WEDNESDAY i’m lovin’ it!
The Tribune Established 1903
24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM
HIGH 92ºF LOW 78ºF
Biggest And Best!
VOLUME:114 No.132, MAY 31ST, 2017
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
Premium Advertisement Space
ALFRED SEARS ON THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE PLP - PAGE EIGHT
Marco’s killer guilty Prosecutors seek death sentence at Goodman retrial By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net KOFHE Goodman was unanimously convicted by a Supreme Court jury yesterday in his retrial for the killing of 11-year-old Marco Archer nearly six years ago. After two hours of deliberation, the 12-member panel that heard testimony concerning the September, 2011, killing returned to the courtroom of Justice Carolita Bethel with a guilty verdict on the murder charge. Ten police officers were gathered as a security precaution. Goodman did not visibly or vocally react to the forewoman’s announcement. When Justice Bethel asked prosecutor Cordell Frazier if it was the Crown’s intention to seek the highest penalty on the law book, Ms Frazier indicated that they were seeking the discretionary death penalty and subsequently requested that a psychiatric and probation report be prepared for the court’s consideration. Goodman, however, questioned the necessity of this given that he “been through this before”. “Can the court bypass this? I don’t want the
long delay. You know I appealing both conviction and sentence,” he added. Justice Bethel thanked him for stating his intention and scheduled a status and sentencing hearing for July 27, by which time the Department of Rehabilitative Welfare Services should be in a position to update her on Goodman’s status. Goodman was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services in the interim. It was alleged that between September 23 and 28, 2011, Goodman, of Yorkshire Drive, caused the death of Archer, who disappeared from Brougham Street on September 23 and was found dead days later. Archer, a sixth-grade student of Columbus Primary, was reported missing by his family after failing to return home from a neighbourhood store where he went to purchase candy. His family begged for help in ensuring that he was returned home safely. However, on September 28, police discovered Archer’s body in bushes behind an apartment complex on Yorkshire Drive. Goodman was initially convicted of Archer’s killing on August 2, 2013 and
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION Leader Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis regarding a decision to place several National Insurance Board (NIB) executives on “involuntary” leave, saying he “condemned” this action against the Board’s employees. If no explanation is provided, the Progressive Liberal Party interim leader said the country can only conclude this is “rank victimisation, discrimination and intimidation.” Meanwhile, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts accused Dr Minnis of going against what he called an unsolicited declaration during the recent general SEE PAGE SIX
MORE AUDITS FOR POST OFFICE AND HURRICANE FUND By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
KOFHE GOODMAN, pictured at a previous court appearance. sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Bernard Turner on October 29, 2013. However, the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction and sentence, ordering a retrial for as soon as possible because of the “lurking doubt about the fairness of the trial” brought on by adverse pre-trial publicity, misconduct of Goodman’s then defence lawyer Geoffrey Farqu-
harson and the former jury’s irregularity. During yesterday summation of a week of evidence heard in last week’s retrial, the judge told the 12-member panel that they “now had the advantage of hearing all of the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution”. “You’ve also had the benefit of having counsel for the prosecution address you both at the
opening and closing of their case. You’ve also heard counsel for the defendant at the closing of his case,” Justice Bethel added. The judge said she would direct them on the law but noted that “the case depends not only on the law but on the evidence from the facts which you are the judge of”. SEE PAGE FIVE
ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY PROBING REPORTS OF ‘MASSIVE’ FUEL SPILL By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
ENVIRONMENT Minister Romauld Ferreira yesterday confirmed officials from his ministry are “looking into” reports of a massive fuel spill in western New Providence over the weekend. The confirmation came as Sam Duncombe, founder of reEarth, indicated that the
Covering The Bahamas for 40 years.
DAVIS DEMANDS ANSWERS ON NIB WORKER ‘VICTIMISATION’
reported spill had now allegedly affected between 500 to 700 feet of land in an area she described as just north of Adelaide Village, east of the Clifton Heritage Park and west of Frank Watson Drive. Several attempts by The Tribune to contact Mr Ferreira by phone Tuesday were unsuccessful up to press time, his only response coming in the form of a text message around
2.30pm which acknowledged that environment officials were indeed aware of the reported leak. There are several businesses in the area that either handle or transport various fuel supplies, however, officials have not been able to locate or verify which of the companies might be responsible for the leak.
INSURANCE MANAGEMENT
(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS
Nobody Does it Better!
NEW PROVIDENCE GRAND BAHAMA ABACO ELEUTHERA EXUMA 242.394.5555 242.350.3500 242.367.4204 242.332.3211 242.336.2304 www.InsuranceManagementBahamas.com
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SIX
FORENSIC and internal audits ordered at government ministries and departments will continue unabated with no regard to how matters are “spun by the opposition,” Press Secretary Anthony “Ace” Newbold said yesterday. The Post Office Savings Bank and the Hurricane Relief Fund have been added to the list of government entities slated for forensic audit, according to Mr Newbold, who defended the government’s track as the mandate given by the Bahamian electorate. SEE PAGE SIX
TEENAGER DIES IN EIGHT MILE ROCK STABBING By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A 16-YEAR-OLD was fatally stabbed in Eight Mile Rock on Monday evening, pushing the island’s murder count to seven for 2017. This latest incident comes less than a week after the murder of a young barber in Freeport and marked the 59th killing in The Bahamas this year. Although police have not yet released the victim’s identity, The Tribune can report that the teen’s name is Rudolph Livingston, of Take Me Corner, Pinedale in Eight Mile Rock. SEE PAGE FIVE
PAGE 2, Wednesday, May 31, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
SPELLING CHAMPION SET FOR US CONTEST BAHAMAS National Spelling Bee Champion Jee’von Pratt arrived in Washington, DC, on Sunday ready for the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee that started yesterday and runs until tomorrow at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. On Monday, the 12-yearold seventh grade student at St Augustine’s College joined other spelling champions at the traditional Memorial Day picnic at Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals, the city’s Major League Baseball franchise. Jee’von is Speller No 271 among the 291 spellers par-
ticipating in this year’s competition and he will compete in the second segment of the preliminary rounds this morning. His parents, Austin and Neneth Pratt, accompanied him to Washington along with several members of the Bahamas National Spelling Bee (BNSB) organising committee, including Patrinella Rolle and Nicola McKay, of the Ministry of Education, which along with The Nassau Guardian are the principal sponsors of the BNSB. Also there to cheer on the Bahamas champion are the first two runners-up in the BNSB who won the prize of a trip to the Scripps Bee,
Sarthak Saxena, a 12-yearold student at St Andrew’s School, and India Bowleg, a 12-year-old student at Gateway Christian Academy, Bimini, The Bahamas has competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 1998 after it was introduced to the country by Oswald T Brown, the then Editor of The Nassau Guardian. Mr Brown, the Press, Cultural Affairs and Information Manager at the Bahamas Embassy in Washington, welcomed The Bahamas champion and the Bahamian delegation during a visit to the Gaylord National Resort on Monday.
BAHAMAS National Spelling Bee Champion Jee’von Pratt (kneeling left) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center with members of the Bahamian contingent in Washington for the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Kneeling right is Sarthak Saxens, and standing from left to right are Nicola McKay, Eula Gaitor, Nickara Pratt, India Bowleg, Austin Pratt, Neneth Pratt, Francina Beneby and Patrinella Rolle. Photo: Elisabeth Ann Brown
A MILITARY tribute as Memorial Day events are held at Clifton Pier, including laying a wreath in memory of fallen soldiers.
US embassy marks Memorial Day ON Monday, the United States Embassy commemorated Memorial Day with a wreath laying ceremony at Clifton Pier in memory of fallen comrades and military veterans. The solemn tribute was held at the site of the Memorial to Patrol Squad 23 to commemorate the ten US crew members who lost their lives during a fateful training mission off the coast of Nassau on May 7, 1954. Among the officials on hand for the ceremony were US Chargé d’Affaires Lisa Johnson, Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling as well as other senior
US and Bahamian government and law enforcement officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and family members of the fallen heroes. The ceremony included a moment of silence, playing of taps and a gun salute to honour the lives of the servicemen. The memorial concluded with release of wreaths by a member of the US Marine Corps Nassau Detachment on board a Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessel and a helicopter fly-by and wreath-laying by the US Coast Guard. Ms Johnson noted that the solemn occasion serves as an opportunity to hon-
our service members. The VP-23 Squadron members that died in the plane crash included William Martin, Leland Osborn, John Tinney, John Holle, Joseph Kiliszewski, Franz Nelson, Thomas Caylor, Gerald Lepard, Albert Olson and Fred Sparks. The military services of Bahamian Private First Class Norman Darling who died in the Iraq War in 2004 and Sergeant Errol McKinney, US Army, a Bahamian killed in a motorcycle accident in 2013 shortly after to returning to Ft Bliss, Texas following a deployment to Afghanistan were also honoured.
US Chargé d’Affaires Lisa Johnson at the Memorial Day event.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 31, 2017, PAGE 3
Williams says no job cuts because of competition
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net BTC CEO Leon Williams yesterday dismissed assertions that mobile competitor Aliv’s entrance into the market could force the company to make additional job redundancies to avoid incurring any losses. Mr Williams, during a press conference at BTC headquarters, said there have been “no discussions of downsizing” between him and his superiors in connection with Aliv’s impact on the market. Similarly, National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) President Bernard Evans said he sees “no justification” for the company to conduct any layoffs at this point, referring to the many layoffs the company made in preparation for competition when acquired by Cable and Wireless in 2011. NewCo, Aliv’s operating company, was awarded the second mobile operator licence in July of last year. The Utilities Regulations and Competitions Authority (URCA) has already mandated that BTC allow Aliv to lease and utilise portions of its network infrastructure, until the latter completes construction of its own, so that competition can be brought more rapidly to Bahamians wherever
they are living in the Bahamas. In November, a BTC insider told The Tribune that revenue from mobile customers represents 70 cents of every dollar made by the company. The insider explained that pre-paid mobile customers accounted for more than 90 per cent of that share. The insider also said that the telecommunications provider would be effectively “crippled” if incurred losses met or exceeded 30 per cent. When asked if BTC anticipates any downsizing as a result of Aliv’s entrance in the market, Mr Williams said: “Let me suggest that as I sit here now there has been no discussions of downsizing by my bosses to me. Certainly we’ve got an (annual operating plan) to make, certainly Cable and Wireless acquired the assets of BTC back in 2011. Since then Cable and Wireless acquired Flow in 2014. Since 2014, 2015, Cable and Wireless, the entire thing was acquired by Liberty Global.” He added: “We’ve had four chairmen in the last five years. So that tells you the speed at which telecommunications (change)… With each new chairman comes a new vision, comes a new mission and we could be on the cuff of having another chairman between now and Christmas.”
Mr Evans, weighing in on the matter, said the company, via Cable and Wireless, previously let go close to 1,000 employees “to ensure that when competition comes we should be able to ride out that storm until it levels off and we find out what Aliv is really about, if it’s really going to impact us to the point where we can’t survive.” “…What happened since 2011 to now, BTC has lost almost 900 if not 1,000 employees in preparation for competition,” he said. “Now that competition is here, well, as far as we see it, we are prepared for that. “We have made the sacrifices. We offloaded. We have had our staff, those who remained were stretched and still stretched, asked to pick up the slack for those who left. “So I don’t expect of any magnitude, any kind of downsizing to come about as a result of the competitor coming in or the competition coming in or being introduced, but we know that in some cases we’re understaffed. And if (Mr Williams) wants to admit he would like to have additional staff too. But then he has bosses who want to keep squeezing out of the remaining employees, work with what you have, try to resort to this new way of doing business of outsourcing and contract workers and all that kind of stuff.
BTC yesterday announced its partnership with various unions for the upcoming Labour Day parade and activities. CEO Leon Williams is pictured. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff “But to answer your phone upon sign up, free $20,000 sponsorship of the question, for us we’re say- calls between members, annual Sir Randol Fawkes ing that we don’t see any free text messages between Labour Day Parade. more downsizing being jus- team members, one month “When you’re a part of tified. Not here, not now, free rental service and 50 the BTC family, the posnot soon.” per cent off the security de- sibilities are limitless,” Mr The comments by both posit. Williams said. “As the larggentlemen came during Officials also said BTC est employer in this country a press conference to an- will begin its “Civil Service still remains the civil sernounce a new mobile plan Pop-Up Store” experience, vice, we felt it imperative to for civil servants in honour where it take the offers to introduce a special mobile of this week’s pre-Labour various offices, making it option. By adding features Day festivities. easier to sign up for the like free calls to members, Mr Williams said the new plan. we are giving even more plan offers a free mobile BTC also announced its value to our customers.”
FNM SENATE CHOICES ‘A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION’ By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas is “impressed” with the Free National Movement government’s appointment of three persons with labour backgrounds to the Senate, calling it a “step in the right direction” towards establishing a good relationship between both entities. NCTUB President Bernard Evans, in an interview with The Tribune, said although the union is still “feeling out” the Minnis administration, the appointments of trade unionists Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson and Sharon FergusonKnowles and FNM Torchbearers President Jamal Moss to the Senate has left a positive impression on the union of the government. Nonetheless, Mr Evans said the union will wait to see just how the relationship progresses, as he questioned whether the presence of “operatives” like Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar and Education Minister Jeff Lloyd, both of whom he claimed “really have a disdain for the unions,” would influence government decisions on labour related issues. Mr Evans’ statements came during a press conference to announce a partnership between the NCTUB and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Trade Unions Congress (CBTUC). During the press conference, Mr Evans said the union has already met twice with Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, and that the union would meet with Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on Thursday. When questioned by The Tribune on how the union has interacted with the Minnis administration to date, Mr Evans said: “So far, so good.” “Well number one I was impressed that they named at least three labour personalities to the Senate,” he added. “To give them almost what, 40 per cent of their appointments are
labour personalities, that “They make up the Cabiimpressed me.” net now. So will their influMr Moss, Mrs Isaacs- ence now also permeate in Dotson and Mrs Ferguson the Cabinet? It would be Knowles were three of nine another thing to be seen.” FNM senators appointed by Mr Evans referred to the Dr Minnis last week. labour movement’s recent Dr Minnis also said that attempts to raise the coun“in due course” he will ap- try’s redundancy pay cap by point people to serve on about 67 per cent, claiming various boards and councils that both of the aforemenof government corporations tioned Cabinet ministers and organisations. were against such a proposal. “…To appoint that many “…We wanted to move labour persons to the Sen- the maximum 12 years pay ate, was a step in the right for redundancy to at least direction,” Mr Evans con- 15,” he said. “It is 20 (years) tinued. “To open up to us in Jamaica, it is 33 (years) in in terms of board appoint- Barbados, there is no cap in ments and just trying to fa- Antigua and Barbuda, so if cilitate more labour person- you worked for someone for nel in or on these boards 40 years, you got 40 years would be another. So to me pay. they’re making, so far, steps “In The Bahamas it’s in the right direction.” a maximum of 12 years, However, Mr Evans said so we tried to move that. the union was keeping a keen However, it was people like eye on the “subtle differenc- D’Aguilar and those who es” between this adminis- sit on the majority of busitration and the former Pro- ness houses represented by gressive Liberal Party (PLP) the administration that opgovernment, which Mr Ev- posed that kind of increase ans had previously given a for labourers, but yet you “B+” grade for how well it say “it’s the people’s time.” worked with the union. “But if you care about Mr Evans said the true people, then certainly retest of the Minnis admin- warding someone after istration’s resolve to be a long tenure of service labour friendly will likely should be a no-brainer. You come once the NCTUB shouldn’t come in the pabegins agitating for better per and have one of your conditions for its members. officers or one of your rep“Where the rubber meets resentatives saying ‘thank the road now, when we start God, God answers prayers’ to negotiate for our mem- because that bill did not bers for more protections pass.” and stuff like that, that is He added: “And so these where the proof will be in kinds of subtle differences the pudding,” he said. “For that we (saw) in the past, instance, we know they we would like to say wipe have more operatives on the slate clean. We wouldn’t their side in terms of the forget, because history is on D’Aguilars and the Jeff our side and is documented. Lloyds who really have a But we will just give them disdain for the unions. Wednesday, 31stthe Maybenefit 2017 of the doubt to
"Clean engine and clean fuel system... just buy a gallon or 5 qt. bottle of 'Castrol GTX' or 'Castrol GTX ULTRACLEAN' and receive a *FREE 'GUNK' FUEL CLEANER!" Participating stores: A.I.D., JBR, TOPS, VARIETY AUTO, WHIM, WONG'S and here at BSG. *(Certain restrictions apply).
“QUOTE OF THE DAY” Distributed By
BAY STREET GARAGE Dowdeswell Street
322-2434 • 322-2082
see if they have moved onto that and understand the importance of labour, and recognising that the same protections and the same things that they want as they come in to provide for the Bahamian people, are the same things union leaders want.” Earlier this month, NCTUB Secretary General Zane Lightbourne called on the FNM government to “be serious” about honouring its promises to improve labour relations in the country. At the time, Mr Lightbourne said while Dr Minnis and his administration have “presented themselves as friends of labour” to the union, time will tell if their words will be “translated” into action.
BERNARD EVANS, president of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union and National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, May 31, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,
jrolle@tribunemedia.net
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991
EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,
C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-
Published daily Monday to Friday
Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES
News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax
(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348
WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com
@tribune242
tribune news network
Russia and health care dog Trump’s presidency DONALD Trump’s presidency seems so profoundly chaotic and different that it is hard to imagine it somehow fitting into any kind of pattern, either domestically within the United States or in the contemporary world. Perhaps the passage of time may yet weave this administration into some kind of coherent fabric. But for now it still looks dismayingly unique. Trump has just returned from a highly unusual first sally overseas. For someone who has rarely given any hint of personal spirituality or allegiance to the principles of traditional religion, Trump managed to visit centres of Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Catholicism. Even though the Pope passed him a pointed reminder on global warming and Israeli President Netanyahu could not conceal a little eye roll at some of Trump’s malapropisms and misstatements, the President did not disgrace himself overall. Trump’s blunt behaviour and speech at NATO, reminding America’s European allies of their financial obligations to the alliance, was a most undiplomatic public rebuke of some of America’s most steadfast associates. One could easily understand it if those allies simply stopped listening to Trump, simply waiting for his term to end. As expected, however, all the pageantry did not divert too much attention from two issues at home which look poised to dog this president for months, if not for the rest of his term. The first of these is Russia. As if the relationship between the Trump campaign and Russia had not generated enough headlines already, over the weekend there were reports that the President’s son-in-law had proposed back-channel links so the Trump team and Russian officials could communicate without being monitored – by the US Government! Such a scheme is so profoundly naïve that it almost defies belief, since it presumes the Russians would be willing collaborators with the US. There is very little reason to suspect that Russia - historically, or especially now under Vladimir Putin - has anything in mind but the enhancement of its own position and influence in the world. Since the United States is still the big dog in the world’s kennel, the Russian strategy to improve its own standing has been to simultaneously influence and weaken the US.
It seems improbable that Russia regards contemporary American hegemony as a positive. To the contrary, Putin, and the Soviets before him, have largely seen global geopolitics as a zero-sum game in which they can best gain at the expense of the US - not in genuine collaboration with it. It stands to reason therefore that a sly, clandestine relationship between Trump advisers and Putin’s team will not result in benefit for the US or its allies, despite what Jared Kushner may believe. A second persistent problem for Trump is his stubborn allegiance to unrealistic campaign promises that he shows little sign of fulfilling. For instance, while the Republican alternative to the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act has passed the House of Representatives, some Republican Senators are likely to join unified Democrats in defeating it in the upper house. Regardless of the current partisan strife over health care, there is a growing feeling in the US that the country is inevitably heading for a single-payer health insurance scheme. Some are calling the prospective system universal Medicare, and they argue that changing demographics and the obdurate persistence of poverty in America make inevitable this admittedly socialistic solution to spiraling costs and dysfunction in the US health care system. Poverty is an underlying central issue in the President’s 2018 budget as well. There can certainly be a legitimate discussion about poverty and its causes. For some Americans, a welfare mentality and dependence on government support has become unacceptably normal. Indeed, President Clinton borrowed a perennial Republican theme when he pushed for welfare reform 20 years ago. But Trump’s new budget is a stark reminder of the Grand Old Party tenet that the poor are essentially to blame for their own condition and governmentsupported safety nets are a waste of public resources. Whatever tax reform plan this administration eventually proposes seems certain to benefit the wealthy and starve the government. Again, the poor will suffer. Philosophical differences will persist in American politics, but Trump’s approach has rarely been to bridge those disagreements. He persists in exacerbating them.
Why press on with NHI? EDITOR, The Tribune IMAGINE a family, strapped for funds considering a loan to take care of certain obligations. The man, who normally services his own car, decides to take his car to a mechanic to pay at least twice the cost that he would were he to do it himself. In the minds of many this would be considered financially irresponsible. The former government pushed to start National Health Insurance prematurely as a political ploy. In my opinion, it is not well thought out and cannot achieve the objectives of transforming health care in this country as they stated it would. As I understand it, in its first phase, the applicants for the programme are able to get the same services (a free visit at the government’s expense) at a private
clinic that they were able to get in the public system. In other words, the government is now paying the private sector for a service they were already paying for in the public sector. Knowing that the government is strapped for cash and knowing that NHI is less than a month old, one wonders why the present government did not suspend the continuation of the programme for re-evaluation. The population is not yet dependent on it. Limit the current list to those who have already applied, but pay out no more than that. Why divert much needed funds from the government’s coffers into the private sector for services that are already provided in the public sector? Why not streamline and increase the efficiency of the services in the community clinics and reduce the amount of non-
emergency cases that visit Accident and Emergency through patient education? Why not present a more viable alternative if there is one? Additionally, it may be more palatable for working Bahamians to make a marginal monthly contribution ($3 to $5) to a “catastrophic fund” that is properly administered with clear guidelines for how to access the fund and the limits each applicants can receive, than considering the future implementation of new taxes on the general population. What about an additional tax on gambling, tobacco and tobacco products or alcohol allocated to this fund? Thus far I am not impressed, but it is still very early in the game. Let’s see what happens. JOHN BOWMAN May 30, 2015
Whither Baltron Bethel? EDITOR, The Tribune THE Minnis administration is batting 1,000 with respect to announcements that forensic audits will be conducted at NIB, Urban Renewal, BAIC, BAMSI and other government run agencies. Many Bahamians voted in favour of the FNM in order to get a straightfoward, honest assessment of the nation’s financial state. We don’t believe the Christie administration was forthright with the Bahamian people. If the preliminary report on the audit of Urban Renewal means anything, it means that malfeasance may have occurred under former PM Perry Christie’s watch, which isn’t saying anything much. The Tribune, in addition to reporting that several NIB senior officials were put on leave, pending the outcome of an imminent audit of the said organisation, reported that prominent PLP Sir Baltron
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Bethel was sent home from his soft, high paying job at the Office of the Prime Minister. As a senior advisor to Christie, Bethel’s salary must have been near the six-figure range, if not exactly six figures. Bethel is near 90 - which means that he is at least 20 years over the retirement age of 65. His employment is one of the many reasons why the PLP was wiped out of New Providence by the young people. As a senior citizen, Bethel’s appointment to his lucrative post made as much sense as a five-legged horse. As a staunch ally of Christie and a well-known political appointee of the PLP administration, why did Sir Baltron report to work on the morning of May 11? How was he able to conjure up the courage to
walk into the Office of the PM knowing that Dr Minnis is now his boss? Was he really entertaining the far-fetched notion that Minnis would keep him on as his advisor? Sir Baltron knows full well the proper protocol to follow, seeing that he was also employed in the Pindling government back in the day. He is a veteran. He knows that he should have tendered his resignation on the day following the general election. The FNM shouldn’t have to give him or any other PLP political appointee their pink slips. When the Bahamian people fired their party, it meant that they as PLP appointees were also fired. End of story. PS: When political appointees, be they FNMs or PLPs, are sent home by an incoming government they don’t support, it is not victimisation. THE WHISTLEBLOWER May 30, 2017
Refusing to accept defeat EDITOR, The Tribune
THE Bahamian populace have given Hubert Minnis and his Government a very clear mandate - to govern our country for the next five years. The nay-sayers of the likes of the eminent QC. Wayne “Kiss my backside” Munroe, who believes in his mind that he’s the keenest person God has created, who the Bahamian people rejected on two previous occasions in trying to be elected on two different party tickets. You, Mr Mun-
roe, is a loser. The PLP created what they thought was a safe seat for you, and you blew it. As you did Mount Moriah. And Mr Bradley Roberts. A former UBP, who is a 74-year-old man, along with his sidekick, Errington “Minky Racial” Isaacs. Who should have left frontline politics 15 years ago, who is having great difficulty in accepting the drubbing of the PLP’s 35-4 loss, is having negative statements daily on the policies now being enunciated by the people’s Government.
Gentlemen, your credibility have been pot-shot, no one is listening to you all, haven’t you gotten the message? It was sent loud and clear on May 10th, 2017. Stop your whining and crying of what ‘Could ‘a, Should ‘a, Would ‘a’. Respect the Bahamians’ wishes, they had enough of what you were offering. Please, keep quiet and sit small until your name is called. No one is listening! KELLY D BURROWS Freeport, Grand Bahama May 30, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 31, 2017, PAGE 5
Marco’s killer guilty
from page one “You may accept part of what a witness says, reject a part of it, or accept and/or reject it entirely. You alone are the judges of the facts. It is up to you to draw what conclusions you can make, or inferences from the evidence. You can only have regard to the facts and the evidence adduced in this trial,” the judge stressed. Justice Bethel also cautioned the jury that her summation of the evidence, closing addresses from Crown and defence counsel were not the evidence. “Pay no attention to anything you have seen or heard outside of this courtroom. You apply the facts with the directions on the law that I will give you to make your finding. You are not to be swayed by the high levels of crimes and murder in society, or sympathy for the victim to affect your assessment of the evidence,” she further warned. In noting Goodman’s right to presumption of innocence, the judge told the jury that it was the prosecution who bore the burden of proving the allegation levied against the accused. “You must be without reasonable doubt for you to convict. If you are left with reasonable doubt after considering the totality of the evidence, then the prosecution has not discharged its burden. However, on the contrary, if you are convinced of his guilt based on the totality of the evidence, then you have a sworn duty to return a true verdict in that regard.” Justice Bethel noted that the issue of provocation does not arise “as the prosecution alleges the killing was unprovoked.” The judge said there were a number of elements to the murder charge for the Crown to establish in its case. “They must prove Marco Archer is dead. Tryphemia Meadows, the mother of Marco Archer, said he left home to go across the street to buy candy and left his laptop to charge but Marco never returned. He was 11 years old. On September 28, the remains of a badly decomposed child was found and an autopsy was performed in which a piece of liver from that body along with a whole blood sample were sent abroad to forensic analysis. “Shelly Johnson, of Fairfax Laboratory, said the accepted level of maternity is 100 per cent. The whole blood was found to be the mother of the tissue taken from the unrecognised person and the probability of her being the mother was 99.943 per cent. It is the Crown’s case that the body of the child found in bushes
KOFHE Goodman escorted from court after being sentenced to death after his previous trial. called that the floral sheet behind an apartment com- judge added. The judge said that other wrapped around the replex on Yorkshire Street is Marco Archer. That is a elements of the murder mains of the child appeared charge are that the Crown to be similar to that which matter for you to decide.” The judge added: “The “must prove the unlawful was found in Goodman’s prosecution must prove that harm was caused by the apartment unit. However, death occurred within a actions of the accused and the judge said that the jury year and a day. And if you that they must prove that only had the photo of the accept the evidence that the action was intentional”. former because the item “The prosecution’s case was discarded by a cleaner the body was that of Marco Archer, and that he was last is based on circumstantial at the Central Detective seen alive on September 23 evidence that they say when Unit when it was being (2011), then this element is considered on a whole leaves aired on a line. “The Crown alleges that a non-issue. But again, that the inescapable conclusion is a matter for you to decide. that Goodman committed buggery was the motive “The prosecution must the offence. Circumstantial for an adult male taking a prove the bodily harm oc- evidence can be powerful child, who from his mothcurred. The evidence of pa- but it needs to be examined er’s evidence had taken up thologist Dr Caryn Sands is with care,” the judge noted. boxing lessons after school, The judge recalled that and they say he was punthat the cause of death was the result of blunt force trau- clothing - school pants, a ished for fighting back.” Goodman was reprema to the head, contusion Bob Marley T-shirt, boxers on the right side of the face, and slippers - that were iden- sented by Wayne Munroe, neck and a fracture to the tified by Archer’s mother QC, Tommel Roker, Alex base of the skull,” the judge and were found in the gar- Morley and Ryszard Husaid concerning the third el- bage at the defendant’s resi- mes. Garvin Gaskin, direcdence is an instance of cir- tor of public prosecutions, ement of the evidence. cumstantial evidence. The represented the Crown with Asphyxia The judge also said that items were tested and had the assistance of Ms Frazier the pathologist noted that Goodman’s DNA; however, and Rosalee Ferguson.Kofa plastic bag was wrapped the analyst admitted that he Goodman escorted from court after being sentenced around the head of the body DNA could be transferred. The judge also recalled to death after his previous and therefore asphyxia could not be ruled out as a contrib- that the body was discov- trial. ered at the back of the utor to the cause of death. The judge said that the defendant’s property “in law does allow harm to be swampy bushes followinflicted in certain instanc- ing a trail directly from his es “but there’s no sugges- backyard”. She also said the tion in this case that the Crown believes the similaraccused was acting in self- ity between the bag found on the body’s head and the defence”. “However because the bag in which the clothing prosecution has the bur- items were found “is not a den to prove this, they must mere coincidence”. The judge also remake you feel sure,” the
GEOFFREY Farquharson pictured at the conclusion of the previous Kofhe Goodman trial.
POLICE INVESTIGATE AFTER BODY OF MAN FOUND FLOATING IN WATER By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
THE body of a man was pulled from waters off Prince George Wharf in downtown Nassau yesterday morning and police are unsure of the circumstances surrounding his death. Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said the unidentified man was discovered floating around 8.30am after a concerned citizen had alert-
ed police. “At this point we do not know the circumstances that led to his death but at this time we do not suspect foul play. We believe the man to be Bahamian, but we do not know who he is at at this time. Officers were called to the scene after receiving reports that a man was seen floating under a boat in the harbour,” Senior ACP Dean said. “When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the lifeless body of the man, who was fully clothed,
TEENAGER DIES IN EIGHT MILE ROCK STABBING from page one
Inspector Terecita Pinder said police are questioning two men – aged 26 and 19 — who are assisting them in connection with their investigation into this latest homicide. According to reports, shortly before 6pm, police were called to the Hanna Hill, EMR area where they observed a male with an apparent stab wound
to the body. He was taken by ambulance to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he later died of his injuries. Last Thursday evening, police were called around 11pm to an area at the rear of the East Sunrise Plaza, where the body of a young man was discovered inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head. No arrest has been made, and police are continuing their investigation into the matter.
floating. He was retrieved from the water and taken to shore where he was pronounced dead on the scene. An autopsy will have to be performed to determine the exact cause of death.” Senior ACP Dean is appealing to anyone who may be missing a family member to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
Alexiou, Knowles & Co. AnD lex mAnAgement ltD.
Will be closed on 1st of June in order to facilitate maintenance exercises at its properties located at Frederick Street Steps and the corner of Shirley & Frederick Streets. Normal operations resumes on Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 at 9am. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
PAGE 6, Wednesday, May 31, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
MORE AUDITS FOR POST OFFICE AND HURRICANE FUND from page one
“Prime Minister Minnis has said accountability and transparency are the two watch words of his administration,” said Mr Newbold. “No matter how it’s spun by the opposition audits are going to be conducted across the spectrum of government. That is the only sensible way to get a handle on the state of wherever you are.” Mr Newbold said: “It is going to happen and there’s no getting around it. This is in keeping with the prime minister’s statement about the need to know what’s going on in the various ministries.” In his first press briefing
at the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Newbold responded to opposition calls of victimisation in the wake of steps taken to prepare for an audit at the National Insurance Board, a move that saw several senior officials forced to take a vacation. Three of them were given letters on Monday informing them to take leave immediately, while another official who was out of office will be served with the notice upon his return. “The opposition will say that but the audits must continue,” Mr Newbold said. “It’s not as if Prime Minister Minnis came to office and all of a sudden he sprung this on the Bahamian people . . . The Bahami-
an people have been talking about National Insurance for years, along with everything else.” Mr Newbold said: “The Bahamian people said ‘we don’t like what’s going on down there’ and so they decided to vote for Prime Minister Minnis and his team and he has to assure the Bahamian people that all is well. The only way he can do that is to conduct an audit, sometimes to get to where you need to get to, you need to move some people around, it’s as simple as that.” At the Nassau Insurance Board (NIB), Cecile Williams-Bethel, senior deputy director of operations; Theresa Burrows, NIB senior
deputy director of business support and administration and Dr Baldwin Carey were asked to take vacation leave on Monday. Raymond Wells, deputy director of IT, will also be put on vacation leave when he returns to work, The Tribune was told. Asked whether it was feared that senior officials would hamper the investigation, Mr Newbold said: “The government wants to make sure that none of it happens. The government believes the best way to conduct these audits, it is more likely that they will be able to get to what they need to get to if they do not have to deal with these particular people, whoever
they are.” It is unclear if the NIB audit will be an internal probe or a forensic one, however it was suggested it may become a forensic investigation. The Post Office Bank and Hurricane Fund will join the Bank of the Bahamas, Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, and the Urban Renewal programme; all of which have been slated for external review but with no price tag disclosed. Mr Newbold could not confirm yesterday whether a firm has been contracted, or how much money has been allocated to cover the expense. He noted, however, that
the firm Ernst & Young made a presentation to Cabinet to conduct audits at government agencies during its May 23 sitting. The forensic audit undertaken by Grant Thornton Bahamas at the National Insurance Board in 2013 reportedly cost taxpayers $861,000. “I can’t say that it will happen,” Mr Newbold said when asked whether dismissals were to be expected in the spate of audits. “But it’s certainly a possibility we don’t know what the audits are going to reveal so we don’t prejudge them. “People have nothing to fear if they do their jobs,” he added, “you do your job, you have a job.”
Davis demands answers on NIB worker ‘victimisation’ from page one
election campaign that if his party won, there would be no political victimisation in his administration. Reliable sources confirmed to The Tribune on Monday that Cecile Williams-Bethel, NIB senior deputy director of operations, Theresa Burrows, NIB senior deputy director of business support and administration, and Dr Baldwin Carey were given letters asking them to take their vacations effective from yesterday. A fourth official said to be out of office on Monday - Deputy Director of IT Raymond Wells - also will be asked to take his vacation leave once he returns to office, The Tribune was reliably informed. Mr Roberts said yesterday that Mr Wells was out of the country. In 2012, Mr Wells,
PLP leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. who had been suspended for a period, hired former
Attorney General Alfred Sears to represent him
and threatened to sue unless former NIB Chairman Gregory Moss apologised for alleged unprofessional treatment. The situation was part of an ongoing drama at NIB involving former NIB Director Algernon Cargill, who was eventually terminated from the organisation. However, the forensic audit did not confirm any wrongdoing and Mr Cargill’s action for wrongful dismissal is continuing in the courts. This newspaper was also informed that Sir Baltron Bethel, senior policy advisor to former Prime Minister Perry Christie, has been sent home from the Office of the Prime Minister. “Prime Minister Hubert Minnis who is also the minister responsible for the National Insurance Board must immediately inform the country why at least three employees of the National Insurance Board were summarily dismissed by the board on May 29,” Mr Davis said in a statement yesterday. “Without some urgent clarification by the prime minister, the country can only conclude that this is rank victimisation, discrimination and intimidation. This means that the Free National Movement has learned nothing about governance from the five years it was out of office. It has returned to office with a vengeance: slashing and burning as they go
along and hurting small people.” The statement continued: “The facts are that yesterday May 29, at least three senior employees of the National Insurance Board were informed by letter that they were to proceed on vacation without stating a time for the so-called vacation; they were told not to return to the premises at any time during the time off. “None of the employees had applied for the vacation. They were directed to take a vacation. This is not possible in their contract of employment. They have in effect been put on involuntary leave with pay. “The government has arbitrarily abrogated the terms of employment of these employees and there has been a fundamental breach of their contracts of employment,” Mr Davis added. “It is interesting to note that some of these employees were treated in the same way in 2007 when Brensil Rolle was the parliamentary secretary for housing and National Insurance. Now he is the junior minister (for National Insurance) and the same thing is happening again. “The PLP decries this as a flagrant violation of the rights of these individuals. We encourage them to take the appropriate legal action against this unlawful behaviour. “The PLP condemns it,” Mr Davis said. Audit There has been no suggestion or proof that the officials in question engaged in any impropriety, however it comes as the Minnis administration prepares to audit NIB. “The government is going to audit some areas, including NIB and some senior officers of the board were asked to take vacation until we address the issues, that’s not unusual,” a well placed source, who did not want to be named, said on Monday. “That doesn’t mean that they are engaged or involved in anything, we just asked them to take vacation until (the audit is complete).” The source could not say when the audit will begin.
As for Sir Baltron, this newspaper was told that the decision to place him on leave was made because he is a political appointee who was hired to specifically advise Mr Christie. Sir Baltron will not return to the Office of the Prime Minister, this newspaper was told. In a statement yesterday, Mr Roberts accused Dr Minnis of seriously misleading Bahamians. He said the prime minister has gone back on his word by dismissing senior staff at NIB without justification or cause. He said: “Using the pretext of an audit to violate the employees’ contractual terms of engagement is a lame excuse what is blatant political victimisation and intimidation. “Accounting principles dictate that audits are conducted by allowing personnel concerned to remain on the job and assist with such audits. NIB is required by law to have audits undertaken annually. “The apparent intent of the prime minister and the FNM of promoting political tribalism and divisiveness through political witch hunts is clearly not the way to build a country. “Tribalism only promotes partisanship, that is, very strong feelings of political and social loyalty and not the accountability, transparency and public trust he claims he wants to build.” Mr Roberts said when this situation is compared with recent events at Bahamas Power and Light Ltd where he claimed almost $2m was reported missing, no employee was arrested and detained by the police and no senior executive was sent home pending the outcome of the investigation. “Was there a report of missing funds at NIB? Could Dr Minnis say unequivocally that the pending audit is in connection to or as a result of irregularities or the behaviour of any of the senior executives who were sent home? “Barring these criteria, the actions of Dr Minnis are nothing more than the same old duplicitous and wicked FNM tactics of demonisation, intimidation and victimisation,” Mr Roberts said.
ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY PROBING REPORTS OF ‘MASSIVE’ FUEL SPILL from page one
Mrs Duncombe said she has returned to the site several times since the fuel was discovered. She noted that officials were on the ground yesterday. She went on to describe the smell in and around the area as a “heavy scent of fuel.” Mrs Duncombe told The Tribune: “I’ve kept my eye on this because it is unclear who caused it or who will work to remediate this occurrence and it is a sad case. “If you were to drive any-
where near the Adelaide Village entrance, you will smell the heavy scent of fuel and it is very alarming.” She continued: “This has been a vexing issue, especially in the section of the island, for many, many years. There has to be some answers in this situation and the new government must get to the bottom of this. “I stopped by today (Tuesday) and saw guys working on it. They confirmed that there was a fuel spill. They are digging trenches to see the extent and working their way up
and down the area to see how much fuel was actually out there. “I can’t believe that we still haven’t worked out a way to stop these kinds of occurrences. We have to mitigate what is going on at Clifton. This island has to be the most toxic place on earth.” Mr Ferreira, appointed as environment minister earlier this month, is an environmental attorney by profession and played a prominent role in the environmental lobby group Save the Bays before being elected to office.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 31, 2017, PAGE 7
Quarterly press conferences planned by Prime Minister
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
NEWLY appointed Press Secretary Anthony “Ace” Newbold yesterday signaled a shift in the culture of press engagement with the nation’s leader, with the introduction of quarterly press conferences with Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. Mr Newbold advised members of the press that Dr Minnis will address the nation bi-annually, and meet with the press core on a quarterly basis during his inaugural press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister. Mr Newbold suggested that his briefing would become a weekly occurrence, as he performed in his role as the official liaison between Dr Minnis and members of the press. Mr Newbold noted that he was also available to facilitate press communications from other Cabinet ministers. “I am going to speak for the prime minister,” he said, “primarily about Cabinet
PRIME Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis visits NEMA to start preparedness fpr the 2017 hurricane season. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff any statements he may wish decisions and statements he primary example of why the wants to make about issues to make about issues of na- administration was seektional importance.” of national importance. ing to implement scheduled Mr Newbold pointed to conferences. “Primarily I’m dealing with the prime minister, the impromptu press conMr Newbold initially rehis reaction, reactions to is- ference staged by reporters ferred to Monday’s press sues, Cabinet decisions and at NEMA on Monday, as a encounter as a “scrum”, but
later acknowledged that the term might have been too harsh, and apologised. When questioned whether reporters will still be allowed access to Dr Minnis at press events, Mr Newbold said: “(Minnis) he will decide when he wants to talk to the press and I think he has that right and he deserves to have that right. It does not mean you’re not going to speak to the prime minister. “He will determine that, but if he’s at a banquet I would imagine he wouldn’t want to answer questions from the press and again it’s not that he does not want the press to have information for the Bahamian people, that’s not the idea, it’s a protocol I think we ought to observe.” Mr Newbold continued: “He’s at a banquet, he’s having fun. There’s no matter of national importance or security that he has to answer a question, but again he will determine that. But I ask you to consider that anyway.” During the briefing, Mr
Newbold also took aim at the function of Bahamas Information Services under the previous Progressive Liberal Party administration, stating that the conduct of the agency was “obscene”. Mr Newbold underscored that BIS had been used for political purposes as he outlined a new culture of press engagement with the nation’s executive, and explained to members of the press how his new posting would be resourced. Although a budget has not yet been determined, he said it was unlikely that a staffing complement will result in any new public service hires. “This (press conference) is being covered by BIS for example,” he said, “which truly is government information services, it’s the government. It’s not been used that way, certainly in the last five years it’s been used for party political purposes which is obscene. For the office of the press secretary it’s very likely that we will be transferring or seconding.”
ing with Caricom members over the telephone, Prime Minister Minnis directed Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield to speak on the role the Caribbean Community can have, during a special meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS). “The minister of foreign affairs is in Washington, DC, Minister Henfield is there and he is there because of the situation in Venezuela,” Mr Newbold said. “We know there has been unrest there, in fact
Maduro’s government, the state ombudsman and prosecutor’s office said. Another 54-year-old man died after being shot in the chest during a protest in the western agricultural state of Barinas, the state prosecutor’s office added without specifying the circumstances, according to the BBC. The latest deaths come amid a month of protests that have sparked politically motivated shootings and clashes between security forces armed with rubber bullets and tear gas and
protesters wielding rocks and Molotov cocktails, it has been reported. According to a Reuters count, 11 of those killed died during nighttime looting. The opposition’s main demands are for early elections, the release of jailed activists and autonomy for the opposition-led Congress. But protests are also fuelled by the crippling economic crisis in the oil-rich nation of 30 million people, according to international reports.
CARICOM AGREES TO SUPPORT TO VENEZUELA AMID UNREST
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis spoke with members of the Caribbean Community Monday night and agreed in principle to lend support to Venezuela during its current wave of unrest, according to Press Secretary Anthony Newbold. At a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday, Mr Newbold said after speak-
yesterday Prime Minister Minnis engaged in his first meeting with his counterparts in Caricom, a telephone meeting, where discussions on that were held. (At) the special Organization of American States meeting dealing with the situation in Venezuela, Mr Henfield will talk about the role OAS can play in helping that situation. A decision was agreed to yesterday by Caricom heads, and I will get back to you on that . . . all participating countries will do all they can to bring stability back
to Venezuela.” Three people were killed this week in protests in Venezuela, state television reported, bringing the number of deaths in this month’s political unrest to 24. Anti-government protests entered a fourth week on Monday with mass sit-ins to press for early elections, it has been reported. Rival protests were also held. A 42-year-old man who worked for local government in the Andean state of Merida died from a gunshot in the neck at a rally in favour of President Nicolas
PAGE 8, Wednesday, May 31, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
The Way Forward, Part 1 CORE VALUES OF THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY: CONTINUING RELEVANCE?
YOUR SAY By ALFRED SEARS THE defeat of the Progressive Liberal Party by the Free National Movement in the general elections on May 10, 2017, ironically, provides a watershed opportunity for the oldest political party in The Bahamas to reflect, refresh and rebound. The dramatic shift in the political fortunes of these two parties is best captured by a comparison between the general elections results of 2012 with 2017. In 2012, the PLP won 29 out of 38 parliamentary seats, with 75,815 votes or 48.6 per cent of the votes; while the FNM won nine parliamentary seats, with 64,634 votes or 42.1 per cent of the votes. In the general elections of 2017 the FNM won 35 out of 39 parliamentary seats, with 91,413 votes or 57.0 per cent of the votes; while the PLP won four out of the 39 parliamentary seats, with 59,289 votes or 37 per cent of the votes. What accounts for this dramatic reversal of fortunes of the two main political parties and the repudiation of the PLP? Firstly, I thank the Right Honourable Perry Christie for his 40 years of public service in the highest public offices of our country that are a testament of his patriotism, love and commitment to The Bahamas. I commend him for taking the honourable course of resigning as leader of the PLP after the general elections. That course is within the best tradition of the Westminster system. I hasten to add that there were many contributing factors to the defeat of the PLP, including the failure to provide a clear vision and political and social agenda for the future of The Bahamas and the weak governance and democratic structures of the party itself. Secondly, I thank the Progressive Liberal Party for giving me the privilege to be its candidate in Fort Charlotte. I am grateful to the branch of Fort Charlotte and the scores of vol-
ALFRED SEARS, who is bidding for leadership of the PLP at the next convention, which has been delayed until next year following Hurricane Matthew. unteers and friends who campaigned with me and contributed to my campaign. I appreciated the hospitality of the residents of Fort Charlotte, who invited me, my wife, Marion, and our campaign team members into their homes, listened to our platform and shared their concerns with us. I congratulate Mr Mark
Humes on his election as the member of Parliament for Fort Charlotte and wish him well. I will continue to contribute to the community of Fort Charlotte. I congratulate the FNM on its victory in the general elections. I commend Prime Minister Hubert Minnis and his government, based on the Speech from the
Throne, for committing to implement progressive and liberal policies to continue the decolonising process, deepen the democratic process, improve governance processes and institutions, increase accountability and expand economic opportunities for the marginalised. I am especially pleased that the government intends to
establish an Independent Electoral Commission and Boundaries Commission, implement a system of recall for non-performing members of Parliament, anti-corruption measures for parliamentarians and public officers, an Office of Ombudsman, an independent director of public prosecution, campaign finance reform, term limits for the Office of Prime Minister, local government in New Providence and an economic revitalisation for inner city communities. It is again ironic that these reforms are consistent with the core values of the PLP. These reforms were proposed by Sir Lynden Pindling in 1998 in a symposium at the College of The Bahamas after he had led the PLP in two electoral defeats. These reforms were also clearly laid out in my leadership platform of 2016/2017. It is pure irony that these reforms were neither embraced by the PLP convention in January 2017 nor contained in the Charter for Governance 2017. Today, the progressive and liberal political and social agenda is being promoted by the FNM. This shift in the public narrative of social and political reform explains, I believe, why the FNM has a greater appeal to Bahamian Millennials, independent voters, women and sectors of the political base of the PLP. The rebuilding, rebranding and rebounding of the PLP should, I believe, begin with a focus on the core values of the party and the crafting of a political and social agenda for the future development of The Bahamas and the party. Over the next five years, the PLP must do more than react, oppose and criticise the FNM; it must provide a most compelling and relevant vision and agenda for political and social reform for sustainable development and good governance. Core Values of the Progressive Liberal Party On Monday, October 26, 1953, the PLP published as a paid advertisement in the Nassau Daily Tribune a document entitled the “The Core Values of the PLP” wherein the party committed to do as follows: (a) Provide servant leadership to the Bahamian people and not the people the servant of the government (b) Commit to honest political activity and democratic practice (c) Ensure maximum opportunity for all Bahamians to participate in the economic and social development of The Bahamas (d) To serve all Bahamians and not just the privileged few (e) Create sustainable development in Family Islands (f) Protect fundamental rights of workers to collective bargaining and the right of employers to a good day’s work (g) Provide quality education equally to males and females to facilitate social and economic productivity and produce better citizens (h) Ensure equality between men and women (i) Promote and protect the fundamental rights of all Bahamians to life, work, vote, worship as he/she sees fit, participate in the administration of government, peaceful assembly, freedom of speech, of religion, of the press and the equal protection of the law. These core values can be reduced to four basic concepts: honesty (integrity and trustworthiness) and democratic governance; sustainable economic development strategy and promotion of Bahamian entrepreneurship; equal opportunity for all Bahamian citizens to the public goods/resources of the Bahamas; and protection of the fundamental rights of citizens and freedom of the press in the Bahamas. These core values constitute, I believe, a social contract formed 64 years ago between the Progressive Liberal Party and the Bahamian people to build and advance our democracy. These core values were framed by
founders of the PLP, namely Henry M Taylor, Cyril St John Stevenson and William W Cartwright and its first officers John S Carey, Felix Russell, Urban H Knowles, Holly Brown, Paul Farrington and Clement Pinder. Since 1953 these core values emboldened thousands of Bahamians to risk life, limb and the immediate welfare of their families in the political and civil rights struggle for Bahamian workers, universal suffrage, economic enfranchisement, racial equality, Majority Rule and independence. The Bahamian human rights struggle during the 20th Century was, for the most part, led by the PLP and the labour movement under Sir Randol Fawkes espousing these core values. The leadership in this human rights struggle, resulting in Majority Rule, independence and establishment of the national institutions of state, came under the early governance of the PLP. Iconic personalities in this national struggle, based on these values, included Sir Henry Taylor, Sir Lynden Pindling, Arthur Hanna, Sir Milo Butler, Clarence Bain, Georgina Symonette, Mabel Walker, Dame Doris Johnson, Effie Walkes, Eugenia Lockhart, Sir Randol Fawkes, Alvin Braynen, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Warren Levarity, Sir Arthur Foulkes, Rev Dr H W Brown, Canon William Thompson. The PLP therefore has valid claim in the national narrative as the progressive and liberal vanguard of social reform and transformation within the Bahamas. However, over the 44 years of political independence, the public perception of the PLP has shifted from being the progressive and liberal vanguard of the independence process to a party more aligned with foreign interests over Bahamians, a lack of national vision, weak leadership, corruption and scandals. In the meantime, the social conditions for many of our citizens, especially in the inner city communities in New Providence and in many of the Family islands, remain desperate. After the Burma Road Riots of June 1942, Dr Claudius Walker, representing the workers, summarised the condition of Bahamians to the Duke of Windsor, as governor, and his advisors in the following terms: “The underlying causes for this social unrest are manifold. We are in the majority but we have minority problems. We are poorly housed, poorly fed and poorly educated. Truth to tell, we are the wretched of the earth.” Ironically, from my Leadership Listening Tour (2016/2017) of many of our Family Island communities and from my canvassing of constituents in Fort Charlotte over the past two years, I confirm that far too many citizens in our archipelago remain “poorly housed, poorly fed and poorly educated.” However, I believe that the Progressive Liberal Party, based on its core values, can reclaim its role as the progressive and liberal alternative for the full realization of the sovereign potential of the Bahamian people. This reclamation can only happen if the party acknowledges its problems, recommits to its core values, refreshes itself and offers a meaningful and dynamic political and social agenda for transformation and success. In Part II, I will share my observations about the party’s governance process in relation to its core values. Further, I will propose how the PLP can reconnect with those core values and the independence mission that inspired three generations of Bahamians into public service to advance the Bahamian national project. • Alfred Sears is an attorney and a former Attorney General and Minister of Education. He is the Progressive Liberal Party’s former representative for the Fort Charlotte constituency.
A9MAIN
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 31, 2017, PAGE 9
s ’ d o o w y l l o H DIGITAL FACELIFTS
TECHTALK • RESEARCHERS in a New York cabbage patch are planning the first release on American soil of insects genetically engineered to die before they can reproduce. It’s a pesticide-free attempt to control invasive diamondback moths, a voracious consumer of cabbage, broccoli and other cruciferous crops that’s notorious for its ability to shrug off every new poison in the agricultural arsenal. “It costs $4-5 billion a year globally to manage this pest,” said Anthony Shelton, a Cornell University researcher who’s been studying the species for 40 years. “If you can manage it without using insecticides that can affect pollinators and other nontarget organisms, that’s a real advantage.”
KURT Russell portraying Ego in scenes from, ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2’. (Chuck Zlotnick/Disney-Marvel via AP) JOHNNY DEPP is 53 years old but he doesn’t look a day over 26 in the new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie — at least for a few moments. There was no plastic surgeon involved, heavy makeup or archival footage used to take the actor back to his boyish “Cry Baby” face, however. It’s all post-production visual effects, and after a decade of refining the process since Brad Pitt ran the gamut of time in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” it’s becoming commonplace in major Hollywood movies. Depp is just the latest megastar to get the drastic de-aging treatment on screen, joining the ranks of Robert Downey Jr. (in “Captain America: Civil War”), Michael Douglas (in “Ant-Man”), Kurt Russell (in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”) and scores of others getting digital facelifts to play younger versions of themselves. In the old days, a lucky unknown lookalike (or look enough alike) could have scored the part of young Jack Sparrow or Tony Stark. Now, if the film has the budget, the stars get to have it both ways — and audiences get a nostalgic flashback. Lola Visual Effects is responsible for Depp’s transformation, and most of the Marvel tricks, which have included making Chris Evans scrawny for the original “Captain America” and Hayley Atwell some 70 years older for the sequel. Lola was the pioneer behind “Benjamin Button,” too,
and sells their services to all the major studios. It’s one of a handful of vendors that have gotten in the so-called “beauty work” business. It’s often meant to go unnoticed (like removing a blemish), and is generally buried under mountains of confidentiality agreements. In the case of Depp, and most of Lola’s de-aging work, the process starts with capturing a performance from the actor and then manipulating it. This isn’t always necessary — “Rogue One” recreated the late Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin without him, and Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia using doubles — but it was critical for “Pirates.” “No one else can be Jack Sparrow,” said Gary Brozenich, the Oscar-nominated VFX artist who oversaw visual effects for the film. “Trying to do a digital approximation ... audiences would see right through it.” Brozenich and the filmmakers decided to bring Depp back to how he looked around the time of “21 Jump Street” and “Cry Baby” and went through a number of iterations, over the course of six months, to arrive at the perfect age (roughly 26) — which Depp, Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer had to sign off on. The final shots, of which there are 20-25, took about 15 artists a year of work. That Depp has been famous since that age was both a blessing and a curse for the production. They had numer-
THIS combination of photos shows the character Jack Sparrow at two stages of his life in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’. Johnny Depp, who portrays the character, is the latest mega-star to get the drastic de-aging treatment on screen. Lola Visual Effects first captured a performance from the younger actor, Anthony De La Torre, top, and then manipulated it. It went through a number of iterations, over the course of six months, to arrive at the perfect age. The final shots, of which there are about 20-25, took about 15 artists a year of work. (Disney via AP) ous reference points to work with, but, so would the audience. “Working on the human face is one of the, if not the most challenging thing to do,” said Trent Claus, the visual effects supervisor for Lola VFX. “People can tell when there is something amiss. Even if they can’t put their finger on what is wrong, they can tell that something is wrong.” And while the artists have gotten better over the years and have mostly managed to avoid drifting into the dreaded uncanny valley — the term used to describe the eerie feeling you get when looking at a digital person who is near-lifelike, but not quite enough — there are still trouble spots. “One of the things that we struggle with is the bottom of the chin. As you get older there tends to be a lot of sag and extra skin that develop underneath the jaw,” Claus said. “It is unfortunately not just a simple task of remov-
ing the wrinkles because the skin isn’t going to be responding the same as it did when you were younger. You have to change not only the way it looks on the outside but how it moves and reacts to movement and expressions.” To counteract this, productions will often shoot a younger double to mimic an actor’s performance, which they will use as a reference point for how the younger skin should behave and look in certain lights. “We’re constantly fighting making it look lifelike. One of the advantages of the process that we use is by keeping the original actor, we have that starting point of life, of reality,” Claus said. It makes the whole process harder, but, “It’s worth it.” Reactions, lately have been mixed, ranging from nostalgic delight and “how’d they do that” curiosity to dismay and wariness about its future. New York Magazine critic David Edelstein wrote that the “recreations” are “far
more disturbing in their realworld implications than the fictional destruction of planets and galaxies.” For New York Times critic Manohla Dargis, Russell’s younger visage was “weird” and “disrupting.” “It makes you contemplate whether this Benjamin Button-style age-reversing is going to become an increasingly standard (and creepy) industry practice,” she wrote. “Pirates 5” co-director Espen Sandberg isn’t as dark about it. “For me it’s just another storytelling tool and I think it’s really cool,” he said. And for the VFX artists, it’s only the beginning. “Right now what we’re using it for is a very nuts and bolts solution to a problem. There’s a different and more creative future for it,” Brozenich said. “There can be even crazier, more creative uses for it ... maybe a hybrid of several actors.” Associated Press
10 YEARS IN THE PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
CUSTOM Computers Ltd is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its annual “A’s for Excellence” campaign by giving away 10 prize bundles, including laptops, tablets and other exciting tech products. Every summer since 2007, the company has rewarded students through the event, which offers youngsters who have earned at least one ‘A’ subject grade during the final term of the academic year just ended an opportunity to enter random prize drawings. The campaign is the brainchild of Custom Computers Director Pia Farmer, a former teacher who is passionate about supporting education and lifelong learning. “We are so proud of all the stu-
dents who are doing well in school, and happy to be able to encourage them to continue to excel,” said Mrs Farmer. “We have experienced so many great stories in education over the past 10 years, and this is always a very exciting event for us. We know that, through education, our children will be empowered to make a difference in their lives, the lives of their families, and the future of our country.” Students studying at the primary and secondary level at registered institutions throughout the Bahamas are eligible to enter. No purchase is necessary. Participants will be entered once for each ‘A’ grade they receive during their final term up to a maximum
LATAJHA Beneby (left), first runner-up in the 2016 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards, shares a hug with host Anastarcia Palacious before picking the name of the winner in the primary school category of the Custom Computers “A’s for Excellence” campaign last year. Photo: Bahamas Visual Services. of 10 times; therefore, the better they do overall in their studies, the greater their chance of winning. New to the 2017 campaign is an online entry requirement for everyone at www.aforexcellence.com. Visit the website for a full list of rules,
details of applications and prizes and regular updates. The deadline for all submissions is Monday, August 7. The prize drawings will take place on Saturday, August 12, and streamed live on the Custom Computers Facebook page.
• MARK Zuckerberg returned last week to Harvard, where he launched Facebook and then dropped out, telling graduates it’s up to them to bring purpose to the world, fight inequality and strengthen the global community. “Change starts local. Even global changes start small — with people like us,” the Facebook CEO said. He shared stories about graduates such as David Razu Aznar, a former city leader who led the effort to legalise gay marriage in Mexico City, and Agnes Igoye, who grew up in conflict zones in Uganda and now trains law enforcement officers. “And this is my story too,” Zuckerberg added. “A student in a dorm room, connecting one community at a time, and keeping at it until one day we can connect the whole world.” • SCIENTISTS and researchers at the federal government’s largest national laboratory have developed an app and mobile device they say can detect Zika. The New Mexicobased Sandia National Laboratories says the new app connects to a smartphone-controlled, battery-operated diagnostic device to identify Zika, dengue, and chikungunya within 30 minutes. Traditional testing for the mosquito-borne viruses often requires a laboratory and long waits. Officials say the cost for that testing can run $20,000 and make it out of reach for rural clinics in developing countries where the viruses thrive. But Sandia scientists say their new device weighs under a pound and costs as little as $100. The Sandia team describes its rapid-testing prototype in the journal Scientific Reports .
PAGE 10, Wednesday, May 31, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
The meaning of true power E
VERY Bahami- chanted “The power of the an has a role to people is greater than the play in building people in power”. This is a a better country powerful, truthful statement for ourselves and those who that speaks to our right, as come after us. citizens of The Bahamas, to It seems that more of us participate in governance. It are accepting the respon- articulates our position in sibility that comes with relation to those we elect to citizenship and thinking represent us. more broadly about what If only I could believe it means to actively partici- that we, as a people, bepate in our democracy. lieve, understand and are We have a variety of ideas prepared to activate that as to the work that needs to concept which requires a be done and how we all fit shedding of old ways of in. We are in the classrooms thinking, perceptions and engaging young what we now like people, on the ‘We have to call “the status radio sharing voted an quo”. ideas, and on the During the streets demand- administration election season, ing change. We out, sticking many people sometimes reach ourselves with were encouraged the point in our to put themselves work, as active another that forward as cancitizens, where we really don’t didates, not necwe need to make know will be essarily because adjustments to they had political our style or scope any better.’ aspirations, but for effectiveness, because others scaling, and sustainability. realised they had something We have seen these pivots to say and to offer. This hapin ourselves and one anoth- pens because many people er, but one in particular is are of the belief that we can of interest in this time of in- only get things done if we creased activism - the move have a seat in Parliament. from community organising Many believe our greatto frontline politics. est minds must occupy that Over the past few months, space. This suggests that I’ve observed conversations parliamentarians are someabout activism, democracy, how better than the rest of politics and development us, and that we are incapain The Bahamas and found ble of organising ourselves much of the commentary and taking action, on the both uninspired and unin- ground, to achieve our spiring. We have a narrow shared goals. view of the aforementioned, While there have been and it limits our imagina- voices of dissent, many Wetion of the country’s fu- March participants have ture and the boldness with been supportive of Ranard which we build it. Henfield’s acceptance of a When hundreds of people Senate appointment from took to Bay Street in pro- Prime Minister Dr Hubert test in 2016, many of them Minnis. They believe it is
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 important to “have a seat at the table” and see it as a seat - and an opportunity for WeMarch. Many have regarded it as a natural and necessary progression, and the key to having demands heard and met. How do these ideas that the people are powerful and that power is only exercised by MPs and Senators - coexist? How do Bahamians believe the power of the people is greater
than the people in power, but believe the success of WeMarch is dependent on Henfield’s appointment? There is certainly more to be explored in the offer and its acceptance and what it means for Henfield, WeMarch, supporters and the country, but for now, let’s focus on what it says about people power. Henfield is not the first person to gain trust and move into this kind of political participation. It has long been the go-to move. I’ve seen it firsthand on several occasions. Most recently, I’ve noted the enthusiasm and sometimes desperation - with which people called upon Dr Nicolette Bethel and Dr Ian Strachan to run in the 2017 general election. For some reason, their activism - though it drew the attention of thousands of people and brought people to an important conversation - was not seen as enough. Many people who agreed with Out Da Box’s position were not satisfied with being challenged to take a specific action and commit to working with us toward electoral reform. Their immediate reaction was to call upon someone else to do the work, and to do it by making themselves “relevant” - by presenting themselves for political office. Where does this contradiction come from? Why
are we prone to demanding more from others than we do of ourselves? What is it about Members of Parliament and Senators that make us believe their thoughts and words are more worthy of attention, and their ideas more reasonable to action? What has created the space between the power we chant about having and the belief that we must sit in certain seats to activate that power? We have voted an administration out, sticking ourselves with another that we really don’t know will be any better. We have demonstrated our dissatisfaction with the PLP and the way it governed, and showed that we can, indeed, speak up and show up. In the last few weeks, however, the way we have spoken about activism and governance suggests we believe one must lead to the other. We continue to send each other the message that we can talk, march, and vote, but in order to get anything done, we need to have a title. That Bahamian citizenship is not sufficient. That unless we are Members of Parliament or Senators, our power is not enough. That we depend on the “people in power” to give voice to our concerns and take action, because ordinary citizenship is not enough. Is that what we truly be-
lieve? If it is, why do we march? Why do we call in to radio talk shows? Why do we make long, impassioned social media posts? Why do we bother at all? If we trulyø believe our power is sufficient, we would not only exercise it, but encourage others to do the same by giving them our support. We would respect the positions of the leaders, organisers, activists and advocates among us, and not demand that they move into these positions of perceived power. We would speak, move and act with them to hold the people in those positions to account, demand that we are heard and remind them of where the power truly sits. We would not need the people leading our movements to ascend to some lofty throne. We would recognise the importance and the sacrifice of them being here, with us, on the front lines, demonstrating what we all say we believe - that the power is in us, the employers, the Bahamian people. • Alicia Wallace is a women’s rights activist and public educator. She produces The Culture RUSH - a monthly newsletter fusing pop culture, social justice and personal reflection - and tweets as @_ AliciaAudrey. Contact her at culturerush@aliciaawallace.
RESPONSE TO PAYMENT OF POLICE THE NEWS that police officers were expected to receive the first installment of their overtime pay prompted a lively reaction from readers on tribune242. com. Sheeprunner12 asked: “How many officers (1799+) are being paid???? What is the total bill????? Why is this being honoured with an IOU?? This is not a good precedent for the FNM.” Birdiestrachan said: “He said they had to borrow the money to pay the police. Has he borrowed the money already? I am sure the police and those who will benefit must be very happy. It is like Christmas in May.” TigerB had this to say: “The previous government made the promise to pay ... they knew it was no money but they promised anyway, they wasted all that money on over promoting the rank and file - stupid election ploy - so now the overtime which was mandated by the court some 3 years ago had now been promised to be paid. It had nothing to do with the new government.” Publius responded with: “The problem though is, that it was just that, a political campaign promise. While the monies or time
off equal to, are owed by order of the courts, the FNM government did not have to keep Christie’s date of payment if it would not have been financially feasible at this time. Christie threw that date out as a campaign ploy. The taxpayers are not to be put on the hook for a politician’s tricks. If the money truly was not there to do this now, the government had the responsibility to inform officers of the current fiscal realities, and set out a fiscally responsible timeline for payments owed.” PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has directed government officials to ensure that no foreigner should get a work permit where there are qualified Bahamians to fill that position, prompting BahamasForBahamians to say: “Wow in 2017 - is this being heralded as a new initiative? This has been standard since Loftus Roker was in Cabinet. (Pindling’s Cabinet to bring to reality) Hu-
bert Ingraham moved away from this philosophy paving the way for the PLP to win an election on the grounds of ‘Believing in Bahamians in 2012’. This article highlights Dion Foulkes’ disconnect from the general populace.” Cmiller said: “This is not a new concept, but has never been taken seriously. A school like Lyford Cay School brings in foreign teachers to teach PE, Music and Art. Really????” Economist offered this: “If we are to improve the economy we MUST change our immigration policy. This is the same stuff that has been holding us back for years.” OldFort2012 said: “If you really want Bahamians to get jobs: EDUCATE THEM PROPERLY!!! Everything else is a gimmick, for public consumption only.” Only for Nuway to respond with: “Old Fort2012, Bahamians are educated and quite qualified for many of these jobs already and in fact can do them much better than the expats who are blocking them.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
PAGE 12, Wednesday, May 31, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
WATERKEEPERS Bahamas lends support to Grand Bahama YMCA Swim for Ocean Survival (SOS) programme. From left are Grand Bahama Coastal Waterkeeper and Save The Bays Chairman Joe Darville, YMCA Programmes Director Shakeitha Henfield and
Waterkeepers Bahamas dives into summer swim schemes TWO swim programmes in Grand Bahama have received a welcome boost with donations from Waterkeepers Bahamas, the local licensee of the world’s largest and fastest-growing nonprofit organisation solely focused on clean water. “We were pleased to show our support for the Freeport Aquatics Club, which has been such a powerful force in teaching discipline and sportsmanship while turning in highly
competitive performances, and to the YMCA Swim for Ocean Survival (SOS) programme that has done a remarkable job teaching school children basic in the water survival skills,” said Rashema Ingraham, Waterkeepers Bahamas Executive Director. Both programmes, she said, help prepare people to enjoy the waters safely. “When Bahamians start swimming in open waters at a young age, they develop
WATERKEEPERS Bahamas supports Freeport Aquatics Club (FAC) as part of its mission to bring awareness of the need to preserve a fragile marine environment. From left, Grand Bahama Coastal Waterkeeper and Save The Bays Chairman Joe Darville, FAC Head Coach Albert ‘Bert’ Bell, Waterkeepers Bahamas Executive Director Rashema Ingraham and FAC super star and assistant coach Ashton Knowles. confidence but just as importantly, they develop an appreciation for the beauty of the underwater world and all the marine life that they would never see up close and personal otherwise,” said Ms Ingraham. Joe Darville, Save The Bays Chairman and Grand Bahama Coastal Waterkeeper agreed. “Being in the water with fish, conch, crawfish, with sponges and corals and grasses, gives all of us a deeper respect for
and a better understanding of the need to preserve marine life,” he said. “That commitment to preserve complements the goals of Waterkeepers Alliance to make as much of the world’s water as possible fishable, swimmable and drinkable.” According to YMCA Director Karon PinderJohnson, more than 10,000 people in Grand Bahama - nearly a quarter of the island’s population - have participated in the SOS learn to
swim programme in the eight years of its existence and this year she is hoping that more teachers will participate. The programme is free and open to students of all schools in Grand Bahama. “This is a perfect example of a community pulling together, one non-profit helping another to achieve a common goal – appreciating the beauty of our waters and making it safe for more people to enjoy them,” said Ms Ingraham.
Founded in 1999 by Robert F Kennedy Jr, Waterkeeper Alliance patrols rivers, bays, lakes and oceans on six continents. Kennedy was in the Bahamas in 2013 to help launch the Conchservation initiative and present the country with its first Waterkeeper licence. Since then, the country has gained two more and volunteers monitor the waters and file reports in three areas of the northern Bahamas.
BUSINESS BOOT CAMP FOR GRAND BAHAMA
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Grand Bahama Port Authority’s Business Innovation and e-Commerce Boot Camp is fast approaching and participants can expect to hear from global presenters who will help them compete and grow their businesses. The event will be held June 8 at the Grand Lucaya Resort and is free to business licensees of the GBPA. Executives at GBPA are encouraging its licensees to embrace this opportunity to equip themselves with tools
to compete both locally and globally. Ian Rolle, GBPA president, said that the boot camp would showcase global presenters who will provide best practice insights as to how to start and grow businesses through e-commerce. He stated that there would be an introduction to Shopify, a global platform used to promote and sell products, accept payments and help merchants grow their businesses while they sleep. “Shopify is one of a few featured presenters, who will deliver an interactive
experience, demonstrating practical tools to empower aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners,” Mr Rolle said. He said that the event would also be promoting various business concepts via a presentation by AeroFarms, global leaders in urban agriculture. “AeroFarms will demonstrate how their patented aeroponic products can grow greens without sunlight or soil. We believe this can be a transformational opportunity for the agribusiness sector on Grand Bahama,” Mr Rolle said. The one-day event is said
to focus on empowerment of licensees, small business owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs. LaShawn Dames, business services manager for the IGBSBB, said the event would showcase innovative exhibits from various local businesses. “We have a highly interactive, brain churning event planned for the business community,” she said. “Participants can expect excellent networking opportunities, the chance to explore powerful methods of customer engagement and satisfaction, as well as an environment for dis-
covering new prospects for business growth and profitability. Those attending can expect a highly productive, results-driven event.” The GBPA continues to encourage licensees to take advantage of technology, and the company believes that the boot camp will be an ideal learning environment for participants. Derek Newbold, GBPA senior manager of business development and invest Grand Bahama, said the company is committed to supporting small and medium businesses. He said providing such events are
“value added benefits” to GBPA licensees. “Within our organisation, we are constantly identifying innovative ways to support SMEs. This initiative will be another example of our commitment to enhancing business delivery and diversity here in Freeport,” he said. Persons are urged to register early as space is limited. Information on registration can be found at GBPA.com or by calling 242-350-9000. The boot camp is free to port licensees and a nominal fee of $50 per person for nonlicensees.
WOMAN REMANDED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of human trafficking. Abigail Wilson, 20, appeared before Chief Mag-
istrate Joyann FergusonPratt facing four counts of trafficking in persons that were allegedly committed between March and May 26 of this year. The charges were made contrary to Section 3 (1)(a) of the Trafficking in Persons Prevention and Sup-
pression Act Chapter 106. It is alleged that the Jamaican, being concerned with others, recruited, received, harboured and transported a woman to and within the Bahamas for the purpose of sexual exploitation. She pleaded not guilty to
all of the allegations and is expected to stand trial in Magistrate’s Court on July 12, 13, 14 and 18. She was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services in the interim. However she has the right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court.
EIGHT HAITIAN MIGRANTS DETAINED
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
YOUR
CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019
OFFICIALS apprehended eight Haitians who were reportedly residing illegally in Grand Bahama. A Department of Immigration official reported that seven men and one woman were discovered in the Freeport and Pinder’s Point areas. Immigration officer Napthali Cooper stated that the persons taken into custody admitted to arriving in the country illegally by boat from Haiti within the past several months. He said they were taken to Department of Immigration headquarters where they were processed, and later flown to New Providence, where they will be detained at the Detention Centre to await repatriation to Haiti.
PAGE 14, Wednesday, May 31, 2017
THE TRIBUNE