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Volume:116 No.147, JULY 26TH, 2019
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WEEKEND: CHASE - IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST LISTEN
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
PHILIP “Brave” Davis, Chester Cooper and Robyn Lynes were returned as the Progressive Liberal Party’s leader, deputy leader and vice chairman respectively yesterday, as those in the PLP insisted it is a new and improved political organisation ready for a 2022 election victory. That means there is only one major race that will be decided today as Senator Fred Mitchell and former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe face off to become the PLP’s chairman. Mr Wilchcombe was
nominated for the post yesterday morning despite what appeared to be a push to undermine his viability this week, seen in comments from Mr Davis who said he told Mr Wilchcombe not to run because he didn’t think he had the support. This race aside, Mr Davis was extremely confident yesterday, saying, “I will not let my people down.” He said his leadership team was capable of steering the PLP in the right direction. Some 1,800 delegates from across the country travelled to New Providence to elect what could be a new chairman among other party offices.
SEE PAGE FOUR
A COMIC’S VIEW IT’S SHAMEFUL IF NOTHING CHANGES INSIDE THE PLP
SEE PAGE EIGHT
FRAUD AUDIT NOW THERE’S MOVE TO ACT
SEE PAGE THREE
DEADLINE FOR WTO IS NOT SET IN STONE
DEFIANT OBIE TAKES FIGHT TO MITCHELL FORMER Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe criticised Senator Fred Mitchell’s storied past with the Progressive Liberal Party, suggesting he found it “amazing” that the senator’s loyalty to the organisation has not been questioned as both men face off today for the chairmanship of the PLP. Mr Wilchcombe also hit
influences pages 14 & 15
THE Ministry of Public Service issued “show cause” letters yesterday to ten people implicated in a Department of Education scheme that defrauded the government of $450k, signalling the government has began the process of terminating the employees. Auditor General Terrance Bastian, in a report dated September 12, 2018, found that staff of the department perpetuated a $448,230 fraud by manipulating a system for stipends and honoraria.
SEE PAGE FIVE
out at PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis for repeatedly undermining his bid to contest the post. The former West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP said despite having lost a bid for chairman in 2017, he was confident the move granted the wishes of supporters, adding he had no fears another loss would hurt his political ambitions within the party. Earlier this week, Mr Davis told The Tribune that
Page 19
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PLP CONVENTION 2019
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
‘WHAT’S IN A NAME?’
Non-stop art
24-hour project honours mate rnal
Davis: I won’t let my people down
Friday, July 26, 2019
food entertainment histor y puzzles
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
SO BRAVE, DESHANA
POLICE Constable Deshana Burnside received a medal for gallantry yesterday, one of more than 400 officers who were presented with medals at Government House this week. Full story and more pictures - Page 2
THE June 2020 target for The Bahamas to become a full WTO member is “purely aspirational” and not one that must be met at all costs, Elsworth Johnson, the newly-appointed minister of financial services, trade and industry and immigration, confirmed yesterday. The former minister of state for legal affairs also pledged The Bahamas would not join if the terms “are not in the best interests” of the country. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
OFFICER ‘JUSTIFIED’ IN FATAL SHOOTING By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
2019
A JURY unanimously found yesterday that the 2014 police-involved killing of Andrew Stubbs, 35, was justified. Officer Kevin Deveaux, who shot Stubbs, was represented by attorney Kelsie Melvin Munroe, but Stubbs’ family did not attend the hearings and no lawyer was present to argue for an alternative view of
ATTORNEY Melvin Munroe. what happened. Stubbs’ family was contacted but when no one showed up, an
application was granted to proceed in their absence. Stubbs was killed by a single gunshot to his head. The bullet travelled from the left side of his scalp, across his frontal temporal lobe to the right side of his head where it exited. During the inquest, Officer Rovan Damian Carey testified that Stubbs was escorted from the Ira Storr Backyard Restaurant because he was
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SEVEN
DIANE PHILLIPS WHO INVENTED THE TO-DO LIST ANYWAY?
SEE PAGE TEN
PAGE 2, Friday, July 26, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
PHOTOS: DONAVAN MCINTOSH
By FARRAH JOHNSON CONSTABLE 3975 Deshana Burnside received a medal for gallantry for an act of bravery in the midst of serious danger, one of more than 400 officers who were presented with medals at Government House this week. On Wednesday and Thursday, 280 officers were awarded medals for meritorious service, while 219 officers were given medals for long service and good conduct. On January 10, 2018, Const Burnside was on duty with another police officer who was injured by a young man attempting to evade police. While fleeing, the suspect jumped into the waters near Long Wharf but could not swim. Const Burnside followed him into the water and brought him to shore where he was then taken into custody. Speaking at the Royal Bahamas Police Force medal ceremony yesterday, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames congratulated the officers for their “bravery, selfless service and dedication to duty.”
Police officers rewarded for their gallantry, long service and good conduct Mr Dames said the medals not only symbolised an “individual accomplishment,” but also exhibited a “record” of each officer’s service. Also highlighting the challenging nature of the profession, Governor General Cornelius A Smith thanked the police force for the “tireless service” they have provided to “maintain the peace” in the country. “Without a doubt, it has not been an easy pass for we know that such service was and will continue to be a great sacrifice to both yourselves and to your families and your loved ones,” he said.
“We know too, that your duties often require you to work around the clock and oft times in dangerous and life threatening circumstances, yet you have persevered despite these many challenges.” “It is my understanding that the awards which you will receive...will express our appreciation as well as attest to the level of your sacrifice and hard work for gallantry, as a result for acts of bravery and great courage in circumstances of extreme danger.”
Characterising the ceremony as a “small token” of the country’s appreciation, Mr Smith also said he hopes the medals will be a “source of pride” and motivation to officers so that they will continue to “uphold the lofty motto of courage, integrity and loyalty.” Yesterday, Mr Dames also repeated figures released by police last week which show a nearly 20 percent drop in crime for the first half of the year. Mr Dames said the
“tireless efforts” and “high level of professionalism” exhibited by officers over the past two years has contributed to a reduction of crime in the nation. “Crime during the first half of 2019 has dropped by some 17 percent. Murders are also trending downwards by some 17 percent,” he said. “A total of 184 firearms and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition were taken off of our streets. More than 4,664 pounds of marijuana, along with 104,000 marijuana plants were seized
GO TO TRIBUNE242.COM FOR A PICTURE SPECIAL OF THE AWARDS
to date,” he said. “Despite these efforts we’re... aware that there remains much work ahead,” he added. “Yet, this high level of productivity and progressiveness is exactly what our government set out to achieve when we came into office in 2017.” Acknowledging the stresses that come along with being on the force, Mr Dames also encouraged officers to maintain a “healthy work life balance” and urged them to “give 100 percent” on and off duty. Editorial View - Page 6
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 26, 2019, PAGE 3
Fraud audit - now there’s move to act from page one
The Tribune reported yesterday that though the Office of the Attorney General recommended in April that ten people face disciplinary action in connection with the fraud, it seemed no one had been punished, prompting concern from some public servants familiar with the matter. In connection with the scheme, there was no accompanying formal approval from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Service for the fraudulent payments. In one instance, an assistant accountant received 43 honoraria payments of $125,505 in 44 months while another accountant received
$61,113 in 32 instalments in 20 months. Lorraine SymonetteArmbrister, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, told The Tribune ‘show cause’ letters were submitted to ten people yesterday on the direction of the Ministry of Public Service. The employees will have to now defend themselves against various allegations in order to avoid disciplinary action. Meanwhile, Superintendent Matthew Edgecombe, head of the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, told The Tribune his department is still investigating the matter. He said officers have no timeline for completing their investigation. The Tribune obtained
a copy of the recommendation of Shane Miller, director of legal affairs in the AG’s Office, concerning the matter. The document, dated April 29, 2019, was addressed to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service. Mr Miller wrote: “We have been informed by the treasurer that as a result of the (auditor) report, all of the officers have since been relocated out of the Department of Education and corrective measures have been implemented in the accounting procedures. Furthermore, the treasurer has a contingency plan to replace relevant officers should dismissals be warranted. The treasurer on behalf of the financial secretary held meetings with the audit
department, the department of public personnel and the Office of the Attorney General and requested the OAG to advise on the matters. “The Ministry of Finance, who has control of all of the accounts officers in the public service, has decided to take action against some individuals who are employees for misappropriation of funds which occurred during this time. As a result of findings of the report, it was initially decided that action would be taken against 24 persons. However, the Office of the Attorney General advised that the department should ensure that the persons charged have infringed specific law/policies/regulations and that there was substantiating evidence to support
AUDITOR General Terrance Bastian the allegations. As a result, it was decided that action would be taken against ten persons.” The Public Service Commission Regulations characterises the disciplinary actions public officers could face. “Upon review of the matter and in accordance with the relevant legislation, we advise that show cause
letters be issued to the ten individuals pursuant to regulations 41 and 43 of the Public Service Commission Regulations,” Mr Miller said in his letter. “We have enclosed drafts of the letters to be reviewed, completed and signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Service and issued to the relevant individuals. “In drafting the show cause letters, we have taken into consideration the following legislation: the Public Services Act; the Public Service Commission Regulations, the Financial Regulations; the Manual of Cabinet Proceedings; the Bahamas Government Human Resources Policies Manual March 2017 and the Financial Administration and Audit Act.”
CHILDREN’S WARD EVACUATED AFTER COOLING PROBLEM By TRIBUNE REPORTER
A STRING quartet plays during a memorial service for Chris Cline and his daughter, Kameron Cline, who were victims of the helicopter accident. Below, the helicopter is retrieved from the sea.
Helicopter spun out before crash that killed seven By FARRAH JOHNSON THE helicopter crash that killed American billionaire Chris Cline and six other passengers occurred shortly after take off, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported. According to the board, the aircraft, which took off from Big Grand Cay, Abaco, on July 4, was in the air for one minute before it dropped 40-50 feet, and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. The helicopter was found upside down in “about 16
ft of water about 1.2 nm north-northeast of the departure point,” with all five of its main rotor blades and all four of its tail rotor blades separated. While the NTSB did not provide a specific cause for the accident, the report states that a witness saw the helicopter spinning briefly before the crash occurred. “Another witness, who was located about 1.6 nm (nautical miles) southwest of the accident site reported seeing the helicopter lift off and climb to between 40 and 50 ft above ground level; then shortly
thereafter, he noted blue and white lights spinning to the left at a rate of about one to two seconds between rotations while descending,” the preliminary report said. “He estimated that the helicopter rotated to the left three to four times. He then heard a ‘whoosh whoosh whoosh’ sound, and lost sight of the helicopter, which was followed by the sound of an impact.” The report also noted that the witness went out on his boat with searchlights in an attempt to locate the helicopter, but
was unsuccessful. The NTSB said the Federal Aviation Administration “issued an alert notice for the overdue flight” almost 14 hours after the aircraft took off and about an hour later, it was located by local residents. The helicopter, which was carrying the coal tycoon, his daughter, Kameron, 22, and five others, was on its way to Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood International Airport to take two of the passengers to Florida for medical treatment. The NTSB said that all of the wreckage recovered
will be retained for further examination. A full report on the crash is expected in two years.
PATIENTS of Princess Margaret Hospital’s Children’s Ward were temporarily relocated to the hospital’s former Intensive Care Unit on Wednesday evening, following insufficient cooling capacity to the ward. “Minor wear and tear issues were discovered, which affected the air conditioning function on the ward,” hospital officials said in a press release. PMH management apologised for any inconvenience caused and said further updates will be provided to the public as necessary. Earlier this month, PMH suspended non-emergency surgeries for nearly a week while it investigated possible sabotage at the hospital’s chiller system in the Critical Care Block. The system was fully restored after a rental chiller unit was installed. Last week, PHA said the installation of the “250-ton rental chiller unit will provide service to the CCB during the upgrade of the new permanent chiller system at the hospital. It is anticipated that the installation of the new chillers will extend over the next five months. As a result of the impending works, the main driveway to the legacy entrance of PMH located off Shirley Street at Burnside Lane will be closed to vehicular traffic.” PHA has substantial evidence indicating the chilling system was failing because it was being tampered with, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has said. He said police are investigating the matter. “We have made a decision that the results of the investigation, if there are findings and if there are recommendations for prosecution, justice should be served,” Dr Sands said recently. “So, let the chips fall where they may. No matter who it is that’s involved.”
PAGE 4, Friday, July 26, 2019
PLP CONVENTION 2019 from page one Mr Wilchcombe asked him about running but he told him he didn’t see that he had the support. Mr Davis said while he had preferred to spare Mr Wilchcombe another loss, no one was going to stand in his way of ambition. Some in the party believe that the chairman race will be a hotly contested one and have used the 2017 race as a benchmark to gauge this year’s run. Mr Wilchcombe received 208 fewer votes than Mr Mitchell when he ran for chairman back then. “I think it’s imperative to remember I ran for deputy leader of the party and I lost to Brave Davis and I never once walked away from my party or ever considered leaving my party or not supporting my party,” Mr Wilchcombe said when asked if his work would continue if he lost the race. He spoke to reporters at the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel during the nomination process for PLP internal posts. Delegates will vote today between 8am and 2pm. “Really the person who’s running against me left the PLP. I think that’s the significant difference. I’ve never left the people. I never went against my organisation. I never said negative and derogatory things about the leaders as Fred Mitchell did. So I find it to be incredibly amazing when they talk about loyalty when I am the individual who demonstrated loyalty (and) never left, never criticised, never took on my leadership and I never denounced anything that my party was doing. “I’m a PLP and I remain a PLP.” He said another loss would not harm his future political aspirations. “The party at the end of the day, you can continue to contribute and that’s just the way it is in politics. You
THE TRIBUNE
PHOTOS: TERREL W CAREY SR/TRIBUNE STAFF
Defiant Obie takes battle to Mitchell
I NEVER once walked away from my party or ever considered leaving my party, said Obie Wilchcombe.
Cooper: We are in a fight for the soul of our nation By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Deputy Leader Chester Cooper told party faithfuls last night they are fighting for the “very soul of our nation.” “It is a fight that we wage day by day to determine if the Bahamas will continue to wander aimlessly under the visionless, greedy, conflicted, selfdealing, inept, tainted behaviour of the Free National Movement, or
know we had the (former) president of the United States Ronald Reagan he ran three times and we have (former US Vice President) Joe Biden, he’s ran several times. So people win and the reality is you can win today and not win tomorrow and others have run and lost. “But I’m a humble person and if at the end of the day, I just love people and if people want you to be a part of them, you are going to be a part of them one way or the other. “I’m not going to die, I am going to continue to work hard.” Asked to respond to Mr Wilchcombe’s criticisms, Mr Mitchell had limited comment. “I’ve not made any comment about Mr Wilchcombe or anything he says and I maintain that I have nothing to say,” Mr Mitchell said. “I can’t speak to anybody else’s behaviour. I can only speak for mine. I am guided by a set of principles and I stand by those.” Regarding Mr Davis’ comments about his perceived lack of support, Mr Wilchcombe also said: “I think he should not have been saying that to start with because I have not disclosed what him and I spoke about when he asked to meet with me. I did not disclose that and I don’t think the leader of our party should be doing that, but nevertheless it’s his right and he’s done it. “What you have to do is continue to move forward that’s just the way it is,” Mr Wilchcombe said.
if The Bahamas will keep moving forward into a new age under the stewardship of the PLP.” Mr Cooper, speaking during the opening night of the PLP’s first national convention since 2017, joined other speakers in portraying the Minnis administration as uncaring and out-of-depth. Speaking of the party’s plans for governance, Mr Cooper said the PLP, if elected in the next election, will begin the conversation of transitioning the country into a republic, citing
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Deputy Leader Chester Cooper in defiant mood last night.
Trinidad and Tobago as an example. He also spoke of the need for campaign finance legislation to ensure that elected officials are not beholden to special interests. Last night’s event was a characteristically lengthy and lively call to action for the party, featuring speakers that varied from established PLP heavyweights like Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin to newcomers like Progressive Young Liberals Chairman Deran Saunders. Two years after
infamously accusing the PLP of becoming weak, dishonest and overcome with greed, Monique Pindling, the daughter of Sir Lynden Pindling, also spoke. She praised the work of party leader Philip “Brave” Davis but attracted the most applause when she talked about her father. “We, the Pindling family, have never spoken out before but now the time has come that I must stand up and defend his legacy. He has been written about, accused, judged, misjudged, lied upon, abused and
betrayed but I, Monique Marguerite Pindling, through him, say for you tonight that we are tired,” she said. Danielle Gibson, a woman fired by the government from her post as assistant manager of the North Eleuthera airport in 2017 for reasons that have never been made clear, also spoke last night. Blasting the Minnis administration for the slew of firings that have happened in the last few years, she proclaimed herself a victim of victimisation.
The main event of the convention will take place today - a chairman contest between incumbent Fred Mitchell and former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe that has caused tension in the party. For her part, Mrs Hanna Martin called on PLPs last night to “maintain dignity.” “This party should never be about the small and the petty,” she said. “It should never be seen to be cannibalising its members, never be seen to be the playground of power for its own sake.”
FNM: CONVENTION SHOWS PLP NOT FIT TO GOVERN THE Free National Movement has asserted that divisions on display at the Progressive Liberal Party’s national convention shows it is not fit to govern the country. “The PLP has always had issues when it comes to democracy in the party,” the FNM noted in a press release. “It was formed in 1953. Since then it has had only three people carry the title of leader. Sir Lynden Pindling led for
four decades; Perry Christie for two decades. “Brave Davis is trying to be the latest PLP leader for life. In the run-up to the PLP’s convention he did not want anyone challenging him and his handpicked leadership team. Brave is angry that his long-time rival and nemesis Obie Wilchcombe won’t just let him run the PLP as maximum leader. “Wilchcombe and Brave opposed each other for the post
of PLP deputy leader years ago. Brave won. These men do not like each other. Wilchcombe wants to be PLP leader and won’t give up that ambition. “Wilchcombe has defied Brave and is running to be PLP chairman against Brave’s man, Fred Mitchell. There is great division in the PLP. Senior PLPs know Brave is unpopular. They know Bahamians do not think he would be a suitable prime minister. Brave is
from the old guard of the party.” The FNM claimed some in the PLP want a “fresh face” to lead the opposition party before the next election, despite him being elected unopposed as PLP leader yesterday. “Quietly, senior PLPs hope Brave is deposed before the next general election, and that a fresh face leads the party,” the FNM statement claimed. “Brave fears this dissent. That is why he did
not want his team opposed. He only backtracked on that position because of criticism of how antidemocratic it sounded. “Brave is a leader who is unsure of the extent of his support in the PLP. He’s afraid of challengers. “. . .This is the current state of the PLP. It is a divided party with a leader who doesn’t like internal elections that challenge his rule. Such a party is unfit to govern The Bahamas.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 26, 2019, PAGE 5
PLP CONVENTION 2019
PLP agrees to amend rules to let more vote
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Progressive Liberal Party has agreed to amend its constitution to significantly increase the number of delegates that could participate and vote in its national conventions, a change that may impact future leadership races. The change was confirmed to The Tribune by Terrance Bethel, a vicechairman in the party and a member of the PLP’s constitutional revision committee. The change was among many revealed yesterday that was agreed between last year’s constitutional convention and this week’s national convention. Previously, only ten people per constituency had voting powers at PLP conventions. That number has been increased to 20 per constituency. The national convention also agreed to appoint five
convention delegates per every affiliate group. Such affiliate groups include organisations like the Progressive Young Liberals and the Women’s Branch Association. The convention also agreed to increase the number of possible affiliate groups. For example, previously there could only be one PYL organisation per island; now there can be a PYL group per every constituency. Reformists in both major parties have long wanted increases to the number of voting delegates, believing the more people who vote, the likelier race outcomes would reflect demographic realities in the country. Officials also hope that the changes will better balance the impact stalwart councillors have on races with that of delegates, who generally skew younger. Some in the PLP wanted even more ambitious changes to the number of people eligible to vote at conventions. Former PLP
MP for Fort Charlotte, Alfred Sears, QC, has said voting powers should be expanded to include all registered financial members in good standing, not just delegates and stalwart councillors. Nonetheless, the constitutional reform process did not yield results entirely backed by party leaders. Officials hoped to amend the document to allow the party to host conventions every two years rather than every year. Delegates, however, rejected that proposal and decided to maintain the status quo. As a safety valve, the party agreed last year to amend the constitution to allow the National General Council to postpone conventions until no later than April of the following year so long as two-thirds of the NGC supports the move. Conventions can be expensive to host and the PLP has struggled over the past two decades to host an annual event like its constitution
PLP chairman Fred Mitchell at the convention yesterday. demands. The PLP established a constitutional review committee in 2017 to recommend major changes for the first time in 65 years.
The party hosted a constitutional convention last year and hoped to pass the draft prepared by the constitutional review committee.
While changes were agreed, opposition to some of the changes forced the party to postpone the process until this year’s convention.
Davis: I won’t let my people down from page one The event is not only a tool to boost morale among supporters but an avenue to allow key changes to the PLP’s constitution. “I am humbled by the confidence reposed in me to lead this party to victory,” Mr Davis told reporters yesterday at the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel, moments after his re-election was welcomed by thunderous applause and cheers. Asked by The Tribune to respond to critics who said this election process was not a democratic one, Mr Davis said: “Democracy is that each one of us have a view that we ought to be able to express and to do that we ought to be able to exercise (it). I was only exercising my view and that does not shut out anyone else.” Mr Davis had previously urged PLP members not to challenge anyone in his leadership team. “I welcome ambition. I don’t discourage it, but I had a view just like every member of the party and I just expressed it and we would hope they follow my view.” He also said: “I have just been re-elected unopposed and I am gratified by the confidence (and) humbled by it. It’s an awesome responsibility (and) I am up for the challenge and I welcome the challenge. I will not let my people down.” Mr Cooper was adamant that despite the same team being returned, the PLP was on a new path. Of his win, Mr Cooper said he was passionate about servant leadership. He said: “It’s humbling. I am grateful to the people, the delegates and
LEADER of the PLP Philip Davis speaking to the media yesterday. the stalwarts and the Progressive Liberal Party for bestowing the confidence in me and I am humbled today that they would have recognised that I would wish to continue to serve the party. I am passionate about servant leadership. “Just look at me, this is my first term in Parliament, my second (time) being elected as deputy leader of the party,” Mr Cooper
said in response to a question from this newspaper. “There will be nothing old about our platform. There will be everything new about all of the ideas that we have. “I am leading the platform committee responsible for developing our platform. It will be exciting. It will speak to the needs of all Bahamians. That’s what we are going to do.
“So when we talk about the people we won’t be talking about isolated people. We wouldn’t be talking about the privileged. We will be talking about Bahamians from all walks of life from Grand Bahama to MICAL and everywhere in between, so we will be looking to see how we will create a plan focused on building new industries whether it’s renewable
energy or whether it’s other new industries. We are going to see how we can move or country forward in terms of empowerment.” He said there will be an appreciation of the legacy and the tradition of the party as the oldest institution of its kind in the Bahamas while at the same time featuring new candidates, new ideas and a new vision for the country.
“One of the things that we were profoundly sanctioned for on May 10, 2017 is not listening to the people. You are going to see new listeners and so everything is going to be fresh. After this convention it’s a time of renewal and we are going to be getting into to action very quickly,” Mr Cooper told The Tribune. Editorial View - Page 6
PAGE 6, Friday, July 26, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Why would we want yesterday’s men back in charge again? SO, barring a catastrophe at the polls in the new election, we are almost certainly in line for a second Minnis administration. The hundreds cheering the re-election of ‘Brave’ Davis and Chester Cooper at the opening session of the PLP convention yesterday must be among the very few who don’t realise the party’s decision consigns them another long period in opposition. To be frank, for the health of the PLP that’s probably not a bad thing as, since it was humiliatingly chased out of power two years ago, it seems to have learned very little from the mistakes which caused virtually the entire voting public against it. The fact that Brave Davis remains leader when he was one of the chief torch bearers in the Christie government shows the party – from top to bottom – has learned little. How can the PLP expect voters to turn away from the FNM – for all its stumbling faults – and put its faith in someone who helped oversee years of Christie’s calamitous administration? Chester Cooper has seemingly been told to bide his time and let Brave lead the charge to the next election. Chester can only hope a second PLP defeat with him as Brave’s deputy doesn’t have any long-term affect on his own future leadership ambitions. A brief examination of Brave as Leader of the Opposition doesn’t provide much evidence that under him the party offers anything different to what came before. It’s not as if the Minnis government has been on top form, letting its guard down from Oban to the Town Centre Mall, little progress in improving education, industrial unrest bubbling loudly in many corners, VAT and the spectre of all that comes with accession to the World Trade Organisation all providing glaring opportunities for the PLP to shout from the rooftops at government
failings and seriously taking a bite out of the support the FNM gained in the 2017 “protest” election. Instead half the time we saw Brave leading his small band out of the assembly leaving Minnis and Co. chortling in their seats. The real opposition has come from outside the assembly, from unions, commentators, lobby groups – we’ve all rightly been on the government’s case to deliver what we voted it into office for. Another example of how detached Brave is from where the PLP should be was seen in his determination to avoid any contest in the leadership position. The members played the game as far as he and Chester were concerned, but for chairman Fred Mitchell it’s another case with former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe breaking ranks. This is where we think the current PLP has gone astray and why more years in the wilderness could help. Brave is yesterday’s man, so is Fred Mitchell and so is Obie, another Christie cabinet member. Why would we want them back after all the Christie government’s failings? Chester isn’t tarred with the same brush and is in his first term in the assembly. It will be interesting to see over the coming couple of years as he follows Brave to the ballot box how he plays out. Brave, Mitchell, Minnis - they are all of an age when most of us are looking to sit back and enjoy our ‘autumn years’ - Brent Symonette’s just done exactly that. The time’s coming when whether they like it or not a number of our current leading politicians will have no choice but to pass the baton to a new generation, one which has only lived in an independent Bahamas. Maybe Chester in a few years will be that man, maybe not. Only time will tell and only he can convince the PLP’s supporters.
Beyond the call of duty IT’S the nature of news that very often the events we report are of a serious and somewhat depressing nature. In a country where our news agenda is driven by politics, the economy, health, education and crime reading The Tribune or listening to the news sometimes makes you think we live in a dark, unforgiving world. Every day our staff strives to balance what we put in the paper and, when it presents itself, we seize on stories where we can smile and say – well done. That’s the case for us today for more than 400 men and women in the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Too often RBPF officers make the news for some foolishness filmed and circulated on social media; for an allegation made in court by a suspect who claims mistreatment; for a claim by witnesses to a police-involved shooting that
matters aren’t as we would be led to believe. These stories mask the true nature of the RBPF and the work they do, every shift they clock on to throughout the year. When there’s a break-in, an assault, robbery, a row at home, an accident on the road who do we ring? The police. When there’s the all-too-common shootout with bullets flying who are the first to respond, putting their own lives on the line to protect the public? The police. So yesterday, quite rightly, our new Governor General proudly pinned medals to the uniforms of those officers who have gone beyond the call of duty, who have served many years in our service with little thanks or reward. They should wear them with pride because they deserve them.
Me first the way to go EDITOR, The Tribune ON JULY 24, 2019, Boris Johnson became the new prime minister of the United Kingdom(UK). He is known to be bombastic and was selected by his conservative party to get a better deal from the European Union (EU) or leave without a deal. Conventional wisdom says that it would be disastrous for the UK if they leave the EU without a deal. I believe, like Mr Johnson, that no deal is better than a bad deal. The deal the EU currently offers effectively leaves the UK in
the EU without any voting rights. This discourages any other member from leaving. If the UK leaves without a deal it will affect the UK negatively, but it will hurt the EU much more. The lesson Caribbean countries should learn is that the new paramount principle in international relations is me first. When we complain about unfairly being blacklisted by the OECD or the EU, we should known it will fall on deaf ears. We should find loopholes to strike back, such as crafty trade barriers and conditional support in the international arena. Me
first is now the order of the day in international affairs. The Caribbean and the Bahamas have not adequately adapted. They have on many occasions sacrificed their interests for a strategic partnership with a big brother (powerful countries). I am a mathematician and the pattern is me first. Whether it be China in the South China Seas, US with the Iran nuclear deal, Russia with Georgia or the EU with Brexit. BRIAN ELLIS PLUMMER Nassau July 23, 2019
Stop letting the side down EDITOR, The Tribune SINCE the evolution of human societies diplomats have been in the business of conveying messages between polities safely and reliably. In modern as in ancient diplomacy the nature and functioning of the diplomatic machine has remained the same, with few notable additions. Before governmental institutions arrived, we had affairs conducted between states and state actors like the Vatican, so-called bilateral diplomacy. With the arrival of organizations like the UN and the EU, they added multilateral diplomacy. To make it all work, diplomats fall back onto a guidebook, still referred to by its Latin name – the Vade Mecum (Go with Me). This is an instructional book to diplomats to help them comport with the ageless process in which the diplomatic machinery operates. The EU produces a Vade Mecum and one would think that our diplomats on Goodman’s Bay have more than a passing familiarity with it. But then, we could be wrong. It is never acceptable to overlook the small transgressions from the rules of diplomacy, as they could lead to a major faux pas with disastrous consequences down the road.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net On July 16, our Ambassador in Europe, Her Excellency Maria O’Brien presented her credentials to the President of the European Union. She and the Ambassador from Suriname were the only two calling on the President that day. And that is why Ms. O’Brien, who was called second, is today last on the list in the order of diplomatic precedence at the EU. Tenure gets you ranking in diplomacy. But yet again, Ambassador O’Brien committed a sartorial gaffe. She came smartly presented in a business suit with a most appropriate hemline, (unlike when she called on the King of Belgium). Diplomats are expected to follow the EU’s Vade Mecum. The third paragraph in this instruction to Ambassadors presenting their credentials to the President of the EU Council is that they should wear either national costume or a dark suit. Ambassador O’Brien decided to ignore this advice (or perhaps nobody told her), and she wore a smart, two-piece ivory coloured ensemble. The
President of the EU wore a dark suit. This is not classic sexism, as some may charge. It’s diplomacy, and while the ambassador can be excused for being new to the craft, the people in the Office of the Chief of Protocol of the Foreign Ministry must be asleep on the job. Again, our last Ambassador to the EU, Rhoda Jackson wore a black dress with a black and grey jacket when she presented to the same EU president, exactly two years to the day before Ms. O’Brien. Ms. Jackson is a career diplomat who no doubt knows the difference between the work of the Office of the Chief of Protocol (the beating heart of any foreign ministry), and the Protocol Chief who is more concerned with style than substance. Ambassador O’Brien has stellar credentials in the financial services sector and should be able to handle herself when the EU again gets uppity about blacklisting our banking industry. But for now, her handlers in the Foreign Ministry need to step up and stop letting the side down. It seems they can’t tell a Vade Mecum from a Bout de Papier. THE GRADUATE Nassau July 4, 2019
Don’t bear false witness EDITOR, The Tribune NASSAU Guardian cartoonist Stan Burnside is on his way out at the esteemed publication. In a letter that was leaked to a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) propaganda website, Burnside stated that he had been employed at The Guardian since 1979. The propaganda news site has the heading: “Stan Burnside is the latest victim of Minnis victimisation programme.” The heading is very misleading, as the ensuing missive by Mr Burnside says absolutely nothing about him being a victim of political victimisation by the Free National Movement (FNM) government. Burnside is a very talented artist who hails from a prominent family. His cartoons,
however, especially the stew fish ones about Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, exposed his political leanings. I think it was the African American comedian Kat Williams who said that no one has the right to repeat a joke twice. The stew fish joke was repeated ad nauseam. Him taking digs at Minnis via his cartoons obviously annoyed some FNMs. Now with his imminent termination from The Nassau Guardian, PLPs want to interpret it as a political retaliation being orchestrated by the Minnis administration, although the publication is privately owned by Mr Emmanuel Alexiou, who is not an FNM operative. Burnside’s dismissal may be nothing more than a restructuring exercise
being carried out by the newspaper. Bear in mind that it was announced that Mr Brent Dean had resigned as editor and general manager of The Guardian last April, with the resignation taking effect this August, which coincides with Burnside’s dismissal. After serving as the editorial cartoonist for a staggering 40 years, The Nassau Guardian has decided to move on from Burnside. He had a long run. The administrators of the propaganda site should heed the ninth commandment which says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” In other words, stop lying. KEVIN EVANS Grand Bahama July 23, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 26, 2019, PAGE 7
OFFICER ‘JUSTIFIED’ IN FATAL SHOOTING from page one
smoking a joint against establishment rules. Officer Carey said the man became disorderly and even more unruly when taken outside. Officer Carey said after Stubbs left, he and several other officers stood around outside talking
when, 20 minutes later, he heard someone in the group shout “watch out.” That was when he saw a man with an object that appeared to be a gun, he said. He testified that although Officer Deveaux shouted “police” and demanded the suspect to drop the object, he soon heard about five or six gunshots.
Another witness, George Beneby, testified that from his house he saw a man gesticulating. The man, he said, eventually left the area. About 20 minutes later, Mr Beneby said he heard gunshots then saw a man’s dead body in his car’s driveway. “I looked out and saw a short
person wearing the same clothes as the gesticulating man,” he said. “I went outside and I saw the gentleman in a pool of blood and with a gray and black handgun on the side of him. I called the police and told them what I saw.” Stubbs’ inquest is at least the 19th inquiry to end since January
BTVI encouraging girls to choose science first
2018, part of a major boost in the speed at which inquests into police-involved killings are addressed. In that time, there have been three unlawful killing rulings. Stubbs’ inquest was held before Coroner Jeanine Weech Gomez. Attorney Anishka Missick marshaled the case.
DRIVER DIES AFTER TRAFFIC COLLISION
By FARRAH JOHNSON
POLICE are investigating a traffic collision which left a man dead early Thursday morning. According to police, shortly after 1am a grey Honda Aria driven by a woman collided with a red Suzuki Swift driven by a mam on Bernard Road near the Aqua Pure Water Company. Emergency personnel rendered medical assistance once they arrived to the scene; however, the male driver was pronounced dead while the female driver was taken to hospital, where she is listed in serious but stable condition. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
MAN WITH ILLEGAL FIREARM ARRESTED
QUEEN’S College student Danille Isaacs, left, and St John’s College student Kaitlyn Micklewhite were two of the girls chosen from the government’s three-year Information and Communications Technology programme to participate in a one-day Girls Power Tech conference sponsored by tech giant, Cisco. The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) is facilitator of the ICT programme. By TRIBUNE REPORTER THE Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute recently joined a list of other countries encouraging girls and young women to consider educational and career paths in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). A one-day Girls Power Tech conference sponsored by Cisco was recently held at the BTVI New Providence and Grand Bahama campuses. Cisco is a worldwide leader in IT, networking and cyber security solutions. Participants had the opportunity to interact with women who are technology professionals, who shared stories about their careers and their vision for a technologically advanced future. The girls were selected from students who are already a part of the government’s three-year information and communications technology (ICT) programme which is the brainchild of Prime Minister Hubert Minnis. St John’s College high school student Kaitlyn Micklewhite, who is in her second year of the ICT programme, has already seen the benefits. “Not a
lot of girls are exposed to IT the way we are being exposed. We are gaining lots of knowledge in cryptocurrency and blockchains, in basic IT, advanced fundamentals and in programming. It has helped me a lot in IT in school. It has been a platform to do better in the subject,” Kaitlyn said. “The world is moving with technology and I want to be a part of the advancement and be able to contribute,” added the 15-year-old. Danielle Isaacs also expressed how privileged she feels to be a part of the ICT programme, but also to have been selected to participate in the Cisco conference. “We’re learning more IT and working on blockchains…it’s really hard, but it’s fun. I feel lucky to be chosen to part of the programme and would like to use my IT knowledge in business,” said the Queen’s College student. The girls in New Providence toured the data centre of Bahamas Power and Light, while those in Grand Bahama toured Cable Bahamas and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). There was also a video
conference with Cisco representative, Monica Gomez. BTVI’s Chair of Information Technology Anthony Ramtulla recalled when BTVI’s IT programme had about five females to now there being such interest in the IT field that the ICT programme has nearly 50 percent girls. “I thank the prime minister for making this whole venture possible. This is his idea; BTVI is facilitating it. You are a seed that has been planted to move this country into a new era,” said Mr Ramtulla. The ICT programme comes at a time when there is a wide gap in the number of males and females working in the IT field. According to Cisco, women comprise 27 percent of workers in the computer science, engineering and physics fields in some of the world’s emerging economies. Last year, 123 students from private and public schools in New Providence were awarded certificates after completing phase one of the three-year ICT programme. There were 175 students combined between the programme in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
27-YEAR-OLD MAN DENIES $44,500 FRAUD CHARGES By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net A 27-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned in Magistrates Court yesterday charged with stealing and laundering $40,000 from Commonwealth Bank and $4,500 from Scotiabank over a two-month period. Samuel Kemp, of Davis Street, Fox Hill, appeared before Magistrate Kara Deveaux-Turnquest charged with six counts of stealing and six counts of money laundering between June and July.
According to the prosecution, Kemp defrauded the savings account of Elizabeth Lim of $4,500 between June 19 and June 21 of this year. Another $40,000 was taken between July 2 and July 4. Kemp pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges brought against him and was denied bail. However, he has the right to apply for bail at the Supreme Court. Kemp was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until October 1, when he is set to stand trial.
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POLICE arrested a man on Wednesday after he was found in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. According to reports, shortly after 9pm, Mobile Division officers, while at Isabella Drive in Marathon Estate, conducted a search of the male and recovered a .40 pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition.
PAGE 8, Friday, July 26, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
It would be shameful if, after that electoral stomping, the PLP has not changed EARLY yesterday, news broke that Philip “Brave” Davis and Chester Cooper were returned as leader and deputy leader respectively of the Progressive Liberal Party as both went unchallenged at the party’s convention. Before the convention, Davis made clear his preference that no one challenged for the top positions, which includes leader, deputy leader and chairman. Now that both Davis and Cooper are “safe,” the drama, it seems, surrounds the position of chairman.
In that bout, former foreign affairs minister and current chairman Fred Mitchell (aka flyin’ Fred) will go toe-to-toe against former tourism minister Obie Wilchcombe. Earlier in the week, Mitchell issued a voice note critical of Wilchcombe’s desire to contest for chairman. On top of that, Davis made it clear that he didn’t think Wilchcombe could win and that he wanted his “team” to remain as it is. Now I will be honest, ever since the PLP got
PHILIP “Brave” Davis, left, and Chester Cooper, right, were returned as leader and deputy leader respectively of the Progressive Liberal Party yesterday. Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff overwhelmingly tossed out of government by Bahamian voters back in 2017, I’m not really sure what’s been going on behind the curtain. Even a cursory glance, however, shows that not much has changed since the last administration besides the fact that their numbers in parliament isn’t even enough to have a starting five in a basketball game. That aside, all this talk about uncontested conventions and who should and shouldn’t run looks bad. And is bad.
I saw posts on Facebook with PLPs fighting over how undemocratic it all is. There were also voice notes circulating with party supporters arguing over who should and shouldn’t be allowed to use party colours and symbols on their election flyers. Is this what the once mighty PLP has come to? Fighting internally over flyers? There’s a completely logical question that has been borne of Davis’ hard line stance on these elections; if the PLP leadership is
‘carrying on’ like a dictatorship, with three and a half seats in parliament in 2019 (we see you Picewell), how on earth do they expect to attract new, dynamic talent to carry their banner in 2022? ‘Same old, same old,’ a buddy said to me earlier this week. ‘Ain’t nothing change from Perry dem time,’ another friend and PLP supporter said to me (while sucking her teeth) when I asked what she thought of the whole uncontested convention directive. It truly would be
shameful if after that electoral stomping they received in 2017 nothing has changed in the PLP. If the powers-that-be in that party have not realised it’s time for fresh ideas and energy, and a new, democratic way of doing business then I don’t even know why they are bothering with a convention. Go ahead, save yourselves a few dollars and just leave things the way they are until 2022. But please don’t act surprised when ‘ain’t nuttin’ changes’ and you end up with three seats next time.
MORE MARIJUANA ADVICE FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH
MORE potential blue prints from our neighbours to the north, pertaining to the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana, are making headlines. Especially when, potential presidential candidates are endorsing them, positioning certain states to potentially evoking positive change, when it comes to marijuana legislation and decriminalisation, in the United States. On Tuesday, NewYork Representative and judiciary committee chair Jerry Nadler announced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE). Nadler was joined in the presentation of the proposed legislation by Senator Kamala Harris, a former California attorney general who is currently one of the leading candidates for Democratic presidential nominee in 2020. The wheels are starting to churn a lot faster on Capitol Hill these days, especially when it comes to federal cannabis legalisation. Last week, the Senate scheduled a hearing on the SAFE Act which would allow businesses operating within the state laws, access to national banks. Harris offered these remarks regarding MORE “Times have changed — marijuana should not be a crime, we need to start regulating marijuana, and expunge marijuana convictions from the records of millions of Americans so they can get on with their lives.” The MORE Act makes sense on multiple levels, and should be taken heavily in to account, when putting our polices in place in relation to the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana as a nation. The MORE Act seeks to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, and would allow states to enact their own regulations as they are able to do with alcohol.
In addition, it would establish processes for expungement of past marijuana convictions, and protect individuals in government programmes, and those seeking citizenship from discrimination based on their association with the drug. Sensible taxation, taxes of between five and ten percent on cannabis would also be instituted by the proposed legislation, to be used for funding grants to impoverished communities. The revenue garnered from marijuana taxation, would cover the funding for employment training, business loans, and legal aid for those with prior minor cannabis-related convictions. Senator Kamala Harris, is no stranger to marijuana legalisation. In 2018, Harris’ name was on fellow 2020 Presidential hopeful Senator Corey Booker’s MJA - Marijuana Justice Act. (Bookers contribution is much like that of Nadler, minus the emphasis on connecting communities with cannabis entrepreneurship resources). Booker re-introduced the bill this past February, and it has been referred to the judiciary committee. Also White House hopeful Elizabeth Warren, has previously proposed legalisation of cannabis in her twice-introduced Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act, which was also referred and stands in the judiciary committee’s docket. Who will be our Harris, Nadler, Booker or Warren in this present administration or opposition for that matter? Or will we sit idly by allowing a billion dollar global industry, with multiple investment and business opportunities for Bahamians to benefit off or go up in smoke. This is one blossoming global industry we can’t approach on ‘Bahamian Time.’
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 26, 2019, PAGE 9
ABOVE, Minister of Social Services & Urban Development - Frankie Campbell at Dairy Queen’s Miracle Treat Day yesterday. Top, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest has a go. Photos: Donavan McIntosh
TEN JOBS AXED AT PLASTICS COMPANY By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A PLASTICS manufacturing plant in Freeport has terminated 10 contract workers, according to a company executive. Greg Ebelhar, chief operating officer at Polymers International Ltd, said: “Polymers International Ltd recently adjusted our workforce in response to changing market dynamics that are reducing demand for the resins we manufacture in our Freeport facility.” Mr Ebelhar noted that foam, food and beverage packaging has increasingly been the target of environmental concern and legislative bans, and—as a result—customers and consumers are choosing products made from alternative raw materials. “Although we took
several previous steps to reduce expenses that did not affect labour, we recently had to dismiss 10 contract employees. “Polymers International Ltd continues to serve as an important resin producer for our customers. We appreciate our employees’ continued commitment to our company, and we thank the Freeport community for its support as well,” he said. The Bahamas has joined many countries throughout the world to ban Styrofoam and single use plastics, and draft legislation has been crafted with a target date of implementation by January 2020. In terms of the impact on businesses that rely on the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam, as well as local distributors of these products, officials from the Ministry of Environment and Housing believe this will ultimately be a
“win-win” situation. With grocery stores bringing in an estimated 26 million plastic bags a year, the ban is predicted to help businesses save money while also giving local “creatives” the opportunity to help develop alternatives, officials have said. Minister of Environment and Housing Romauld Ferreira said last year this is why the ban is a “great opportunity for the creation of jobs,” specifically calling out to artists, straw vendors, and creatives. He has invited them to “redesign the traditional crocus sack bags and add some Androsia and a dash of our native straw”. Polymers International Limited opened its multimillion-dollar facility Freeport in the mid 1990s. The company, which produces polystyrene beads to make foam products, is one of the largest employers on Grand Bahama.
PAGE 10, Friday, July 26, 2019
I
WAS trying to remember when I wrote my first to-do list. Maybe in high school or college. It probably contained pretty simple stuff like finish English homework, start science project. Since I liked English, I probably did that and crossed if off my list with a great sense of satisfaction with a bold, thick line affirming the accomplishment. Given that I was pathetic at science, start science project probably lingered until the ink faded, hanging on the dreaded end of the to-do list ‘til the last possible hour. Decades later, I still have mixed feelings about to-do lists. I don’t know how you feel about to-do lists, but here’s my inner, secret feelings laid bare. I love to-do lists and I hate to-do lists. I love them because they provide order and a sense of satisfaction when you check something off. DONE with a capital D-ON-E. I hate them because they remind me of all the things I wanted to get done and didn’t. That’s when they become a burdensome reminder of personal failure and the subject of discontent because staring you right in the face is the unavoidable warning of how much still lays ahead. Like Sisyphus, the to-do list tells me I am condemned to rolling a huge boulder up a
THE TRIBUNE
Who invented the to-do list anyway? steep hill and never reaching the top but awakening every day to try the task again. Clearly, I am not alone facing the to-do list dilemma. Do I make one and try to accomplish some part or do I just rise every morning and without list, get done whatever I can without being reminded of whatever I didn’t? The reason I know I am not alone is there are now dozens, if not hundreds, of tools you can use to make to-do lists or lists of any kind. There are apps like Tick Tick, which reminds me of something that you would take a pet to a vet to
cure, and Toodledo, which makes me think of Tweedledee and Tweedledumb, and Any.do and Google Keep and Todoist and others. There are spread sheets of all varieties. You can even Google a list of the 10 best to-do list apps. Then there are the places you can make lists today that never existed back in the day when a half scrap piece of paper torn longwise would do it. Now you can write it on a white board, or an e-board, on your phone or on your Outlook calendar. But how do you assign importance to what’s on the list? Surely ‘pick up canned dog food’ and
‘write novel’ do not have the same weight. Do you colour code? Assign dates for reminders and intended
completion and award points for beating the selfimposed deadline? Do you categorise by relevance or
create your own template? Do you add easy stuff like remember to take car keys before starting the car so something can always be crossed off? (Temptation to check off something, anything, early in the day beckons, get up, go pee, brush teeth, preferably in that order.) Our lives, it seems, are increasingly ruled by lists. We check out lists of foods we should or should not eat. We make lists of places we want to visit, restaurants we want to try, recipes we want to make. We create lists of what we want to do before we die and call them buckets after the movie by the same name that shamed us all into thinking we should crave doing certain things before we kick the bucket or we lack passion toward life. Stuck in a quandary, maybe I’ll just make a list of the pros and cons of making a to-do list. What about you?
The power wasn’t in the delivery, it was in the message “THEY’RE doing it as we sit here,” former special counsel Robert Mueller told the United States Congress Wednesday, referring to Russian spying intended to interfere with US elections. Mueller will not win best actor award at any ceremony this year but he must be recognised and commended for a performance that should go down in history as landmark. In seven hours of testimony, answering questions that were damming or flattering depending upon which political party was
shoving them at him, Mueller remained true to his non-political, moral code. In the end, he had this message for anyone who did not read the 400-page report that was the result of a two-year investigation into foreign interference in American elections. Spying and interference with elections happened and it is continuing to happen and will be the biggest threat to American democracy the country has ever known. It was not a hoax, it was real and the fact that it was intended to help Donald Trump is a short-term result.
The fact that forces outside America could control what happens inside America is where everyone who is American or counts on America’s freedom, as we do in The Bahamas, should shiver in fear and make Herculean efforts to stop it before it poisons a process that is one of the few official systems an increasingly distrusting majority still trusts. Mueller did not have to speak like a preacher or an orator. The power did not have to be in the delivery. It was in the message he delivered.
You’ve got to hand it to the headline writers IN Florida, a land of memorable headlines, this has to be one of the best. Thanks to the editor at The Fugitive who published this: Police say Man with No Arms and No legs is Armed and on the Run
FORMER special counsel Robert Mueller testifies before the House Intelligence Committee hearing on his report on Russian election interference, on Capitol Hill, in Washington on Wednesday.
TO REPLY TO DIANE PHILLIPS, E-MAIL DIANE@DPA-MEDIA.COM
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, July 26, 2019, PAGE 11
16 MARINES ARRESTED IN HUMAN SMUGGLING INVESTIGATION SAN DIEGO Associated Press
AN investigation into troops smuggling immigrants into the United States illegally led to the arrest yesterday of 16 Marines at California’s Camp Pendleton, a base about an hour’s drive from the US-Mexico border. None of the 16 Marines were involved in helping enforce border security, the Marine Corps said in a news release. They are accused of crimes ranging from human smuggling to drugrelated offenses. Officials could not immediately be reached for
additional details. It comes weeks after two Marines were arrested by a Border Patrol agent on suspicion of smuggling three Mexicans into the United States. The military said information gained from that operation led to the 16 arrests during a morning battalion formation at Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps’ largest base on the West Coast that’s about 55 miles (90 kilometers) from the US-Mexico border. Eight of the 16 Marines were being questioned about their involvement in drug offenses as part of a separate investigation. Marines and other US troops
were brought in last year to help the Department of Homeland Security reinforce the border by installing razor wire on top of existing barriers. Military troops are barred from making arrests of immigrants. Officials from 1st Marine Division worked alongside the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in the investigation that started after the July 3 arrests of two Marines charged in federal court with human smuggling. A US Border Patrol agent stopped Lance Cpl. Byron Darnell Law II and Lance Cpl. David Javier Salazar about seven miles
north of the border after being alerted by other agents that a vehicle similar to theirs was suspected of picking up immigrants in the country illegally, according to the federal complaint. Three migrants were found in the backseat of a black BMW driven by Law, investigators say. Both Marines are riflemen assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton. Law told the agent that Salazar asked if he was interested in earning $1,000 picking up an “illegal alien.” Salazar told authorities that Law introduced him to a
man who “recruited” him to smuggle migrants into the country illegally, according to court documents. The two met on the border the night of July 2 and received instructions from a Mexican cellphone, according to court documents. Law told the agent they picked up a man and dropped him off at a McDonald’s in Del Mar, a beach community north of San Diego, but were not paid. Law said Salazar told him they would be paid if they picked up three immigrants on July 3 near the border, according to court documents.
150 MIGRANTS FEARED DEAD AFTER BOATS CAPSIZE OFF LIBYA COAST
EUROPE MELTS IN SAHARA HEAT WAVE PARIS Associated Press TEMPERATURE records that had stood for decades fell yesterday as Europeans jumped into fountains, lakes, rivers or the sea to escape a suffocating heat wave rising up from the Sahara. • The Paris area hit 42.6 C, beating the previous record of 40.4 C set in 1947. • Belgium hit all-time records twice in the day, rising to 40.7 C in the western town of Beitem. • The northern German town of Lingen set a new national temperature record at least three times yesterday, finally hitting 42.6 C. • London recorded its hottest day on record for July, with the mercury climbing to 36.9 C. The previous July record was 36.7 C in 2015.
CAIRO Associated Press
PEOPLE enjoying the Trocadero gardens in Paris yesterday as Europe sweltered in an ongoing heat wave.
US govt orders first executions since 2003 WASHINGTON Associated Press
THE United States will resume executing federal death-row inmates, the Justice Department said yesterday, ending an informal, two-decade moratorium even as the nation sees a broad shift away from capital punishment. Attorney General William Barr instructed the Bureau of Prisons to schedule executions starting in December for five men, all accused of murdering children. “The Justice Department upholds the rule of law — and we owe it to the victims and their families to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system,” Barr said. The move is likely to stir up fresh interest in an issue that has largely lain dormant in recent years, adding a new front to the culture battles that President Donald Trump already is waging on matters such as abortion and immigration in the
ATTORNEY General William Barr lead-up to the 2020 elections. Most Democrats oppose capital punishment. Vice President Joe Biden this week shifted to call for the elimination of the federal death penalty after years of supporting it. By contrast, Trump has spoken often — and sometimes wistfully — about capital punishment and his belief that executions serve as both
an effective deterrent and appropriate punishment for some crimes, including mass shootings and the killings of police officers. “I think they should very much bring the death penalty into vogue,” Trump said last year after 11 people were gunned down in a Pittsburgh synagogue. He’s suggested repeatedly that the US might be better off if it adopted harsh drug laws like those embraced by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, under whom thousands of drug suspects have been killed by police. Trump was a vocal proponent of the death penalty for decades before taking office, most notably in 1989 when he took out full-page advertisements in New York City newspapers urging elected officials to “BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY” following the rape of a jogger in Central Park. Five Harlem teenagers were convicted in the Central Park case but had their convictions vacated years later after another man confessed.
More than a decade after their exoneration, the city agreed to pay the so-called Central Park Five $41 million, a settlement Trump blasted as “outrageous.” The death penalty remains legal in 30 states, but only a handful regularly conduct executions. Texas has executed 108 prisoners since 2010, far more than any other state. Executions on the federal level have long been rare. The government has put to death only three defendants since restoring the federal death penalty in 1988, the most recent of which occurred in 2003, when Louis Jones was executed for the 1995 kidnapping, rape and murder of a young female soldier. In 2014, following a botched state execution in Oklahoma, President Barack Obama directed the Justice Department to conduct a broad review of capital punishment and issues surrounding lethal injection drugs. That review has been completed, Barr said Thursday, and it has cleared the way for executions to resume.
UP TO 150 Europebound migrants, including women and children, were missing and feared drowned yesterday after the boats they were travelling in capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya. A UN official described the shipwreck as “the worst Mediterranean tragedy” so far this year. The International Rescue Committee said the tragedy was a stark reminder of the humanitarian crisis emerging out of Libya and of the urgent need for search and rescue missions to be resumed in the Mediterranean. Ayoub Gassim, a spokesman for Libya’s coast guard, said that two boats carrying around 300 migrants capsized around 120 kilometers east of the capital, Tripoli. Around 137 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, he said, and the coast guard has recovered just one body so far.
SECOND BOXER DIES AFTER TITLE FIGHT
ARGENTINE boxer Hugo Santillan has died from injuries sustained during a title fight, just days after the death of Russian fighter Maxim Dadashev. The 23-year-old collapsed on Saturday shortly after his WBC Latino Silver lightweight bout with Eduardo Javier Abreu in Argentina ended in a draw. He was taken to hospital and underwent emergency surgery but died yesterday. Santillan is the second boxer to die from injuries sustained in the ring this week after Dadashev’s death was confirmed on Tuesday. The 28-year-old had been in hospital after his IBF light-welterweight fight against Subriel Matias was stopped at the end of the 11th round last Friday.
PAGE 12, Friday, July 26, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
When stop means stop THIS week the government announced new regulations for motorists would come into force in the first week of January. For drivers it will mean fines for using a cell phone behind the wheel, having open alcohol, no insurance or proper driving licence. Can we politely suggest another. Failing to recognise what a Stop sign means. If you live or work near Dowdeswell Street in central Nassau you’ll now exactly what we mean. Not a week’s goes by without a serious accident somewhere along this busy road. Yesterday afternoon it happened again
ABOVE and top: the two cars involved in yesterday’s accident.
for exactly the same reasons as every other time. Traffic moving south off Bay Street or north off Shirley Street must stop for traffic move east to west or west to east. Drivers familiar with Dowdeswell know to take it very carefully at every junction as you never know when someone is just to come speeding across right in front of you (or edge out into the middle of the road forcing the car with the actual right of way to stop). For two unlucky motorists it was smashed cars and a lift home yesterday lunchtime, hopefully with no one injured. So please, if you see a Stop sign, do what it says and STOP!