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The Tribune Weekend
Volume:114 No.129, MAY 26TH, 2017
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
Friday, May 26, 2017 arts books film weddi ngs gardening fitness history food
Weekend
BELLES OF THE BALL Pages 14&15
A modern romp
WEEKEND: ROMPERS FOR HIM - FASHION FAD SPARKS GENDER DEBATE
Sparking a gender debate Fashion , pages 11&12
Young mother gunned down 23-year-old killed and man critical in hospital By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net A 23-YEAR-OLD mother of two who was to be married in July died in hospital shortly after she was shot multiple times early yesterday morning in front of her home in an incident that also left a man in critical condition. The double shooting took place shortly after midnight in Nassau Village and brought the country’s murder count to 56 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. Police said the two victims were standing in a yard on Lee Street, when a gunman in a black vehicle fired multiple shots in their direction. The woman was shot multiple times in her body, while the man was shot in his neck and chest. The woman was taken to hospital by ambulance where she died shortly after her arrival. The man attempted to drive himself to the hospital, but crashed his car in the area of East Street and Cordeaux Avenue. A passing motorist took the man to the Princess Margaret Hospital where he remains in critical condition. Police have not identified the de-
ceased but The Tribune understands she is Donnae Clarke, a former student of R M Bailey High School, who had recently given birth to her second child. In an emotional post on Facebook, a woman who identified herself as Clarke’s sister, Ally Smith, said the young mother had spent some of her last moments running “for her life” and was allegedly shot “15 times” before collapsing in front of their home. “She ran for her life and dropped and died right on our foundation. I came outside after the shots and saw her lying on the ground,” Ms Smith said. “My sister took her last breath talking to me. She couldn’t even talk and I told her to stay for her child, to stay strong for her baby. It was not her time. She did not even have the strength to open her mouth, the spit was bubbling from her mouth. I watched my sister die. Her birthday is in two months and she was supposed to get married in July. “I am hurting, my family is hurting. My sister got shot 15 times and I heard it not knowing it was Donnae,” she said. SEE PAGE SIX
POLICE arrested one man and are looking for another suspect in connection with the armed robbery of CVS Pharmacy in the Seagrape Shopping Plaza on Tuesday.
The daytime robbery ended with police shooting a teenage suspect dead after the assailants allegedly opened fire at police. This came after the four suspects were reported to have tied up an employee, held customers at gunpoint and robbed the pharmacy. SEE PAGE SIX
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DEPUTY PM: PROMISED REPEAL OF VAT STILL PLANNED By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Minnis administration isn’t changing its tune on value added tax and still intends to repeal the fee on a variety of items and services, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest said yesterday. Wednesday’s Speech from The Throne, read by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, noted an intention to reduce VAT on breadbasket items, but not to repeal the tax on these items, electricity and health related services, as Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis had repeatedly promised in recent years. The Progressive Liberal Party pounced on the distinction during a press conference Wednesday, saying SEE PAGE SIX
FNM CALL FOR PATIENCE ON REFERENDUM By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
DONNAE Clarke had recently given birth to her second child.
ARREST FOLLOWING SEAGRAPE ROBBERY THREE INJURED IN STABBING AT SCHOOL By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
POLICE reported that three adults, two men and a woman, were injured and taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital as a result of a stabbing incident and fight at Yellow Elder Primary School which
was captured on video and disseminated on social media yesterday. According to officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash, a man and a woman were attacked by a second man and woman while on the school campus around 3pm. SEE PAGE SIX
FREE National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie yesterday requested “patience” as the new administration looks to advance on plans to hold a referendum on several legislative moves, including term limits for the prime minister, as well as the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission and Constituencies Commission. Stressing the “groundwork” that will have to go into drafting related legislation and public education, Mr Collie, who is a member of the party’s transition team, said the FNM must ensure that “everything is in order” prior to going to the public for an official vote. SEE PAGE SEVEN
DAVIS TO SEEK LEADERSHIP OF THE PLP By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
INTERIM Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said he intends to run for the top post of the opposition party whenever it decides to hold a convention, while also suggesting that he will not discourage anyone who may want to contest the position.
LEADER of The Opposition Philip “Brave” Davis. However, the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP said he could not com-
ment on when the party plans to hold this political event, as this is dependent on the PLP “resolving election issues.” While he would not go into detail regarding what these issues were, former Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said she believed that the PLP’s stunning loss on May 10 was due to a combination of factors. These, according to the
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
former Cabinet minister, include mistakes while the PLP governed the country and the party’s message failing to resonate with voters, especially young Bahamians. “First of all we have to resolve our election issues. Once that is resolved we’ll focus on having a convention. But it will be a decision of the political caucus,” Mr Davis said during SEE PAGE THREE
PAGE 2, Friday, May 26, 2017
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A night of honours THE UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas Commencement and awards ceremony held at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium last night.
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Friday, May 26, 2017, PAGE 3
‘PLP did not listen to expert advice on Christie failings’
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party stalwart councillor George Smith says the 2017 general election result proved that his party learned little from its 2007 loss and instead doubled over on its problems. Mr Smith’s comments came amid reliable reports to The Tribune that the PLP was informed by its consultants in recent years that the party was losing support in the country under former Prime Minister Perry Christie’s leadership. “PLPs have been doing polls consistently in the past many years,” Mr Smith said when contacted yesterday. “Every poll has pointed out that if the (former) prime minister didn’t change his method of operation with respect to a number of things, he would face defeat. “People thought we learned the lesson in 2007. But then the prime minister said he would demit office (mid-way through a second term), but he didn’t do it. He said he would respect the results of the gambling referendum but he didn’t do it. He said he would deal with any improprieties by any minister and he didn’t do it. If you took the 2007 report on the election result by Greenberg (the PLP’s consulting firm) and you dust it off and change the date to 2017, you’d find that the same things, the same issues impacted us. Having not dealt with corruption and misconduct of various ministers, the problem was compounded in this past term. Whereas it involved only a couple of people between 2007 and 2012, this time it engulfed a number of ministers. “Multiply by two why the Bahamian people rejected (Mr Christie) as prime minister in 2007 and you have the 2017 election, and this time, to make sure they voted people out of office that they didn’t like, the Bahamian people got rid of people they didn’t really want to get rid of.” Mr Smith referred to controversies this past term involving several government ministers, including former Agriculture & Fisheries Minister V Alfred Gray’s alleged interference with a judicial decision of a family island administrator; former Labour Minister Shane Gibson’s acceptance of
GEORGE Smith speaks with Tribune reporters at the PLP convention. The 2007 report created the party’s reputation). It thousands of dollars from Canadian fashion mogul by Greenberg Quinlan Ros- goes to the heart of people’s Peter Nygard, which the for- ner Research said the PLP concerns about the PLP and mer minister claimed was faced four fundamental must be seriously addressed used to benefit residents of challenges: expanding the with concrete action. The the Golden Gates constitu- party’s base, cleansing the corruption issue also conency; former Education party’s reputation, convey- tributed to the perception Minister Jerome Fitzger- ing Mr Christie’s leadership of Christie as a weak leader. ald’s solicitation of Baha qualities and advancing a Voters perceived that he was unwilling to take action Mar contracts from Sarkis progressive social agenda. “The party lost in part against advisers or Cabinet Izmirlian, the resort’s original developer; and former because of perceptions that officials accused of wrongAttorney General Allyson its government was scan- doing…” Maynard-Gibson’s involve- dal-ridden,” the 2007 rement in Baha Mar nego- port said. “It needs to take tiations despite revelations concrete actions that conthat her family had stores vey its seriousness about purging corruption from in the resort. Of these, the only one the party and state. There Mr Christie ever addressed is a perception among votpublicly was Mr Gray’s al- ers––one deepened by the leged judicial interference. FNM––that the PLP has Mr Christie removed the become more focused on Ministry of Local Govern- doing things that benefit ment from Mr Gray’s port- its own politicians than for folio as a result, however he people.” Among its recommendawas never fired from Cabitions, Greenberg said the net. “How can you only take PLP should, with justificaa half of the ministry from tion, expel a senior memhim?” Mr Smith asked. ber of the party for corrup“That’s like slapping only tion. The consultants added: half of the backside after the child does something “We cannot overstate the importance of (cleansing wrong. It’s nothing really.”
‘BRAVE’ DAVIS TO SEEK LEADERSHIP OF THE PLP from page one
a reception to celebrate the swearing-in of four Official Opposition senators at Government House on Tuesday afternoon. “Again I don’t want to preempt the thinking or the advice I may get from political colleagues, so I will not venture to predict when it will be at this time.” He continued: “I will run for leader and I don’t discourage ambition. Anyone who wishes, the post will be open once the convention is called and anyone who wishes to vie for the post will have that right.” The PLP held its last convention on January 24-26. At the close of the threeday event, former Prime Minister Perry Christie won with 1,264 votes to 169 for Alfred Sears in a leadership race. Mr Christie ultimately led the party into the 2017 general election, in which the party suffered its most devastating defeat in history. The Free National Movement emerged victorious, securing 35 of 39 seats in the House of Assembly. It was also the first time a sitting prime minister lost his constituency.
When asked what con- our responsibility very setributed to the PLP’s loss, riously. They (the governMrs Maynard-Gibson said: ment) will be taking their “A combination. Obviously responsibility seriously to I don’t think there is any stand for good governance simple answer to any of in our country for you,” she these things. I think it is im- said. portant in our democracy Mrs Maynard-Gibson to respect the will of the said she also believed the people. The people have stunning defeat at the polls said that they wished for a had a lot to do with the parchange and they now have a ty’s communication stratchange. egy. “On May 11 we all had Mr Christie resigned as to get out and work in the leader of the PLP during Bahamas and we’re all very an emotional meeting at proud of our country and the party’s headquarters on the fact that we have a sta- Farrington Road five days ble democracy that is longer after he led his party to a standing than the United defeat. States of America is someIt came twenty years after thing that we all need to be he took the helm of the PLP very, very proud of. from the late Sir Lynden “I can assure you that Pindling. what our leader, the former Mr Davis was immediatedeputy prime minister, said ly elevated to interim party is exactly what the PLP will leader, as mandated in the Friday, 26th May 2017 be doing and that is taking PLP’s constitution.
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Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff Free National Movement had few accomplishments (FNM) Chairman Sidney and high crime weighed Collie said recently that even more heavily on votconcerns about corrup- ers’ minds, according to his tion was among the five or party’s internal data. so most important reasons The FNM ultimately won why people grew displeased 35 out of 39 seats in the with the PLP. He said dis- House of Assembly on May satisfaction with Mr Chris- 10. Mr Christie became the tie, concerns about how first prime minister to lose value added tax (VAT) was his seat in a general elecspent, the perception that tion, an area he had won the Christie administration eight consecutive times.
PAGE 4, Friday, May 26, 2017
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It’s better to be on the inside looking out INSTEAD of welcoming a younger generation of Bahamians to parliament, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts - who should be gracefully drifting into the sunset - dismissed lawyer Ranard Henfield as “deceptive” for having accepted a Senate appointment. Would Mr Roberts have preferred Mr Henfield to have remained on the streets with hundreds of angry followers chasing legislators to Parliament to demand their rights, or would he have felt more secure with him at the same table discussing in measured tones - the hopes, fears and dreams of a new generation of Bahamians? Instead, of extending an encouraging hand to the young lawyer, “Big, Bad Brad” - probably measuring Mr Henfield by his own standards - claimed that the lawyer never cared about protecting the environment or good governance; rather it “was always about the deceitful manipulation of the Bahamian people in a dishonest pursuit of selfish political interests, nothing more, nothing less”. “The sad reality,” he said, “is that the Bahamian people are now saddled with a person or persons of the like of Ranard Henfield who will legislate laws and formulate policies to govern the very same people he deceived just months ago under the guises of nationalism and patriotism.” Mr Roberts should know that, in this statement, he has given a perfect description of his own political party - the PLP. We recall the day in Parliament Square when the young Lynden Pindling jumped on top of a vehicle, bull horn in hand, and bellowed his message to the agitated crowd. Bahamians sat down on Bay Street blocking traffic with many being dragged to Central Police Station accused of disturbing the peace. There was constant chaos in those early days. Now, almost half a century later, a young man comes bearing an olive branch, wanting to discuss - and yes, fight for - the dreams of a new generation. And he is to be condemned? Mr Roberts you should be ashamed of yourself. We first heard of Mr Henfield - and took note - when he organised thousands of disillusioned Bahamians and led them in a peaceful demonstration to Rawson Square in November last year. And we recalled the words of the late Sir Kendal Isaacs, for a short time leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), who said he would never lead a demonstration because he would not want to be responsible for the damage they might do should
they get beyond his control. However, Mr Henfield and the leaders of his WeMarch movement, attracted thousands of disgruntled Bahamians - disillusioned with the PLP - in a protest that never once got out of hand. “WeMarch Bahamas is a movement inspired by the shared desire of a people to be free of petty politics, political mischief and bad governance amongst other things,” Mr Henfield explained. When government denied his group permission to assemble in Rawson Square in January this year, Mr Henfield declared: “Despite these distractions, WeMarch will not be deterred. Our right to peacefully assemble is a sacred one that has been guaranteed by our Constitution and we will not allow any government to refuse to hear the Bahamian people’s voice or to take our rights away.” We would think that a nation would prefer that voice around a debating table, rather than leading the raucous noise of the streets. Mr Roberts is also miffed that Mr Henfield, while out on the hustings, had declared that he was not going on the ballot for any political party. He said that he had been made offers but he made it clear that he was not interested and was always anti-party because he believed that “once you swear your allegiance to a party, you cannot be neutral”. But here he is now a Senator sitting in an FNM seat. So what? Where is Mr Roberts’ memory? Wasn’t it Fred Mitchell in his quest to be Prime Minister who had several party shifts, ending up sitting in an FNM Senate seat until he discovered that the FNM would not nominate him for a constituency in the House? It was then that he took to his heels and scampered back to the PLP from where he had started his political career. In this new Parliament, Mr Henfield will be sitting at the same table as Mr Mitchell - the only difference being that Mr Henfield has not yet had the opportunity to play musical chairs with as many political shifts as has Mr Mitchell. However, despite his Senate appointment, Mr Henfield has made it clear that he will be no pushover - he remains the voice of the people. He has not joined the FNM. He has declared that as a Senator, if needs be he would lead a march against the new government to hold it responsible for its promises to the people. If Mr Roberts had any sense - at least for the sake of a peaceful country - he should prefer to have Senator Henfield on the inside looking out, rather than noisily on the outside looking in.
Advice to the Prime Minister EDITOR, The Tribune. THIS is an open letter to the new prime minister. Dear Mr New Prime Minister & Government... You have an incredible opportunity to do BIG THINGS over the next 5 years. And due to the massive failures of previous Governments the bar is set pretty low for “big things” and We The Bahamian People can be impressed fairly easily at this point. Here are a few suggestions that should be seriously considered sooner than later to help you along the way: 1. Mr PM - Remember you are NOT the FNM leader anymore, you have a title much greater. You now represent every single Bahamian in the country. Conduct your affairs and decision making accordingly. Same for your MPs. 2. Be willing to admit failure and wrong doing within your own camp. Investigate, prosecute and jail where necessary. The rest of the population are subjected to the laws of the land. It’s only fair politicians and high ranking Government officials are treated the same. 3. EDUCATION - No
more band-aids. We are poorly socialized. Under exposed. Logic and Reason deprived. We need a full overhaul of the Public Education System that we pay for. Mr. Jeff Lloyd please realize you have the most important role in Cabinet. BE BOLD! 4. BANK OF THE BAHAMAS - Please go get our money (or property) from those delinquent loans of high ranking political folks. This is low hanging fruit. We can’t duck our mortgage, nor should they. 5. NATIONAL LOTTERY - Please do what every other progressive country on earth has done and set this up. Forget taxation. Let all proceeds go towards inner city sports, education and culture initiatives. Give those people their money back. End the current exploitation of the vulnerable. 6. ELECTORAL REFORM - Term Limits. Fixed Election Date. Independent Boundaries Commission. Campaign Finance Reform. Let’s get it done prior to the next general election. 7. RIGHT SIZING/FITTING - End Political Cro-
nyism and Favoritism. Have the maturity and fairness to put the best people in the right positions to finally advance the country in areas desperately needed. 8. BAD TASTING MEDICINE - Don’t be afraid to make the hard decisions that we may not like today, but is in the best interest of the country and its future. Just be honest and communicate clearly. Do these as early as possible in your term. 9. RAISE THE BAR No more wasting the people’s time and money in the House of Assembly. Keep debates respectful, meaningful and ON TOPIC. The country is watching. 10. RELIGION - The Bahamas has enough religion as it is. Please leave the spiritual affairs of the citizens to the church and religious leaders. Church and State must now remain separate. Dr. Minnis you have been given a very rare and special gift by the Bahamian People... A CLEAN SLATE out the gate. DO NOT WASTE THE OPPORTUNITY. FARRELL GOFF Nassau, May 25, 2017.
Conceit blinds Adrian Gibson EDITOR, The Tribune. ADRIAN Gibson’s humongous ego has dragged him off the Hubert Minnis reservation and into political no-man’s land and all at breakneck speed. Less than one week into the new FNM government, one of its most junior members violated the unwritten code of political jockeying: sit small till your name call. Lady Luck has been kind to Mr Gibson. A millennial, he was given a newspaper column, allowing him a pulpit to rant and vent on any topic he wanted. He set his eyes on his native Long Island and, although he was a long shot for a nomination, he was in the right place at the right time when the FNM standard bearer in the seat self-ejected from the party. That put him on pole position for a winnable FNM seat, even in a non “salami” election year. As a member of the freshmen class entering politics Gibson should have set himself on a course of understanding the needs and desires of the people of Long Island and then promulgating a strategy to lobby in Parliament and with the Executive to deliver for his people. But noooo! He had ideas well beyond his station. In his convoluted mind he should have been invited by the Prime Minister to join the cabinet. There is nothing wrong with ego or ambition, of course. Without both we would have no politicians. But political longevity depends on an ability to read the tea leaves and to keep both ego and ambition in check. It seems Adrian Gibson never followed the career of Dr Andre Rollins who self-imploded, bringing a rapid end to what could have been a promising career in politics. Neither did he learn anything from the lady who could not wait her turn. In our system of government the Prime Minister derives most of his unwritten power from the twin gifts of patronage and prerogative. The two greatest prerogatives of the PM are the dissolution and convocation of
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Parliament and the appointment and firing of Cabinet Ministers. Also high on that list is the responsibility to recommend to the Sovereign a nominee for Governor General; to nominate someone for appointment as chief justice; to name Ambassadors, and to counsel and recommend to Her Majesty for honours such as knighthoods. Adrian was not alone last week in waiting to get a call from the Prime Minister to discuss a cabinet appointment. One half of the caucus didn’t get a call but they had the good grace not to make a public display of their naked ambition and disappointment. Some people didn’t have to wonder if they would get a call. They were either senior enough in the party or had distinguished themselves in past public service to correctly surmise that a phone call would come. Mr Gibson no doubt sat by his phone all weekend while composing his maiden speech to cabinet. What swell up his head? In his own words, he had slayed a dragon in his constituency and that was qualification enough to sit at the table. Did he consider that maybe the FNM had something to do with his success? By Adrian’s logic, Reece Chipman should be in the cabinet. He defeated a sitting Prime Minister. Travis Robinson beat B J Nottage, Shonel Ferguson mash-up Fred Mitchell, and Pakesia Parker Edgecombe destroyed Obie Wilchombe. But they quite wisely kept their heads down and are waiting for the Prime Minister to dispense some more of his patronage and prerogative. There are public boards, some of them paying gigs, and plum assignments, not to mention the myriad goodies they will want to lobby for on behalf of their constituents. The Prime Minister had an embarrassment of political riches when he got 34
other members elected to the House. He had to balance that against a pledge to form a “smart” government that would reflect the greater cross-section of the electorate. He has largely done that, getting a grade of A-minus for his Cabinet picks. The minus is because his Cabinet has only one female. We need to set about attracting more qualified women to enter front-line politics so that hopefully one day we can achieve gender parity in Cabinet. At this stage, Adrian Gibson should be concerned with only one thing – being a good MP and holding the seat for his party in 2022. If he can demonstrate that he can easily win the seat again and the Branch is happy with him, that will increase his value and usefulness to the Prime Minister and put him in a better position. Others will then gladly “carry his water for him” in very high places. Adrian needs to grow up and realise that politics is a team sport. Hubert Minnis didn’t win the government, the Free National Movement did. So Adrian needs to take his disappointment, roll-up his shirtsleeves and help the people of Long Island get the infrastructure improvements and the government services, and the private sector helping hand they will need to transform their community. Starting off your nascent political career by publicly poking the Prime Minister in the eye is not a smart strategy and the people who voted for him deserve better. Mr Gibson hung a bull’s eye around his own neck. It’s now easier for the Prime Minister to keep an eye on him because we now know that any plum chairmanship he might be given is only a consolation prize to the man who had already measured the drapes in the Minister’s office. This young man’s view (pun intended) is being blinded by immaturity and conceit. DISAPPOINTED Nassau May 25, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, May 26, 2017, PAGE 5
Forensic evidence identifies fluids in Goodman apartment By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net SUPREME Co urt jurors yesterday heard ho w bo dily fluids were detected on vario us items allegedly taken from accused murderer Ko fhe Goo dman’s apartment for investigation in 2011, which include a used bed sheet, bo xer shorts as well as a mattress co ver. In particular, the forensic report by Royal Bahamas Police Force forensic biologist Sheria King sho wed ho w “seminal fluids” were detected on the rear middle region o f a pair o f used bo xer shorts, and on the middle portion o f a used mattress co ver taken from the alleged crime scene. Ho wever, there is still no evidence o f sexual assault in the Co urt o f Appeal mandated retrial, much less any indication that the detection o f said fluids on those items were inherently linked to the death o f 11-yearold Marco Archer, o f Bro ugham Street. A number o f o ther items were forensically analysed according to the report, such as multiple pillo wcases, plastic bags, too thbrushes and to wels. The report’s results sho wed that while some o f those items were used, a goo d majority contained no seminal fluids or bloo dstains. The results o f the forensic report were read o ut to jurors by Justice Carolita Bethell yesterday, which was day fo ur o f Goo dman’s retrial o ver the alleged September 2011 murder.
It is claimed that between September 23 and 28, 2011, Goo dman, o f Yorkshire Drive, caused the death o f Archer, who disappeared from Bro ugham Street on September 23, 2011 and was fo und dead days later. In 2013, Justice Bernard Turner sentenced Goo dman to hang for murdering Archer after a Supreme Co urt jury unanimo usly fo und him guilty o f the 11-yearold’s murder. In the lead up to sentencing, a death sentence, life imprisonment or a 15-year prison term were the punishments Justice Turner was asked by co unsel to consider. Goo dman subsequently appealed the conviction and sentence and had also so ught a deferment o f a retrial if the co urt were to allo w the appeal against his murder conviction and death sentence on the gro unds o f publicity affecting the case. He successfully appealed both conviction and sentence, which were both quashed by the Court of Appeal in September last year. At the time, the appellate court had also ordered a retrial for as soon as possible, concluding that adverse pre-trial publicity, misconduct of Goodman’s then defence lawyer Geoffrey Farquharson, and the jury’s irregularity created a “lurking doubt about the fairness of the trial”. On Monday, jurors were told to base their verdict on the evidence presented in the co urtroom and no t o utside influences such as commentary on social media. The matter continues today.
KOFHE GOODMAN, pictured outside court previously.
WOMAN JAILED AFTER SMUGGLING COCAINE IN HER WEAVE A GUYANESE woman was sentenced to 28 months in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to two co unts o f drug possession. Linda Reynolds, 23, was charged before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew
Forbes with possession o f dangero us drugs with intent to supply and importation o f dangero us drugs. According to initial police reports, a Guyanese woman was arrested after she was disco vered with two
po unds o f cocaine “taped to her weave” at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) on Tuesday. Police said shortly after 3pm Tuesday 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 co untry on a Caribbean Airlines flight from Suriname. During the
KEOD SMITH TO LEARN SENTENCE FOR BIAS ACCUSATION ON JUNE 7 By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A JUNE 7 date has been set for former Progressive Liberal Party member o f Parliament Keo d Smith to learn what his punishment will be for making accusations o f bias to wards a Supreme Co urt judge thro ugh a series o f affidavits more than three years ago. Before adjo urning the matter, ho wever, Smith’s attorney, Ellio t Lockhart, QC, pleaded with Justice Rhonda Bain to “tap into ” her “deep well o f discretion” and only “reprimand” his client for filing the affidavits questioning her impartiality to preside o ver a case in January 2014. Mr Lockhart also submitted, among o ther things, that his client, a father who has two minor children, is “medically challenged”. He said Smith’s bloo d pressure co uld be “dangero usly high” on occasion, and that he has been forced to work from home as a result. Mr Lockhart said considering all that his client is “suffering and will continue to suffer,” Justice Bain has and sho uld consider her “po wer” to no t “mete o ut any further punishment” against his client and commit him to prison. Ho wever, the most contentio us part o f yesterday’s plea in mitigation and expected sentencing proceedings came when Mr Lockhart contro versially asked for the affidavits in question to be expunged from public view, charging that the affidavits wo uld no t serve “any useful purpose” to anybo dy else. He further claimed that the o ther parties involved in the matter have no further interest in the affidavits in question because they are all “spent”. Ho wever, Fred Smith, QC, lead co unsel for Save The Bays, co untered by submitting that if Mr Lockhart was mo ving to have the
affidavits sealed, he sho uld do so via the appropriate channels so as to allo w those that wo uld be affected to have an opportunity to respond and have their support or disappro val for the mo tion heard. That in turn led to Mr Lockhart asserting that as the affidavits concerned the contempt o f co urt proceedings, and no t those o f an ongo ing judicial review, Mr Smith and his team are no t “party” to the contempt proceedings. Thus, he said, the contempt proceedings can be “excised” from those o f the judicial review. In 2014, Smith, 52, was fo und guilty o f contempt o f co urt for impugning Justice Bain’s pro fessional reputation thro ugh a series o f affidavits he created in support o f a recusal application from an ongo ing judicial review to which he is a party. At the time, Justice Bain further no ted that Smith’s then-lawyer Derek Ryan “canno t escape liability” for the “scandalising” affidavits filed by his client which undermined the integrity o f the judge and the judicial system. Smith, the former attorney for contro versial Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard, had filed a series o f affidavits claiming that Justice Bain sho uld recuse herself from a judicial review proceeding as she allegedly made a series o f decisions based on her affiliation with the Free National Mo vement. Ten months later he attempted to withdraw the applications for Justice Bain’s recusal. He alleged the judge once worked under former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, that she was appo inted to a high-ranking position in the Attorney General’s Office because o f her ties to the FNM and that her two sons were fathered by a person he claimed is a close friend and advisor o f Mr Ingraham. Smith also claimed that Justice Bain had made sev-
eral rulings in favo ur o f Mr Fred Smith, who in the past had been affiliated with the FNM, and “can only be explained as coming abo ut as a result o f her bias.” The current committal proceedings stem from a judicial review application filed by Save The Bays — formerly the Co alition to Pro tect Clifton Bay — which is challenging an application by Mr Nygard to further develop his Mayanthemed development in Lyford Cay and gain a lease for Cro wn land reclaimed from the sea witho ut o fficial appro val. On March 1, Smith o ffered an apology and explanation to Justice Bain that he never intended to impugn her pro fessional reputation, and attempted to sho w cause why he and Mr Ryan sho uld no t be committed to prison. At that time, only Smith was present in court when the matter was called. Mr Ryan was a no show. However, in a 41-page judgment handed down on May 5, Justice Bain stressed that the court “must protect the authority and dignity of the court.” She also noted that Smith’s apology “was not given until March 2017, more than three years since the filing of the affidavit.” She also noted that this was not Smith’s first encounter with contempt citations as she recalled another case where he was found guilty of contempt of court. For his previous actions, he was to be committed to prison for 14 days if he failed to pay a fine on or before May 23, 2008. Concerning Mr Ryan, the judge said that based on Smith’s evidence, the former did not prepare the affidavits in question which were executed and filed by Smith’s office. Justice Bain ultimately found that Mr Ryan was not guilty of contempt of court, but that Smith “was in contempt of court by scandalising the court”.
search o fficers allegedly fo und one taped package containing just o ver two po unds o f cocaine concealed in a weave attached to her natural hair. While in co urt yesterday, Reynolds, a mo ther who is
no t employed, asked the co urt for mercy. Ho wever she was sentenced to 28 months for drug possession and 18 months for the second charge. The sentences will run concurrently.
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THE TRIBUNE
Deputy PM: Promised FNM repeal of VAT still planned it is a sign the new government is opening up to the realities of governing and is moving away from its key tax pledge. But Mr Turnquest said yesterday: “I won’t speak to the wording (of the statement about VAT made in the Speech from The Throne). We are committed to the promises (we made during the campaign). We want to live with that commitment.” In general, the list of tax breaks the new administration has promised were narrower in the Speech from The Throne than in speeches Dr Minnis made on the campaign trail. Regarding this, Mr Turnquest said Wednesday’s speech “was not exhaustive and never could be.” He noted, for instance, that the government is still committed to introducing a Fiscal Responsibility Act even though this too was not specifically mentioned in the Speech from The Throne. Nonetheless, the tax plan
laid out in the document received some praise from Chamber of Commerce President Gowon Bowe yesterday. Mr Bowe would prefer that the government follow the tax plan it laid out in Wednesday’s speech than the plan it promised during the election campaign. Mr Bowe has long been critical of the Free National Movement’s promise to increase the list of VAT exemptions, explaining that doing so would leave those less fortunate worse off because businesses would raise prices to compensate for their inability to recover the 7.5 per cent levy they pay on their input costs. The narrower list of tax breaks laid out in the Speech from The Throne “was responsible in that it tempered expectations,” Mr Bowe said. He believes the Minnis administration could be forgiven by Bahamians for breaking campaign promises on taxes if the economy nonetheless improves under
its watch. “If they can’t carry out all their promises but they build the economy I think you will find forgiveness,” he said. “If they don’t necessarily eliminate VAT but reduce unemployment so households have greater income to make contributions, they could be forgiven.” Mr Bowe expressed some disappointment that no mention was made in the Speech from The Throne to the National Development Plan (NDP), which was released last year after securing bi-partisan support for its creation from political parties. The NDP outlines numerous steps the country should take in the next 25 years to improve governance and the quality of life for people. Mr Bowe was a member of the NDP’s Steering Committee, and he said he has discussed the NDP in recent meetings with members of the Minnis administration.
DEPUTY Prime Minister Peter Turnquest.
PICTURED is the scene of an armed robbery at Seagrape Shopping Centre where one male suspect was fatally shot.
ARREST FOLLOWING SEAGRAPE ROBBERY from page one
Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander yesterday identified the dead teen as 15-year-old Gino Evante Finley. The Ministry of Education also confirmed that the teen was a tenth grade student from R M Bailey Senior High School. ACP Fernander said police originally arrested two men at the time of the robbery, but one man was released when police discovered he was not involved.
“Police arrested another suspect on Thursday afternoon. He is an adult male and we are still looking for another adult male. So we have two persons in custody, one person died on the scene and one man is still on the run,” ACP Fernander said. “We released one of the men after we were satisfied he was not connected to this case.” At the scene of the crime ACP Fernander said alert officers responded to the call of a robbery in progress at the pharmacy.
Reports are that the four suspects entered the QVS Pharmacy shortly after 11am, demanded cash and other merchandise from the employees and customers, tied up at least one employee and attempted to tie up a male customer before fleeing the store on foot. Officers in the immediate vicinity responded and once on the scene, encountered all four men, two of whom were brandishing firearms. ACP Fernander said police gave chase, resulting in the suspects opening fire
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at police. Officers returned shots, fatally wounding one of the suspects. He indicated that two of the remaining three suspects were caught by officers a short time later near the crime scene. “(Police) returned fire, eventually fatally shooting one of the individuals, who collapsed at the rear of the store,” ACP Fernander said on Tuesday. “Just next to him his gun was found - a pistol was found not too far away from him. Two other culprits were later found in the vicinity and they were found in possession of some cash and also some items that you saw earlier in
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
the parking lot, an assortment of cigarettes that they dropped as they were trying to flee from the officers.” He continued: “At this present time we are actively investigating. As you can see the coroner came and she is a part of the investigation at this time. “There is a lot of things going around in social media to say that they are school kids. We can’t say that at this time, that is a line of inquiry that we are following. The deceased appears to be a young child who should have been in school, but we are not confirming this at this present
time. “This is a line of inquiry that we are following and as we move with the investigation, we will be able to update you with respect to the investigation.” The incident marked the second police involved fatality in less than a week. A man was shot dead by police after a car chase and shoot-out on Saturday afternoon in Pride Estates. He has been identified as 23-year-old Akeen Thompson of East Street. Both matters are currently being investigated by Coroner Jeanine Weech Gomez.
YOUNG MOTHER GUNNED DOWN from page one
“Now thinking about it I can feel every one.” Yesterday, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash, of the Central Detective Unit, said police were able to get some information from the victims about the shooting. “Police officers visited the Accident & Emergency
and spoke with both victims at the time,” he said. “The female victim sometime in the early morning succumbed to those injuries, however in speaking with the male victim, we were able to ascertain that he was visiting a female friend during the incident when they were both accosted by a male gunman, wearing a ski
mask, who opened fire on both of them. They ran and were subsequently taken to the hospital where the female (died from) those injuries.” Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328TIPS.
THREE INJURED IN STABBING AT SCHOOL from page one
CSP Cash, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incident were not yet clear, said three of the individuals involved were taken to the Accident and Emergency Section of PMH where they were said to be receiving treatment for their injuries. “Investigators are on the ground trying to establish what went wrong,” he said. “We are uncertain as to the nature of the victims’ inju-
ries.” Aspects of the incident were captured by cellphone cameras and then shared across social media. In a 30-second clip posted to Facebook, a man in a blue shirt could be seen running toward an ongoing altercation between a man and two women. The two men engaged in a scuffle, resulting in the pair falling to the ground between two vehicles. As this transpired, people nearby attempted to defuse the situation between
the two women, with others off-camera indicating that they could see one of the men attempting to stab the other. As screams filled the school’s parking lot, the video ended with both men still engaged in their scuffle and both women remaining locked in a struggle of their own. Police promised a further update when more details became available. Sources at PMH suggested last night that the injuries were not serious.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, May 26, 2017, PAGE 7
DNA praises government for ‘adopting’ its platform By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE Democratic National Alliance yesterday commended the Minnis administration for what it sees as the government “adopting” several aspects of the third party’s Good Governance Platform, referring to the government’s agenda as laid out in the Speech from The Throne on Wednesday. In a statement to the press Thursday, DNA Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer applauded the pledges as a step in the right direction. Mr Mortimer said the DNA welcomes the government’s pronouncement on its plan to implement campaign finance regulations for politicians. He added that the DNA anticipates that the government will also commit itself to several other electoral reforms and judicial reform. Of the latter, the DNA said it welcomes reforms to the judicial system that coincides with the plans outlined in its Vision 2017 document. “The independence of the judiciary is an important tenet of our democracy and is vital to the doctrine of separation of powers and the rule of law while instilling faith in the people regarding the administration of justice,” Mr Mortimer said. As it relates to economic plans presented by the Free National Movement, the DNA said many Bahamians interested in the government’s plans for turning the economy around were left disappointed as fiscal plans presented by the Minnis administration glossedover key details. Referring to years of negative GDP growth, a double digit unemployment rate, high national debt, high and unsustainable deficits over the last two administrations, the DNA said it awaits the government’s “strategic plan” to improve the economic state of the country. “The DNA has proposed
DNA Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer and party chairman Andrew Wilson. an innovative and 21 century viding viable solutions to the challenges experienced with the schemes during its plan to address our econom- address the same. “We remain hopeful that first incarnations. ic challenges through a comThe party called for debination of fiscal, monetary, the government will accept economic and public service our offer and proposal to tails on the amount of funds policy changes and adjust- do so because we are all thatø may be allocated for ments,” Mr Mortimer added. Bahamians working for the the scheme by the current “In the absence of such in- advancement of our belov- Minnis administration and novative and intentional re- ed nation towards a com- how the proposed structure forms, it is doubtful that the mon loftier goal,” the party would aide in promoting transparency and accountcountry will be restored to further noted. The party also raised ability. economic growth and prosAs a part of its 2017 genperity. It is no news that we questions about indications cannot expect any positive that government will look eral election campaign, changes within our econo- to reinstate the ‘Jump Start’ the DNA proposed revisitmy by deploying the same and ‘Fresh Start’ initiatives ing the policy that governs tactics that have placed us in started and cancelled over business license fees, conthe precarious position that the course of the last two tending that some level of administrations. change could bring relief to we are in today.” The DNA speculated small-medium sized entreThe statement said the DNA looks forward to over a timeline for the rein- preneurs (SMEs) and aid partnership with the new troduction of some amalga- in reviving the country’s government in not only mation of these initiatives overall economy. The party identifying the challenges and what new controls will recommended that the new facing the nation, but pro- be implemented to address government also consider
this course of action. With respect to business, trade and industry, the DNA also applauded the FNM on its proposed “one-stop shop” approach to industry, calling it a “major stepping stone” toward improving the ease of doing business in The Bahamas. As it relates to the government’s plans for Grand Bahama, the DNA noted the plans presented by the FNM to boost that island’s economy, calling for the public release of the government’s “white paper” on the strategy moving forward. The DNA said specific details on the proposed industry initiatives referred to in the Speech from The Throne would be helpful,
requesting that the government provide the rationale behind establishing Grand Bahama as a financial services centre and just how these initiatives could work. Mr Mortimer said the DNA will continue to address aspects of governance moving forward, as the party looks to contribute to the national discourse. The DNA performed much worse in the 2017 election than it did in 2012. It is estimated that the DNA secured just 4.7 per cent of the vote on May 10. The party did not win a seat in the House of Assembly. In 2012, the party’s first general election, the DNA secured about 8.5 per cent of the vote and was seen as a spoiler for the FNM.
FNM CALL FOR PATIENCE ON REFERENDUM from page one
Meanwhile, a well-placed source in the FNM indicated that a referendum would likely not take place for at least two years. The Minnis administration on Wednesday laid out its plans for its next five years of governance, insisting that it will seek the “consent of the electorate in a referendum, constitute an independent Electoral Commission and Boundaries Commission, introduce term limits for prime ministers and introduce a system of recall for non-performing members of Parliament.” In its Speech from The Throne, which was read by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, the FNM indicated that it would look to create an Office of Ombudsman to provide a direct source of relief, where people have legitimate grievances due to the actions or inactions of
government or any agency of the government. Following the presentation Wednesday, Attorney General Carl Bethel told members of the press that it would be difficult for the administration to predict a timeframe for a vote due to the large amount of constitutional and fiscal matters it had to deal with prior to any potential referendum. Contacted Thursday for clarification on the FNM’s plans, Mr Collie doubleddown on that suggestion, insisting that several agendas would have to be “identified, organised and submitted” before the government could even turn its attention to any potential referendum. “A referendum, any plans associated with that is going to come way down the road,” he stated. “Constitutionally, there are a number of things that we have to do before we get to that point. I know there is a lot of focus on a referendum and what it could
mean, but the process will take some time to get it right and we are going to need patience and focus on all sides.” According to Mr Collie, the party plans to analyse all legislation associated with the potential amendments. He said the FNM will not “tread” into any amendments without proper consultation and public education. “I will preach for time, because that is what it is going to take. Ordinary bills take time, when you are talking about amending the Constitution or going to a referendum, that takes even more time.” “The public has to be educated on the issues and they must have an understanding and connection to what is being asked of them. It cannot feel like a battle of wills, moreso, it should come down to a feeling of need. We want to consult. We want to draft good legislation. We want to educate
RESIDENTS STILL UNHAPPY OVER ODOURS AFFECTING CHESAPEAKE
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND BAHAMA: Several residents of the Chesapeake Subdivision continue to express discontent over a nearby sewage treatment plant that they believe is responsible for foul odours in the area. Environmental activist Shuffel Hepburn alleged that residents are suffering in silence while the plant continues to operate in
their backyards. “Residents say the odours are still strong… in spite of the reduced hotel occupancy levels since the passing of Hurricane Matthew,” he said. The sewage plant, which is operated by Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC), treats raw sewage from the hotels in the Lucaya area. This has been a sore issue and some residents have moved out of their homes. They have staged protests and have organised prayer
walks to raise awareness to their plight. Mr Hepburn has raised allegations about spillage at the plant, something officials have denied. Mr Hepburn also said residents are concerned about whether there is a chemist on staff at the GBUC to analyse the city’s water and sewage plants. “Residents have asked the GBUC if they have a chemist on staff and they say they never got a straight answer,” he claimed.
the country and get a serious level of feedback before we go to the public.” The former Christie administration held two unsuccessful referenda in its last term: a constitutional one on gender equality and
an “opinion poll” on the regulation of the web shop industry and the establishment of a national lottery. Both of these votes were soundly rejected by the electorate, however voter turnout was low.
In 2002, the Ingraham administration also held a constitutional referendum that was overwhelmingly rejected. That administration lost the 2002 general election that was held months later.
PAGE 8, Friday, May 26, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Great expectations
ACCORDING to the newly elected Free National movement (FNM) government, ‘It’s The People’s Time!’ Now that we have settled into ‘The People’s Time’, based on commentaries I’ve heard and read online I’m convinced the coming term will be either an era of great achievement or miserable contradiction. Or (most likely) something in between. On Wednesday, Governor-General Dame Marguerite Pindling brought the curtain down on the past election season. As usual, she looked elegant, and her elocution during ‘The Speech from the Throne’ (in her new quasiBritish accent that would make Queen Elizabeth proud) was practically flawless. But the real attention grabber was that long list of things “my government” is mandated to accomplish. It was interesting to watch the faces of recentlyelected politicians while Dame Marguerite riddled off campaign promise after campaign promise. By the time she was done, I don’t know if their once smiling faces were covered in sweat because of the scorching sun, all that bowing, or from the weight of the gravity of their task. (By contrast, the former Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and former minister Glenys Hanna Martin were smiling and grinning throughout.) It’s not hard to imagine all the lofty ideas a simple campaign slogan like ‘It’s The People’s Time’ has
conjured in the minds of Bahamians everywhere. In short, Bahamians expect the FNM to end public service corruption, curb crime, turn the economy around and decrease unemployment. And that’s in the first year. Before the end of their first term (and they come knocking on doors again), ‘the people’ want elected politicians to ensure energy reform and clean air, but they also want those millions from aragonite mining and oil drilling. Bahamians want police officers to be more visible, but they had better stay out of our personal space and emails. They want education reform and a respectable national grade average, but some aren’t sold on mandating three-year-olds attend ‘germsy’ schools at that age. Also, according to ‘the people’ on social media, every school student needs a personal tablet or computer. Bahamians want job creation numbers to go up while unemployment goes down (unlike the last administration that effortlessly managed the reverse.) Bahamians want food security, but without shady deals with foreign interests, which means no Cabinet Ministers setting up their own get-rich quick operation and importing foreign fisherman to ‘fishout’ our waters. The ‘people’ want National Health Insurance but with a proper plan to pay for it, but don’t think about hit-
HENFIELD’S PARLIAMENTARY MARCH IS OUT OF STEP Every civilised society needs great activists and decent politicians. Though the roles of the two can sometimes intersect, they are definitely distinct. Former President Barack Obama comes to mind as a good organiser, turned politician, turned activist again. I can appreciate that he never tried to confuse the two roles. The talk of the town this week was We March founder Ranard Eric Henfield’s decision to toss his ‘Activist’ hat aside to don a new one that reads ‘Senator’. Not surprisingly, there were great debates on social media and the talk show airwaves about whether this decision by Henfield represented a selfish, ‘sell-out’ move or the natural progression of someone wanting to make a difference. At the moment, I’m on the fence as to whether Henfield has been disingenuous with the thousands of Bahamians who supported the We March movement - yours truly included. I believe Henfield is a good person who has done great things as an activist in the past. He has already contributed much to Carmichael, and perhaps feels the next best thing is to have ‘a seat at the table’ in Parliament. This is where Henfield and I disagree. As a politician - which he now is, no matter what he says - he is now under a new kind of political pressure. His loud ‘activist’ voice must now become a whisper (remember, there’s no screaming at ‘the table’). And these same political forces will demand compromise - activists conting us with another tax or raising VAT. If ‘cook-outs’ for medical expenses are still happening five years
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RANARD Henfield is pictured with Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General of the Bahamas, as he is sworn in as a Senator. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff front, politicians compromise. The worst part for Henfield is in holding onto the mantle of We March while sitting in Parliament, he looks bad. There is nothing he can do in the Senate ‘for the people’ he could not do more effectively leading the most successful grassroots organisation in a generation. A ‘seat at the table’ has not given him more power, but rather handcuffed his ability to turn over the table. At least with any credibility. Despite his protestations, Henfield is not ‘independent.’ Such fantasies are child’s play. Those admonishing the many followers of We March and other activist groups that joined forces with the movement to ‘get over it’ or ‘march fa yasself’ are oblivious to what it takes to build a coalition We March was able to bring together under one
from now, no doubt ‘the people’ will be ‘dead mad’. If the International Bazaar still looks the same in Freeport, the FNM will have failed the people. If the dump is still poisoning our air every few weeks, the FNM will have failed the people. If summer ‘load shedding’ is still a thing, the FNM will have failed the people. I could go on all day but I think you get the drift. And I know this may sound like a tall order to those in the government but just think what the people have given you to work with; a super majority in Parliament and a chastened
umbrella. Henfield didn’t do it alone, but by not handing the reins over to a competent successor he alone appears to be using We March as his personal political bargaining chip. Did he ‘cut a deal’ to ‘Roc wit Doc’ right before the election and peddle his influence with his supporters in exchange for a ‘lil senate appointment?’ We may never know. What we do know is more activists and less politicians are needed these days. It was Frederick Douglass who once said, “Power concedes nothing without demand.” With a decimated opposition and We March effectively put on a leash, it’s best to wish Mr Henfield good luck in the Senate and move on. No matter who stands with us or decides, alternatively, to have a seat, Bahamians must always continue to demand the best for our country and ourselves.
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Opposition. The Democratic National Alliance is a non-factor. VAT brings in close to a billion dollars a year. Best of all, the population is hopeful, willing to work hard and will cut you some temporary slack to clean up whatever mess you have met. But, as the older, wiser Bahamians say, ‘whoa be tide me Lord Jesus’ if all you have to show for it is a bucket of excuses at the end of five years. You have all the ‘experts’ heading their respective ministries. You have great power and the great expectations that come along
READERS RESPOND TO SPEECH FROM THE THRONE READERS have been commenting on the stories in the news on tribune242. com. After the ‘Speech from The Throne’ revealed the Minnis administration is planning a referendum on instituting term limits for the Prime Minister, a recall system for non-performing members of Parliament and an independent Constituencies Commission and Electoral Commission, Well_mudda_take_sic said: “No Mr Minnis - time for you to do what’s right by the Bahamian people! After all, it’s now the people’s time! And we, the Bahamian people, would much prefer a highly prioritised national referendum on the
wholesale repeal of all of the web shop related gaming legislation that was enacted under the corrupt Christie-led PLP government against our wishes as expressed in a previously duly held national referendum (paid for by our tax dollars), the outcome of which was wrongfully (illegally) ignored.” The government’s plan to reduce, but not repeal, VAT on common goods, prompt-
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465-6763 or 327-7726 ®Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence (where applicable).
with it. If it’s really ‘The People’s Time’, do yourselves a favour - don’t mess it up. Because if you do, five years can come at you real fast - just ask the PLP. • Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident standup comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net
ed Proudloudandfnm to say: “Eliminating VAT from breadbasket items is a dumb idea ... Reducing VAT on breadbasket items is beyond stupid. Want to help us Mr PM? Eliminate either VAT or duty.” HarryWyckoff had this suggestion: “Increase VAT to 10%, completely eliminate duty across the board and enforce price changes on everything to account for duty removal. The last part is critical, or pricing will stay the same, as retail outlets see profit margins jump while the consumer is no better off.” Also commenting on the Speech from the Throne were: Birdiestrachan, who said: “A small but important point. ‘These programs will be guided by the resources available’. Most of the rest is not new. No visionary ideas.” Alexis, who had this to say: “The proof is in the pudding, no? Let’s see how it bakes.” And Sheeprunner12, who commented with: “The FNM appears to be putting lipstick on the Education PIG ... This PIG needs to be slaughtered, quartered, stripped and ground into patties ... patties look nothing like the PIG.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, May 26, 2017, PAGE 9
The social media queen breaking barriers and records
O
N Election Day 2017, as we watched politicians of all affiliations wage war on the political battlefield, nearly a million eyes were transfixed by interactive text commentary, courtesy of the ‘Social Media Queen’ Chrissy Love and her Facebook stage, ‘Chrissy Love Live & Raw!’ As she held court and kept us transfixed with her mercurial acerbic wit, observations and interpretations of Election Day happenings, and a noholds-barred point of view, she broke social media records for the most watched,
Radical and unconventional, Chrissy Love had the eyes and ears of The Bahamas and beyond on her on Election Day. Serena Williams lauds her effect on an historic day in politics shared and viewed Facebook page in Bahamian history. When she moved her show onto Facebook last year Christina ‘Chrissy Love’ Thompson was already a household name with legions of faithful followers built up over a 25year career in radio. Her new Facebook outlet gave her an unbridled freedom of voice and view so often curtailed by her nervous
ANALYTICS showing Chrissy Love’s reach and following on social media during the election.
radio show bosses in the past. With stimulating topical and controversial content, she quickly expanded her audience and with rising Google ratings, savvy retailers were quick to sponsor her show as she mainlined daily thrills to their target market. Her rancid view of the then government of the day, the Progressive Liberal Party, formed the core of her discourse to an ever expanding fan base that identified with the high voltage, outraged narrative and condemnation of the administration. Her reputation spread as, fearlessly, she shocked us with her imprudent accusations of government mismanagement, her indignant outrage on the victimisation of ordinary people - herself included - and those too scared to speak for themselves. She spoke fervently and disparagingly without fear of retribution it seemed, and close friends talked quietly about the ability to raise bail money if she were arrested. She was audacious, fiery and scarily exciting. Along the way she won friends and made enemies, but whatever your opinion of her, there was no denying she had connected with her audience. For many, her strong opinion fearlessly voiced was a revelation and it made them question their previously held silent acceptance of the status quo. Daily she railed and raged against injustice and corruption, and as the election drew near, she pressed hard and drove home her message to a spellbound audience – vote them out! On Election Day, she characteristically bucked
CHRISSY Love’s app is one of the ways through which she has attracted a devoted following.
the system, broadcasting and streaming live for most of 16 hours from several New Providence polling stations and then with the results and commentary at the Taj Mahal restaurant on Parliament Street late into the night. The more traditional broadcast media outlets, governed by Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) rules, were barred from any political coverage until the polls closed. Typically Chrissy, she shared her opinion of the regulatory stance. “Since 1982 when I covered my first elections, I always wondered why that law was in effect, the government, the Public Utilities Corporation (which would eventually become URCA) and the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas strictly forbade it. That left an indelible impression on my 20-year-old mind. I felt it was archaic then and still today in 2017. “Moving my show to
the world-wide-web, the internet, at this particular time in our history was obviously meant to be,” she explained. “My radio bosses would never have let me campaign for change as I’ve been able to do on Facebook. I’m proud I was able to support a movement that helped bring this about. I’m extremely pleased and grateful to have the freedom to own and disseminate my unique views on life and interact with a live audience who also have opinions and ideas that I appreciate. “Technology has provided a timely assist for me, and I will use it to its fullest extent. Likely I won’t host a radio talk show again. ‘Chrissy Love Live & Raw!’ on my Facebook page is a walk show, meaning we will walk the talk, showcasing conversations with people who are walking through the Bahamas and worldwide, leaving positive impressions of the best of us. Thanks to all who support this move-
ment to revolutionise media, The Bahamas, and the world.” Chrissy Love is best known for firing up Bahamian radio and television for well over two decades with radical messages that stand the test of time. She has made her mark in her inimitable way, as one who is forever chafing against the restrictions of an increasingly sexist and patriarchal society and industry. She continues her journey on the Internet using social media platforms Facebook Live, YouTube, Sound Cloud, iTunes and via her popular App ‘Chrissy Love Live & Raw.’ Her Facebook page talk show has been a favourite since November 8, 2016, when she debuted it from the US Presidential Elections. • Serena Williams is an independent writer and owner of a public relations and communications company in Sandyport. She has been resident in The Bahamas for more than 25 years.
PAGE 10, Friday, May 26, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Why female empowerment is key to alleviating poverty
By ROCHELLE DEAN WOMEN are seen as an important part of the international development agenda and as a large contributing factor to the Bahamian informal economy. There are more women who participate in the informal economy and they account for the sustainability of many homes and children in the community. This is the greatest reason it is imperative that women become empowered to reduce poverty and develop strategic development interventions that focus on practical gender needs. The importance of women to the Bahamian economy is just as important as foreign direct investment and other global investments in the country. While The Bahamas promotes entrepreneurship, it is important for the country to see the value in facilitating the achievement of strategic gender needs by uniting women, raising their awareness of female empowerment, financial literacy and other interventions that prevent or reduce income poverty. While the government continues to try to regularise the informal economy unsuccessfully, it is important that women understand the importance of
ROCHELLE DEAN this sector and how best they can take advantage of opportunities to transition into the formal economy by developing programmes and other tools and resources that allow them to become fully empowered. The unspoken ‘unpaid work’ is seen as unappreciated when there are many opportunities for women who do not work to take their talents and natural gifts and develop small athome businesses that grow the economy and promote inclusion. This area of women’s work emphasises the importance of men being educated on the important role that women play in the development of the country as well as to further empower them economically. While The Bahamas has developed a National Development Plan (NDP) specifically focused on Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
and is currently up for national review at the high level political forum in 2018, the country must begin capacity building for women through skilled experts, the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and other organisations who can develop programmes like FEM Finesse, an initiative on financial literacy with the aid of Marion-Bethel Sears, the United Nations expert for CEDAW and the Department of Gender
and Family Affairs director Gaynel Curry. These programmes specifically can assist in this area of female empowerment and social change. While the country has many experts in motivational speaking, in order for it to see economic development that aids in poverty alleviation, skilled expertise must be applied to achieve the goals required for The Bahamas to see success with its NDP.
HISTORIAN TO ADDRESS UB’S NORTHERN BAHAMAS HISTORIAN and advocate for Historically Black Colleges and Universities Dr Crystal A deGregory will deliver the keynote address at the University of The Bahamas’ Northern Bahamas Campus Commencement scheduled for June 1 at the Grand Lucayan Resort in Grand Bahama. A native of Freeport, Dr deGregory is the founder and executive editor of HBCUstory Inc, an advocacy initiative preserving, presenting and promoting inspiring stories of HBCUs past and present, for their future. She is also a passionate believer in the historic mission and contemporary vision for HBCUs and convened the third annual HBCUstory Symposium on October 9 & 10, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee, in partnership with Fisk University.
Dr deGregory is a proud alumna of the historic Fisk University. She holds a Master of Education from Tennessee State University and received masters and doctoral degrees in history from Vanderbilt University. Entitled “Raising a Nonviolent Army: Four Nashville Black Colleges and the Century-Long Struggle for Civil Rights, 1830s – 1930s,” her dissertation focuses on the role of these colleges and their students in the struggle for equality, justice and civil rights in Nashville, Tennessee. Her newest work is an epilogue for The Athletic Experience at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She has also written the book chapter, “The Relationships of Revolution: Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights Movement and
Political Change in The Bahamas”. Her advocacy work includes serving as one of four doctoral-holding black female hosts of Black Docs Radio and she is a member of several professional and service groups, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Dr deGregory is editorin-chief of The Journal of HBCU Research + Culture, an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal which publishes scholarly articles relating to HBCUs. As the convener of the HBCUstory Symposium, she is responsible for securing host partnerships, keynote speakers, and sponsorship as well as organising the two-day meeting of scholarly research and case studies outlining the historic and contemporary value of HBCUs. The convening has featured more than 100 pre-
senters to date. A finalist for the HBCU Awards “Alumna of the Year” recognition, Dr deGregory was the recipient of the Fisk University “Women of Prominence” award, her high school’s 50th Anniversary “Golden Warriors” award, and was recognised as the “Hope Dealer of the Year” by the Washington, D.C.-based The HOPE Scholarship Initiative. This commencement season UB is also hosting the following events for the Northern Bahamas Campus: an awards dinner at 7pm on May 27 at A Social Affair Convention Centre; teachers commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, May 31, at 10am at the Northern Bahamas Campus Courtyard and the baccalaureate service on May 31 at 6.30pm at Church of the Ascension.
It is imperative for The Bahamas to see the important role of capacity building in the area of female empowerment with a direct connection to private data collection. This has recently become prevalent in the implementation of the global agenda at national, sub-national and regional levels that will give the country the material to further develop programmes that impact urban development and the country’s citi-
zenry. It will also return confidence to public-private partnerships that are transparent and focused on proper principles that drive new emerging markets as well as allow women to apply economic tools and develop further opportunities to integrate entrepreneurship and impact the economy. • Rochelle R Dean is a Bahamian scholar, research fellow and peer-reviewer
Us TOO Bahamas Chapter
All men are urged to join the group. The prostate is most essential to procreation. Prostate cancer is a life-threatening disease. Us TOO is always available for discussion - individual or groups. Tel: 325-0823 or 465-2235 E-mail: barrywendell@yahoo.com,
Us TOO Bahamas. May is Cancer Awareness Month. Us TOO Bahamas Chapter, Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network, was chartered on May 1, 2001, by Us TOO International, Inc, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA. Regular meetings are held at 6.30pm on the third Thursdays at the Cancer Society's headquarters. Officers include: Chapter leader Wendell Barry; deputy Lenneth Brozozog; treasurer Spencer Poitier; secretary Lavade Darling; chaplin Jack Sturrup; almoners Kenneth Bethell & Reginald Wells; public relations: Z Wilshire Bethell, Hubert Pratt & Alfred Rolle. Education and support is the Chapter's mandate. Membership is free.
JOIN THE CLUB OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers. To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@ tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line. For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 5022373 or 447-3565.
A gold mine in the sky THE Bahamas, like other tourist destinations in the region, earns income from sun, sand and sea. There is however another ‘S’ from which we can earn. That ‘S’ is the Sky. We have more sea and sky than we have land mass. From the sea we reap benefits from fishing, tourism and recreation. Hopefully, one day we will earn from
petroleum and natural gas. However, we have not exploited the economic potential of our vast and strategically located airspace. We have a capitalist economy but we could learn a little capitalism from our communist neighbours, Cuba. Cuba charges aircraft for the use of their airspace. Every time a small aircraft uses Cuban airspace, it has
to pay 75 euros or an annual fee of €2,628 for unlimited use. I don’t know what they charge large commercial aircraft or how much they earn for the year but I am sure it is a great deal. Why don’t we do the same as the Cubans? The massive number of aircraft that have to cross Bahamian airspace every day to get a direct route to their desti-
nation would effectively be showering dollars on to our treasury. If nothing else, it could ease the tax burden on our taxpayers. I suspect that these overfly fees would add up to tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars. • John Issa is executive chairman of SuperClubs. He is writing regularly in The Tribune.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, May 26, 2017, PAGE 11
PHOTOGRAPHS by Alessandro Sarno and artwork by Maxwell Taylor’s which will be on display in Miami.
GOOMBAY FROM THE GROVE - IN MIAMI COCONUT Grove, Nassau, comes to Coconut Grove, Miami, on Saturday with the opening of a three-month creative art exhibit paying homage to the Bahamian culture of Goombay and Junkanoo. ‘Goombay - A Homage to Coconut Grove Goombay’ opens to the public at Kroma Art Space and Studios in celebration of the Bahamian cultural presence and vibrancy of their influence through art and culture with the Miami Goombay Village Party where authentic art, craft, food, music, kids’ art zone and culture will resonate in true Bahamian style. The exhibit is a celebration of cultural expression embracing the legacy of a Bahamian-rooted community known as Coconut Grove. Guest curator Ricardo Treco, Consulate of The Bahamas in Miami, will feature the art works of Maxwell Taylor, Charles Allan Smith, Kourtney Eugene Brown, Nadia Desjardins, Weldon Ryan and Alessandro Sarno. The exhibition will also launch the beginning of Miami Goombay 2018 festivities that, according to organisers, “promise to transform Grand Avenue into a journey across the ocean, creating a perfect harmony of Caribbean culture of the Bahamas and the African American energy of MiamiDade County”.
A master artist with over 40 years creating, Maxwell Taylor has established an international reputation of excellence and earned a celebrated place in a society that had no place for artists when he was born. Hailing from Grant’s Town, Nassau, Mr Taylor’s work includes woodcuts, ceramics, linoleum prints and watercolours. He has also been an illustrator for authors and for travelling international shows of the Printmaking Workshop of New York. He has been a teacher of many students at the New York Cultural Affairs Jacob Riis Community Center in Harlem. Charles Allan Smith - or ‘Charlie’, as he is better known - is a son of The Bahamas and a Miami resident who is a respected photographer and creative director. He has spent most of his life in front of and behind the camera working with the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Johnny Rotten and Joss Stone. His most recent global sensation was the award-winning “When Pigs Swim” documentary. Kourtney Eugene Brown, an acclaimed visual artist who achieved fame in South Florida from the permanent, public installation of his monumental work “Creos Aetas”, a 20ft x 20ft permanent clock tower installation on the historic Borinquen Medical Healthcare Center. He is also the
creator of the “Rainforest” Mural at Parrot Jungle Island Park’s Serpentarium in Miami Beach. The work of Nadia Desjardins, a resident artist of Kroma, spans many styles and traditions, from the figurative to the abstract. A native of Switzerland, she completed her studies in Ceramics at the École des Arts Apliquées in Vevey. Weldon Ryan is an established Trinidadian artist who has exhibited at several New York galleries and appeared on many television shows, including The Ricki Lake Show. Before taking his first photograph in The Bahamas in 2008, Alessandro Sarno had never owned a real camera. Today the Italian who spends half the year in The Bahamas is an internationally recognised travel photographer having published two coffee table books “Blue and Beyond”, an illustration of life in The Bahamas, and “Catch da Cat”, a homage to Cat Island. His work captures the essence of a people, land and culture. The activities - which include authentic art, craft, food, music, kids’ art zone and culture - will resonate in true Bahamian style, starting at noon on Saturday. Admission is free. The exhibit is open from May 26 to August 26.
PAGE 12, Friday, May 26, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
ONLINE APPLICATIONS AND APPROVALS
www.centralbankbahamas.com The Exchange Control Department is now accepting online applications! Using The Bank’s secure online platform, BUSINESSES can now submit online applications for the following:
• FOREIGN CURRENCY FINANCING • RESIDENT DESIGNATION
• APPROVED INVESTMENT STATUS
EFFECTIVE DATE 24 APRIL 2017
MAKING USE OF THIS NEW ONLINE SERVICE Who May Apply?
• Law Firms • Financial & Corporate Service Providers • Resident and Resident Designated Businesses, Banks, etc.
For What Investment Purposes?
For seeking access to foreign currency financing, whether through equity, unsecured debt, or secured debt
What Information Is Required for the Application Process? Applicants will be required to provide information such as the following: • Business’ constitutional documents • Activities of the business • Other specified due diligence information See the Central Bank Website for further details
How Soon Can Applicants Expect Feedback? Within five (5) working days.
More Opportunities on the Way
The Central Bank will continue its liberalization process and improvements to its online platform over the coming months to promote efficiency and the protection of the interests of the nation and users of the Bank’s digital services. Visit www.centralbankbahamas.com for other areas of liberalization.
Telephone +1 242 302-2649
www.centralbankbahamas.com