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VOLUME:117 No.64, FEBRUARY 24TH, 2020
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INSIGHT: NYGARD’S ANGER OVER BROKEN PROMISES
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BPL race to fix new plant issue
Minister orders firm it must resolve cooling problem with engines By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power & Light is racing against time to have its new $95m electricity plant ready to meet peak summer demand after plans for its cooling system literally hit the rocks. Tribune Business can reveal that the stateowned utility’s scheme to cool the 132 mega watts of newly-installed generation capacity by digging four 800-foot deep wells at
Clifton Pier is in danger of running aground because the area’s rock structures have proven far more difficult to penetrate than first thought. BPL has so far managed to reach just over 50 percent of the target depth on two of the four wells and, with summer’s peak demand just three-and-a-half months away, it has ordered an alternative radiator system as a back-up in case the original strategy fails.
EMBATTLED HeadKnowles Foundation co-founder Lia Head-Rigby maintained she committed no impropriety after crowdfunding giant GoFundMe told The Tribune she withdrew, but did not transfer, more than $200,000 in donations to the hurricane relief organisation. In an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Mrs Head-Rigby insisted “money went quickly”
SEE PAGE FIVE
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahama recorded its third murder of the year when a young man was shot dead early yesterday morning in Freeport. Supt Brian Rolle, the officer-in-charge of Grand Bahama’s Central Detective Unit, said the victim, who is believed to be in his mid-twenties, was shot multiple times at a business establishment in the Caravel Beach area. He said that sometime around 1am Sunday, officers were dealing with several fights in the area of Polaris Drive at a well-known night spot.
OFFICER KILLED IN 4AM BAY ST CAR CRASH
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
post-Hurricane Dorian as she spearheaded relief efforts in the United States. “The funds that the donors gave, went to massive use here in Florida,” she said. “(It went) to push relief to Grand Bahama, Abaco, and Nassau from the Miami Mayor’s Office, pallets of relief on the Betty K that went to New Providence Community Centre, to the 800 plus flights, including Medevac flights, passenger flights, animal rescue flights and cargo relief flights.
GB SEES ITS THIRD MURDER OF YEAR
SEE PAGE THREE
By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net
‘I USED DORIAN DONATIONS WHERE THEY WERE NEEDED’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
HOME
I’LL FINISH THIS ... NO PROBLEM THE CROWDS were out enjoying the Bahamas Junkanoo Art and Music Festival at Ardastra Gardens over the weekend. Picture Special - Page 2 Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
POLICE in New Providence are investigating a traffic fatality that left an immigration officer dead and a woman in hospital early Saturday morning. According to reports, shortly before 4am, the woman, who was driving a white Daihatsu Mira, was travelling on East Bay Street near the Paradise Island Bridge when she lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree. EMS were called and the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver was taken to hospital and was listed in stable condition. SEE PAGE THREE
WEATHER SOLUTION ‘ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS’ IT’S happy faces all round for these senior officials at Bahamas Met Office. On Friday the Met Office director and his top team met with representatives of new local company - Bahamas, Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network. The Network was able to outline to the Met team its revolutionary weather mapping technology, all covered by recognised Bahamian Intellectual Property
THE TEAMS at Friday’s meeting
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
Design rights so as to keep it in safe Bahamian hands. The Network is a multimillion dollar investment which has the endorsement of renowned US aerospace and defence contractor Raytheon which describes its product - now offered to The Bahamas - as a “first of its kind”. The technology involves the creation of a unique network of ‘severe weather sensors’ which will create SEE PAGE TWO
PAGE 2, Monday, February 24, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
FESTIVAL FROLICS THE CROWDS were out enjoying the Bahamas Junkanoo Art and Music Festival at Ardastra Gardens over the weekend. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
WEATHER SOLUTION ‘ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS’ from page one
highly detailed maps covering atmospheric and climate conditions, surface hydrology which are linked to air and sea traffic movements becoming vital tools during severe weather events such as Hurricane Dorian. The Bahamas would be able to use the Network to create detailed 3D imagery showing exactly what conditions will be like - even down to individual street level - in a severe weather event. Raytheon believes the Network will make The Bahamas a world leader in weather and environmental technology. Met Office officials said after Friday’s meeting the new system was “an answer to our prayers”.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, February 24, 2020, PAGE 3
OFFICER KILLED IN 4AM BAY STREET CAR CRASH from page one
The passenger has been identified by family and friends as Juan Ritchie, an immigration officer. In a press release posted on Facebook, immigration officials remembered him
as a good worker with a positive attitude. “The department expresses condolences to the family, friends and colleagues and Entry A-Squad 2017 on the tragic death of Mr Juan Ritchie, trainee immigration officer,” the statement read. “His positive attitude and
desire to be of service to others has touched us all. Our hearts and love go out to his family during this difficult time. Our officer and his family will always be in our thoughts and prayers. May he live forever in our memories.” Mr Ritchie is the second immigration officer to die
in a traffic accident this year. Chief Immigration Officer Bradley McDonald died in a traffic accident on Abaco last month. Officer McDonald and another man were travelling in a Jeep Wrangler, west on Earnest Dean Highway, near Sandy Point, when the driver
OFFICER: Juan Ritchie
lost control of the vehicle and overturned. The two men had serious injuries and were taken to Marsh Harbour’s medical facility, where Mr McDonald died from his injuries. At the time, the second man was airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention.
THE SCENE in Grand Bahama yesterday when a young man was shot dead early in the morning. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
GB sees its third murder of the year
from page one
those responsible for “senseless killings” in the Grand Bahama community will While dealing with sev- be caught. “I would like to eral of those fights, Supt send a strong message to our Rolle said officers heard young men who are unable what sounded like gunshots. to resolve issues except with They went to the southwest- the use of a weapon — we ern part of the night spot will find you, hunt you down, where they found the lifeless and bring you to justice,” he body of a young man. warned. “This type of activParamedics were called to ity cannot continue to stand the scene and confirmed that in this country. The senseless the man had died. No sus- killing of persons is something pects have been arrested and that has to come to an end.” an investigation is actively Police have charged susunderway. pects in relation to the two Supt Rolle warned that murders committed earlier
POLICE PROBE SERIES OF ARMED ROBBERIES AND HOME INVASION By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net
POLICE in New Providence are actively searching for the men responsible for a series of armed robberies and a home invasion that occurred over the weekend. Shortly after 6am on Friday, three gunmen forced their way into a home on Lee Street, off Alexander Boulevard and robbed a group of men in the home of cash and a white Toyota Corolla, licence plate AT2096, police said. The thieves then fled the scene.
Police also said that shortly after 11pm on Saturday, a man and a woman were sitting in a vehicle outside a home in Tropical Gardens when they were approached by two armed men. Police said the thieves stole the couple’s cash and a black Nissan Note, licence plate AS0681, before running away. Several hours earlier, shortly after 9pm on Saturday, a man was in the area of Stapleton Gardens when he was also approached by two armed men, who robbed him of his wallet, iPhone and green Nissan Note, licence plate AC1885. The
victim was then driven to Tonique Williams Darling Highway, east of the city dump, where he was later forced out of the vehicle. In the third incident, shortly before midnight Friday, a man was walking on Dowdeswell Street when he was approached by an armed man who robbed him of cash and jewellery before escaping. In an effort to crack down on the increasing number of armed robberies in the country, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told reporters earlier this month that officers will be beefing up manpower in the capital.
“We’ve heard of and we recognise that there’s (been) an increase in armed robbery, even in my own constituency in the Westridge area and other areas in the Killarney constituency, our residents have been complaining,” he had said earlier. “I’ve spoken with both the minister of national security and all of the relevant authorities and they will beef up the manpower and beef up the security in not only my constituency, but within the entire Bahamas to ensure the safety of Bahamians.”
SHOOTINGS & STABBINGS LEAVE FOUR MEN IN HOSPITAL FOUR men are in hospital after separate shooting and stabbing incidents, police said. Shortly before 9pm on Friday, two men were arguing near a bar off Farrington Road when they got in a
fight, stabbing each other about the body, police said. Both men were transported to hospital where one was listed in serious condition and the other in stable condition. Then shortly after 3am on Saturday,
officers said they were alerted to a shooting at Nassau Street and Cambridge Lane, where two males were found shot. One was listed in serious condition, while the other was listed in stable condition.
this year on Grand Bahama. Alex Daricaud, 22, has been charged with the murder of Dario Pinder, who was found shot dead at Weddell Avenue on January 29. And Jamaican Damaine Donovan Sterling, 19, of Freeport, was charged for the murder of Jamal Russell, who was found dead at Lewis Yard on February 21. Anyone with information that can assist police with this latest homicide is asked to call 911, 919, or the nearest police station.
PAGE 4, Monday, February 24, 2020
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Last-chance saloon for BPL “THERE will be an end to load shedding,” declared Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) chairman Dr Donovan Moxey in December as the new Wartsila engines were unveiled. How many of us believed him? Certainly, the president of the electrical union didn’t – saying soon after that load shedding would still occasionally happen. And here we are again, with BPL racing to try to ensure we won’t have yet another summer plagued by blackouts and frustration. The heart of the problem this time is the need to cool the newly installed engines at Clifton Pier. BPL decided to dig four 800ft wells as the solution. The makers of the engines, Wartsila, urged BPL not to do that but BPL pressed on regardless. They now find themselves struggling to dig through the rock which has turned out to be harder than expected. So far, BPL has only dug half of the depth needed on two of the four wells. Drill bits have broken, only two of the Wartsila engines are online as BPL tries to figure out a solution – and it turns out that the water from the wells may be too polluted from years of oil spills to be of any use anyway. As time runs out, BPL has ordered an alternative radiator system – which is the solution Wartsila suggested in the first place. Add that extra cost to whatever has been spent on the drilling solution and it appears BPL might as well try and figure out a way of generating electricity by burning money. BPL appears to be running out of time, and the Bahamian people will be running out of patience. Last year, BPL promised it would be the last summer of load shedding. At the time, many of us swallowed our pain in a bitter bargain – we would regretfully accept the power failings as long as it was the last time. It was the last chance for BPL. They are now out of last chances. We’ve already had load shedding this
month – after “technical difficulties” at the Clifton Pier plant led to manual load shedding on February 7. That BPL also wants to start adding an extra charge to people’s bills to pay for refinancing – a loan they haven’t even taken out yet – means there is no more sympathy for BPL. It either does the job it’s supposed to or those in charge need to answer for the failure. It will have a political cost too – the FNM’s fate, for good or for ill, is bound up in the ability to provide a regular, dependable power supply. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has already launched his re-election campaign – if every event is haunted by the question “Why is the power still going off?” then he may well have to kiss his hopes of a second term goodbye. Certainly the fate of the minister whose portfolio BPL falls under, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister, will be up in the air if the company fails to deliver on its promise of an end to load shedding. He has warned that everything has to be in place with regard to the cooling system by May to meet the peak summer electricity demand. He says he is “fully confident” a solution will be in place by the summer – though it appears he’s not sure which solution that will be. Last month, Dr Moxey admitted that the company had “lost the trust of most of our consumers”. It’s true. And waking up to today’s reports that BPL faces another battle to be ready for summer is not the way to restore that trust. Indeed, when contacted about the concerns yesterday, Dr Moxey didn’t help to rebuild trust when he said that some of the things reported to The Tribune were not correct, while declining to identify what those were and saying “I’m not going to respond to any of it”. Really, Dr Moxey? Is that how you rebuild the faith of your customers? After all the promises, after all the pain, after all the talk of an extra payment, this needs to come to an end. BPL must sort this out once and for all. It isn’t negotiable.
Scratching back time EDITOR, The Tribune FAKE News Network (FNN) political operatives in this country lie more than fish drink water. Several days ago, Bahamian Facebookers, presumably in the hundreds, went into a frenzy over unfounded rumours that the passport office was being relocated to the Town Centre Mall, which is owned by Free National Movement (FNM) MP for St Anne’s, Brent Symonette, and a very close relative. This rumour was laid to rest after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release that stated that sub passport offices will be opening at the Elizabeth Estates and Carmichael Road post offices, not at the mall. The pathological liars at FNN, to the best of my knowledge, have yet to issue a retraction or an apology. Moving forward, every single business transaction that is undertaken by Bahamas Fast Ferries and Bahamas Hot Mix will continue to be examined under
a microscope by Symonette detractors. If it is true that Symonette is a beneficiary of the lion’s share of the FNM’s spoils of victory, as a major party donor he’s only doing what other major donors of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), and the defunct United Bahamian Party have done since time immemorial. I am sure that the PLP has a reciprocal relationship with wealthy donors who are loyal party supporters. The “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” policy is deeply ingrained in our Bahamian political culture. I don’t know why Bahamians continue to act like what Symonette and the FNM are doing has never been done before in this country. Every time the FNM is government the issue of Symonette and his business interests are hot button issues. As the Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs song says, that’s just the way it is. Even in the US the Democratic and Republican Parties have “special interest groups” who are looked
after once their respective party controls either the White House or Congress or both. Unlike our neighbours to the north, however, The Bahamas does not have campaign finance legislation. With card-carrying members of both major political parties usually not being current with their financial dues, parties resort to going with cap in hand to major donors for much needed cash to fund their election campaigns that Bahamians love attending, which usually costs millions. In the meantime, if Bahamians want reliable information, then they should get it from conventional media sources. Time and again FNN journalists have demonstrated that they lack minimum journalistic ethics and standards; and are prepared to transgress the ninth commandment by lying in order to help their party win an election. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama. February 20, 2020.
PEOPLE take part in a funeral march in Hanau, Germany yesterday after several people were killed in a race-related shooting in the central German city last week.
Allow us to pay in cash EDITOR, The Tribune PLEASE permit me to comment on the disclosure by the Minister of Transport & Local Government during his mid-year budget contribution on the initiative by the Road Traffic Department to move to a cashless operation. According to Minister “the new system will enable better transparency in the department”. And he goes on further to say “This will ensure a more transparent and accountable process. This effort, we believe, will further increase our revenue from the department.” Whether the Road traffic department moves to a cashless operation or not will have no bearing on the department’s transparency and accountability or lack thereof. If the Road Traffic is minded to be transparent and accountable in its operation or processes, it is irrelevant whether they accept cash or are cashless. Nor will this initiative increase the department’s revenue. The Minister and those statutorily responsible for administrating the Road Traffic Regulation need to be reminded that while they are given the statutory power to implement measures (Rule & Regulations) to effectively manage the affairs of the department, they are required to do so with reasonableness. If there is some deficiency in the administration at Road Traffic they would like to address, the measures taken to do so must be reasonable and proportionate.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net If a member of the public presents his or her vehicle to the Department of Road Traffic to be licensed or seeks to renew his or her driver’s licence, and does not possess a means to pay other than cash, is Road Traffic going to refuse licensing their vehicle or renewing their driver’s licence? Where else can they obtain this public service? I doubt such a policy can survive judicial review and/ or intervention. Furthermore why would any politician or public administrator implement a hard and fast policy that requires every vehicle owner or a holder of a driver’s licence in The Bahamas to subscribe to a Debit or Credit card provider or some e-payment device/ medium to obtain a government service? While I am not opposed to encouraging the public to the use of non-cash transactions at government facilities, I am, however, opposed to making it a policy that only non-cash transactions will be accepted particularly for a public service that is exclusively offered by Road Traffic. Politicians and public administrators need to be more judicious in their policy formulation and not simply think inconsiderately of what suits their or their department’s convenience. Appreciate the limitations that exists
among your constituent when attempting to introduce certain initiatives. They ought to be about progressively expanding opportunities and choices for persons to conduct business with the government and not limiting or restricting the public ability to do so. If the Minister and/or the Controller of Road Traffic wants to be transparent and accountable, all the Minister and the Controller has to do is implement a policy and take active steps to be transparent and accountable. They need not eliminate the option for public to conduct government business in cash. If the Road Traffic Department has a difficulty accounting for its revenue or an issue with alleged dishonesty in its department, the solution is not to stubbornly require every vehicle owner or the holder of a driver’s licence to possess a debit or credit card or some e-payment device/medium to pay for services. Their first resort ought to be in improving their internal controls and accounting, not seeking to bully their reform measures on forcing the public to modify their behaviour in the manner you are seeking to do. If a person wishes to pay for services by cash, why should that present a problem for the department? Yours in truth and justice for all. CLAUDE B HANNA Nassau February 20, 2020
Achieving social justice EDITOR, The Tribune WE cannot effectively commemorate World Social Justice Day – which was held on February 20 – without reflecting thoughtfully about setbacks and progresses made by poor countries in tackling social injustices. It is a noble idea that people should have equal access to wealth, health, well-being, justice,
privileges, and opportunity regardless of their legal, political, economic, or other circumstances. Social injustices create poverty. Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of their dignity and lets injustice thrive. Poverty in poor countries have sparked exodus of people seeking better economic conditions in European countries and other developed
countries. It is in the best interests of western countries to help poor countries to tackle social injustices. Systems and structures that favour the rich and powerful over the poor and marginalised should be highlighted, challenged and changed. HANDSEN CHIKOWORE United Kingdom, February 18, 2020.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, February 24, 2020, PAGE 5 HEADKNOWLES Foundation co-founder Lia HeadRigby, right, maintains she has committed no impropriety
Head-Rigby: I used Dorian donations where they were needed from page one “We spent that $200k fast as it should have been.” Asked if the expenditure of these funds was documented, she said: “I have everything documented – audited by the CPA.” On Thursday, GoFundMe said it will donate $217,645 to the HeadKnowles Foundation. The pledge signalled its support for Gina Knowles who has sued Mrs HeadRigby and her husband to recover the funds in question.
GoFundMe’s Director of North America Communications Bobby Whithorne in a statement accused Mrs Head-Rigby of allegedly withdrawing funds that she did not send to the foundation as mandated. His statement to The Tribune came after Ms Knowles’s suit was filed alleging the couple have withheld Hurricane Dorian GoFundMe donations. Mrs Head-Rigby denied the allegations in the lawsuit last week, saying her “hands are clean”. The GoFundMe campaign attracted nearly
$1.5m in donations since the deadly September storm. Mr Whithorne said because the organisation’s payment processor, WePay, does not support direct transfers to the Bahamas, the funds were transferred to Mrs Head-Rigby’s US Bank of America Account and were then supposed to be transferred to the HeadKnowles Foundation locally. “To be clear, more than one million dollars raised was transferred from Lia Head-Rigby to the benefiting organisation named on the fundraiser, the
Lloyd prepares to work with ACP Deleveaux By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd said on Friday he welcomes Assistant Commissioner of Police Leamond Deleveaux’s special assignment to his ministry where there are a “wide spectrum” of security responsibilities. The minister said he has not yet met with ACP Deleveaux, but he explained the senior officer is to report to the Ministry of Education as a consultant, providing advice on security needs. The role will supplement that of an existing head of security in education, Mr Lloyd said. ACP Deleveaux is scheduled to meet with Mr Lloyd tomorrow. There are 172 schools along with about 70 buildings and teacher cottages in the ministry’s purview. The Tribune reported earlier this month that ACP Deleveaux was the third senior police officer appointed to a government ministry following his return from forced vacation leave. Commissioner Anthony Ferguson signed a letter saying the senior officer was to be deployed on a special assignment “to assist with the overall security concerns” of that ministry for an initial period of 12 months. The appointment was to begin Thursday, February 13. At the time his lawyer Wayne Munroe said ACP Deleveaux was awaiting details about the ministry’s concerns. ACP Kendal Strachan and ACP Clayton Fernander have been directed to head security teams at juvenile schools and the Ministry of Health
ACP Leamond Deleveaux respectively. The officers see their appointments as demotions. ACP Strachan has sued the government. “When we do meet, I will find out exactly what the terms of engagement will be,” Mr Lloyd told reporters Friday. “It is my understanding that the officer is to report to this ministry as a consultant which means he would provide advice as to security requirements of the ministry bearing in mind that the ministry has 172 schools across the archipelago in addition to 70 or so buildings. That includes this building, the Ministry of Education headquarters, as well as teacher cottages and other buildings. “It’s a wide spectrum of responsibility from a security stand point. We obviously welcome the help especially with the experience that the officer provides, but I am advised that the day to day operation of the security operations in the Ministry of Education remains with Mr Christopher Smith who will be supplemented and supported now by the officer in question, Officer Deleveaux, and we look forward to the engagement (and) the conversation and we will finalise the terms of that engagement.” Mr Lloyd said the ministry wants to beef up security
as it has undertaken a large scale technology initiative at all schools in the country. Officials also have to consider community issues and conflicts that have at times spilled over onto school campuses. “Let me just say that all of our campuses are safe zones for school age children, administrators, teachers all of them. Our challenge is not those persons who come to school and are participants in the school’s operations. It’s those persons who come from outside and they usually come with some intentions of settling scores or something of this nature. “This is why and I am happy that police have made it their business to provide patrols and other oversight mechanisms for many of our school campuses, especially those in areas that we consider to be vulnerable. “But we continue to upgrade out campuses. We continue to train our teachers (and) our administrators in security procedures and protocols and we find that it is effective.” He continued: “We cannot relent on those exercises because each day miscreants find ways to breach that and to still create sometimes havoc either on the campuses or outside of the campus. “What we are also finding is that in some of these schools the issues are not necessarily on campus, but while students are going home on the street or some times into their neighbourhoods, so these are still concerns. It is not an education issue. It’s a communal issue, a societal issue and it has to be addressed on a societal basis.”
HeadKnowles Foundation,” Mr Whithorne said. “Lia Head-Rigby withdrew but then did not transfer $217,645 to the HeadKnowles Foundation. In the interim, WePay froze the remaining balance of $246,483,” he said. The statement continued: “In order to protect GoFundMe donors, GoFundMe will donate $217,645 to the HeadKnowles Foundation while they try to recover the funds from Lia Head-Rigby. We encourage WePay to release the remaining $246,483 directly to the
HeadKnowles Foundation. Our goal is to make sure every dollar donated is transferred to the HeadKnowles Foundation, as was stated in the campaign. GoFundMe will continue to work with all parties involved to help resolve the matter. At this point, the remaining balance is with WePay.” Mr Whithorne said his company prefers sending funds directly to organisations, but can’t do that for Bahamas-based groups because of the limitations of WePay. “The money raised must be transferred to a bank
account located in the US, and then transferred to the account of the Bahamas,” he said. “GoFundMe’s priority is to fully protect all donors on the platform and to ensure the money raised goes to the intended use, in this case to the HeadKnowles Foundation for hurricane relief in the Bahamas.” It is unclear if the suit will spark any investigation, if any, by the Office of the Attorney General. Up to press time The Tribune was told that no action had been filed in New Providence.
PAGE 6, Monday, February 24, 2020
By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net TEN Abaco taxi drivers will now have a chance to restart their livelihood on the storm-damaged island after being presented with new vehicles from an international nonprofit organisation. One of them is Vernon Russell. Having been a taxi driver on the island for more than 20 years, Mr Russell told The Tribune yesterday that “words cannot express” how grateful he is to be chosen by Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation for the opportunity to have his vehicle replaced. “The best part about it is having it being done by people you don’t even know or have never seen or have never met,” he said. “Everything I see as the Lord’s doing and all things work together for those who love Him so I know if He gave me the first (vehicle), He had something in the works for me. “So, I just can’t thank God enough nor the people who He may use to get the vehicle for me and most of all Rocklyn Bootle, the one who acknowledged and remembered me as one of the persons (who lost their vehicles).” The powerful Category Five storm, which devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama in early September, flattened homes, businesses and major infrastructure on the islands, forcing thousands to be relocated elsewhere. Mr Russell said he was one of those persons who left the storm ravaged island in the immediate aftermath of Dorian. “I spent a week home
THE TRIBUNE
Delight for Abaco taxi drivers as they are given some new cars
after Dorian, but then I went to the US for a month before I came back home. Since the storm, I’ve been out of work and stuff like that. But, now I will get restart my livelihood again and work,” he said. President of Stuart Sailfish Foundation, Charlie Conigliaro said after
hearing about the devastation of Dorian, he knew he had to help the people of Abaco. “We started this the day after Dorian,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “We flew tons of food and supplies, and we have our fundraiser and we raised just about one quarter of a million dollars
to help us with our efforts and we brought over 535 mattresses. “And then with the additional money, we said to ourselves well what are we going to do… We didn’t want to give cash to anyone, but we wanted to do what else we can to help.” Mr Congliario said it
wasn’t until an Abaco resident came up to him at an event and told him about the residents who lost their cabs during the monster storm that he decided he would help. “So, we investigated and then we started a process of elimination,” he added. “We started with 45 applicants and we wanted to make sure that the applicants we had were qualified and qualified meaning that they actually did lose a vehicle and that they didn’t get reimbursed from the insurance company and they lost their houses as well. …We flew out there a couple times to verify the vehicles and to make sure that these were legitimate people and they
needed our help. So, with that, we narrowed it down to ten individuals. “We paid for the flights to come out and we paid for the hotel and we paid for the bill and we held an event last Wednesday and there were 30 vehicles that they could choose from in the budget.” He noted that officials are now in the process of finalising the paperwork to transfer the vehicles to residents on the island. “We’re trying to get the government, which they agreed, to let these vehicles come in any event free and we have (someone) who agreed to pay for some of the freight and cost of the vehicles and, of course, our foundation is paying the balance.”
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, February 24, 2020, PAGE 7
NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICE
Teenagers accused of trying to kill man, 90
TYRONE Neely outside court Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net TWO teenagers were remanded to prison Friday after they were arraigned in Magistrates’ Court for allegedly robbing a 90-yearold man of $500. The two also faced a separate charge of allegedly attempting to cause his death by means of unlawful harm. Tyrone Neely, 18, of Calvin Street, and a 16-yearold minor were charged before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans with robbing and causing harm to Wilfred Beneby on January 28. The minor’s identity has been withheld due to his age. It is alleged that both young men used a hammer
in the armed robbery. According to police reports, shortly after 11am on the day in question, two teens entered a convenience store on Lincoln Boulevard and Miami Street and held up an employee, causing him harm before robbing the establishment. The injured man was taken to the hospital. He was later listed in stable condition. Both teens pleaded guilty. However, neither was required to enter a plea to the charges and the case was adjourned to April 29 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment. The teens are being held at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the meantime.
Woman is attacked by 3 pit bulls By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN is in hospital after she was savagely attacked by three pit bulls in Pinewood Gardens on Friday afternoon. According to police, shortly after 3pm, the woman was walking to her vehicle on Sequoia Street when she was attacked and bitten about the body by the dogs. Officers said an ambulance took her to hospital where she is listed in a stable but serious condition. Meanwhile, the man who owns the dogs was taken into custody and is assisting the police with their investigation. The animals are currently in custody of Animal Control, who also visited the scene. The incident came four years after another woman was left in critical condition after she was mauled by two pit bulls she owned. The attack occurred in early 2016 on Paradise Island. A man who was also injured during the attack was taken to hospital but
treated and released a day later. At the time, thenAssistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Stephen Dean said the male victim was walking near the tennis club at the One&Only Ocean Club around 4pm when he passed the woman walking her two pit bulls. One of the pit bulls lunged at the man and attacked him. When the dog’s owner tried to intervene, both animals turned on her, The Tribune was told. ACP Dean, now retired from the RBPF, said bystanders attempted to get the dogs off the woman to no avail. When officers arrived on the scene, one of the dogs was still on top of her. ACP Dean said one of the dogs even lunged at police officers and was shot and killed at the scene. The other dog was put to sleep by a veterinarian later that day. The man was taken to hospital where he was treated for injuries to his arms and legs. The woman suffered injuries to her face, neck, arms and legs.
MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames, Permanent Secretary Eugene Poitier and Dr Jennifer Bethel of the Ministry’s Research and Development Section joined Officer in Charge of the Royal Bahamas Police Force National Neighbourhood Watch Council Liaison Unit Assistant Superintendent of Police Wilton Johnson and co-chairs Keno Wong and Alesha Hart; NNWC members; Liaison unit officers; stakeholders and members of the Mount Moriah Transformers Band at the Inaugural NNWC church service, held at the Evangelistic Temple, Collins Avenue yesterday. Photos: Eric Rose/BIS
PAGE 8, Monday, February 24, 2020 By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net VENDORS criticised Works Minister Desmond Bannister and the Straw Market Authority (SMA) on Friday for their decision to close the Bay Street Straw Market for repairs during one of their busiest sale seasons. On February 13, the SMA issued a letter notifying vendors that the body, “in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Works,” would close the market to carry out “repairs and maintenance,” beginning on Saturday, February 22. On Friday, Reverend Esther Thompson, president of the Straw Business Persons Society, told The Tribune vendors felt disrespected after only being given nine days notice of the market’s closure without consultation. “We had a meeting with the minister yesterday which was the 20th of February,” she said. “The minister made me feel like it would have been a negotiation and we would have been able to come up with a date for the vendors. That was my impression of what was going to happen; however, when we went into the meeting he let us talk (but) you could have seen his mind was made up.” Mrs Thompson said during the meeting she asked Mr Bannister to give the vendors at least three weeks to “better prepare themselves mentally and financially” for the market’s closure. Still, she said, the minister told her the market had to close on the scheduled date. “They say they want to paint the pipes... and when they do it, we can’t be in here because it’s hazard material,” she explained. “So my position was, you had me in this situation for eight years and now you say you want to address it. You bring it to our attention, we accept the fact that you want to address it (but) you only give us nine days to clear out everything.
THE TRIBUNE
Repairs closure angers Straw Market vendors
THE STRAW Market on Bay Street “I have a problem with that because you had my life in danger for eight years and all I asking you for is three weeks for these people to better pull they self together and you refusing that? That’s a problem for me.” Mrs Thompson said she felt the market’s closure was a ploy to get rid of vendors. Referring to the notice issued by the SMA, she added: “In the front of the letter they say the market is opening on the 29 of February, but in the back of the letter they put the same thing and added that in the event the re-opening date change, we would be
notified by public media. They aren’t even clear of the time and that was my major fear. “I realise it’s a trick to get us out of here with no proper planning. You don’t think they could have made better arrangements for these people if they had any care and concern about people?” While canvassing the Straw Market, The Tribune spoke to other vendors who said they believed the repairs could not have come at a worse time. Brenda Ferguson, who has been working in the market for over 60 years, told this newspaper she felt
disrespected by the sudden closure. “It’s just deplorable and it’s a disgrace how it went down,” she said. “We know the market need to be repaired. We’re not running from that, but this month is our spring break. We sat down many days with nothing. Why y’all wait until February to do it? “We’re human, respect us as humans. It should have never been done that way. At least three weeks would give people a little time to make something...you know what it is to close down and you don’t have nothing?” Another vendor, Dorothy Wilson-Huyler, added the
announcement of the market’s closure took her by surprise. “This is the wrong timing for the straw business people,” she said. “I am dumbfounded. I don’t even know what to do. It’s really an awful time for the government to step in to take you out of this. Spring break –out of all of the years I was in here– you look forward to it.” Brandon Taylor, who has been helping his mother in the market since he was 11-years-old, also said that the news left many vendors confused and uncertain of their next move. “From that letter came down that
was a bunch of controversy because it was so short notice at the time,” he said. “If they could have had a longer date to prepare for the closure it would have been great also. The people didn’t give them any type of say on the matter and that’s it.” Mr Taylor insisted that some of the vendors don’t make enough money to feed their families at times. “Some people even catch bus here so how will they move their stuff home?” he asked. “That means the little money that they made they will have to pay a truck to carry their stuff away? And if they have to do that what money will they have left saved for themselves when they don’t even have nothing ?” In the letter issued by the SMA, vendors were told that the Straw Market would close at 8pm on Saturday, February 22 and would re-open on Saturday, February 29 at 7am. Vendors were asked to remove all merchandise, and personal items from their respective stalls on or before Saturday, February 22. The letter also advised that no vendor would be granted access to the Straw Market building or surrounding patio from February 22 until its scheduled re-opening. It was noted that any items left in the market after the designated closing time would be “discarded without further notice.” When contacted for comment, a representative from the Straw Market Authority directed this newspaper to the Ministry of Public Works. Works Minister Bannister could not be reached up to press time.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
When Nygard stomped his feet over broken promises by David Morgan I’M SURE there’s many out there who feel like shouting Good Riddance to Peter Nygard now that he faces allegations of drugging and raping dozens of women, many under age. But long before life behind the gates of Nygard Cay reached the courts of New York, there were many who had private concerns. If what is reported in a fascinating book called The Man Behind the Bow Tie published in 2014 is true - and we have no reason to believe it is not - one of the first to distance himself was former Prime Minister Perry Christie, odd though it seems given the irrefutable evidence that Mr Nygard himself credited the Prime Minister’s and PLP election sweep in 2012 to his election “donation” of $5 million. In fact, Mr Nygard was so proud of drawing the political map for the coming five years that when a story appeared about his “$4 millon” contribution to the PLP, he quickly produced a copy of the cheque, boasting it was $5 million. Without any limits on what anyone can contribute and no campaign finance legislation to act as safeguards against buying the government you want, what Mr Nygard did was perfectly legal. We will never know whether it tipped the coffers in the PLP’s favour or whether an always impatient electorate was at the tipping point with the Hubert Ingraham government they ousted, the Free National Movement. The Bahamian population is loyal when it comes to individual friendships but fickle when it comes to what kind of government it wants since it expects government to do everything to make life easier, better, cheaper and when it doesn’t get what it wants, because the expectations are unrealistic, it switches to the next party in the line-up. Nevertheless, whether the populace would have voted Christie and the PLP in 2012 without Mr Nygard’s $5 million is something we will never know. Just as we will never know how many $100 or $300 gifts were rolled up in t-shirts given out at PLP rallies prior to the election. Politics is dirty throughout the world. In The Bahamas, it just comes with refreshments. Rallies become open invitations to parties and party-goers change shirts to enjoy the open-air entertainment, food, dance and a free (or paid) night on the town. Bahamians, in our own way, have turned what could be a boring political call to action into a rousing night of fun and for that we can pat ourselves on our fickle backs. No one does politics quite like Bahamians. That being said, the PLP
with Mr Nygard’s help, swept into office in May 2012, as much to the party leader’s surprise as anyone’s. So you would think that Mr Christie would have kissed the ground Mr Nygard trod on or at least shown him gratitude by immediately passing the legislation Mr Nygard wanted that would have provided a cozy and lucrative home for his stem cell interests. Instead, Mr Christie, as astute as he was indecisive and unlike certain others in his party, began to distance himself from Mr Nygard almost from the moment he was elected. This was confirmed by sources close to the former PM who said Mr Nygard would often appear in the office, unannounced, without an appointment, demanding to see Mr Christie who would keep him waiting far longer than he would a jitney driver with a complaint about routes. Other sources have told us Mr Christie declined invitations to Nygard Cay, the property at the southwest tip of New Providence he renamed from Simms Point. Word around the office of the prime minister was “no favours”. But the most telling tale of Mr Christie’s apparent desire to separate himself from the man who helped get him elected comes in the book by the late Dr Arthur Porter, confidante and political and medical advisor to the former PM. Dr Porter, the former head of Canadian Security Intelligence, and one of the most respected businessmen and physicians in Canada, a man who dined with kings and presidents, died of lung cancer in a Panama prison, still fighting charges of fraud related to the construction of a large medical facility at McGill, where Dr Porter was the project head. Dr Porter had relocated to The Bahamas to work with Dr Conville Brown opening The Cancer Centre. With his wife and four children, he enjoyed his home in Old Fort Bay and his newfound friendship with Perry Christie, a man he truly liked without being ignorant of his inability to make decisions. We quote with permission from the book, The Man Behind The Bow Tie which was a #1 Amazon bestseller the day of its publication in Canada with a reprint order the same day. In Dr Porter’s words: “On the day before the election, Christie looked awful. I sat beside him in his living room with a few other supporters. He was slumped on the couch in a yellow PLP shirt, eyes reduced to slits, half-listening to the last-minute advice being fired at him from all angles. Morale was low. Most people did not think he would win, let alone by a comfortable margin.” Mr Christie and the PLP did win by a two-thirds
majority, a result that seemed to take the country by surprise. One week later, Mr Christie asked Porter his advice. Nygard had invited him to Nygard Cay. Should he go? “You are the prime minister now,” Porter said. “So what if he donated large sums of money to your campaign? It would not look good to go to his home.” Dr Porter recommended he invite Mr Nygard to his office instead. The meeting that followed, according to the retelling of it in the book, did not go well. Nor was it exactly in the Office of the Prime Minister, or OPM as it is often called with an air of dignity. Much to Mr Nygard’s displeasure, it was in what he termed as a basement. Again, from the book: “Peter Nygard, one of the wealthiest men in Canada, sat across from me (Porter) at a small table, the two of us tucked away beyond prying eyes or cocked ears, in a remote meeting room on the lower level of the Bahamas Sheraton Beach Resort awaiting the prime minister of the Bahamas. Nygard’s long, flowing greyish-blond hair hung well below his shoulders. His white shirt was unbuttoned halfway down his chest. He wore loose-fitting pants and slip-on shoes with no socks. Normally relaxed, talkative and gregarious with a wide crinkly smile, at this moment the multimillionaire fashion mogul was furious. Things were not going his way. Hot, flustered and impatient, he bounced an ankle on one knee, mumbling about broken promises. Nygard and I were not alone…” Dr Porter mentions others in the room, including Joy Jibrilu, at that time Director of Investments in the OPM, and Kevin Klein, another Canadian and “one of the top executives at Nygard Biotech, “a new company focused on regenerative and stem cell therapies”. According to Dr Porter, Mr Nygard’s anger was turning to fury as his impatience with being kept waiting grew. “Suddenly, a huge bodyguard opened the door and Prime Minister Perry Christie swept into the room, elegantly attired as always in a formal pinstriped suit. We all rose and he shook our hands. Nygard was not interested in ceremony. “Why do you have me stashed in here, Perry?” he barked. Christie explained he had to deliver a speech at the hotel, avoided eye contact with Mr Nygard, pulled out two cell phones and appeared distracted, turning to Dr Porter and asking “Where are we with things, Arthur?” Previously, Dr Porter had counselled him to go slowly and carefully with stem cell legislation – it was too important to take a risk
and get it wrong and the opportunity existed for The Bahamas to be a leader in the field if it did it right. Nygard burst in before Dr Porter could answer Mr Christie’s question. “Do you intend on honouring our arrangement?” Nygard blurted out. The prime minister began to speak, assuring him then adding the word, but. “Before the election,” Nygard snapped, “we spoke about the stem cell bill being the first piece of legislation before the House of Assembly. Not the third. Not the second. The first. We are a week in, and I have
FORMER PM Perry Christie heard nothing. You haven’t taken my phone calls. I got a call back from one of your assistants. And now, instead of coming to my house, you have us meeting in some basement…” It has been eight years
since that meeting took place and today Nygard Cay is all but abandoned. The courts have ordered him to restore the coastline as he found it. He has been held in contempt of court and fined. Nygard Slims, the store he opened in the Mall at Marathon, is vacant. And now it is likely that he will spend his remaining days fighting charges of sexual abuse and the man who once strode through Bain and Grant’s Town surrounded by law enforcement, some on his payroll on the side, shouting “Take Back The Bahamas” may live to wish he had never come here in the first place.
KINGSWAY ACADEMY Teacher Applications for 2020 - 2021 Kingsway Academy invites applications from highly qualified and experienced candidates who are committed to the spiritual, intellectual, and social development of students, and who are willing to enrich our school community beyond the classroom. Elementary School General Elementary Studies K3 through Grade 6 Music Physical Education Teacher’s Aide High School Art French Biology General Science Business Studies Geography Carpentry and Joinery Health Science Chemistry History Christian Education Home Economics Computer Studies Mathematics English Language/Literature Music Lab Technician/Teacher’s Aide
Physical Education Physics Social Studies Spanish Technical Drawing Woodwork
Applicants should: • In the case of a Teacher’s Aide, have a minimum of an Associate Degree and relevant work experience • In the case of an elementary teacher or a high school teacher, have an academic degree in the area of specialization (Bachelor’s Degree or higher) and/or a Teacher’s Certificate from an accredited college or university • Have the ability to prepare students for national examinations • Possess strong oral and written communication skills • Have interest in and skills to participate in extra-curricular activities or committees • Be a born-again Christian A complete application package includes the following: A completed Kingsway Academy application form (including a legible e-mail address and working telephone contacts), a detailed resume with cover letter, a recent photo, , three references forms - one being from your church’s minister, a police record, and a health record. The application and reference forms are accessible on the school’s website at www.kingswayacademy.com (click on About Us) or at the school’s Business Office located on Bernard Road. Packages should be forwarded to: Human Resources Kingsway Academy P O Box N-4378 Nassau, The Bahamas To ensure consideration, application packages must be received by Monday, 9th Marc, 2020 at the Herbert L. Treco Administration Building at the school.
PAGE 10 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
A long road to travel on which we need to tread carefully
GEORGE BOLTER, left, and his parents walk through the remains of his home destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in the Pine Bay neighbourhood of Freeport on Wednesday, September 4 last year.
by Malcolm Strachan
Funeral Service For Mr. Edwin Henry Moxey, Sr., 79 of #20 Armada Road West, Freeport, Grand Bahama and formerly of Nassau, New Providence will be held on Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 11:00 am at Judea Baptist Church, Marina Sands Drive, Nassau, New Providence. Officiating will Reverend Dr. Marina Sands, assisted by Pastor Fanchon Braynen and Rev. Harrison Butler and other Ministers of the Gospel. Interment will follow at The Western Cemetery, Nassau, New Providence. Precious memories will linger in the hearts of his Wife: Evangeline Chea; Sons: Duane, Robert, Edwin Jr. and Devonne Moxey; Tex Brown, Kareem and Demian Chea; Daughters: Edwina Moxey, Ellaina Grant, Domonique Bartley; Daughter-in-law: Ashley Moxey; Granddaughters: Regina Moxey, Akiva Brown, Barbara Mihalakos, Catherine Delestre, Halle Bastian, Genna and Demia Chea; Grandsons: Keion, Deshaun and Michaelangelo Moxey, Sandakon Stuart, Kareem Chea, Kinte Simmons and Trell Williams; Greatgrands: Alaya Chea, Joenell Newbold and Gabriella Mihalakos; Sisters: Ministers Keva Johnson and Barbara Barnes; Nephews: N. Roy Davis (Melverne), Kevin and Warren Johnson, Andymore Saunders (Carla), Phillip Moxey (Pearl), Nikolas Barnes (Mia), Jamaal Nairn (Miquelle); Nieces: Minister Melanie Griffin (Leon), Hermean Sturrup (Franklyn Sr.), Kimberley Davis, Pastor Fanchon Braynen (Apostle David Jr.), Denise Barnes, LaToya Forbes (Quinton), Melanie Hall, Carolyn Deveaux, Sandra Smith (Quenell) Sammoone Basden; Grand Nephews: Pastor Gralin Martin (Tanya), Randolph Curtis II, Abdul Johnson, Franklyn Sturrup, Jr., Kedar Henry, Daniel and Dane Braynen, Nathan and Kyle Rolle, Akeem Culmer, Tamiko and Scott Davis, Anton Gray, Cody Cartwright, Delton Morley, Edward Deveaux, Ricardo Rolle Jr; Grand Nieces: T’Shura Johnson, Tia Rolle (Wayde), Akira Culmer (Lorenzo), Frankia Sturrup, Sharmareka and Kaneshia Davis, Celine Griffin, Sanaa, Kai, Arya and Nova Barnes, Loren Culmer, Demi Mills, Una and Uranda Curtis, Dana Davis, Dwandra and Patrice Taylor, Sherry Smith, Thalya and Theadosia Smith, Tatum Adderley, Peyton and Elisha Curtis, Glendricka and Nakia Johnson, Glendia Carter, Jaliah Nairn; A host of other relatives and friends: Rev. Joseph Saunders and Family, Lavinnia Rolle and Family, Rev. Harrison Butler and Family, Rev. Mavis Major and Family, Mildred Butler and Family, Family of the late Eddiemae Pratt, Family of the late Donald Smith, Bessimae SmithBest and Family, Bishop Helen McPhee and Family, Beulah Smith-Morris and Family, Paula Mae Ferguson and Family, Cynthia King and Family, Ruby Gordon and Family, Mildred Butterfield and Family, The Family of the late Nell Strachan, The Family of the late Marjorie Brice, the Family of the late Iva Sutherland, The Family of the late Ethlene Stubbs, the Family of the late Alice Rolle, Winifred Bannister and Family, The Family of the late Cesslyn Seymour, The Family of the late Allowie McCoy, The Family of the late Magdalene Rolle, Eliza Brown and Family, Family of the late Boaz Brown, The Family of the late Majorie Edgecombe, Sada Miller and Family, The Family of the late Rosa Alday, The entire Bain-Smith Family of Cat Island and New Providence, The Moxey Family of Mangrove Cay and New Providence, Randolph Curtis, Sr., Beryl Cummings and Family, Norma Gordon and Family, Marsha Ferguson and Family, the Humes Family, Naomi Seymour and Family, Christine Outten and Family, Adolph and Helen McDonald and Family, Patricia Hall and Family, Phillip and Carolyn Knowles and Family, Rev. Dr. Marina P. Sands and the Judaea Baptist Church Family, Doctors, Nurses and Staff of the Public Hospitals Authority (Rand Memorial) and The Samaritan’s Purse; Hommies of the Mox: R. H. and the Culmer Family, Darrice, Dahla, Damita Newbold, Gerald Russell, Cordell Munnings, Reo, Dashwell and Donald Williams, Reginald “Chips” McKenzie, Randy “Skipper” Woods, Allison Campbell, Vernon Ash, Eddie Thompson, Bruce Storr, Tevin Lightbourne and Family, Neil Burrows and Family, Tomarge Wilmott and Family, Lynden Davis and Family, Joe Thompson, Pople, Frankie Thompson, Spike Mackey, Phillip Beckles, Vernon Nairn, Godfrey ‘’Gully’’ Pinder, Simeon Richardson, Carlson Shurland, Reginald Adderley Viewing will be held in the “Serenity Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Limited, Robinson and Soldier Roads, Nassau, New Providence on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until service time.
NEARLY six months after Hurricane Dorian and we are still in a sobering transition period. Two islands – one on the brink of rediscovering its magic and the other comfortably thriving and contributing healthily to the Bahamian economy – both tied together by one storm’s singularly unmatched devastation. Certainly, the distance between where we were on September 1 and a rebuilt and prosperous Abaco and Grand Bahama could not seem further apart. While many of us will remember where we were when Hurricane Dorian upended Abaco and Grand Bahama, none of us will truly understand the gravity of what has been lost as well as those who are still here to tell their harrowing stories. As our brothers and sisters in the northern Bahamas continue to pick up the pieces, uncertainty about their futures is inescapable. In November, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest revealed that after initial assessments, uninsured risk could have been as high 80 percent – reinforcing this storm’s catastrophic impact as many survivors face rebuilding out of pocket. The challenge this presents cannot be put into words when we consider the level of job losses. Last week, Director of Public Works Melanie Roach spoke about some of the challenges of underinsured and uninsured homeowners, noting the government will need to address the public’s need for affordable housing insurance. Mrs Roach highlighted the unfortunate
circumstance that many storm survivors, all of whom are either uninsured or underinsured, will find themselves in as a result of not being able to rebuild their homes. For certain, affordable home insurance will have to be the path going forward. In the medium-to-longterm, figuring out how a populace already struggling to manage under the conditions of such a high cost of living will be able to afford an additional expenditure will require some creativity. For now, the government’s first step toward helping Abaconians and Grand Bahamians in their rebuilding efforts is a good start. However, despite the government’s launch of the Small Homes Repairs Programme - the mechanism by which the government will disburse funds via vouchers to homeowners who were not insured and owned homes on Abaco and Grand Bahama on August 31, 2019 – the costs to repair some of these dwellings may far exceed the payout. Although, the government has arranged for applicants meeting the criteria with minimal damage to receive $2,500, those with medium damage to receive $5,000, those with major damage to receive $7,500 and those whose houses have been totally destroyed to receive $10,000, we’re still unclear on what constitutes the respective classifications. And while we can give credit to the government for setting up this programme, there is still a lot to be determined about how much of an impact this will actually make as there will certainly be individuals who aren’t satisfied with the amounts being received. For those people who may also be jobless, many questions surround what will happen to them.
Many questions loom - especially against the backdrop of the $1.5 billion pledged to the government through the United Nations Development Programme and the prime minister indicating that while the government will do what it can for us to get to where we want to be, more help has to come from the international community. When will these funds become available? Will the government provide additional funds after evaluating how well this first phase of the programme performs? Last week, chairman of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority John Michael Clarke confirmed 1,400 people have already applied for assistance through the Small Homes Repairs Programme. Noting it has been said that some 4,000plus homeowners would have been affected, many more people need to get their applications in so they can receive the assistance they need. Attempting to ensure this process runs as smoothly as possible, managing director of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority Kay Forbes-Smith outlined the criteria for applications to be considered at the end of last month. “The criteria is that you have to be a citizen of The Bahamas. You have to own the property. You would have lived at the damaged property on August 31, 2019; which we can confirm by utility bill or some other acceptable verification. If you have insurance, you cannot have access to the programme. And the property has to be located in Grand Bahama, Abaco, and the associated cays,” said Ms Forbes-Smith. Anyone looking at this knows full well how far we have to go for the lives of our brothers and sisters to be restored. We should also have the good sense to know that none of this will occur overnight. As easy as it may be to criticise the time it is taking – which many of us have been guilty of – we have to be very sensitive to how we are being viewed as a country with regards to donations coming from the international community. Surely, we must always demand accountability from our government. However, let’s present our ideas in a manner that helps rather than harms. If it is one thing this most unfortunate disaster has taught us is that we are stronger together.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
G
LOBAL attention on Guyana has focused on the current campaigning for general elections due on March 2. Reports indicate a vigorous campaign with the country’s newly found resources in oil and gas very much on the minds of the contesting political parties. While the election campaign is proceeding and the electorate awaits the date on which the majority will decide which party forms the next government and who will be the President of the country, the long-standing contention between Guyana and Venezuela over the latter’s claim to large swathes of Guyanese territory - has been ambling its way through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague. Three weeks after the general election, the ICJ will begin four days of legal arguments between Guyana and Venezuela teams on whether the Court has jurisdiction to pronounce a judgment. It is important to emphasise this hearing is to determine whether the Court has jurisdiction; it is not yet concerned with the merits of the case which the Court will hear if it decides that it is properly vested with jurisdiction. The Venezuelan Government disputes the ICJ’s jurisdiction. In a statement issued on November 29 last year the authorities in Caracas said it “reiterates its historical position on the lack of jurisdiction of that international body”. Calling the Guyana application to the Court “absurd and disturbing”, the Venezuelan government revealed it had informed the ICJ of its position in a memorandum the day before. Conveniently ignored by the Venezuelan government is the binding international Award of 1899 that established and demarcated the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. That boundary had been accepted, respected and even protected by Venezuela for almost 60 years until 1965 when Guyana’s independence from Britain was set to take place the following year. Venezuela resurrected an unsubstantiated claim, attributed to one of its long dead lawyers from the 1899 arbitral process, that the US Chief Justice – one of the Arbitrators – had been bribed. It is upon this shaky and shady allegation that Venezuela asserts the nullity of the 1899 award. In any event, it was the ICJ that had decided it wished to hold a hearing on the matter of jurisdiction, inviting Guyana and Venezuela to submit arguments. Having informed the Court on June 18, 2010 that “Venezuela would not participate in the proceedings”, the Venezuelan government nonetheless submitted its memorandum. However, it remains unclear whether legal representatives of the Venezuelan government will turn up to make arguments before the Court in accordance with the Court’s advice. What is clear is the Venezuelan government does not want any legal arbitration of its territorial claim;
INSIGHT
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 PAGE 11
Guyana-Venezuela and international law instead it wants Guyana to halt the ICJ proceedings and “to recommence the negotiation for a definitive solution”. That negotiation would be between the Venezuela and Guyana governments – one that has been on-going in different formats since 1965 and which made no progress because there was no shift from the Venezuelan position that it has “historic and legitimate rights over the ‘Guayana Esequiba’ since its own birth in 1810”. Venezuelan governments have not been averse to flexing their military muscle by invading Guyanese territory and seizing ships in Guyana’s territorial waters. These instances are well-recorded. It should be noted the Maduro government’s continuing claim to two-thirds of Guyana is matched by the position of leaders of opposition parties, including Juan Guaidó who some governments regard as the President of Venezuela. Venezuela has traditionally wanted negotiations with Guyana instead of arbitration by international legal machinery because successive governments have felt their larger population, superior military might and greater wealth (from oil and gas) placed them in a powerful position. Bigger and more powerful countries, regardless of their ideological stripe, prefer to deal directly with weaker countries precisely because the strong can bully the weak and, in so doing, get their way without regard to justice. Throughout the entire period of this Venezuelan claim, Guyana has been relatively poor, lacking in military strength and of no particular strategic interest to the hemispheric or international community. All of Guyana’s options for development were constrained by that reality. In part, it explains why the Guyana government was anxious to settle a deal with Exxon Mobil and others for the production of oil and gas. As of 2020, Guyana officially joined the ranks of petroleum-producing states, and a big one as well. While Guyana is still a militarily weak nation, its economic standing will improve on the back of oil and gas reserves. Further, there will be far greater international interest in the preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity than there was before. But the risk posed by
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Venezuela remains, despite its current weak economic situation and its fragile military circumstances. In time, these conditions could change while the ambition for claiming two-thirds of Guyana remains. That is why the Guyana government is right to pursue legal recourse at the ICJ as many other nations have done from the time of the Court’s inception. Settlement of the issue will come only from lawful resolution. The 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have always stated their support for Guyana in the territorial claim from Venezuela, notwithstanding the close relationship that developed between some of their governments and the Chavez/ Maduro governments because of the benefits of the now defunct PetroCaribe arrangements. At their Thirty-First
Inter-Sessional Meeting in Barbados on 18-19 February, CARICOM Heads of Government repeated their “full support for the judicial process that is intended to bring a peaceful and definitive end to the long-standing controversy between the two countries”. They did so while reiterating “their firm and unswerving support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana”. This unanimous decision of the meeting - to stand up for a determination of the Guyana-Venezuela
one of its better outcomes, showing real value for membership of the treaty organisation.
JUAN GUAIDÓ boundary under the rule of international law by the world’s highest Court – was
The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com
PAGE 12 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
Even very young children can become prejudiced but schools can do something about it
make kids become less prejudiced. We help local school districts with their efforts to encourage all children to get along well with others, including their classmates and teachers.
RACISM has negative consequences for children’s health. It harms the kids who experience it personally and those who witness it, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization that represents 67,000 doctors who treat children. I’m a developmental psychologist who studies the origins of prejudice in children, including teenagers. The research team I lead investigates the kinds of experiences that can help
What makes it hard to have friends? Getting along well with others in childhood is about making friends, respecting others’ viewpoints, and thinking about what’s fair when resolving conflicts. Kids who have repeated conflicts with their classmates suffer in many ways, including experiencing stress and anxiety. Consequently, they may become withdrawn and not feel like going to school.
Bias can make it harder for people from different backgrounds to become friends with each other. That includes implicit biases that lead to things like micro-aggressions – everyday verbal and nonverbal insults that are often unintentional but nevertheless convey negative messages about others based on personal characteristics. It is also hard to make friends when other kids at school exclude you simply because your family is from another country. By adolescence, implicit bias can lead teenagers to use explicit racial slurs or harass their classmates. Unfortunately, instances of explicit bias in childhood and adolescence – such as
disparaging them for being an immigrant – are growing more common. What’s important to know, though, is that while these biases are taking hold, children also are developing positive beliefs about the importance of what it means to be fair. That can mean the need to take turns, share toys and avoid hurting anyone. This contradiction can sometimes result in confusion and conflict. Change is possible Children often don’t get the consequences of their actions or what makes someone else feel bad. The good news is that the biases of children are not as hard to overcome as is the case with adults. Scholars like me call friendships with other kids from different cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds “cross-group friendships.” These bonds play a positive role to help children to reject or at least question stereotypes, from the internet, movies, politicians, the media, family or peers may not be true. My research team has found that children who have friends from different backgrounds are able to reject stereotypes. When children observe others who are friends from different groups then they are more likely to think “If someone from my group likes them then they must be OK.” Discovering shared interests, hobbies, and values with new kids helps to diminish attitudes that might be based on stereotypes. Psychologists have found that people who form crossgroup friendships when they’re young are less likely to harbour prejudice as children or adults.
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By MELANIE KILLEN Professor, Human Development and Quantitative Methodolodgy, University of Maryland
My colleagues and I have learned that when teachers encourage children to listen to one another, care for each other, and form friendships, children do better in school. What’s more, when students learn about the historical contributions of famous individuals from both majority and minority backgrounds, they are less likely to display prejudiced attitudes. Our University of Maryland programme, Developing Inclusive Youth, is an eight-week programme for elementary school students in third through fifth grade. Students log into an online curriculum tool and watch social exclusion scenarios among an animated group of characters, boys and girls, spanning many ethnicities as well as different immigration and class statuses. These situations occur during recess, in class, at home, and other everyday situations. Kids use this app for 15 minutes, clicking on options to make decisions about how each character feels, and what should happen in the situation. Immediately afterwards, they sit in a circle with a teacher and talk about what they’ve been feeling and learning for half an hour. Students often open up and describe their own personal experiences. “Some kids said ‘you can’t play with me because you’re a different skin colour,’” observed an African American girl in third grade. A white girl sitting next to her replied: “That’s not nice.” The teacher asked the children what they should do if they see this happen and talked about the importance of changing this type of behaviour. After participating in the
eight-week programme, children’s responses to an in-depth survey about their attitudes and behaviour revealed fewer stereotypes about girls and kids of colour. They also expressed an increased desire to have friends from different social and cultural backgrounds than do students who don’t take part in the programme. Countering stereotypes A group of Harvard and Arizona State University researchers developed another programme, the Identity Project, to give ninth graders the tools they need to learn about their racial and ethnic identity, and to make them more aware of the historical and societal sources of stereotypes and discrimination. Students get eight lessons that combine brief lectures, classroom activities and homework assignments. As an example, students create a family tree and learn about their family’s origins. Following the programme, students had a greater understanding about their own ethnic and racial background and improved self-esteem. In addition, they learned about their classmates’ cultural backgrounds and traditions. The prejudices kids acquire early on can become deeply entrenched and hard to change as adults. In my view, it’s important for schools to encourage students to overcome the bigotry they’ve learned by making friends with people who don’t look like them. This will not only help these children. If it’s done on a big enough scale it may well contribute to the creation of a more just and civil society. theconversation.com
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, February 24, 2020, PAGE 13
60 CUBAN TEACHERS TO COVER SHORTAGES By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Education will engage 60 specialist teachers from Cuba to address a local teacher shortage, officials said on Friday. Ministry officials signed an extension to an existing memorandum of understanding with the Cuban government, which allows the Bahamian government to hire teachers from Cuba. A team, headed by Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Serethea Clarke, will head to Cuba for a recruitment exercise from March 14-21. Marcellus Taylor, director of education, said the ministry plans to recruit the Cuban teachers for areas such as agricultural science,
auto mechanics, biology, chemistry, electrical installation, mathematics, Spanish and French. Mr Taylor said the ministry has faced challenges with recruiting and retaining teachers. When asked if the ministry will still be facing shortages despite bringing in more foreign teachers, he explained that the number of teachers is not the problem, rather it is the lack of teachers for certain subjects. “You can have the number of persons that you need,” he said on Friday, “but some may not be in the discipline that you require. So for instance if we need 3,000 teachers in our system we can get 3,000 persons, but if we need 100, let’s say, welding teachers or auto mechanic teachers, we may only have 50 and that
DIABETIC GROUP’S FALLING FUNDING CAUSES CONCERN THE Bahamas Diabetic Association is an important stakeholder, says Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands
By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Diabetic Association’s funding has decreased over the years while the number of diabetics increased “tremendously,” according to one official. Eugene Thurston, director general for the association, told The Tribune that its funds had at one point decreased to $100,000. He estimated the association provides care for 25-30 people a day. When contacted, Minister of Health Dr Sands said the association receives financial assistance from the ministry, but suggested the demand placed on the organisation may outweigh the financial support it receives. “They’re an important stakeholder,” he said. “They’re an important non-government organisation. They do incredibly important work and the value to the community is great. Now the issue is how should that organisation be funded. “We don’t have the budgetary headroom to ensure that the financial viability of all of the health-related NGOs. I mean it’s not possible. Where would you draw the line?” Dr Sands added: “We do give them an annual grant, but you know given the number of diabetics in the country and the demand – it can be very challenging. . .” Mr Thurston acknowledged the support of Dr Sands and the Ministry of Health, but said support was lacking from private companies because of the state of the economy. “You know companies are saying that things are tough and they can’t
do what they used to do, which is unfortunate and even after Dorian it’s even worse now because most of the persons who they would normally get funding from have given funding to a number of organisations as a result of Dorian,” the director general explained. As for what the organisation is doing to deal with funding issues, he listed initiatives, including selling to members of Parliament the association’s major 90-day “Handling Your Health” programme, to train diabetic educators to help individuals in constituencies. “We’re trying to sell it to the various members of Parliament to do in their constituencies because in any constituency there’s anywhere from, if not thousands, hundreds of diabetics and pre-diabetics. And so we’re hoping to sell it to them at $7,500 for three months training programme. “We’re going to continue to see how corporate Bahamas is going to assist. We’re doing strategic planning. We’re going to put on a number of programmes. We’re going to try to see if we could do some basic things. We’re planning a prayer breakfast for diabetics and we’re going to see if we could hopefully put on maybe a signature event and then we’re also thinking of doing an online diabetic memorial wall where if you have a family member who’s died as a result of diabetes.” Speaking at the Bahamas Podiatric Medical Association Conference last October, Dr Sands revealed that one in seven of the population is suffering from diabetes, which is now the fifth leading cause of death in the country.
is where the challenge often comes.” He said some in the profession leave the public school system for more lucrative or prestigious employment opportunities. Along with the areas requested for Cuban teachers to fill, he noted graphic communications, nautical science and marine
science, technical drawing and people who can work with braille are scarce. He highlighted Cubans’ willingness to teach in rural areas whereas Bahamians are hesitant to make those moves. “I can’t say that it’s always the case with Bahamians because we have a situation where even new
graduates who are not married and don’t have any children when they come out of college and we say to them that we have a spot for you, but the spot is in a rural area, sometimes they don’t even take up the appointment anymore,” Mr Taylor said. “They say, no, they’re gonna go somewhere else and that’s
their right and that’s their choice, but we would like people to realise that we have a country of islands and we have a commonwealth and we should have the mindset that even if you do it for a few years, you know two to three years, you should want to help to some degree to build the country.”
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PAGE 14, Monday, February 24, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Italy cancels Venice Carnival in bid to halt spread of virus CODOGNO, Italy Associated Press ITALY yesterday scrambled to check the spread of the new viral disease amid rapidly rising numbers of infections in the country and a third death, calling off the Venice Carnival attended by thousands of revelers, scrapping major league soccer matches in the stricken area and shuttering theaters, including Milan’s legendary La Scala. Also rising was concern in Europe, including by neighboring Austria, which dangled the specter of closing its border if the health emergency worsens. Last night, Austria stopped all train traffic to and from Italy after suspicions that a train at its southern border with Italy had two passengers possibly infected with the virus on board, authorities said. Austria’s interior ministry said it had been informed by Italy’s railway company that two people had fever and stopped the train at the Brenner crossing before it could enter Austria. The train was coming from Venice en route to Munich in southern Germany. Italian state railways said it didn’t immediately have additional details. The decision to call off Carnival was announced by Veneto regional Gov.
Luca Zaia as the numbers of confirmed virus cases soared to 152, the largest number outside Asia. “The ordinance is immediately operative and will go into effect at midnight,’’ said Zaia, whose area includes Venice, where thousands packed St. Mark’s Square. Carnival would have run until tomorrow. Road blocks were set up in at least some of 10 towns in Lombardy at the epicenter of the outbreak, including in Casalpusterlengo, to keep people from leaving or arriving. Even trains transiting the area weren’t allowed to stop. Buses, trains and other forms of public transport — including boats in Venice — were being disinfected, Zaia told reporters. Museums were also ordered to shut down after Sunday in Venice, a top tourist draw anytime of the year, as well as in neighboring Lombardy, which, with at least 110 confirmed cases, is the epicenter of the viral outbreak. Authorities said three people in Venice have tested positive for the viral disease known as COVID19, all of them in their late 80s and who were hospitalized in critical condition. Other northern regions with smaller numbers of cases are Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.
PEOPLE wearing masks walk past the Duomo gothic cathedral in Milan yesterday
Italy’s first two cases were a Chinese tourist couple, diagnosed earlier this month and reported recovering in a Rome hospital. The death yesterday of an elderly woman, who was already suffering from cancer when she contracted the virus, raised the nation’s death toll to three, said Lombardy regional official Giulio Gallera. Authorities expressed frustration that they haven’t been able to track down the source of the virus that is spreading in the north and which surfaced last week when an Italian man in his late 30s in Codogno became critically ill.
Alabama site for patients Associated Press A FEDERAL facility in Alabama is being considered as a “backup” location for Americans infected by the virus known as COVID-19. The US Department of Health and Human Services has evaluated the potential for using the site in Anniston, the Alabama Department of Public Health said in a statement. The Federal Emergency Management Agency Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston
would be part of a contingency plan if other sites in the US are unable to handle patients, state officials said. There are no patients currently scheduled to be transferred to the Anniston facility, officials said. Federal officials were scheduled to discuss the plan with local officials in Anniston. Some of the Americans with the virus were passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were evacuated by the federal government to the US from Japan.
Sanders caucus win shakes rivals WASHINGTON Associated Press
BERNIE Sanders’ commanding Nevada caucus victory made him a top target for his Democratic rivals and a growing source of anxiety for establishment Democrats worried that the nomination of an avowed democratic socialist could cost the party in November. Sanders’ win solidified his frontrunner status in the crowded field as the race turned to Saturday’s presidential primary in South Carolina, where his moderate opponents scrambled to try to blunt the Vermont senator’s momentum. But with so-called Super Tuesday just three days later, when 14 states vote and one-third of the delegates are awarded, time was running short for Sanders’ opponents to consolidate support. That prospect yesterday
ON THE MARCH: Bernie Sanders amplified concerns among Democrats who believe Sanders’ call for a political “revolution” would drive moderate and independent voters away from the party, both in the matchup against President Donald Trump and in House and Senate
races. “I think it would be a real burden for us in these states or congressional districts that we have to do well in,” South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip and the top-ranking black Democrat in Congress, said, Clyburn specifically pointed to the districts Democrats flipped to take control of the House in 2018. “In those districts, it’s going to be tough to hold on to these jobs if you have to make the case for accepting a self-proclaimed democratic socialist,” he said. Sanders’ campaign argued he will bring in new and infrequent voters who have been alienated from the process and seek a drastic overhaul of Washington, not merely trying to oust Trump. He successfully relied on that coalition to dominate his Democratic rivals in Nevada, pulling far
ESCOBAR’S HIPPOS STARTING TO OUTSTAY THEIR WELCOME DORADAL, Colombia Associated Press
MARIA Jaramilla awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of her panicked mule. When she looked out across her small yard, her confusion turned to shock: A hippopotamus had wandered down her driveway and was inspecting her house. “It was a big fright for all of us,” said Jaramilla, 41. Since that night in 2018, the hippos have kept coming — wandering down the back streets of rural Doradal, a small Colombian town a four-hour drive from Medellin. Occasionally a hippopotamus will appear on the local soccer pitch to graze. An estimated 80 hippopotamuses, perhaps more, live in the area around the Rio Magdalena, Colombia’s principal river. They’re descendants of four hippos that were brought to the country by infamous drug lord Pablo
A VISITOR feeds a hippo at Hacienda Napoles Park in Colombia Escobar for his personal collection. The rapid growth of their numbers has authorities worried that residents could be attacked — the 3-ton animals can be aggressive and kill more people per year in Africa than any other wildlife species. Scientists also worry that their presence threatens the area’s native flora and fauna. In the 1980s, during the height of his power, Escobar kept the hippos in a private zoo on his 5,500-acre estate.
Following Escobar’s death in 1993 most of the animals were taken to new homes or died. But not the hippos. Their size and cost to transport meant they were abandoned. But while Escobar’s estate fell into disrepair, the animals thrived. So far, the hippos have refrained from attacking humans, but as their numbers grow and they expand into more populated areas, experts fear an attack could be inevitable.
ahead of the second-place finisher, former Vice President Joe Biden, and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who came in third. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren landed in fourth, while Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer were in a close race for fifth as the Nevada Democratic Party continued to tabulate results. Sounding like a candidate who had already secured the nomination, Sanders told thousands of cheering supporters who filled a basketball arena on the campus of the University of Houston that he would win in Texas both next month and next fall. “If working people and young people of this city, black and white and Latino, gay or straight, if our people stand together, come out to vote, we’re going to win here in Texas,” he said.
SKEPTIC OF WORLD BEING ROUND DIES IN CRASH CALIFORNIA Associated Press A CALIFORNIA man who said he wanted to fly to the edge of outer space to see if the world is round has died after his homebuilt rocket blasted off into the desert sky and plunged back to earth. “Mad” Mike Hughes was killed on Saturday afternoon after his rocket crashed on private property near Barstow, California. Waldo Stakes, a colleague who was at the rocket launch, said Hughes, 64, was killed. Hughes also was a limousine driver, who held the Guinness world record for “longest limousine ramp jump,” for jumping 103 feet in a Lincoln Town Car stretch limousine, at a speedway in 2002. A video on TMZ.com showed the rocket taking off, with what appears to be a parachute tearing off during the launch. The steam-powered rocket streaks upward, then takes around 10 seconds to fall
THE rocket launch straight back to earth. Shrieks can be heard as the rocket plows into the desert. Journalist Justin Chapman, who was at the scene, said the rocket appeared to rub against the launch apparatus, which might have caused the mishap with the parachute. In March 2018, Hughes propelled himself about 1,875 feet into the air. He deployed one parachute and then a second one but still had a hard landing in the Mojave Desert in California, and injured his back.
• South Korea’s president has put his country on its highest alert for infectious diseases, ordering officials to take “unprecedented, powerful” steps to fight a soaring viral outbreak. China reported hundreds more infections for a total of about 79,000, and Iran raised its death toll from the virus to eight. While the number of patients worldwide is increasing, some virus clusters have shown no link to China and experts are struggling to trace where those clusters started.
HAITI POLICE EXCHANGE FIRE WITH TROOPS NEAR PALACE PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Associated Press
OFF-DUTY police officers and their supporters exchanged fire for nearly two hours yesterday with members of the newly reconstituted Haitian army in front of the national palace, in a dangerous escalation of protests over police pay and working conditions. At least three police officers were wounded, fellow officers told The Associated Press. Associated Press journalists saw dozens of men who said they were off-duty officers march with hundreds of supporters toward the palace in the latest in days of demonstrations demanding better pay for Haitian law-enforcement officers. The protest stopped outside the army headquarters facing the palace. Associated Press journalists then saw several soldiers at the headquarters building fire into the air. Shortly afterward, an exchange of fire erupted between the soldiers and police. It was not clear which side began firing at the other first. The army was disbanded in 1995 after the fall of a dictatorship that used soldiers to repress domestic opponents. President Jovenel Moise reformed the army in 2017, promising that the military would patrol Haiti’s borders, assist in natural disasters and avoid domestic affairs. At least three men were taken to a hospital near the shooting with wounds to the legs and feet that did not appear to be life-threatening.
ARMED off-duty police officers take cover during and exchange of gunfire with army soldiers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, February 24, 2020, PAGE 15
EXPERT HELP WITH VICTIM IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUE By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
OVER two dozen local law enforcement and health officials were trained in victim identification techniques during a three-day training workshop led by the United Kingdom’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) unit specialists. In a statement on Friday, the British High Commission revealed that the UK police team trained more than 30 local officials in response to the country’s request for assistance “in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.” The DVI unit specialists returned to The Bahamas last week to carry out the training session with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and officials from across the health and law enforcement community, the statement said. It said: “Superintendent Pete Sparks of the Metropolitan Police praised the professionalism and commitment of the teams he had met here and in Abaco last year. He said, ‘the techniques we have been discussing today can be used in many casualty situations. The key is
for the different teams to take the same systematic approach.’” In the statement, British High Commissioner Sarah Dickson also noted that the similarities between UK and Bahamian officials “made it easier” for the two police forces to work together. “Ever since the Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands, rang me last September it has been an area of cooperation between our two countries. I am pleased this Interpol standard work continues to happen. Acting Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle stated that the RBPF is “committed to ensuring our police workforce is well-equipped to deal with emerging threats and future needs,”
the statement noted. He added: “I am sure that we will reap the benefits from (the training) as we seek to identify the remaining and new discoveries of skeletal remains from Abaco, Grand Bahama and other areas of The Bahamas.” The three-day course, which took place at the police training college from February 18-20, included classroom based training and practical exercises. Those in attendance were trained in “action to collect and log evidence; managing working in difficult situations and mass casualty situations.” According to the release, the collaboration came from a conversation between Health Minister Dr Duane Sands and the British High Commissioner in the “immediate aftermath of the hurricane.” “Detective Superintendent, Peter Sparks QPM, and Police Manager Howard Way, OBE, visited The Bahamas in September and discussed support needs with the authorities,” according to the statement. “This has led to the delivery of this disaster victim identification course for investigators.”