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‘citizenship fight was for everyone’ • Privy Council upholds ruling on birthright • Man at centre of case tells of long journey • Establishing paternity to be the next battle By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Privy Council affirmed yesterday that children born out of wedlock to Bahamian men are citizens at birth regardless of their mother’s nationality, a consequential ruling that transforms how citizenship is attained in The Bahamas. The constitution was long interpreted as requiring people born out of wedlock to Bahamian men and foreign women to apply for citizenship at 18, a reality that impeded some in their efforts to travel and do basic activities like open a
bank account. Some Bahamian men even adopted their children just to pass on citizenship. The Davis administration acknowledged yesterday’s ruling and said it would amend legislation to remedy other discriminatory citizenship policies like the inability of Bahamian women with foreign husbands to pass their nationality to children born abroad. Collectively, the Privy Council’s ruling and the government’s promised amendments could achieve what the referendums of 2002 and 2016 failed to do: equalize access to citizenship SEE pages 4,5 & 10
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LAwyer: ‘We’re going to fight’ as OAG pulls Settlement By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter Ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
ROMONA Farquharson Seymour said the Office of the Attorney General has rescinded its offer to settle Corrections Commissioner Charles Murphy’s lawsuit against the government, declaring: “We’re gonna fight.” The Tribune reported on Wednesday that Commissioner Murphy and his lawyer were reviewing the offer before a July trial. The settlement agreement would mark the first time a high-profile public official has settled with the government following actions taken by the Davis SEE page three
Downgrades bring ‘real life consequences’ to local bank By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Shannon Tyreck Rolle, represented by the now-Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe, was the applicant in the court action which has brought about a significant ruling on children born out of wedlock to a foreign spouse.
The Government’s declining creditworthiness has sparked “real life consequences” for a BISXlisted bank by forcing it to take a “much bigger than expected” $560,000 hit in its 2022 full-year results. Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, yesterday told Tribune Business that successive downgrades of The Bahamas’ sovereign credit rating have resulted in the lender incurring a total $1.6m impairment charge to its $100m government debt securities holdings over the past two years. FULL Story- see Business
PM to draw down $400m for GB Airport ROTARY DIAMOND JUBILEE By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said his administration would draw $400m from the $1bn made available by the UK EXIM Bank to develop the Grand Bahama International Airport. His comment came yesterday during a question-and-answer period at the Caribbean Council
Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis Bahamas Investment Promotional Event in London before the coronation of King Charles III.
“The UK EXIM Bank making available to us $1bn to draw down on is a step in the right direction for investments,” he revealed. “We’re drawing down at least $400m for the redevelopment of the airport in Freeport, Grand Bahama, which will be a green airport.” Last Month, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper revealed that a
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The Rotaract Club of East Nassau was chartered In its 60th year the club in May 2008. Their first has grown to 163 mempresident was Franchesca In the 10 years preceding Smith and the other charter bers made up of active, the 40-year anniversasatellite, corporate and members were Noelle Pina, ry, saw some innovative honorary members, one of Rande Nichols, Roman fundraising efforts. Events whom, Eric Crowch, was a Knowles, James Knowles included the first Bed Race charter member and now Ari Mitchell, Anwar Mitchand Fair in 1993 when lives in England. ell, Ryan Knowles, Sheyna the club got permission to Sawyer, Janine Carey, The club has produced one close off Dowdeswell Street Christian Knowles. Rotary International Presto have the races. ident, In its third decade the There was the introduction Barry Rotary Club of East Nassau of Imagine, a silent auction Rassin; raised over $1 million for that at its zenith raised four needy causes and partici$180,000 in one night. District pated in over 30 projects. GoverWe continued to support • $35,000 towards the purnors: the Fox Hill community The first Cheshire Home be- chase of a half-way house Keith with the Fox Hill Run, for recovering alcoholics gan as a home for disabled DunProject Read, the Bahamas In February 1973, Mrs and drug addicts. servicemen. combe, Association for the PhysLottie Tynes, Bahamas Red • $30,000 towards conThe Cheshire Home Al Cartically Disabled, Bahamas Cross director, receives a struction of a building for in the Bahamas originally wright, Sailing Association, the Sal- Pictured below is the origdonation for the victims of the Bahamas Association Barry Rassin, and John was a dream of Ms. Phyllis vation Army, the Bahamas inal Rotaract RCEN formed Managua Earthquake from for the Physically Disabled. Robertson; four Assistant Aldridge and Captain DurNational Trust, Sir Victor on April 15, 1976 under Roy Smith, club president Governors: Robin Brownward Knowles. This became • $26,000 towards conSassoon Heart Association, Durward Knowles, was the (right) and Ritchie Sawyer, struction of an extension rigg, Murray Forde, Lindsey a major project for the club Ebenezer Soup Kitchen and club president. The RotaInternational Service directo the Hardecker Children’s Cancino and Diane Deand over four years, presBahamas Crisis Centre to ract Club which was led by tor (left). Clinic. Cardenas. idents Trevor Sunderland, name of few. Wallace Allen. Barry Rassin, Sidney Sweet- • Purchase of an ambuOver the years the club has The club continued to shine lance for the Bahamas ing and Warren Knowles raised millions of dollars in its fundraising efforts Humane Society. channelled the funds from which has been channelled which supports the work of • Purchase of a purpose four golf tournaments, two back into the community NGOs in the community. built rescue boat for the circuses into this project, in a variety of impactful Bahamas Air Sea Rescue and in May 1989 they Leading the club’s fundraisprojects across the seven Association jointly with the broke ground on Dolphin ing has always been great Areas of Focus which are: In May, 1976 the club Nassau Rotary Club. Drive. training for the incoming Water, Sanitation and received the top award in • Sponsorship of a series of president as that The home was officially Hygiene; Basic Education individthe district for community wildlife films for the Bahaopened on March 26, 1991 ual must work with the and Literacy; Community service. The first ever won mas National Trust, shown at a cost of $320,000 and whole club especially the Economic Development; by a Bahamian club. Some accommodated 16 physical- on ZNS TV. Golf and Tuna CommitEnvironment; Peace Buildof the services undertaken ly disabled people and tee members. The close ing and Conflict Preventhat year included: buying a two resident staff. working relationship of tion; Disease Prevention $30,000 half-way house for On November 5, these teams are some of and Treatment; Maternal young drug users; provid1991 RCEN handed the reasons for RCEN’s and Child Health. ing interest-free loans to over the management success in fund raising RCEN members worked three college students; and of the home to a comover the last six decades along side many NGOs, building a storage shed for mittee. and our high impact on the fellow Rotarians to answer the Bahamas Girl Guides The Cheshire community. the call for help and experAssociation at its South Home was eventually tise in disaster relief. Beach campsite. The club • Improvements to a sold to the Government of also was responsible for the The Bahamas in 2005. It facility for the Institute for When the pandemic struck, formation of the first Rotathe Mentally Retarded in remains an example of our RCEN and other members ract Club in the Bahamas, a joint venture with other Rotary club’s willingness to of RCOB and Inner Wheel comprising 26 enthusiastic local clubs. take on a big project and volunteered at vaccination young men. • Improvements to the get it done while using our sites and were integral in Sandilands Hospital For Construction of the professional skills, contacts the smooth running of the Salvation Army building, Children. and willingness to give vaccination roll out and Mackey Street, jointly with service above self. execution. the Rotary Club of Nassau. Contract signing the for the first phase of construction of the Cheshire Home.
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ROTARY CLUB OF EAST NASSAU 60TH ANNIVERSARY
SUPPLEMENT Friday, May 5, 2023