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TAKING CONTROL McAlpine shouts ‘coup’ as party dissolves council By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net PINERIDGE MP Frederick McAlpine’s outspoken stance in the capital has proved damaging back home as the executive council of his constituency association is up for re-election. The 15-member council was dissolved last month in a move that seeks to shore up the association’s loyalty to the party, according to party insiders, who underscored the sitting council was split over its support of the controversial MP. However, Mr McAlpine yesterday described the latest development in his strained relationship with his party as a “coup”. In an interview with The Tribune, he said he was ashamed
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by the “underhanded, undemocratic” agenda but ultimately decided not to challenge the upcoming election. “The chairman came down and they had a meeting with the intention to dissolve the executive because the present executive supports me,” Mr McAlpine, pictured left, said. “The few people who don’t support me are on the gravy train or are trying to get on the gravy train. What they’re doing as a party that extols democratic principles, transparency, accountability - it’s a coup. “It’s a coup to ensure that they can put the people that they can control, in control, to make sure it goes the way they want. Even after a democratic executive was elected and won.” SEE PAGE THREE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas’ one:one US dollar peg may face growing pressure from an annual $100m external reserves “shortfall” sparked by widening WTO-induced trade deficits, a study will warn today. The Oxford Economics report will say expanding trade imbalances may force this nation to reassess its fixed exchange rate regime if it becomes a full World Trade Organisation member. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
$10K FINES FOR KILLER MOTORISTS
‘TWO YEARS IN AND NO MAJOR ERRORS’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
AS the Minnis administration celebrates two years in office, a senior Cabinet minister insisted yesterday the term so far has been one free of fundamental errors. This is according to Attorney General Carl Bethel, in spite of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis admitting last year the government had made “missteps” with the controversial Oban Energies deal planned for Grand Bahama.
“I don’t think there have been any fundamental errors,” Mr Bethel said while a guest on the 96.9 FM show ‘Morning Blend’. His comment came after he was asked by the show’s host, Dwight Strachan, to identify major missteps by the government. Mr Bethel had earlier admitted that every new government makes mistakes but seemed to try to make a distinction between these and fundamental errors. SEE PAGE SIX
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
MAKE A DATE WITH DAISY COMEDIENNE Lynn Terez Davis-Nixon, better known as the audacious Dynamite Daisy, returns to the stage for a special production this weekend. For the full story, see Woman
A MAN was fined $10,000 yesterday for hitting and killing a motorcyclist with his truck last month. Ricardo Butler received the fine from Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans after pleading guilty to killing Tito Ferguson on April 1. Failure to pay the fine would result in one year in prison, the senior magistrate said. SEE PAGE NINE
SANDS SETS NURSES AS TOP PRIORITY By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands has pledged improved conditions for nurses will be a top priority item for the Ministry of Health’s upcoming budget, as the country fights to keep its nurses at home. His promise came during the opening ceremony of Nurses Month in Grand Bahama yesterday at the Police Training College.
DR DUANE SANDS This year’s theme is “Nurses – A Voice To Lead Health For All.” The minister said
nurses are an important part of the healthcare team, and that many developed countries are recruiting Bahamian nurses to work abroad. “Yes, you are being recruited to come to places like Canada, the US, Great Britain and elsewhere, but certainly, your country is also in a fight to try to keep you here,” he told nurses in Grand Bahama. Dr Sands stated the
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Tuesday, May 7, 2019, PAGE 3
PLP’S MITCHELL FIRES BACK AT CORRUPTION JIBES PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell said yesterday Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis should “hang his head in shame” as he pushed back against allegations from Dr Minnis that the opposition party is corrupt. Mr Mitchell, pictured right, said while the PLP is not perfect, it is a “more perfect party” than the Free National Movement as he cited examples of what he sees as conflict of interest and corruption within the FNM. “The headline in the press quotes the prime minister as saying that the PLP is the party of corruption,” Mr Mitchell noted. “We wonder how this fellow does not bite his tongue. So far in from page one FNM chairman Carl Culmer confirmed the dissolution took place about two weeks ago following a vote, but declined further comment on the matter. “The association agreed that they need to look at a fresh mandate because they felt as though the association is an FNM association and they want to ensure at the end of the day that we win the seat. “The party will follow the wishes of the association, that’s the most I will say on that,” Mr Culmer said. Mr McAlpine’s former campaign manager, Sanfred Rolle, said about nine executive members broke ranks with the MP and called for a meeting with Mr Culmer and Grand Bahama Council Chairman David Thompson. Mr Rolle claims the MP has created a “divergence” ever since he was left out of the Cabinet, adding he personally spoke to Mr McAlpine several times telling him that he had “crossed the line”. Hansel Collie, vicechairman of the Pineridge Constituency Association, told The Tribune the council was dissolved due to conflict. Mr Collie stressed there was “110 percent” support for the Minnis-led administration despite Mr McAlpine’s critical statements. “We had to close that because of the interference,
recent political memory, there is one conviction on corruption and that person was an FNM member of the board of the then Bahamas Electricity Corporation, now Bahamas Power and Light.” He was referring to the 2016 conviction of Fred Ramsey for bribery related charges stemming from the Alstom SA/ Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) scandal. “Since this man Dr Minnis has come to office, we have had self dealing by his Minister of Immigration, patched up by using their majority in Parliament to say it is okay for the minister to give himself a contract for the Post Office
in the Town Centre Mall. This is classic conflict of interest,” Mr Mitchell added. “Who can forget the crooked Oban deal, with the prime minister sitting and watching a fake signing taking place for a fake deal which has so far produced nothing for Grand Bahama? “Then there are the two ministers of the government who stand judicially condemned for the role they played in the [bribery and extortion trial of Frank Smith]. Dr Duane Sands and Marvin Dames must resign or be dismissed. “... The PLP is not perfect but it is a ‘more perfect party’ than the
FNM, having built this nation and its institutions from the ground up. The FNM has nothing to show but their idle and baseless attacks on our great party.” On Sunday, while speaking at a church service recognising his administration’s two years in office, Dr Minnis painted the PLP as a corrupt group that believes it “owns” this country, as he urged members of the Free National Movement not to take the public’s support for granted. “For a quarter century, the PLP ruled under a cult of personality, a sense of entitlement and mass corruption and widespread victimisation,” Dr Minnis
said. “They kept rigid control of the broadcast media so they could spew their propaganda and limit our freedom of expression. Then, as now, they believe that the rule of law does not apply to them. They believe they can engage in corruption without consequences. “The PLP believes it owns this country and they are entitled to steal and plunder with zeal. The FNM, we are different. We cherish the name ‘free’ because we are committed to the cause of expanding and protecting freedom in the nation. We are guided by the values of equality, the rule of law, social justice and opportunity for all.”
McAlpine shouts ‘coup’ as party dissolves council a conflict we were having,” Mr Collie said. “It was causing a whole bunch of problems. The MP would direct the chairman what he would like for the chairman to say in a meeting. If you notice every time [Mr McAlpine] go in the House of Assembly he say Pineridge sent him to say whatever he is saying.” Mr Collie said: “We never sent him to say foolishness.” “You know how the FNM go, we don’t dictate how you should run your council but if it’s going against our national policy then you have to dissolve it and get new members. Things wasn’t going as positive as we thought it should go. “The first time when we had elections it was sort of a handpick. The MP is responsible for choosing his people who he want to be there. But the executive this time it will not be that way. This time its not going to be handpicked. The people are really going to decide who they want,” Mr Collie added, “there will be no interference.” Mr McAlpine told The Tribune in March he intends to run again in the
THE FEW people who don’t support me are on the gravy train or are trying to get on the gravy train, says Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine. Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff
Pineridge constituency even if he does not get the nomination from his party. Yesterday, the Pineridge MP said he believes his executive members could win the upcoming elections but will not participate in “petty politics”. Mr McAlpine has broken ranks with his party on several issues and has been critical of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on many occasions, including his harsh criticism of Dr Minnis’ failure to address the conduct of two FNM Cabinet ministers relating to the Frank Smith bribery and extortion trial. He believes the ministers should be treated the same way as he and two other FNM colleagues, who were fired from various appointed posts last year based on rules of the Westminster system when they voted against a VAT increase. Most recently, he abstained from voting in favour of the government’s recently passed Immigration Amendment Bill 2019. Mr McAlpine said he believes it effectively puts Bahamians in the back seat.
FNM CANCELS ANOTHER NATIONAL CONVENTION By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Free National Movement will forgo a national convention again this year despite its constitutional mandate to hold one every two years. The party last held a convention in July 2016. Yesterday, FNM chairman Carl Culmer said the party has enough resources for just one convention this year and the council chose to prioritise the Torchbearers Youth Association’s convention over a general one. The youth convention is scheduled for August. It is hoped the event will spotlight at least a handful of the millennials likely to run on the party’s ticket in the 2022 general election, an FNM source said. Mr Culmer said fulfilling the party’s constitutional requirement to hold a convention every two years would strain resources. “A convention is not cheap,” he said. “We have to manage our funds. To pull off a convention you need a minimum of $1 million. When the constitution was written, we had people living with their families when they came over. But to have people stay in hotels now, you’re looking at minimum of $200 a night. To have a minimum three-day convention you’re looking at per delegate a minimum of $600 to $700 per room.
You have to feed them, you have to buy an airplane ticket or whatever mode of transportation to get people here, so you’re looking at a significant expense and when you’re bringing someone for a convention you don’t want to bring them into something less than what they’re accustomed to. When the FNM is going to do something, we’re going to do it in style and when it is convenient for our party.” Mr Culmer revealed the FNM has established a committee that will recommend changes to its constitution. After a crushing loss in the 2017 general election, the Progressive Liberal Party embarked on a high-profile mission to amend its own constitution. Historically, critics have faulted the opacity of both major party constitutions and the considerable powers they grant party leaders. It is not uncommon for leadership contenders to criticise the delegate selection process of both parties, among other things. Mr Culmer would not say whether any specific constitutional changes are anticipated. “We have a committee now that is looking at our constitution and they are going to be making a number of recommendations,” he said. “We can’t change a constitution unless we’re at a convention and the convention must approve the constitution so at our next convention
our constitution will be up for amendments. We have appointed a chairman of the committee. Our party leader and our council gave the committee the mandate to look at the entire constitution to see what is relevant to the modern day Bahamas. Some things in the constitution are open ended and there is no teeth in it. When you look at the constitution, it’s vague and
FNM chairman Carl Culmer
we want to make sure persons can understand what the constitution is saying rather than assume what it’s saying and that’s one of the things the committee is going to look at that.” Mr Culmer declined to discuss the financial health of the FNM, though he said the party has completely paid off its 2017 general election bills. The PLP was expected
to have its convention this month. However, PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has said those plans became uncertain when its desired dates became unavailable at the Melia hotel. The PLP’s constitution requires the party to host a convention every year. The party postponed its convention last year for financial reasons, sources told this newspaper.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 7, 2019
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Equality is about more than just the right words HOW soon will there be a woman leading the police force? Well, we wouldn’t bet on it in a hurry, let’s put it that way. As Paul Rolle rose to the rank of acting deputy commissioner, paving the way for him to perhaps take the top job in future, the question was raised about how long it might be before a woman ascends to the role. On the face of it, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames’ answer ticked the right boxes. “I hope soon,” he says, and that he is “all about gender equality”. But when asked if a woman is a contender for the post of deputy commissioner, the answer was more to the point. “I don’t know. I don’t have the answer to that right now.” Well, perhaps you should know, Mr Dames. Perhaps you should consider another question. What are you doing to encourage promotion of women through the ranks? Are women being given the opportunity for leadership training – and the chance of leadership positions? If they are, then the leading candidates ought to be well known to the minister. Saying “may the best person win” sounds even-handed, but it isn’t always so. Some face more barriers than others in the race to prove themselves to be the
best person – a 100m race with hurdles rather than the clear run others have given. Indeed, it’s hard to have great faith in an even playing field when you look across to the House of Assembly that the minister sits in and see the absence of significant numbers of female MPs or members of the Cabinet. The wider political landscape has hardly been encouraging – with the resounding rejection of proposals in the gender equality referendum. If Bahamian women are voting against their own interests, then it’s clear there is a long way to go. So you’ll forgive us for thinking that Mr Dames’ answer sounds just a little patronising, a pat on the head rather than a genuine encouragement. If it were genuine, then we hope he will come to the microphone again and laud the steps being taken within the police force to advance women in the ranks. Let’s have action, please, not just another pat on the head. We look forward to the day when a woman takes on the role of top police officer in the land – but we’re not betting on it happening any time soon.
We don’t want this concrete catastrophe EDITOR, The Tribune EVERY day driving into Nassau from the west when I get to Junkanoo Beach I am aghast at the height and darkness that the new Pointe Hotel - Condos that the eight-nine floors have brought down over this area. What does PM Minnis or the land owners east of Rawson Square to the first PI bridge have in mind? Talk is that Minnis and Cabinet have conceded to the owners that they will allow eight-nine floors in redeveloped property as high as The Pointe. Now readers imagine the same identical visual-effect from Rawson Square to the first Paradise Island Bridge as at The Pointe? Solid concrete - the existing views across the harbour to Paradise Island and Atlantis gone…no air flows…Limiting light. This will be a massive
catastrophic of the proportion of craziness. Where is the Special Town Planning Committee for the City of Nassau? Asleep at the wheel assisting the greedy developers? Asleep as they can’t control what is happening with existing property which is under a preservation order…The property order simply lets it rot til hopefully it will fall down or someone will catch it a fire…problem solved…Old Hilton building example. Firstly why a broadway from Rawson east? Who is going to walk that two mile walkway? There should be more reclamation…the bulkhead should not be a straight line but broken allowing for inland water areas where more two-three story buildings for restaurants - boutique retail shops can be developed…there is no doubt that the site of the old Tropical Dock has to be a new cruise ship dock
allowing for mooring of two cruise boats (to successfully develop you must have a magnet to attract patrons). Bahamas National Trust, plus we the voters, must start screaming at Minnis and them…Look at The Pointe and imagine that height of buildings from Rawson Square to Paradise Island bridge? Imagine the utter ugliness. It is coming, if you don’t shout now it will. A eight-nine storey…100 foot high concrete wall blocking the existing views - natural light and fresh air from Rawson Square to Paradise Island bridge. PM Minnis & Co, don’t do this you will pay for it if you do. Yes, it is the People’s time not just the small group of selfish property owners who fill your political coffers up for election time. F SAWYER Nassau, May 5, 2019
Sly way to avoid adding to debt EDITOR, The Tribune SO PM and Minister Bannister are talking about this new fangled investment instrument they want to promote. Seems to be sort of a REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust - fixed guaranteed interest (frightening for Government!). Now Minister Bannister says there will be AFTER Labour Minister Dion Foulkes defended the government’s strategy on shanty towns, readers posted their responses on tribune242.com. DDK said: “While Foulkes et co. keep paying voluminous lip service to the ‘shanty town’ and immigration problem, it continues to grow by leaps and bounds, including constant building and expanding within, more illegal and illicit thriving
restrictions on who may purchase…as a lawyer I presume the Minister has read Article: 26 on Discrimination in the Constitution? You can limit everyone on the value or amount of Bonds or instruments they may purchase but you can’t tell Brent or Dionisio or Duane you can’t purchase! In my opinion this is only a sly way to avoid adding
businesses within, more undocumented persons, work permits being granted into perpetuity and ever increasing numbers of Bahamians being deprived of decent education, medical and social services.” Chucky posted this
to the debt…Pay a lower interest for B$’s that the banks would require and still do the development. Can’t have peppercorn rents now they have to be market value. Why can’t the FNM ever get something right when they think out of the box? MARIAN MURPHY Nassau May 5, 2019 comment: “I guess you can either change policy, build low cost housing, create opportunities to help elevate the lowest standards of living in a country. Or, alternatively, you can just bulldoze their houses. “You may claim either or any actions are intended to cause or influence change of a particular kind, though the bulldozer methodology is not quite as convincing if you have not tried everything else first.”
Blind loyalty to non-intervention makes no sense EDITOR, The Tribune I HAVE read comments from the opposition in the House of Assembly and from some commentators in the newspapers who believe that the government was wrong to agree with the majority of the member states of the OAS and of the European Union in recognizing Mr. Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela. I disagree. I believe that a change in government in Venezuela is urgently needed. I believe that the majority of Venezuelans want a change in government but they have been prevented from achieving their democratic will by the Venezuelan military that backs what has become a dictatorship. Widespread corruption in the government, supported by the military, has destroyed what was once a strong economy in Venezuela. The people of Venezuela
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net are suffering from lack of food, lack of medicines and other basic human necessities. The people are in open revolt in the streets. Children are dying from malnutrition and lack of medicine. People are being arbitrarily detained and abused by the government and the military. Many have been injured and many others have lost their lives. I understand that under normal circumstances in international affairs one country or group of countries should not interfere in the internal affairs of another country. But there is nothing normal about what is happening in Venezuela. Mr. Maduro is masquerading as a legitimate president. Even those countries that support him accept that his
last election was a fraud. It is frightening to me that in a blind loyalty to a theory of “non-intervention in the internal affairs of a country” nations of the world stand by as the lives of thousands of innocents are sacrificed as they were in Rwanda, in Bosnia and other countries. This cannot be right. It would also be a good thing if some commentators who have a different position on the current situation would refrain from demonizing those Caricom leaders who support the position on recognizing Mr. Guaido held by the European Union, most of Latin American and the Government of Canada led by Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Surely we can disagree and have open and honest debates without personalizing our arguments. OBSERVER Nassau, May 6, 2019
Poisoned legacy of Hanna Martin EDITOR, The Tribune I SAW Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin talking about misogyny the other day. What a hypocrite. She went along with the PLP in pushing the Bahamian people to vote against equality for women in a referendum called by the then FNM government. The PLP campaigned against the referendum in order to win an election. Because they poisoned the well, many women are now denied equal rights for a long time. This is now a part of the permanent legacy of Hanna Martin. When former Blue Hills MP Leslie Miller talked and joked about beating women, Hanna Martin said nothing publicly. Why didn’t she openly condemn his vicious statement about
a very serious issue in our country? Now she fixes her mouth to talk about misogyny. But at the time she did not defend her Bahamian sisters. As the MP for Englerston for nearly 20 years her constituency has remained in poor condition. With his Over-the-Hill initiative Prime Minister Hubert Minnis will do more in five years for the people in those communities, including Englerston, than Hanna Martin has done in her 17 years in the House of Assembly, including ten years as a cabinet minister. She likes to pretend that she is a progressive person. There is nothing progressive about her support of a PLP that still uses poor people just to get elected. Many progressive people
long ago stopped thinking of her as someone committed to the equality of women, to the poor and other progressive causes. She must have forgotten the misogyny of the PLP that led to her defeat as chairman of her party. Many Bahamians agree with Dr. Minnis that Mrs. Hanna Martin is mostly talk and very little substance and action. Why didn’t she openly condemn any corruption in the PLP during her time in government? She just kept quiet. She spent many years in the cabinet of Perry Gladstone Christie, the worst prime minister in Bahamian history. This is also a part of her weak record and legacy in government. PROUD BAHAMIAN Nassau May 4, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, PAGE 5
Better conditions for nurses now a top priority for Sands from page one Ministry of the Health has been asked to prioritise spending wishes on the basis of the hospital or Public Hospitals Authority. He said there are nearly 200 priorities they must consider. “So, we had to go from one down to 170 in terms of priorities. Budgets are all about priorities and what you believe is important and what strategic goals you wish to accomplish. And when I thought about what is important, I decided that among the top two things in terms of priority would be improved conditions for nurses,� he said. “That tells you where we stand right now with the Ministry of Health. There is no question that when we look at the healthcare force, comments suggested that nurses are an important part of the healthcare team,� said Dr Sands. He stressed nurses are the most critical to healthcare because they are often the first healthcare providers who interact with patients and their families. Dr Sands said: “We need to understand whether we are dealing with the Queen of England or Queenie from Bain Town, that every single human being deserves respect, love and support. There is nobody better trained to do that than nurses. “You are truly an important part of the team, and even though you may not feel as if you are appreciated at this time, I can assure you, you are.� Public health nurses have been at odds with the government in recent months. They have been agitating for unpaid overtime pay and have also fought a new shift system the Public Hospitals Authority wants to implement in the public healthcare system. Guest speaker Rebecca Johnson, senior nursing officer at Princess Margaret Hospital and president of Nursing Association of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Nassau branch, said that there is a shortage of nurses in the country and the association
is working with the ministry to address it. “We have a lot of persons who are eligible for retirement according to the amount of years that was served already, and so, you find nurses leaving because of retirement. In recent times, we find because of the global shortage we have the US, Canada, and the UK are coming and they are very aggressive in trying to recruit nurses. “They coming to the Bahamas and are now assisting persons with State Board [exams], and helping families find jobs, so it if very hard for us to compete now with that. So, we have to find strategies to encourage our nurses to stay home and take care of our people because we need nurses [too],� she said. Ms Johnson noted that in March officials held a major recruitment and retention symposium in Nassau. She stated an international nursing expert, Leanne Thyman, was present and helped them to look at developing some strategies to make recommendation to Dr Sands and other officials. The senior nurse also stated that they plan to implement a mentoring programme in the primary schools in the next school year to expose young people to the nursing profession, as well as professions in allied health. “We are short on nurses, but the other allied health professions are even worse than us. And so, we are looking at programmes we can do in the schools,� she said. Ms Johnson said that they met with Dr Sands on Thursday and presented the initial idea to him and he has agreed to support it. “We have to finish the draft and submit it to him, and so hopefully in September we will be able to bring the mentoring programme into the schools to expose young persons from a tender age to the nursing profession. If we constantly have a pool of persons coming into the profession you wouldn’t really feel it so much when you have persons leaving. If we are working on both ends, I think we can stem the tide,� she said.
YOUR country is in a fight to try to keep you here, Dr Duane Sands told nurses in Grand Bahama yesterday.
PIECES OF METAL FEARED TO BE IN CHICKEN STRIPS By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority has advised the public of a voluntary recall of chicken strips produced by Tyson Foods Inc that may be contaminated with pieces of metal. A statement issued by the Ministry of Health yesterday also
urged consumers to discard these products if purchased. The statement said there “is a likelihood that serious health consequences or even death can occur from eating these products.� According to BAHFSA’s advisory, on May 4 the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tyson had recalled more than 11 million pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strip products.
“This recall is an expansion of a March 21 recall that involved 69,093 pounds of the same product,� the advisory noted. The chicken strip products were produced from October 1, 2018 to March 8 with ‘use by dates’ of October 1, 2019 to March 7, 2020.� The statement encouraged consumers, local retailers and wholesalers to dispose of all Tyson chicken strip products with the plant number P-7221.
The statement added: “US distribution included retail, institutional use nationwide and the US Virgin Islands. “Local retailers and wholesalers are asked to check their inventory for this product bearing the establishment number provided and if found, remove the product from their freezers and do not sell to consumers. Consumers likewise, are asked to check their freezers and discard any suspect product.�
BAHFSA noted there have been no incidents in the Bahamas associated with this recall. “Six complaints have been documented in the US with three alleging oral injury. The Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit has not received any complaints to date regarding the recalled product.� Authorities encouraged customers with concerns to contact BAHFSA at bahfsa@bahamas.gov.bs.
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PAGE 6, Tuesday, May 7, 2019 By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net DESPITE recent high profile crimes, National Security Minister Marvin Dames was yesterday resolute in his view that the country is “in a much better place” when compared with two years ago. His comments came on the sidelines of a Caribbean Financial Action Task Force ceremony at Police Headquarters, where he told reporters Bahamians and tourists alike feel safer. He was responding to concerns raised over the recent sex assault on a tourist at a Paradise Island beach, and the brazen ‘smash and grab’ robbery at the Baha Mar location of John Bull on Sunday. “They’re incidents, we are investigating them. And you know, crime is — we are in a much better place today than we were two years ago, by far,” he told reporters. “But after having said that, we have to continue pushing and these
THE TRIBUNE
DAMES: WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE TWO YEARS AGO are the things that every [person], each and every one of us have a vested responsibility to ensure that we safeguard this country.” Addressing the Baha Mar incident directly, Mr Dames said police were advancing in their investigations and he hoped the matter would be brought to a closure soon. Referring to the occurrence as unfortunate, he said: “The thing is here, this incident took place on a property, in the Baha Mar itself, you know, you’re not going to prevent all of these things.” He added: “Listen, never said we were going to do away completely with crime. There is no country that can boast about not having any incidents
reported. But the point I am making here is, we are headed in the right direction. “All of the signs show that we are, and we will continue to do what we need to do to ensure that we keep Bahamians and visitors alike, safe.” On the alleged sexual assault, he further stated: “I was also updated by the police, I believe someone is in custody and assisting the police. We continue to work on these matters.” These incidents came after a Cuban-American businessman was shot dead at his Bimini home on Sunday, April 28. Notwithstanding its best efforts, the Bahamas has long grappled with
unflattering travel advisories due to incidents involving tourists. After a US State Department crime advisory was issued earlier this year, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during a multilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in March, raised issue about the warnings. Dr Minnis at the time insisted the advisories should be used to raise awareness and not initiate fear. He also said he had concerns that the advisories sometimes contained recycled and out of date information. When asked yesterday what negatives could arise from the two most recent cases, Mr Dames said while
he expected some type of reaction, he was more focused on ensuring the overall safety of the general public. He said: “Well listen, we’re concerned about every crime, all right. When a crime takes place someone is impacted. We’re concerned with crimes against Bahamians and visitors alike. So we don’t separate. Every crime is a concern to us.” On overall safety, he added: “Well, I mean, you know, I hear it a lot when we walk the streets. Remember now, there was a time when it was almost everyday and you would come in and say, ‘Well gee, I wonder what’s going on, minister what is being done?’
“…Now the questions are being reshaped, they are changing. They’re now, ‘What is it now?’ We have these long quiet periods and you have these few incidents. So even in the questions you are asking, it is changing, all right. So that’s a reflection in of itself, that some positive things are happening. “Are we there yet? No, I would be the first to tell you, and other members of our government will be the first to tell you that we’re not. While we feel that we are headed in the right direction and all of the indicators in every sector is pointing to that fact, we recognise that we still have a ways to go,” Mr Dames contended.
Bethel’s boast Two years in and no major errors, argues the attorney general from page one
I DON’T think there have been any fundamental errors, Carl Bethel said of the FNM’s first two years in government. Opposite: Prime Minister Hubert Minnis.
“If you look at the composition of the Cabinet, it is 95 percent very new ministers so there are bound to be missteps and hiccups, so the important thing is to learn from your errors it you will and to do better next time. “So I think the Minnis administration has shown a capacity to pick up the pieces and move on and to change based on any errors that may have been made.” When his attention was drawn to the Oban deal, Mr Bethel said: “With regard to that the government put a hold on it and has renegotiated and determined exactly what it would be prepared to agree to. If the proposed investor doesn’t agree to it, then that will be that.” About one month after the first questions were raised about the people fronting Oban, followed by a ceremonial Heads of Agreement signing that plunged the administration into one of the most sustained controversies of its term, Dr Minnis confessed to some mistakes. Mr Bethel was also asked whether it was too soon for the administration to be celebrating. “It is a milestone,” he said. “It brings us to the point where the party is looking towards the next election as are the opposition and the Bahamian people. But it’s a point also of reflection to sit back and to look at what we’ve done and what path we’ve put the country on and to point out those things that we have achieved in a positive way and looking forward to seeing how they will over time bring about the changes the Bahamian people voted
for. Essentially the bottom line is people want to feel the change they voted for in their pockets and their bank accounts. “So the extent to which we have managed for example just in economic terms over the past two years to secure two years of more than two percent economic growth after in excess of 10 years of negative meaning recession in this country is in my view a commendable achievement. “It’s not just economic growth. It’s been coupled with more financial discipline in terms of spending than I think we are used to in The Bahamas. At the end of the day it’s not how much you make it’s how much you save that determines whether you rise above your circumstances. The ability of the government to rein in spending but at the same time not compromise the provision of services to the people is very important. “If you cut out waste and abuse of public funds then it enables the country to stabilise its economy (and) it gives the government greater freedom to direct funds towards the things that are needed to help people to empower them.” National Security
Minister Marvin Dames also agrees the government has accomplished much after having to do a tremendous amount of work. He said yesterday: “I think we are on track and a good snapshot of that would be certainly when you look at what’s happening in the area of finance, education, tourism, crime all of these key sectors are performing very well and we’re moving into reaping time now. It’s reaping time. We’ve reduced our deficit coming out of the nine-month report by $130m and over the third quarter we would have some $40m surplus. Things are moving well.” He also said: “We’re excited we are able to pay down on our debt. We said that during this period we had like $170m in old bills we would have already paid some $110m down on that. Tourism is moving; 6.5m in tourist arrivals and hopefully we are expected to eclipse that this year. The numbers on almost every Family Island is up in double digits, that’s good.” Mr Dames also pointed to a “revolutionisation” of Bahamians schools and technological additions to the fight against crime as proof of the government’s accomplishments since 2017.
AG HOPING FOIA WILL BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel says it’s unlikely the Freedom of Information Act will be fully enacted this year. In fact he told radio hosts of the Morning Blend talk show yesterday the government was hoping for a timeline of early May 2020. According to Mr Bethel, the hold up has been the need to appoint an Information Commissioner and also the need for widespread training across government ministries and departments. “We certainly would like to
have this done by the end of the year,” said Mr Bethel. “There is no question of that. We want to have an information commissioner in place and begin the focused effort to fully train and equip all agencies with the necessary skills etcetera so we are able to bring this act fully into force hopefully in the foreseeable future. That is our hope. That by this time next year it will be fully enforced.” However he was quick to ask not be held to his own timeline. “You can’t hold me on a hope. I can only do my best. I am doing my best to move it forward and I am expressing the timeline that I have. There are all sorts
of imponderables and so please don’t tie me down. “I know the press loves to say the minister said it therefore its gospel, but unfortunately ministers are only human beings and only human.” Regarding the search for an information commissioner, Mr Bethel said the appointee will have to be independent of the political directorate. This raises the question of how the budget for this office would be handled. “It is a question of putting out feelers and assessing and of course persons can indicate their interest.” The government allocated just over $1m to assist in defraying the cost of bringing FOIA into
effect, Mr Bethel announced last year. The funds were presented as a budgetary line item in a list of allocations for the Office of the Attorney General & Ministry of Legal Affairs, as a part of the 2018-2019 budget. In his announcement at the time, the attorney general said despite the reduction of more than $350,000 in the allocation for permanent and pensionable salaries; and another $300,000 for contract workers, reflecting a more than $600,000 drop in the total allocation for personal emoluments and salaries; his office received a “slight increase” in other contractual services, particularly development contracts.
Among those other contractual services, Mr Bethel said just over $1m is earmarked for widespread training exercises, the appointment of a national information commissioner and the outfitting and staffing of that office - all associated with the continued implementation of FOIA. A FOIA was passed by the last Ingraham administration however the legislation was never enforced. The Christie administration passed a revamped version of the legislation shortly before the 2017 general election, however the law has not been fully enacted, despite repeated calls from activists and civil society groups.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, PAGE 7
FIRST COHORT COMPLETES LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames at yesterday’s ceremony for the first cohort to complete the first phase of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Leadership Programme. Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff
By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net
Minister looking forward to the day when a woman runs Bahamas police force By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames said yesterday he is “all about gender equality” adding he looks forward to the day a woman could one day “take the helm” of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. However, Mr Dames could not speak to whether a woman is currently in the running for the position of RBPF deputy commissioner. The National Security Minister made these comments on the sidelines of a ceremony at police headquarters, as he addressed both women in the force and the line of succession of law enforcement agencies. On May 2, the RBPF announced former Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle was appointed to the position of acting deputy commissioner of police. Acting Deputy Commissioner Rolle, who has served on the force for
36 years, was made head of the Anti-Corruption Unit of the RBPF in 2017, leading investigations into high-profile corruption allegations. When asked who will lead the unit in the wake of ADC Rolle’s promotion, Mr Dames underscored the importance of succession planning. “Well this is what succession planning is all about,” Mr Dames said. “So this will be an ongoing process. We talked about building capacity, we talked about building a robust succession planning model for our agencies. We have competent officers in uniform on the [RBPF] who are more than capable of assuming these positions. We just have to work to prepare more to bring others up to that level.” Mr Dames added he spent more than two decades on the police force, eventually serving as deputy commissioner himself before leaving the force. “They had to find another one,” he said. “Life goes on.”
When asked how soon it will be before there is a female commissioner or deputy commissioner, Mr Dames replied: “Well I hope soon.” “We have to prepare everybody,” he continued. “And may the best person win. And so, gender equality - listen, I grew up in a household where there were 12 of us. Eight girls, four boys. So I’m all about gender equality. We have some fine women officers in these agencies. And I look forward to the day that one of them could possibly take the helm. “Of course, we’re working towards that. We’re looking for the brightest and the best. And if the brightest and the best is a female, more power.” However, when asked if a woman is a contender for the post of deputy commissioner, Mr Dames said: “I don’t know. I don’t have the answer to that right now.” Editorial View - Page 4
A CEREMONY was held yesterday at the University of the Bahamas in honour of the first cohort of police officers and correctional officers for the completion of the first phase of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Leadership Programme. The programme is a partnership between the University of the Bahamas and Georgia State University. The programme was launched more than eight weeks ago. The minister said this weekend the 16 graduates will be travelling to Georgia to complete the second portion of their leadership programme. “Each of you will be working on attachments with law enforcement leaders from agencies in the United States at the federal, state and local levels. Garner as much knowledge as you can, make us proud, and know that we look forward to your safe return,” Mr Dames said. “On behalf of the government and people of the Bahamas, I congratulate the graduates on achieving this significant milestone in their professional careers and wish them the very best.” Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said: “Congratulations on your successful completion on the first phase of your programme. You couldn’t have made it this far without discipline, dedication and the desire to succeed. As you embark on the last leg of your certification programme at Georgia State for the job placement, I want you to rest assure knowing that you have my full support.” Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services Charles Murphy said: “I am particularly pleased and proud of our correctional officers who participated in this exercise. Participants you must be commended for the successful completion of this programme and on behalf of the Department of Correctional Services I congratulate all of you.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, May 7, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Marathon Man I RECENTLY met an unsung hero on First St, The Grove – a gem right among the people with a lifetime of giving and serving to share. Those of the generation before me may know his name. But all too often, wonderful people like Sam Williams get lost in the stories of today, when young people could benefit from learning of people like him and find their own way to make a similar or even greater impact. Sam Williams is known as “the Marathon Man” of The Bahamas. Long before marathons gained the popularity they have today, Sam was running and organising marathons and always for a good cause. He was the top long distance runner in the late 1970s and early 80s. He didn’t just make a name for himself running; he made a name for himself because of his big heart. He utilised his passion for running and love of country to promote many good causes for the benefit of the community. He organised races for heart and kidney foundations, for youth groups and churches all over the country. When Sam ran, he ran with a purpose bigger than himself, and for this reason, others saw his good deeds and contributed generously to the causes he championed. Well-known sports columnist Fred Stirrup wrote of him: “I recall Sam ‘Marathon Man’ Williams during the 1970s. No other has been as successful in distance running locally. There was a time when he was the outright favourite every time he took to the track or the road or the field. Indeed, he was a versatile distance standout. “The man was a champion on the track, on the road and in cross country. He stayed on top for years. Imagine the dedication, the resolve demonstrated by Williams. I can attest that he had an unwavering spirit when it came to training. Williams went all out at great expense to condition himself, physically and nutritionally, to withstand the demand of distance running. He did not have a personal nutritionist available. He got no assistance from the BAAA (Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association) in terms of his preparation for races. Williams operated in isolation, because of the system of the day. He got no subvention, nothing at all. What he wasn’t able to scrap up in donations had to come out of his pockets. However, he had an iconic and nationalistic outlook. God gave him a talent and he did his very best to maximize the gift. “Sam Williams was a standard bearer for long distance running in The Bahamas. His resilience and the proactive nature of others of his ilk, should serve as motivation for the parent body for track and field in the country to expand its national development programme.” To date, the emphasis is still on the sprinters who have shone internationally in World Games, Olympics, Carifta and so many other events, putting The Bahamas on the map for many who may not have heard of us. But there still remains a grand opportunity to
SAM Williams in action and, top right, is proud to have made a contribution to executives at the AIDS camp.
Sam’s never stood still and always goes the distance for others nurture and develop the talents of young people with a knack for long distance running - and Sam can prove he still has much to offer to his country. For the moment, he is still chilling in his yard on First Street, taking the time to speak to the young people in his community; but he could be doing so much more. He is still fit and can be seen walking where he has to go when visiting neighbours, going to the store and so on. Sam is no stranger to teaching children. After graduating from Western Senior High School, he attended Camden County College in New Jersey. Upon his return to New Providence, he taught physical education at C.I. Gibson High School. During his teaching career, he also taught children at
what was the Girls and Boys Industrial Schools. On his Bain Town stomping grounds, he rallied the young people together and created the Bain Town Flyers Track Club. He developed the Sir Milo Butler Memorial Road Race in the 1980s and received support from Mrs Butler and sponsors like the Nassau Cable Beach Paradise Island Promotion Board. When the government of the day was considering naming a newly-built highway after Nelson Mandela, Sam went into action and petitioned until he rallied enough support to convince the government to name it after one of our own national heroes: Sir Milo Butler. He also agitated for the Tonique Williams Highway to be named in honour of
the Golden Girl who grew up in the Yellow Elder area. He says the once popular Bahama Games was his brainchild. The idea came to him, he says, because he would travel to various islands hosting sporting clinics, and noticed the massive potential of Family Island students to become sporting greats for the country. Sam is the founder of the Bahamas Loving Care Association, one which was well-known for philanthropic efforts on a national scale. The association started out with Sam reaching out to people right in Bain Town who needed help. There were homes in need of desperate repair, people living in derelict conditions who needed help. Sam was able to rally government and private agencies to help these people, as he points out, long before Urban Renewal programmes came into existence. Bahamas Loving Care once held a “Celebration of Life” ceremony to pay tribute to the heroes who rendered assistance to passengers of Southern Air after a plane crash. The association, which has been in existence for more than 40 years, held walk-a-thons and bikea-thons and helped raise money for numerous worthy causes, including sickle cell anaemia, HIV/ AIDS, the kidney foundation, the Salvation Army, hurricane relief and disaster relief efforts in Haiti and Africa. The group also held competitions in inner city communities for the
best kept home and yard, agitated for stevedores at Prince George Wharf to have proper safety gear, and raised money for poop sacks to be placed in the back of the horses that frequent Bay and Shirley Streets, ultimately making these main thoroughfares much cleaner. On another occasion, Sam and Bahamas loving care arranged for 250 senior citizens to leave the old folks homes and enjoy a full day’s boat cruise and luncheon. “I just love helping people; I have a calling on me to do the Lord’s work,” Sam said. “My mother died in childbirth. My grandmother and stepmother raised me. I feel I have to give back to the country.” The father of five and grandfather of five has so much to offer and isn’t giving up. He was active in agitating for sign language experts to take the stage at rallies during general elections. He is currently pushing to see sign language implemented at all major churches so the deaf can receive the messages of the Gospel. He is the recipient of numerous awards including: inducted by Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest into the National Sports Hall of Fame 1995 at Government House; First Caribbean Unsung Heroes 2007; Marathon Bahamas 2010 Pioneer in Long Distance Running; plaque of appreciation from Sir Milo Butler’s family in 2001; and many others. Apex Awards called him: “A special man who
cares enough to make time for others… someone who knows that giving makes living a pleasure.” Sam Williams has friends far and wide internationally. He operated a limousine service for years and made an impact on the tourists who came to visit. One Canadian wrote of him on their blog: “In becoming an avid traveller to The Bahamas, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting what I term “beautySpirits”, both Bahamians and nonBahamians, who exhibit such selfless love and service to the country that one cannot help but view them as marvellous blessings to the Bahamas. One is Sam “Marathon Man” Williams. Sam, a dedicated Bahamian patriot, has involved himself in serving the needs of the less fortunate residents of the country through his work as founder/president of the Bahamas Loving Care Association. “When a young Bahamian lost her mother and brother through a murder/suicide at the hand of her father, the Bahamas Loving Care Association spearheaded a drive to provide a scholarship for the deserving young lady. When a courageous Bahamian, Victor “Easy” King sacrificed his life in rescuing several children from their burning home, Sam immediately put forth a ceaseless effort (which continues to this day) to have this Bahamian hero appropriately honoured there in his country. Sam is a dynamic servant to the beautiful Bahamian land of his birth and he can always be found working ardently on the behalf of Bahamian citizens in need of a voice, love, and recognition. He is a beautySpirit whose contributions should go down in the annals of Bahamian history.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, PAGE 9
KILLER MOTORISTS FINED $10K AFTER TWO DIE from page one
Meanwhile, two men, Elton Hart and Roscoe Johnson, were both fined in connection with a traffic accident which claimed the life of pedestrian Leon Cooper on March 25. Hart was fined $10,000 for killing in the course of dangerous driving
and also had his driver’s licence suspended. He will serve one year in prison if the fine is not paid. Johnson was fined $5,950 for dangerous and reckless driving; driving while not covered against third party risk insurance; and driving without a driver’s licence. He too will serve a year in prison if the fine is not paid.
Concerning the accident involving Butler, according to reports, shortly after 2am on the date in question, police were called to the scene of a traffic accident on Carmichael Road and Cedar Way, involving a male motorcyclist who had collided with a truck. Paramedics were subsequently called to the scene and confirmed the male had died.
Concerning the incident with Hart and Johnson, shortly after 2am on March 25, police were called to the scene of a traffic accident on Blue Hill Road and Wulff Road involving a dark blue Honda Accord and a light blue Honda Accord driven by two males. A male pedestrian was struck in the process and died at the scene.
PAIR DENY DRUGS OFFENCES AFTER ECSTASY PILLS WORTH $110,000 ARE FOUND IN RAID By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net TWO men were remanded to prison yesterday after denying being caught during a raid last week with over $100,000 worth of ecstasy pills, over 5,000 anti-anxiety pills and other illegal drugs they intended to supply to others. Jermaine Adderley and Adam Johnson of Dorchester Street both entered not guilty pleas to claims they were caught with $110,000 worth of ecstasy pills when police searched a house on Dorchester Street they were in last Tuesday. The pair, ages 26 and 25 respectively, also denied being caught in possession of 10 methamphetamine pills and one pound of marijuana worth $1,000 they both planned to distribute to others on that same
date. Adderley and Johnson also denied unlawfully storing some 5,448 Alprazolam pills; 1,090 Xanax pills; and 13 Oxycodone pills they planned to sell to others at the residence in question, which is not registered for that purpose in accordance with the Pharmacy Act. Alprazolam is the generic name for Xanax. Adderley was further charged with being in possession of a quantity of marijuana on the date in question, a claim he also denied. According to police reports, shortly after 8pm on the date in question, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers conducted
a search of a home on Dorchester Street off Virginia Street and recovered a large quantity of dangerous drugs, inclusive of the aforementioned. Two men who were in the home at the time of the discovery were subsequently taken into custody. Given their not guilty pleas, the matter was adjourned to August 15 for trial. Bail was denied and the pair were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim. They have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
• A 25-YEAR-OLD man from Suriname was taken into custody at Lynden Pindling International Airport on Sunday after he was found in possession of dangerous drugs. Police said shortly after 3pm, officers conducted a search of a man who arrived from Jamaica and recovered eight packages of suspected cocaine from his luggage. The man was taken into custody and is expected to be formally charged later this week.
ADAM JOHNSON, above, and Jermaine Adderley, top left, deny various drug charges. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
RESIDENTS FIGHTING GOVT’S ERADICATION POLICY By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE applicants leading the judicial review challenge of the government’s decision to eliminate shanty towns do not have a building permit and are in violation of the Building Regulations Act, according to the affidavit of Building Controls Officer in the Ministry of Public Works Craig Delancy. Mr Delancy said his department had no record of a permit application by Elisnor and Lumane Nonord of Cowpen Road despite claims made in supporting affidavits that the pair applied for a permit to rebuild their home after it was destroyed by fire. “A search of the records of the division revealed no evidence of Elisnor and Lumane Nonord having made an application for a permit in 2012 or at any other time going forward,” his 244-page affidavit read. He said the Nonords have not produced the building plan or copy of the permit and, as such, are in violation of the act. Mr Delancy said it could not be determined whether their home was code-worthy as it had not been inspected. Lumane Nonord is among 177 residents, alongside non-profit group Respect Our Homes Limited (ROHL), who are fighting the government’s “eradication policy”. Mr Delancy’s affidavit and another from Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, who chairs the Shanty Town Action Task Force (SATF), were submitted on May 2 in response to claims made by applicants.
For his part, Mr Delancy stated his disagreement with the facts set out in the applicants’ affidavits and said he did not feel as though it gave a fair impression of the circumstances or the living conditions faced by residents. He further outlines the cases of several applicants, who claim to be long-term residents but there are no records proving there were ever any approved building permits, inspections, or occupancy certificates. Mr Delancy noted the case of Veronica Francois, who claimed to have lived at a building in Bedrock West with her family since 1990. Ms Francois did not provide evidence of the building’s conveyance to her name, according to Mr Delancy, however, an examination of two successive voter’s cards indicate her addresses in 2006 and 2011 were in the Blue Hill Road area in the Bain and Grants Town Constituency. Mr Delancy said he believed her residency claim to be a “total fabrication”. In defence that his decisions were unfettered, Mr Delancy recounted several shanty town demolition exercises undertaken separately during his tenure, as well as instances where private home owners in other areas had been issued warnings. He pointed to the demolition of five buildings in an area off Joe Farrington Road, and 17 buildings on a private property in Seabreeze Lane in 2013, and a joint exercise with DEHS in 2015 that demolished 60 illegally constructed buildings on five acres of land in Gamble Heights off Baillou Hill Road South. “I execute my duties within the
ONE of the shanty towns in The Bahamas. framework of the BRA and I do not discriminate,” Mr Delancy said. “I direct that inspections be carried out as a matter of course when a complaint is made to me by the public.” As for the government’s Shanty Town Project, Mr Delancy said he was directed by the Ministry of Works to perform his duties on the SATF, but noted it was made clear that he was to exercise his powers independently. Mr Delancy led a 20-member technical team to conduct assessments over a series of weekends from April 15 to May 5, 2018. His report points to a total of “approximately 450-500 structures” located in shanty towns across New Providence. Those shanty towns were located on: Montgomery Avenue, 58 structures; Allen Drive, 27;
Faith Avenue North/Bellot Road and Olga Ave, 15; Cowpen Road East/ East of Golden Isles Road, 23; Gold Isles Road/All Saints Way, 84; Lazaretto Road, 29; Hamster Road/Butler’s Way, 47; Cowpen Road/West of Faith Avenue, 49; Bacardi Road North/ Bedrock Ct, 38; Bacardi Road South/Honeydew Ct, 22; and Kool Air Subdivision, 67. The highest percentage of compliance with the building code was in Bacardi Road North/Bedrock Ct with sixty percent or 23 of 38 structures. In the Hamster Road/Butler’s Way community, none of the 47 structures were code-worthy. A written notice was published in the newspaper for residents to come in to the department to verify they held building permits or occupancy certificates within 14 days.
Mr Delancy said since the notice was posted the department received 31 cases, where people either received an occupancy certificate, had a building permit, or submitted an application. Contravention notices were placed on July 9, 2018 and gave owners 28 days to pull down or remove buildings. In two cases, occupancy certificates were provided and it was determined those structures would not be demolished. In 29 other cases, some of which produced building permits, it was determined structures were still in contravention because there were no occupancy certificates and it was found the structures were not build according to the plans submitted for the permit. “From my observation and that of the building inspectors, many buildings were constructed too close together, and in some areas, too close to the road,” Mr Delancy’s affidavit read. “Buildings laid out in such a clustered manner are a serious risk to all of the surrounding buildings and is a major fire hazard. It continued: “I found the vast majority of buildings did not have proper sanitary disposal systems, that is to say, the use of septic tanks and soak away or sewer connections. Very few buildings had potable water supplied to them, while the majority had well-water supplied which were situated in very close proximity to ‘their’ version of a septic tank which in many instances were merely a pipe from the buildings into a hole in the ground.”
PAGE 10, Tuesday, May 7, 2019 HAVING commented briefly in an earlier column about utilising the potential of the Family Islands, I found the recent exchanges in the House of Assembly about the Immigration Bill’s amendments concerning foreign business visitors especially interesting, not least because of the indication of an easing of immigration restrictions. As an outsider, there is always the danger of not having the full picture, but it seems any such easing fits in with the FNM government’s efforts to modernise, deregulate and liberalise the economy and with the intent of the Commercial Enterprises Act. It is also consistent with the nation’s application to join the World Trade Organisation which is claimed to be essential to secure longterm economic growth. I found equally interesting the remarks reported in last week’s Tribune by Frederick Smith about the need to adapt immigration rules for investment and development purposes – he described The Bahamas as having been ‘choked by oppressive, repressive, discriminatory and abusive immigration policies’ – but what also struck me was his reference to aspiring to be like Singapore. That is an old chestnut that has always intrigued observers of this country who wonder why The Bahamas has not been able to emulate Singapore in building such a dramatically successful economy. The main island of Singapore is not much bigger than New Providence. Its first and longest-serving prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, successfully transformed a poor island lacking natural resources into the economically powerful financial centre and shipping, aviation and logistics hub it is
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We’ve got the space, all we need is the Big Idea The Peter Young column today. It is clear he made Singapore attractive to investors by instituting an efficient bureaucracy, a low and transparent tax regime and zero tolerance of corruption while creating some first-class infrastructure. But, most importantly in our own local context, he welcomed immigrants in a considered and controlled manner and attracted highcalibre people with the skills needed to help to develop the local economy and he managed to secure the integration of foreign and home-grown talent. Some say the sort of authoritarianism practised in Singapore to achieve its new economic status and success would not be appropriate here at home. But it can be argued that in order
to benefit fully from globalisation The Bahamas needs a fresh approach to its protectionist immigration policies. In efforts in the past to promote trade and investment from Britain, I have been accustomed to singing the praises of The Bahamas and explaining to potential investors the myriad advantages the country has to offer. I tell them about the benefit of proximity to the world’s largest market, the nation’s stable political system and respect for the rule of law with the Privy Council as the highest Court of Appeal, the level of wealth, the good existing infrastructure and an equable climate with plenty of land spaced out over some 25 inhabited islands. I also talk about the industrial zone in Grand Bahama with its tax concessions, its container trans-shipment terminal, its ship-repair yard and its seaair business centre together with the nation’s hugely successful tourism sector with more than five million visitors annually, its worldclass hotels and resorts like Atlantis and Baha Mar, its marine resources and so many opportunities for ecotourism as well as sailing, fishing and other sports – and then I wax lyrical about the unmatched beauty of the Exuma chain…….and so it goes on! The more I have been pushing this message, however, the more I have come
PERHAPS more attention should be given to ways of taking advantage of the huge areas of undeveloped land available so close to Florida and to introducing imaginative measures to stimulate economic activity in the Family Islands as a whole.
to realise so much of the real action in The Bahamas takes place in the northern and most heavily populated islands of New Providence, Grand Bahama and, to a lesser extent, Abaco. Some say that, notwithstanding the PLP’s idea of anchor projects in as many islands as possible, investing in the Family Islands brings little return because there are simply too few people there to make a business function properly. If that is indeed an impediment to economic activity, one wonders
whether the broad issue of the movement of people and the utilisation of available land in the islands has been examined fully as a matter of overall importance to the nation’s economy. While, of course, it goes without saying protection of the environment should be an important priority and indiscriminate development should be avoided – particularly in a country that attracts visitors for its beautiful and unspoilt scenery and waters - many of the Family Islands
do appear to be underpopulated (for example, Andros) and from what I understand there are vast tracts of land available for use. As an observer, one hesitates to offer prescriptions. But perhaps more attention should be given to ways of taking advantage of the huge areas of undeveloped land available so close to Florida and to introducing imaginative measures to stimulate economic activity in the Family Islands as a whole.
REMEMBERING A DEAR FRIEND THE article in The Tribune last Thursday by The Editor about the role of Donald McKinney in helping to end racial discrimination in The Bahamas prompts me to write as well in memory of his brother, Andrew, whom my wife and I were honoured to call a good friend and who passed away in 2015 when he was in his nineties. As a diplomat, one meets many new people during a posting. All too soon it is time to move on to another country so, inevitably, there is limited opportunity for encounters to develop into genuine and lasting friendships – but, to our great good fortune, our contact with Andrew did just that. As a member of a famous old Bahamian family, he was a remarkable and accomplished person who led a long, varied and productive life of considerable and wide ranging achievement. We spent much time together including visits to his island in Georgian Bay in Canada and always appreciated his company and good humour, not least his many stories and Bahamian tales as an amusing raconteur. There is insufficient space here to do justice to Andrew, but I was privileged to be asked to deliver a eulogy at his funeral service and was able to describe at that time the details of his life and of his many achievements. Suffice it to say now that I much valued our friendship and my wife and I remember him with great affection. We both continue to miss him dearly.
DONALD McKinney played a prominent role in helping to end racial discrimination in The Bahamas. He is pictured above with former governor Sir Ralph Grey and, right, with Reginald Farrington, who was in the shipping business and, in the middle, Dr C R Walker after whom the CR Walker Senior High School is named.
A little local difficulty heaps problems on May OVER the last few months, most people – including, I suspect, the main protagonists – will have doubtless become thoroughly fed up with the never-ending and still unresolved saga of Brexit. Sadly, the current political turmoil in the UK as a result of Brexit took another turn for the worse last week with Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party suffering a drubbing in elections to choose local government councillors. Such local elections, covering some 250 councils, take place every four years in England. This time around, about 1,300 Tory candidates were defeated. That was not unexpected given the public anger over Mrs May’s perceived mishandling of the
Brexit negotiations; but, interestingly, the opposition Labour Party also fared badly, losing over 80 seats, and this was clear evidence the people’s patience with both the mainstream parties had run out. The Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and others made gains accordingly. Even allowing for so-called ‘protest voting’ in local elections, this was a dreadful outcome for the Tories and a humiliating defeat for Mrs May personally since she is being blamed for failing to deliver the result of the 2016 referendum. It is also being seen as a final warning to both the Conservatives and Labour as it appears the political landscape in Britain is being reshaped,
including the emergence of a new Brexit party. The Prime Minister’s tenacity and resilience in the face of adversity has been much admired. But people are now wondering at what point that turns into unattractive stubbornness and obduracy as she continues to insist her Withdrawal Agreement is a good one despite being voted down three times in the House of Commons. With the UK’s departure date from the EU now extended to the end of October, her latest proposal to the Labour Party, from whom she is seeking cross-party support, is to ask for a temporary customs arrangement with the EU together with selective alignment with single market regulations. That
BRITISH PM Theresa May. looks to be misguided and will undoubtedly infuriate the Leavers. So this discreditable episode in British politics drags on with no sign of early resolution. The beleaguered Mrs May could soon
be forced to stand down on the grounds she herself has become an impediment to Brexit. Meanwhile, the absurdity of Britain preparing to participate in the European Parliament elections from 23 to 26 May, when it was supposed to have left the EU on 29 March, will be apparent to all. Only a fool would dare to predict what will happen in the coming weeks and months. As Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland said, ‘Curiouser and curiouser…….’ • Peter Young is a retired career diplomat and former British High Commissioner to The Bahamas where he is now a permanent resident.
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Tuesday, May 7, 2019, PAGE 11
US SENDING AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO MIDEAST, CITING IRAN THREATS WASHINGTON Associated Press THE US is sending an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East ahead of schedule and warning that Iran and its proxy forces are showing “troubling and escalatory” indications of a possible attack on American forces in the region. Exactly what prompted the action was unclear, but it marked a further step in sharply rising tensions between the Trump administration and the Islamic Republic. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Sunday night the
US was deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the Middle East, intending to send a message that “unrelenting force” will meet any attack on American forces or allies. “The United States is not seeking war with the Iranian regime, but we are fully prepared to respond to any attack, whether by proxy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or regular Iranian forces,” he said. Neither Bolton nor other officials would provide any details about the supposed threat, which comes as the Trump administration wages a campaign of
intensifying pressure against Iran and nearly a year after it withdrew from an Obama-era nuclear deal with Tehran. In Iran, the semi-official ISNA news agency yesterday quoted an anonymous official as saying that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani planned a broadcast address on Wednesday and might discuss “counteractions” Tehran will take over America’s withdrawal from the international nuclear deal. The agreement limited Iran’s enrichment of uranium amid Western concerns that Tehran’s program could allow it to build nuclear weapons. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes.
With its pressure campaign, the US administration is trying to get Iran to halt activities such as supporting militant activities that destabilize the Middle East and threaten US allies, including Israel, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. “Our objective is to get the Islamic Republic of Iran to behave like a normal nation,” Pompeo told reporters during a visit to Finland. “When they do that, we will welcome them back.” The order to the carrier group would get the Abraham Lincoln into the Middle East about two weeks earlier than initially planned following exercises in the
Mediterranean region, according to a US defense official who wasn’t authorised to speak publicly so spoke on the condition of anonymity. For years, the US maintained a carrier presence in the Persian Gulf and Middle East region. During the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there were two carriers in the area, but that was reduced to one. Last year the administration decided to end the continuous carrier presence, and send a strike group only intermittently into the region. The US Navy currently has no aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.
IT’S A BOY FOR HARRY AND MEGHAN THE Duchess of Sussex has given birth to a boy, Prince Harry confirmed yesterday, saying they were “absolutely thrilled”. He said Meghan and the baby were doing “incredibly well”, adding that they were still thinking about names. Buckingham Palace said the baby weighed 3.2kg. Asked what it was like to be present for the birth, Harry said: “It was amazing, absolutely incredible and, as I said, I’m so incredibly proud of my wife. As every father and parent will ever say, you know, your baby is absolutely amazing, but this little thing is absolutely to-die-for, so I’m just over the moon. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension.”
PLANE HEAVY WITH EXTRA FUEL BEFORE EXPLOSION MOSCOW Associated Press
PRINCE Harry outside Windsor Castle yesterday after his wife Meghan gave birth to a baby boy.
Humans threaten 1m species with extinction Associated Press PEOPLE are putting nature in more trouble now than at any other time in human history, with extinction looming over 1 million species of plants and animals, scientists said yesterday. But it’s not too late to fix the problem, according to the United Nations’ first comprehensive report on biodiversity. “We have reconfigured dramatically life on the planet,” report co-chairman Eduardo Brondizio of Indiana University said. Species loss is accelerating to a rate tens or hundreds of times faster than in the past, the report said. More than half a million species on land “have insufficient habitat for long-term survival” and are likely to go extinct, many within decades, unless their habitats are restored. The oceans are not any better off. “Humanity unwittingly is attempting to throttle the living planet and humanity’s own future,”
A LEMUR looks through the forest in Madagascar. said George Mason University biologist Thomas Lovejoy, who has been called the godfather of biodiversity for his research. He was not part of the report. “The biological diversity of this planet has been really hammered, and this is really our last chance to address all of that,” Lovejoy said. Conservation scientists convened in Paris to issue the report, which exceeded 1,000 pages. The
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) included more than 450 researchers who used 15,000 scientific and government reports. The report’s summary had to be approved by representatives of all 109 nations. Some nations hit harder by the losses, like small island countries, wanted more in the report. Others, such as the United States, were cautious in the language they sought, but they agreed “we’re in trouble,” said Rebecca Shaw, chief scientist for the World Wildlife Fund, who observed the final negotiations. “This is the strongest call we’ve seen for reversing the trends on the loss of nature,” Shaw said. The findings are not just about saving plants and animals, but about preserving a world that’s becoming harder for humans to live in, said Robert Watson, a former top NASA and British scientist who headed the report.
The report’s 39-page summary highlighted five ways people are reducing biodiversity: • Turning forests, grasslands and other areas into farms, cities and other developments. The habitat loss leaves plants and animals homeless. • Overfishing the world’s oceans. A third of the world’s fish stocks are overfished. • Permitting climate change from the burning of fossil fuels to make it too hot, wet or dry for some species to survive. • Polluting land and water. Every year, 300 to 400 million tons of heavy metals, solvents and toxic sludge are dumped into the world’s waters. • Allowing invasive species to crowd out native plants and animals. “The key to remember is, it’s not a terminal diagnosis,” said report co-author Andrew Purvis of the Natural History Museum in London.
A RUSSIAN airliner that took off from Moscow was airborne for just 28 minutes before returning to make an emergency landing while still heavy with unburned fuel, which then ignited after a rough touchdown. Flames quickly engulfed the aircraft, killing 41 of the 78 people aboard. A day after Sunday’s horrifying accident at Sheremetyevo airport, Russian news media quoted the pilot, Denis Evdokimov, as saying he followed procedures for landing with excess weight. But the crew reportedly did not dump any fuel, which is common for flights that have to land soon after takeoff to prevent being overly heavy. The pilot said he was not certain why the plane landed hard. Video showed flames bursting from the jet’s underside as it touched down, then raging across the rear of the Sukhoi SSJ100’s fuselage within seconds as the airliner bounced down the runway. “Everything happened right away, at lightning speed. There was a strong blow — my eyes almost popped out — a second was a little quieter, a third, and then smoke, and it started to burn immediately,” survivor Marina Sitnikova said. When the plane came to a halt, some of the people aboard plunged down inflatable slides deployed from the forward part of the plane. Some of those who escaped were carrying luggage, raising concerns that grabbing their bags may have delayed an evacuation in which every second was critical.
PAGE 12, Tuesday, May 7, 2019
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MINISTRY OF WORKS GETS THE KEYS TO $1.6M FLEET OF CARS By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net A FLEET of new vehicles for the Ministry of Works will impact the country’s ease of doing business and facilitate government inspections, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister said on Friday. He spoke on the sidelines of a ceremony for the presentation of keys for a fleet of new vehicles - valued at $1.6m - to various departments at the Ministry of Works, including the Family Islands. The fleet represents the first tranche of a $3m allocation, according to Mr Bannister, who added the remaining $1.4m will be used to purchase more vehicles in July. “For many years,” he said, “you the staff had to make do with vehicles that are aged and continue to break down oftentimes barely functional. Wear and tear has taken its toll on the current fleet. Many of the cars are inoperable, others are in poor working conditions despite constant repairs and servicing. . . “In fact, when I was appointed minister every single department I visited without exception complained to me about their vehicular woes and the inadequacies of their fleets.
I’ve heard many stories of officers having to catch rides with non-employees in order to carry out their job functions.” The works minister highlighted the importance of providing timely interactions with the general public – one of the benefits of this acquisition. Mr Bannister said: “First it will impact the country’s ease of doing business, ranking as it relates to conduct and the facilitation of inspections. Secondly it will provide greater access of transportation to facilitate the work of the ministry, particularly as it relates to our major involvement and relation to the summer school repair programme. Thirdly it is going to improve and enhance the Ministry of Public Works’ efficiency of the delivery of service to the general public
and also enhance employee morale.” Fielding questions from reporters on Friday, Mr Bannister also defended the 12-day repaving exercise of Sir Milo Butler Highway. He said it was critical for his ministry to ensure road safety for the driving public. He said: “That highway has one of the highest traffic counts of any road in this country. If you go on that highway from 8am to about 10am you will see a constant line of traffic. When our engineers checked it, they were concerned about a number of factors and so it was important for us to have it repaved and easier to repave that than many other roads in New Providence. Because we don’t have a lot of restrictions we have with pipes, etc, under the highway.”