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Attorney General says trust Christie over deal details By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  AMID questions surrounding which “worldclass hotel and casino operator� will acquire Baha Mar and the concessions awarded to bolster the deal to open it, Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson, QC, said there is no need for concern, adding that Bahamians should “trust� that negotiations are being handled by the “capable hands� of Prime Minister Perry Christie. Despite the prime minister divulging some details of the deal including payment of money owed to contractors and workers among other things, public discourse
FAMILY IN TEARS AS MAN IS SHOT DEAD IN FREEPORT
following his announcement on Monday night focused on his failure to give specifics on the deal’s concessions and the lack of a clear indication of the operator set to buy the $3.5bn project. He also was not specific regarding the development’s opening date, only saying that its doors were expected to open no later than the end of winter 2017. However, in responding to questions from The Tribune yesterday, Mrs Maynard-Gibson defended Mr Christie insisting that despite the lack of key information during his address, he remained focused on acting in the best interest of Bahamians.
TOURISM CHIEF TO SHOW EFFORTS IN FIGHTING ZIKA
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net A DAY after health officials confirmed three additional cases of the Zika virus in New Providence, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said his ministry has ramped up its marketing machinery to convey the message that The Bahamas is doing all it can to guard against the spread of the virus. There are four confirmed cases of the virus in the country, all of them in New Providence The West End and Bimini MP said his office is working closely with both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment SEE PAGE SIX
SEE PAGE TWO
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis accused the Christie administration yesterday of using its time-worn tactic of “smoke and mirrors�, hitting out that “secrecy and lack of transparency� have clouded the deal to complete the Baha Mar project. Dr Minnis also questioned the timing of the government’s announcement on Baha Mar, which came just hours after the country was downgraded
by international rating agency Moody’s. Insisting that the announcement was proof that the government was trying to hide “suspicious deals�, he called the lack of specificity troubling given the high stakes that hinged on the resort’s success. “It is apparent that the embattled Prime Minister Christie and his PLP government are once again trying to use smoke and mirrors to hide the broken promises made by the PLP,� he said. SEE PAGE THREE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net  TRANSPORT and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin has urged residents living in areas affected by Hurricane Joaquin last year to pay attention to weather warnings, as severe flooding is expected in those islands from tomorrow morning. The islands she warned to be on alert are Long Island, Ragged Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Inagua. Her statement came after weather forecasters said a strong tropical wave located a few hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands has a 50 per cent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone through Thursday as conditions become more conducive near Hispaniola and the southern Bahamas. SEE PAGE SIX
FNM SAYS BAHA MAR DEAL IS ‘SMOKE AND MIRRORS’ By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
RESIDENTS TOLD TO BEWARE AS WEATHER TO BRING FLOODING
THE MOTHER of the victim in tears crying for her son yesterday.
Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A MAN was shot dead in Freeport on Tuesday, pushing the homicide count on the island of Grand Bahama to 13 this year. Police received reports of gunshots heard in the Fawcett Lane area and on arrival discovered the lifeless body of a man on the side of the road. Inspector Terecita Pinder reported that the victim had sustained gunshot wounds to the body. SEE PAGE EIGHT
OFFICIALS remove the body from the scene in Fawcett Lane, Freeport.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
MAN ACCUSED OF INVADING HOMES AND RAPING VICTIMS By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after he was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court concerning three home invasions and sexual assaults. Randy Brown, alias Raymond Rolle, appeared before Magistrate Saboula Swain facing three counts of burglary, two counts of rape and a count each of attempted rape and robbery concerning three incidents between May and August of this year. SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Wednesday, August 24, 2016
PRIME Minister Perry Christie pictured during his national address on Baha Mar.
THE TRIBUNE
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PM is defended over Baha Mar from page one “Significant details were in fact given,” she told The Tribune following the morning Cabinet session. “We were uncompromising to advance the opportunity for thousands of employees to be paid and the list was given of what they would be paid. That’s a detail. So I do hope that people will recognise the truth is that very significant details were given. “The negotiations with the government are ongoing and at the appropriate time the very same prime minister that those persons said they trusted will give the appropriate information. I would urge us all to stay focused (and) let us
continue on the journey that we are on. “As you can see that project is in very capable hands. The negotiations led by our prime minister have led to the wonderful outcome that we all hoped and expected to happen.” Asked whether there was reason for Bahamians to be concerned, Mrs MaynardGibson said: “Our prime minister is someone who is a man who has stayed focused. This is a good day for The Bahamas and a good day for Bahamians. “You look at his entire political history. Thank God he has been focused and assiduous in fighting for Bahamians and nothing has changed now.” On Monday night, during a nationally televised
address, Mr Christie confirmed speculation that an agreement had been reached between the government and the ExportImport (EXIM) Bank of China. Under the terms of the agreement, Bahamian contractors still owed money will receive a significant portion, if not all, of their claims, while thousands of former Baha Mar employees will receive outstanding amounts due to them, he said. Mr Christie said the deal had been had been approved by Justice Ian Winder of the Supreme Court around 5pm Monday. “This agreement represents a signal achievement for The Bahamas and a milestone in the troubled history of Baha Mar,” Mr
Christie said from the Cabinet room, flanked by members of his government and others on Monday night. “For some 20 months, I have been continuously focused, day and night, on efforts to find a solution for the completion of the Baha Mar project. Throughout this period, the government has had three key objectives: firstly to ensure that construction at Baha Mar would be resumed as quickly as possible. “Secondly, to make every effort to ensure that the casino and casino hotel, the convention centre and its hotel, and the golf course would open before the end of the 2016-2017 winter season and thirdly to ensure that payment of claims to Bahamian creditors and contractors, who previously had little or no prospect of recovering anything from Baha Mar. “We have achieved all of these objectives,” Mr Chris-
tie stressed. He said that under the heads of terms signed between the government and the EXIM Bank, “remobilisation at Baha Mar will commence immediately.” “Construction at the site is expected to resume within a few weeks, during the month of September,” he added. “The bank has committed to fund all remaining construction costs to complete the project. China Construction (America) will finish the works, and will resolve outstanding claims with its suppliers and sub-contractors.” The opening of the 2,000 plus room resort was scheduled for December 2014, but was delayed to March 2015 and again to May 2015. Baha Mar’s developer Sarkis Izmirlian filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States on June 29, 2015; however the Supreme Court rejected the resort’s application for the matter to
be recognised here. A US judge later threw out the bankruptcy application for Baha Mar’s Bahamian companies, because it was made clear by the Bahamas court that the Delaware judgment would not be recognised. The prime minister claimed that to recognise a judgment of the Delaware court would have compromised The Bahamas’ sovereignty. Joint provisional liquidators (JPLs) were appointed in September 2015 to protect and prevent the depletion of the resort’s assets before an expected full winding-up of the resort took place. However, the resort was placed into receivership last October. Mr Christie has contended that going the route of Chapter 11 proceedings in Delaware would have left Bahamian contractors with the prospects of being paid little to nothing.
BAHA MAR’S TROUBLED TIMETABLE November 2005 - Baha Mar officially announced by Sarkis Izmirlian in partnership with Harrah’s and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Groundbreaking set for 2007 and opening 2010. March 2008 - Harrah’s pulls out of the resort development. March 2009 - Baha Mar signs formal agreement with China State Construction Engineering Corporation with China Construction America (CCA) as builders. February 2011 - Construction crews break ground, work funded by China Export Import Bank $2.45bn loan. July 2014 - Baha Mar officials confirm opening date will not be met. December 2014 - Baha Mar misses scheduled opening. March 2015 - Suggested ‘soft’ opening date missed. May 2015 - Another opening date missed,
no further dates announced. June 2015 - Developer Sarkis Izmirlian files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States. July 2015 - Government moves to seize and liquidate Baha Mar, Supreme Court refuses to recognise US court bankruptcy proceedings. August 2015 - Baha Mar files Chapter 11 reorganisation plan removing CCA from the project. September 2015 - Joint provisional liquidators appointed by Supreme Court October 2015 - More than 2,000 employees laid off, receivers appointed April 2016 - Prime Minister Perry Christie holds bilateral meetings with high ranking Chinese officials. August 2016 - Prime Minister announces re-mobilisation of the resort, work to start in September.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 24, 2016, PAGE 3
PM ANNOUNCEMENT ‘SIMILAR TO BTC 2% DEAL’ By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney has accused Prime Minister Perry Christie of executing his usual “song and dance” routine in his announcement that construction at the $3.5bn Baha Mar resort is expected to resume by September. Mr McCartney said the prime minister’s actions on Monday night were eerily similar to his behaviour during the 2014 announcement that the government had successfully negotiated the return of majority stake in BTC to the Bahamian people - flanked by grinning ministers and cameras, but offering very little, if any details. Under the terms of the agreement announced by Mr Christie, Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China has committed to fund all remaining construction costs to complete the project. Additionally, China Construction America (CCA)
BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY, leader of the DNA. would resume and complete construction, and then sell the property to a “worldclass hotel and casino operator”. Moreover, Bahamian contractors still owed money will receive a significant part, if not all, of their claims, while thousands of former Baha Mar employees will receive outstanding amounts due to them. However, Mr Christie stopped short of naming the operator tapped to buy the resort once completed. Mr McCartney accused the prime minister of being
selectively tight-lipped with the information he presented on Monday. According to him, Mr Christie glossed over information that would have clarified the terms of negotiation between the EXIM Bank, CCA and the Bahamian government. “But our prime minister can be clear when he wants to be,” Mr McCartney said. “He was very clear when he announced that the Chinese Export Import Bank had agreed to fund ‘all remaining costs to complete the resort’ and that CCA
will finish the work. “… The same CCA that has failed to meet two of its own self-imposed construction deadlines, will be given hundreds of millions, possibly over a billion dollars to finish a resort that they messed up in the first place,” he added. The former Bamboo Town MP asserted that Mr Christie, in all his “pomp and glory”, sought to evoke a sense of pity from the Bahamian people for all the “hard work” that he and his team had done to jumpstart the Cable Beach mega resort. However, Mr McCartney claimed that Mr Christie has again failed to point out his intimate role in creating “this mess.” Mr McCartney said for 20 months, Bahamian people, workers, investors and contractors owed millions by the resort, had to suffer and watch with “utter bewilderment” as CCA was able start construction on another hotel development, the Pointe, “right in front of their eyes.” He said Bahamian peo-
ple went from being assured that they would get 100 cents on the dollar, to being promised “a significant part, and possibly all the value of their claims”. He questioned why Bahamians are not being used to complete the resort. “We also note as well that the government of the Bahamas and the Bahamian utility companies, such as BPL/BEC, will receive payment for ‘some’ of their outstanding claims against Baha Mar,” Mr McCartney said. “So the Bahamian public purse, that was already being depleted, will have to take another hit so that a Chinese construction company can be made whole. What happened to CCA taking a cut for their outstanding, unsubstantiated, questionable billings that we have read so much about?” Mr McCartney said the only commendable detail that could be derived from Mr Christie’s address was that former Baha Mar employees would receive money owed to them.
He further speculated that the payments due to these former employees would be taken out of the unpaid government taxes owed to the government by CCA. He said a real deal would have been providing opportunities for Bahamian contractors to complete the resort, collecting all the taxes that were owed to the Bahamian people, paying the thousands of former workers their outstanding monies and getting the country from underneath a construction company that “appears to have this government by the throat.” Mr McCartney said he is very interested to know what sort of concessions were given to CCA to make this deal possible on the eve of a Moody’s financial downgrade for the country. He further speculated that the Christie administration was forced into this deal as a result of Monday’s credit downgrade and CCA’s move to ship their workers out of this country after delays in the permit applications at The Pointe.
FNM SAYS BAHA MAR DEAL IS ‘SMOKE AND MIRRORS’ from page one
“Is it a coincidence that only hours before the national address the country’s credit rating was once again downgraded by the international rating agency Moody’s? “(Monday’s) hastily convened address does nothing to satisfy the needs and worries of the Bahamian people. The lack of specificity only proves that the prime minister and the PLP are trying to hide the suspicious deals they have made with the Chinese since the prime minister was unwilling to reveal what additional concessions were demanded by the Chinese in order for them to agree to the deal.”
During a live broadcast on Monday, Mr Christie announced that construction at the stalled Baha Mar resort is expected to resume in September, putting the property on a track to fully open no later than winter 2017. Mr Christie did not take questions at the press conference, remaining tight-lipped on which “world-class hotel and casino operator” would purchase the Cable Beach development and the concessions granted in exchange for arriving at a deal between the government and the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr Christie said, Bahamian contractors still owed money will receive a significant por-
tion, if not all, of their claims, while thousands of former Baha Mar employees will receive outstanding amounts due to them. Mr Christie said the deal had been approved by Justice Ian Winder of the Supreme Court just two hours prior to the broadcast, around 5pm. Yesterday, Dr Minnis welcomed the deal “on behalf of the thousands of unemployed Bahamians.” Pledging his party’s commitment to stand and fight for the Bahamian people, Dr Minnis called on Mr Christie to immediately release all the details of the agreement to the public. “The prime minister and the PLP have already failed us multiple times on the Baha Mar resort and
now that their jobs are on the line they are willing to do anything to get the resort opened before the next election,” he said. “The prime minister must come clean with the Bahamian people and answer the following questions. How many Bahamian jobs will be given to the Chinese? How many citizenships will be given away to Chinese nationals?” Dr Minnis said: “Will the Bahamian contractors get paid in full the more than $100 million they are owed before construction starts again? “Will Baha Mar pay the millions of dollars they owe in unpaid utility bills before additional utility services are supplied for construction?”
FNM Deputy Leader K Peter Turnquest yesterday raised concerns over the language used by Mr Christie during the broadcast, pointing to inconsistencies with his earlier statements concerning the shuttered resort. He noted that it was not unusual for a financier to complete a project in receivership as a way of protecting its investment. “Not many people will take on an unfinished project,” Mr Turnquest said. “In respect to Baha Mar, there has been all kinds of rumours of defective work or sabotaged works so it will be very difficult for any investor to get involved at such an open-ended stage. “The prime minister omitted to mention a buyer after having told us for
months that these buyers were lined up. Come to find out the only news is that the investor is going to do all it can to protect its investment, that was fully expected.” “The prime minister said that they gave the usual or appropriate concessions, but what does that mean? We have already given millions in terms of concessions, so what additional did we give?” He added: “He also changed his story in going from insisting that contractors will receive all funds owed to them, to now using qualifying words that they will receive a significant portion or all. He said that to try and make the case that if you don’t get all it’s still good because it would
READERS GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON BAHA MAR ANNOUNCEMENT THE Prime Minister’s announcement that construction on Baha Mar will resume in September, in a bid to open the resort by the end of winter 2017, sparked a lively reaction from readers on tribune242.com. Alfalfa said: “I love the thought process of this announcement. The Government had nothing to do with the problems resulting in the stopping of the project, nor did it interfere with the ‘liquidation process’ but they take full credit for putting together this ‘fantastic deal’ in which the Chinese will own everything. There is no way that this hotel can ever be profitable, and service a 3 plus billion dollar debt, so in the end the lender will own the property, which was their goal in the first place.” John took issue with the Prime Minister’s sporting analogy: “Ironic that the prime minister will compare the signing of an agreement to restart and complete construction at Bah Mar to Shaunae Miller’s dive across the finish line to claim first place and a gold medal. When Shaunae took the dive and slid across the finish line, she knew that it was the last and final move she had and, regardless of the outcome, her race was finished and her position in the line up was complete. With Bah Mar this is definitely not a dash across the finish line and in fact, even if this was a relay, most people, Bahamians especially, do not even believe it is the anchor leg of the project. Some may even doubt that Bah Mar has reached the third leg of its race to success. Some feel it is just a political ploy (election soon come) and the concessions given to The Chinese and others to get Bah Mar to get moving is still top secret.” Proudloudandfnm asked: “Is this like the BTC announcement? Still looking for those 2% shares . . .” Jackbnimble said: “Listen, this government is very good at DEFLECTING. How is it this announcement is being made at the same time that Moody has
announced another downgrade?” But Birdiestrachan offered this: “The doom and gloom people will not like this announcement at all. They will have to find something else to beat up their mouth over.” RobG wondered: “So when will they address the travellers already promised
airfare, stays and comps from the last opening delay?” Casino105 wasn’t impressed: “Nothing has changed. Not one word stating the real truth. Will the contractors be paid 100%? What else did he give the Chinese? I don’t know if the Bahamas has anything left for the people. The problem still exists that no one is going to buy this place, the ratio of debt is too high to make a profit, if even pay the mortgage. Don’t forget, he said they would pay some of the electric bill, not all of it. How nice is that, when I have to pay all of mine? Just
more talk to cover things up.” ThomasLewis said: “PGC has to prove himself because for the past year he has been giving hope and painting a lavish picture that things will be good soon. Until there is some movement and actions SEEN with the bare eyes there is nothing happening.
As from my experience of Baha Mar and observation we will need more than a year for infrastructure to be put in place and also to re-
ignite the enthusiasm that once was.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, August 24, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
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Some vacation spots benefit as travellers avoid Zika NEW YORK (AP) — With government officials now warning pregnant women to avoid Miami Beach in addition to Puerto Rico — with The Bahamas now added to the list — some sun seekers are desperately scrambling for a Zika-free vacation. And that has left other tourist destinations to capitalise — quietly. Travel experts say families worried about Zika are now looking to Arizona and Southern California to get some sun, along with cooler weather locales such as New England and Canada. The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes or through sex with an infected person. In pregnant women, a Zika infection can cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly, where babies are born with a dangerously small head. In others, it can lead to Guillain-Barre, which can cause temporary paralysis and in rare instances, death. That was the case earlier this month of a man between 35 and 45 years old who died in Puerto Rico after being infected. Given that background, many wouldbe vacationers don’t want to take the risk. Jen LeFante and her husband Chris are expecting their first child in March. The New Jersey couple had wanted to escape to Puerto Rico or the Florida Keys for some relaxation before the baby arrives. “But it seems like every travel destination we picked is on the Zika list,” she says. Instead, they are doing a number of smaller, driving trips including ones to upstate New York and Vermont. “I’d much rather be on a beach,” LeFante says. Bermuda has seen several groups move meetings and conventions there from Caribbean islands, according to Glenn Jones, director of public and stakeholder relations at the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “That’s been a welcome and unexpected boost to our business this summer,” Jones says. However, the island nation off the coast of the Carolinas has been careful about how it handles the situation. Educating tourists who ask about the absence of Zika is fine, but don’t expect a marketing campaign around it. “There is a delicate balance there,” Jones says. “We don’t proactively seek to capitalise on this.” Ingrid Kessler takes a vacation every few years with 10 family members, spanning three generations. This year’s adventure was planned for Riviera Maya in Mexico. But with two members of the group at child-bearing age — and older members with compromised immune systems — that plan was scrapped because of Zika. Canada’s Banff National Park was briefly considered as an alternative but the group wanted beach time and the chance to go scuba diving. So Bermuda won out. Such travel shifts worry tourism officials in destinations with Zika. Miami is the first spot on the US mainland where the virus has been transmitted by mosquito bites. The tourism industry has a lot at risk. More than 15.5 million people made overnight visits to Miami and nearby beaches in 2015, with an impact of $24.4 billion on the local economy, according to figures from the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. Some of that business is likely to go elsewhere. Visitors’ bureaus in some other desti-
nations either said they didn’t have proof of a Zika connection to their growth or were hesitant to speak about the bump, fearing that they might be perceived as gloating in somebody else’s misery. But clues to the shift have surfaced, including in regulatory filings of publicly traded companies. James Murren, CEO of MGM Resorts International, said on a recent earnings call that Las Vegas was benefiting as vacationers book away from Florida. “As sad as that situation is in Florida, I certainly don’t want to benefit from it as a result of that, but I can say that we’re seeing a pickup in air traffic and in driving traffic even in the last couple of months,” Murren said on August 4. That has hurt a particularly popular part of the travel business: honeymoons and so-called babymoons, trips prior to the arrival of a new child. For those destinations with Zika warnings, there has been a significant loss in business. During the first half of this year, the average hotel occupancy rate in Puerto Rico fell from 78.6 per cent to 74.8 per cent, according to STR, a firm that tracks hotel data. May was particularly devastating with occupancy falling to 67 per cent. The luxury Belmond La Samanna hotel on St Martin lost $700,000 in revenue — a 12-per cent drop — in April, May and June as guests stayed away due to concerns over Zika, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Marriott International also said that its hotels in the Caribbean, Latin America and Mexico saw declining performance due to Zika concerns. It’s too early to estimate the economic toll of Zika. There are added health costs, the loss of business and the lack of travel. The 2002 and 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was estimated by the World Bank to have cost the global economy $54 billion. The affected destinations aren’t sitting still. Some are rejiggering marketing campaigns, hoping to attract new audiences. Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, said the island is ramping up advertising efforts to lure baby boomers, retirees and gay and lesbian travellers. Magazines including Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler have been offering “Zika-Free Destination” guides, offering alternative destinations. They include Bermuda, Charleston, South Carolina, San Diego, Palm Springs, Hawaii and Arizona. And not every destination has to be warm-weather. “When travellers tell me they want a place that’s Zika-free, terrorist-free and affordable, I suggest Canada,” says Wendy Perrin, a travel expert who offers advice on WendyPerrin.com. Those who really want to head to Latin America are planning trips to places that are at higher elevations where mosquitoes don’t live, such as Machu Picchu in Peru, Mexico City and Bogota, Colombia, Perrin says. Perrin notes that mosquitoes have been spreading diseases like malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever for centuries, many of them deadlier than Zika. By Scott Mayeroswitz, AP Business Writer
Chase for College payment EDITOR, The Tribune. I HAVE a problem with the College of the Bahamas involving money and do not know who else I can turn to about this. This May, as part of the graduation proceedings, the College held an award ceremony for students that did particularly well in their respective schools. On May 24th, 2016, as the student graduating with the highest GPA, I was awarded the Associate of Applied Science Culinary Arts Award, which was donated by Bahamas Food Services and Bristol Wines and Spirits. I later found out, with everyone else, that there was a monetary portion to the award. A small notice attached to a letter informed awardees that we should contact the College’s Business Office by the end of June to receive the monetary portion. After returning from a trip in early June, I contacted the College. I spoke to people at the Business Office, but no one knew about the prizes. Someone gave me a number that I should call about it, but it connected me to an offshore bank that had no idea what I was talking about. Trying the College again, they told me to go to Culinary & Hospitality Management Institute (CHMI) to ask about it there and I was informed that I should come back after June 30, not by the end of the month. I waited until July to try again. I tried a few different numbers, hoping to find out if anyone knew what I was talking about, but would simply get trans-
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net ferred a few times before reaching a number with no answer. Every few days, I would visit the College, trying to find someone to talk to in Accounts Payable and was eventually told to talk to Academic Affairs or to return to the Culinary side for more information. I visited CHMI a number of times during this process. The person I spoke with confirmed that she had put through a request for the prizes and had sent emails back in May to various departments, like the Business Office, about it. While I was speaking with her, she placed calls and sent the messages again. As two months had passed already, the messages would have either gone unnoticed or been forgotten. At this point, I was informed that other awardees had been having trouble getting their awards, too. To make sure that the cheque had been made in the first place, I went to Bristol Wines and Spirits for more information. I was informed that, yes, the cheque had been sent in. They gave me the cheque number, said that it was dated May 11th, and gave me the cheque’s amount. However, instead of waiting to hear who the recipient was supposed to be, they had simply written the cheque to the College. A representative from Bristol stated that they do not interact directly with the students with awards like this
and now that the cheque was sent in, it was out of their hands. They didn’t seem at all bothered by the fact that the money might never reach the intended person. Before going on to Academic Affairs, I tried calling the Business Office again, using various phone numbers. For days, the phone just rang or went to an unconnected voicemail. On July 19th, I finally got access to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and she already knew a bit about my problem. The office made a copy of my award’s letter and took some contact information from me. On the copy, I also included the cheque number, the date it was made, and who donated it. I have heard nothing since then and plan to start calling again soon. Accounts Payable refuses to continue the process until I have confirmation that Academic Affairs saw and signed the cheque. Honestly, I think that I’ve been led around by people that really just did not want to deal with me. Back in June, I was told the cheque would be good for six months. If it really was dated May 11th, I only have another three months to track it down. At the time of this letter, I do not know how many other graduates successfully received their awards. Whether or not anything comes of this letter, thank you for your time reading it. ISABELLA PIERI Nassau, August 23, 2016.
The scandal of Sandals job cuts
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE Sandals mess and the oblivious impotency of the Minister and the Director of Labour has an employer simply putting in the face of Law and no one seems to care. Redundant on Wednesday the job suddenly gone, miraculously by the following Monday five days later is
now not redundant! Sandals let go 600 persons - I presume paid redundancy pay say with years of service maybe an average of $6-8,000, average, so Sandals paid out in this exercise some $4-5 million probably more. When they reopen how much will they save? Almost the next morning after the redundancy
notices are issued they run a full page advertisement announcing a Job Fair. Shocked that an Anglican Parish would take rental money for their hall in this exercise.....does the Anglican Bishop endorse and support what the management of Sandals did or seems to have done?
Sandals I suggest needs to do some PR - is as the employees say Sandals Balmoral is the best resort of the chain? Or as a caller, Jamaican, to a Talk Show indicated that the Sandals Balmoral operates on a higher wage scale than any other of their resorts? Some say there was a high level of employee
stealing? Some say the attitude and work ethic of the employees was exceptionally bad and was hurting the resorts operation? Respond. The precedence of what has occurred with the sanction of the Government is frightening to the hard working employee---I have worked security today and bush crack gone a day later.
What do I tell my mortgage bank? Everyone knew threefour weeks ago that the resort was closing seemingly except those who were supposed to know - the Minister and Director of Labour. ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, August 20, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 24, 2016, PAGE 5
Demetrius Pinder’s mother hits out at Olympic selection By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE mother of “Golden Knight” Demetrius Pinder said her son is very distraught about being denied his chance for a second Olympic medal running for Team Bahamas in the men’s 4 x 400m relay in Rio de Janeiro. Enamae Pinder, of Grand Bahama, said that her son is very hurt and having a difficult time dealing with the coaches’ decision to cut him from the relays, and not being able to defend his 2012 Olympic title. Mrs Pinder contacted The Tribune yesterday very concerned about her son’s welfare. He is taking it hard and has “shut out” everyone, including his family, she said. Bahamians were disappointed when Mr Pinder was disqualified for a false start in the opening heat of the 200m but his family and fans hoped he would be able to redeem himself in the relays and help Team Bahamas retain their gold medal. The Bahamas team of Chris Brown, Michael Mathieu, Alonzo Russell and Steven Gardiner walked away in third place with the bronze medal, beaten by the US and Jamaica, which took the gold and silver, respectively. After being replaced in the relays, Mr Pinder called his family with the devastating news. “When Demetrius called us that day, I thought my child was about to die,” said Mrs Pinder. She said her son told her that he had the fastest time over two of the runners who ran in the relay in Rio. Following the devastation of not running the relay final, Mr Pinder reportedly cut off contact with everyone, including his family in
Freeport, according to his mother. “We could not even get in contact with him; he cut off contact from the world, and now he does not want to talk to anyone,” said the worried mother. “He commented on Twitter that he is finished, and cut off himself from everybody, and that he doesn’t want to be bothered. At one point someone was saying he was threatening to do things to himself, and I pray God that does not happen.” His sister was finally able to make contact with her brother by a text message on Sunday evening, according to Mrs Pinder. “They called over there to see if he was okay, we found out he was fine. But he still has not spoken verbally, only by texting. We heard from him only twice since then where he is so distraught and hurt from what they did to him.” Mr Pinder was still with the team in Brazil yesterday, and is expected to return to Texas. The family is upset about what has happened and is now pursuing legal advice. “We need a good reason as to why he was not put on that relay team. He was there for two weeks and he was fit to run,” said the runner’s mother. “Demetrius is a gold medallist who went to Rio to defend his title. Why would they put someone (to run in his place) who was not even named as part of the relay team and say he was not fit? How could they assume he was not fit if they never give him a chance to prove himself? “Demetrius left The Bahamas with the intention he was fit enough to run in the 200 metres and because he (had a) false start, he is not fit to run the 4 x 400 relay?” Mrs Pinder feels that her
son and The Bahamas were robbed of the opportunity for a gold medal because of the decision taken to cut Mr Pinder in the relay final. She felt that team leader Chris Brown should have spoken up prior to the finals if he was not comfortable with her son being cut. “Chris Brown got on radio and said he don’t know what went wrong in Rio why Demetrius was not placed on the team to run, and that he knew that they would have bring home the gold if Demetrius had run,” she said. She claims that the team coaches did the same thing at the IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas when Mr Pinder ran in the 4 x 400m heats, but was excluded in the finals as the team took the silver medal. Mrs Pinder said that four years of her son’s training and hard work went down the drain. “You could image four years of training gone down the drain; you don’t know if you will live to see another four years to go to another Olympic Games, and they took him there as an athlete in top shape, there was nothing wrong with him.” Stephen Newbold ran in the heats of the relay for The Bahamas and Gardiner ran in the final. Mr Pinder was the only member of the six-man squad not to feature in the event. “I have already spoken to a lawyer and they will get what coming to them if they don’t give us a satisfied report as to why Demetrius did not run on that team. My son is an Olympic gold medallist who went to Rio in hopes of defending his title and they put in a junior athlete over Demetrius,” she said. Mrs Pinder says she is having sleepless nights worrying about her son. “This is very difficult and I cannot sleep because I
DEMETRIUS Pinder pictured during the London Olympics - but his mother has now spoken out about his being denied a chance at a second Olympic medal competing in this year’s Rio Olympics. cannot hear from my child; I don’t know what is going on with him. He is not talking to us. He has shut him-
self off from the world, and so what are we supposed to do?” she asked. Mrs Pinder said she has
posted her feelings on Facebook and has got a lot of support from persons who have responded.
RAPPER SAYS HE WAS DETAINED BY POLICE OVER SONG HE WROTE CRITICISING PRIME MINISTER By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
THE composer behind a song and music video posted on social media last week in which Prime Minister Perry Christie and his family are negatively referred to, has been released from police custody after being detained over the weekend. The rapper, who identified himself as “Gee the Producer”, is behind a second song that negatively referred to Mr Christie and family this month. He claimed he was coerced into turning himself over to the police’s Cyber Crimes Unit last Friday. “Gee” said officers contacted him and asked if he could come in to the Central Detective Unit to answer a few questions about his social media post. “They said it would take two minutes at best. I asked what it was in reference to - they wouldn’t answer. The officer just kept asking me to come in to talk to them. Since I had nothing to hide or be afraid of I went in,” he said. “Gee” said he arrived at CDU shortly after 4pm on Friday. Once inside the facility, he claimed officers questioned him intensely over his connection to the now viral post. “I let them know right off the top that the song was all on me. The Empire Facebook page of which I am in charge of, there we do this freestyle Wednesday segment. In that segment, rappers would do a verse about things they want to speak to, and it was my turn. I wrote my verse and got ready to recorded it,” he added. “Gee” said shortly before recording his verse he was
made aware that another song insulting the prime minister had gone viral a few days earlier. On Thursday, August 11, police took two men into custody in connection with that song. They have since been released without charge. The song sparked debate on social media, with many agreeing that the song was vile, disrespectful and crossed the line. After looking into that matter, “Gee” said he, like many other musicians felt
that civil liberties were being infringed upon. He told The Tribune that the investigation into the first song propelled him to change the lyrics of his rap. “I was aware of the law on freedom of speech, and I just wanted to give my take on the matter. So changed my lines up a day before we did the video. I knew it was a risk because I heard about what happen to those guys and wanted people to understand that music is an art and that rap just reflected what was going on in the
community.” “Gee” said while he was sure his track would get some attention, he had no clue that it would have resulted in the firestorm that followed. “I spent all Friday at CDU. I called my lawyer and police explained to her that I would have to be held until Saturday morning. Saturday came and officers refused to explain to me what I was being charged with or if I was going to be charged at all,” he said. “I spent Friday night at
the Central Police station and Saturday night at the Cable Beach police station - at no point did they tell me what I was being held for. All they did was question me over the song and asked me what I was thinking while I did it,” he claimed. “Gee” said he does not feel like he committed an offence because he was only attempting to shine a light on the plight of Bahamians who are suffering throughout society. He said his music movement would not stop in the
future. He was released on Sunday at 6pm from CDU without being charged with any offence. When asked if he would seek legal recourse for his detainment, he did not respond.
PAGE 6, Wednesday, August 24, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Mark Humes calls his fellow FNM Rollins a ‘rabid animal’ By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement newcomer Mark Humes issued a scathing rebuke against Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins yesterday, likening the outspoken MP to a “rabid animal”. Mr Humes took issue with Dr Rollins’ recent comments about him on a radio talk show, stating emphatically that he and the Fort Charlotte MP “are not company”. On Monday, Dr Rollins accused Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner of undermining him in his constituency, allegedly telling his constituents that she intended to run Mr Humes for the seat if she was elected as leader of the FNM. Mr Humes contested the seat on the Democratic National Alliance’s ticket in 2012, ultimately losing to Dr Rollins. Yesterday, Mrs ButlerTurner dismissed the allegation as outrageous and erroneous, clarifying that she met with Mr Humes only once. She said the meeting took place well before of Dr Rollins’ decision to cross the floor and join the Opposition party. Mr Humes said that it was not an endorsement meeting, adding that the Long Island MP was a friend and that he was entitled to invite whomever he wished to community events. “We didn’t have a meeting in Fort Charlotte,” he said. “Andre right now, I don’t know why he just doesn’t go away easy. Andre and I aren’t company, and I don’t deal with hearsay, which is what he is going on. “I don’t need anybody to shop me in Fort Charlotte, I’m from Fort Charlotte. Unlike him, I don’t need anybody to introduce me or promise me to Fort Charlotte.” He added: “[Dr Rollins] needed Sears to walk with him. He didn’t have any real credibility and they
ANDRE ROLLINS, Member for Fort Charlotte, and, right, Mark Humes. recognised that Sears was ything that moves. tial number of calls from the one who came in here “I would just ask him residents for him to be their and vouched for him.” to respectfully, to just go standard bearer in the upHe was referring to the away quietly with the little coming election. area’s previous MP Alfred bit of dignity that he has. I Underscoring the desire Sears, who did not offer don’t understand how after on the island for a new rephimself for re-election in his failed representation in resentative, he suggested 2012. Fort Charlotte, he could that FNM Leader Dr Hu“I have credibility in Fort go to anybody else to ask bert Minnis was in a diffiCharlotte, he doesn’t. I’m them to let him represent cult position given his decnot sure why he’s upset at them. laration at the party’s July Loretta. Loretta is a friend “Long Island would be convention that Mrs Butlerof mine and I’m entitled to doing themselves a great Turner would receive the invite anyone to come to my disservice if they would nomination. home or where I go.” consider him or anyone else Dr Rollins suggested that Mr Humes said he was but Loretta Butler-Turner,” he would consider an indeasked by residents to cam- he added. pendent bid if he did not paign on their behalf due to Dr Rollins’ accusation receive a party nomination, Dr Rollins’ failed represen- came as he confirmed on adding that if he were suctation this term. radio talk show “Darrold cessful as an independent “He seems to be like a Miller Live” that he has he would join the Free Narabid animal, barking and been visiting Long Island tional Movement in Parliatrying to bite and infect an- in response to a substan- ment.
RESIDENTS TOLD TO BEWARE AS WEATHER TO BRING FLOODING from page one
“The alerts warn that those islands specifically, are likely to be affected by severe flooding beginning Thursday morning and potentially lasting 24 to 36 hours,” Mrs Hanna Martin said. “Severe flooding indicates high levels of water accumulations in residential areas,” she said, calling on all residents to take every necessary precaution to assure the protection of life and property. Basil Dean, deputy director of the Airport Meteorological Office, said that regardless of tropical cyclone formation, gusty winds and heavy rains are highly likely to accompany this system, beginning on Thursday morning, which “could result in severe flooding over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas, which includes Long Island, Ragged Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Maya-
guana and Inagua.” Mr Dean advised residents on these islands to monitor the system and be prepared to take quick and necessary action to minimise possible flood damage. “Drainage systems should be cleared of all debris between now and Thursday to maximise the free run-off of rain-water,” he added. Earlier yesterday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) cautioned the public to
“remain in a state of readiness” heading into the peak of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, with international weather agencies warning that this could be the “most active” season in almost five years. NEMA Director Captain Stephen Russell called on Bahamians to monitor the movement of all of the storm systems, and to “finalise plans for the remainder of the hurricane season in order to safeguard lives and protect properties.”
Capt Russell said in a statement yesterday that people should remain vigilant, particularly throughout September and October, which he said is “peak season for storms.” He also urged residents to check weather forecasts regularly for alerts and to ensure that their homes meet building codes to withstand hurricanes and that they have storm shutters. Capt Russell’s comments came as international weather forecasters reported that Tropical Storm Gaston, which developed as the seventh named storm of the season on Monday night, is expected to become an Atlantic hurricane by today. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revised its predictions for the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, saying this year could be the most active since 2012. Those predictions are a 70 per cent chance of 12 to 17
named storms forming, and the potential for two to four major hurricanes, according to reports. “At this time, weather experts are monitoring a number of systems in the Atlantic, and one is anticipated to pass very close to our chain of islands by this weekend,” Capt Russell said. “Although not a named system at this time, we saw where Hurricane Joaquin last year rapidly intensified while almost stationary off the central and southeastern Bahamas. “Therefore, we are urging all to continue to monitor the movement of all the systems, and to finalise plans for the remainder of the hurricane season in order to safeguard lives and protect properties.” The 2016 named storms are Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virgin-
ie, and Walter. Elsewhere in the Atlantic, Fiona is “barely maintaining” its status as a tropical depression, with its maximum sustained winds near 35mph. The depression, which is expected to become a “remnant low” in the next few days, is centred about 455 miles south of Bermuda and is moving west-northwest near 13mph. Last October, Hurricane Joaquin hammered the central and southern Bahamas after it strengthened into a category four storm. The slow moving storm left devastation in Long Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay in particular, destroying homes and buildings with strong winds and heavy flooding. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak period from September through to the end of October, according to experts.
TOURISM CHIEF TO SHOW EFFORTS IN FIGHTING ZIKA from page one to ensure that extra screenings are being carried out across New Providence and that those that test positive for the virus are receiving treatment. Mr Wilchcombe said tourism officials have to assure the world that the country is doing the best it can to get the matter under control. “Visitors will still travel, they will still come to the destinations as we are seeing in the United States, Florida in particular, we are also seeing in the rest of
the Caribbean that they are still coming, but they want to have the self assurance,” he said. “We are out there making sure that the message gets out. Our tourism officials, our marketing and public relations teams in the United States and throughout the world are getting the word out from the ministry and working closely with the Ministries (of Environment and Health) to make sure that the world knows that we are on top of this situation as best we can.” He added: “We are talking to our partners all over
the world, we are talking to the airlines, we are talking to the cruise lines, we are getting information out as best we can. But, of course, you have to realise that this is an issue that is very difficult in the sense that you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow; you don’t know what is going to happen next; you don’t know where the mosquito has been. “And so I think the general travelling public understands that because many are not allowing the mosquito to get in the way of their travel. They are still going to travel to the places
that they want to go, but when they get to the destination or before they come, they want to be assured that the country is not widespread with mosquitoes and that mosquito bites are not prominent.” Last night the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and Control (CDC) was reported to have added the Bahamas to the list of countries for interim travel advice regarding Zika. Canada and Taiwan have already issued Zika related travel warnings for persons coming to The Bahamas.
In advice that was posted last Friday on the Canadian government’s official website, the Bahamas was added to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s list of countries to avoid as a result of the Zika virus. The Canadian government recommended that Canadians practice special health precautions while travelling to affected countries. “Pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant should avoid travel to The Bahamas,” the post read. On Monday, Taiwan’s
Centre for Disease Control (CDC) issued a level two alert for persons travelling to The Bahamas. Under Taiwan’s threetier system, a level one travel warning urges vigilance and health precautions, while level two calls for a high degree of caution and strong protective measures, and level three advises against travel to or from a specified destination. Health officials have gone on record with expectations that more travel advisories are on the way, as the work continues to curtail the local transmission of the Zika virus.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 24, 2016, PAGE 7
Govt optimistic despite downgrade by Moody’s By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net STATE Finance Minister Michael Halkitis yesterday insisted that the government remains optimistic about the Bahamas’ economic future, despite Moody’s Investor Service downgrading this country’s sovereign credit rating one notch, from Baa2 to Baa3. While the rating agency lowered the bond and issue rating of the government, Mr Halkitis said the Christie administration was happy that it maintained the current investment grade and was given a stable outlook. The minister said barring any serious economic crisis, the government now has anywhere from 18 to 24 months before Moody’s takes any further action and can make the needed improvements. “Baha Mar and other developments will have a chance to contribute to the economy,” Mr Halkitis told The Tribune, “plus we get more time for our revenue and expenditure reforms to show more results. “So we regret the downgrade, but we see that there are also positive results.” Meanwhile, former Cabinet minister Alfred Sears, QC, who has also announced his intention to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie in the
Progressive Liberal Party’s upcoming convention, said the Bahamas now has an opportunity to change its economic strategy. “What we must not do is wring our hands and say ‘Oh, this is bad,’” Mr Sears said. “We should seize this moment and make the kind of structural changes that will put our national development on a more sustainable path. “Apart from the obvious need for fiscal restraint, what Moody’s ratings downgrade demonstrates most clearly is the need for a rational diversification policy, a robust growth strategy with specific targets and transparent and efficient governance practices.” He said projected GDP growth of under 2 per cent is insufficient to meet the country’s employment needs and generate economic growth. “It is time to change this unsustainable path. Let us pursue a growth strategy to expand productive sectors, empower Bahamians to own capital and produce sustainable and balanced national development,” Mr Sears said. The proposals put forward by Mr Sears, include an aggressive increase in Bahamian ownership and entrepreneurship, through incentives and private/ public partnerships, in all sectors of Bahamian
MINISTER of State for Finance Michael Halkitis. economy. In fact, Mr Sears proposed implementation said his proposals would of structured private/public diversify the economy by promotions of medical, herincreasing contribution itage, entertainment, sports of agriculture, maritime, and cultural tourism, with marine, technology and in- an emphasis on boutique novation hubs and cultural and bed and breakfast Basectors, each by 10 per cent hamian owned hotels to imto GDP over the next 10 prove the tourism product for both foreign and domesyears. Addressing the weak- tic tourists. Apart from avoiding ness Moody’s noted in the tourism product, Mr Sears ‘junk’ status, the Christie
COLLEGE TO STAY OPEN DESPITE PROBLEMS WITH ACCREDITATION By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net SOJOURNER-Douglass College officials yesterday said its Bahamas campus will “stay open” despite its accreditation woes, with the college’s president saying officials hope to remedy the problem within the next year. Dr Charles W Simmons, president of SojournerDouglass’ main Baltimore campus and its several satellite campuses, said the college is “actively working” to restore its accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a process he said officials envision “will last a further 12 months.” Still, in his August 22 letter to Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, Dr Simmons said Sojourner-Douglass intends to continue the operation of its location in Nassau, as well as under the name SojournerDouglass College. Dr Simmons said the campus is registered and approved to operate by the Ministry of Education until 2019. Dr Simmons also said he has been informed by former executive director of Sojourner-Douglass (Bahamas) Theresa MoxeyIngraham that she “intends to start the institution Freedom College” however, he said, the school is “not transitioning or changing its name to Freedom College.” Dr Simmons also said Dr Kevin Rolle has therefore assumed the role of director of the East Bay street location. Dr Simmons’ letter came over two weeks after this newspaper reported that the East Bay Street satellite school had shut down its academic operations for the rest of the year, and that school officials were in talks with another American institution for affiliation to have the institution reopen as soon as possible. At the time, Mrs MoxeyIngraham told The Tribune that the school had closed for effectively the entire fall semester and would not resume “until the begin-
ning of the new year.” The Tribune understood that Sojourner-Douglass (Bahamas) was not to conduct another semester until the new institution, reportedly Bethune-Cookman University (BCU), takes over. A letter purportedly from Sojourner-Douglass (Bahamas) officials that was obtained by The Tribune, revealed that the campus officially closed its doors as of July 29, 2016, and suggested that students continue their education at other institutions, if they choose to do so during that “interim period.” There was also mention of a partnership with Southern College to ensure a “smooth transition” to that institution should students opt to enrol there. It stems from the revocation of the college’s main campus’ accreditation as a result of financial issues. Without accreditation, Sojourner-Douglass is not allowed to receive the federal funding it needed to stay open, according to international reports. Last month, an article in the Baltimore Sun stated that Sojourner-Douglass’ main campus was not scheduling classes for the fall semester because it was engaged in a legal battle to regain its accreditation. According to the article, the (MSCHE) reportedly revoked the school’s accreditation in 2014, citing the school’s financial struggles at the time - including a reported $5m lien from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and denied SDC’s appeal of the revocation in June of last year. The commission reportedly warned SojournerDouglass in 2011 that it was in danger of losing accreditation because it lacked adequate financial resources. The commission reportedly gave the school three years plus a one-year extension to resolve its challenges. But commission officials reportedly said the finances remained unstable and that college officials had not satisfied the commission’s requirements. Sojourner-Douglass (Bahamas) has been in opera-
tion since 1988. The college also has satellite locations in other areas in Maryland, namely Owings Mills, Lanham, Cambridge, Annapolis and Salisbury.
administration can take positives from Moody’s decision to upgrade its outlook on this nation’s economic and fiscal prospects to ‘stable’. According to Tribune Business, this implies that the Bahamas faces no prospect of a further Moody’s downgrade in the short to medium term, with the rating agency saying it expect-
ed both the $6.778 billion national debt and economic growth to “stabilise” within the next two years. Moody’s, in an upbeat assessment of The Bahamas’ immediate prospects, said it expected this nation’s economic growth prospects to “strengthen” between now and 2018, returning to levels close to its 1 to 1.5 per cent.
POWER CUT ROTATION ‘SUSPENDED’ BAHAMAS Power and Light Company Limited (BPL) said last night that it has suspended outage rotations in New Providence following two days of “challenges”. A statement from the company said that customers would have experienced power cuts during the past 48 hours after BPL encountered problems with several generator units at Blue Hills and Clifton Pier power stations. Before the 6pm (evening
peak) on Tuesday, BPL officials confirmed that all of the affected units had returned to service. “Company officials admit that present conditions could lend itself to further generation challenges but at present they do not anticipate any generation shortfalls resulting in the need for continued outage rotations in New Providence,” the statement said. “BPL is confident that once the additional 40 meg-
awatts of rental power is operational, in September, reliability will significantly improve in New Providence. Additionally, with the extra rental generation operational, BPL expects to continue much needed engine overhauls to improve the output from its existing fleet. “In the meantime, BPL asks for its customers’ patience as it seeks to implement short and long term solutions to improve its services across the country.”
PAGE 8, Wednesday, August 24, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Murder trial for killing of student to resume Thursday By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A JUDGE presiding over the trial concerning the murder of a Doris Johnson Senior High School student assured a jury that proceedings will continue on Thursday after announcing that their presence would not be needed for another 48 hours. Justice Bernard Turner
yesterday admitted to the 12-member panel that the news “sounds like a broken record” but, he said, there was a matter that had to be resolved before they could return to hear evidence in the trial of three teens accused of murdering Adonai Wilson. The teens, aged 18, 17 and 15, face a charge of murder in the December 9, 2015 stabbing death of 16-year-old Wilson. They
were charged under Section 291 (1)(b) of the Penal Code, which does not carry the discretionary death or life sentence if a conviction is reached at trial. According to initial reports the 16-year-old boy was stabbed multiple times during an argument with several other students shortly after school was dismissed early because of exams. He died in hospital
a short time later. The incident took place around 2pm on Prince Charles Drive and a graphic cell phone video of the incident was spread on social media. The teens have retained attorneys Murrio Ducille, Roberto Reckley and Ian Cargill to represent them. Kristan Stubbs and Bradford McKenzie are prosecuting for the Crown. Yesterday’s trial was ex-
pected to resume after a three-day hiatus for the jury, who had been excused since last Thursday for legal discussions between Crown and defence counsel. When the matter was called into the courtroom at noon, an hour after the scheduled start, Justice Turner apologised for the news he would deliver to them. “There are occasions that you are asked to come
36-YEAR-OLD Randy Bain Rolle arrives at court yesterday.
to court prior to a circumstance which may arise. Again such a circumstance has arisen but at this point, I’m going to ask that you return to this court on Thursday, August 25. “I don’t have a crystal ball but I’m reasonably certain we’ll have some movement in the matter. And so I remind you all of the oath you took and ask that you continue to abide by it,” the judge added.
Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
MAN ACCUSED OF INVADING HOMES AND RAPING VICTIMS from page one The 36-year-old Sumner Street resident was informed that he would not be allowed to enter a plea to the allegations until he is formally arraigned before a Supreme Court judge. The first of three cases against the accused concerned the burglary, attempted rape and robbery
of a 22-year-old woman in her home on Monday, August 15. In that incident, a man broke into a woman’s home between the early morning hours of 1am and 5.25am and attempted to have sex with her. When the culprit allegedly failed to have his way, he took $25 cash belonging to the woman. Concerning another incident that occurred between
11.30pm on August 14 and 5.15am the next day, a man broke into a 56-year-old woman’s home and had sex with her without her consent. Then, between 10pm on May 21 and 2am on May 22, a woman was forced to have sex with a man against her will. Brown is alleged to be the suspect behind all three incidents and is scheduled
to return to Magistrate’s Court on October 17 where his cases will be forwarded to the Supreme Court. In the interim, he was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services to await trial. However, he has the right to apply for pre-trial release from the Supreme Court. Brown was not represented in yesterday’s arraignment.
FAMILY IN TEARS AS MAN IS SHOT DEAD IN FREEPORT from page one
“We are in the early stages of our investigations and we are aggressively combing the area, and speaking to the public about what happened and what they may have seen,” she said. The identity of the victim was not released up to press time on Tuesday, and police are continuing their investigation into this murder. Two weeks earlier, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Emrick Seymour, officer in charge of the Grand Bahama District, reported that the murder rate for Grand Bahama remained around the same to date compared to last year and assured residents that Grand Bahama is safe. At the time, police had solved 10 of the 12 murders this year. And ACP Seymour noted that most of the murders committed were the result of unresolved differences between persons. Anyone with information that can assist the police with their investigation into this latest incident is asked to call 911, 919, or the nearest police station.
THE MOTHER of the suspected victim is comforted at the scene yesterday. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
THE THETRIBUNE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 2016, PAGE Wednesday, August 24th,24, 2016, PAGE A99
UP, UP AND AWAY
TECHTALK
CHINA’S QUANTUM SATELLITE A MAJOR STEP IN SPACE RACE CHINA’S launch of the first quantum satellite last week will push forward efforts to develop the ability to send communications that cannot be penetrated by hackers, experts said. The satellite launched into space from the Jiuquan base in northwestern China’s Gobi desert will allow Chinese researchers to transmit test messages between Beijing and northwestern China as well as other locations around the world. If the tests are successful, China will take a major step toward building a worldwide network that can send messages that cannot be wiretapped or cracked through conventional methods. “It moves the challenge for an eavesdropper to a different domain,” said Alexander Ling, principal investigator at the Centre for Quantum Technologies in Singapore. “Lots of people around the world think having secure communications at a quantum level is important. The Europeans, the Americans had the lead, but now the Chinese are showing the way forward.” Quantum communications use subatomic particles to securely communicate between two points. A hacker trying to crack the message changes its form in a way that would alert the sender and cause the message to be altered or deleted. Researchers around the world have successfully sent quantum messages by land. But a true satellitebased network would make it possible to send quickly encrypted messages in an instant around the world and open the door to other possible uses of the technology. Cybersecurity has been a major focus in recent years for China, which has pushed regulations aimed at limiting technology imported from the US in the wake of Edward Snowden’s revelations of widespread surveillance by the US through the use of American hardware. China has, in turn, been repeatedly accused by the US of hacking into computer systems to steal commercial secrets and information that could harm American national security. China has rejected claims
A LONG March-2D rocket carrying the world’s first quantum satellite lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China’s Gansu Province. (AP)
that it runs a state-sponsored hacking program and says that it is among the leading victims of cybercrime. Quantum messaging could become a major defence against hackers and have applications ranging from military and government communications to online shopping. The biggest challenge, Mr Ling said, is being able to orient the satellite with pinpoint accuracy to a location on Earth where it can send and receive data without being affected by any disturbances in Earth’s atmosphere. The results of China’s tests will be closely watched by other research teams, he said. “It’s very difficult to point the satellite accurately,” Mr Ling said. “You’re trying to send a beam of light from a satellite that’s 500 kilometers above you.” Hoi Fung Chau, a professor and quantum communications researcher at Hong
Kong University, said that it was too soon to say if the tests will succeed, but added he expected quantum messages by satellite to become the global standard eventually. “The theory is already there, the technology is almost there,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time.” The launch is a major triumph for China, which has spent years researching quantum technology and developing the satellite and other uses for it. China has previously announced the construction of a quantum link between Beijing and Shanghai that would be used by government agencies and banks. Pan Jianwei, chief scientist on the satellite project, was quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency as saying the launch proved China was no longer a follower in information technology, but “one of the leaders guiding future IT achievements.” NOMAAN MERCHANT Associated Press
THE AIRLANDER 10, part plane, part airship, goes through pre-flight checks at Cardington airfield in Bedfordshire, England. (AP)
FIRST FLIGHT FOR GIANT HELIUM-FILLED AIRSHIP
A BLIMP-shaped, helium-filled airship considered the world’s largest aircraft flew for the first time last week with a short but historic jaunt over an airfield in central England. Engines roaring, the 302foot Airlander 10 rose slowly into the air from Cardington airfield. A hybrid of blimp, helicopter and airplane, it can stay aloft for days and has been nicknamed the “flying bum” because of its bulbous front end. The stately aircraft performed a circuit of the area - watched by hundreds of local people who had parked their cars around the perimeter of the airfield - before touching down about half an hour later. The Airlander is designed to use less fuel than a plane, but carry heavier loads than conventional airships. Its developer, Hybrid Air Vehicles, says it can reach 16,000 feet, travel at up to 90mph and stay aloft for up to two weeks. “It’s a great British innovation,” said chief executive Stephen McGlennan. “It’s a combination of an aircraft that has parts of normal fixed-wing aircraft, it’s got helicopter, it’s got airship. It can provide air transportation for people and goods without the need for a runway. But this thing can take more over longer distances, it’s cheaper and it’s greener.” The aircraft was initially developed for the US military, which planned to use it for surveillance in Afghanistan. The US blimp programme was scrapped in 2013 and since then Hybrid Air Vehicles, a small British aviation firm that dreams of ushering in a new era for
airships, has sought funding from government agencies and individual donors. The vast aircraft is based at Cardington, where the first British airships were built during and after World War I. That programme was abandoned after a 1930 crash that killed almost 50 people, including Britain’s air minister. That accident and others - notably the fiery 1937 crash in New Jersey of the Hindenburg, which killed 35 - dashed the dream of the airship as a mode of transportation for decades. Unlike hydrogen, the gas used in the Hindenburg, helium is not flammable. The Airlander 10’s successful journey was a milestone in the development of a vehicle that remains untested as a commercial proposition. Mr McGlennan is confident there will be plenty of customers for Airlander - civilian and military - because of its potential to gather data and conduct surveillance for days on end. It can also carry up to 22,050 pounds of passengers or cargo. The company hopes to have an even bigger aircraft, capable of carrying 110,000 pounds), in service by the early 2020s. Chris Pocock, defence editor of aviation magazine AIN, said the jury is still out on whether the craft is commercially viable. “Airships and hybrids have still got a credibility gap to cover,” he said. “Technically I think they are there now, but economically I’m not so sure.” JILL LAWLESS Associated Press
BAHAMAS TEAM GETS HACKING AT CODE 2.0 EVENT
A TEAM from the Bahamas took part in the second CODE Hackathon at the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations (CANTO) annual Conference and Trade Expo in Puerto Rico. CODE 2.0 was launched under the theme “Bridging the Caribbean Network” as part of CANTO’s overall objective to stimulate and
promote an innovative Caribbean ecosystem. It entailed 48 hours of non-stop coding by teams of programmers, who battled it out to create the most innovative ICT technology. This year’s developers utilised Genband’s Kandy.io - a state-ofthe-art, cloud-based, real-time communications software development platform - to develop next
generation integrated communications Apps. Four teams were engaged in the event - Team BAH CODE from the Bahamas offered “directly” an office directory solution; Team 404 from Suriname presented “call911”, a disaster management solution; from Belize was team Codeit, who presented “kapoint”, a customer service solution; and from Trinidad & Tobago
Team Raiora presented “saf-ty’, a disaster management solution. The competition was close and the judges had their work cut out before naming Team 404 of Suriname the winners. The judges said the quality of work presented by all teams continues to show the future generations will have something to contribute to us being more producers and less consumers.
• TWITTER has announced two new settings that will allow users to control what they see in their feeds and what notifications they receive. The short messaging service says it has modified its notification settings to include the ability to see only notifications from people a user follows. It’s also introducing what it calls a “quality filter” that it says can improve the quality of tweets users see. Twitter says the feature will filter out duplicate tweets or content that appears to be automated. The announcement from San Francisco-based Twitter comes a month after “Saturday Night Live” and “Ghostbusters” star Leslie Jones publicly called on Twitter to do more to curb harassment on the platform. Twitter banned one user in response to the incident. • APPLE’S next iPhones may adopt a key feature from smartphones manufactured by its biggest rival and include a curved screen. According to the Nikkei Asian Review next year’s lineup of iPhones could include three different and distinct variants: a “4.7-inch model, another that will be 5.5-inches and a premium handset that will be either 5.5-inches or larger equipped with a screen bent on the two sides,” the Review reported yesterday, citing a source familiar with Apple’s plans. The first two phones would sport the traditional flat screen, while the third handset would adopt a curved display similar to the one used by Samsung for its premium phones, such as the Galaxy S7 Edge and the Galaxy Note 7. • A FAKE messaging app inspired by the USA Network hacker drama ‘Mr Robot’ has been released as a video game for mobile devices. ‘Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltratiOn’ casts players as a stranger who finds a mysterious smartphone and begins communicating with the show’s characters through an app published by the fictional E-Corp. The game was developed by “Oxenfree” creators Night School Studio and published by Telltale Games. The app’s developers worked on ‘1.51exfiltratiOn’ with ‘Mr Robot’ creator Sam Esmail and show writer Kor Adana. The developers say the game takes place over the course of a week. • POLICE and the airport operators’ association in Germany are warning of the potential dangers of playing ‘Pokemon Go’ in some airport areas. They say so-called Pokestops beyond security controls should be deleted to prevent possible incidents. ‘Pokemon Go’ was rolled out in Germany last month and federal police and airport association ADV said that playing it at airports can bring “special dangers and risks”. They suggest that players avoiding security checks or opening emergency doors to catch their virtual quarry could cause “wide-reaching police measures and possibly civil damages claims”.
PAGE 10, Wednesday, August 24, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
SECURITY COMPANY OPENS NEW FREEPORT OFFICES By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net CANDID Security Limited opened its newly constructed corporate offices in Freeport demonstrating its success and growth over the past 19 years in Grand Bahama. The security company started by former police officer Cleveland Duncombe has significantly grown from a dozen employees to about 200. Friends, family, and well wishers, including Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville and Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Seymour attended the official opening on Friday at Polaris Drive. Dr Darville commended the Duncombe family on
their achievement. “This is a perfect success story that many young people and people in the community can emulate. I am proud of the accomplishments of the Duncombe family. I salute you,” he said. Mr Duncombe came from humble beginnings in Andros and relocated to Grand Bahama, where he joined the Royal Bahamas Police Force. After completing 10 years on the force, he decided to start a security firm. His sister Marcia Duncombe, came on as a business partner and serves as vice-president. The company provides commercial and private security, alarm response, and armoured car services, and executive protection. It is one of the largest security firms on the island.
The company has been a good corporate citizen, giving back to the community and also providing mentoring and scholarships to deserving students in Andros. Mr Duncombe, president and CEO, is known for his business ethics and professionalism and in 2008 was named Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s businessman of the year. The company has branched outside of Freeport, to Abaco and New Providence. Mr Seymour noted that Candid Security has grown from a small staff of 13, with one principal client in 1997, to now servicing over 45 clients and a staff of approximately 200 individuals, with offices on two other islands. “Candid’s steady growth is mainly attributable to the provision of high quality and efficient security ser-
vices steeped in a culture of ethics and integrity. As a chartered accountant, I am keenly aware of the critical role the security services firms, such as Candid play, in the overall system of internal control for private companies operating on Grand Bahama island, and indeed the Bahamas. “Specifically, Candid is a trusted fiduciary, charged with ensuring that its clients’ assets are properly safeguarded, reducing the possibility of theft, misappropriation and/or embezzlement,” he said. “Given the importance and sensitivity of its role, as a fiduciary, it is therefore necessary for Candid and other security firms, to ensure that its employees are properly and continuously trained and are of unswerving integrity as millions of
dollars, literally, may be at stake.” Dr Darville commended Mr Duncombe for the excellent service he provides. “There is always competition in business, but excellence and service is what separates the sheep from the goats. Your growth clearly indicates that you are operating in the spirit of excellence,” he said. He also said that Mr Duncombe serves as an example to other Bahamians with dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur. “This story speaks for itself - a hard working young man from humble beginnings coming to the island of Grand Bahama, having a great dream and vision, executing the dream and the vision for entrepreneurship, and capitalising on the opportunities that existed,
and the rest is history,” he said. Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour praised Mr Duncombe on his success. “Mr Duncombe was a very hard working, dedicated and conscientious police officer who no doubt would have been elevated throughout the ranks of the RBPF had he stayed. We are here today witnessing the opening of this beautiful, state of the art corporate office for the company - this is a success story. We extend congratulations to Mr Duncombe and his team on this remarkable accomplishment.” Mr Duncombe thanked his associates and his staff. He also recognised 10 employees who have provided 10 or more years of service.
WALK FOR THE CURE CONFIRMED TO RETURN IN OCTOBER
FIRST Caribbean launches its fifth annual “Walk for the Cure” event yesterday. From left, Melissa Major, Marie Rodland-Allen, the managing director of CIBC First Caribbean, Andrea Sweeting, president of the Sister Sister support group and Trevor Torzsas, managing director customer relationship CIBS First Caribbean and co-chair of “Walk for the Cure”.
Funeral Service for STERLING RICARDO MOXEY, 54
a resident of Highland Terrace, Grove West, will be held at The New St. Paul’s Baptist Church, Bais Street & Baillou Hill Road, on Thursday, 25th August, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Rev. Robert L. Colebrook, assisted by Minister Perry Williams. Cremation follows.
Loranna Clarke.
He was predeceased by his father Clarence Locksley Moxey II and mother
Cherished memories are held in the hearts of his loved ones including; Brothers: Kermit Adderley, Ricardo, Anthony, Kevin Sr., Haymish and Clarence III Moxey, Alexander and Perry Williams; Sisters: Judy and Estella Adderley, Veranique Moxey-Brooks, Donna, Lashelle and K. Katrina Moxey, Bronell Humes-Williams and Elva Williams; Adopted Mother: Ethelyn Williams; Uncle: LeYvonne Moxey; Aunts: Elaine Major, Gloria Knowles, Joyce Taylor and Oraline Butler; Brothers & Sisters-in-Law: Tyrone Brooks, Anthony Humes, Ervine Stubbs-Moxey, Sgt. Melvern Sands-Moxey and Sandra Robinson-Moxey; Nieces & Nephews: Nicole, Stephen, Anthonique, Danisha, Kevin Jr., Kevon and Nathan Moxey, Donnette Sands, Kryshna and Rahad Scott, Karina Glinton, Georgia Robinson and Ravelle Curry, Don, Theresa, Porcia, Isabella, Bridegette Williams, Charles Jr., Charlene, Sandra Minnis, Chantell McSweeney, Latesha Cineas, Raymond Smith, Natasha Green, Linette, Nedra Adderley, Sheniqua and Jermaine Fox, Tiffany Kelly, Rev. Tonia Colebrook, Anishka Smith, Trevis, Staycie, Shanna, Nickya and Crystal Demerritte, Antonio “A.J.” Humes, Sasha Rolle, Ryan and Kedron Wiiliams, Daunte Cayard, Carson “C.J.” Storr, Desiree Williams-Riley. Other Relatives: Florinda Pintard, Cynthia Hall, Ronald Major, Mildred, Pickstock, Sandra Williams, Patricia Bethel, L. Edgar, Calvin, Maverick, Charles and Sonny Moxey, Joyann Stuart, Colleen Nottage, Brenda Knowles, Yvonne, Karen, Annette and Staria Moxey. Loretta Parris, Beverley Gibson, Edward Knowles, Linda Malcolm, Angie Clemont, Alma Griffin, Lona Munroe, Dennis, Lester, John and Edward Taylor, Lionel Butler, Janith Mullings, Marina McClain, Earnestine Stubbs, Virginia Agnes, Constance Evans, Selena Mack. Extended Family & Friends: Rev. Dr. Robert L. & Tonia Colebrook, Rev. Kenneth & Carla Bain, Maxwell Jenoure Sr., Derick Rahming, Brain Austin, Da Gone Fish-n’ BBQ Team, Sonia from “Sonia’s Jerk”, The New St. Pauls Baptist Church family, the Moxey family, Lockhart family, Adderley family and Clarke family. Special Thanks: to George Robinson, Charles & Angela Wallace, The Patrol of the Grove Crime Watch, the Ambulance Services, the Doctors and Staff of A & E, Staff of Male Medical I at PMH, The Staff of Demeritte’s Funeral Home. Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 2-6:00p.m. on Wednesday & on Thursday at the church from 10:00a.m. until service time.
THE regional CIBC FirstCaribbean cancer fundraiser that brought over 10,000 participants together in 17 countries last year returns to The Bahamas in October, it was announced yesterday. The bank’s annual Walk for the Cure, held in each of the Caribbean countries in which it operates, will host its fifth consecutive walk events in Abaco, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama on Saturday, October 1, and in New Providence the following day. Proceeds from the event and all related fundraisers will be divided amongst local cancer support organisations. As in previous years, the Walk for the Cure campaign is being launched ahead of the final event. Several fundraising and awareness activities are being held across The Bahamas between now and October. Last month, CIBC FirstCaribbean hosted its first annual Soca for the Cure fitness party as an unofficial launch of its fundraising activities, bringing together over 200 fitness fans, cancer survivors, and other supporters to sweat for a cause. The bank will also host its second annual Combat Cancer Challenge with renowned local fitness instructor, Natasha Brown of Ultimate U Fitness and Wellness Center, in September. Andrea Sweeting, President of recipient organisation Sister, Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, said that the event has made a positive impact on her organisation and its members. “For me and my sisters, we have truly benefitted from what we have received from this organisation over the years,” she said. “We
want CIBC FirstCaribbean and sponsors to know how thankful we are, we could not have done it without you.” Marie Rodland-Allen, Managing Director of CIBC FirstCaribbean Bahamas, said that bank hopes to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer through the Walk for the Cure initiative. “The goal of the Walk for the Cure is to increase awareness,” she said. “We know the depth and wrath of cancer in The Bahamas and we know that education and early detection helps with increasing survival rates. Our aim is to fundraise for prevention, diagnosis, and treatments for all types of cancer and all Bahamians. “We are excited about this year’s walk. For the second time, we have extended the walk to the Family Islands with walks in Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera. We are proud of our successes over the last few years. We raised $400,000 regionally last year, with Bahamas raising a whopping $77,000 with about 500 participants. This year we are looking to redouble those efforts. We are calling out to our employees, partners, the public and our corporate sponsors who have been fantastic in supporting us and making this initiative as successful as it is.” Trevor Torzsas, Managing Director of Customer Relationship Management and Strategy, said that with the assistance of sponsors, he hopes that this year’s Walk can double last year’s numbers. “We expect to have over 1,000 walkers across the Bahamas and over 20,000 walkers across the Caribbean,” he said. “We are now over $1 million raised across
the Caribbean since inception. And thus far this year, Bahamas has already raised $50,000, with six weeks left until the walk.” Those interested in participating in the event or sponsoring the walk should visit their nearest CIBC FirstCaribbean branch, www.cibcfcibwalkforthecure.com or call Maya Nottage or Duquesa Dean at 3026063 or 302-6075, respectively, for more information. Early registration is $15 per adult and $12 per child aged 12 and under until August 31. After that date, the registration fees will be increased to $20 and $15 respectively. For the third consecutive year, the bank has invited the local corporate community to participate by sponsoring the event. Last year, more than 35 corporate sponsors helped to raise a record-breaking $77,000 in The Bahamas. Thus far, this year’s sponsors include Aetos Holdings, BTC Business, Caribbean Bottling Company, VISA International, Sandals Resorts International, Mayer Brown, Guardsman Group, Melia Nassau Beach All-Inclusive Resort, Graham Thompson & Co, British Colonial Hilton, Bahamas Electricity Corporation, Quality Home Centre, Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty, Sapodilla Estate, McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes, Going Places Travel, ITEL BPO Solutions, Rubis Bahamas, Bill Simmons Construction, TriPoint Communications, Atlantic Medical Insurance, Wemco Security, Family Medicine Centre, Colina Insurance Ltd, First Atlantic Commerce, and Tata Consultancy Services.
R E COOPER AWARD WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED THE names of the first R E Cooper Sr National Meritorious Award winners - people who have quietly enriched and helped the community in The Bahamas - have been announced. Alphonso “Boogaloo” Elliott, Steve Mckinney, Clinton McCartney Sr, the Munnings brothers, Raphael and Fred Jr and James Schaeffer III are among the 22 to be recognised at a gala event at the Atlantis Ballroom on October 29 on Paradise Island. In addition there will be four posthumous awards to the family of Rev Dr H W Brown, A Bismark Coakley, William “Billy” Lowe and ‘King’ Eric Gibson. The Mission Baptist Church, in conjunction with Sir Durward Knowles, will host the 2016 R E Cooper Sr National Meritorious Awards “to recognise some outstanding people who have given so much to service and education of our people, but have rarely been recognised”, the awards organisers said in a statement. The Awards Committee has chosen 22 outstanding people from the nomina-
tions and the first group of winners announced “show the depth and level of those people who have quietly enriched our community and our country”. R E Cooper Sr was an educator who believed that education was the way for Bahamians to develop. He was directly responsible for thousands of Bahamians to get an education, whether abroad or here at home. He delivered the keynote address at the first Ecumenical Service to usher in Independence in 1973. Dr Cooper Sr was president of the Christian Council at the time and helped the Bahamas to many of the changes that took place through his church and speeches. The Meritorious Award was founded many years ago to recognise people who have contributed to Bahamian development through service and education. This year’s event will feature two keynote speakers from the Civil Rights Movement - Fr George Clements and Dr Xernona Clayton, who will also participate in activities leading up to the gala on October 29.
Alphonso Elliott, also known as “Boogaloo”, is the owner of Bahamas Welding & Fire and a number of other businesses. However, Mr Elliott has done much for the community through private donations and assistance programme. Recently married to the former Lorraine Simms, Mr Elliott has retired from the business but still assists where he can. Clinton McCartney Sr is the owner and pharmacist at McCartney’s Pharmacy for more than 40 years. He has been involved in the Kiwanis Club for the same length of time and made significant contributions to the area in Centreville. His charitable contributions and assistance programme through McCartney’s Pharmacy has helped thousands of people over the years. Steve Mckinney, the owner of Peace Radio and the Mckinney Broadcasting Network, has been in journalism for more than 40 years. Since starting at The Tribune in the late 1970s, he has been at the forefront of fighting for every cause, championing for people getting an education.
James Schaeffer III, an American, has also stressed education for young people and has assisted in helping them. He is CFO of Old Fort Financial, formerly Accuvest Ltd, a Nassaubased broker dealer. He had served earlier as President of Accuvest Global Advisors, a US registered investment advisor and Old Fort Financial’s investment manager. Prior to joining Accuvest he was Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Department of Labour, Office of Public Affairs and served during the George W Bush administration as a Portfolio Press Officer at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. The Munnings Brothers, Fred Jr and Raphael, are well known as worldclass entertainers in the Bahamas but many will be unaware of the invaluable contributions they make in helping to educate people on the rich culture of the Bahamas. Several more honourees will be announced later in the week. For more information visit www.recooperaward.org
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 24, 2016, PAGE 11
AUTHOR and educator Melony Thompson at the launch of her new book, Odessa and the Professor.
Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
CHURCH ABUSE IS THE FOCUS OF NEW BOOK BY AUTHOR AND EDUCATOR LOCAL educator Melony Thompson is celebrating the launch of her book, Odessa and the Professor, which tells the story of church abuse through the use of scripture. Ms Thompson released the book at a launch at the Bible Book and Gift Centre earlier this month. “The book centres around a leader of a prayer circle who tells manipulative lies and attributes them falsely to prophetic gift,” Ms Thompson said in a press release. “She cruelly deceives a disciple faithful to her, but God enables the deceived to recover through prayer and wise counsel. The essential message of the book is the hope it gives to others
similarly deceived, to break the yoke of deception and to experience through exercise of Christian forgiveness genuine closure. “In this book, the painful experiences of the naïve Odessa and the profound counselling of her perceptive professor provide the agonising realities and analytic reflections needed to open the eyes of the deceived. In the process, sociological, psychological and theological complexities are unravelled through semantically sharp dialogue that informs, instructs and inspires. “The power of aberrant Christian leaders over even intelligent professional persons must not be underrated. Certainly, in the Baha-
D’ANGELO SMITH
ASHLEY TRECO
PRESLEY GODET THE Tara Xavier Hepburn Foundation has named four scholarship recipients for 2016 - Presley Godet, of A F Adderley Junior High School, Ashley Treco, of L W Young Junior High School, Vashanti Storr, of S C McPherson Junior High School, and D’angelo Smith, of St John’s College. The four scholarships brings the total number awarded by the Foundation to 33 since the inception of its scholarship programme in 2007. The scholarship covers full tuition and the cost of books for studies in grades 10, 11 and 12 at St Anne’s School or St John’s College. In order to be considered for a scholarship, applicants must be nominated by their school or be a member of the TARA Project, attain at least a 3.0 Grade Point Average, have demonstrated leadership ability and/or community involvement, be of good character and successfully pass a minimum of five Bahamas Junior Certificate subjects, including English and Mathematics, with grade C or better. Applicants also may be required to attend an interview. The Scholarship Committee is satisfied that all of the new Tara Scholars, like the former and current Tara Scholars, will make or continue to make a worth-
VASHANTI STORR while contribution to their respective Anglican school. Presley Godet and Ashley Treco will be entering grade 10 at St Anne’s while Vashanti Storr and D’angelo Smith – a member of the TARA Project – will be entering grade 10 at St John’s. The Scholarship Committee is satisfied that all of the new Tara Scholars will make or continue to make a worthwhile contribution to their respective Anglican school. The addition of these four Tara Scholars brings the total number currently enrolled in high school to 11. The other seven Tara Scholars, all of whom are studying at St John’s, are Dwayna Archer, Deneil Rolle and Danitra Sargent, who will be entering grade 11, and Monique Chandler, Shania Lewis, Ralph Sealy, and Nastacia Turnquest, who will be entering grade 12 when St John’s reopens at the end of the month. The Tara Xavier Hepburn Foundation Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of donors including Lyndhurst Ltd, Patricia Vouch, Giovanna Knowles, Richard Campbell Ltd, Dr Livingston Marshall and the Anglican Central Education Authority, all of whom continue to support and invest in the youth of the Bahamas through the work of The Foundation.
mas as well as in the wider Caribbean and even in the United States and elsewhere around the world, the realities are the same with regard to leaders in controlling church groups or closely related discipleship groups. “This book has relevance internationally, even though the contextual focus is The Bahamas. “These gripping personal experiences have been slightly disguised to avoid causing even more pain to those who have been victims of the system. The effect is a greater good when these issues are seen as real and widespread.” Ms Thompson is principal of Atlantic Interactive School of Learning.
MELONY Thompson celebrating at her book signing.
FOUR STUDENTS NAMED AS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
PAGE 12, Wednesday, August 24, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Bishop accuses Sandals of ‘gross injustice’ over jobs By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net BISHOP Walter Hanchell yesterday slammed Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort for recently making more than 600 employees redundant, accusing the resort of committing a “gross injustice” by using the workers as “pawns” in its feud with the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union. Bishop Hanchell, chairman of the group Citizens for Justice (CFJ), in a statement said the group is “vehemently opposed” to what he called a “despicable plot” against the BMAWU in “sending 600 workers home claiming redundancy.” Bishop Hanchell also criticised Sandals’ subsequent job fair to refill those
positions, calling it an “unscrupulous” plot by the resort “to rid themselves of union leaders and members.” Bishop Hanchell demanded that all 600 terminated workers be “rehired immediately” by the resort’s owner, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, charging that the workers “lost their jobs unfairly” and something like that “should never again happen in the Bahamas.” He also said the group supports Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Obie Ferguson “in their battle to have every worker reinstated” and said it will do “everything in our power to ensure that this is achieved shortly.” Bishop Hanchell also said CFJ is “extremely disappointed” in how the Christie administration
has handled the matter, charging that both Labour Minister Shane Gibson and Director of Labour Robert Farquharson “dropped the ball” while “thousands of Bahamians have been affected by their inaction and failure to resolve this dispute.” Bishop Hanchell said rather than “making excuses,” both men should have “caused Sandals executives to meet with the union leaders in resolving all outstanding issues concerning the workers.” On August 15, Sandals announced its decision to make 600 plus employees at the resort redundant in order to carry out necessary repairs to the resort, which are being “fast-tracked” at an estimated cost of $4m. Many of the workers subsequently said they were caught off guard by the
news, with scores of them showing up to work in uniform only to be told they no longer had jobs. Yesterday, however, Bishop Hanchell said “renovating a hotel is not a valid reason to dismiss employees and make their jobs redundant.” “This appears to be a despicable plot against the union representing workers at the resort and is not sitting well with the Bahamian people,” Bishop Hanchell said. “Workers are being used as pawns in the long feud between Sandals Royal Bahamian and the (BMAWU).” Bishop Hanchell also criticised the government for its handling of the matter, charging that it should have taken action to ensure that the feud between Sandals and the BMAWU was resolved and that the work-
ers would retain their jobs. “The minister of labour and the director of labour have both dropped the ball while thousands of Bahamians have been affected by their inaction and failure to resolve this dispute,” he said. “Rather than making excuses, they should have caused Sandals executives to meet with the union leaders in resolving all outstanding issues concerning the workers.” He added: “We are calling on every Bahamian to take a stand against this gross injustice on Sandals workers and demand that these workers be rehired forthwith. Every union, every organisation and every citizen should unite in an effort to let Sandals know that they have gone too far. We must end this oppression of Bahamians now.” Last week, Mr Gibson
said the government has been advised that the resort will be closed for eight weeks as it carries out renovations because hotel officials said the work could not be done in the presence of guests. The same was echoed by Sandals Construction Manager James Wilson on Monday, who said the construction work will be so disruptive that guests could not be expected to remain in the vicinity while repairs take place. However, despite maintaining that his ministry was given very little notice by Sandals of its decision to terminate the 600 plus employees, Mr Gibson has said he believes Sandals’ actions were an attack on the BMAWU, which has fought for years to be recognised as the bargaining agent for Sandals employees.
A GLIMPSE INSIDE SANDALS DURING RENOVATION WORK
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff