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VOLUME:114 No.128, MAY 25TH, 2017
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Anti-corruption pledge by FNM
Legislation lined up for campaign finance By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
IN keeping with its campaign promise to wipe out malfeasance in government and increase transparency, the Free National Movement administration pledged yesterday to create and enforce anti-corruption legislation for parliamentarians and public officers. Legislation was also promised to amend the Public Disclosure Act to include a campaign finance component and allow for a matter to be referred to an independent prosecutor. The new administration also promised yesterday to give the Office of the Auditor General more autonomy. For several months ahead of his party’s crushing defeat of the then governing Progressive Liberal Party, stamping out acts of corruption was a common theme upon which now
L SOUR CE
PLANS TO REDUCE, NOT REPEAL VAT ON COMMON GOODS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net IN yesterday’s Speech from The Throne, the new government said it will reduce value added tax on breadbasket items, as the Minnis administration also outlined plans to transform Over-the-Hill communities. It is not clear if this is a shift in the administration’s VAT plans, as the Free National Movement had repeatedly promised in recent years to repeal VAT on such items, not just to reduce the tax rate on them. Details of the government’s tax plans were outlined in yesterday’s Speech from The Throne, read by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling. The government said it “will take action to effect a reduction of VAT on breadbasket items”. SEE PAGE SIX
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY TO FIGHT CRIME ON GOVT AGENDA By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis presents Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling with the Speech from the Throne yesterday. Photo: Peter Ramsay/BIS Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis capitalised. The government recommitted itself to achieving this objective, as it was one of many goals detailed in the Speech from the
Throne yesterday – delivered by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling in Rawson Square. The auspicious event, brimming with pomp and pageantry was filled with
scores of elegantly dressed Bahamians who gathered to listen to the Minnis administration’s “ambitious” five-year plan. “When we look around the world, we easily come
to appreciate how fortunate we are, and what a privilege it is to be a citizen of The Bahamas,” Dame Marguerite said. SEE PAGE THREE
REFERENDUM PLANNED ON TERM LIMITS, RECALL SYSTEM By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net THE Minnis administration will seek the consent of the electorate by way of a referendum on instituting term limits for the prime
minister, a recall system for nonperforming members of Parliament and an independent Constituencies Commission and Electoral Commission, the Speech from The Throne revealed yesterday. The speech, which revealed the government’s intended plans over
the next five years, was read by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling. The government also intends to create an Office of the Ombudsman to provide a direct source of relief. It is hoped that people who have legitimate grievances
due to the actions or inaction of the government or any public agency will have a form of recourse through this mechanism, the Speech from The Throne noted. SEE PAGE THREE
PLP: FNM IS FOLLOWING IN OUR FOOTSTEPS
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Progressive Liberal Party tried to brand much of the government’s agenda in
RASPBERRY ICED TEA
the Speech from The Throne as a continuation of the previous administration’s plans. “We listened intently and the reality is that the Speech from The Throne is an acknowledgement of the
transformative foundation already constructed by the PLP government,” Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said at a SEE PAGE FIVE
THE newly elected Free National Movement government yesterday promised to “implement modern crime fighting initiatives,” collaborate with civic leaders, including the religious community and initiate neighbourhood safety programmes in an effort to “reduce the culture of violence” in The Bahamas. The Minnis administration also promised to have a zero tolerance for all crimes, including minor infractions. Yesterday, the government also said it would work to reduce youth and overall unemployment and invest in skills training. In the Speech from the Throne, which was read by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling at the opening of Parliament, the government also promised to enact legislation to establish the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and formally establish a Guns and Gangs Unit. SEE PAGE SEVEN
SECURITY GUARD STEPS IN TO SHOOT KNIFE ATTACKER By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
A CONCERNED citizen shot and severely injured a
suspect yesterday morning, moments after the man allegedly stabbed another man on a public bus. The incident took place shortly after 11am on Carmichael Road.
According to a police report, two males attacked a man on a public service bus and stabbed him. A concerned citizen, who witnessed the incident, intervened and
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shot one of the suspects with his licenced shotgun. The Tribune understands the shooter was a security SEE PAGE SEVEN
PAGE 2, 0, May 25, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
FRANKIE Campbell MP at the opening of Parliament yesterday.
DR Duane Sands MP at yesterday’s ceremony.
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and his wife Patricia Minnis yesterday. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling at yesterday’s Speech from the Throne.
BRENT Symonette MP outside Parliament yesterday.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 25, 2017, PAGE 3
FORMER prime minister Hubert Ingraham in the crowd at yesterday’s Speech from the Throne. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
A PLP supporter at yesterday’s ceremony.
Anti-corruption pledge by FNM from page one
“The members of our new Parliament surely recognise what a privilege it is to serve, in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, some of the most favoured people, lands and seas to be found anywhere on God’s earth. “We owe it to ourselves and we owe it to our God, to focus first, foremost and forever, on restoring those values that our forefathers espoused at the founding of our nation 44 years ago. “My government is convinced that our transgressions in governance, our levels of crime, our levels of unemployment, our unhealthy lifestyles, our levels of social injustice and our seeming worship of power over principles, will never abate until and unless we begin to restore those Bahamian values that we cherished and embraced not so long ago,” Dame Marguerite continued.
“My government will ensure that its ministers are held to the highest standards of constitutional and personal conduct. Consequently, my government will enact and enforce anticorruption legislation for all parliamentarians and public officers. “My government is proud of the capabilities of the team that you have entrusted with your mandate. As has been noted publicly already, we will ensure that all members of Parliament and all of the senior members of the public service are familiar with all of the practices, principles and tools of good governance as we get to work on your behalf.” The Minnis administration also pledged to enact legislation to establish the Office of an Independent Director of Public Prosecutions. “In support of this endeavour, certain functions now performed by the attorney general, such as the
power to issue a fiat authorising the commencement of legal actions in sensitive matters or a nolle prosequi, will be transferred to the director of public prosecutions,” Dame Marguerite said, reading from the Speech from The Throne. “My government will put forward legislation to establish and strengthen the independence of the Office of the Auditor General, allowing it to function properly and without government imposed constraints on its finances. “My government will amend the Public Disclosure Act to broaden the scope of application to include campaign finance reform and to make provision for direct referral to an independent prosecutor.” Before the speech, Parliament officially opened with several procedures to signify the new parliamentary term. At 9.50am, the new members of Parliament and their spouses began taking their
seats in the House of Assembly. When the session began, Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Charles Albury approached the bar of the House and presented Chief House Clerk Maurice Tynes with the writs and returns of the general election and with a certified list of the members elect. This was followed by the reading of the names of the members who won their respective constituencies. However, when Mr Tynes read Golden Isles, he announced that Democratic National Alliance (DNA) hopeful Stephen Greenslade was the member elect for the area. Mr Tynes later said that this was an error, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development Vaughn Miller, is the constituency’s MP. Mr Albury was asked to correct the error for the record. Following this, members
were asked to nominate and elect a new speaker. Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest nominated Nassau Village MP D Halson Moultrie for the post and Immigration Minister Brent Symonette seconded the motion to elect. Mr Moultrie then took the oath of allegiance and the oath of qualification. After a brief break in the proceedings to allow Mr Moultrie to dress in the speaker’s regalia, he returned to greet the House in his official capacity as House speaker. He said it was his aim to ensure that a level of decorum was maintained during proceedings and also that a separation of powers is kept. Mr Moultrie said he would not allow debates
to descend into chaos. Tall Pines MP Don Saunders was also elected as the deputy speaker of the House. Mr Moultrie’s remarks were followed by all members, with the exception of six, swearing on the Bible as they took their oaths. Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine, MICAL MP Miriam Emmanuel, Seabreeze MP Lanisha Rolle, Ft Charlotte MP Mark Humes, Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells and Pinewood MP Reuben Rahming opted to “affirm” the oaths rather than swear. The Senate also met yesterday for the start of the new parliamentary session. Kay Forbes-Smith was sworn in as Senate president while Mildred HallWatson was sworn in as vice-president.
REFERENDUM PLANNED ON TERM LIMITS, RECALL SYSTEM from page one The last two referenda held in this country were not successful as both votes – the gaming referendum of 2013 and the constitutional referendum of 2016 - under the former Progressive Liberal Party government failed. The Christie administration spent $1.2m on the 2013 gaming referendum. It was also estimated that the constitutional referendum cost the public purse around $1.57m. The four bills touted to bring gender equality to the country’s Constitution were overwhelmingly rejected by voters at the polls on June 7, 2016. Only three constituencies across the country voted by consensus to approve any of the four gender equality bills proposed. And fewer than half of eligible voters, 46.66 per cent of them, participated in this
constitutional referendum. In New Providence, this was eclipsed only by Bain and Grants Town, represented by former Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage, where turnout was 34.01 per cent, and Englerston, represented by former Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, where turnout was 37.01 per cent. In the Family Islands, turnout was generally lower than in New Providence. Only 26.92 per cent of eligible Long Island voters participated in the referendum, the lowest in the country. Former leader of the Official Opposition Loretta Butler-Turner represented this area at the time. In the gaming referendum held on January 28, 2013, out of 38 constituencies in The Bahamas only three returned a majority “yes” vote. Nationally there were 48,012 “no” votes for the question on regulating web
shops and 30,767 “yes” votes and 46,961 “no” votes for the creation of a national lottery question and 32,170 “yes” votes. Officials said voter turn-
out was extremely low also in this process as well. A date has not been announced for the referendum proposed by the Minnis administration.
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THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
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Combatting the scourge of terrorism after Manchester THE atrocious terrorist attack at the end of a pop concert in Manchester earlier this week has shocked not only the British people but also the world. So-called ISIS has claimed responsibility for this barbaric and callous act of appalling violence - a suicide bomber detonating an explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts for maximum destructive effect, which killed 22 people and injured more than 60 others, many of whom are critically ill, while some people remain unaccounted for. The horror of this sickening and calculated act has seemed even worse because it was directed against young people and innocents, the youngest of whom was only eight. It has been described as the worst terrorist attack in Britain since the London bombings in 2005. As always in such distressing circumstances of hysteria and panic, the local emergency services reportedly responded calmly, quickly, bravely and effectively. Many world leaders have reacted with horror in condemning what happened and have sent messages of sympathy to Prime Minister Theresa May. This newspaper also extends its deepest condolences to our British friends with whom we retain close links through our shared colonial history. The perpetrator has been identified as a 22-year-old son of Libyan refugees. Born and educated in Manchester, he is said to have returned to the UK recently from visits to Libya and Syria and was known to the security services but not considered a particular threat. There are said to be up to 3,000 people at any one time on a watch list of homegrown fanatics, though not all can be under permanent surveillance. In case, perhaps, he was part of a wider network, the security level in Britain has been raised to ‘critical’ which means that another attack may be imminent. Troops have also been deployed in support of the police, in particular to beef up security at prominent public buildings. Horrific events of this sort tend to elicit the same response from political leaders - consider recent serious incidents in Paris, Brussels, Nice, Berlin and Istanbul as well as at the House of Commons in the heart of London barely two months ago. Since the first priority
of any government is national security and the safety of its citizens, they issue what some people view as platitudes about defiance of extremism and the strength of national unity and traditional values which can never be destroyed by terrorism. They also provide reassurances about the effectiveness of counter terrorism measures together with warnings about retaliatory action in the form of hate crimes. All this is expected and welcome, but in the aftermath of the Manchester bombing we are already reading about demands for sterner action against the radicalisation of young Muslim men which seems to result in such extreme hatred. In an open democracy, there can be no guarantee of absolute security against anarchists, fanatics and extremists, or people who President Trump now calls ‘losers in life’, alienated from society and unhappy with their own existence, who are prepared to murder or maim other people. But it has been clear for some time that terrorism - either directed or inspired by ISIS extremists and their perverted interpretation of Islam - is affecting large parts of the world and has to be confronted and destroyed. At the international political level, it was encouraging to watch Mr Trump’s impressive speech in Riyadh to Arab leaders during his first overseas trip in which, while stressing that he had not come to lecture them, he urged that they themselves should take action against ISIS at its source in the Middle East. As seen from faraway this side of the Atlantic, the urgent task in Britain is somehow to stop the proliferation of hate preachers in mosques and elsewhere who spread their ideas of violence and division with the result that young Muslim men born in the UK grow up hating their own country. Here in The Bahamas, we are under the protective umbrella of our giant neighbour. But, despite that, we are vulnerable to a surprise attack simply because we might be viewed as a soft target, so it behoves us as a nation to remain vigilant. Terrorism in whatever form is repugnant and should be condemned unequivocally. Our hearts go out to all those suffering in Manchester at this moment.
The ABCs of a new beginning EDITOR, The Tribune
THE positive atmosphere that presently envelops The Bahamas as a result of last week’s election is a welcome relief, reminiscent of that amazing optimism and anticipation felt in the 1970s when my late husband and I returned home from studies abroad as young Bahamians eager to make our mark upon the clean slate of our independent nation. I should like to extend sincere thanks to the Free National Movement for sweeping away the claustrophobic sense of anxiety that has surrounded so many of us recently, for it is indeed a brand new day. This is an opportunity which we must all grasp with deter-
mination in order to put our country, which we love so dearly, firmly back on its feet again. It will certainly not be an easy fix, but rather a difficult and arduous task, and I offer to the public and to our new government, a simple alphabetical list of words with which we can collectively begin this new journey to ‘march on Bahamaland … forward, upward and onward together’: A for action and accountability; B for Bahamian and budget; C for community, common sense, culture, creativity and caring; D for discipline, development and diversification; E for education, excel-
Winner or loser? EDITOR, The Tribune Re: TORCHED! (May 11, 2017). WITH any election landslide win we should be vigilant for signs of arrogance that may develop in the winners, as it still remains to be seen if the achievement was due to factors other than strategic politi-
cal brilliance etc. Eventually, it may just turn out that the vanquished deserved to lose, significantly more than the victors actually deserved to win. KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau, May 12, 2017
lence, efficiency and evaluation; F for family, fiscal and focus; G for greater good, governance and global; H for history, honesty, humility and health; I for intelligence, inclusive and institutions; J for justice; K for knowledge; L for love and law; M for meritocracy and mission; N for nation; O for order and overthe-hill (please delete the phrase ‘inner city’ from our vocabulary) P for people, planning and passion Q for questions and quest; R for respect, responsibility and research; S for serious, strength and sharing; T for transparency and tenacity; U for unity and understanding; V for vision; W for work and wisdom; X for ‘xtraordinary’; Y for youth; Z for zeal! PAM BURNSIDE Nassau, May 15, 2017
The people finished with dat EDITOR, The Tribune I LISTENED with interest to the former Prime Minister clumsily attempting to be gracious in defeat. If he is going to be taken as credible, then it is important for him to be truthful. Truthful about the reason the people rejected him and his colleagues in the first place. Simply put, the people no longer want the trappings of the Pindling era; they rejected that in ‘92, yet the Progressive Liberal Party brought it back and shoved it down our throats twice. The people are finished with dat. And do not say the people are now rejecting governments every five years, because that is not so, as you will see. You make us sound as if we are unstable, and flip-flopping all over the place, when it is not so! If Dr Minnis keeps his team in line, and they are able to bring us back out of the deep hole we are in, we will keep him for two or three terms. We know how to reward good service now. The Ingraham rejection came about, not because
of his lack of performance or unpreparedness. He was the hardest working Prime Minister ever. It was the global recession, the blind ambition of Branville McCartney and his Democratic National Alliance and some of Ingraham’s (at times) harsh attitude that brought him and his government down. Yet in all of that, there was the hand of God, working on us, His people, moulding and reshaping us to his desire. And, He is not finished with us yet. As for the people’s rejection of Christie and his cronies, they are saying, “do not pretend to be for the people, and champions of the poor when you are not!“ The people finish with dat. Government officials begging industrial companies and selling their souls for pennies! The people finish with that. Victimisation and intimidation by the government. The people finish with that. Freezing out the common man and anyone who is not PLP from using ZNS. The people finish with that. Stealing from the treasury and taking kickbacks
on every project! The people finish with that. Letting the chosen few make a run on Bank of The Bahamas, and bringing the bank to the very edge of a permanent collapse! The people finish with that. Bringing back members of ‘the old guard’ unless they change? The people finish with that. We’ll see soon enough. Getting in bed with the Grand Bahama Port Authority and neglecting the needs of the people! The people finish with that. Allowing the industrial companies to kill off some of the residents, and hamstring the others with sickness and diseases! The people finish with dat. The people of The Bahamas are evolving into a wiser, more determined electorate. If this change is permanent the country will rise, and we will all benefit. May God bless our Christian nation called The Bahamas! May God bless our PM and his government! SHUFFEL P HEPBURN SR Freeport, Grand Bahama.
Tell it like it really is EDITOR, The Tribune I WAS disappointed to see your headline in today’s Tribune of “Police Kill Boy As He Steals Cigarettes”. A more appropriate headline should have read “Police Kill Thug As He Shoots At Officers.” Let’s call it for what it is. They are not “boys” just stealing “cigarettes”,
but rather lawless thugs hell-bent on terrorising innocent citizens. It is not petty theft by children, but armed robbery with intent to harm. I commend the police for responding so quickly and am glad no officers were hurt in this incident. As for the “boys”, I weep for the mother who now has to bury a son,
but have no sympathy for the thugs. Let them be removed from society so they cannot hurt again. No bail and no leniency for youth. We must have a zero tolerance to crime - no matter who the offenders are. CONCERNED ZEN May 24, 2017
CITI-
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 25, 2017, PAGE 5
THE OPENING of Parliament yesterday at the House of Assembly.
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
Moultrie, Saunders named to speaker roles and committee posts appointed By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THE NEW Speaker of the House Halston Moultrie.
DURING the official opening of the new Parliament session yesterday, several members of Parliament were appointed to seven committees. MPs who will play an integral role in presiding over House of Assembly meetings were also identified. Nassau Village MP D
Halson Moultrie, was elected House Speaker, while Tall Pines MP Donald Saunders was elected deputy speaker. For the governing side, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Renward Wells, who is also Bamboo Town MP, was named leader of government business in the House. Fox Hill MP Shonel Ferguson has been named party whip, while Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes is dep-
uty party whip. For the Official Opposition, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin will act as leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly while South Andros MP Picewell Forbes is opposition whip. Several official committees were formed, each of them with five MPs as members. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will consist of two members from the
DEPUTY speaker Donald Saunders, MP for Tall Pines, addresses Parliament after his appointment yesterday.
PLP: FNM IS FOLLOWING IN OUR FOOTSTEPS from page one press conference yesterday. “We are enc ouraged to hear that the go vern ment has embraced es senti al job related skills training and speci alised program mes for youth. “The go vern ment mus t n ow enter the real world of go vernance and n ot trash talking fro m a platform,” he added. Meanwhile, the Free Natio nal Mo vement’s pledge that it will increase peo ple’s acces s to jus tice w as met with a PLP resp o n se that the Public Defender’s Office w as es tablished by the previous administration and the time it takes for cases to come to trial has been reduced. National Health Insurance (NHI) was also established by the PLP, Mr Davis said, adding that the FNM’s NHI goals merely mirrors his party’s commitment to secondary and tertiary implementation of NHI. “So the foundation is there,” Mr Davis said, “set by the PLP but the devil is in the details.” He added: “It is also important to ensure that the favoured few who provided funding for this government doesn’t end up being the main beneficiaries of this government. While the FNM speaks the words of the protection of the poor, we will ensure that the benefits do not go to the wealthy.” The party will await details of the Minnis administration’s referendum plans before revealing its positions on the government’s promise to implement term limits for prime ministers, institute a recall system for parliamentarians and create an independent bound-
aries commission, Mr Davis also said. “We wish them well,” Mr Davis said when asked about his party’s position on these issues. “They all serve to direct our democracy and I would prefer to await the details of how they intend to achieve these initiatives and at that time we will have a more robust response to it.” Nonetheless, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin appeared to express a preliminary view on at least one of those promises, saying: “Bahamian people put in place their own terms limits you know. When they go to the polls, they do what they got to do and then it ends so I don’t know why you need something in writing. The Bahamian people decide who will be where and when it will happen.” It’s not clear when the Minnis administration plans to host a referendum. The government revealed its intention to do so during yesterday’s speech, which was read by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling. If the government does host the referendum, the positioning of the opposition will come into focus as governing parties have sought to secure unanimous parliamentary support for referenda in hope that this would increase their chances of succeeding. The PLP faced criticism in 2002 when it flipped its position on the constitutional referendum that was initiated by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, and the party faced questions about that decision ahead of last year’s failed referendum on gender equality. Likewise, the PLP sought last year to place some
blame for the failed referendum on then Leader of the Official Opposition, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, who voted in sup-
port of the gender equality bills in Parliament but told Bahamians to “vote their conscience” in the lead-up to the referendum.
majority side: Centreville MP Reece Chipman and Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes. Official Opposition Leader and Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP Philip Brave Davis, Exuma and Ragged Island MP I Chester Cooper and Mr Forbes are the remaining members of the PAC. Five MPs will make up the Committee on Privilege. These are: South Beach MP Jeffery Lloyd, Yamacraw MP Elsworth Johnson, Mt Moriah MP Marvin Dames, Cat Island, Mr Davis and Mrs Hanna Martin. The Public Treasury Committee members include: Ms Ferguson, MICAL MP Miriam Emmanuel, North Andros and Berry Islands MP Carlton Bowleg, Mr Forbes and Mr Cooper. West End and Bimini MP
Pakeisha Parker-Edgecombe, Garden Hills MP Brensil Rolle, Long Island MP Adrian Gibson, Mr Cooper and Mr Forbes will sit on the Library Committee. The Broadcast Committee members are: St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright, Central and South Eleuthera MP Hank Johnson, North Andros MP Carlton Bowleg, Mrs Hanna Martin and Mr Forbes. The Statutory Instruments Committee is made up of Donald Saunders, Tall Pines MP, Pineridge MP Dr Michael Darville, South Abaco MP James Albury, Mr Davis and Mr Forbes. Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes, North Abaco MP James Albury, South Beach MP Jeffery Lloyd, Mrs Hanna Martin and Mr Cooper make up the House Rules Committee.
PAGE 6, Thursday, May 25, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
THE NEW Free National Movement Government Cabinet’s ministers with Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling (centre) at Government House immediately after the official opening of Parliament yesterday. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is at centre left, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest is at centre right. Also pictured are, from left, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade (second left), Desmond Bannister, Brent Symonette, Carl Bethel QC, Secretary to the Cabinet Camille Johnson, Defence Force Commodore Captain Tellis Bethel (middle row) Marvin Dames, Dionisio D’Aguilar, Jeffrey Lloyd, Lanisha Rolle, Dr Duane Sands, Renward Wells, and Frankie Campbell, (third row) Darren Henfield, Romauld Ferreira, Michael Pintard, Dion Foulkes, Brensil Rolle, and Ellsworth Johnson. Photo: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS
PLANS TO REDUCE, NOT REPEAL VAT ON COMMON GOODS from page one
In June 2015 during a budget debate in Parliament, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, then the leader of the Official Opposition, said placing VAT on breadbasket items was cruel and heartless. “An FNM government will repeal VAT on breadbasket items, all baby and children’s clothing, electricity, water, all health coverage and insurance,” he said
at the time. More recently, during a rally in Grand Bahama on April 21, Dr Minnis said: “Your FNM will immediately remove VAT from breadbasket items to bring relief to the less fortunate.” He said “it is unconscionable that the PLP put VAT on health care” during a rally on Christie Park in April. No mention was made yesterday of either reducing or eliminating VAT from the non-breadbasket items from which the FNM
pledged to eliminate the tax. Progressive Liberal Party members highlighted the difference between “reduction” and “elimination” during their press conference yesterday afternoon, with Leader of the Official Opposition Philip “Brave” Davis claiming the government has changed its tune. Nonetheless, the Minnis administration also recommitted itself yesterday to creating tax free zones in Over-the-Hill communities. It is hoped that this
will “encourage business growth and spur job creation,” the Speech from The Throne noted. “My government is deeply aware of poverty, especially in the inner city of Nassau, and is determined to eradicate ‘in your face’ physical conditions that demean the dignity of our people,” the speech noted. “For decades residents in Over-the-Hill areas have not received the kind of attention required to transform their business, residential and overall (environments). Accordingly,
my government will institute urban development by revitalising inner city communities (Urban Renewal) and expanding the reach of social services.” Within inner city zones, the government said it will allow duty-free concessions on construction materials and building supplies used to construct business premises. During its general election campaign, the FNM promised duty-free importation of construction materials on both commercial
properties and residential properties in such areas; no business licence fee or real property taxes; and no taxes on certain household furniture. It also promised reduced customs duties on special vehicles necessary for businesses. These campaign promises were not specifically mentioned in yesterday’s speech. The government also recommitted itself to launching a programme of real property tax discounts and rebates for pensioners 65 or older who qualify.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 25, 2017, PAGE 7
Working with community to fight crime on govt agenda from page one
The NIA, a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) campaign pledge that was introduced in 2012 and headed by former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Clifford “Butch” Scavella, currently has no basis in law. The agency came under public scrutiny in 2014 when Loretta ButlerTurner, then FNM deputy leader, raised concerns over its legality. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Official Opposition leader at the time, demanded a complete shutdown and full public disclosure of NIA’s operations in the absence of a legal framework to govern the organisation. Former National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage promised to table the legislation, however it was never brought to Parliament. In the Speech from The Throne, the new administration also pledged to “close the gap between science and criminal justice
and the quality of admissible DNA evidence.” “Our steadfast resolve is to target the root causes of crime and implement modern crime fighting strategies,” the speech noted. “My government is committed to collaborating and working with community partners: parents, educators, church leaders, youth leaders, social workers, and all relevant agencies of the government. Through neighbourhood safety programmes and communitybased partners the culture of violence in our communities will change. “My government continues to be committed to zero tolerance for crime, inclusive of minor infractions... Our most urgent priorities in crime fighting are initiatives that focus on prevention, deterrence, and enforcement. My government will enact legislation to establish the National Intelligence Agency. My government will enact legislation to address the conditional release of offenders into society through a Parole and Probation of Offenders System.
THE SCENE of yesterday’s shooting with police officers attending.
SECURITY GUARD STEPS IN TO SHOOT KNIFE ATTACKER from page one
guard attached to an armoured car company. The victim and suspect were taken to hospital where they are listed in serious but stable condition. The other suspect is being sought by police.
It is unclear if police are still questioning the shooter. Investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328TIPS.
READERS RESPOND TO ROBERTS READERS have been giving their reaction to the stories making the news on tribune242.com. After Bradley Roberts labelled We March organiser Ranard Henfield “deceptive” following the activist’s appointment to the Senate, Themessenger asked: “What’s the beef Brad, y’all scared Henfield more than a match for Mitchell? We March was an overwhelming success and served to polarize many undecided voters, but typical of you to vilify everything that is honourable and uplifting for many Bahamians while condoning and glorifying the despicable conduct of the likes of Gibson and Fitzgerald just to name a couple.” Economist said: “Be assured that this is the standard PLP response which is to try to vilify whoever shows the PLP up by doing something good or to deflect the attention from something that the PLP is not doing or ought not be doing. Get used to it as it will be going on for the next five years. The secret is to ignore it politely. They can’t stand that.” Tribune Business was told Exuma’s business and local government executives were urged by Ministry of Tourism officials “to work
GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling conducting the inspection of the guards yesterday. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff “My government will enact legislation to establish a Guns and Gang Unit that will focus on dismantling gangs and disrupting the trafficking in illicit firearms.” The FNM also committed to “fully engaging members of the spiritual community” in order to awaken and re-establish “national values”. Youth In terms of youth development, the government
said it is “troubled” by the perceived increase in talented young Bahamians seeking their fortunes outside of the country and pledged to maximise the talent of the nation’s youth in The Bahamas. “We propose to enlist our religious communities to assist my government in reawakening and reestablishing those national values, as a persistent, ongoing and ever growing effort. And with an eye to the
future, we fervently ask for the support of our religious community, in bringing an increasing number of our young people, and especially our young Bahamian men, back to becoming fully engaged members of our spiritual communities. We must intervene to save our youth, for this time is indeed, and especially, the younger people’s time,” the speech noted. The Minnis administration also pledged to imple-
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together” and ensure the Fyre Festival’s success just one month before its collapse. ThisIsOurs had this response: “Tourism called everyone in and told them to continue working even though they hadn’t been paid? D’Aguilar needs to find out, who from Tourism was either paid to support the cause or given contracts for services. This needs to be reported publicly, with a heavy slap on the wrist salary cuts, demotions, etc, and a public example of the insider wheeling and dealing that will not be tolerated from any government official. Also, in reference to the equipment left, the process has to be transparent, it can’t be that ministry officials are paid off and residents are left holding the bag.” And Sheeprunner12 said: “Obie Wilchcombe has a lot to answer to for the mess he made of our tourism industry.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
ment a national skills register of Bahamians overseas “to assist with their participation in national development and to provide them with opportunities for engagement in regional and international organisations”. The speech added: “My government will work assiduously to reduce the high level of youth unemployment to secure the future of this nation. We will also seek to reduce total unemployment which will improve the standard of living and quality of life for all of the people of The Bahamas. We will address youth unemployment, in collaboration with stakeholders, through the implementation of specialised programmes that will equip our youth with essential job-related skills and provide employment opportunities.” Recognising the influence of the Internet and the use and misuse of social media, the FNM also pledged to “place emphasis on the detection of financial, commercial, and cyber-crimes”.
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PAGE 8, Thursday, May 25, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
‘MINISTRY OF TOURISM LED ON FYRE FESTIVAL APPROVAL’ By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net EXUMA Chief Councillor Brian Strachan yesterday denied allegations that its local government office played an integral part in the staging of Fyre Festival. Instead he pointed to the Ministry of Tourism. Mr Strachan insisted that local government officials did not approve the festival dates that clashed with the island’s regatta, but ultimately rubber stamped the decision, and all others, after it was first cleared by the central government. He said that organisers obtained all the necessary approvals, and conducted an environmental impact assessment as mandated by the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology (BEST) Commission. “We didn’t really get involved with that process at all,” he said, “the only thing we did was, we try talk them out of the dates. When they (said they) feel they could make it happen, we said okay. “We really don’t approve the dates, they came to us with a proposal and plan and we looked at it. They went to the government, we told them once it’s fine with government agencies, it’s fine with us. “Tourism took the
TENTS at the Fyre Festival site for the event. charge in that,” he continued, “once they satisfied the government, (Ministry of) Tourism just wanted to make sure it went smoothly. All of the meetings was held by (Ministry of) Tourism. They brought in a person from Nassau to lead meetings, they did what they had to do to make sure everything was in order,” he said. “It was a series of meetings.” Businesses and homeowners in Exuma are reportedly owed thousands of dollars in the wake of the disastrous festival that was planned for two weekends over April 28 to May 7. However, the event tanked on its first day due to inadequate facilities, which resulted in chaos and intense backlash from hundreds of
stranded customers. US organisers Billy McFarland, rapper Ja Rule and Fyre Media Inc are facing multi-million dollar lawsuits over the event with ticket packages ranging from $1,200 to over $100,000 and promises of five-star dining and luxury accommodations with headline performers including Blink-182, Migos and Major Lazer. Mr Strachan said: “Everything was in place, the people just didn’t hold up their end of the bargain, people just wasn’t satisfied with their accommodations. They told them it was going to be a tent village but they were looking for high-end not just any old thing. “Then when persons arrived it was so disorganised
and they had nothing in place. “We toured the site on opening night and the concert went on but people were too busy stumbling around trying to find food and somewhere to stay. It was the perfect site for the venue, it’s just that people just weren’t happy for the amount of money they spent and the accommodations.” Mr Strachan suggested that the festival would have weathered challenges better if it had been staged on another weekend. However, he estimated that even if the grounds had been fully complete - ticket holders would still be dissatisfied that the quality did not meet expectations. On the part of authorities, he said that everything was very organised and noted that additional customs and immigration officers were flown in to accommodate the increased air traffic. The last flight left George Town international airport at 4 o’clock Saturday morning the weekend of the festival, he said. Mr Strachan’s account echoes reports gathered by The Tribune from local residents, unpaid vendors, and former consultants, who all underscored the apparent hands-off approach taken by the government follow-
ing the event’s failure. Yesterday, unpaid business owner Godfrey Gray Sr told The Tribune: “I stopped checking for the mere fact you’re hearing so many different stories. It appear to me as if the person who was in charge has disconnected all of their contacts locally. Tourism brought people from Nassau to work this festival, it ain’t like they don’t know.” Mr Gray Sr, who is owed a balance of $70,000 for fencing work, said: “I still wonder how these people could come in this country with such a large promotion, 5,000 visitors from foreign country, and no one in government knows anything about it. “There should be some agency, some department, who would have been informed prior. You can’t stage such a massive concert with foreign investors and then nobody knows anything about it.” It follows accusations by a former project consultant, Rodney Burrows, who claimed that the government sold out the country by allowing such a poorly planned event to take root, despite clear warning signs. Pedro Rolle, the Exuma Chamber of Commerce’s president, told Tribune Business this week that Exuma’s business and local government executives
were urged by Ministry of Tourism officials “to work together” and ensure the ill-fated Fyre Festival’s success just one month before its collapse. The Exuma Chamber president said he made Mr McFarland aware that Fyre Festival would clash with the George Town Regatta, a time when the island’s resources were already stretched thin. Yesterday, Mr Strachan said: “We had nothing to do with this event. We made sure kept our distance because it just wasn’t for us to take charge but somebody has to know. Tourism took the wheel so they got to know. “As far as local government involvement, there was no involvement. “Once everything was approved, we made sure they paid the fees that’s it. For me, the only disappointment I have is that they left and a lot of the persons haven’t been paid. “That’s a major issue but other than that for the persons that were here on the island for a day or two, they liked what they saw. A lot of them didn’t want to leave, but had to because there was no place to stay.” The Ministry of Tourism has not responded to questions from The Tribune in recent days about the failed event.
‘I’M STILL OWED $70,000 BY ORGANISERS’ CLAIMS CONTRACTOR
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
GODFREY Gray Sr, an Exuma contractor, told The Tribune that he is owed around $70,000 from Fyre Festival organisers. Mr Gray Sr was contracted by Fyre Media Inc to construct 15,500 ft of fencing around the perimeter of the concert and campsite at Roker’s Point, and was paid a mobilisation fee of $15,000. However, he said,
he also had a busing contract to shuttle guests between the airport and each site; and also did extra work on the site when production went into overdrive to meet the looming deadline. Mr Gray Sr is a member of the local government town committee, but not a council representative, he said. “You never really knew who was the boss,” he told The Tribune. “There was a gentleman who was in charge of construction, Mark, he was the
one I was really working with. He claims that Fyre owes him $150,000, he’s an American from New York. He continued: “(The Ministry of) Tourism had to be involved, (the Ministry of) Tourism had workers on site, persons at the airport to receive people, and were giving directions to us as the guests come in. They were at the airport once it commenced, once people came in, that would have been the 28th (April).” Businesses and home-
owners in Exuma are reportedly owed thousands of dollars in the wake of the disastrous festival that was planned for two weekends over April 28 to May 7. However, the event tanked on its first day due to inadequate facilities, which resulted in chaos and intense backlash from hundreds of stranded customers. US organisers Billy McFarland, rapper Ja Rule and Fyre Media Inc are facing multi-million dollar lawsuits over the event with ticket packages ranging from $1,200 to over $100,000 and promises of five-star
dining and luxury accommodations with headline performers, including international artists Blink-182, Migos and Major Lazer. MaryAnne and Elvis Rolle, of Exuma Point Resort and Restaurant, claim they are owed $136,000 for unit rentals and food services. Mrs Rolle serviced hundreds of guests, who were shuttled to her compound on Friday, April 28, because the campgrounds were not fully constructed. She told The Tribune that in accepting the disgruntled hordes, she took into con-
sideration the devastating impact it would have on the island’s tourism product. Yesterday, Exuma Chief Councillor Brian Strachan said: “The people came in and they weren’t quite ready and they just threw them all on Maryanne. She did her best in accommodating them because that particular day she had a function of her own that she had to cater to, plus these 800 persons. “I’m sorry it turned out that way but something has to be done. The people need to be paid for the service,” he said.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 25, 2017, PAGE 9
Woman is detained by police after suspected cocaine found in her hair By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net A GUYANESE woman is in police custody after she was discovered with two pounds of cocaine “taped to her weave” at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) on Tuesday. According to police reports, shortly after 3pm a team of officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a search of a Guyanese passenger at the
Bahamas customs arrival area in LPIA. The suspect had just arrived in the country on a Caribbean Airlines flight from Suriname. During the search officers allegedly found one taped package containing just over two pounds of cocaine concealed in a weave attached to her hair. The woman was taken into police custody. Investigation continues. DEU officers also arrested a man after offic-
ers discovered three illegal firearms and several rounds of ammunition, along with a quantity of cocaine and marijuana, during a raid of a home on Tuesday. According to reports, shortly after noon, a team of DEU officers acting on intelligence executed a search warrant on a home through Barbados Avenue in Elizabeth Estates. During the search, a .45 Springfield pistol, a .40 mini firestorm pistol and a Glock
GOODMAN SAID HE WAS WITH SON AT TIME OF ARCHER MURDER By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A SENIOR Royal Bahamas Police Force investigator yesterday testified how Kofhe Goodman initially claimed he was with his son at the time he was said to have murdered 11-year-old Marco Archer. Chief Superintendent Bernard Kenneth Bonamy Jr, taking the witness stand before Justice Carolita Bethell, said Goodman stated in an initial interrogation in 2011 that he had spent the entire evening with his son on a particular day in September of that year. Goodman, of Yorkshire Drive, is accused of causing the death of Archer sometime between September 23 and 28, 2011. Chief Supt Bonamy, in reading from a piece of paper on which the particulars of the interview were written, also said Goodman had previously denied owning the white 1998 Nissan Maxima allegedly connected to the crime. However, he said, Goodman had refused to comment further on the matter when prodded. He also said Goodman denied having any knowledge of the articles of clothing found near the scene of the crime on Yorkshire Street, as well as Archer’s body, which was allegedly found in bushes behind an apartment building on Yorkshire Street. The officer was one of two persons to take the witness stand in day three of Goodman’s Court of Appeal-ordered retrial, the other being forensic pathologist Dr Caryn Sands. The matter continues today at 10:30am. Goodman was previously sentenced to death for murdering Archer after a Supreme Court jury unanimously found him guilty of the child’s murder. In the lead up to sentencing, a death sentence, life imprisonment or a 15-year prison term were the punishments the court was asked by
pistol along with 25 rounds of ammunition were found. Police also found one pound of marijuana and a few grams of cocaine. A
male resident of the home was taken into custody in connection with the find. Anyone with information on any of these incidents
is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
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PAGE 10, Thursday, May 25, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
The people have spoken
Your Say By PIERRE V L DUPUCH
T
HE race is over and the dirt has settled. Some are happy, others are sad. But the Bahamian people have spoken. They sent a clear message - “We are in charge”. History has been made. Wayne Munroe told the people to “kiss his backside”. The people answered but with a slight variation, they kicked his backside. Well done, the people spoke. Perry Christie gave the people the finger. They gave him the bird. The people spoke. Perry Christie said that only God could stop him. God showed him who is boss. The people spoke. They said: “Don’t play with God.” I felt that the Free National Movement (FNM) would win. Before the gang of seven tried to upset the FNM I was sure it would win, but after they played their silly little game, I was no longer sure. But again, the people spoke; they had had enough. As to be expected, all Mr Christie’s so-called friends said it was “Perry’s fault”. And maybe they were right. After all, the buck stops on the Prime Minister’s desk. And Mr Christie was the Prime Minister. I was in Parliament with Mr Christie. And in all my 25 years there I found him to be decent, caring, concerned and fair. He seemed to be one of those who thought that if there were ten problems that, if left alone long enough, eight would take care of themselves. This is apparently how he led. But what he didn’t realise was that he had surrounded himself with a group of people, many of
whom were in the game to enrich themselves and to hell with the country. Some appear to have stolen like cats. It is said that one representative was so greedy that if a mosquito flew into his constituency he would demand some of the mosquito’s blood. In the end, all paid for it. Some good representatives went down; it was a clean sweep. It was obvious that some entered Parliament as paupers and in a few short years became millionaires. They were either thieves or they were geniuses. If they were geniuses it is unfortunate that they did not use this genius to build a strong economy so that some women did not have to sell their bodies in order to pay their bills. Mr Christie should have seen this happening all around him. I understand he was told but he didn’t listen. It did not take care of itself. And the people spoke. In the end the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) seemed to panic. They pulled out the colour card, which had been used successfully in the past. But they were so out of touch that they didn’t know that the Bahamian people had graduated and were no longer impressed with colour. After all, all men and women are created equal under God. If one is not happy with his or her colour let them take that up with God. The people spoke and that is what they told them. The PLP lied when they said that they had saved the coloured man. The person who shouted this loudest had been a general for Sir Stafford Sands. Back then he ran a polling division for Sir Stafford in the City when the Bay Street Boys were trying to destroy The Tribune because of the stand that the paper’s editor, Sir Etienne Dupuch, took in the House of As-
sembly against racial discrimination on that fateful night of January 23, 1956. Even Arthur Foulkes finally admitted, “The PLP was the beneficiary of Sir Etienne Dupuch’s efforts to end discrimination in the Bahamas.” But the people knew this and the people spoke. The PLP’s panic was almost embarrassing. In some cases they seemed to skate very close to the edge of the Bribery and Corruption Act. At the last minute they promised hundreds of police promotions; they promised free this and free that. The people laughed and then spoke: “Don’t play with us,” they said, “we’re not stupid.” Few people realise the importance of what happened in the May 10, 2017 General Election. The people voted for the country, not the party. It used to be said that if you ran a dead dog in some areas and put a PLP tag on it, the people would vote for it. No more, thank God. Let both the FNM and the PLP take note. It’s no longer the party, it’s the country. Dr Hubert Minnis is a good man. He has surrounded himself with good people, but some are snakes. He will be all right if he sleeps with one eye open. Dr Minnis has made some heavy statements about corruption. If he does not back his statements up with action he will be a onetime Prime Minister. The people have had enough. They have spoken. QUESTION: Why is it that when the man in the street is suspected of stealing, he is investigated but when a politician is suspected of committing the same crime, the investigation is called a witch hunt? • Pierre V L Dupuch is a former MP and Free National Movement Cabinet minister
FORMER prime minister Perry Christie making an offensive gesture.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 25, 2017, PAGE 11
Grand Bahama residents left without water A significant interruption in water supply left thousands of customers on Grand Bahama without running water and forced the early dismissal of some schools on Wednesday. The disruption in water service occurred around 6.45am. A representative at the Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC) told The Tribune that there was an emergency and a crew was trying to resolve the situation. Many residents experienced low water pressure, and others had no running water. The Freeport Primary and Hugh Campbell Primary Schools in Freeport got out early, around 11 am, and parents were told to pick up their children. The Kindercare Learning Centre, a private pre-school in the Freeport area, was also dismissed around noon. Marvin Rolle, of the Ministry of Education in Freeport, confirmed that the two public schools closed early and that parents were called, but he was not aware
of any other schools being let out. “They informed me that the water is trickling, but I cannot answer how (the students) are using the bathrooms,” he said. “The water company informed us that there is an island-wide water situation and that they had expected to have it fixed shortly. At the time we spoke, they gave us a time, and then later they asked for a little more time, and so we anticipate it will be resolved very soon.” Shortly after midday, water was completely restored. Kim Miller, public relations and communications officer at the Grand Bahama Port Authority, said after service was restored their service teams called the schools to let them know that the water supply had been 100 per cent restored. “It happened in the morning, and the minute we found out about it, we started to put announcements on the radio stations, and we had live reads advis-
ing the public,” she said. Remington Wilchcombe, of the GBUC, said that they were first alerted around 6.45 am to a disruption in the water supply. “We had a breach on the main discharge line at our W6 plant over the bridge, and it affected residents on the island, mainly in the Lucaya area and down to the harbour,” he said. Mr Wilchcombe said residents would have experienced low pressure and those closest to the plant would have had no water at all. When asked how many residents had been affected, he estimated that it would have ranged between 5,000 to 8,000 customers. Mr Wilchcombe explained that the breach was caused by “wear and tear” of the pipe. He said the pipe is 24 inches in diameter and a substantial amount water was passing through it at the time. “Wear and tear can occur over the years, and every now and again we can have a breach,” he explained.
RUBIS BACKS STUDENT OF THE YEAR SCHEME RUBIS Bahamas Limited has partnered with the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation offering scholarships to talented and deserving students. The foundation is now in its 21st year. “We believe that education is paramount to the sustainability of a nation and commend the Bahamas Primary School Student of
the Year Foundation for recognising and rewarding the nominees and winners,” said Latia Duncombe, sales & marketing manager, Rubis Bahamas Ltd. One of Rubis’ very own was a nominee in the programme in 1999: Shireen Hanna-Seymour, Rubis’ retail sales executive. Mrs Seymour recalled the ceremony as though it was yesterday.
“It was a day we were honoured and felt like royalty. The programme assisted in my development of the English language and taught me that hard work and persistence would be rewarded,” she said. The 2017 awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 27 at 6pm at Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries on Carmichael Road.
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DR Conville S Brown receives his honorary Doctor of Science Degree at Acadia University this month from Dr Libby Burnham, the university’s chancellor.
CARDIOLOGIST PRESENTED WITH HONORARY SCIENCE DOCTORATES CARDIOLOGIST Dr Conville S Brown received an honorary Doctor of Science Degree at the 2017 Acadia University Convocation in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada earlier this month and also delivered the commencement address to the graduating class. As a renowned medical pioneer and prolific health care developer, Dr Brown has devoted his life to the good health, welfare and service of others, particularly the less fortunate, via his Signature Partnered Care Model which is now in over 12 countries in the Caribbean. A noted philanthropist and man of many firsts in medicine and cardiology in the region, his affinity and affection
for Acadia (he attended the institution for a year in the 1970s) have served the University well by engaging the university’s alumni community in the Bahamas and adding value and prestige to recruitment conversations with prospective students and their parents. Dr Brown is the cardiologist-in-chief at the Bahamas Heart Centre at the Medical Pavilion Bahamas on Collins Avenue, which he established in 1990. At the commencement address on May 15, he was presented by Professor Heather Hemming, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, and welcomed by Dr Ray Ivany, President of Acadia University.
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Coca-Cola donates $7,000 in aid of autism CARIBBEAN Bottling Company (CBC) has raised $7,000 from its first Autism Awareness promotion and helped the Seahorse Institute to give its students much needed training and materials . During April - designated Autism Awareness month CBC, the local producers of Coca-Cola products, ran a giveback promotion featuring Coca-Cola Zero Sugar which resulted in the large donation to the Seahorse Institute, a Bahamian nonprofit organisation providing intensive multidisciplinary intervention for individuals with a range of behavioural challenges. For each case of CocaCola Zero Sugar sold in New Providence and Grand Bahama during April, CBC committed to donating to the Seahorse Institute. Dr Michelle Major, Di-
DR MICHELLE MAJOR, founder of the Seahorse Institute, with Cara Douglas, Marketing Manager, Caribbean Bottling Company (right). rector of the Seahorse Autism and Special needs is Caribbean Bottling team is Institute, expressed her remarkable,” she said. “The setting the bar for socially gratitude to CBC. “Their support from this campaign responsible corporations in dedication and passion to will allow our students to be The Bahamas.” “In February, Dr Major, support the growth and de- able to get the training and velopment of children with materials they require. The and her associate Andi Stra-
chan, gave us a tour of their facility, introducing their students, showing us their workbooks and lessons,” Cara Douglas, CBC’s Marketing Manager, said. “Needless to say from that time on we were invested in working with Dr Major and her team. “We were challenged to determine how best to increase awareness of the organisation, get the community involved with the cause and assist in fundraising. We are very proud to report that we were able to accomplish all of this for the institution with our monthlong Coca-Cola Zero Sugar giveback campaign, with a $7,000 donation. We would also like to say a heartfelt thank you to DigiPrint & Signs for donating the printed materials that supported the campaign.” CBC staff also showed their support by purchasing
t-shirts from the Seahorse Institute during the month of April. Seahorse Institute was founded by Dr Major, an internationally acclaimed expert in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Institute provides intensive multidisciplinary intervention for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, intellectual disabilities, language disorders and related behavioural challenges. Autism is a spectrum disorder, a complex neurobiological disorder characterised by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social abilities and repetitive behaviours. To help bring awareness to the growing numbers of individuals diagnosed with Autism visit www.seahorseinstitute.org or phone (242) 676-6780.
orders including: • Panic attacks which cause feelings of complete terror that can appear for no apparent reason. • Social anxiety disorder - this causes intense worry and self consciousness in everyday situations. • Generalised anxiety disorder - this is really excessive worry about anything and everything. • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - this creates a need to check and count over and over again, interfering with normal existence. • Phobias - heights, snakes and all sorts of things that can affect one’s ability to manage a normal life. It is unclear what sets off this type of mental illness but, like most of these disorders, the vulnerability seems to run in families and they are set in motion by some form of mental trauma. The good news is that they are treatable, there is no need for interminable suffering. Thinking back to the stress response, the first thing to do is to learn to control your thoughts. If the thoughts set the stress response in motion then
positive happy, thoughts can prevent it. This is the basis of the talking therapy called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Also meditation and relaxation techniques work well at preventing the stress response from getting out of control. • Exercise can be of great help. The concept is that the stress builds up negative energy which can be burnt off by vigorous exercise. • Social support can be from many different forms but the ability to talk and get support helps. • Avoid the chemical haze of alcohol, caffeine and energy drinks they can all increase feelings of anxiety. • Finally medication, it really works, but should be used in careful discussion with your doctor when the simple lifestyle changes have not worked. I remember a sign in my father’s general practice office - “Don’t worry it may never happen”. • Dr Mike Neville is a forensic psychiatrist who has practiced for more than 40 years in the Bahamas, working at Sandilands, the prison and in private practice. Comments and responses to mneville@tribunemedia.net
Anxiety disorders
W
E all feel nervous or frightened from timeto-time - exams and sports are the kind of school experiences that we remember with mixed emotions. They are normal and can spur us
to greater success. The fear of crime is now a part of our daily worries: despite being told by various politicians that we should not be afraid of crime, it is stupid not to be aware and very concerned with the horrors that the
levels of murder, robberies and rape have caused. Anxiety disorders are different in that they become so overwhelming that they make day-to-day living very difficult. Try to imagine that the fear that you would feel when confronted
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by a masked gunman is the same when you walk into a crowded room or even a fast food outlet. Total terror when confronted by a frog? It seems silly but for those who suffer with anxiety disorder it is a daily life experience. It is no use knowing that the gunman is a coward or that social anxiety is illogical; the feeling of panic and terror remains the same. One way to understand anxiety disorders is to see it as a malfunction of our stress response. First, our brains must be aware of something to be afraid or worried about; our brains then send a message to the adrenal glands (a small area on top of our kidneys), these secrete the hormones Adrenalin and Cortisol into the blood stream. They increase blood pressure, increase heart rate, move blood from our gut and skin and concentrate it in muscle and brain and the hormones change stored energy into sugars for immediate use. This is known as the fight or flight response. It was probably very useful in caveman days when you could leave home with a club hunting for lunch - if, of course, lunch was bigger than you ... run as fast as you can. It also explains the cold, clammy feelings, the racing heart, breathlessness and butterflies in the stomach. These are all real physical responses to the hormones being released. There are a number of fairly common anxiety dis-
NOTICE JOAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of Joan Asset Management Ltd., has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 4th day of April, 2017.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of Milstream Enterprises Ltd., has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 7th day of April, 2017.
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NOTICE HIOLAIR HOLDINGS LTD.
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of Hiolair Holdings Ltd., has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 7th day of April, 2017.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of Honeysuckle Holdings Ltd., has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 7th day of April, 2017.
Shareece E. Scott Liquidator
Shareece E. Scott Liquidator
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Lack of separation means each of us is a victim of crime I
’M sitting here contemplating on how to start this column (well, it started the night before) and wondering how do I approach this? How do I convey the barrage of information I have been receiving these past two weeks? It is my belief that one action or decision can set off in Nassau is connected to a chain of events in some- someone we know personone’s life and that there are ally. Those six degrees of six degrees of separation separation gets cut down between everyone you meet to one to three degrees and someone you know when the recent murder of a well-known personally. A businessman phrase I com- ‘For the average spread within monly use is minutes on that The Ba- reader who buys social media, hamas is small a newspaper or the video and and the world listens to the audio going is even smaller viral. - this is more news reports, A man who and more real these murders was said to be to me every are so common loved by his time I travel. it’s as if we are family and Within friends, a fathree days desensitised to I ran into a them because they ther, a son, a cousin, he was childhood many things friend, my are so frequent to many peohigh school and spread on physical edu- social media so fast ple. Although I didn’t know cation teacher him personaland a group of and so vivid.’ ly I know peoBahamians in ple who knew every Wal-Mart I went to between Fort Lauderdale him and hearing them speak and Miami. I said all of that of how good of a person he to say just think for a mo- was to them reminded me ment that everyone we meet of how hard each murder
committed in this country impacts so many lives. Just as much as he meant to so many people, the loss that each of them is suffering right now is doubled. For the average reader who buys a newspaper or listens to the news reports, these murders are so common it’s as if we are desensitised to them because they are so frequent and spread on social media so fast and so vivid. It’s as if we have become morbid and have no regard to the fact that a life is gone forever and a family will mourn forever. On the other side of these dilemmas are the accused perpetrators, who made one of the worst decisions in life that can never be reversed. These young men and (sometimes) women make the decision to take a life and at the same time throw theirs away the moment that trigger is pulled, knife is swung or whatever object is used to commit the crime. They
have given up their freedom, to be caged in a cold, damp and small cell with most times up to six other men. The feeling may not be as painful for the friends and family of the alleged perpetrators but they, too, experience some degree of rollercoaster emotions trying to figure out the answers to questions of why and how come, why did you (the alleged murderer) commit such a crime that will impact sons, daughters, mothers, sisters, brothers and countless other family members and friends on both sides of the incident? How come I (being the family of the alleged murderer) was not aware of the problem? How come I was not confided in to possibly help avoid this from happening? As it relates to one of the country’s most recent murders, I was told that the young men being held for questioning are all under 25 and are from the ghetto. What tears me up even more is that I have known all of them from they were in diapers and, honestly speaking, I have never known any of them to be criminals. While I cannot speak to their innocence or guilt these are not the little boys I watched grow up running
around shooting marbles and riding bicycles. They are now being accused of shooting guns and riding off on motorcycles. Are we as parents, guardians and extended family ignoring the signs as our young men cry for help. The troubled teen who is constantly fighting, constantly suspended and acting out the petty thief and gang affiliate are all children who are lost and their acting out were cries for help that were ignored or not addressed properly. As I write this, just hours ago three young men dressed in school uniforms attempted to rob a local business resulting in one being shot dead by police, another young life ended through a senseless act, and two others who will be thrown into a revolving rehabilitation system with little to no actual rehabilitation. Take a look at the social and moral state of our nation. We argue about protecting our natural resources but we neglect our most natural and important resource - young men and women. In this case, one man is left dead, three young men may to stand trial for murder, but for the families and friends of the murder victim and suspects, their lives will be changed
in different ways, each suffering the pain of losing their loved one through murder and incarceration. As I stated - six degrees of separation. I do not know the victim of the crime but I am friends with people who knew him and personally know the alleged suspects. Through all of the crimes and murders carried out within the past few months the question has to be asked: have the proverbial chicks come home to roost? Have the hens and roosters (parents) allowed the chicks to run around the farm doing as they please, adopting habits of other animals to the point that they lose their identity and purpose in life? To say it plainly: have the young parents of the 1980s up to the early 2000s allowed the children to grow up so far out of a stable family structure that when they are grown they are now too far out of control and their parents are now afraid of their own children? • Jeffrey Butler, 33, grew up in the Kemp Road area, where he now runs a daiquiri stand, and is writing regularly in The Tribune about life in the inner city. Share your stories by emailing to disenfranchised@tribunemedia.net
ELIJAH SANDS, who has been taking part in the plastic pollution challenge.
TURTLE MASCOT SETS CHALLENGE TO KEEP THE SEAS PLASTIC-FREE REDUCING ocean plastic pollution in The Bahamas has gotten a new advocate from BREEF, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, in the form of Tippy the Sea Turtle, the new mascot for keeping our
oceans plastic-free. Tippy’s Plastic Pollution Challenge was started in April, with Tippy the Sea Turtle calling for young Bahamians to submit videos or memes to BREEF’s Facebook page. These submissions addressed the issue of plastic pollution along coastlines by highlighting the problems with plastics, or sharing solutions. Winners were announced on Friday, May 19, and were selected based on the most ‘likes’ each submission got on BREEF’s Facebook page. The top prize, a brand new GoPro Hero5 was awarded to Elijah Sands for his video, second place went to Chanel Butler for
her meme and third place to Malik Pratt for his meme. All entries can still be viewed on BREEF’s Facebook page. Tippy’s Plastic Pollution Challenge stems from a two-year project to reduce plastic pollution. The project is being undertaken by BREEF’s Eco-Schools Bahamas Programme, with support from the Lyford Cay Foundations. The ecoschools programme is an international awards scheme that recognises schools that make a commitment to continuously improve their environmental practices. BREEF is the national operator for the programme with support from the Ministry of Tourism.
THE TRIBUNE
Opening of Parliament
SOME of the sights and the ceremony yesterday at the opeing of Parliament ceremony and the Speech from the Throne. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
Thursday, May 25, 2017, PAGE 19
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