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VOLUME:115 No.171, JULY 30th, 2018
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Halt the bulldozers ‘MANY’ CARS ABLAZE IN GARAGE FIRE
Smith begs govt to delay shanty town demolitions By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net HUMAN rights attorney Fred Smith, QC, has asked Attorney General Carl Bethel and other government officials to agree in writing that they will not evict shanty town residents or bulldoze their homes until a looming class-action lawsuit is heard in court. Mr Smith, in a letter sent to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Mr Bethel and other government members, said “unless we receive suitable undertakings which we can lay before the court” his clients are prepared to apply for an urgent injunction to maintain the status quo pending a trial or order of the court. The government has given shanty town residents in New Providence until August 10 to vacate their
homes before the structures are bulldozed. Several weeks ago, Mr Smith threatened a classaction suit against what he has called an “indiscriminate and arbitrary” push to “destroy the lives of thousands of legal” residents. In his July 29 letter to the government, he said the policy to eradicate unregulated communities “is unconstitutional and infringes the guarantee against freedom from discrimination embodied” in the Constitution. He said the Minnis administration’s plan to evict these residents next month, shut off their utilities and bulldoze their homes is unconstitutional for many reasons, including the fact the government has not proven, nor does it have, any immediate legal SEE PAGE FIVE
DEPUTY Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest has conceded the Minnis administration still has a lot of work to do to ensure every Bahamian has the opportunity to earn a decent living. His statement came in the wake of figures released by Senior Statistician Cypreanna Winters of the Department of Statistics which show the unemployment rate now stands at ten percent, a
fractional decrease when compared with November’s rate of 10.1 percent. Despite more people finding work since last year - an increase of 2.2 percent from 203,730 to 208,255 - this was not enough to cause significant change in the overall unemployment figure. Officials also said the Labour Force Survey – conducted from April 29 to May 5 - found of the islands surveyed, only New Providence showed notable improvement. SEE PAGE SIX
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
A MAN is dead and another is in hospital in critical condition after a double shooting on Friday. While police have not identified the deceased, The Tribune understands that he was Kareem Kyle Hepburn. His death marked the country’s 57th homicide for the year and fourth for the month of July, according to The Tribune’s records. According to police reports, shortly after 6pm on Friday, three men were sitting in a vehicle on Carmichael Road and Bacardi Road near a park, when they were approached by an armed man who shot two of them before fleeing the area. SEE PAGE FIVE
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net A CODE of conduct and rules governing how candidates receive campaign finances are features of the Progressive Liberal Party’s constitutional overhaul, a move party officials say signals the organisation’s transition into reform. This reform will ensure transparency, accountability and honesty, according to Raynard Rigby, PLP Constitutional Committee chairman. SEE PAGE TEN
A FIRE last night ripped through a garage on Soldier Road. Police said that many cars were ablaze at the Strachan’s Auto compound. Firefighters were on the scene as The Tribune went to press, with officers treating the incident as a major fire. No injuries were reported last night. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
NEW RULES TO CURB ROGUE FLIGHTS By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Civil Aviation Authority has revealed initiatives to clamp down on illegal flight operations. These initiatives will include requiring Bahamian pilots holding foreign licences to apply for Bahamian licences, a public education air safety campaign and the creation of a multi-agency law enforcement task force. News of the initiatives
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ONE DEAD, SECOND MAN ‘CRITICAL’ IN SHOOTING
PLP BANKS ON CHANGES TO PARTY RULEBOOK
JOBLESS - WE STILL NEED TO DO MORE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
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WRECKAGE from the Andros plane crash in January. was announced on Friday and led by BCAA Director General Captain Charles Beneby and serve as a follow-up to the authority’s
briefing in the wake of the fatal plane crash off Mastic Point, Andros, which claimed the lives of six people in early January. Since the incident, officials have revealed the pilot lacked the required licences to operate commercial flights. In the press conference held January 31, the BCAA pledged to clamp down on illegal charter operations by embracing technology, involving law enforcement SEE PAGE THREE
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Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
THREE DIE IN CRASHES ON ROADS A MAN was killed last night in the third fatal car accident since Friday. Last night’s crash took place on the south Western Road at the entrance to Mount Pleasant village. A single vehicle collided with a Poinciana tree on the western side of the road then into a concrete wall. An adult male passenger was confirmed dead at the scene. The male driver of a 2007 Honda Fit was transported to PMH with serious but not life-threatening injuries. The two previous crashes took place on Friday and Saturday. SEE PAGE THREE
PAGE 2, Monday, July 30, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
MINNIS ‘IMPRESSED’ DURING TOUR OF WEST END HOTEL SITE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was very impressed with his tour on Friday of the former Ginn Development in West End, Grand Bahama, where the new investors plan to build a 120-room hotel and the first ever mega-yacht facility in The Bahamas. Dr Minnis also said the investors propose to complete development of the private airport terminal facility on the property.
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis Skyline Investment, a Toronto-based real estate investor/developer, has purchased the property. They met with residents at a town meeting in West End. “It is an excellent project,” the prime minister said. “They are going to
open a 120-room hotel, complete the airport that is on the property now by building a new FBO terminal and developing a 24-slip megayacht facility. These (yachts) are 300ft and have at least 25 to 30 staff members.” Dr Minnis indicated that some 100 to 200 persons would be hired, and stressed West End residents would have first preference. “What I explained to them is that since this project is in the West End community, they should have the first choice in terms of job opportunities,
not Freeport, not East End,” he said. The prime minister was surprised by the size of the development and how much infrastructure work had already been done. “When I saw the infrastructure and the concrete roads, drains, the elevation, and landscaping that was previously done, I was amazed at the amount of work. Ginn would have spent hundreds of millions putting in all the infrastructure,” he stated. Although Dr Minnis did not want to give a timeline of when the development
would be finished, he assured that the investors are very committed. He said: “I do not want to give an exact timeline at this particular time until we have released the proper heads of agreement so that the Bahamian public can see the exact scope of the project and an exact number of employees. “With such a project and the mega-yacht concept that is coming in, there is no such project within The Bahamas. All mega-yachts are docked in the Florida area. So these mega-yachts would be home-based here, and
that would be a great opportunity for the West End community,” Dr Minnis said. Derek Gape, construction manager at Skyline Investments, said: “I don’t think they have ever been here before; they were quite surprised of the size of it and the amount of work that has been done previously. The PM reiterated that we take care of West End first, and that’s what we intend to do. Anyone in West End that needs a job will have a job, and that has to happen first before we look outside of the West End.”
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, July 30, 2018, PAGE 3
Woman and teenager killed in crashes By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN pedestrian and a teenager are dead following two separate traffic accidents on Friday and Saturday, police said. The latest incident occurred shortly before 10pm on Saturday. Police said a woman was attempting to walk across Prince Charles Drive, in the area of the Wok Restaurant, when she was struck by two vehicles – a 2011 Buick Regal, which was travelling in the east bound lane and a black Nissan Cube, which was travelling in the west bound lane. The victim was taken to hospital by paramedics where she was later pronounced dead. Both drivers remained on scene and were assisting police with their investigation. A day earlier, an 18-yearold college student died of his injuries at the scene of a three-car collision.
THE SCENE of the crash on Western Road on Friday, above, in which Achintya Garikaparthi, above right, was killed. Crash scene photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff Police said Achintya Mazda was travelling south since transported to PMH Dr Srikanth Garikaparthi, Garikaparthi’s white Mazda along the corridor when with non-life threatening a consultant plastic surgeon veered into northbound apparently (the driver) lost injuries at this time,” said at Princess Margaret Hospitraffic on the Western Road control and collided with the police report. tal and Doctors Hospital. south of Mount Pleasant a vehicle travelling in the Medical personnel from He was reportedly due to Village shortly after 9am on northbound lane and the Lyford Cay clinic repeat- return to Canada to resume Friday, adding speed likely third vehicle then collided edly attempted CPR at the his studies this week. played a factor in the fatal into the first two vehicles scene, but were unable to At the scene on Friday, crash. that were involved in the revive Garikaparthi, CSP CSP Stubbs made an appeal Chief Superintendent accident. Stubbs said. for motorists to observe Craig Stubbs, officer“The two female drivGarikaparthi, a St speeding limits as it was in-charge of the Traffic ers of those second Augustine’s College a factor in a number of Division, said: “The white and third vehicles were graduate, is the son of serious traffic accidents
occurring in New Providence this year. “If we look at all of the fatalities, the serious accidents which have occurred so far in New Providence alone, we would say 85 percent of them is the result of persons going in excess of the speed limit,” the officer said. “Thus, you would see the traffic officers now selecting roadways or corridors where we find persons seem to exceed the speed limit and we will be targeting those persons. “(Last) week alone we have cited over 100 persons for driving in excess of the speeding limit. The law is clear, any (person) driving in excess of the speed limit is guilty of an offence. The law also states where there are no speed signs posted, the speed limit is 30 miles per hour in that respective zone, not 45 or 50. “From what we see here today,” CSP Stubbs added, “it’s clear the vehicle was going in excess of the recommended speed limit for this corridor.”
NEW RULES TO CURB ROGUE FLIGHTS from page one
and increasing surveillance to identify and prosecute law-breakers in the aviation industry. Offering condolences to the families of the victims, Mr Beneby provided updates about the process. “We constantly review our processes, but coming out of the accident in January, we have been…very busy in reviewing our systems,” he said. “We’ve realised that that particular issue highlighted the need for a multi-pronged approach to resolving, eradicating… what has been in place for some time— a practice of illegal operations, where persons not duly authorised and qualified are engaged in the carriage of persons, we believe for hire. “These activities generally involve aircraft licenced and registered in another state, operated by pilots licenced in another state.” Mr Beneby said key elements of the efforts to remediate the situation include increased surveillance, active enforcement, and provisions whereby those who wish to become regularised can do so. The practice of pilots holding foreign licences is a “unique” issue, he said. “Ordinarily, they do not fall under the scrutiny of the BCAA. We are amending the regulations to require all Bahamian citizens holding foreign-issued licences to apply to the authority to have those licences converted to a Bahamian licence. “The benefit of that is to ensure that they come under our scrutiny,” Mr Beneby added. The director general also said the regulations are being amended to require all foreign-registered aircraft in the Bahamas to be registered with the authority “if those aircraft are in the country for more than a specified period of time.” “That information would reflect ownership of the aircraft, airworthiness of aircraft, information about the pilots and the operator of that aircraft,” Mr Beneby said. “Unfortunately, a number of flights are being performed with foreign aircraft that ordinarily we would not scrutinise.” To assist the general public, Mr Beneby said an education programme will be launched, so people can “understand what their obligations are and what their rights are before they make the choice to fly with these individuals.” To this end, the BCAA’s website has been updated to include a list of all authorised operators in the country. “We have also reintroduced a programme of badging aircraft,” Mr Beneby revealed. “That is, we issue badges to be displayed prominently in the aircraft so that the person can know that that operation has been
scrutinised and has been found to be acceptable.” Mr Beneby also said that such enhanced surveillance and scrutiny measures require more manpower, noting that there are 28 government operated airports in the country. “We have already started the first phase of our recruitment and selection process to enable us to do (this) at Lynden Pindling International Airport and other Family Island airports.” Approximately eight new staff members will be hired to assist with this process. There are currently 29 people in the Safety Oversight Department, and Mr Beneby added that he could see the number doubling over time. Other regulations the BCAA is introducing include drafting new security directives requiring fixed-based operators. Mr Beneby explained, “This is a business that requires services to aircraft operations in the country. To verify and validate information relating to the pilot, the aircraft, and the persons travelling. “They will also be required to verify and confirm that the pilot is duly licenced, has proper medicals, that the aircraft has been maintained to some schedule, and that they possess, they being the pilot or the operator of the aircraft, possess the necessary approvals by the authority before they are able to operate that flight. “So our goal is to create an atmosphere where we have the highest level of safety and we want to be able to perform our duties to provide a safe environment for persons travelling in the Bahamas,” he added. Mr Beneby also called for stiffer penalties for illegal operators or hackers. During January’s press conference, Mr Beneby confirmed no one has ever been
convicted for such actions, although the law already allows hackers to be fined as much as $10,000 or be imprisoned up to two years for their illegal behaviour. When asked why convicting them is often a challenge, Mr Beneby pointed to the difficulty of proving that they are operating for hire. “What makes it challenging is the fact that we are asserting that they are operating, that they are flying for hire,” he said. “The practice is that the operator would frequently say, ‘this is my cousin, this is my sister, ‘this is my family.’ “And then, those persons that are flying with these people, are reluctant to come forward to say ‘I paid.’ “So that is why this public education campaign is going to be so important. Persons need to understand that they are placing themselves at great risk if they are operating with an entity or a person who has not been duly certified.” This lack of cooperation
makes it difficult for charges to be successful in a court of law. When asked if there should be stiffer penalties for hackers, Mr Beneby agreed. “It is an illegal act, so upon conviction, we intend to recommend stiffer penalties, greater fines, seizure of aircraft involved in the activity, and imprisonment where allowed.” In January, Mr Beneby said new video capture capabilities, such as CCTVs, will be erected in general aviation areas to “enhance security capabilities.” When asked about this on Friday, Mr Beneby said they have the technology, but “boots on the ground” is what is truly needed. “We need boots on the ground,” he said. “We need people to intersect these operators, and to require them to show proof that they are authorized to be there. “And I would hasten to add that it is not only local operators. We have foreign operators that are
conducting illegal flight operations into The Bahamas without the requisite approvals. “And one of the things that we have started to do was introduce a multi-agency
task force involving the police, customs and immigration, defence force, and the airport authority. Because all of these people now need to pool their resources and coordinate.”
PAGE 4, Monday, July 30, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
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A child’s life hangs in the balance for want of a passport “GOD don’t like ugly!” This is a well known expression in The Bahamas as is the implication that for such ugliness there are serious consequences. As we all know there is much ugliness in The Bahamas today for which, if we don’t assume some responsibility and make our voices heard, we shall all suffer from the fall out. On The Tribune’s front page on Friday we published the story of a 15-yearold girl, born in The Bahamas, in need of urgent medical care in the United States. The teenager is suffering from life-threatening brain lesions. According to her local doctor, a consultant neurologist at Doctors Hospital, she needs further attention in the US because a specialist paediatric surgeon is not available in The Bahamas, nor is there a brain scan MRI machine on the island. Arrangements have been made with Jackson Memorial Hospital to take over her immediate care. A room and doctors await her arrival. But her life hangs in the balance because of bureaucracy, and the fact that the Immigration Department considers that as she was born here of a Haitian mother she is not entitled to a Bahamian passport to travel. However, never having been to Haiti, the child considers herself Bahamian as this is the only home she has ever known. As far as she is concerned she is a child of the soil - a true Bahamian. But Immigration has said that she has to wait until she is 18 years old before she can apply for citizenship – until then she has to take the citizenship of her parents. But for this 15-year-old the parentage rule presents another problem. This teenager was born in The Bahamas to a Haitian mother, and a Bahamian father. The only problem here is that whereas an unmarried Bahamian mother passes her nationality on to her child, an unmarried Bahamian father does not have the same right to do so. In this child’s case, the parents were not married, and so the child, although born in The Bahamas, inherited her mother’s Haitian nationality. However, this child’s mother— although she was also born in The Bahamas of two Haitian parents— was in the same position in which her daughter now finds herself. Although Bahamian by birth, the mother could only apply to be recognised as a Bahamian when she was 18 years old. This the mother did. However, because of the indifference, inefficiency or “she jes’ a Haitian” attitude, she had to wait another 13 years before she could get her citizenship. By then her daughter had been born, and as she was the child of a Bahamian-born mother, who was yet to be recognised as being Bahamian, because of her own Haitian parents, her daughter was tagged as a “Haitian”. As a result she too will have to wait another three years – when she will be 18 — before she can apply for Bahamian status. In the meantime, her life hangs in the balance. Is bureaucracy going to be allowed to trump compassion and commonsense? Remember, folks, “God don’t like ugly” - one day your own child’s life might hang in the
balance, blocked by this same insanity. Now’s the time for change - not only in laws, but in attitudes. However, what surprised us in this case was that after this young lady’s problem was published in Friday’s Tribune, the public comments on this newspaper’s website — Tribune 242— seemed more concerned about this teenager being a Haitian than that she is a fellow human being with the right to life. And, in fact, because of bureaucracy her life today hangs in the balance. If Bahamians knew their history they would know that in the last century Haitians came here as did other nationalities, settled, became Bahamians and played a leading role in the growth and development of The Bahamas — then known as a colony. For example, the first black man to sit in the House of a Assembly was Stephen Dillet, a Haitian by birth. He was an active Free Mason, having been appointed Deputy Grand Master in 1857. He was this island’s coroner and postmaster. Haitians in those days were often better educated than their Bahamian counterparts, and held important posts in the country. The change came when the Bahamas’ fist prime minister - the late Sir Lynden Pindling — came on the scene and told Bahamians that no longer would they be “hewers of wood and drawers of water”. Manual labour was not only demeaning but abhorrent to Bahamian ears — “that’s Haitian work!” they said. Later in life Sir Lynden publicly admitted that this was a mistake — he said he did not realise that hard work built character. Too many young Bahamians lacked character. And so to fill the gap, Haitians born to manual labour started to replace the elite. The social scene changed completely with, in 2006, a Bahamian, who described himself as a small farmer owning more than 200 acres of land, taking to the airwaves to complain about PLP Minister Shane Gibson, who headed Immigration at the time. The farmer said he needed 500 Haitians on his farm and did not agree that any of those already in the Bahamas should be sent back to Haiti. He felt that all those with jobs – legal or illegal — should be regularised and only the jobless should be returned to Haiti: “When Sir Lynden was prime minister,” he said, “no minister could do what Shane Gibson is doing now.” He said when then deputy prime minister Arthur Hanna, who had Immigration in his portfolio, and later when the late Sir Cement Maynard headed Immigration he was given whatever work permits he needed for his Haitians. Those were peaceful days, he said. This is how the Haitian problem grew — Bahamians refused to work the land — and PLP politicians, pandering to the needs of their supporters, gave them permits to bring in unlimited numbers of unskilled workers to replace Bahamians on the farm. We have inherited a major problem, which needs immediate and humane attention. But more important a child needs a travel document to save her life — no more time for politics.
Keep an eye on the profit EDITOR, The Tribune. THE sponsoring of promotional events etc must be sensibly approved where there is a chance that profit will be made. Over the years, Tourism and related Government agencies have sponsored events which simply were totally irrational - there was no chance even a breakeven could have been achieved. The IAAF Relays event - introduced as this would be the catalyst for
Nassau and the facilities especially the Sports Centre would break into the global International Sports events but what happened? A lot of pomp, ceremony and talk and little else where it really mattered - at the gate - vendors and more importantly spectators especially visitors. Hotels gave away rooms to basically fill them. Athletes do not play after hours - do not drink - do not gamble so where was the potential revenue coming
from? There is no doubt that the Popeye Bowl also should have been cancelled as that was worse than the IAFF no spectators period. Did the previous Government have it all wrong on Sports Tourism - they looked at it with a big eye - totally hyped the potential where reality told you unfortunately differently. ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, July 25, 2018.
AirBNB is not a tax free visit EDITOR, The Tribune. Re: Vacation Rentals avoid VAT embrace – for now. Tribune Business 26th July. JUST reading the headline took me quickly back to my early school days, where the system of reward, for a good homework assignment, might be a little sticky star, in one of the typical colours of bronze, silver or gold. I am convinced now that the Minister of Finance must be doling out similar rewards to the various Cabinet Ministers, as each in turn implements some increase in its departmental fees, or implements some form of increased, or new tax on the people. Having fired the gun too quickly already, on the web shop stamp tax and the lunatic RPT revamping, and the flats fishing foolishness, all of which will only have negative affects on tourism and winter residents, and all of which contribute significant monies to the government coffers, one would have thought, that the Finance Minister would have called a truce and said “let’s see how the twelve percent VAT goes down before we drown this economy completely”. Minister d’Aguilar has had a bee in his bonnet about Airbnb, since a month after he was elected to Parliament and Cabinet. I really believe that he thinks that these people come here and don’t pay any duties or taxes at all, and somehow he has got to go to the trough directly, to ensure we get something for their time spent here. Let me disabuse the Minister, if that is his thought process here. The minute the Airbnb guest books their ticket to come here, from wherever in the world they will come, they are charged the Bahamas Government Ticket Tax and Bahamas Government
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Departure Tax. And I think the Government gets that tax gross, which I don’t think is the case with the Cruise Ship passengers. And then, when they land in The Bahamas, they will either be renting a car, or taking a taxi the minute they leave the airport. No, they will not be going in one of the Conglomerate Run Tour Buses that tend to take most of the hotel guests. They will be renting from some Bahamian-owned rental car franchise or Bahamian taxi driver. I am sure that the rental car company will impose the VAT on the value of the rental and I have little doubt that when they imported their rental cars, they will have paid the exorbitant import duty too and VAT. I don’t know if the taxi drivers will all charge the VAT and I appreciate that they get a break on the import duty for their cars but the rental car company and the taxi drivers are both paying Import Duty and VAT on the fuel that runs the vehicle. So next stop after landing will either be the grocery shop or liquor shop, where they will be paying both our Import Duty and Vat, on whatever it is they buy. Unless, of course, they go for the corned beef, but I seriously doubt that. So having stocked up and contributed their fair share to the Consolidated Fund they will head off to wherever their rental unit is. Certainly during the summer months the first switch they will turn is on the air conditioner, the electrical cost for which the Airbnb Host will be paying, and this will include the fuel surcharge, the theoretical duty that BPL don’t pay, and, of course, the VALUE
ADDED TAX. And if the Minister thinks for one minute that the Airbnb Host gets all the Airbnb rent tax free, he had better think again. The host is paying Real Property Tax on the property unless it falls below the threshold, and the host is unlikely to be in a position to simply bank the monies received, and in all likelihood takes that money to the grocery shop, the liquor shop and any number of other local businesses that all pay duty and all pay VAT. And when they have to make repairs to the property they are not able to import their material, furniture and fixtures DUTY FREE like the favoured foreign owned hotels, they just have to suck it up and pay the duty and pay the VAT. Unless, of course, it includes corned beef, but I seriously doubt that. And Minister d’Aguilar, you speak of all of the government services that these people enjoy and I am wondering exactly what you are referring to. I know they would prefer to use public transport but as no Government since the UBP has given it a thought there is no functioning public transport to be had. Maybe you were thinking of them mailing a postcard back home to the family and friends but ooops – the Government run Post office is mostly closed. On balance, sir, I think you should just relax yourself on this one. Aesop’s fables have a very interesting fable called the “Dog and its Reflection”. In its untamed greed it opens its mouth to grab at the juicy bone in its reflection in the water, and immediately the bone falls out of its mouth and is lost. Keep adding taxes and we’ll all have nothing. BRUCE G. RAINE Nassau, July 28, 2018.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, July 30, 2018, PAGE 5
Halt the bulldozers from page one right to possession of the land. He also claimed there is no provision of the Buildings Regulation Act that entitles the government to take possession of land. Mr Smith said by making the blanket decision to eradicate shanty towns, “the government has fettered its discretion, failed to consult and failed to consider the individual circumstances of particular buildings and occupiers”, adding the government is denying the legitimate expectation of the residents in question to occupy the land and to be consulted in advance of any proposed eviction. He said he intends to file an action in the Supreme Court on behalf of his clients as soon as possible. “At the same time, unless we receive suitable undertakings which we can lay before the court, our clients will apply for an urgent injunction for the purpose of maintaining the status quo pending trial or until further order of the court,” Mr Smith wrote. He then asked the attorney general and each utility company or service provider involved to state in writing that until the matter is brought before the Supreme Court, the government will not seek to possess any land constituting a shanty town “other than by due process of law through the courts”; demolish any of these structures; disconnect any
utility supplies “other than pursuant to governing statutory law”; or interfere “with the quiet enjoyment of the home and property of any person living in such an unregulated community.” Earlier this month, Mr Smith – partner at Callenders & Co – said there were around 50 families who had come together to launch legal action in a bid to block the evictions. Since then, The Tribune has been told this number has grown considerably. In the wake of Mr Smith’s legal threat, Mr Bethel has cast doubt on its success while suggesting to reporters last week the government was more concerned about curing the country of these substandard living conditions. “The courts are there and if anybody has a right to take an issue to court they are welcome to do so,” Mr Bethel said last week. “When I last weighed in on this matter there was the suggestion that there was some possibility that there was some class action law suit and I just made the point that our law on class action suits is very strenuous and it’s very detailed. You have to have exactly the same interests in everybody. “Now someone who claims that they have been squatting on someone else’s land for a period of time, if they meet the criteria and of course are able to go to court and have whatever right to continued occupancy that they wish to assert, defended or upheld by the court.
“But that won’t cure the issue of not having built in accordance with code. That won’t cure the issue of having an unsafe structure. That in and of itself won’t cure the issue of the overall atmosphere, the overall conditions in shanty towns and that would be something that would be peculiar to the individual not to the shanty town. “We’re not going to try and adjudicate individual people’s rights, that’s their right to do for themselves. Our job is to clean up the environment to ensure that wherever there is building, just like with every other person in this country, is building according to code with appropriate permissions from appropriate technical officers in the Ministry of Public Works and in conformity with the building code, that conditions in every community are to the best of our able ability to ensure it is sanitary and that proper standards are maintained. That’s what we are doing,” Mr Bethel said. Earlier this month, the government delayed its July 31 deadline for shantytown evictions until August, to ensure that it covered “all legal grounds,” according to Labour Minister Dion Foulkes. Mr Foulkes, head of the Shanty Town Action Task Force, has also said all the properties being used for unregulated communities, with the exception of one, is constituted as Crown land leased by the government to Bahamians for the purpose of farming.
ONE DEAD, SECOND MAN ‘CRITICAL’ IN SHOOTING from page one Police said the men were able to drive to the Flamingo Gardens Clinic, where one of them was later pronounced dead. The second injured man was taken to hospital in serious condition. On Saturday, police said he was listed in critical condition. The third man was not injured. Police are also investigating two stabbing incidents. Around 7pm on Friday, police responded to a stabbing in the Boyd Road area, which left an adult male
with injuries. Police were told two men were driving along Boyd Road when they began to argue. The driver of the vehicle struck the passenger over his head with a bottle and stabbed him about the body before crashing into another vehicle. The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance and is listed in serious condition. The suspect was taken into custody and is assisting police in this investigation. A day earlier, on Thursday, a man was stabbed during an argument on Podoleo Street. Around
9pm, the victim got into a fight with another man, who produced a knife and stabbed him multiple times about the body. The injured man was taken to hospital by ambulance and is listed in serious, but stable condition. A short time later, police took an adult male into custody in connection with this matter. Investigations into these incidents are continuing. Anyone with information on either of these matters or any other crime is asked to call police at 919 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328-TIPS.
THREE Jamaican men were taken to court for breaching the Immigration Act by engaging in gainful occupation without a work permit.
BAHAMIAN MAN AND THREE JAMAICANS CHARGED WITH IMMIGRATION OFFENCES By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN businessman and three Jamaicans were charged with breaching the Immigration Act last week in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court. Allan Newman, 71, proprietor of Donna’s Kitchen, appeared in Court One before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson. Also appearing were three Jamaicans: Alexander Brown, 53, Calvin Brown, 47, and Binion Woolery, 37. Joyce Cooper-Bowe
represented the men. Newman was charged with employing persons without first obtaining work permits from the director of immigration in accordance with Section 30 of the Immigration Act. The accused, who had initially pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty. Magistrate Ferguson ordered that Newman pay a $3,000 fine or in default, serve 18 months in prison. It is alleged the Jamaican trio engaged in gainful occupation contrary to Section 29(1) and (2) of the Immigration Act. The men were reportedly found working at
Donna’s Kitchen conducting renovation/repairs to a building recently acquired by the owners. The Jamaicans, who had also initially pleaded not guilty, changed their pleas to guilty. Each was ordered to pay a fine of $3,000 or in default serve 18 months in prison. The magistrate also ordered the Jamaican men to be deported on payment of their fine or on serving their custodial sentence. The four men paid their fines, and the three Jamaicans were turned over to immigration officials for deportation.
PAGE 6, Monday, July 30, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Jobless - we still need to do more from page one Ten percent of people in the capital remain without gainful employment, whereas in 2017, 10.6 percent of people were not working. In contrast at the time of the survey, the rate in Grand Bahama was 12.4 percent and 10.7 percent in Abaco. This is something the Progressive Liberal Party does not find surprising, PLP Deputy Leader Chester Cooper said, adding there were also several other “alarming” elements of the Department of Statistics’ latest results. He said the government has to do more in the Family Islands to grow job availability and to level off the economy where there is clear contraction. “We still have a lot of work yet to do to ensure that every Bahamian has an opportunity to earn a decent living within their own country,” Mr Turnquest told The Tribune yesterday. “To that end, we continue to look for initiatives to stimulate economic investment and job creation activity, such as the
DEPUTY Prime Minister Peter Turnquest. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Commercial Enterprise Act that is showing early signs of success, particularly with the tech hub initiative in Grand Bahama and the relocation of a major energy company’s trading hub to Nassau. “The Small Business Development Centre,
which is to be officially launched soon, will serve as a business incubator for domestic investment in the micro, small and medium sized business sector, providing opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and source startup capital to support those
creative visions that we hope to inspire. We are also supporting this vision with dedicated procurement initiatives aimed at supporting this sector. “The recently signed job skills development programme, supported by an IDB loan recently formalised, will help us to ensure that our young people in particular, will receive the skills training they most specifically need to address targeted gaps in technical skills needed to addressed existing and future jobs anticipated, in a planned and deliberate way. Finally, the extension of the 52-week job programme coupled with free tuition at BTVI and UB will provide immediate short-term jobs and training for other Bahamians.” The finance minister continued: “The government remains focused on improving the lives of ordinary Bahamians today while investing in physical and economic infrastructure, together with human development initiatives to ensure our people are prepared to embrace the opportunities that exist today and that will be available in the future.” When he spoke to the
matter on the sidelines of the PLP’s special one-day convention on Saturday, Mr Cooper said he was “deeply concerned” with the findings of officials in the Department of Statistics. Their results further revealed an increase in the number of discouraged workers. This grouping showed an increase of 6.9 percent. These are people who did not look for work because they believed no jobs were available for them. Unemployment among youth aged 15 to 24 remained considerably high. Their unemployment rate increased from 22.1 percent in November 2017 to 24.1 percent in May. Mr Cooper said: “What’s most alarming however is the rate of unemployment amongst the youth and I remind you that these statistics were completed at the end of May. Since May as you are well aware, there were graduations from high schools, graduations from colleges and thousands of young people returning to The Bahamas in search of gainful employment. “So, I am deeply concerned about that in particular. I am concerned
that the government isn’t doing enough to create jobs. It’s not doing enough to drive the economy. It’s not doing enough to attract foreign direct investments or local investments and therefore we continue to see many of your young people out of work and eager to work. “Another element of this report that was particularly alarming is the increase in discouraged workers,” he continued. “So, what we are seeing is a large number of individuals who are now not looking for work, discouraged. “The government must inspire confidence in the economy. They must do more to speak to many of the things that the former government may have left in the pipeline by way for foreign direct investment,” Mr Cooper said. For some, the results mean the economy is stable and strong. Labour Minister Dion Foulkes took this position following the release of the results on Friday. He said the fact that employment increased compared with last November’s survey is very good news for Bahamian workers and their families.
BANNISTER UPSET AT CONTRACTOR TURNOUT By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
PUBLIC Works Minister Desmond Bannister was very disappointed over the poor turnout to a one-day seminar hosted by his ministry for local contractors in Grand Bahama. The seminar was held to bring contractors up to speed with the new procedures that are being introduced in the Ministry of Works, including its prequalification process. “Nobody should take for granted that they are going to get work from the Ministry of Public Works,” Mr Bannister told those assembled at the Church of the Ascension Hall in Freeport. “Getting a contract from the government is not going to be an automatic thing. “This is a very important seminar that the ministry has gone all the way to ensure it is successful, but
we are not very impressed with the showing.” Topics covered during the seminar included prequalification documents and assessment criteria, the Construction Contractor’s Act, contract pricing and payment procedures, project management, site safety and e-procurement. Mr Bannister stressed that many contractors do not use the services of a surveyor to calculate tender prices, and noted that such services would assist them tremendously. He also indicated that the ministry in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology is in the process of updating a contractor’s database, and the tendering and payment certificate process. The minister stressed that updating the database is very important. He also encouraged contractors to keep up with the changing times so they do not get left behind.
“This is the digital age and times have changed,” he said. “You are in a totally new age for your profession. Contractors who do not keep up with the times will likely be left out of many of the opportunities that will be advertised on government websites.” He said the government is now in the process of tendering two major projects in Freeport, including the total renovation of the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre and the Freeport Post Office. Tameka Hanna, vice president of the Bahamas Contractors’ Association, said the group is the governing body that registers all contractors in the country. She said while there are some 500 registered contractors in New Providence, there are only 20 registered in Grand Bahama with that body. She stressed that contractors on their listing are given first preference.
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
A retirement dream which turned into a nightmare By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
AN idyllic retirement dream snowballed into a decade-long nightmare in paradise that saw Canadian second homeowner Bruno Rufa take his case to the country’s top courts to stave off an unrelenting scheme to run him out of the country. And although he’s been vindicated by the appellate court, Mr Rufa’s bizarre fight with the government to reside in Grand Bahama is far from over. He and his partner Sandra Georgiou broke their silence over years-long allegations of intimidation, harassment and degradation at BRUNO Rufa being interviewed after a previous court appearance, alongside Sandra Georgiou and, the hands of the Bahamas right, Fred Smith QC. Immigration Department “Once I got charged with dreams have been shattered in an interview with the a decade the department’s focus narrowed down to working and then was kept due to the unpredictable Tribune. off island,” Mr Rufa said, and vindictive nature of The pair cycled through him exclusively. He was arrested on Janu- “for a year period I couldn’t the Bahamas Immigration a range of emotions from incredulity to heartbreak ary 3, 2015, by Immigration function, the board couldn’t Department. She lamented as they struggled to recon- officers and charged on function its duties. The Mr Rufa had gone from cile with how vulnerable February 2 with allegedly board was in retreat, and never having a single run non-Bahamians are to the engaging in gainful occu- we decided not to run again in with police or a parking whims of a governmental pation. He was accused of in 2017. We just weren’t ticket in Canada, to being department that appeared working at the pool bar able to do the job so after repeatedly arrested and a ten-year period - they got criminally charged in The to operate outside the remit without a work permit. Mr Rufa was granted bail their way. Bahamas. of the law. Mr Rufa continued: Despite their legal victo“We heard stories about at a follow-up hearing in it,” said Ms Georgiou, “sto- the Magistrate’s Court on “Through all this, not ries, the pair still don’t have ries of it’s not what you February 18, 2015, where a once did the Immigra- their HORCs and have now Department ever taken legal action against know, it’s who you know. senior immigration officer tion But we said it’s impossible, informed the court that investigate the supposed the government for its there is no way one person Mr Rufa was deemed an complaints. Never did they “irrational refusal”. Their latest applicacan pick up the phone and “undesirable” and was come down and sit with us call a minister and get all to be deported out of the or ask for our side of the tion for Home Owner’s story. We asked what could Resident Cards was this rolling, but that’s what country. He was immediately held we possibly be doing that refused because they did it seems like. That would never happen in any other in custody, taken to his resi- involved the Department not submit a utility bill country in the world, I don’t dence to pack a bag and of Immigration but we were with their applications; told to book a ticket on the never made aware of the however, the pair do not understand it. receive utility bills as they “I never would have next flight. He was escorted complaints. “I’ve never talked to thought in a million years to the airport by Immigration officials the minister or director or that a governto purchase assistant director either in ment would ‘I never would a ticket, and Freeport or Nassau. I was take a posithen to the US never questioned on anytion like that,” have thought in pre-clearance thing, whatever was being she contin- a million years said by those individuals ued, “never. that a government departure lounge to board they just took it as face How can the would take a a flight to value.” Immigration Mr Rufa said: “I would Department position like that, Miami. His law- have thought that anyone think it runs a never. How can yers wrote to who would have looked country withthe Assistant at the case, almost every out following the Immigration any rules or Department think Director of judge from Magistrate to Supreme Court that heard regulations? it runs a country Immigration requesting a any part of the case are like, The courts have shown without following copy of the what are they doing to this Deportation guy? It’s like when the past what’s legal any rules or Order, but administration decided to and what’s regulations?’ received none. make the move it just went not.” And an from that to worst to the The pair purchased a Coral Beach injunction restraining Mr point now where its absocondo Freeport, Grand Rufa’s deportation was lutely devastating. granted minutes after his “The only reassuring Bahama, in 2000. They flew under the flight already departed aspect of it all,” he said, Grand Bahama “might be that when all this radar until Mr Rufa took from Airport started, I was concerned up the mantle as president International about how independent is of the Coral Beach Man- (GBIA). Later that year in 2015, the court going to be from agement Company in 2005 after the property was dam- attorney Fred Smith, QC, the government, that was aged by hurricanes Frances of Callenders and Co, my biggest fear. brought judicial review pro“What’s been reassuring and Jean. That’s when the headache ceedings on behalf of Mr is the courts are independRufa against the minister of ent, if it wasn’t for that I’d started, Mr Rufa said. “For five years, we were immigration, the director of be in more trouble.” Ms Georgiou, 59, said she not on the board,” Mr immigration and the Office Rufa said, “just a regu- of the Attorney General, and her partner’s retirement lar Joe-blow going down, challenging the decision doing our holiday stuff. that he is an undesirable The place was just a wild, and a threat to the public wild west, the bylaws good. The following day, his weren’t adhered to, some people were paying and attorneys received a letter the Immigration some weren’t paying. The from books were a mess, and as Department advising the we started correcting that homeowner’s resident cards at the board, people who (HORC) for both Mr Rufa had friends and relatives and Ms Georgiou were conat the Immigration depart- sidered, but not approved. In December 2015, Mr ment started complaining Rufa was given seven days to Immigration. Mr Rufa continued: by the Department of “That’s how it started, they Immigration to wrap up his went to Immigration and it affairs and leave the counwas strange. They started try, despite being granted a attacking the board trying visa giving him permission to overturn us - it was only to remain in the Bahamas two or three people who for 150 days. Mr Rufa successfully lived there. There was legal action taken against some defended his case at the of these owners because Supreme Court and the they weren’t paying main- Court of Appeal, where tenance fees, and the board appellate judges this year took action to correct it ruled his deportation was and they started getting unlawful and had subjected him to a “Bahamian upset.” Mr Rufa said initially sev- nightmare”. However, in an interview eral board members were routinely harassed by Immi- with The Tribune, he congration officials; however, tends his detractors still he said over the course of achieved their goal.
are in a condominium. They argue there were “no grounds whatsoever” that would have allowed the Director of Immigration to “make the provision of a utility bill a prerequisite” to their HORC applications being considered and granted; and also claim there is no basis for the director to have refused to accept their applications as they both satisfy each and all of the four conditions in section 11 of the International Persons Landholding Act (IPLA). “It truly is a beautiful country,” Ms Georgiou said, “we love the Bahamas. We’ve been traveling to different islands in the Bahamas and the Caribbean since the 80s. In 2000, we decided this is where we want to spend the rest of our lives. When Bruno stepped in to help the property we invested in, we never thought. “We brought down so many of our friends,” Bruno, 66, added, “at least 40 or 50 families directly or indirectly. One of our friends brought us, and there are so many Canadians down there in Grand Bahama now through us. Ms Georgiou said: “We have so many friends and family who ask why aren’t you going to the Canadian government or the tourism board? We’re not after the Bahamas government, we don’t want to hurt the country. We don’t understand why this one arm of the government is trying to ruin it.” As for the condominiums, Mr Rufa believes the
community has withstood a massive blow with a drop in property value and an exodus of owners attempting to sell their units. “It’s brought Coral Beach down to its knees, then there is a fear factor if it happened to Bruno it could happen to anyone. They deported me a dozen times, thrown me in jail unlawfully. “What I’ve been told through the grapevine is how many hundreds of people are challenged by Immigration by intimidation but they just leave, they don’t go through the courts. “I’m hearing I’m one of the first to challenge this. Most people are like, ok I’m getting the hell out of here, and you never hear of those people and it’s a damn shame. Ms Georgiou mused it would have been far easier to abandon the lives they’d build in Freeport, but it would not have been right. Mr Rufa said: “It’s also survival too, when I was charged with working that’s a criminal charge and if I had been convicted, I’d have a criminal record. I wouldn’t be able to travel anywhere. Every opportunity to harass me and some of the board members, they did it. “And what price has anybody paid? Not a penny out of their pocket, it’s the government pocket. They had nothing to lose, that’s why I think they are so free with it, all with the harassment and the charging.”
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INSIGHT
PAGE 8 MONDAY, JULY 30, 2018
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
PLP need to do a lot more than change a few rules
PLP leader and leader of the Opposition Philip ‘Brave’ Davis pictured during the gathering on Saturday. By JOHN RICHARDS WHO does the Progressive Liberal Party think we are? It seems the party, after a hurtful election rejection in 2017 developed an obsession with image and an affinity with appearing to know what to do and how to do it the right way. Where were these things during its last term in office? On Saturday, scores of PLPs gathered to deliberate over and vote on portions of the party’s constitution. In an interview with reporters following the event, constitution committee chairman Raynard Rigby said the creation of a code of conduct, changes
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Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff when it comes to receiving campaign finances and the appointment and handling of stalwarts were part of the constitution overhaul. He said even the process by which candidates were chosen would be changed. He told reporters: “There are a number of big things that we are doing now. We expand the party base, make the party larger more open and inviting for members join for supporters to join. “We have democratised the party in a sense that there is a balance in our party with respect to those voting from constituencies and other bodies in our organisation. We’ve given a structured seat, a confirmed seat for your people
and women on all standing committees and commissions in our party. We have adopted in principle a kind of code of conduct for our members. “We have looked at our constituency operation and give our branches the flexibility to determine how they will be structured, how is best to bring in new members and by and large we have opened the party tent to be more inviting to members to join and to have a seat of the table.” “Think about it this way, the party is 64 years old and the constitution has served us well over these past 64 years. This is the beginning of really a transition into a reformed party. The constitution is essentially a new document. “We have taken from the existing constitution those provisions which work. We have looked at the customs of our party and we have brought them into the constitution because we believe that some of them work well.” Dear PLP, Bahamians want more than just a new party constitution. Voters still remember former Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald and the infamous Baha Mar emails. They still remember value added tax implementation and how the millions collected for the tax was not used for its purpose. They still remember how one contractor received more than $8m in 46 payments to clean up the capital after Hurricane Matthew, including one hefty checque the day before the general election. Bahamians still remember when a dorm at BAMSI burned to the ground and its contractor had no “all risk” insurance. We remember it all. New rules on new paper mean nothing and will not be enough to win the trust of a people easily offended and angered by those in government, but it is a start. The PLP stand a better chance free of its present leader Philip “Brave” Davis. The party was on to something when it accepted young Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper as its leader. Do us a favour too and lose the old guard chairman Fred Mitchell. A party free of those who helped to land it in the political garbage can of voters along with innovation will do the lion share of the job if the PLP wants to return to office.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2018 PAGE 9
Promises, promises - but it’s real action we need By MALCOLM STRACHAN
ON the ground, the cries of the Bahamian people are clear. They want an expanded economy and more jobs. Aside from Baha Mar, there have been few gains on the employment side. The government’s right-sizing exercises have led to mass layoffs in the public service. Granted, many of the layoffs were due to the previous government inflating the public service in the lead-up to election, poor employee performance and what was reported to be a general lack of interest in showing up to work. There is no doubt the health of our economy goes hand-in-hand with the productivity of those employed. One may argue that a lot of the failures within our public service fall on the shortcomings of some members of the labour force. It has become a damning self-fulfilling prophecy, whereby adequate training and compensation aren’t being given to our people, yet we expect a gold standard on the productivity side. If we were to approach the issues of our labour output sensibly, we can reasonably surmise there is a correlation with our national grade point average. Moreover, the repeated training exercises carried out by successive administrations do not seem to yield any material benefit. The government has announced an expansion and improvements to the National Training Agency, which was implemented by the previous government. However, as that hardly moved the needle, we are very interested in understanding how the Minnis administration can get better results. No one can knock the government for trying to train its citizens, but when we’ve seen this before, in some form or another, from former governments and the country still not getting over the economic hump, we must question where the benefits lie. If we were to play devil’s advocate, many questions should surround the government’s publicising of its job training programme on the same day the labour numbers came out. It all seems a bit like smoke and mirrors too often, not just with this government, but with all. Meanwhile, they all continue to skirt around the real issues. To be fair, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd seems to be one who realises the dire need for a radical shift in the way we mould the minds of our people. His
JOBSEEKERS pictured last year at an Island Luck job fair. ideas have been so dras- within our communities. tic that many have shown However, with the opporturesistance. While they nities that those who go to may be feasible or not, it school abroad are afforded, coming home is this kind of to work thinking that ‘The prime shoulder-tois required, shoulder in where rather minister’s most institutions than tertiary recent mantra is with lopsided training we that he intends human capital are focusing for pennies on on our greatest to “save The the dollar is a resource from Bahamas”. hard sell. their early We asked the As the childhood question, to world’s leadyears. ing economies Our focus whom or what is continue to should be on he saving it from? expand at encouraging a clip that curiosity in As of this time, dwarfs what our children, we’re unclear on we are experias knowledge encing in The blooms from who or what is Bahamas, it critical think- the villain from will be increasing and asking his perspective.’ ingly hard to questions. hold on to Instead, we promote a culture of order talent. As other issues of taking and demean out-of crime, corruption, poor the-box thinking. This is leadership and a high cost nowhere more evident than of living become repellents, there is a dwindling interest our national GPA. As graduates enter the among young Bahamians to workforce every year, they make a life at home. Why would they want are generally assumed to be ill-prepared based on the nation’s D average. While the Minister of Education has expressed his desire to overhaul the entire system, beginning from developmental years, we are still faced with a generation that lack skills, but need employment. We also need them to thrive. This does not dismiss the fact there is great talent and intelligence flourishing
Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff to when they see countless politicians that refuse to sink their teeth into the real issues? While our neighbours to the North are not without imperfections, the prospect of living a good life there is far higher than it is in The Bahamas currently. That being said, the prime minister’s most recent mantra is that he intends to “save The Bahamas”. We asked the question, to whom or what is he saving it from? As of this time, we’re unclear on who or what is the villain from his perspective. Perhaps it’s the PLP? It is no secret they were on a crusade of selfenrichment. And while the Minnis administration thus far seems to run a tighter ship, he is only half-right in blaming the PLP for all of our nation’s woes. He must also understand that all politicians have failed the Bahamian people by not cultivating our greatest resource – by largely promoting service industry professions. How is it that
they want to create a Sillicon Valley in Grand Bahama, but we have not groomed the local talent to buoy that industry? Conversely, what are they going to do – in a real sense - to lure Bahamian professionals who would’ve acquired the requisite skills elsewhere back to The Bahamas? Talking about it on podiums and pulpits is one thing, but real action is completely another. And thus far, the action portion has been far less evident than the talking with this government. The negligible decrease in unemployment speaks to just that. In all fairness, there are a number of opportunities that are still in a holding pattern that should create jobs for Bahamians. Bahamian people at work is always going to be something to celebrate. However, if the government’s intention is to do something transformational, which it has indicated on many occasions, a much deeper focus has to be applied to our
greatest resource. That is how we ensure we go on. Certainly, before we shun the government’s new jobs programme, they deserve a chance to show us what is going to make this different. What is their plan for how this will allow young Bahamians to make lives for themselves? How is it all connected to the prime minister’s overarching vision? Furthermore, what is his vision? We have to begin to try to make sense of what the government’s plan is for the next four years. Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of not taking an active role in the governance of our country. The government needs to tear down the veil and let us know how they intend to make life better for us. Most importantly, they have to realise that we, the Bahamian people, are the key to our future. If the prime minister wants to save the country, he should start there.
PAGE 10, Monday, July 30, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
PLP banks on changes to party rulebook from page one The rules are also changing when it comes to the selection and appointment of PLP stalwart councillors. PLPs want a set number of councillors to be appointed yearly with the assurance there is balance to this process. Even the process by which election candidates are chosen will change to more of a primary type system used in the United States where hopefuls would need to be elected by those in the constituency and then ratified by the National General Council. Presently the Candidates Committee, which is comprised of the leader, deputy, chairman, secretary general and 15 others selected by the chairman after consultation with the leader, make up this committee. They have the authority to review and select a candidate, which is then approved by the NGC. According to Mr Rigby, this is the first time in 65 years a code of conduct is being enshrined into party law. He said officials were also aiming to expand the party’s base and “democratise” the organisation. It seems the party not only wants to improve public perception, but wants to appear sensitive to the concerns of the public and its supporters. The last time any amendments were approved for the PLP’s constitution was in 2005 during the organisations 49th national convention. “This is the first time ever that any political organisation in The Bahamas has
enshrined a code of conduct in their constitution,” Mr Rigby said on the sidelines of the party’s one-day special constitutional convention at Trinity Activity Centre in Stapledon Gardens on Saturday. “We are breaking new ground in that regard in the PLP. What it would mean is it deals with and addresses how party members should deal with each other, members of the public, finance reform, issues of how a Cabinet minister should conduct the affairs of his portfolio in relation to donations and fundraising activities in these constituencies. It’s really to ensure that there is accountability, transparency and honesty in the public profile of our members. “It is probably the most comprehensive approach to campaign finance reform in a political party. We provide for accountability in terms of how a candidate or member would receive donations (and) engage in fundraising activities etc, etc,” he also said, when asked by The Tribune if the changes would incorporate campaign financing. When it comes to stalwart councillors, Mr Rigby said officials took into consideration the concerns of supporters. Concerns in this regard have surfaced from time to time from well-known PLPs, including Leslie Miller and Alfred Sears. In January 2017, just days before the party began its three-day convention, Mr Miller lamented that by appointing hundreds of stalwarts, it was an act of “overkill” towards Mr Sears, former attorney
SENIOR PLPs including party leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis at the party meeting and, below, Raynard Rigby speaks to the press. general, who at the time stalwarts to be appointed sought to dethrone then per year and the National leader, former Prime Min- General Council will exerister Perry Christie. Mr cise that power to ensure Miller said he did not think that there is balance in the it was fair that as many as party and so all times in 300 councillors, according the appointment of new to one report, had been stalwarts the council will added. have to ensure that there is Mr Sears went on to later a balancing exercise being file a formal complaint to carried out from delegates the party’s trustees over from the constituency level the issues and called into and delegates at the stalquestion the integrity of the wart councillor level.” party’s electoral process. However, it is unclear In this regard, Mr Rigby when these changes will be said: “We have changed the made public. use of the power and selecThis is because the comtion and appointment of the mittee will have to go back stalwarts (that) has been and factor in all of the procarried out in the past. posed changes, Mr Rigby “What you will now said. Once this is complete have is based on the feed- the changes must again face back from this convention the scrutiny of those in the the majority of voters and party. members wanted a system The session was suswhere the party identi- pended to a date to be later fied a specified amount of announced.
THE TRIBUNE
Taranique case ‘shows need for naturalisation law’ By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE Minnis administration should consider passing a law that would retroactively naturalise all people born in The Bahamas at any point, attorney Fred Smith has said. In a statement to The Tribune over the weekend, Mr Smith implored the government to consider legislation that would automatically deem any person born in The Bahamas, irrespective of their parentage, Bahamian citizens. He was responding to a Tribune article that detailed a naturalised Bahamian mother’s push to get her “stateless” daughter the necessary Bahamian documents needed to travel to the United States for medical treatment. Ginette Caty, 34, was naturalised as a Bahamian citizen in 2013 but her daughter Taranique Thurston will have to wait until her 18th birthday before she can apply for Bahamian citizenship. Taranique has been diagnosed with a brain cyst. She was due to have treatment last week but it was delayed because of her status. Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida agreed to postpone her treatment until her travel status could be resolved. Due to her mother’s naturalisation process, Taranique is currently registered in The Bahamas as a non-Bahamian born to a foreign mother and Bahamian father, who are unmarried. In his statement, Mr Smith said: “(This is the case) because of the discriminatory laws in the Constitution depriving children who are born of a Bahamian father out of wedlock to non-citizen mothers whether born in or out of The Bahamas aren’t
automatically Bahamian citizens. “(We need) a simple act passed by Parliament, we don’t need a referendum, that simply says, retroactively, that all persons born in The Bahamas at any time shall be deemed automatically to be citizens. “This will allow them to be positive contributors to the economy,” he said. “My God, it would clear up so much of the challenges this little nation faces.” Taranique’s case also brought a call from Rights Bahamas yesterday for a change in the immigration laws. Dawrin Thompson chairman of Rights Bashamas Education Committee released a statement sayign: “Taranique Thurston, 15, was born in The Bahamas, as was her mother, and father. However, due to our non-inclusive, discriminatory laws she is still considered a nonBahamian in the eyes of the law. Imagine that, born to two Bahamian parents, and ultimately being considered “stateless” until the age of 18 when she will then be given the “right” to apply for citizenship. Which, of course, she will still have to wait a decade to receive due to our notoriously inefficient government processes. “This unfortunate situation sheds light on our archaic system of immigration and begs for some manner of immigration reform. We are now faced with a situation where a child cannot be helped due to her “status” according to our governments’ laws and regulations. “Rights Bahamas would love to see a change in our immigration system. We’d love to see an allowance made for this young, bright Bahamian gem. We believe she deserves a chance to be able to make a difference
GOVT CONFIRMS OFFICIAL FUNERAL FOR NEYMOUR THE Cabinet Office announced on Friday that an official funeral will be held for former Cabinet minister Phenton Neymour on Thursday at 11am at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Gardens Cemetery, Soldier Road. The body will lie in
state in the foyer of the House of Assembly from 9am on Wednesday until it leaves for the church on Thursday. Viewing of the body for the general public will be on Wednesday between the hours of 1pm to 7pm. Neymour, 53, died last Monday after a long illness with cancer.
and inspire her own change within her community, country, and even the world at large. “We plead to the government to allow a change in the ‘Law books’ if even just to help save the soul of a child in need. Every person that is Bahamian at heart should feel compelled to petition for Taranique’s life. She deserves to live. She deserves to be given an opportunity at life. She deserves the backing of every Bahamian citizen with a heart. She deserves our love. “We will stand for Taranique for as long as it takes to ensure her safe trip to Miami for her surgery until the day she lands safely here in her homeland, The Bahamas. The government has twice tried to address the issue through a
referendum, during the second Ingraham administration and the second Christie administration. Both attempts were rejected by the electorate. The issue relating specifically to children born in The Bahamas to an unwed Bahamian father and a non-Bahamian mother was the third question put to Bahamians in 2016’s constitutional referendum. It was rejected, with 28,246 people voting yes to changing the Constitution to give an unwed Bahamian father the same right that a Bahamian woman has to pass citizenship to a child born in or out of wedlock and 54,890 people voting no. The Minnis administration has said it plans to address this issue and others through amendments to current immigration laws.
Monday, July 30, 2018, PAGE 11
TARANIQUE THURSTON, who needs medical treatment in the US, but cannot travel due to her irregular immigration status.
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THE TRIBUNE
‘Landfill manager chosen - so why the lack of transparency?’ By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net WITH the government yet to announce which company has been selected to manage the New Providence Landfill, there is growing concern from activists about the transparency of the process. In late June, Environment and Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira said a new management firm for the city dump had been selected. At the time, he declined to reveal the selected firm or when this company would enter into
a contractual agreement. He could not tell reporters how much the contract would be worth, saying the cost has yet to be determined. He could only confirm the company was Bahamian operated and the new agreement, once entered into, would be good for more than five years. He indicated that most of the details were dependent on Cabinet conclusions. In a Facebook post last Wednesday, activist Heather Carey, of Raising Awareness about the Bahamas Landfill (RABL), raised
questions over the long delay in the government’s announcement. “It’s been a month past the deadline when Mr Ferreira was to announce the new management company for the dump,” the post read. “I have it on good authority that there is no reason why he should not have told the public by now. “The longer this is kept a secret, it continues to raise suspicion about the process and the transparency of this administration.” “How does our general public feel about this,” she asked. “Don’t you
want to know and don’t you want the new company to take over sooner than later?” Yesterday, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said Mr Ferreira is out of the country attending to personal matters but is expected to make an announcement when he returns. In June, Mr Ferreira said 17 bidders submitted expressions of interest for the New Providence Landfill, but just seven qualified for the request for proposals. Four out of the seven firms responded and paid the registration fee.
Those firms included Bahamas WTP Ltd; Bahamas Waste; Providence Advisors and the Waste Resources Development Group; and APAPA International (Nassau). Mr Ferreira said APAPA International’s submission was received after the closing date of April 9, 2018, at 4pm, resulting in its bid being summarily rejected by the Tenders Board. In a Tribune Insight article in June, an official at the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS), the department with immediate oversight for the landfill, confirmed
that efforts to compact several sections of the landfill and develop a southern entrance were underway. The official was responding to claims the site was expanding beyond its historical boundaries. Some of those claims indicated the government was prepping the site for a soon to be named management company. Renew Bahamas, the last firm to manage the landfill, withdrew services in October 2016 amid several disagreements with the former government. DEHS subsequently took over operations.
JEAN RONY AWAITS RULING ON GOVERNMENT CHALLENGE By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS-born Jean Rony Jean-Charles will now await the Court of Appeal’s ruling after lawyers gave closing arguments on Friday in a hearing of the government’s appeal over a judge’s order that the deportee be returned to this country. Arguments over the relevance of Mr Jean-Charles’ identity in the adjudication of the government’s appeal took centre stage on Friday with lead prosecutor Loren Klein insisting the Supreme Court judge never made a conclusive finding on the issue. Lead defence attorney Fred Smith, QC, maintained the issue surrounding both Mr JeanCharles’ identity and status was irrelevant. He argued there existed a third category of people in the country in similar positions as Mr Jean-Charles
who do not fall under certain definitions under the Immigration Act that would compel the state to remove them. The Crown is seeking to have Supreme Court judge Gregory Hilton’s landmark decision concerning Mr Jean-Charles’ controversial deportation from The Bahamas to Haiti and subsequent return to this country overturned. At the time, Justice Hilton found Mr Jean-Charles was “unlawfully expelled” from The Bahamas after having been unlawfully detained from September 17, 2017 to November 24, 2017, in breach of his right guaranteed under Article 25 (1) of the Constitution. Justice Hilton further found Mr Jean-Charles has been deprived of his personal liberty, unlawfully arrested and detained/ falsely imprisoned in breach of his rights guaranteed him under the Constitution.
He ordered the government to issue a travel document to Mr JeanCharles to “allow and permit” him to travel from Haiti into The Bahamas, and that it pay the “reasonable cost” of Mr Jean-Charles’ journey “forthwith upon his return”. Justice Hilton further ordered the minister and director of immigration should, no later than 60 days after Mr Jean-Charles’ return and upon his application, issue “such status” that would “permit him to remain in The Bahamas and to legally seek gainful employment”. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment in the matter and has not yet given a date when appellate judges will deliver their ruling. The matter was heard before Court of Appeal President Sir Hartman Longley, Justice Jon Isaacs and Acting Justice Sir Michael Barnett.
JEAN Rony Jean-Charles outside court after his earlier victory.
PAGE 14, Monday, July 30, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Bahamas takes part in day against human trafficking By FARRAH JOHNSON
THE Bahamas will join the global initiative to observe World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (WDTP) today. The Ministry of National Security’s Inter-Ministry Trafficking In Persons Committee (TIP) announced on Friday the country will join a host of nations to commemorate the day under the theme: ‘Responding to the trafficking of children and young persons’. Susanne Knowles, chairperson of the TIP committee, revealed the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime selected this particular theme because “almost a third of trafficking victims were children.”
“World Day Against Trafficking in Persons serves to bring attention to the urgent need of raising awareness to the situation of persons who are victims of trafficking and to the promotion and protection of their human rights,” Mrs Knowles said at a press conference. “It is also a day to concentrate on the importance of working to combat trafficking in persons,” she added. Asserting human trafficking is a “form of modern day slavery” which profits off the exploitation of vulnerable people, Mrs Knowles also characterised the criminal practice as “dehumanising”. She explained that while human trafficking is
“primarily a transnational crime”, it is also possible for the practice to be carried out in the victim’s own country. Mrs Knowles also referred to figures from the International Labour Organisation, which reported that human trafficking accrues more than $32 billion annually. The two main types of human trafficking practised in the country are sexual and labour trafficking. Stating the government takes a “victim centred and human rights based approach” to fight the issue, she revealed the majority of traffickers and victims in the country hail from the Caribbean, South and Central America and Asia. Mrs Knowles added that
the government annually allocates $100,000 to the care of trafficking victims. “The Bahamas has made immense progress since the enactment of its legislation – Chapter 106 Trafficking in Persons Prevention and Suppression in 2008 — which criminalises sex and labour trafficking with prescribed penalties ranging from three years to life imprisonment,” she said. “For the past four years, the Bahamas has maintained its tier one status, a status given to countries whose governments fully meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum standards.” The TIP Inter Ministry and the TIP Task Force will act as the “overseers and architects” of
anti-trafficking efforts in the country. The committee revealed that this year, it plans to introduce a number of initiatives to shine more light on the severity of the issue. For instance, Mrs Knowles said ads have already been designed and displayed on six boards in the international arrivals lounge of the Lynden Pindling International Airport to date. Mrs Knowles said: “Many times persons are enslaved and they’re not even aware and we’re hoping that with the awareness raising that will occur, persons will self identify, and other persons who are in the situation will be able to identify those person that are in it.” She added that the fact
that victims have not been identified doesn’t mean that the problem is non-existent. Sonovia CoakleyKnowles, assistant director of the Department of Social Services, explained that a common tactic of human traffickers is to withhold the documents of their victims as a way to maintain control. “They really don’t know where they are, they don’t know anybody, and they have no form of identification if they can even move if they have an opportunity to sometimes to escape the situation,” Ms CoakleyKnowles said. The TIP Committee believes that spreading public awareness on the issue can help fight against it.
DEATH TOLL FROM GREEK FIRE NOW 91 MATI, Greece (AP) — Fire officials in Greece raised the death toll from a wildfire that raged through a coastal area east of Athens to 91 and reported that 25 people were missing Sunday, six days after Europe’s deadliest forest fire in more than a century. Before the national fire service updated the official number of fatalities, it stood at 86 as hundreds of mourners attended a Sunday morning memorial service for the victims in the seaside village hardest-hit by the blaze. The fire sped flames through the village of Mati, a popular resort spot, without warning on July 23. A database maintained by the Centre for the Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters in Brussels shows it as the deadliest wildfire in Europe since 1900.
NUNS are silhouetted in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Some nuns are now finding their voices, buoyed by the #MeToo movement and the growing recognition that adults can be victims of sexual abuse when there is an imbalance of power in a relationship. Photo: Andrew Medichini/AP
NUNS SPEAK OUT AFTER #METOO VATICAN CITY Associated Press
THE nun no longer goes to confession regularly, after an Italian priest forced himself on her while she was at her most vulnerable: recounting her sins to him in a university classroom nearly 20 years ago. At the time, the sister only told her provincial superior and her spiritual director, silenced by the Catholic Church’s culture of secrecy, her vows of obedience and her own fear, repulsion and shame. “It opened a great wound inside of me,” she told the Associated Press. “I pretended it didn’t happen.” After decades of silence, the nun is one of a handful worldwide to come forward recently on an issue that the Catholic Church has yet to come to terms with: The sexual abuse of religious sisters by priests and bishops. An AP examination has found that cases have emerged in Europe, Africa, South America and
Asia, demonstrating that the problem is global and pervasive, thanks to the universal tradition of sisters’ second-class status in the Catholic Church and their ingrained subservience to the men who run it. Some nuns are now finding their voices, buoyed by the #MeToo movement and the growing recognition that adults can be victims of sexual abuse when there is an imbalance of power in a relationship. The sisters are going public in part because of years of inaction by church leaders, even after major studies on the problem in Africa were reported to the Vatican in the 1990s. The issue has flared in the wake of scandals over the sexual abuse of children, and recently of adults, including revelations that one of the most prominent American cardinals, Theodore McCarrick, sexually abused and harassed his seminarians. The extent of the abuse of nuns is unclear, at least outside the Vatican. Victims
are reluctant to report the abuse because of wellfounded fears they won’t be believed, experts told the AP. Church leaders are reluctant to acknowledge that some priests and bishops simply ignore their vows of celibacy, knowing their secrets will be kept. However, this week, about half a dozen sisters in a small religious congregation in Chile went public on national television with their stories of abuse by priests and other nuns — and how their superiors did nothing to stop it. A nun in India recently filed a formal police complaint accusing a bishop of rape. “I am so sad that it took so long for this to come into the open, because there were reports long ago,” Karlijn Demasure, one of the church’s leading experts on clergy sexual abuse and abuse of power, told the AP in an interview. “I hope that now actions will be taken to take care of the victims and put an end to this kind of abuse.”
PUBLISHER PLEA TO TRUMP OVER DANGER RHETORIC BRIDGEWATER, New Jersey Associated Press
THE publisher of The New York Times said Sunday he “implored” President Donald Trump at a private White House meeting this month to reconsider his broad attacks on journalists, calling the president’s anti-press rhetoric “not just divisive but increasingly dangerous”. In a statement, AG Sulzberger said he decided to comment publicly after Trump revealed their off-the-record meeting to his more than 53 million Twitter followers on Sunday. Trump’s aides had requested that the July 20 meeting not be made public, Sulzberger said. “Had a very good and interesting meeting at the White House with AG
Sulzberger, Publisher of the New York Times. Spent much time talking about the vast amounts of Fake News being put out by the media & how that Fake News has morphed into phrase, “Enemy of the People.” Sad!” Trump wrote. Hours after that exchange, Trump resumed his broadside against the media in a series of tweets that included a pledge not to let the country “be sold out by antiTrump haters in the ... dying newspaper industry.” Sulzberger, who succeeded his father as publisher on Jan. 1, said his main purpose for accepting the meeting was to “raise concerns about the president’s deeply troubling anti-press rhetoric.” “I told the president directly that I thought that his language was not just divisive but increasingly
dangerous,” he said. Sulzberger said he told Trump that while the phrase “fake news” is untrue and harmful, “I am far more concerned about his labeling journalists ‘the enemy of the people.’ I warned that this inflammatory language is contributing to a rise in threats against journalists and will lead to violence.” Sulzberger, who attended the meeting with James Bennet, the Times’ editorial page editor, said he stressed that leaders outside the US are already using Trump’s rhetoric to justify cracking down on journalists. “I warned that it was putting lives at risk, that it was undermining the democratic ideals of our nation, and that it was eroding one of our country’s greatest exports: a commitment to free speech and a free press,” the publisher said.