incident to police when she got the opportunity. Mr Bastian was subsequently arrested and charged. A preliminary inquiry was held, but following a no-case submission, the charges against Mr Bastian were dismissed. According to Mr Smith, Mr Bastian, in a witness statement, claims the sex was consensual. To that assertion, however, Ms Bethel said: “Mr Bastian you know you lie. That’s a lie. That’s how you all treat me, that’s a lie. I never tell you I would have sex; I wanted to go home to my kids. And I tell you I want to go home, and I want to go and have a bath, I want to go home. And you said you have to watch wrestling. “…I never tell this man
he could have sex with me. That’s a lie.” When asked by Mr Smith if she is afraid of Mr Bastian, the Jamaican woman said: “I really scared, even after this court finish, I’m really scared, because I don’t know what they gonna do to me. I’m really scared, especially for my kids them.” Ms Bethel said that as a result of Mr Bastian’s actions, she and her children were forced to leave their home and ended up having to stay at her lawyer’s office in the downtown area, as well as the Bahamas Crisis Centre, whose director Donna Nicholls has given her counselling since 2014. Based on the evidence, Ms Bethel now resides at an undisclosed location.. “We get homeless because of what you done to us,” she accused Mr Bastian in court. The case continues today.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, May 28, 2019 from page one was staged by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “I think five years is unreasonable,” Mrs Nottage said at the forum, “the court would come to a decision as to what is unreasonable. What you’re saying is in natural justice, an application for citizenship is ‘a priori’ and if you have brought all your documents and you can show that, and there is nothing that they can say, you’re of good character, everything. “Reasonable time would be maybe a year at the outside,” she said. The Citizenship Committee was formed last year February to drill down on a backlog that has seen people wait more than 10 years for a decision, and has just under 300 long-term applications left to process. However, Mr Symonette told The Tribune yesterday he had a master list of another 1,000 applications for citizenship and permanent residency that has not gone to the committee. Citizenship applications represented the majority of that list, he said, noting some 200 had already gone to Cabinet and about 500 applications were incomplete. While there is no way of knowing how many legacy applications are still out there, Mr Symonette said officials at the department have indexed all files related to citizenship and permanent residency and were combing through documents alphabetically. Mr Symonette said: “I think the human rights, Fred Smith and (Rights Bahamas) have the right to obviously in a democracy to make the issues they’re making. I feel at some point some of it is not 100 percent accurate, some of it is sensationalism.” He said he was never consulted on many of the issues currently before the courts.
THE TRIBUNE
IMMIGRATION MINISTER BRENT SYMONETTE CALLS FOR MORE COLLABORATION
Fred, you’ve made the point give me a list of names IMMIGRATION Minister Brent Symonette in his office yesterday. Below, Fred Smith, QC “I would get letters to approve their citizenship within 30 days or ‘I’ll sue you,’” Mr Symonette said. “Well the system just doesn’t work that way, even if I want to do it, to the best of my ability I can’t approve citizenship in 30 days. With the best intention it ain’t gonna happen. I mean it just can’t.” Mr Symonette said: “With all those judicial review cases it would be
Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff better to stop them, have a dialogue to try and get the lawyer concerned send these people dealt with.” Mr Symonette continued: me a list and let me work my way through them because “At no time do I know when you’ve made the point. The the main person who has been suing the government has sat system is inefficient. “Fred you’ve made the in my office and we’ve gone point, stop them, give over a list. It hasn’t happened, me a list of their names. this has been carried out in In my opinion what they the courts and the newspapers should do is try to organ- and I don’t answer. I’m doing ise between the lawyers what I can.” and the ministers responEditorial View - Page 4 sible for immigration for
EX-EMPLOYEE DENIES DEFRAUDING MINISTRY OF FINANCE OF $400,000 www.ub.edu.bs
CAREER OPPORTUNITY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION Suitably qualified candidates are invited to submit applications for the following position:
Executive Vice President who will serve as the chief operating officer of the University of The Bahamas system. Reporting to the President, the Executive Vice President has the primary responsibility of assisting the President in maximizing the institution’s operating performance and achievement of goals. The EVP’s duties include, but are not limited to, overseeing the implementation of the University’s Board-approved strategic plan across all areas of the University; initiating and managing strategic alliances; participating in the development of operating and capital budgets; and assuring effective guidelines and standard operating procedures for the management of the various units reporting to the President. The EVP will work collaboratively with the President’s Cabinet and staff and will provide the President and Board of Trustees with regular updates on the achievement status of academic milestones, admissions and retention initiatives and strategic planning initiatives. In the absence of the President, or during a vacancy in the Office of the President, the Executive Vice President shall be the most senior officer who shall, upon authorization of the Board, exercise and perform the functions and duties of the President. When requested, the EVP will also assist in fundraising and other development or alumni activities. Essential Qualifications are: • Ten or more years of highly successful senior-level higher education administrative leadership experience or the equivalent as determined by the university; • Earned doctorate degree or other terminal degree; • Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential; • Must have collaborative leadership style and be comfortable in an egalitarian environment; • Excellent interpersonal skills are essential. Applications should submit a Letter of Interest, Curriculum Vitae and contact information for three professional references to: Ms. Maelynn Seymour-Major Chief of Staff Email: maelynn.seymour-major@ub.edu.bs Office of the President University of The Bahamas University Drive P. O. Box N-4912 Nassau, The Bahamas Electronic applications are preferred. All applications must be submitted by 31st May, 2019. Late submission will not be considered. Employment is expected to begin July 2019. Official transcripts for all degrees and three current letters of recommendation are required prior to the commencement of employment. The detailed position announcement is available at: http://www.ub.edu.bs/about-us/career-opportunities/administration/.
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE business former Ministry of Finance accounts clerk James Anwar Johnson allegedly caused to receive over $400,000 in unauthorised payments by manipulating various invoices is owned by his aunt, a magistrate heard yesterday. Duane Ellis, Johnson’s former supervisor and a former finance officer at the MOF, testified that Janica Deveaux is the proprietor of VMMS Business Service, which is alleged to have received some $400,000 more than the $400,000 plus it was actually due to be paid. According to Mr Ellis, the total amount paid to VMMS in the MOF’s system is $925,177.25. Of that sum, and based on a reconciliation he did to iron out the discrepancies, $445,331.25 was illegitimately made out to VMMS. Mr Ellis, who was the one who previously revealed that Johnson admitted to manipulating the invoices in question, also said that while conducting his reconciliation, and upon showing Johnson certain documents, Johnson said: “I can’t believe she is doing this to me”. However, Mr Ellis didn’t say who the “she” Johnson was referring to was. Previously, Mr Ellis said Johnson admitted to altering the payment records of VMMS Business Service, which he suggested resulted in that business receiving an extra $400,000 in payments. Johnson’s confession, Mr Ellis maintained, was made in front of himself as well as the financial secretary, Simon Wilson, sometime in April 2017, ultimately leading to Johnson’s termination from the ministry. According to Mr Ellis, on April 12, 2017, he received a phone call from Grant Thorton concerning a
number of payments. As a result of his subsequent investigations into the matter, he told Johnson, his subordinate at the time, to pull VMMS’ file for him. However, he said James told him he could not locate the file at that time. Mr Ellis said he then decided to ask another employee, Cypreana Hanna, to locate VMMS’ file, but was not successful in finding it on that date. On April 13, Mr Ellis said he called Hiram Cox, an official at the Department of Inland Revenue responsible for authorizing payments for contracting companies, to send him a spreadsheet concerning VMMS’ authorised payments. After he would have gone into the system and saw certain payments that aroused his suspicions, Mr Ellis said he printed the spreadsheet and conducted a reconciliation of the data he was presented with. Mr Ellis said he also called Johnson again that day concerning the whereabouts of the VMMS file, but got the same answer that he (Johnson) did not know where it was. Before he left on that day however, Mr Ellis said he told Johnson that he could not hold out on not having the file. The next morning, on April 14, Mr Ellis said he found the full VMMS file on his desk. He said he subsequently reached out to Johnson, who told him that he put the file on his desk. Ultimately, Mr Ellis said as a result of his reconciliation, VMMS Business Service was paid in excess of $800,000. Some $400,000 plus of that sum reflected payments authorised by Mr Cox, while the other $400,000 plus reflected payments that were not duly approved. Mr Ellis said the matter was ultimately taken up with the financial secretary Simon Wilson, whom
he said Johnson confessed in front of. Based on those developments, Johnson was promptly terminated. According to Mr Ellis, the VMMS file that was placed on his desk contained nine invoices. Another two invoices were discovered after Johnson was fired from the Ministry of Finance. The matter continues. Johnson is standing trial over allegations he defrauded the ministry of over half a million dollars within a five-month period. The St Andrew’s Beach Estates resident stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt in August 2017 facing 11 counts of falsification of accounts for his alleged actions between December 2016 and April 2017. It is alleged that Johnson, being an accounts clerk at the Ministry of Finance, did falsify the payment records of VMMS Business Service from December 15, 2016 to April 5, 2017, purporting to show that VMMS Business Service was entitled to receive payments totaling $530,377.67. Johnson was also charged with ten counts of stealing by reason of employment. He is accused of being concerned with others and stealing a total of $445,996.42 in cash from the ministry between December 21, 2016, and March 31, 2017, which he had access to by virtue of his employment. Johnson also faced one count of attempted stealing by reason of employment for allegedly attempting to steal $41,115 from the ministry on April 5, 2017. He plead not guilty to those charges. Later that month, he was granted $30,000 bail with two sureties by Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hilton. As part of his bail conditions, Johnson must report to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station every Monday and Friday.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, May 28, 2019, PAGE 7
WSMU ON COLLISION COURSE WITH DEPT OF LABOUR By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
THE Water and Sewerage Management Union appears to be heading towards a clash with the Department of Labour, with WSMU president Ednel Rolle insisting the union does not have to call an election prior to its November general meeting. However, this is directly at odds with Labour Director John Pinder’s assertion that WSMU is long “overdue” for an election and has until June 30 to call one before officials intervene. Both men insisted the other was wrong in separate interviews with The Tribune yesterday. Mr Rolle maintained his union only has to hold elections every three years and last held one in 2016. He said he is discrediting By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Insurance Board staff returned to work yesterday morning and the entity resumed full operations following a week marred by tensions, service-level disruptions and the forced closure of a number of its offices. The president of NIB’s line-staff union, the Union of Public Officers, Marvin Duncombe confirmed to The Tribune yesterday staff had returned to work after days of “sick-outs”. “All staff have returned to work this morning (Monday),” Mr Duncombe said. “We have been invited to join management to continue negotiations tomorrow.” Director of Labour John Pinder yesterday confirmed the union has not applied for a strike certificate and added he will be meeting with both the union and the executive board. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a symposium in honour of the centennial anniversary of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr Pinder expressed sympathy
Mr Pinder’s claims that the Department of Labour can step in. However, Mr Pinder said the Industrial Relations Act states no one can hold office for more than 36 consecutive months — noting Mr Rolle’s tenure expired at the end of March. Despite this, Mr Rolle said Mr Pinder “can only intervene if it goes against our constitution”. When asked if an election date has been set as yet, Mr Rolle said no. “The nomination of officers is established by the constitution,” he said. “And once you have nominations then elections have a set date after nominations.” Mr Rolle added nominations take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is held in November. He said things will remain as is until that time.
“Well he’s wrong,” Mr Pinder fired back yesterday. “While his constitution speaks to the general assembly in November, the Industrial Relations Act speaks to nobody being in office more than 36 consecutive months. His 36 consecutive months expired the end of March.” Regarding Mr Rolle’s point that elections have to be held every three years, Mr Pinder replied: “Well he should have called a general membership meeting November past, and had elections in March. He didn’t. But that (is not) our fault. That didn’t follow the Industrial Relations Act. If he doesn’t call it by the end of June, then I will set a date for him.” Earlier that day, while speaking to reporters on the side-lines of a symposium in honour of the centennial anniversary of the International Labour
Organisation (ILO), Mr Pinder addressed both WSMU and Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union’s (BUSAWU) ongoing issues with the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC). “Both unions received strike certificates,” Mr Pinder earlier yesterday. “I think the concern is, well with the BUSAWU union, that’s the. . .line staff, their matter is being resolved. “They have a meeting this week, I think June 3, either later on this week or next week for sure, to get that matter resolved. It’s only a matter of the president getting himself sorted out to get back into the workplace. I don’t see there’s a big issue, I believe that matter will go away very soon. That should be resolved favourably. “There’s still a concern about the managerial union who is
overdue for elections and the legal team of the corporation is refusing to have any discussions with that group until (such) time as they have elections,” Mr Pinder continued. “So that is the burning issue.” Regarding the election timeline, Mr Pinder said: “Well, I’ve written to them and advised them that they should name a date before the end of June to have those elections and advise us on where the polls will be. “I’ve not gotten any response from them as yet, I will certainly speak to them this week to allow them, or at least advise them that you only have four weeks left, and in the absence of them not calling it, the Industrial Relations Act gives the registrar of trade unions, who is the director of labour, the responsibility to call those elections.”
NIB staff return to work as negotiations continue for both sides involved. “I’ve spoken to both sides,” he said. “I’ve spoken to the union president and his team and I’ve also spoken to the director and the chairman of the NIB board. And I should intervene some time today (Monday). So sometime today I expect to have a meeting so that we can get this matter resolved. “I don’t say (it’s) a very burning issue. I think the thing is, NIB union has to understand that while NIB appears to have money, they’re only a custodian, they’re only holding onto monies for sick persons and pension persons, and those other unemployed benefits, whatever benefits persons have paid into. “But simultaneously management has to recognise that unions normally try to improve on their past
DEMONSTRATIONS outside the NIB HQ last week. industrial agreements and try to get a (little) more in the new one. And so I think that I can intervene and probably make some favourable recommendations that both sides can live with.” When asked about the managers’ involvement in the “sick-outs”, Mr Pinder suggested their
participation was to show support. “See, these things have domino effect,” he continued. “Being a former trade unionist, I know how this works. So if the managerial union is going to the table next, and they may need support from the on-line staff, so they will show them support, so that when they
go to the table (for) their own problem they expect… to have a domino effect.” Regarding reports that the line-staff union is considering a strike certificate, Mr Pinder said: “No they have not applied to us for any strike certificate, because they don’t have any dispute filed at the department of labour.” Sparks flew at NIB last Tuesday when dozens of line-staff members demonstrated outside the entity’s Baillou Hill Road headquarters, after Mr Duncombe said the group had reached an “impasse” in negotiations with management. Mr Duncombe said unfair hiring practices, a broken operational system, and disputes about compensation packages are among the many issues the line-staff
union has with NIB. He accused the director and board of directors of operating “without good faith”, and constantly rescinding offers they have put forth under the claim that they “made a mistake”. Although staff returned to work after about 20 minutes, the next day was followed by a “sick-out”. An estimated 300 linestaff called out, leaving many disgruntled customers at the headquarters and forcing the closure of multiple Family Island offices. Tensions continued to escalate on Thursday, with managers joining the line-staff in this service disruption. This forced NIB to activate its emergency contingency plan, which featured the closure of both its Wulff Road and Fox Hill offices.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, May 28, 2019
W
HEN Terez Davis Nixon told me Keysha Edwards Taylor was in town and she wanted to know if I would write a Face to Face column posthumously on her mother, my heart leapt. It was an opportunity to write about a woman who made a great impact in my life and so many others. Bahamian cultural icon Kayla Lockhart Edwards will forever be remembered in the hearts and minds of those whose lives she touched. She was just one of those one in a million people whose energy and aura permeated right through you, leaving you feeling good. I thoroughly enjoyed the years my mother enrolled me in the Dundas Theatre’s summer camp. I humbly suggest I was extraordinary in theatre from a young age. I performed in plays at school and church and was always given a lead role. At the Dundas, that trend continued. Ms Kayla, as I affectionately called her, must have seen something in me because she, too, gave me the lead role each year. She encouraged me, trained me and helped me to perform tremendously for our productions. Even though this was summer camp, these productions were nothing to play with. Kids were placed where their talents could shine, whether in acting, dance, singing, set design, lighting, direction or production. Everyone felt important. I remember Kayla and people like the late Betty Knowles, Dundas curator, the late Winston Saunders, Lawrence Carrol, Pauline Glasby and others pouring their all into the children, encouraging us to do and be our best. We were also instilled with a great sense of pride about being Bahamian. I remember one production was called Dis We Tings – what an awesome production it was! We explored what being Bahamian meant to us. I played the role “Mother Nature” in that production. I was the narrator of a beautiful story that unfolded in acting, dance and song, all highlighting the natural and pristine beauty of The Bahamas. When I spoke to Keysha last week on her mom’s death anniversary, I thought about how selfless Kayla was; she was like a mom to all of us, and I was thankful that Keysha and her brother Marquinn shared her with us. Kayla Lockhart Edwards was born on Ragged Island on March 21, 1946 and passed away on May 21, 2006 at the age of 60. “Sixty years and 60 days of wonder, grace and beauty,” is how Desmond Edwards describes his first wife’s time on earth.
THE TRIBUNE
Kayla Edwards
KAYLA with her son, Marquinn
Forever in the heart of each life she touched “She was a cultural icon of The Bahamas, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and mentor; gone but always celebrated. Her legacy of virtue and love is remembered by all who knew her and knew of her. She spoke with passion, intelligence and kindness. Her artistic contributions
and accomplishments in the culture of The Bahamas has laid the foundation for our rich heritage today.” He adds of his wife of 43 years: “We remember her classics and styled voice as she graced the first Bahamian Independence celebration with the first singing of the national
anthem. For more than 30 years she played a unique part in producing numerous folklores shows and dramas to promote our authentic Bahamian culture. Theatrical plays and folklore presentations such as Dis We Tings; Roots, Rhyme and Rhythm; and the ZNS broadcast show, “MirrorMirror”. Kayla entered any venue with poise and dignity and in her professional way demanded the attention of all who witnessed her spectacular delights.” Keysha is doing her best to keep her mother’s great legacy and her memory alive. This summer, she plans to host a piano concert in South Florida where she lives, and the performance will include songs she wrote for and with her mother. She has followed in her mother’s performance footsteps in her own way as a pianist, and her vision is to present an elegant but simple and intimate evening of piano music where she will share a few stories about her journey, with her mother being at the core of it all. She will return to The Bahamas, where she was born and still considers her true home, in August with plans to broadcast that concert. Then in November, Keysha plans to host a concert here in her mother’s honour. “As a youngster watching my mother make strides to promote Bahamian culture, it was truly an exciting adventurous life,” says Keysha. “Never a full moment. I was five when I performed on stage with the National Dance School. My mother was a spearhead for the advancement of that school. She would pool together dancers from that school to participate in her shows that promoted our culture nationally and abroad. In the early 1980s, she had a vocal ensemble called the Chamber Singers and they toured nationally and abroad as well. Being so young, I didn’t travel with her and my father, but was there at home at all the rehearsals and drama practices and at the meetings for costume designs.” “For every show that she
KEYSHA Edwards Taylor on piano would produce, my brother and I were amidst costumes, music rehearsals, making copies of music and just being in the element of all of her work. Her arrangement of our Bahamian folklore music was fresh, energetic and so delightful. I never got tired of hearing it and eventually playing it. When I went off to school, I missed that style of living so much but would get my fill at every time I’d return for a break from my studies in Miami Florida. During my school break, there was always a show going on and she would find a part for me to play, dance or just be a part of. My childhood was again, vibrant, busy, creative, on stage, behind the scenes, long nights, amongst the greats like they were family and witnessing our culture from beautiful eyes that yearned to see it progress beyond our borders. Those were Kayla’s eyes.” Keysha has chosen to host these series of tributes so that her mother’s legacy could live on for generations to come. Keysha’s children are now in their college years; before now she was busy raising them and assisting her husband, Charles Taylor, in his full time ministry (as pastor of GCI – Journey Church in Mirimar, Florida). She was a stay-at-home mom busy with piano, composition, performance, ministry, dance, and singing. Now, her life has evolved to the point where
she feels “compelled to share what’s inside”. “It’s as if I’ve been lit,” she said. “A light went off somehow, and I’m compelled to share what’s inside. I’ve written a plethora of praise and worship songs over the course of my time living abroad. I hope to professionally record these songs and in the near future, come home and share them with my home... The Bahamas. The piano works that were also written during this time is being recorded now and I hope to release them this summer or early fall. The celebration of love and virtue existing within my mother is flowing in me and I will share that through my piano music. This is hopefully coming in a concert this November. The praise songs will come hopefully next year or the year after.” Her concert is entitled: “Let the Piano Work” and her album: “Piano Works”. She describes it as a “beautiful, refreshing experience of music that soothes, calms, uplifts and pleases the soul”. In a special tribute, Marquinn says of his mother: “In short I have lost my earthly god. There is no one, no one like her on this planet.” She was a singer, song writer, actress, minister, television producer, television host, motivational speaker, and creative consultant. She was a producer for Disney Cruise Line Folk Review; Conference Manager for Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship / (MMI); Former Manager of National Events - Bahamas Government; Former Deputy Director of Culture - Bahamas Government; Founder of The Chamber Singers; Former President of The Bahamas Heart Association; Former President The Nassau Music Society; Creator of the DANSA Awards, and more. To learn more about her or to hear her music, visit: www.kaylalockhartedwards. memory-of.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, May 28, 2019, PAGE 9
A prime minister felled by Europe - will she be the last? YESTERDAY’S outcome of the European Parliament elections showed the mainstream centrist parties across the continent took a battering from populist and environmental groups which has resulted in considerable political fragmentation. The elections were a massive exercise in democracy with more than 400 million people eligible to vote and the shock outcome is inevitably dominating the news the other side of the Atlantic. Unsurprisingly, these seismic events have already overshadowed the main political development in Britain last week which was the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May – and, since there has been only limited coverage of this on the main US TV channels, readers might be interested in some analysis. In an emotional speech on the steps of No 10 Downing Street, at the end of which she broke down in tears, Mrs May finally succumbed to unrelenting pressure to quit and announced she would step down on June 7 after nearly three years in office. A Conservative Party leadership contest will start immediately after that, but the result will not be known
The Peter Young column for several weeks and she will stay on as Prime Minister until the process is complete. To many, the agony of her ousting – which was nothing less than that because she was forced out by her own parliamentary colleagues – dragged on for far too long. In the end, she was given no alternative as MPs and the Tory constituency associations increasingly lost confidence in her ability to deliver Brexit which had been voted for by a relatively small majority in Britain’s 2016 referendum
about the nation’s future relationship with the European Union. Although she herself voted Remain, Mrs May, pictured right, emphasised all along the importance of honouring the referendum result because 17.4 million people had voted to depart. But she was seen to vacillate and renege on commitments while not being tough enough in protecting Britain’s interests in negotiations with the EU. So the Withdrawal Agreement that she had reached with Brussels ended up as a compromise, leaving the country half-in and halfout. This satisfied neither Leavers nor Remainers and was rejected on three separate occasions by the House of Commons. The result was the UK did not leave the EU on March 29 as agreed under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – the procedure for a member state to leave the bloc – and that led to the absurdity of Britain being forced to participate in last week’s European Parliament elections. Recently, she became an increasingly beleaguered figure who was judged to have been outwitted and outmanoeuvred by hardheaded EU negotiators. Given the deep divisions
within the Conservative Party over Europe and the intransigence of Brussels, it remains to be seen whether a new Prime Minister will have any greater success than Mrs May in forcing through Brexit by the latest agreed departure date of October 31 and keeping the Tory Party together in the process. The likelihood is the EU will continue to make the UK’s departure as awkward as possible in order to deter others from leaving. Moving, cheekily, into more irreverent mode, my message to the soon-to-be former PM would be that she blew it all by calling a General Election in 2017 when she did not need to do so. Sitting on a workable majority, she sought to increase it as a means of boosting her authority and strengthening her hand for the Brexit negotiations. But the result was disastrous because, even though she won more seats than the Labour Party, she
failed to gain an overall parliamentary majority and her fortunes started going downhill from that point. Whatever her failures and despite being criticised for obduracy and pig-headedness, Theresa May is at the same time widely admired for her resilience and doggedness together with her dignity and commitment to duty in public life during a long and successful political career, including a record spell as Home Secretary as well as being Conservative Party chairman. Reportedly, she intends to stay on as an MP and may well find another role to play in political life in the future. That she could not push her Brexit deal over the line is seen by some as being partly the fault of MPs who, by failing to support her, were not respecting the will of the people or honouring their party manifesto. In my view, another fatal mistake was to allow
– apparently at the insistence of Brussels – the so-called divorce settlement to be separated from negotiation of a trade deal with the EU and, at the same time, not to take soundings in advance of what would be acceptable to MPs. All this caused unnecessary confusion. Meanwhile, in the European Parliament elections in Britain the newly-established Brexit Party has carried all before it in an astonishing triumph and was the clear winner at the expense of the mainstream Conservatives and Labour, both of which suffered heavy losses and were pushed to historic lows. For the Tories, in particular, these elections were a catastrophe. It has been suggested this result is an indicator of the likely outcome if another referendum were held; but it is too soon to judge the longer term effects and how Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party would fare in a General Election. What is for sure is the country is headed for further political turbulence in the foreseeable future. • Peter Young is a retired career diplomat and former British High Commissioner to The Bahamas where he is now a permanent resident.
A day when Britain and its allies stood tall NEXT month’s ceremonies for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944 will mark one of the most decisive offensives of the Second World War. It was the initial stage of the Allied assault on mainland Europe which led a year later to its liberation from Nazi Germany. The invasion of occupied France was the greatest amphibious operation ever undertaken in the history of warfare. It involved 5,000 ships, 11,000 aircraft and 200,000 men hurled against Hitler’s much vaunted Atlantic Wall; and, of the 160,000 American, British, Canadian and French troops landed on the Normandy beaches, more than 4,000 were killed. As part of its commemorations of the Second World War over the years, the British government has always paid special attention to D-Day. On a personal note, having been involved in organising the civilian side of the 50th anniversary in 199495 of D-Day and VE Day, it was an honour to have been able to attend the D-Day ceremonies in Normandy in which British ex-servicemen participated in large numbers. A quarter of a century later, next week’s events are equally significant as evidence of
the continuing determination of the allied nations to remember this pivotal stage of the war and to honour the sacrifice of so many who lost their lives. Military historians often point to the iconic photograph of Hitler viewing mainland Britain through binoculars from somewhere on the French coast in 1940. This followed Germany’s successful ‘blitzkrieg’ against the Low Countries and France, but he called off his planned invasion of Britain because of the risks of a seaborne assault. Then, standing alone, the British withstood sustained German night-time bombing raids against London and other cities following the failure of the Luftwaffe to defeat the Royal Air Force in the famous Battle of Britain. It was the first turning point of the war. With hindsight, it can appear the success of the D-Day landings was predestined and almost inevitable, though contemporary reports suggest it did not seem that way to the planners on the eve of the invasion. But by the early months of 1944 the tide of the war had changed and the Allies were achieving increasing military success. The Germans had been defeated following the siege of Stalingrad and retreated from
D-DAY veteran Charles Norman Shay, from Maine, on Omaha Beach in Normandy where he was a combat medic assigned to an assault battalion in the first wave of attack on June 6, 1944. the Soviet Union in 1943, and they were driven out of North Africa and Sicily. So the next crucial step was to mount an attack on northwestern Europe. The key to the success of D-Day as a part of Operation Overlord - the Allied assault on Hitler’s Europe was the strength of the Anglo-American alliance. Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt agreed that, while containment of Japan was vital, their prime objective should be the defeat of
OPEN AT LAST - BUT WORK STILL TO DO THE official opening – finally – of a new General Post Office after months of delay was certainly a welcome sight to everyone. Not only has the public suffered from a postal system that has not been functioning properly for a long time, but it was clear the postal workers at the former East Hill location had been struggling to operate in uncomfortable and unsatisfactory conditions. One can only hope that severe delays
in delivering mail to P O Boxes will now be a thing of the past. But spare a thought for the workers in the various branch post offices around New Providence, some of whom are still carrying out their tasks in poor conditions. This appears to be a management problem. For example, at the Elizabeth Estates Post Office the air conditioning system has not been operating for some time. All those concerned earnestly hope that it will be fixed soon.
Germany. The Americans recognised the advantage of using Britain as an ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’, but Churchill was
aware of the risks of invading continental Europe, having been personally blamed for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign against
Turkey in 1915 and having seen the failed raid on Dieppe in France in 1942 that resulted in heavy Canadian casualties. However, the big difference this time was that the preparations for D-Day included major aerial bombardment and deception about the location of the invasion together with overwhelming firepower and logistical support. While D-Day and the liberation of Europe are kept in the public eye and brought to the attention of later generations through regular commemorative events, the importance of the Anglo-American alliance, in particular, should surely never be forgotten. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family will attend a national ceremony for the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and it is noteworthy that President Trump is also expected to attend this at the end of his state visit to Britain in early June.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, May 28, 2019, PAGE 11
GREEN PARTIES’ GAINS COULD BOOST CLIMATE ACTION IN EUROPE BERLIN Associated Press GREEN parties’ surprisingly strong showing in elections for the 751-seat European Parliament raised hopes — particularly among young voters — that global warming and other environmental issues will get more serious consideration on the continent. Provisional results yesterday showed the left-leaning Greens coming in fourth in the balloting with 69 seats, an increase of 17 from the last election, five years ago. Perhaps more significantly, the results showed how
environmental concerns can transcend the political issues that dominate most European Union elections. “The European election was a climate election,” declared Anna Kretzschmar, a German in her 20s who was out in a Berlin park with her young child. Kretzschmar welcomed the lift the Greens received in Sunday’s vote, saying it would give them a stronger voice to raise the alarm about global warming. “I think we are more affected by climate change than we realize,” she added. Among other things, the Green
movement has strongly backed scientists’ calls for the 28-nation bloc to end all greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, a goal that would require an epic shift in Europe’s economy away from fossil fuels. In Germany, the Greens did particularly well in large cities and among young voters, according to the Infratest dimap research institute. The gains followed months of street protests from students demanding action to stop global warming. The German Greens’ gains came at the expense of all other mainstream parties, including the
center-left Social Democrats, who slumped to third place behind the Greens, and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Christian Democrats. Armin Laschet, the governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state and a member of Merkel’s party, called the outcome “a wake-up call for politics.” In France, the environmental EELV party received almost 13.5% of the vote, coming in third. Green parties also polled strongly in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands. In Britain, the Greens — a largely insignificant force
nationally — took seven seats in the European Parliament vote. “The centre of gravity of European politics is shifting,” said Yannick Jadot, the EELV’s lead candidate. Manuel Rivera, a Green party member in the German capital, said the European Parliament is the right place to tackle climate change: “I think people realise that there are issues you can’t solve at the national level.” The suggestion that countries should set aside domestic interests in favour of European cooperation angered some nationalist parties on the continent.
BALD EAGLE HAS EYE ON ITS TARGET A CANADIAN says he is “overwhelmed” by the worldwide response to a photograph he took of a bald eagle. Steve Biro was at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario and the image of the bird of prey “staring daggers” at the photographer with its piercing eyes has gone viral. Mr Biro said the eagle seemed irked at where he was sitting. “He was actually trying to brush me away from where I was perched,” he said. “I could feel the breeze from his wings as he flew over me. The other people who were there were gasping as he came over my head. It was really quite exhilarating.” Mr Biro said as soon as he got up off the rock where he had been sitting, the eagle flew over and claimed the spot.
Trump and Abe split over NK missile tests TOKYO Associated Press
ALL the pomp and pageantry in the world couldn’t paper over the tensions between President Donald Trump and Japan’s Shinzo Abe on two of their most pressing issues: North Korea and trade. The president and prime minister tried mightily to minimise their differences during Trump’s four-day state visit to Tokyo, while playing up their close personal friendship and their countries’ long-held ties. But tension abounded, with Trump on Monday brushing off the significance of North Korean short-range missile tests that have rattled Japan and reasserting his threats to hit Abe with potentially devastating auto import tariffs. Asked if he was bothered by the missile tests, Trump said: “No, I’m not. I am personally not.” Abe, in contrast, said the missile tests were “of great regret”. The conflict demonstrates the limits of Abe’s long-term strategy of showering Trump with affection in hopes of extracting benefits. Trump appeared uninterested in concessions despite a programme tailor-made for the president that
DONALD TRUMP speaking in Japan. included a showy visit with the new Japanese emperor, a round of golf and prime seats at a sumo tournament where Trump got to present a “President’s Cup” to the winner, Trump also demonstrated again that he is willing turn his back on long-held norms as he assailed Joe Biden, the 2020 Democratic hopeful whom North Korean leader Kim Jon Un recently criticised as having a low IQ.“I don’t take sides as to who I’m in favor or who I’m not,” Trump said when asked whether he was favouring a violent dictator over the former vice president. “But I can tell you that Joe Biden was a disaster.”
GIRL DIES AFTER MAN WITH KNIFE ATTACKS CHILDREN KAWASAKI Associated Press
A MAN carrying a knife in each hand and screaming “I will kill you” attacked schoolgirls waiting at a bus stop just outside Tokyo early this morning, wounding 16 people and leaving three dead, including the attacker, Japanese authorities and media said. Most of the victims were schoolgirls who were lined up at a bus stop near Noborito Park in the city of Kawasaki when the man in his 40s or 50s began slashing them with knives. Masami Arai, an official at the Kawasaki city
office, told the AP that 16 people, most of them schoolgirls, were wounded and three others, including the attacker, were believed killed. Arai said three of the injuries were serious and 13 others were not life-threatening. NHK national television, quoting police, said that the suspect died after cutting himself in the neck. Police wouldn’t immediately confirm the specifics of that report. Most of the victims attended a school founded by Soeurs de la Charite de Quebec, an organization of Catholic nuns in Quebec City in Canada.
Indeed, Trump also sided with Kim on the question of whether the short-term missile launches violated UN Security Council resolutions, as both Abe and Trump’s own national security adviser, John Bolton, had stated. “My people think it could have been a violation,” said Trump. “I view it differently. I view it as a man — perhaps he wants to get attention and perhaps not. Who knows?” Japan has long voiced concern about short-range missiles because of the threat they pose to its security. Kim’s decision to lift the pause in ballistic missile launches that began in late 2017 alarmed North Korea’s neighbors. Most analysts believe the missiles were ballistic missiles, which are not allowed under UN resolutions. Trump’s visit to Japan was designed to highlight the USJapan alliance and showcase the warm relations between the two leaders. Trump said he and Abe deliberated over trade, Iran and more during hours of talks at Akasaka Palace. Trump was invited to Japan to be the first world leader to meet the country’s new emperor. But despite being far from Washington, Trump
didn’t hold back in his criticism of Biden, telling the world he agreed with the North Korean leader’s assessment and declaring himself “not a fan.” “Kim Jong Un made a statement that Joe Biden is a low-IQ individual,” Trump said. “He probably is, based on his record. I think I agree with him on that.” Pressed on whether he was supporting a dictator over a former US vice president, Trump recited a host of complaints about the ObamaBiden administration. US officeholders have in the past generally avoided engaging in politics while on foreign soil, hewing to the adage that politics stops at the water’s edge. But Trump’s sharp attack on Biden, through his declaration of agreement with Kim, cast aside that tradition. Biden, during a recent campaign event, accused Trump of cozying up to “dictators and tyrants” like Kim. Trump continues to hold out hope of getting Kim to agree to give up his nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, even though the two summits he’s had with the North Korean leader have produced no concrete pledge to denuclearise the Korean peninsula.
YET ANOTHER CLIMBER DIES ON EVEREST DENVER Associated Press A COLORADO climber died shortly after getting to the top of Mount Everest and achieving his dream of scaling the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. Christopher Kulish, a 62-year-old attorney, died yesterday at a camp below the summit during his descent. He had just reached the top with a small group after crowds of hundreds of climbers congested the 29,035-foot peak last week. About half a dozen climbers died on Everest last week. Most are believed to have suffered from altitude sickness, caused by low amounts of oxygen at high elevation and can cause headaches, vomiting, shortness of breath and mental confusion. There are 41 teams with a total of 378 climbers permitted to scale Everest during the spring climbing season. An equal number of Nepalese guides are helping them get to the top.
PAGE 12, Tuesday, May 28, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
TOUGHER MOTORING LAWS TO BE INTRODUCED SOON THE Senate passed amendments to the Road Traffic Act yesterday which will make it illegal to drive with an open container of alcohol or use a cell phone. Motorists will also immediately have to produce proof of insurance and a driver’s licence upon the request of a police officer, once the amendments become law. The changes will also require the payment of outstanding traffic offence fines before renewing a driver’s licence.
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
POLICE have released a sketch of a man wanted for questioning in relation to an ongoing kidnapping and sexual assault investigation. The man is described as having a dark brown complexion and dreadlocks. Two teenage girls were abducted on their way to a downtown bar nearly two weeks ago. The teens, believed to be 18, allege they were approached by
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
IS THIS THE DOWNTOWN SEX ATTACKER?
Driving instructors will further be prohibited from holding electronic devices under the changes, but the stipulation will not apply to those driving emergency vehicles or a vehicle that is lawfully parked and not impeding traffic. The amendments also will allow motorists to make a cautious left turn on a red traffic light. The amendments will have to be published in a gazette before they are officially enacted and become law.
two armed men with dreadlocks, forced into a car and driven around. They were allegedly ordered to cover their heads in their laps so they couldn’t see where they were being taken. During the three-hour ordeal, one of the women was raped and the other was forced to perform a sexual act on the men, sources said. The men allegedly attempted to get a ransom from the family of the women, demanding that $1,000 be brought to a specified location.
ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER
A GRAND Bahama man was yesterday arraigned in in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court in connection with an attempted murder. Johnovan Smith, 27, of New Husband Avenue, Freeport, pictured left, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson in Court One. It is alleged that on May 18, the accused attempted to cause the death of Kelsey Cornish. Smith was represented by Crystal Kelly-Newman. When asked if he understood the charge, he replied: “Yes.” The judged told Smith he was not required to enter a plea to the charge and that a preliminary inquiry (PI) would be held to determine if there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial in the Supreme Court. He must make an application in the Supreme Court if he wishes to be granted bail. Smith was remanded to custody at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in New Providence until September 16 when a PI will be held at 10am.
MAN IN SERIOUS CONDITION 22-YEAR-OLD ASSISTING POLICE AFTER MALE SHOT IN FACE AFTER SHOOTING INCIDENT By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
POLICE are investigating a shooting incident that left an adult man in hospital. According to reports, shortly after 11am a group of people were standing in front of a local eatery on Market Street near Martin Street when they were joined by two men and two women. One of the men pulled a firearm from a bag and opened fire on the
group, injuring one man before he and his friends ran away. The victim was transported to hospital and is in serious condition. Police later took two juvenile girls and an adult man into custody in connection with the incident. Anyone with information on any of these incidents is asked to call police at 5029991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.
A 22-YEAR-OLD man is assisting police in Abaco with their investigation into a shooting incident which left a man in hospital with serious injuries. Assistant Superintendent of Police Terecita Pinder reported police took the male resident of Murphy Town, Abaco into custody shortly after midnight on Sunday. According to police
reports, Abaco police were called to the Marsh Harbour Clinic where a man had presented himself with gunshot wounds to the face. The man told police that while at Murphy Town he was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by a man known to him, who pointed a firearm in his direction and opened fire, hitting him in the face. He said the gunman fled. ASP Pinder stated that the victim went by private vehicle to the government clinic in Marsh Harbour
where he was seen by a doctor who listed his injuries as serious, but stable. The man was then airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention. In Grand Bahama, police are also investigating a shooting incident in the Hawksbill area on Saturday afternoon that has resulted in one man being detained at hospital. ASP Pinder reported that shortly after 1pm on Saturday, police were called to Andros Drive, Hawksbill
where a man reported he was shot. According to reports, the man told police he was sitting in his vehicle when a man known to him and driving a light coloured vehicle fired a number of gunshots at him, hitting him in the chest area. EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported the male victim by ambulance to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he was seen by doctor. The man is said to be listed in serious but stable condition.