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VOLUME:114 No.184, AUGUST 17TH, 2017
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CL ASSIFIEDS TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS - AND TECH!
BPL fraud: More staff face sack
INSIDE
First three fired over $2m sting By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net AFTER three employees were fired from Bahamas Power and Light on Wednesday in connection with a probe into a $2m theft, a senior official at the utility provider has warned that more firings are on the way as the investigation continues and will include those who are “higher up” in the company if found culpable. The statement from BPL Chairwoman Darnell Osbourne came hours after the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) spoke out in protest over the firings of the three employees. BEWU Secretary General Astrid Bodie, in an interview with The Tribune outside of the company’s Blue
Hill Road headquarters, demanded clarification on the process that had led to the firings, alleging yesterday that managers who should be held accountable were allowed to return to work Tuesday, while all junior employees under investigation were terminated. Both the government and the BPL board have received copies of an audit conducted by Ernst and Young into the discovery of a five-month long scheme, which involved approximately 44 cheques paid out to 16 vendors from December 16, 2016 to May 9, 2017. The workers, all from one department, were suspended on May 15. Ms Osbourne confirmed yesterday that more than $2m was missing as a result of the scheme. SEE PAGE NINE
THE recruitment of Cuban teachers before the new school term doesn’t satisfy the worrying shortage the country faces, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said yesterday. Her statement came a day after the National Congress of Trade Unions
of the Bahamas (NCTUB) released a statement seeking clarity from the Minnis administration about a number of its plans and policies, including the teachers. “Cuban teachers have been recruited for many years now in our system and they would mostly be in the technical area,” Mrs Wilson said. SEE PAGE SIX
L SOUR CE
BANKER’S KILLER GETS 20 YEARS By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A SUPREME Court judge yesterday sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of a banker he claimed had made a sexual pass at him in late 2015. However, Senior Justice Vera Watkins said one year and three months would be deducted from 26-year-old Lamar Albury’s sentence for the time he has already spent in custody. The sentence starts from the date of Albury’s conviction on March 8, 2017, Senior Justice Watkins said. On that date, a jury returned a 10-2 guilty verdict for manslaughter by provocation concerning the 33 stab wounds Albury inflicted on Devince Smith. Albury had denied the murder charge against him. However, thirty seconds after the jury forewoman’s announcement that the Chippingham resident was found not guilty of Smith’s SEE PAGE NINE
SENATOR ATTACKS RAID FILM
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
UNION SOUNDS ALARM OVER TEACHER CRISIS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
$1
BAHAMAS Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) Secretary General Astrid Bodie expresses anger over the firing of three employees from Bahamas Power and Light amid an ongoing theft probe. Photo: Ava Turnquest/Tribune Staff
OPPOSITION Senator Dr Michael Darville yesterday condemned attempts to “vilify” his wife after a cell phone video of her having a heated discussion with a Department of Customs official was circulated on social media with negative connotations. Dr Darville explained that his wife’s shipment of imported goods was subjected to additional checks by the Customs Department due to a “procedural error with a new broker.” While the matter was resolved and the shipment released, he said the exchange was recorded by a bystander and posted online with SEE PAGE SIX
IMMIGRATION IMMUNE FROM DEFICIT CUTBACKS By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
AUSTERITY measures announced by the government will not affect the Department of Immigration, according to Immigration Minister Brent Symonette, pictured, who yesterday pointed to the high volume of permit applications as the greatest challenge faced by officials. Mr Symonette explained the inundated system is
further exacerbated by outdated manual processing, and limited physical capacity at the aging rented complex on Hawkins Hill. Targeting the department’s extensive backlog and
increasing processing turnaround as his primary objective this term, Mr Symonette spoke of plans for infrastructure upgrades and policy reform during an interview and tour of the department with The Tribune.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
He pitched the idea of introducing ceilings on permits for domestic jobs, and other industries; however, he admitted he did not expect the suggestion to be favourably received. “As you came in the building, we’ve just had to have new windows put into this building, the elevator didn’t work, and the bathrooms have been out of order for months. So when you talk about backlog, that’s some of my problems,” Mr SEE PAGE SEVEN
PAGE 2, Thursday, August 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd and other government officials touring Stephen Dillet Primary School yesterday during its renovation. Livingston Forbes, chief architect at Ministry of Works, is pictured leading the tour. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
DIRECTOR of Education Lionel Sands speaking to the media.
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during yesterday’s tour.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 17, 2017, PAGE 3
Stephen Dillet Primary to open one week late
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THERE will likely be a slight delay for students to start classes at Stephen Dillet Primary School by one week as officials await the arrival of new furniture and other equipment, Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd said yesterday. However, delayed payments for contractors renovating the school won’t affect the timeline of the school’s opening for the fall semester. The school, which has had problems for years, is undergoing a complete overhaul. The Tribune understands that workers have been upset about delayed payments and have threatened to walk off the job. Mr Lloyd, a source claimed last week, was annoyed by the delayed payments that, among other things, forced the contractor to pay for supplies out of his own pocket. Nonetheless, the education minister who toured the school with Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yes-
terday said the “school will be ready.” “We’ve just been advised by the contractor that there might be a delay for one week for the students to arrive and that is primarily not because the school will not itself be finished in terms of construction work, but rather because there is new furniture, supplies that will be installed to supplement some older equipment that will be returned,” he said. “We expect teachers to return on September 4 when school ordinarily would open and then the students would come the following week, September 11.” Mr Lloyd, who has said such schools as Stephen Dillet and Carlton Francis Primary fail to meet the requirements of staff and students, however, Stephen Dillet has been transformed. “We’ve compartmentalised and segmented these spaces to allow more efficient delivery of information with 29 classrooms in addition to administrative offices, additional restrooms,
multimedia areas, musical rooms, etc,” he said. “In addition, we are also going to have two pre-school classrooms that will accommodate 40 students. The space is going to be 100 per cent Wi-Fi to facilitate the government’s intention to introduce iPads to pre-school students. We will have an expanded lunch pavilion area and will introduce a new ‘tuck shop’ area.” Dr Minnis, who reminisced about selling lunch alongside his mother at the school when he was younger, toured the school yesterday while numerous men worked, leaving no area untouched. The school, which is similar to Uriah McPhee Primary School on Kemp Road, is the only one of the two experiencing such extensive renovations this year, with Uriah expected to be similarly renovated at another time. The upgrades to Stephen Dillet will cost about $4 million, Mr Lloyd said. He has said repairs to schools in the country will easily exceed $8m. “I’m happy there’s a Ba-
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis shaking hands with a worker during yesterday’s tour.
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during yesterday’s tour.
MINISTER of Education Jeff Lloyd speaking to the media yesterday. hamian main contractor and great deal of Bahamian subcontractors who are employed and will finish this project in record time. It would ordinarily take six to seven months, but will happen in four months,” he said. The school has 821 students. “We will build more schools and classrooms to deal with overpopulation in the classrooms,” Mr Lloyd said. “In many cases, infrastructure is failing, is old and needs to be replaced.”
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis with Belinda Wilson during the tour of Stephen Dillet Primary School.
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PAGE 4, Thursday, August 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
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Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
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Is it now time for Mitchell to also go ‘gently into the night’? FRED MITCHELL, appointed to the Senate after being rejected by the Fox Hill people he had represented in the House of Assembly for 15 years, recently made his political position very clear in a bitter statement. “I can’t speak for the Progressive Liberal Party,” Mr Mitchell told a branch meeting in Bimini on August 2, “but let me tell you what my personal position is: he’ll not get no apology from me, except this one. I want to apologise to Lynden Pindling for allowing this country to be turned over to a set of gangsters dressed up in white gowns calling themselves a legitimate government of the Bahamas … that’s what I want to apologise for.” Mr Mitchell quickly made his position clear after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, invited the PLP to apologise to the Bahamian people for their mismanagement of their country for the past five years. An angry and typically bitter Fred Mitchell, whose life’s ambition was one day to be the prime minister of the Bahamas, was now reserving his apologies for a man he had, at one time, dismissed as irrelevant to the future of this country. “It is time,” he had said in 1990, after burning the Constitution and forming his own political party, “that the Bahamian people consign him (Sir Lynden) to the scrap heap of history.” This was the same Lynden Pindling to whom he now wants to apologise. The PLP of that era dismissed Mr Mitchell with the bitterest of rebukes, condemning him for his “unjustifiable and scathing attack’” on Sir Lynden, their prime minister. “Mr Mitchell,” they said, “has been acting like a spoilt brat in recent months and as such he deserves a serious spanking.” The PLP Council of that day reminded Mr Mitchell that the PLP had given him “every opportunity to come to the forefront in this country”. The party, it stated, “put the utmost confidence in Mr Mitchell in a number of tangible ways, including letting him handle the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas, Bahamas Information Services and editing the party’s newspaper. “No less a person than the Prime Minister himself,” said the PLP Council of 1990, “took Mr Mitchell into his full confidence. But what was Mr Mitchell’s response? A complete right about face. Desertion in the face of the enemy.”
Mr Mitchell was given a sound scolding for burning the constitution in the public square and sending its ashes to Sir Lynden. “Nothing,” said the PLP Council, “in the line of secular documents can be more sacred than the country’s constitution. Mr Mitchell advocated destroying it. Clearly by extension he is promoting anarchy and national upheaval.” The Council then dismissed him as a “little fellow who should be watched very closely and avoided like the plague.” Over the years, Mr Mitchell has worn many faces. In 1983 as an independent senator, having split with the PLP, then flirting with the FNM, he suggested that to solve the Haitian immigration problem, the Bahamas should mount a military attack on Haiti to remove its unstable government, and replace it with one friendly to Bahamian interests. He made his pitch in a speech to the Rotary Club of South East Nassau. Of course, no one took such a reckless adventure seriously. And now he is confused. He believes that the PLP are at risk of reversing themselves “to a pre-1967 period. So that’s the fear I have,” he added. “So I apologise to the man who has gone on above because we have some work to do to get back to where we were.” We wonder what Mr Mitchell means by wanting to get back to “where we were” when his record makes it clear that “where we were” was a most uncomfortable time for him. During that period he was climbing the wall, forming his party and burning the constitution to get out. In his ambition to become prime minister, he has taken a most circuitous route with decisions that have completely defeated his objective and sidelined him. In a press release yesterday, addressed to Dame Joan Sawyer, the first woman to become Chief Justice of the Bahamas and President of the Court of Appeal, who dismissed him this week as beneath her contempt, he brushed her aside as “not relevant to the times.” He recommended that she “go gently into that good night.” “Your services,” he concluded, “ are no longer needed now.” Is it not time for Mr Mitchell to take his own advise and bid the world of politics “adieu”? Bahamians today are quite capable of charting their own future without his bitter interference.
Mitchell must stop using Pindling’s name EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Whistleblower came across a Nassau Guardian article which says that the PLP is considering holding a demonstration and a march to the mausoleum of Sir Lynden O Pindling on August 26. Pindling died on August 26, 2000. From what the Whistleblower was able to gather from the article, the PLP will assemble in order to protest the recent arrests and alleged bad treatment of three former PLP parliamentarians. All three prominent PLPs were treated no different than NIB manager Selena Sweeting. Will the PLP be protesting on her behalf too? The fact that the opposition is thinking about marching to Pindling’s gravesite is a clear indication that PLP Senator Fred Mitchell’s fingerprints are all over this latest political charade. Along with Dame Marguerite Pindling,
Mitchell has visited Pindling’s mausoleum on several occasions, which were his well designed publicity stunts in order to gain further political mileage within the PLP. Mitchell continues to overstate his fandom for Pindling, as if this is somehow a penance for the shoddy way he treated the “Father of the Nation” during the 1980s and early 1990s. After the former People’s Democratic Force leader participated in the burning a copy of the Constitution near the Supreme Court, he sent the ashes to then Prime Minister Pindling. Mitchell remarked in December 1990 that Pindling was “irrelevant to The Bahamas.” Mitchell also stated at the time that Bahamians should consign Pindling to the scrap heap of history. Had Pindling been alive and leading the PLP today, Mitchell would have never received a nomination to run for the PLP.
The Whistleblower is unaware of Mitchell ever issuing a public apology for the burning of the Constitution – a sacred document in which no doubt Pindling played a pivotal role in helping to frame. He is also unaware of Mitchell ever publicly apologising for railing at the Father of the Nation. Yet he wants to continue using Pindling’s name in order to climb up higher on the political ladder. The PLP made a disastrous move in appointing Mitchell to the Senate. The tentative march to Pindling’s gravesite is further evidence that the former Fox Hill MP is a power broker in the PLP – a party which desperately needs to rebrand its tattered image. Mitchell is dragging the PLP down with him. THE WHISTLEBLOWER Nassau, August 14, 2017.
Tribune editorials on a roll EDITOR, The Tribune.
I WANT to know who writes the editorial section of The Tribune. I am asking because the unattributed section of the paper has been on a roll since the senseless violence in Charlottesville, Virginia — and by on a roll I mean like off a cliff. On August 15, 2017, the editorial used the events the horrifying events of Charlottesville to exhume the apparition of so-called “anti-white” racism in The Bahamas – the “unexpected icy glare”, being over-charged at cash out, the absence of the colour white in our flag where black represents the “vigor and force of a united people.” I’m still uncertain why vigor and unity of a people, nouns that come with no colour scheme, can’t be represented by the colour black for all of us. I use the word “apparition” here with intent because anti-white racism doesn’t actually exist—not in The Bahamas and not anywhere that comes to mind. White Bahamians may at times feel prejudice or discriminated against in their interaction with their black counterparts, but racism as an ideology, as a social phenomenon, is driven by the belief that humans are naturally divided into distinct groups (based on physical traits, social behaviour, cognitive ability, etc) and that those groups can be ranked as inferior or
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net superior. I am happy to step out on a limb and say that I don’t think black Bahamians think white Bahamians are inferior to them. I would also advance the theory that if white Bahamians do in fact experience a cut eye or two, and feel like they are being overcharged every once in a while, it is likely a reaction to what black people experience every day — a system of economic and social oppression structured through and within the context of actual colonial and neocolonial racism. While racial discrimination can be the result of racism; discrimination is not racism. That anyone would venture to compare dirty looks, the cost of a few extra dollars and a missing colour on a flag to a history of racial segregation and racist colonialist socio-economic exclusion speaks directly to the kind self-centredness and fragility that might just lead one to pick up a tiki-torch, citronella wick ablaze, to shout, “We will not be replaced!” But, the editorial section did not stop there. In the August 16th, 2017 Tribune, Leader of the Opposition, Philip “Brave” Davis, was then compared to Topsy, the “delightful little slave girl in (the book) ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’” because of
what the editorial calls an “unthinking and stupid statement”. Let us put politics aside for a moment. Let us even assume, hypothetically, that Davis’ statement is disingenuous, prima facie. Of all the analogies, imagery and metaphors that literature, film and everyday life provides, in what world is it the correct editorial choice to compare Davis to a “delightful little slave girl” from a book called “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”? This isn’t just a question of racism; it is a question of judgment. What is Simon Lagree’s extension in the news room— is he the one pushing out these editorials? The juxtaposition of Tribune editorials on the 15th and the 16th is, in no uncertain terms, problematic. Given that I know and have worked closely with the journalists at The Tribune who I deeply respect, as an avid reader I expect better. As a national paper and given the historical moment with which we are currently faced — a resurgence of fascism, white supremacy and the politics of prejudice, not just in our backyard but across the globe — the country deserves better. Taken in its totality, I can only return to my opening line: I want to know who writes the editorial section of The Tribune because we need to have a talk. JOEY GASKINS Nassau, August 16, 2017.
Poorly briefed EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE US Senate Foreign Relations hearing, for the designate US Ambassador Doug Manchester, very clearly exposed much wanting in the US policy to The Bahamas, although I did like the gentleman’s comment, that he would encourage US investment. Why would there be a US Ambassador, if The Bahamas was not a sovereign country? Surely, the gentleman should have been briefed on OPBAT - probably the most significant area of cooperation, between the US and The Bahamas and the single issue, which annually the US State Department chastises us about, although there is a very small amount of cocaine use.
Further bad briefing over the Chinese Fishing project - the then Prime Minister Christie, made it empathetically clear that there was absolutely no possible way, for any foreign entity to obtain a fishing License in our waters. Was this a briefing slip up from the Queen’s Street? For sure we hope this next Ambassador, if ratified, will not be all talk, but will bring substantive US investors to The Bahamas like the Chinese have. We are no doubt the playground for the US. Numerous Senators and Congress people visit the islands to fly fish - some own property and bring their families. We look forward to a far more economically productive period of the good gentleman’s assignment. Not a lot of talk and the usual criticism, but real action.
The US have to take ownership of a lot of the social mess we have. The “grabalish” appetite of the US for cocaine, not grown or processed in the Bahamas has been and continues to be a serious social “destablisher.” The US must take the blame for that. Interesting his professional background is hotels. The Bahamas urgently needs hotel developers for the islands. It would be a great testament to the Ambassador, if he could cause that. Sorry, Mr. Manchester, we are not a US State, or a territory - but a small proud little Nation right next door to you. W. THOMPSON Nassau, August 3, 2017.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 17, 2017, PAGE 5
Official says relief work in Grand Bahama not halted
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net HARCOURT Brown, undersecretary in the Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama, said the government’s hurricane relief programme has not been halted and continues in West Grand Bahama. Mr Brown’s comments came in response to a story published in The Tribune on Wednesday about the slow pace of hurricane repair and rebuilding in West End. The Tribune went into the West End community and spoke with some residents who claimed that re-
THE DAMAGED Star Club in West End. Photo: Denise Maycock pair work had been halted or been slow following the general election. In a statement issued by Mr Brown, he explained that immediately following the May 10 election, the new
administration instructed the area administrators as representatives of NEMA to meet with residents to ensure that the government began to address those who had not been assisted.
He noted that this included West Grand Bahama. “The government’s hurricane relief programme has not been halted, but continues in West Grand Bahama,” the statement noted. “The new administration met in place various contracts to repair homes which are being adjusted to ensure that there is proper value for money. “The new administration has, since coming to office, continued the voucher programme by ensuring vendors were paid and distributed additional vouchers,” he said. Mr Brown reported that some $274,175 worth of coupons have been issued to
the residents from the Eight Mile Rock and West End communities alone, representing 481 households. He noted that additional coupons were turned over to the Administrator’s Office for West Grand Bahama on August 15, and that distribution has already begun and is continuing. The undersecretary further stated that a town meeting was held on Friday, August 11, at the Zion Baptist Church in Eight Mile Rock by the West End member of Parliament Pakesia Parker Edgecombe, where a complete update of the repair efforts were explained to residents by gov-
ernment representatives. He stated that since coming to office, the FNM government has issued new contracts totalling in excess of $200,000 for Grand Bahama, and that contractors have been put on the ground and have already completed repairs to some 15 houses, with five additional new contracts about to be finalised for home repairs in West Grand Bahama. He said that the Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama wishes to assure all affected residents of the island that every effort is being made to address their concerns as it relates to hurricane repairs.
TEENAGE GIRLS AMONG FOUR MISSING PERSONS
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
POLICE are seeking the public’s assistance in locating four missing persons, including two teenage girls in the capital, one man in Eleuthera and another in Abaco. In the first case, according to Superintendent Shanta Knowles, 13-year-old Dominique Carol Johnson left her Farrington Road area home on Friday, August 11, wearing a yellow and brown leopard-print, sleeveless dress. She added the teen, described as having a slim build, 5’2” to 5’4” in height, with a medium brown complexion, was last seen wearing braids. In the second case, 15-year-old Charome Green was reported to have left home on August 7, wearing a black and white striped dress. The Joan’s Heights resident, described as a dark brown female with heavy build, between 5’’2” and 5’4”, was reported missing by family members on Tuesday, August 8. She was also last seen sporting braids. Police are also seeking the public’s assistance in locating 33-year-old Nathaniel Higgs of Upper Bogue, Eleuthera and 41-year-old Brian Bur-
TEENAGE girls Charome Green, left, and Dominique Carol Johnson, who are both reported missing. rows of Little Hog Cay, Abaco. Mr Higgs is described as a brown male, with slim build and about 5’11” in height. Meanwhile, Mr Burrows is described as a light brown male, with a slim build, standing about 6’2” in height. Anyone with information of the whereabouts of these persons is asked to call police at 911/919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or the nearest police station.
ALSO missing are Nathaniel Higgs, left, and Brian Burrows.
FISHERMEN RESCUED AT SEA AFTER ENGINE PROBLEMS THANKS to joint efforts of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and local fishermen, two fishermen are grateful to be alive today after being missing for several hours when their 17-foot white Boston whaler developed engine problems. The men left to go fishing Tuesday, but didn’t return home overnight as planned. The authorities were informed Wednesday morning and the RBDF mounted a search to locate them. The search involved other part-
ners from Operation Bahamas and Turks & Caicos (OPBAT), Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA), and the police force covering an extensive area. The collaborative efforts of the group along with fishermen from the local community resulted in the RBDF’s Fast Patrol Vessel, EF 126 coxswained by Petty Officer Brian Anderson, discovering the fishermen alive and in apparent good health. They were given
water and taken to another fishing vessel where they were escorted safely to Lowe’s Sound. The RBDF urges fishermen and boaters to have a plan in place informing their family members and loved ones of the name, type, length, and colour of their vessels. They should also inform them of who will be travelling with them, where they are going, which route they will be taking and when they are expected to re-
turn, in addition to taking lifesaving equipment and additional food and water
supplies. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains com-
mitted to monitoring Bahamian waters and keeping them safe.
PAGE 6, Thursday, August 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Union sounds alarm over teacher crisis from page one “Again this year there is a group of Cuban teachers that will be hired. I’m really concerned about the teacher shortage and how the rapid pace in which teachers are retiring is not (being met with a similarly rapid pace of new) hiring or recruiting or even producing of teachers. “We just came out of a three-hour meeting with the (Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd) and so one of the things we would’ve discussed is how is it that we’re going to tap into high school students to steer them in the direction for the teaching career path. We’re
talking about English and math and science. “What we recommended is the expansion of the teacher cadet programme and then we need to identify our teachers from earlier on to steer them into the path of teaching. We discussed the possibility of them being bonded like we used to do though it seems the ministry has moved away from that.” Mrs Wilson, who has had an infamously thorny relationship with previous administrations, described Mr Lloyd as “open” yesterday and seemed optimistic about her union’s relationship with the Minnis administration. “He was open with us
(in our meeting),” she said. “We were frank in our discussions and the union has agreed that we will work together. If there is a challenge, we expect him and his team to inform us and he’s asked us to do the same. Prior to the meeting today with (him), I was just hearing little bits of pieces about what their vision is. After a three-hour meeting we’re able to now understand that yes we want to complete the school repairs, yes we want to make sure the teachers get their pay, yes we want our $1,000 (payment) in September, we want to make sure all the millions in back pay that I’ve been talking about for 12 years is paid to the teachers.” Despite the optimistic tone, she warned: “We ain’ never scared and the work has to be done and whatever words (they) would’ve spoken to us has to be backed up with actions. We are hopeful but we expect things to happen. We want it to happen in a systematic way where we are consulted and we are real partners with (the administration).”
BELINDA WILSON, BUT president, speaking to the media during the tour of renovations at Stephen Dillet Primary School yesterday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
SENATOR ATTACKS RAID FILM from page one
commentary that suggested the interaction was linked to corruption. Dr Darville, former Progressive Liberal Party minister of Grand Bahama, vowed to have the matter “thoroughly investigated to the fullest extent of the law” in a press statement yesterday.
“I wish to voice my concern about this irresponsible and vindictive behaviour; and the attempt to vilify my wife,” the statement said. “My wife Susie, is a minister of the gospel, a law-abiding citizen and an individual who has been doing business in the Grand Bahama community for two decades, prior to my entrance into front line politics. “It is extremely distasteful that citi-
zens of our country are being targeted and vilified, primarily based on affiliation with the Progressive Liberal Party, or in my wife’s case, because she is a family member of a former member of the Cabinet. “I remind Bahamians far and wide, that despite our political affiliation, we should all be our brother’s keepers, and should seek to lift each other up, rather than tear each other down,”
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 17, 2017, PAGE 7
Immigration immune from deficit cutbacks from page one
Symonette said. “When people talk about it being a slow process, it’s a slow process.” Inside his office on the fourth floor, boxes filled with files littered the floor. Pointing to one cluster, he told The Tribune it represented a collection of work permit applications of Haitian nationals that have been living and working lawfully in the country for the past decade. He said he planned to fast track those files in a bid to reduce a backlog that grew incrementally by the thousands each month. “They would normally have to get enrolled, scanned, put on an agenda, have a board meeting, so to get rid of the backlog I will sign these off without all of that happening,” he said. “There’s always consideration being given to speed up the process but there are several different problems, and this applies to all permits. Quite often the full requisite number of documents are not sent in, so they’re missing something. Sometimes when they’re sent in, they can’t find the file. “There are at least, probably a 1,000 applications minimum per week in this building, of all types. We probably do about 5,000 applications a month, that’s coming in. “We fall behind on the best of my estimation about a 1,000 a month that we just cannot process because of restrictions, so I’m going backwards every month.” From 9am until around noon, the department is filled to capacity with ap-
MINISTER of Immigration Brent Symonette pictured during his discussion with Tribune Chief Reporter Ava Turnquest. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff plicants in a line that spills out the door and oftentimes down the street. At present, there is no capacity to filter incoming persons and their requests for citizenship, permanent residence, residency, spousal permits, annual visitor and work permits. “You will see every floor is flooded with people, so we have some serious problems,” Mr Symonette said. “All of it is not our fault, a lot of it is, but a lot of people come here and their delivery postal address is general post office. They don’t have minutes on their phone, they switch their phone or they see a number come up they don’t want to take the call. So we have letters waiting to be collected that we have no way of getting to these people, and they’ve been approved. “You don’t send in your birth certificate or it gets lost, and we do tend to lose a lot of documents, that’s a common complaint. Our registry where we keep all the files is too small. If I had it my way and money was no
object I’d move certain sections of the Department of Immigration out of here to free up other sections but we have to live with it.” The government has rented the Hawkins Hill building for more than 30 years, according to Mr Symonette, who noted that the previous administration renewed the lease for another seven years last term. Since taking up the post, Mr Symonette said he’s reinstated a few policies implemented under the last Free National Movement administration like the extension of work permits to two or three years, and is looking to reinstate his authority to issue permanent residency for spouses. Mr Symonette said he’s also established an agreement with the Registrar General’s Office that will allow immigration officials to look at birth registers to determine independently whether someone has a Bahamian birth certificate. This will drastically reduce waiting times for document verification at the Carmichael Road De-
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tention Centre. Progress Mr Symonette told The Tribune that significant progress could be achieved without introducing additional legislation but policy changes. The department is in the midst of transitioning to a new computer system, and the updated programme promises to both modernise and expedite services. However, he maintained that the high volume of permits was bolstered by an “insatiable demand” for foreign domestic labour. “There is an insatiable demand by people who live in this country to have people work in their houses and gardens. You would be surprised. A lot of Bahamians don’t want to work in those positions, (but) they’ll work at a hotel. “I tried it the last time I was in here, to stop issuing permits for gardeners and some of the people were almost ready to kill me. Mr Symonette continued: “The main problem here
that people don’t recognise is volume, just pure volume and there is a lot of corruption involved. People who have false birth certificates. “Digitisation will do a lot of things we’ll be able to track applications. You can track an application down to who last touched it (at the Passport Office), so if we can do that here there will be no excuse for losing files. Where it is, what has come in, and the file just moves electronically as opposed to what you see here of boxes moving up and down floors. You take a picture in the morning there are people lined up on the sides, each floor is full of people just trying to get something done.” During his national address last month, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced a variety of conservative fiscal measures, including a ten per cent cut in spending in all government ministries and no new public sector hiring. Yesterday, Mr Symonette said: “Austerity has
not really hit immigration, we were able to increase in this year’s budget by about $400,000 the amount of money to be spent on repatriation of illegal immigrants, so we have more money in that area. We’re potentially ready to engage a number of recruits so you’ll see if you look at my budget, the emoluments side has gone up by some $4m because of some new trainees that are coming in. “It’s a huge number, an overinflated number at one time, but we will reduce the amount of overtime. Immigration has a tremendous, overtime bill because of the airports, the various islands we have to cover. So hopefully the new recruits will reduce the overtime bill so there will be a savings that can be transferred over.” The department spends more than $200,000 a month on overtime pay, he said. As for the out of order bathrooms, Mr Symonette said they are coming back into service gradually.
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PAGE 8, Thursday, August 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
No major repairs needed to Grand Bahama schools
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net PUBLIC schools on Grand Bahama did not require major repairs this year because of previous repair work that was done following Hurricane Matthew, according to officials on the island. Quinton Laroda, area vice-president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, visited a few schools this week and is expected to tour some others on Thursday
and Friday. “I looked at a few schools today (Wednesday), and work is underway, but major repairs had been done after the hurricane around November and December, and so I suspect there won’t be as much (repair) work needed as in the previous years,” he said. The schools visited by Mr Laroda were the Jack Hayward Senior and Jack Hayward Junior High Schools in Freeport, and the Bartlett Hill Primary School in Eight Mile Rock.
He said workers were on site at the Jack Hayward Junior High campus on Settler’s Way. “I also spoke with one or two principals and the superintendent, and there are no major concerns. But, I will do an official tour of the schools tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. Last October, several government schools on Grand Bahama had sustained severe storm damage, especially the Bartlett Hill Primary, Martin Town Primary and the Eight Mile
Rock High Schools in Eight Mile Rock, and the Lewis Yard Primary School in Hunters, as well as schools in Freeport, including St Georges’ High. However, major hurricane repairs had been completed at all the schools. The Tribune contacted Harcourt Brown, undersecretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, who confirmed that contractors have been mobilised and are in the schools effecting the necessary repairs to schools in Grand Bahama
and Bimini. He believes that school repairs will be completed in time for the reopening of schools on Grand Bahama in September. “There is going to be inspections carried out in a few days... and one or two contractors have already reported that they are pretty close to completion. And so, we are optimistic they will get it done within the timeframe allotted,” he said. “Repairs were going on in the schools post-Matthew
which was a separate set of repairs, and so the repairs they are engaged in now would have been just your usual wear and tear, and some bathrooms need to be re-outfitted and upgraded.” Mr Brown stated that all the scopes were done in accordance with the principals of each school following assessments by the Ministry of Education. When asked the cost of school repairs this year, the undersecretary said he did not know the figure offhand.
FORMER PILOT ADMITS HITTING FRIEND WITH BOTTLE AFTER ARGUMENT AT BAR
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER Bahamasair pilot was yesterday given an absolute discharge by the chief magistrate despite pleading guilty to striking his friend over the head with a beer bottle and damaging his eyeglasses following a heated bar argument and scuffle last month. Richard Marshall, 65, stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann FergusonPratt facing one charge of assault with a dangerous weapon and one charge of causing damage concerning his July 1 argument with his friend, Godfrey Fernander, at a liquor store on Meadow Street. During the argument,
Marshall struck Mr Fernander over the head with a Bud Light beer bottle, and also damaged his eyeglasses worth $639.63, according to a summary of facts presented by the prosecution. According to the prosecution, both Marshall and Mr Fernander were at the bar/liquor store in question around 3.30pm on July 1 when Mr Fernander, the virtual complainant in the matter, spoke to Marshall about getting a bag of ice for him. Marshall sharply retorted by telling Mr Fernander to suck his a**, according to the prosecution. A physical altercation followed, and at some point, Marshall approached Mr Fernander brandishing a
beer bottle. Mr Fernander extended an arm to keep Marshall at bay. Nonetheless, Mr Fernander was struck on his head with the bottle. A struggle followed, resulting in Marshall falling down. Mr Fernander consequently held his friend down, adamantly telling him to stop doing what he was doing. Mr Fernander eventually released Marshall, who then attempted to secure another bottle to attack him, according to the prosecutor. It was at this time that Mr Fernander left to notify the authorities. The matter was reported and Marshall was subsequently arrested and interviewed, and ultimately charged.
While in police custody, Marshall admitted he was involved in an argument with Mr Fernander and that they were all drinking and being loud. Marshall agreed with the summary of facts read by the prosecutor yesterday. As the summary of the facts were read to Chief Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt, however, she mentioned that the entire situation was “very disappointing” and that she did not expect such actions from “a senior man.” Marshall’s attorney, Jomo Campbell, in pleading to the chief magistrate to exercise her lenience, said the scuffle was the result of a heated discussion about certain sensitive topics between the two, com-
pounded by both men being “merry” at the time of the incident. Mr Campbell noted that his client, a resident of Seabreeze Drive, is a father of two and a grandfather with a clean police record and zero pending matters in any jurisdiction. Mr Campbell said his client is “extremely embarrassed” by the situation, and requested that the court be as lenient as possible considering the circumstances. Nonetheless, Chief Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said she was “lost for words” in trying to understand how, at “this age and stage,” a man who has been both a “model” citizen and Bahamasair pilot could have been involved in such a
matter. She also stated her view that Marshall should not drink unadvisedly. Marshall would has been ordered to pay for the full repair of Mr Fernander’s glasses, however, the court was informed that he had already submitted a payment to Palmdale Optical for Mr Fernander to have his glasses repaired. The chief magistrate ultimately stated that it would not be “expedient” to inflict any punishment on Marshall in view of the circumstances, and discharged the former pilot “absolutely”. Marshall consequently thanked the chief magistrate for her lenience and promised her that he would never do it again before leaving the court with family and friends in tow.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 17, 2017, PAGE 9
BPL fraud: More staff face sack
from page one She said the company takes the matter surrounding the missing funds very seriously and intends to “go through the necessary channels” to reclaim all money lost, adding that BPL will “follow up” with police to “ensure justice and guard against similar actions in the future.” BEWU officials said yesterday that they have not been officially presented with a copy of the findings, and have been left to put the pieces together with “the little things” disclosed in letters given to the terminated employees. “Today, all the managers involved have returned to work. Three managers involved . . . they are back at work today and we are (left) awaiting the fate of our members,” Mrs Bodie said. She maintained the employees terminated were acting under directives and never carried out a transaction that was not sanctioned, approved, signed-off and finalised by management at BPL. According staff at the company, employees in the department in question are required to, with any transaction, process claims under the guidance of senior personnel. This means that all transactions would have to go through an authorisation process, checked and approved by a manager, further processed by the employees and then finally signed off by that supervising manager. Furthermore, all cheques used would have had to have been made out to a vendor recognised and sanctioned by BPL, and if any issues are raised, the audit department would step in, it was claimed. To this end, Mrs Bodie
said the scheme was fostered through blatant mismanagement and errors on the part of general workers and management alike. “There were 44 cheques cut fraudulently for 16 different companies,” she told The Tribune. “(They) were instructed and did exactly that. They didn’t come up with these transactions and made these arrangements, they were instructed by their bosses,” she claimed. “But today, these employees, now former, are being (brought) out as if they were the minds and muscle behind this well-thought out scheme,” the union representative said. “This is wrong. This is awful. There is no way this should happen like this. No, the union isn’t condoning theft in any way, our point is don’t railroad the employees in a scheme created and carried out by persons in management and give the impression that only they were a part of it.” Yesterday, Ms Osbourne called on union officials to exercise patience as the investigation continues. “The public should know that this investigation is not completed as yet,” she said in a statement sent to The Tribune. “Over the ensuing weeks based on the evidence there will be further terminations as management properly considers the evidence gathered. “Persons terminated today are not the only ones involved in the scheme. Any individuals who may be higher up in the organisation and found to be culpable will also be terminated. “The employees’ union should have confidence in management and the board that everyone who actively conspired to defraud BPL will be terminated, irre-
ONE of the workers fired from Bahamas Power and Light, who said she did not want her face shown, told The Tribune she is upset to be out of a job and does not know how she will make ends meet. Photo: Ava Turnquest/Tribune Staff spective of who they are,” the chairwoman said. “The union should be encouraged to exercise patience and await the full implementation of the investigative report.” Aftermath In a tearful interview Wednesday, one of the terminated employees who agreed to speak with The Tribune if kept anonymous, said she was left devastated by the ordeal. The employee said she couldn’t put into words how she could be “used” and “thrown to the side” after more than five years with the company, for doing things she “did every day”. “This is something I can’t explain or even put into words because it’s still
hard for me to understand. School is opening in a couple of weeks and I am out of a job because, according to this letter, there is suspicion that I was involved in (a) fraudulent scheme.” With tears in her eyes she added: “I did what I was told; nothing new, nothing strange. The same thing I did every day; I was here. I checked off what I need to check off and I followed all the guidelines as presented to me on day one. Now today, I am being pushed out with my name tied to theft and fraud. “One cheque. I was tied to one cheque that I saw no issues with. I was told put together the invoice left on the desk of a temporary employee and put it in for vetting. I did that,” she told
this newspaper. “Now I am left to deal with this. I am a single mother. I have to get my kids ready for school. I have so much to do and now this. There is no way to put how I feel into words,” she said. Police in May announced that an investigation was launched into the alleged theft of a large amount of money at BPL. In the months since, the scope of the scheme has been uncovered to be larger and costlier than initially suspected. Officials have said it is likely people will be prosecuted in relation to the investigation. When contacted this week for comment on audit report’s findings, Works Minister Desmond Ban-
BANKER’S KILLER GETS 20 YEARS
from page one
murder, but was criminally liable on the lesser charge of manslaughter, Albury said: “F*** dread.” Smith’s partially decomposed body was found shortly after 2.30pm on December 21, 2015, at his St Alban’s Drive apartment. Smith was a sports coach and was employed at Pictet Bank & Trust Ltd. He was also a former president of the New Providence Volleyball Association. On the first day of trial, the jury heard that Albury allegedly had confessed to his relatives that he had
fatally stabbed the banker, who had hired him to do a paint job at his apartment for an upcoming holiday gathering when the victim had made a sexual advance towards him. The second day of trial, Smith’s housekeeper testified that in the three months she had known Albury, the accused had been to Smith’s apartment on three occasions and on two other occasions, the accused and Smith were seen in the victim’s vehicle drinking. The prosecution’s final witness was forensic pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, who testified that the wounds to the victim, which included
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a slit throat, were unlikely to have been caused by a painting knife as Albury had told police when interviewed in custody 14 days after the incident. At the close of the prosecution’s case, Albury was asked by Senior Justice Watkins to indicate whether he would remain silent at his trial or elect to give testimony under oath. Albury elected to take the stand and spoke of how his
accepting a “compliments to the season” Hennessey drink from Smith when he arrived at the apartment before he started the job, spiraled into a scuffle and stabbing after the banker made a sexual advance at him. When cross-examined, it was suggested to Albury that in his voluntary record of interview in police custody, he made no claim that Smith had made a pass at him.
Albury said it was shameful to speak about the alleged action, so he withheld the information. The convict also denied that Smith was running away from him. However, he conceded that Smith had no weapon. Albury was asked why the chairs in the living room were overturned if the scuffle had occurred upstairs and Smith had collapsed at the foot of the stairs. The accused said when he
nister promised that the government will be “fully transparent” with the information presented once it is reviewed. In May, BEWU President Paul Maynard contended “there will be hell to pay,” if his union members remained on suspension while managers at the power company “go unscathed”. At the time, he insisted employees were being accused of sending in invoices from fake companies, getting a cheque for the amount and then using someone in a local bank to cash the cheques. Mr Maynard added then that the scheme was “elaborate” and could not work if only junior staff were involved.
left Smith there, he could not say that he was still alive and that Smith might have overturned the chairs. Albury conceded that he turned himself in with a lawyer 14 days after the incident. However, he claimed that he told his relatives what happened the day after and not December 29/30 as the jury heard. Albury also conceded that he burned the clothes he wore on that day.
PAGE 10, Thursday, August 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
To sleep, perchance to dream of a world with less stress
“Happiness is not the absence of problems, it is the ability to deal with them.”
T
HOSE of us that can sleep, wake up each day to some really beautiful mornings, they are truly blessed; it is still cool that early, the birds are singing and the world seems at peace. I am fond of breakfast corn beef and grits or boil fish with Johnny cake is an excellent way to start; occasionally an Irish breakfast with eggs, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, black and white puddings and soda bread. A start like that should surely herald in a great day, but all too often it is shouting at the kids and rushing out the door with nothing to eat, late for work and school. The morning drive. A blissful start? More stress? I live in the east and actually savour the traffic; the Eastern Road is straddled by some of the most gorgeous trees that I have ever seen. If you are driving fast, you fly by without a thought, but stuck in traffic the “Pink Poui” tree covers the side of the road with its pink blossoms, the golden shower tree is as descriptive as it looks with a profusion of yellow blooms, the colours of the bougainvillea must leave us all speechless, the red and yellow poinciana and my personal favourite the “Shaving Brush Tree” with its purple bris-
tles reminding me to shave. Sadly my guided imagery therapy is soon interrupted by some idiot hooting and cutting past me racing to nowhere and then with its fearsome sirens and racing buses our protectors “The Police” force me off the road and back into anxiety as they race past taking prisoners to court. Most of them are simply going down to have their remand extended, which they enjoy as they can see people and try to get contraband. Surely a video-link would save the mad bus ride and allow me to enjoy the beauty of the trees on the Eastern Road! Work is where we spend most of our days, it should be a place where we are energised and empowered to be our best; a place where satisfaction and rewards are created. That is not always the case, humiliation and even sexual harassment do occur and some have become so cynical and fed up that they have reversed the sexual harassment and are sleeping their way up the corporate ladder. This particular tactic whilst very profitable for some is of course really upsetting the rest of the work force. Perhaps your lunch hour could provide some solace, there are certainly many places where a peaceful meal with friends can be pleasant. The problem occurs if you have some other jobs to do; the endless queues in the bank, or bills to be paid. Some of our fellow travellers are polite and
A POLICE traffic stop downtown - as new police officers learn the ropes of one of those things that adds stress to the day. professional, others make our blood boil with their arrogance and rudeness sending us back to work with a sour taste in our mouths. This makes it a challenge for us to be polite to our customers. Time to go home, back to the traffic, the road rage, and the effort to avoid the jitney juggernauts. There are no flowering trees now, just cars, trucks and pollution from multiple exhausts. It becomes tempting to stop for a drink, this could make me feel better but all my family at home feel a lot worse. The anger increases when the police stop cars to
check the vehicle registration, I understand the need for law and order, but I am tired I am just going home, the thoughts turn to questions. ‘Why me? Why not search for thieves and killers?’ It is so critical that we work with the police why erode that trust by “yukking up my vexation” on my way home in the ever slowing traffic. Let’s hope everyone is returning home to a loving, happy family, it is a dream that we all aspire to; but if home is harping and hateful your mental state will continue to spi-
ral downwards. There are, of course, many strategies for dealing with the chaos of normal life - exercise, positive thinking, a bit of good luck, social support, prayer and spiritual help and of course even mental health professionals can assist with changing thought patterns and talk therapy. When I am away in other countries and admit to being a psychiatrist, I often hear the refrain: “There must be no work for you in The Bahamas, it is a paradise.” It could be, it should be but right now there are so
many mental health issues facing the nation that a whole psychiatric convention would struggle to know where to begin, let alone the few trained mental health professionals available. Not to worry the day is over it is time for bed. I really hope we can all sleep well. • Dr Mike Neville is a forensic psychiatrist who has practised for more than 40 years in The Bahamas, working at Sandilands, the prison and in private practice. Comments and responses to mneville@tribunemedia.net.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 17, 2017, PAGE 11
University reveals appointments THE University of The Bahamas recently announced several key administrative appointments at the Oakes Field and UBNorth campuses. Dr Vikneswaran Nair, PhD, is dean of graduate studies and research in the Office of the Provost. In his post, Dr Nair will recommend a structure for the Office of Graduate Studies and Research to evolve into a graduate college. He will manage and supervise the office and, in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, identify strategic partners for the development of dual and joint graduate programmes and research initiatives. UB also announced the appointment of Dr Peter McWilliam as the dean of faculty at UB-North, formerly the Northern Bahamas Campus. Prior to his appointment, Dr McWilliam served as the head of the Department for Secondary Programmes (2009-2012) in the School of Education. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing a number of initiatives such as undergraduate and graduate level curriculum development. Dr McWilliam has taught at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels both nationally and internationally. He has been a faculty member in education since 2004, teaching primary and secondary mathematics education courses. He has also served as a faculty member in the academic units of mathematics, physics and technology and business and hospitality management at the Oakes Field Campus and UB-North. Dr McWilliam has written and published mathematics text books for the primary and secondary school levels. He has also presented his research findings at many national and international conferences and seminars. J Desmond Keefe has taken the post of executive director of culinary arts and tourism studies. Mr Keefe has over 20 years experience in the field of culinary and hospitality education. He has focused on professional development and scholarly activity and has extensive experience as a culinary educator and administrator. These have been as a direct result of his expertise in culinary and hospitality education and his commitment to personal and professional excellence as illustrated by published textbooks and other writings and presentations. Mr Keefe has a master of education degree with a concentration in nutrition from Cambridge College and an undergraduate degree from Johnson & Wales
CLOCKWISE from top left, Dr Pandora Johnson, Dr Peter McWilliam, Dr Davidson Hepburn, Dr Danny Davis, Desmond Keefe and Dr Vik Nair.
University. UB also announced the appointment of Dr Danny Davis as the assistant vice president of institutional strengthening and accreditation, Office of the Provost. Dr Davis joined UB in 2002 and taught chemistry for a number of years before serving as registrar. As registrar, he spearheaded transition of many manual legacy processes to the PowerCampus student data system, most notably the move to online registration and online grade submission. Dr Davis also served as project manager for The College of The Bahamas’ transformation to university project that was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The consummate scientist, Dr Davis, is leading an air quality monitoring programme focused on particulate matter emissions associated with landfill fires in New Providence. Dr Pandora Johnson has been announced as the strategic partnerships and initiatives liaison in the Office of the Provost. In the post, Dr Johnson coordinates strategic academic affairs partnerships and initiatives, leveraging both existing and new
strategic partnerships to advance and grow UB’s teaching, research, scholarship, creative activities and outreach agenda. In conjunction with the Office of the Institutional Strengthening and Accreditation, she assists with gathering information for quarterly key performance indicators on such partnerships and initiatives. UB also announced that Dr Davidson Hepburn is the founding executive director of the Government and Public Policy Institute (GPPI). In this post, Dr Hepburn will collaborate with the Office of the Provost to oversee the drafting of policies and procedures to guide the operation of the Institute and determine staffing requirements for effective programme delivery. In this role, he will build and maintain linkages with local, regional, hemispheric and international agencies to facilitate policy research, consultancies, conferences, seminars and workshops; solidify collaborative arrangements with the ministries responsible for education, the public service and foreign affairs; and maximise opportunities for research funding.
GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT CONSULTING SERVICES FOR PREPARATION OF A WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR UTILITY AND NON-UTILITY SERVICE AREAS IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS.
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Commonwealth of The Bahamas WSC Support Program Water and Sanitation REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CONSULTING SERVICES Loan No.: 2624/OC-BH Project No.: BH-L1028 Selection Process No.: 237/2/FIDCON-EOI The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC), has received support from the Government of The Bahamas and loan financing, (Loan No: 2624/OC-BH-L1028) from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), for the WSC Family Island Development. Under the loan, is the Development of a Water Supply Development Strategy for Utility and Non-Utility Areas in the Family Islands. The objective of the consultancy is to: Design a Water Supply Development Strategy (WSDS) for Utility and Non-Utility Areas in the Family Islands. The WSDS will define an integrated management approach between the Ministry of Works and Urban Development (MWUD); WSC, the various sector agencies; and the Private Sector; to provide for full coverage of water supply in the Family Islands in the Bahamas. Once developed, the Strategy will be used as a guide for developing policy options and for implementation of water supply expansion and monitoring led by the MWUD. This will be consultancy will last approximately 6 months. WSC now invites interested eligible consulting firms to submit Expressions of Interest for the provision of these consultancy services. Consultants should be: A.
A qualified firm in the field of policy formulation, rural water, sanitation planning, engineering, economic appraisal and environmental protection and will provide the necessary expertise in order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives and activities relating to the Project.
B.
A team including the following: Team Leader; Public Policy Specialist; Planning/ GIS Specialist; and a Design Engineer.
The successful firm/consultant shall be required to prepare various reports measuring the program’s progress against agreed benchmarks. These reports shall be submitted monthly. The key staff members of the successful firm/consultant will work in New Providence, and periodically on approximately 25 selected Family Islands, and the Consultant’s base of operations. Expressions of interest must be faxed, e-mailed or delivered to the addresses below on or before Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 2:00 pm (Nassau, Bahamas time). Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the InterAmerican Development Bank: Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the Inter-American Development Bank Bank (GN-2350-9) and is open to all eligible consulting firms as defined in the policies. Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours (9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m., Nassau, Bahamas time). Queries
Submissions
Cyprian A. Gibson Assistant General Manager Family Islands Division Water and Sewerage Corporation 38 University Drive P.O. Box N-3905 Nassau, BAHAMAS
General Manager Water and Sewerage Corporation 38 University Drive P.O. Box N-3905 Nassau, BAHAMAS
PH: (242) 302 5546 / 376 8463
PH: (242) 302 5507 / 557 5012
E-Mail: wccgibson@wsc.com.bs C/O wcmcunningham@wsc.com.bs cc. wceadams@wsc.com.bs
E-Mail: wcedonaldson@wsc.com.bs C/O wcmcunningham@wsc.com.bs cc. wcmcox@wsc.com.bs
Attention: Mr. Elwood Donaldson Sr. Assistant General Manager Internal Control and Compliance
PAGE 12, Thursday, August 17, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Govt wins appeal over challenge on documents for immigration
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net THE government has won its appeal of a Supreme Court judge’s ruling that called for its disclosure of all relevant documents relating to its immigration policy. Justice Rhonda Bain ordered the discovery while presiding over an ongoing judicial review action brought by an alleged victim of the government’s immigration reform policy that was implemented on November 1, 2014. The judicial review concerns Widlyne Melidor, 21, who alleged that she was repeatedly denied access to a local clinic and that her son was not allowed to attend school in The Bahamas because to the new immigration policy. Fred Smith, QC, Dawson Malone and Martin Lundy II represent Ms Melidor and her son in the judicial
review. The respondents in this legal action – former Minister of Immigration Fred Mitchell, former Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald, the Columbus Primary School Board, former Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez and the administrator of the Fleming Street Community Clinic – were given until December 2, 2015, to comply with the court’s order for disclosure of the documents. In her judgment handed down on August 14, Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen set aside the judge’s orders of discovery made on November 11, 2015, and said the costs of the appeal shall be the appellants to be taxed, if not agreed. She ruled that the judge hearing the case did not critically examine the request to determine specifically what documents were included in the category; whether they existed or
had been in the possession custody or power of the appellant; whether they were relevant and, whether they were necessary to assist the court in fairly disposing of the issues in the proceedings. Dame Anita forecast that a rehearing of the discovery application will result in the “filing of more paper, the waste of judicial time, further delay and more expense,” but noted that remittal of the matter was unavoidable. “Clearly,” the judgment read, “the learned judge simply adopted the respondent’s submission, and decided the issue on the basis that they had applied for discovery of particular documents. She did not critically examine the request to determine specifically what documents were included in the category; whether they existed; whether they were, or had been in the possession custody or power of the appellant; whether they
were relevant; and, as provided by rule 13(1), whether they were necessary to assist the court in fairly disposing of the issues in the proceedings.” It continued: “It is incumbent on a judge hearing such an application, to consider all the relevant facts and circumstances. Regrettably, the judge simply regurgitated the evidence, the submissions, and the authorities, but did no analysis of the particular circumstances of the case before determining that the requested documents were necessary to assist in fairly disposing of the issues. “Inexorably, none of the procedural missteps alluded to above were identified in the notice of appeal, or challenged by counsel for the appellants in this court, however, that does not prevent this court from taking such matters into account when disposing of an appeal.”
Ms Melidor seeks judicial review of the Immigration Department’s policy requirement for persons born in the Bahamas to carry identity papers proving their right to reside in the country; and the decision to refuse consideration of her citizenship application until she is able to produce a Haitian passport, special residency or Belonger’s permit. She is seeking relief in the form of a declaration that the decisions were ultra vires, or without legal authority; a declaration that the minister of immigration is in breach of his duty to determine her citizenship in a timely manner; and orders of certiorari to quash each of the decisions. She has also requested orders of mandamus: to require the minister of immigration to consider her citizenship application according to law and within a reasonable time; to require the minister of education and the Columbus Primary
School Board to register her son, Petroun; and to require the minister of health and the administrator of the Fleming Street Community Clinic to provide access to medical care for herself and her dependents. At the time of the application, Ms Melidor was 39 weeks pregnant with her fourth child. She has since given birth. Dame Anita’s judgment continued: “In as much as the learned judge failed to take into account the circumstances of the case in determining the necessity of the requested documents to the fair disposition of the matter, remittal of this matter is unavoidable. “In the premises, I would allow the appeal and remit the matter to the Supreme Court for the application to be properly considered, and disposed of, and I would further order the costs of this appeal and in the Court below to be the appellants to be taxed if not agreed.”
BUSINESS LEADERS TURN BACKS ON TRUMP NEW YORK Associated Press WITH corporate chieftains fleeing, President Donald Trump abruptly dismantled two of his White House business councils Wednesday — an attempt to manage his increasing isolation and the continued fallout from his combative comments on racially charged violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Trump announced the action via tweet, although only after one of the panels had already agreed to disband earlier in the day. A growing number of business leaders on the councils had openly criticized his re-
marks laying blame for the violence at a white supremacists rally on “both sides”. “Rather than putting pressure on the businesspeople of the Manufacturing Council & Strategy & Policy Forum, I am ending both. Thank you all!” Trump tweeted from New York. The decision came as the White House tried to manage the repercussions from Trump’s defiant remarks a day earlier. Presidential advisers hunkered down, offering no public defense while privately expressing frustration with his comments. Some Republicans and scores of Democrats denounced Trump’s statements as putting white supremacists on equal moral footing with counter-protesters in Charlottesville and called for an apology. Most of those Republicans, including congressional leaders, did not specifically criticise the president. Leaders of the four major branches of the military — who typically avoid political debate — have all issued statements decrying racism and extremism. Trump himself stayed out of sight, tweeting occasionally about a primary in Alabama, the stock market and, once, his campaign slogan. Midday, he traveled from New York to his golf club in New Jersey for the night. The president told associates he was pleased with how his press conference went, saying he believed he had effectively stood up to the media, according to three people familiar with the conversations who de-
UNITED States President Donald Trump. manded anonymity because and Policy group, led by they were not authorised to Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, concluded afspeak publicly about them. Business leaders felt dif- ter a 45-minute conference call in the morning that ferently. Denise Morrison, chief they would end the council executive of Campbell and announce their deciSoup, declared she was sion in a statement, accordleaving Trump’s manufac- ing to two people familiar turing council, saying, “The with the discussions. They president should have been insisted on anonymity to — and still needs to be — discuss private conversaunambiguous” in denounc- tions. In a subsequent call ing white supremacists. CEOs had begun ten- with Trump, the president dering their resignations agreed it was the right from White House panels course of action. He tweetafter Trump’s initial com- ed before they could anments following the Satur- nounce the decision they’d day violence. The first to reached — making it apstep down, Kenneth Frazier pear it was his choice. Publicly criticising the of Merck, drew a Twitter tongue-lashing from the president and resigning president. Later, Trump from his councils is a signifcalled those who were leav- icant step for big-name coring “grandstanders” and porate leaders. Though the insisted many others were policy influence of such advisory groups is sometimes eager to take their places. On Wednesday, he ap- questionable, simply meetpeared to be pre-empting ing with Trump with TV the CEOs own decision to cameras going is valuable face-time for the executives disband. Members of the Strategy — and for the president.
HELP WANTED Grant’s Town Wesley Church Family is presently and urgently seeking a suitable Ordained Minister to work full-time in the church. Age 35 -55 years old Minimum five (5) years’ experience Preferable Married Seminary Graduate An Ordained Minister Spirit Filled Priorities Visit the sick and shut-in Spend quality time with the aged members Spend quality time the Youth/Young People Preparing to Preach Prepared to Teach/Mentor Prepared to Counsel Prepared to visit Prospective Members Prepared to visit Community Residents Vision Oriented Tel: (242) 326-8092/326-8614 Fax: (242) 356-0854 P.O. Box N-3047 Email. gtwesley@coralwave.com
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 17, 2017, PAGE 13
Exciting times at Graycliff
ERIKA Davis showing a machine at Graycliff’s Chocolate Factory in 2012. The property is presently in the process of developing surrounding properties as it expands its operations. I WENT by West Hill Street last week and was very encouraged to see the developments being carried on by Graycliff’s owners on the properties adjoining and across the road from the original restaurant. The restaurant has evolved, over the years, from an excellent eatery into a comprehensive tourist attraction which includes a boutique hotel, winery, cigar store and chocolatier. Graycliff is now a hotel, restaurant, manufacturer and retailer. Who knows what is in their future plans. This all grew out of a house built in 1740 and now includes, among other properties, a disused church building and convent which were across the street. Why do I bring this up now? Well, there are two reasons. Firstly, I had not
been by there for some years and was surprised and happy to see the creativity and growth which has contributed and continues to contribute so much to the Nassau tourism product and the livelihood of many Bahamians. Secondly, this is a living example of what can be done with the redevelopment of downtown Nassau about which there has been a lot of discussion for the last decade.
This redevelopment was recently put on top of the “to do” list by the Minister of Tourism. I hope that the plans will include not only new and exciting structures and open spaces but also include the preservation and creative development of historic buildings. If this is done, Nassau will be an exciting mix of old and new which will appeal to a broad spectrum of travellers.
PAGE 14, Thursday, August 17, 2017
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‘We’re fighting for the cure our sister couldn’t receive’ IN the midst of the fun and revelry of last Saturday’s CIBC FirstCaribbean’s “Soca Party for the Cure” cancer fundraiser, two sisters recounted the story of losing their sibling to cancer earlier this year. Standing side-by-side, Jan Minnis and Nell Nairn remembered their sister Vernique Nairn and explained why they felt the need to support the event, which was organised to help raise money in support of the 6th annual CIBC FirstCaribbean “Walk for the Cure” campaign. “We just wanted to be able to help somebody else, and at the same time have fun. And I thought, ‘What better way to celebrate my birthday than remembering my sister? Last year was the last birthday I celebrated with her, so coming to this [event] is just a way to stay connected and remember her and her fight,” Nell said. Hosted by The Natural Empress and featuring music played by popular local DJs AI, Ming, and Bravo, scores of supporters showed up to demonstrate their support for cancer awareness. For these three sisters, however, it was more than just a night of fun. On May 11, Vernique lost her battle with colon-gastric cancer, leaving two children, ages 5 and 17. “She was unable to be diagnosed properly, so we never had a real opportunity to fight for her,” Dorothy said. “She went to do a medical [exam] for a new job she got, and during that time she had some complications. One thing led to another until she ended up with a blockage and then they found out she had cancer. “When it was time for her to receive chemo, we didn’t know what stage she was in. So she took 12 rounds and
after that she went back to work, just hoping that all would have been caught. It was a guessing game.” Lack of awareness leads many people to suffer the harsh effects of cancer unprepared. Andrea Sweeting, president of Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, had this to say at a recent press conference to announce the launch of this year’s “Walk for the Cure” campaign: “One of the big things we have to think about is not just the walk itself in October, but the awareness that the walk raises. It gets people thinking, ‘Okay, it’s time for me to get tested, to get screened.’ “I think that all too often people aren’t getting screened early enough, and so part of this campaign is educating people about what cancer is all about, what you may or may not be susceptible to, and then working with the organisations that are providing screenings, etc.” Dorothy echoed these sentiments. “Things like your mammogram and your pap smear – those are very important. If someone who had cancer was able to get those tests and get diagnosed early… I don’t know, but maybe they’d have a better chance than [my sister] did. Because if she hadn’t been sent for her medical, she may not have known until even later. So getting your regular checkup should help.” Through the 6th annual “Walk for the Cure” campaign, the team at CIBC FirstCaribbean aims to raise $100,000 this year. All funds collected will be donated to various cancer awareness and support organisations in the Bahamas. The company has received support from many
FROM left, Radio personality Big L; DJs Bravo and AI.
SISTERS Jenell Nairn, left, and Janice Minnis, who lost their sister, Vernique Nairn to cancer in May, show their support at the CIBC FirstCaribbean Soca Party for the Cure. sponsors, including the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, whose team donated the event space for the soca party. The main “Walk for the Cure” fun run/walk will be held on October 1 in New Providence and September 30 in Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, and Abaco. Members of the public can participate in the walk by completing a registration form at any CIBC FirstCaribbean branch. Registration fees are $20 for adults and $12 for children (ages 13 and under). Anyone interested in becoming a part of these events can visit their nearest CIBC FirstCaribbean branch or contact Maya Nottage at (1-242) 302-6063 for more information.
EARLY birds soak up the event atmosphere.
CIBC FirstCaribbean Marketing Manager Maya Nottage and British Colonial Hilton Hotel Marketing & Leisure Manager Rakel Dean smile for the camera during Saturday’s festivities in support of cancer awareness and the “Walk for the Cure”.
ATTENDEES clear the way for this guest to show his skills on the dancefloor.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, August 17, 2017, PAGE 15
ALICIA with some locally caught lobster tails, left, and David with a deep drop misty grouper in Abaco. Photos: Alicia Ann & Mr Rees