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VOLUME:117 No.75, MARCH 10TH, 2020

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

WOMAN: ON THE FRONT LINE IN FIGHT AGAINST CRIME

CLEAR NOW - BUT FOR HOW LONG?

Health officials warn danger remains high as they plan response By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net SENIOR health officials warned yesterday the risk of the coronavirus spreading to The Bahamas remains “very high” and that the country’s response to the global crisis must remain “very fluid”. As countries around the world react to the disease’s impact on their own populations, The Bahamas is monitoring virtually hourby-hour the best responses to take to stop the virus entering the country - and what to do if it does.

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie said the Minnis administration would make a “fundamental error” if it leases crown land in the Colonial Beach area of Paradise Island to Royal Caribbean International. RCI wants to lease the ten eastern-most acres of the 17-acre crown land tract as part of its Royal Beach Club destination which it wants

SEE PAGE FIVE

SEE PAGE EIGHT

US REPORT HIGHLIGHTS FAILINGS ON OFFENDERS A NEW US Department of State report said “alleged missteps” by prosecutors and the Royal Bahamas Police Force overshadowed “credible” accusations of corruption in a recent trial. The Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ March 2020 report was also critical of this country’s criminal justice system and its ability to ensure drug trafficking offenders faced appropriate penalties.

SEE PAGE THREE

up and running by late 2022. Mr Christie told reporters yesterday that giving the cruise line what it wants would push against decades of policy and prompt anger from Bay Street businesses, resorts like Atlantis, The Pointe, Baha Mar and other cruise lines. Philip “Brave” Davis, leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, said over the weekend that a PLP government would cancel the deal if it comes to power.

A CHILDHOOD DREAM TO INSPIRE WOMEN

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

Health Minister Dr Duane Sands revealed at a press conference The Bahamas had suffered a slight setback in the delivery here by the US Centres for Disease Control of faulty test kits for the virus. He also revealed the country is less likely to continue expanding the list of countries from where travellers are banned because of the diminishing benefits of doing so. Currently, foreign travellers are banned from China, Italy, South Korea and Iran. Bahamians returning from these countries will be quarantined.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

CHRISTIE CALLS ‘THINK AGAIN’ ON PI PROJECT By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FACE-TO-FACE

EX-MINISTER’S WIFE FINED IN DRUG FRAUD By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

KEEP UP, LAD THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force hosted a mini tattoo in Gambier Village yesterday to celebrate Police Month. Picture Special - Page 2 Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

A WOMAN was ordered yesterday to pay a $2,500 fine or face six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services for prescription fraud. Tietchka Vanderpool-Wallace, 54, was fined $500 each for attempting to commit fraud by false pretence, forgery, unlawful possession and two counts of being in possession of a forged document. SEE PAGE NINE

RASSIN LEADS LAUNCH OF ‘VOLUNTEER ARMY’ By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net A NATIONWIDE volunteer programme is to be launched by Governor General CA Smith next Monday in an effort to foster a culture of volunteerism in the country following Hurricane Dorian. The initiative, “Volunteer Bahamas - A Call to Action”, was announced during a press conference held at Government House

BARRY RASSIN YESTERDAY yesterday. Officials are hoping it will be “the largest movement of volunteerism”

in the country. Speaking at yesterday’s event was Volunteer Bahamas chairman Barry Rassin, who noted the importance of having a national volunteer movement, especially in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. “The value of volunteerism - of the power of volunteers - cannot be overestimated as was evidenced in The Bahamas postDorian,” he said.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

PETER YOUNG

HOW WILL VIRUS AFFECT WORLD ECONOMY?

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 10, 2020

THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force hosted a mini tattoo in Gambier Village yesterday celebrating Police Month. Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson is pictured right with students of Gambier Primary School. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net IN light of rising concerns over the deadly coronavirus, the Bahamas Christian Council will meet health officials tomorrow to discuss precautionary measures that could be implemented in churches across the country. BCC president Bishop Delton Fernander told reporters yesterday that while church officials have recommendations in mind, they prefer to be guided by health professionals. “When we leave that meeting, I will be able to speak definitively as I would’ve spoken to the council and gotten the update on what would be the best practices for all of us,” he said. “I have some in mind, but it would be unfair until we have our meeting on Wednesday at 9(am) at Melia and we will have a way forward and we will also announce our time of prayer for the country on Easter Monday.” His statements came after Catholic and Anglican religious leaders issued new guidelines for worship practices as safety measures to

Tuesday, March 10, 2020, PAGE 3

Church leaders look for expert guidance alleviate concerns about the fast-spreading virus. Precautions to be taken by the Catholic Church, according to Archbishop Patrick Pinder, included maintaining good hygiene and refraining from physical contact during certain parts of service. “For the time being, communion should be distributed in the hand and not on the tongue,” he noted in a letter to church members. “Eucharist ministers should thoroughly wash their hands before and after the distribution of communion.” He also urged parishioners across the country with flu-like symptoms to remain at home until their health has been fully restored.

Meanwhile, a pastoral letter from Anglican Bishop Laish Boyd urged churchgoers not to panic, but to take the threat seriously. “At this time, we will continue to use the common cup,” Bishop Boyd’s letter read. “Persons who are uncomfortable with this may receive in one kind, that is, the Body of Christ only.” Speaking to reporters yesterday, Bishop Fernander said Catholic and Anglican leaders gave directives as a result of conducting communion every Sunday. “Those denominations did theirs because they have communion every Sunday and so their directives would’ve come out before our meeting,” he said.

Asked if measures should be put in place in other churches across the country, Bishop Fernander said: “Definitely, we will have best practices and pray. “The church will be (at the) forefront as you see. Our denomination leaders already have papers ready for that meeting so it’s not like we’re going to that meeting to wait to hear. We have questions and we have a way forward.” Bishop Fernander also said there needed to be faster methods to test for the virus. “I think some of our panelists around the world can provide us with more faster testing and it doesn’t matter where you come from, I think the faster testing

tool should be used in The Bahamas,” he said. “In other words, in some countries, you come in but you still get tested at the border. Most of our tourists come through off the airport and off of cruise ships. “…So if you come off a ship, if you come off a plane, you’re tested and if your found to have the virus, you’re stopped accordingly.” To date, the current number of confirmed global new coronavirus cases is 114,064. Cases in China account for the majority, with 80,739 reported. Italy comes in second with a total of 9,172 COVID-19 cases followed by South Korea with 7,478 cases.

Up to press time, there were no reported or suspected cases of the virus in the country, however it is quickly spreading throughout the United States and other parts of the world. As a result, the local bishop is urging all church leaders in the country to attend this week’s meeting, which will provide leaders with tips on how to conduct religious services in light of COVID-19. “On Wednesday at Melia, we’re asking all pastors in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to meet with us and the minister of health,” he said. “He will bring his team out and he will answer our questions. We will have pamphlets.”

Health officials warn danger remains high from page one Officials repeated yesterday there are no suspected, reported or confirmed cases of COVID-19 locally. However, citing the World Health Organisation, Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan said the threat of the coronavirus to The Bahamas is very high. “We are a cruise industry, we are a travel industry, this is a part of what we do, this is a part of our make-up, so that alone is what tends to give the level of risk associated (with this), particularly when we see cases occurring very close to us and from areas that generally make up our tourist grouping,” she added. The availability of diagnostic tests has loomed large in the global fight against the virus. South Korea, which has conducted wide-scale tests, has reported fewer new cases of the virus in recent days, progress it attributes to free and easy testing to detect the disease early. In the US, the CDC’s kits suffered technical problems and that country is now ramping up production and distribution of new kits. Dr Sands said: “According to the director of the National Reference Lab, we would have received test kits through the Pan-American Health Organisation as well as from sources in Asia. The CDC kits had to be returned because they were defective so in total we have the capacity for more than 100, less than 200 (tests) at this time and we anticipate being able to ramp that up. This is very dynamic, very fluid and each country has its own challenges. I think the CDC has lamented the challenges they’ve had with their test kits and so there are a number of places where they are not able to provide on-demand testing.” Dr Sands could not say how many samples can be tested in local labs each day. Some countries have implemented drivethrough testing and aim for widespread access to the tests, but Dr Sands said the

Bahamas will avoid using its resources indiscriminately. “We have taken the approach that if people meet the case definition or if they have an abundance of criteria to suggest they could be COVID-19 positive, then we’ll go ahead and test them,” he said. “The last thing you want to do is use your test kits indiscriminately and then find out that you don’t have them when you need them.” Dr McMillan confirmed no one in the country has been tested to date for the virus. If the disease is confirmed here, she said people could expect social distancing measures to be implemented. “This is a key public health measure that actually has worked well in China,” she said. “That was one of the key things that was highlighted as to why they were able to contain the outbreak in China. The earlier you do that, the less likely you are to have an outbreak.” Pictures have circulated in recent days of many tourists standing in lines at Lynden Pindling International Airport but Dr McMillan suggested Bahamians should not expect to see screening measures like temperature readings at ports of entry. These, she said, lead to a false sense of security. “It is not proven to be very effective in part because a temperature is a point in time so a person may not be symptomatic or have a temperature at the time that they come through,” she said. “Our efforts would be better placed in ensuring that we are putting in the measures at our healthcare facilities that detect early, identify, isolate and those kinds of things, get our public well-engaged in the public health measures, get them practicing the handwashing, covering the cough and those things rather than investing efforts at the ports with screening because it’s not been very effective in keeping cases out.” As fears of the coronavirus increase, so too have false reports and theories about the illness. One doctor in Grand

Since 1892 Bahamians have been protecting the environment with the passage of the Sea Gardens Protection Act, which prohibited dredging or removal of coral, sea fans or other organisms from the seabed.

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HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands Bahama was interviewed on a local TV network and claimed pine needle tea is effective against the virus,

drawing rebuke yesterday from Dr Sands. “There are reports being circulated about

remedies, remedies about COVID-19 and none of these things have been tested internationally

using standard by which any therapy is tested, and that is in comparison to placebo or to best available medication,” Dr Sands said. “Since there are no known therapies that have been tried and tested for COVID-19, the idea that we would have a local plant which is able to cure COVID-19 is an absurdity and I suggest that people realise that before sharing things.” Asked about expanding the list of countries from where travellers have been banned, Dr Sands said The Bahamas will reap diminishing returns from such measures the more the virus spreads. “...As we get to a point where more and more countries have widespread community transmissions, the benefit of additional border control interventions is reduced dramatically,” he said. “As time goes on, it is less likely we will increase the list of countries on that list because the yield will be less.” Italy in lockdown - Page 11

PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 10, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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Fix the flaws in our justice system THE latest report from the US on flaws in a prosecution for corruption in The Bahamas should not be a shock. First things first, just because flaws are identified in the prosecution of a case does not mean that the person being prosecuted is guilty. Indeed, a flawed process helps no one – it makes it harder to get to the truth in a case, and that helps no one, prosecution or defence. But should we be shocked? After all, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has said previously that The Bahamas loses $200m a year to corruption. He even suggested that number could be $500m a year. And yet our courts do not see widespread corruption cases taking place – they are instead few and far between. The report points that out saying “there have been very few convictions for public corruption in The Bahamas despite 80 percent of Bahamians saying they felt corruption in government was a major problem”. How many times have we heard stories of people in government taking backhanders, from claims about politicians to clerks speeding up paperwork for the right amount? The report also points out the delays and frustration that beset our court system – particularly with regards to drugs, trafficking and gun offences. Adjournment after adjournment sees

cases taking years to drag their way through the system. Files going missing, lawyers not appearing in court, all add up to delaying justice over and over. Again, no surprise to us – just last month we reported the jailing of the killer of Ericka Fowler, a former employee at The Tribune, sentenced to jail 14 years after he stabbed her to death in front of her mother and children. So the questions we ask should not be about the individual cases – these are flaws that affect case after case, not isolated instances. What should we do about that? The US report talks of “encouraging signs” of reform, but seldom are such flaws acknowledged locally. Indeed, the Attorney General, Carl Bethel was bullish in his response to the prospect of a lawsuit after one failed case against a former politician – and dismissive of calls for his resignation. Being defensive doesn’t fix things. We welcome the news that there are encouraging signs of trying to fix the system – but things can only improve if the problems are acknowledged. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but if you can’t tell if it’s broke, you can’t fix it. Our justice system is broken – do we have the nerve to admit that, and do what must be done to bring it up to standard?

What can you do to help? WHEN Hurricane Dorian blasted through The Bahamas, it revealed a great deal about our country – but it also showed people at their best. Across the nation, people stepped up to volunteer – everything from bringing boxes of goods to shelters to going out into the aftermath of the storm to pull survivors from the rubble. It showed without a doubt how much people care – while we should also recognise that so many different volunteer groups sometimes meant duplicated effort, or perhaps aid not getting to the hands that needed it most at all times. So the creation of Volunteer Bahamas – an organisation being launched next week – is a welcome one. With Barry Rassin at the helm as chairman, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his work in Rotary, it seeks to become “the largest movement of volunteerism” in the country. Hurricane Dorian may have shown the need for volunteers on the biggest scale, but it is on the smallest scale that

people can make a big difference too. Those who show up and say how can I help can transform The Bahamas, helping to clear up parks and littercluttered alleys. But why stop there? What can volunteers do to help those in poverty? How about those such as Dr David Allen, striving to help those with mental illness or in need of counselling? Volunteer Bahamas offers the opportunity to give people an answer to the simplest question of all: “What can I do to help?” We all have talents. We all have skills. We all have something to offer, from the ability to lift boxes or clear litter to the ability to sit and listen to someone who needs to be heard. And so we welcome Volunteer Bahamas and wish it the greatest success. More than that, we hope readers will play their part. So ask that question, ask what you can do to help. No matter how big, no matter how small, the answers can help us all.

Trump gets my vote EDITOR, The Tribune SOME Bahamians seemed to have been greatly annoyed that US President Donald Trump had been acquitted by the Senate in the Democratic Party’s impeachment trial in early February, which was nothing more than a witch hunt aimed at bypassing the votes of 63 million Americans who voted for the Republican Party standard bearer in 2016. The proceedings were initiated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic Party stakeholders, and was unanimously approved by Maxine Waters (D-California) and the Congressional Black Caucus. I believe that the record breaking seven million tourists who visited The Bahamas in 2019 is a result of the record low unemployment rate in the US. With the unemployment rate among Hispanics and African Americans being 3.9 and

5.5 percent respectively, as of October 2019, the American people have more disposable income for leisure activities, such as taking an exotic vacations to The Bahamas. The Bahamas is benefiting from Trump’s economic policies. Bahamians have romanticised former US President Barack Obama’s presidency, apparently forgetting that he had eased travel restrictions on Cuba in 2016, which signalled that the Americans were planning on ending the decades old trade embargo on the communist country imposed by the John F Kennedy administration in 1962 - three years after Fidel Castro had toppled the military dictator Fulgencio Batista. The so-called USCuba thaw under Obama and Raul Castro was a clear and present danger to the interests of the Bahamian people from a touristic standpoint. With Dr Ben Carson, a distinguished

African American neurosurgeon currently serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Trump Cabinet, Bahamians must dispel the Democratic Party’s worn out narrative of Trump being a racist. There’s no ironclad evidence that Trump dislikes African Americans and other ethnic minorities. In December 2017 Trump told Bahamian ambassador to the US, Sidney Collie, that he loves The Bahamas. Trump demonstrated his love for Bahamians by coming to the rescue of Grand Bahamians and Abaconians after the devastating passage of Hurricane Dorian. Based on the striving economy in the US and the unprecedented prosperity within the Hispanic and African American communities, I wholeheartedly endorse Trump for 2020. KEVIN EVANS Grand Bahama, March 2, 2020.

How tourism can help our students learn EDITOR, The Tribune WORD has spread that this country is facing a socalled ‘education crisis.’ Every few years, citizens of substance put forth lengthy reports after significant sector analysis and pat themselves on the back for concluding The Bahamas is, indeed, failing its students. An uproar surely follows — there is much gnawing on the proverbial bone to pick of consistently low BGCSE results, much mashing of keyboards as we rush online to blame the government, much hopeless commentary leading to the unenviable conclusion that “something needs to be done”. When the collective anguish settles - maybe the government has bent the knee to one too many foreigners for our taste or one too many (legal, mind you) Haitians were seen riding the bus - our appetites for instigation are satisfied by the latest distraction, while our children and young adults continue to suffer. Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd, speaking at a recent skills-gap forum where still more pats on the back followed discussion of the same self-evident conclusions noted: “We [The Bahamas] have few advantages that compel anyone, even our own citizens, to demand that they do business with us.” It is, therefore, a curiously ironic narrative that Bahamian students who study abroad come home not because they want to, but because they have to, whereas some seven million tourists from around the world choose to visit not

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net because they have to, but because they want to. And for the folks still at school or at home — nobody has told them about careers in tourism. This country has long suffered from the misconception that a career in tourism amounts to either: (a) harassing beachgoers for jet ski rides, (b) selling questionably authentic straw products, or (c) standing behind a desk at Atlantis until you scrape together a down payment for an Accord. (Though the author is advised that Notes and Marches are the more eco-friendly choices of the day). Nothing is said of the accountants responsible for keeping the hundreds of tourism-forward businesses afloat, the marine biologists advising sustainable tourism policy, nor the marketing specialists promoting our country on a global stage. Indeed, we boast that tourism accounts for some two-thirds of this country’s workforce. (The World Travel and Tourism Council puts the number at 48 percent). But we know this. We repeat it endlessly — on ZNS, on radio talk shows and even in Parliament. What we might not know are the realities behind the numbers. The Department of Statistics’ 2017 Labour Force survey reveals some disturbing results: 29 percent of The Bahamas’ labour force have zero accreditation; 17 percent

claim BJC’s as their highest examination passed. A further 25 percent have only BGCSE certification. Incredibly, more than two-thirds of Bahamian workers operate at or below a high school level while 86 percent of those unemployed share a similar status. While The Bahamas has made incredible strides in developing its tourism industry, it has come at the expense of the many thousands of stakeholders who have played no small part in the sector’s growth. We have benefited immensely from tourism as an economic development tool, but have completely disregarded its potential in educational development. In the midst of an ‘education crisis’ – perhaps before citizens of substance meet once more to decry the progress made since the last time they patted themselves on the back – they turn their attention to the enormous potential the tourism industry can provide for Bahamian students. These mutually reinforcing objectives—enhancing educational and job placement opportunities within the tourism sector, and dramatically expanding our tourism portfolio by making Bahamians stakeholders in the development of the country’s number one industry—should seem self-evident. When our hands are too busy to put our fingers on the ever-slowing pulse of this country, perhaps we are in a crisis indeed. CALYPSO Nassau March, 2020

Following in the steps of Caesar EDITOR, The Tribune Re: PARADISE LOST? The Tribune, March 2 Paraphrasing Julius Caesar (known to have been highly successful in acquiring real estate) - “I came, I saw, I developed.” KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau March 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 10, 2020, PAGE 5

RANFURLY $30,000 DONATION

EDGAR Moxey (BBA Treasurer), Kelli Ingraham (BBA Council Member), Michaela Barnet-Ellis (BBA Secretary), Kahlil Parker (BBA President), Joey Premock (Ranfurly Homes), Denise Lewis Johnson (BBA Vice President), Jeanine Weech Gomez (BBA Council Member), Ian Marie Darville (BBA Council Member), Wayne Munroe QC (BBA Council Member).

MORE than $30,000 was donated to the Ranfurly Homes for Children by the Bahamas Bar Association and the Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations. The OCCBA, led by Ruggles Ferguson, donated over $15,000 to the BBA for hurricane relief efforts here. The BBA decided to match that donation, and in turn donatedÂ $32,488.58 to the childrenâ€™s home representing a joint BBA and OCCBA contribution. The Ranfurly HomesÂ for Children took in many displaced children who were affected by Hurricane Dorian last September. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the orphanage appealed for cash donations to deal with the influx of residents to its facility.Â

Christie calls â€˜think againâ€™ on Paradise Island project from page one Noting cruise lines have already been given the â€œextraordinary privilegeâ€? of creating destinations outside New ProvidenceÂ that serve their clients, the former prime minister said: â€œNew Providence, the cruise ships there originally were to feed the tourism infrastructure of New Providence. At one state due to pressure being applied, the Free National Movement government allowed the ships to open in port and therefore came into conflict with other facilities on our island. â€œThat has been accepted and we moved on. Paradise Island created a major investment with their water offerings. The cruse ships patronised Atlantis with their water offerings. Baha Mar is building a water experience and would expect cruise ships to patronise it. Bay Street has been going through now a generational challenge of being relevant to cruise ships. The eastern section of Bay Street is dead. Weâ€™re talking about creating a boardwalk, successive governments with a view of engendering new levels of

support across Bay Street, east and west. â€œBy allowing one cruise line to create a dominant position in the harbour of New Providence would be a fundamental error that would go against the income that Bay Street should earn, the very purpose of Sol Kerzner investing the many millions, nearly a billion dollars in phases for water-sports, where the new developers at Baha Mar investing more and more money and where The Pointe has invested hundreds of millions towards taking advantage of the leading cruise destination in the Caribbean. New Providence was not

meant to have one cruise line in such a dominant position. It is the reason why we have allowed them to go to other islands, with a view toward them having a more meaningful impact on other islands like Disney in Eleuthera, even though Disney has an Abaco destination.â€? Mr Christie said the government should think carefully about what it is contemplating. â€œAny number of Bahamians applied for the use of the beach there (on Paradise Island),â€? he said. â€œWhen we were negotiating the purchase of the hotels at the Western Esplanade, the Marriott Courtyard, they

were saying they wanted to create a special experience on that beach for the hotel so that guests could have an enhanced experience because they did not have the advantage of having access to a beach other than the Western Esplanade which is overpopulated. So in terms of the balance that is vital to the future success of tourism on this island, we have to ensure that firstly, we have a policy that allows all of the cruise lines to have an equitable stake.â€? He added: â€œIf you allow RCL to land at Prince George Dock, have its own enterprise on Paradise Island where they ship their people there then

EX-PM Perry Christie that is exclusionary and what is happening then is itâ€™s like an all-inclusive hotel. The people who are

on Bay Street who expect passengers, the people at The Pointe, the people at Paradise Island, the people at Baha Mar, the people at Arawak Cay (will be affected). I understood the prime minister to say he will do something special between The Pointe and Arawak Cay. If that is the case, doing something special surely does not take into contemplation a cruise line having an exclusive (right).â€? Mr Christie spoke to reporters after delivering the keynote address to students of Mt Carmel Preparatory Academy who were celebrating Commonwealth Day.Â

â€˜...AND Iâ€™M NOT RETURNING TO THE FRONT LINEâ€™ ByÂ RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie said he still supports Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip â€œBraveâ€? Davis and his quest to be the next prime minister of the country. He brushed off questions yesterday about whether he will return to frontline politics. â€œIf Perry Christie was running

you would know,â€? he said. â€œIf Perry Christie ever runs again you would know. Right now Iâ€™m in retirement, Iâ€™m supporting my leader, Iâ€™m very hopeful that one day he will become prime minister and it really rests with our democracy and what the people will decide when the time comes.â€? Mr Christie spoke to reporters after delivering the keynote address to students of Mt Carmel Preparatory Academy who were celebrating Commonwealth Day.

After decades in politics, Mr Christie announced his resignation as PLP leader at the partyâ€™s headquarters on Farrington Road on May 16, 2017, days after his party won only four seats in the general election. Mr Christie lost his seat in Centreville during that election.Â He accepted responsibility for his partyâ€™s defeat. â€œI also accept,â€? he said at the time, â€œwithout reservation, that the best traditions of our democracy, no less the impulses of my own conscience and value-system, dictate

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that I resign as the leader of our party. This is the correct and only thing for me to do from both a political and moral perspective.â€? He said to rebuild the party, it was critical that officials understand the message voters sent with the general election result and he called on PLP supporters to humble themselves before the electorate. Yesterday, Mr ChristieÂ said his speech at Mt Carmel was the first he has given since retiring from public life.Â

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HURRICANE CLEAR-UP HAS COST $20M SO FAR TWENTY million dollars has been spent so far on Hurricane Dorian debris cleanup in Grand Bahama and Abaco. This is according to Katherine Forbes-Smith, managing director of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority. Mrs Forbes-Smith gave a detailed report at a press conference on Sunday, marking the six-month period since Hurricane Dorian hit Abaco and Grand Bahama. “Hurricane Dorian produced an unprecedented amount of debris in Abaco and Grand Bahama,” she

said. “Such debris accumulation in a matter of days has never been experienced in The Bahamas.” Hurricane Dorian hit Abaco and Grand Bahama in September. With maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour, it was the strongest storm to hit The Bahamas. It is estimated that the storm caused $3.4 billion in losses and damage. Despite the vast efforts to clear the disaster zones, much cleanup work is still required. “Since mid-February the DRA has been reviewing existing collection

contracts, preparing to augment collection in areas not covered by those contracts,” Mrs Forbes-Smith said. “We are making steady progress on the mainland of Abaco and Grand Bahama. We will be increasing our focus on collection efforts throughout the Abaco cays. “Additionally, we will be investigating and implementing solutions for the debris management sites in Spring City and Treasure Cay, as well as improving the landfill facility at Snake Cay.” She said Dorian has exposed the need for a comprehensive waste

management plan in the country. “With the dozens of inhabited islands in the archipelago, the plan must be applicable to the local level,” said Mrs Forbes-Smith. “This plan should also be easy to implement and execute within each community based on local capacity and know-how.” There are currently openair dumps across the islands and cays that are managed in various ways. “Some of the open-air dumps in Abaco sit close to, on, or near critical ecosystems and natural aquifers

and blue systems that lead to the sea,” said Mrs Forbes-Smith. “Municipal solid waste that is disposed of in the open-air dumps are composed of mixed waste, and often contain waste streams that could easily be removed and composted, reused or recycled. Instead, the waste is burned. “This is dangerous and not good for the environment.” Due to the large amount of debris in Abaco and Grand Bahama, Mrs Forbes-Smith added, the DRA will have to establish a rational waste plan

for these islands, institutionalising some of what is beginning to take place. Dorian also swept a large amount of debris into the sea, a press release from DRA noted. The authority has received survey information on marine debris in the East Grand Bahama area. The marine areas in and around the Abaco mainland and cays have to be surveyed. “Once done we will issue marine cleanup RFPs (requests for proposals). This will be a major cleanup effort,” said Mrs Forbes-Smith.

Church to help with burial of unidentified Dorian victims THE DESTRUCTION caused by Hurricane Dorian

Semi Military Funeral Service for Retired Cpl. 852 Reserve Inspector CHARLES FRANCIS WILLIAMS SR., 63 a resident of #404 Soldier Road West, will be held at Southland Church of God, Soldier Road West on Thursday, March 12th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Reverend Christopher King, assisted by Bishop Goliath Burrows & Other Ministers of the Gospel. Interment follows in Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive. He was predeceased by his: Mother: Nora Gibbons-Francis; Father: Lincoln Williams Sr.; Brother: Lincoln Williams Jr.; Sisters: Dr. Marsha Williams and Trudymae Williams-Sands; FatherIn-Law: Samuel Romer; Sister-In-Law: Veronica Clarke and Nephew: Anthraz Carey. Left to carry on his legacy and cherish his memories are: His wife of 32 years: Pauline Romer-Williams; Sons: Cayle Sr., Dino Sr., Dwight Sr., Charles Jr., and Charron Williams; Daughter: Charliece Rolle; Adopted Sons: Desheies Albury and Gerald German of Alabama; Adopted Daughters: Umiqua Hepburn, Kenica Wood and Dernear Munnings; Grandchildren: Cayle Jr., Symphany, Caylon, Antonio, Dino Jr., Danae, Dwight Jr., Daliah, Damarah, Travaz Jr., Dion Jr., Alan Jr., Mason, Niya and Legend; Brothers: Deacon Leslie, Terrance, Dennis and Ricardo Williams; Sisters: Kay Francis-Kerr, Linda Carey, June Thompson and Sherine Lightbourne of Philadelphia; Mother-in-law: Paula Romer; Daughters-in-Law: Patrice and Nataja Williams; Son-in-law: Kentonio Rolle; Brothers-in-Law: Rev. Christopher King, Philip, Trevor, Darren and Adrian Romer, Jason Johnson Sr., Donovan Lightbourne, Barry King, Michael Thompson, Dwight Kelly Sr., Wellington Hall, Remi Decius and Leslie Hanna; Sisters-in-Law: Deborah Brennen, Evangelist Olive King, Melony Kelly, Rochelle, Ingrid, Annier, Phillipa, Jackie and Velma Romer, Lakesha Johnson, Kasmah Williams, Fredricka Swain, Sandra Decius, Albertha Hall, Beryl Hanna, Ann Saunders & Phyllis Curling; Numerous Nieces & Nephews including: Anthony & Shanta Richardson, Herman & Pia Rolle, Ephraim Carey Jr., Kino & Keron Wood, Nurse Deann Sands-Rolle, Oswald Rolle, Giovanni Lightbourne, Helena, Aretha, Lesley, Denricka, Lashan, Linicia, Candice, Chantez, Lincoln IIII, Craig, Donovan, Deon and Uilsis Williams, Alissa Romer, W. Sgt 2437 Tamica, Rollies Sr. John, PC 3916 Varian Clarke, Chazkra Sweeting, Nekoda & Lorenzo Poitier Sr., Devonn, Donevon, & Natalia Brennen, Clinton & Dotlyn, Danson & Anishka, Antonio, Olivia and Latiska King, Phylicia, Jyles, Darron, Darronique & Gabriel Romer, Zariya Forbes, Dwight Kelly Jr., Zachary Hepburn, Vernique Rolle, Kai Marie, Jasmine & Jason Johnson Jr., Latoya Moss, Chrysanthia Cox, Keshawn and Keishell Hall and Phedra Symonette; Aunts: Willamae & Patrice Farrington, Sybil Ferguson and Pandora Taylor; Uncles: Joseph Ferguson, Issac Hepburn,Chris and David Farrington; Cousins: Barbara Rolle, Frank, Percy, John & Roland Young, Mary “Betty” Johnson, Georgina Gibbons, Dorothy Hamilton, Tony Heastie, Gloria Glinton (and their families); God Children: Elvis Jr. & Elvardo Bullard and Shantavia Joseph; Special Friends: Alex Clyde, Larry & Jewel Sawyer, Superintendent Bethel, Inspector Albury, Prescott Cooper Sr., Marjorianna King, Eudell Cartwright, Patricia Saunders, Catherina Jones, Branhilda Whitfield, Elvis Bullard Sr., Carol Johnson & Shavonne Albury; Other Relatives and Friends including: Omesha Smith, Anthonique Curtis, Sheldon Rolle, Janet Pratt & Family, Dorothy Gilbert & Family, Louise Saunders & Family, Leonard Johnson & Family, Mae Albury & Family, Veronica Daniels & Family, Lenora Newbold & Family, Pearl Adderley & Family, Ethlee Gibson & Family, Iris Smith & Family, Francetta Ferguson & Family, Arlene and Locksley Brown, Francetta Colebrooke, Glendamae McIntosh, Lynden, Charlie and Sean Gaitor, Carvel and Donell Rolle, Diedre and Sherryann Rose, Stan Ferguson, Bishop Goliath Burrows and Southland Church of God, Apostle Christopher & Pastor Anna Russell, Hon. Brensil Rolle, MP, Christine King, ASP Leonard Ramsey, Glen Dean, Glynis Demeritte, Mr. Johnson (Hospital Friend), Precious Thompson, Sharon Clyde, Roneika Rolle, Deon Stubbs Sr., Mo Martins, Arnette Farquharson, Edith, Security Collie (PMH), Joseph Jones, Electro Telecom, The Royal Bahamas Police Force including Force Garage and Reserves, The Williams Family of Driggs Hill, Andros, The Francis Family, The Laird Street Family and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. Special Thanks: Dr. Kevin Moss, Dr. Smith and the Dialysis Unit, Dr. Chin-Chea, Nurses and Doctors of PMH and Doctor’s Hospital Intensive Care Units, Male Surgical 2 & 3, Med Surg and EMS Dispatch & Transpsort. Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 12-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday & on Thursday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Christian Council is willing to assist the government with the burial of unidentified Dorian victims. Bishop Delton Fernander, BCC president, made the comment after a representative from the Disaster Reconstruction Authority told reporters that officials were in the process of identifying a date for a national service for those who died during Hurricane Dorian. She also said that there would be no mass burial for the victims. While noting that the BCC is “ready” to help as required, Bishop Fernander explained that certain matters will have to be finalised before a service can be carried out. “(We have met) with the families that wanted to meet with us. We’ve met with the local government in Abaco. We’ve gone out to the sites. We’ve done all of our due diligence,” he said. “Our president on the ground in Grand Bahama, (has) personally been there… (but) some things we’re not able to have charge of and until certain things are done, we can’t rush out and have a service. “But we have advised the government as it comes to any national service, we are ready, and we are willing as the church to be the church and to be on the ground.” He continued: “We made a promise in the meeting

BISHOP DELTON FERNANDER, BCC president here in the Bahamas at the Bethel Baptist Church that I would do this. And so, at the promise, just seeing the grief and how traumatised people were, the council stepped in and we just do what the church does best – be there for the people.” After Hurricane Dorian ravaged Abaco and Grand Bahama in early September, officials initially reported over 2,000 people to be missing following Dorian’s passing. Those numbers, however, have since dwindled in recent months with less than 60 people currently listed as missing in Abaco and Grand Bahama, according to Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson. In January, the commissioner told a local daily that 54 people were reported as missing on the storm impacted islands. Meanwhile, the death toll of Dorian stands over 70. Officials have previously said that the death toll is

expected to grow as crews continue to clean up debris from the affected islands. However, asked by reporters yesterday if he thought the service would bring closure to the victims’ families and the country at large, bishop Fernander said he hopes it will inspire more empathy within the hearts of Bahamians. “I hope it does two things. I hope it causes us to pause for those of us who have moved on, to pause and feel what these families feel,” he added. “The one thing that struck me is unless you’ve been through this, you have no idea the grief and you have no idea the pain. “I’ve seen it not only in Grand Bahama but also in Abaco and every meeting I have, we go into our mode of counsel because it’s just that difficult to bring closure when you have not seen the body or laid to rest the body of your loved one.”

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE CALLS FOR CLIMATE TECH By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Agriculture is pushing for development of more climate smart technologies after Hurricane Dorian rocked the country’s farming communities, an official said. While launching the 2020 Agri-Business Expo yesterday, Permanent Secretary Joel Lewis noted the monster storm’s impact on farmers and marine resources. “Hurricane Dorian visited two of our three biggest contributing islands to our agricultural sector – Abaco and Grand Bahama,” Mr Lewis explained. “The farming communities were particularly devastated in terms of the loss of assets, salt intrusion on land, the loss of all but one seafood processing plant on Grand Bahama, the loss of operating capacity for our country’s biggest poultry producer and the shutdown of dozens of farms on both islands.”

Currently, the ministry is While we are limited in helping farmers in Abaco what we can do to prevent with their new stock and the kinds of environmenproviding feed for their tal impacts created by our animals. The Caribbean bigger neighbours, we can Agricultural Research still do a lot to protect our and Development Insti- food security by taking on tute (CARDI) has secured approaches that work.” funding for a project on This year’s expo theme is Abaco and Grand Bahama. “Let’s get Smart with AgriMr Lewis pointed to the culture. Grow Local, Eat fact that the country is in Fresh” and will be held the the direct path of hurri- ministry’s Gladstone Road canes, which have become site on March 27–28. It will “more frequent and showcase local farmers, increasingly stronger” over producers, suppliers and the past ten years due to agri-business professionals. climate change, brought on According to director by carbon emissions from of co-operatives, Cheryl larger developed nations. Bowe-Moss, key people “Our ministry has begun who have achievements in a push for the develop- agriculture and fisheries ment or more climate smart will be honoured, particutechnologies to be imple- larly those from Abaco and mented by our farmers in Grand Bahama. the development of their CARDI country repgreenhouses, shade houses, resentative Dr Michele animal pens and other Singh said the institute will approaches,” he noted. be working with the Min“These are the beginning istry of Agriculture at the steps. We have more to do expo and will be focused and farther to go and this is on “research, teaching, why it is critical to present and learning” including a this approach at this year’s demonstration of a climate expo. Everything is scalable. smart technology.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 10, 2020, PAGE 7

from page one

US report highlights failings on offenders

But despite this, there are encouraging signs the judiciary is seeking to institute much-needed reforms, the Department of State said. “The government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas does not, as a matter of government policy, encourage or facilitate illicit drug production or distribution, nor is it involved in laundering the proceeds of the sale of illicit drugs. The government continues to make fighting corruption a major focus, despite the challenge,” the report noted. “At the end of 2019, several high-profile corruption cases were preparing to go before the court, and will serve as an important test for prosecutors and police as they demonstrate their ability to build solid cases as well as for the judiciary to ensure fair trials. During (a) 2019 trial. . .alleged missteps by the police and prosecutors overshadowed credible accusations of corruption. “To date, there have been very few convictions for public corruption in the Bahamas despite 80 percent of Bahamians saying they felt corruption in

government was a major problem, according to a 2019 survey by a non-governmental organisation.” Regarding drug matters in the courts, the report said the dispensation of justice fell short in comparison to international norms. “In 2019, the Bahamian criminal justice system’s ability to dispense justice for those charged with significant drug trafficking offences continued to fall short of international norms. “For more serious legal matters, such as those involving trafficking, smuggling, firearms, or gang violence, regular adjournments prolonged matters, in some instances over several years. “In a high-profile case involving a suspected drug trafficker who is the subject of an extradition request

by the United States, the court failed to issue rulings in a reasonable timeframe, delaying his hearings twice for several months because the physical case file was not present at the proceeding. “Procedural errors resulted in a high number of cases being thrown out for technicalities. Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signs that the country’s judiciary is seeking to institute muchneeded reforms.” The report continued: “The Bahamas signed a comprehensive maritime agreement with the United States in 2004, which continues to enable cooperation in counter narcotics and migrant interdiction operations in and around Bahamian territorial waters. “The Bahamas has an

extradition and mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) in place with the United States. Responses to MLAT requests from the Ministry of Legal Affairs are generally addressed immediately and thoroughly, but have at times been delayed by slow and inefficient judicial procedures. “Responses to requests sent to the Financial Intelligence Unit are often delayed. Compliance with the extradition treaty remains a challenge; some cases date back over 15 years due to pending appeals, others have no legal resolution.” According to the report, US officials still believe illicit drug trafficking in the Bahamas remains high. During the first ten months of 2019, the report said an equivalent of 225.7 metric tonnes of marijuana were

seized, up significantly from the 5.66 MT seized in 2018 due in part to the discovery and eradication of 217,031 cannabis plants found on several large grow sites. “It remains unclear if these sites were oneoff operations or part of a wider trend by drug traffickers to move marijuana production closer to the United States. Joint OPBAT operations also helped track approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine that transited the Bahamas before being seized in the United States. “Throughout 2019, traffickers continued to split up larger drug loads into smaller loads before entering the southern Bahamas. Traffickers move cocaine through the Bahamas via ‘go-fast’ boats, small commercial freighters,

THE GOVERNOR General’s Volunteer Bahamas held a press conference at Government House to announce plans for a national volunteer programme

RASSIN LEADS LAUNCH OF ‘VOLUNTEER ARMY’ THE VALUE of the power of volunteers cannot be overestimated, said Barry Rassin, yesterday from page one “This fact brought home the realisation of the urgent need to both reintroduce that spirit of volunteerism in The Bahamas, as well as... recognise and reward ongoing volunteer efforts in order to promote and sustain a culture of volunteerism. “…To this end, ‘Volunteer Bahamas – A Call to Action’ is envisaged to serve as a single, strong central support system not to interfere with, but to harness and co-ordinate the work volunteers throughout the country.” With over 850 service organisations recognised in the country, Mr Rassin said Volunteer Bahamas will strive to bring those groups together and coordinate charity-related activities within the community. According to officials, the programme will be operated by a secretariat, which will be established under the auspices of the governor general, the project’s patron. “We have the power and

potential in our hands to make every single community, every neighbourhood, every school, children’s or senior’s home, every park and public space a place in which we can all take pride if each of pledges to play some small part in a volunteer movement that we hope will serve the nation,” Mr Smith said of the movement. Next week’s launch will feature live performances from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and will also include the unveiling of a song by local artist, Julien Believe. “(It) will certainly set the stage for what promises to be a wonderful journey of service and charity to our fellowmen and I invite Bahamians everywhere to join us as we build a better and stronger Bahamas,” added Mr Rassin. The launch will be followed by a nationwide tour by Mr Smith in an effort to inspire and teach students in the country about the importance of helping others. Editorial View - Page 4

maritime shipping containers, and small aircraft. Traffickers move cocaine from the Bahamas to Florida by blending in with legitimate traffic that transits these areas. Larger ‘go-fast’ and sport fishing vessels transport marijuana from Jamaica both to the Bahamas and through the Bahamas into Florida.” Overall, the Department of State said drug trafficking and related smuggling will remain a primary concern for the United States in the Bahamas. However, the report said the United States will continue to assist Bahamian efforts to counter these networks and increase efficiencies in the administration of justice through a range of assistance. Editorial View - Page 4

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 10, 2020

HIS week began with the recognition of International Women’s Day. It’s a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In honour of this day, I decided to interview a woman who has achieved so much so early in her career, that she is nothing short of amazing. Khrystle Rutherford Ferguson may not be one to toot her own horn but today, I am sharing her story in the hope that other Bahamians, especially young females, become inspired by it. At the age of 35, she became the first female to serve as chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC). This in itself is an admirable feat. Couple that with the fact Khrystle is an attorney-at-law who heads the legal department at Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Limited, and it becomes clear why I am singing her praises for International Women’s Day. She’s representing the interests of the business community where it’s needed most – helping to create policies that will keep Bahamian businesses viable for years to come. “This achievement allows me to advocate on behalf of the business community and their needs; advocacy is my specialty,” said Khrystle. All her life, Khrystle knew she wanted to become an advocate for the people. When she was a little girl, she had dreams of becoming a lawyer. “My friends would tease me and they would say that I always had a plan for my life in terms of the type of person I wanted to be,” she shared. “I always wanted to be a lawyer… and consummate professional. I always had a desire to speak on behalf of people, put forth their arguments and represent their needs. I enjoyed speaking up for people and their rights. When I’m out with friends, if something goes wrong, they would say, ‘Let Khrystle speak with whoever is responsible… she will deal with it!’ I was always very opinionated, and I would go out of my way to help people.” Khrystle attended Queen’s College from grade 1 straight to grade 12. During that time, she was active in Junior Achievement and the Governor General’s Youth Awards (GGYA). After graduating, she decided to study law to allow her to become the advocate she dreamed of being. First, she attended the College of the Bahamas, where she studied law and criminal justice and became a member of the student union (COBUS). She went on to study at

THE TRIBUNE

Khrystle’s childhood dream became a reality that can inspire women the University of Buckingham where she got her LLB – Bachelor’s degree in Law. After that, she passed the Bar at Inns of Court in London before coming home and passing the Bahamas Bar. Her story sounds like that of a child who came from a privileged background. But on the contrary, Khrystle’s path was not paved by a silver spoon. She had a mother who believed so much in education, that she sacrificed everything for her children to have the tools they needed to succeed in life. Anita Bartlett, born in Nassau and raised in Bimini, had a long career in the civil service. Well known for her cheery spirit and big smile, Anita became a familiar face at the Ministry of Tourism. On that modest salary, this single mother made miracles happen for her four daughters, Khrystle being the youngest. She made education a priority for her

girls and found a way to make it happen. Anita put her skills as a seamstress to use by making uniforms. She religiously took her vacation during the summer months each year in order to sell uniforms to take care of her girls. It’s something that Khrystle never took for granted. She watched her mother sacrifice and give her all and in return, she set out in life to do her best. “My mother set the foundation for me to truly believe that I could achieve whatever it is I set my mind to,” she said. “Because of her, I didn’t look at law school as being difficult at all. Rather, it was purpose-driven. I fully accepted that it was a sacrifice for her to send me off to school. I knew I had to be steadfast in becoming an attorney. It was something I never took for granted or lightly.” Khrystle often spent time with her mother at her downtown tourism office

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after school. Her mother’s co-workers knew her as the “little girl in the QC uniform” who loved being with her mother. When Anita died eight years ago, it was a sobering moment for Khrystle and her sisters. Her mother’s larger-thanlife spirit is kept alive in the hearts of those who loved her – including her co-workers who watched Khrystle grow. She now works in the same downtown area where her mother worked and even today, from time to time she would come across those coworkers. When they tell her how proud her mother was of her and that they are too, it just gives her the inspiration to keep pushing - keep dreaming, knowing her mother’s spirit of endurance was passed on to her. “They tell me that I did my mother well – those sort of things, although she is not here, makes me feel proud,” said Khrystle. “Every child, apart from making their own mark in the world, wants their parents to be proud of them. So, it makes me feel good to know she was proud of me.” Sisterly love also played an important part in Khrystle’s life as her elder sisters Kim, Kenva and Urshula were always protecting and guiding her. As a wife and mother today, her life is full of joy. Her husband Jevone Ferguson is her source of strength – “a very brilliant and intelligent man who is a wonderful husband and father” to their two sons, Maxwell and Camden. She needs that support as she has entered this new phase of her life as chairman of the BCCEC. Prior to being elected to this post, she served in the organisation for years. She held the positions of vice chairman, director, chair of the strategic planning committee, chair of the policy, regulation and commercial dispute settlement committee and a member of the governance committee. “I feel great being able to pioneer in this way,” she said about her two-year term as chairman.

KHRYSTLE FERGUSON, first female chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation

“Though I may be the first female chairman of the BCCEC, there were women presidents when it was just the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, including Judy Munroe, Lorraine Frasier and Tanya Wright. Even from the early days, there were women who laid the foundation. But it’s been 16 years since a woman has been at the helm, so it feels good. It’s important to include both men and women at the table because it provides both tangible and intangible benefits for the country. Through this opportunity, I can leave the door open behind me for women to feel empowered to continue to lead.” “At the BCCEC, we are very passionate about narrowing the skills gap. As a result of that, we will be reviving the chamber institute to provide a forum for the business community and their employees to have access to training in a number of areas. The other major thing I would like to achieve is to put in a research desk for the private sector that will allow our members to have access to empirical data on market trends… data that would grow their business and take it to the next level. We are also ramping up membership engagement. We are reaching out and communicating with members, making sure they are a part of the national discussion and making sure they feel they have representation at all levels. After Hurricane Dorian, we were able to launch a programme under the patronage of Mrs Patricia Minnis that provided school uniforms to displaced children.” Khrystle’s advocacy is also seen in the press releases she often disseminates to the public. They provide keen financial advice from a legal aspect, in order to empower her fellow citizens with vital information. She has been at Fidelity Bank for the past ten years, and her commitment to her job has elevated her to head of the legal department. Prior

LEFT: Khrystle Ferguson and her mother, Anita Bartlett; above: Khrystle with sisters Kim, Kenva and Urshula; right: Khrystle and husband Jevon with their sons Maxwell and Camden

to joining Fidelity, Khrystle spent a few years as a junior attorney to Ruth Bowe-Darville, a noted attorney and former president of the Bahamas Bar Association. Khrystle says she learned so much under Bowe-Darville’s tutelage, not only in law but the hallmarks of being an attorney, including always being prepared for court, doing intense legal research, being respectful of colleagues at the Bar and the Judiciary, and putting in the work to achieve the best results for the client. In addition to lending her knowledge of law and banking to the nation, Khrystle has found other ways to give back. She has been involved in many organisations, including the Bahamas Financial Services Board, the Bahamas Bar Association, Toastmasters Club 7178, and she is a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. She is a member of the Clearing Banks Association’s Legal and Compliance Sub-Committee, and the National Advisory Council for the introduction of Local Government to New Providence, leading its revenue and expenditure team. She also served as member of the Supervisory Committee (Audit Committee) of Teachers and Salaried Workers Co-operative Credit Union. One of the most important areas of involvement to her is her spiritual life at Abundant Life Bible Church. With all she has achieved, Khrystle still believes she has more to go. She balances the professional aspects of her life with her creative talents bequeathed by her mother. She enjoys decorating and event planning for herself, as well as family and friends. She enjoys reading, cooking and travelling, and has found joy in growing and tending to orchids. With a life so full – a story of sisterhood and friendships, turning pain into purpose – I took pleasure in sharing her story in honour of International Women’s day.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 10, 2020, PAGE 9

EX-MINISTER’S WIFE FINED IN DRUG FRAUD from page one

Last week, VanderpoolWallace, wife of former Minister of Tourism Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, pleaded guilty to all the charges brought against her. At the time, her defence attorney, Tonique Lewis, told Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans that Vanderpool-Wallace struggled with mental health issues. This resulted in Magistrate Vogt-Evans giving the defence the opportunity to provide VanderpoolWallace’s medical records

before passing down a sentence. Yesterday, VanderpoolWallace’s legal team, headed by Wayne Munroe, told Magistrate Vogt-Evans that his client’s medical report revealed a history of narcotic abuse, specifically painkillers. He also noted the report “set out” incidents in Vanderpool-Wallace’s life in the past three years which exacerbated her condition. Urging the judge to consider the offender and the offence, he also said there were crimes that affected others like selling drugs and other offences where the

offender only sought drugs for personal use. He added a psychiatrist had “set out” Vanderpool-Wallace as vulnerable and in need of assistance and asked Magistrate Vogt-Evans to consider a non-custodial sentence with a medical treatment component. He insisted it was unfortunate Vanderpool-Wallace was in the situation she was now in because of human weakness. In response, Magistrate Vogt-Evans noted the psychiatric report, written by Dr Nelson Clarke, indicated Vanderpool-Wallace

took pain medication to relieve severe pain from an injury. According to the report, Vanderpool-Wallace became dependent on the pain medication and developed a tolerance for it, causing her to require larger doses. As a result, efforts to discontinue the medication caused Vanderpool-Wallace to develop severe depression. Still, Magistrate VogtEvans said the report indicated that VanderpoolWallace was clinically stable for four months with moderate symptoms of

VANDERPOOL-WALLACE depression. She also said the document confirmed the defendant was stable at the time she committed the offence.

Magistrate Vogt-Evans said while the report helped the court to understand the circumstances behind Vanderpool-Wallace committing the offence, it did not excuse why the defendant took a Princess Margaret Hospital prescription pad and filled a prescription. She told VanderpoolWallace the court accepted the guilty pleas and encouraged her to ask God to help her through her situation. Members of VanderpoolWallace’s family, including Mr Vanderpool-Wallace, were in court to support her yesterday.

Man accused of money laundering By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

JEREMY Pinder outside cout yesterday

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

A 41-YEAR-OLD man was charged yesterday with defrauding the Securities Exchange Commission of $850,000. Jeremy Pinder was charged before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt with fraud by false pretences, conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences and 20 counts of money laundering. Pinder denied all charges brought against him yesterday and the matter was adjourned to April 1. Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail. It is alleged that Pinder, with intent to defraud, obtained $850,000 belonging to the Securities Exchange Commission from the Royal Bank of Canada on January 7.

SPANISH WOMAN REMANDED ON POSSESSION OF COCAINE By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN elderly Spanish woman was arraigned yesterday in connection with the seizure of 12 pounds of dangerous drugs. Esperanza Bonet-Roig, 73, of Mayorca, Spain appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with one count each of possession of dangerous drugs – namely cocaine – and importation of dangerous drugs. Bonet-Roig denied both charges through an interpreter and the case was adjourned to May 11 at 10am. Bail was denied and she was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, however she has the right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court. Bonet-Roig was accused of being found on March 7 in possession of 12 pounds of cocaine with intent to supply. The defendant was also charged with importing the drugs into the country that same day. Magistrate

ESPERANZA Bonet-Roig

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Forbes said he had contacted a representative from the Spanish consulate in the country who told him she would speak to Bonet-Roig and make arrangements as soon as she could.

The judge also said he would send a note to notify the BDCS of the defendant’s “medical circumstances,” so that the appropriate arrangements could be made.

FREEPORT PAIR CHARGED WITH SHOPBREAKING AND STEALING By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO Freeport men were charged with shopbreaking and stealing in Freeport Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Carlton Symonette, 44, of Pioneers Way, and Stork Benis, 49, of Jack Fish Drive, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson on nine counts of stealing and shopbreaking. The accused men were charged with three counts

of shopbreaking, two counts of stealing from a vehicle, and five counts of stealing from a shop. The matters are in connection with a number of reported stealing incidents in central Grand Bahama area between April 2019 and March 2020. The pair pleaded guilty to all but two of the charges. The judge sentenced Symonette and Benis to 35 months’ imprisonment. The men will return to court on June 22 for their other matters. Meanwhile, a New Providence man appeared

in court in Freeport on charges of stealing yesterday. Navardo Davon Justin Rolle, 28, of Fairpark Street, Ridgeland Park, appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith. The accused was charged with four counts of shopbreaking and three counts of stealing from a shop between April 2019 and March 2020. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and the matter was adjourned to May 19 for trial. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

It is also alleged that Pinder knowingly transferred $124,344.23 from an RBC Bahamas account to another account held outside the country on January 24. Pinder was also accused of transferring $123,820.42 from an RBC Bahamas account in the name of JE Catering Service to another account in the name of TMR Limited held outside the country on January 29. He was further charged with transferring $133,621.51 from the JE Catering Service RBC account to another account outside of the country on February 3 and transferring $166,177.60 from JE Catering Service RBC account to a TMR Limited account held outside the country on February 4. Pinder was also accused of knowingly possessing the proceeds of crime by conducting a number of withdrawals from RBC between January 17 and February 10. It is alleged that Pinder

withdrew $10,000 from RBC, knowing the cash represented the proceeds of crime. It is further alleged that he possessed $9,000; $4,500; and $5,100 after conducting three separate withdrawals from RBC on the January 20, January 23 and January 27 respectively. Pinder was also accused of knowingly possessing $6,000 by conducting a withdrawal from RBC on February 4 and knowingly possessing another $1,500 by withdrawing the funds from RBC on February 10. During the arraignment, Pinder’s attorney, Dion Smith, told the judge that his client was suffering from severe migraine headaches and had a growth on his leg which required medical attention. In response, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said she would send a note to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services to ensure that the accused is evaluated by a physician.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, March 10, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT BECOMING TOO POLITICAL FOR ITS OWN GOOD A SIGNIFICANT development on the world stage last week that seems to have largely escaped media attention was the ruling by the International Criminal Court in The Hague that its chief prosecutor could open an investigation into allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan, including any by US forces. Such an investigation could lead potentially to prosecution of members of the American armed

services. So, predictably, the US government has reacted vigorously, with Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, calling the decision a dangerous sham and a politically motivated stunt -- the timing of which was designed to undermine US efforts to foster peace in the war-torn nation – by ‘an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body’. Unsurprisingly, human rights

The

Peter Young column SO MUCH has been broadcast and written about the coronavirus outbreak that there is a risk of information overload about what has become a global crisis, and any reiteration of existing facts would be superfluous. But I hope it might be interesting briefly to take stock of fresh developments, especially at a time when China – where it all started in Wuhan – has pursued draconian measures of containment which have resulted in the lowest level of new infections there since the beginning of the crisis. Furthermore, according to a leading microbiologist in Britain, while a vaccine could still be as much as a year away, COVID-19 could peak at about the time of Easter next month, with some predicting it might have run its course by May. That is not to deny the epidemic affecting over 80 countries is extremely serious and has become worse by the day so that it is now being described as an unprecedented international health crisis. The situation is clearly not being overhyped even though there is some debate about whether it can be termed a pandemic which is defined as the worldwide spread of

a new disease. The latest figures are disturbing: more than 100,000 infected globally and more than 3,500 deaths, with Italy, Iran and South Korea the most seriously affected after China. The World Health Organisation has urged countries ‘to pull out all the stops’ in containing the deadly virus. But it has expressed concern that some are still underestimating the threat and that political commitment and action have in some cases not matched the danger of the situation. So the WHO is looking for more coordinated and concerted international action. Italy, with more than 7,000 cases and now 463 deaths, had to place first the northern part of the nation and then everywhere else on virtual lockdown. Declaring a national emergency, the Prime Minister has called it Italy’s darkest hour. The country’s drastic containment measures have included the closing down of public gatherings, schools and major sporting events. In Britain, where the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 stands at 319 cases including five deaths, nearly 20,000 people have been tested. It appears to me from UK press reports

organisations have welcomed the ICC’s move, not least because it has reversed an earlier ruling that such an investigation could not be justified because the Court had no jurisdiction in the matter. Since the US is not a signatory of the ICC, it does not acknowledge the Court’s authority over US citizens – and, as a sovereign nation, it has its own judicial proceedings for such investigations.

It is clear that the ICC has been effective in prosecuting wrongdoers like Bosnian Serb military commander Radko Mladic, who was found guilty of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment, together with tyrants like former Liberian president Charles Taylor and Khmer Rouge leaders who were brought to book. But there are inevitably limits to the jurisdiction of the

ICC as a supra-national entity. The fact is that so-called international mechanisms are ultimately a function of ‘great power’ consensus at the UN. In this latest case, it seems that the ICC has indeed become politicised and this could have a damaging effect on its other work. But it is anyway largely academic because the US will surely refuse to co-operate – and in the end nothing much will happen.

With the world in the grip of hysteria, who knows what the final economic effects might be that the official response has been sensible and proportionate. The government is obviously listening to the scientific experts and, with little internal political wrangling, has devised a four-stage approach of containing the spread of the virus, delaying it in future by so-called ‘social distancing’ including restricting large gatherings, mitigation and research. Thus, the first step is to prevent patients who have contracted the virus from infecting other people. Reportedly, there is no cure for COVID-19, but, according to the medical experts, the majority of those infected should recover. UK government guidelines say that, while younger people are at relatively low

risk, those over 50 with a pre-existing medical condition are more vulnerable. But there is no cause for panic and the symptoms of cough, sore throat, fever and aches are much like the normal seasonal ‘flu. Precautions like no handshakes – only elbow bumps or foot taps – and frequent washing of hands are obviously important. In addition, those at risk or already showing symptoms should self-quarantine by staying at home and avoiding contact with others for 14 days. But, since older people are more likely to be affected, others are being urged to check on their relations who might need help with food supplies – hence the new cry of ‘Go and see Granny now’. To the layman, all this makes good sense and, according to reports, the National Health Service, though under fresh pressure to care for those infected, is coping well. The UK government is pumping more money into developing a vaccine and the purchase of more testing kits; and it seems to have the overall threat under reasonable control even though there remains a risk that the disease could take a hold in Britain. As everybody is aware, in an interconnected world and global economy, fear spreads all too easily and there has been a severe economic fallout. Yesterday, global markets plunged – with UK shares suffering the largest drop since the 2008 crash – and the oil price fell by the biggest margin since the 1991 Gulf War. But the economic impact seems to be less directly tied to the numbers of people infected by the virus, or who have succumbed to it, and more to how governments react to it. Official restrictions vary from country to country and controls on the

A COMMUTER wearing a face mask in the New York City transit system yesterday movement of people have already had serious widespread effects on the travel and leisure business including airlines, restaurants, cinemas, bars and clubs and on major sporting events. With the world in a continuing grip of hysteria, who knows what the longterm economic effects of this crisis might be? Globalisation has resulted in unparalleled prosperity, freedom and development over the past decades while also reducing poverty and improving healthcare, education and economic opportunity. So the sooner

a return to some sort of normality is achieved the better for all. Let us hope that the prediction of a peak by Easter followed by a rapid decline thereafter turns out to be accurate. Meanwhile, one can only applaud our own government here at home for the sound measures it has taken to protect the nation against COVID-19, in particular restricting the entry of individuals who have been to China recently – and for recognising the threat to the Bahamian economy which is so heavily dependent on travel and investment.

THE SADNESS OF LOSING A DEAR FRIEND I SHOULD like to take the opportunity of this column to offer a short tribute to Graham Garner. The sudden passing of such a dear and valued friend has surely left all who knew and loved him in a state of shock. For those left behind to grieve, the sadness of losing him is overwhelming. Even though, as was widely known, he had not been in the best of health during the last few years, it has been extremely distressing to lose him so unexpectedly and abruptly. How I shall miss those interesting talks, jokes, good fellowship and companionship – and how one could learn from that acute and sophisticated mind of his when he was holding forth about one subject or another and living up to his reputation as a walking encyclopaedia. Having been in The Bahamas since the 1960s, Graham was, of course, widely known for his

professional skills and acumen – together with a formidable work ethic and unshakeable integrity – as an English Chartered Accountant and Partner in Coopers and Lybrand. He was a family man and a person of many and varied accomplishments and achievements during a long, fruitful and happy life; and he was also always involved locally – among other activities, as an Elder of The Kirk, and a noted thespian with the Dundas Theatre and its treasurer for many years. From my own experience

GRAHAM GARNER

of knowing him for more than 20 years, I can attest to his openness to others, his approachability, quick wit, humour and sense of fun – qualities that brought him many friends and admirers over the years. We played squash and tennis together including, for many years, in John Morley’s famous early morning group. He also had a fine singing voice – and, for example, at the Morley tennis group’s annual Christmas breakfast everybody used to enjoy his solo rendition of ‘Silent Night’ in impeccable German. To do justice to Graham, I should like to write more about him and his life; but, alas, there are space constraints. With so many enjoyable memories of time in his company, it is hard to believe he has gone. Verona joins me in offering his dear wife, Aidie, and their family our deepest condolences. I shall miss him more than I can say.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 10, 2020, PAGE 11

Coronavirus crisis: Sweeping new restrictions brought in around the world

THE VIEW ON TWITTER These tweets by Silvia Stringhini on life inside an Italian hospital as it struggles to cope with the influx of patients make compelling reading

LEFT: A commuter wears a face mask in the New York City transit system; top: Army soldiers spray disinfectant in Daegu, South Korea; right: People walk in St Mark’s Square in Venice; above: a girl on a bus in Hong Kong

Italy in lockdown Associated Press THE battle to halt the coronavirus brought sweeping new restrictions yesterday, with Italy expanding a travel ban to the entire country, Israel ordering all visitors quarantined just weeks before Passover and Easter, and Spain closing all schools in and around its capital. Even as workers in Beijing returned to their jobs and new infections in China continued to subside, Italians struggled to navigate the rapidly changing parameters of the nation’s self-imposed lockdown. “Now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real,” said World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The great advantage we have is the decisions we all make as governments, businesses, communities, families and individuals can influence the trajectory of this epidemic.”

More than 113,000 people have been infected with the virus, and more than 3,900 have died of the COVID-19 illness it causes. Most of the cases are in China, but its proportion is shrinking as the caseload grows elsewhere. More than 62,000 people have already recovered. But Italy’s intensifying struggle to halt the virus’ spread emerged as a cautionary tale. “There won’t be just a red zone,” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, in announcing that a lockdown covering about 16 million people in the north would be expanded to the entire country starting Tuesday. Italian doctors celebrated one small victory after the first patient diagnosed with the illness, a 38-year-old Unilever worker, was moved out of intensive care and began breathing on his own. But the virus’ rapid spread was forcing them to operate like war-time medics, triaging patients to decide who get access to scarce ICU beds. All St. Patrick’s Day parades

were cancelled in Ireland, including one in Dublin that typically draws half a million to its streets. Trying to send a message of confidence in the economy, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife walked on Paris’ ChampsElysees avenue. “I’m shaking hands using my heart,” he said as he waved to people while keeping a 1-meter distance from passersby. Infections were reported in more than half the world’s countries, and flashpoints were erupting around the globe. “We are working for valuable time, time in which scientists can research medicines and a vaccine” and in which governments can help stock up on protective equipment, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has reported over 1,100 cases and, as of Monday, its first two deaths. Iranian state television reported another 43 deaths, pushing the official toll to 237, with 7,161 confirmed cases. But many experts fear the scope of the illness in Iran is far wider than reported. South Korea

reported 35 more cases, bringing its total to 7,513. In the United States, where more than 600 infections and 26 deaths have been reported, the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in Oakland, California, after days idling at sea while dozens of those aboard were tested. Fleets of buses and planes were ready to whisk the more than 2,000 passengers to military bases or their home countries for a 14-day quarantine. At least 21 people aboard have been confirmed to have the infection. In Washington, the Capitol’s attending physician’s office said “several” members of Congress had contact with a person who attended a recent political conference and subsequently developed COVID19. They “remain in good health,” the office said. Three members of Congress, Sen. Ted Cruz and Reps. Doug Collins and Paul Gosar, said they are quarantining themselves after determining they had contact with the person.

• I understand the need not to create panic, but when the message of the dangerousness of what is happening does not reach people I shudder. • I watched the reorganisation of the hospital in the past week, when our current enemy was still in the shadows: the wards slowly “emptied”, elective activities were interrupted, intensive care were freed up to create as many beds as possible. • The war has literally exploded and battles are uninterrupted day and night. The departments that had been emptied fill up at an impressive pace. • The boards with the names of the patients, of different colours depending on the operating unit, are now all red and instead of surgery you see the diagnosis, which is always the damned same: bilateral interstitial pneumonia.· • There are no more surgeons, urologists, orthopedists, we are only doctors who suddenly become part of a single team to face this tsunami that has overwhelmed us. • Cases are multiplying, we arrive at a rate of 15-20 admissions per day all for the same reason. The results of the swabs now come one after the other: positive, positive, positive. Suddenly the E.R. is collapsing. • Reasons for the access always the same: fever and breathing difficulties, fever and cough, respiratory failure. Radiology reports always the same: bilateral interstitial pneumonia, bilateral interstitial pneumonia, bilateral interstitial pneumonia. • The staff is exhausted. Nurses with tears in their eyes because we can’t save everyone. We no longer see our families for fear of infecting them. Some of us have already become infected despite the protocols.

STAKES RISE FOR SANDERS HEADING INTO MICHIGAN PRIMARY MICHIGAN Associated Press

BERNIE Sanders proved his 2016 presidential bid was serious with an upset victory in Michigan powered by his opposition to free trade and appeal among workingclass voters. Four years later, the same state could either revive the Vermont senator’s campaign or relegate him to the role of protest candidate. Michigan and five other states hold presidential contests today at a critical point in the Democratic race. Former Vice President Joe Biden is looking to cement his

front-runner status after winning the most delegates during Super Tuesday last week. He’ll campaign later Monday in Detroit with former presidential rivals Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, who have endorsed Biden in recent days as part of a broader consolidation of support among party leaders. Sanders is in an urgent fight to turn things around as the primary calendar quickly shifts to other states that could favor Biden and narrow his path to the nomination. The senator countered the parade of Democratic firepower lining up behind Biden by

securing the endorsement of the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Today marks the first time voters will weigh in on the Democratic contest since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. It will be another test of whether Sanders can broaden his appeal among African Americans. Biden, meanwhile, must show that he can keep momentum going after his Super Tuesday turnaround. “I like his chances,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has endorsed Biden, said of the former vice president. “He knows Michigan,” Whitmer said. “When

IN THE RUNNING: Bernie Sanders

our back was up against the wall during the auto struggles of the past, it was Barack Obama and Joe Biden who had our backs. Others were saying, ‘Let Detroit go bankrupt.’” That’s a reference to the Obama administration overseeing federal bailouts that helped the auto industry weather the 2009 financial crisis. Sanders counters that he, too, voted to save the auto industry. He also says that, unlike Biden, he opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he said prompted thousands of Michigan jobs to move to Mexico since taking effect in 1994.