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VOLUME:114 No.197, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2017
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
WOMAN: THIRTY THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A MAN
We ALL need to worry By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis urged Bahamians yesterday to take Hurricane Irma “very seriously” as the category four storm continues to gain strength and barrel toward The Bahamas, with weather officials warning the southern islands are currently on track to take the brunt of the storm with a possible “devastating” impact. At a press conference with emergency management officials at police headquarters on Monday, Dr Minnis said the government will do all in its power to ensure the country is fully prepared, including organising rescue and recovery efforts if needed. He said depending on the track of the storm, persons may need to evacuate their homes and seek refuge in shelters. Local forecaster Jeffery Simmons said on Irma’s current track, residents in the southern Bahamas could expect to begin feeling effects of the storm by Thursday. However, he also stressed that the storm’s track could change any moment and the entire Bahamas should be carefully monitoring the storm. “In the path right now, the islands that are looking to be affected would be Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and Ragged Island as it moves toward Cuba but like I said it’s a possibility because as we go further out that
ID AUDIT: NO ‘MASS FIRINGS’
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net BRENSIL Rolle, state minister for Public Service and National Insurance, has assured public servants that there will be no “mass firings” by the Free National Movement administration as officials prepare to move into the second phase of the public service verification exercise. Just over 15,000 persons have participated in the Public Treasury’s count in New Providence and Grand Bahama, according to Deputy Treasurer Donna Delancy yesterday. SEE PAGE SIX
BANKER CHARGED WITH BPL FRAUD
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
cone gets a bit wider which means that it can impact the other islands,” Mr Simmons said. “It can go further south as it was moving for the past 24 hours, as well as it can move back toward the north. Right now the diameter of the storm means that the other islands will feel tropical storm force winds, so other islands up SEE PAGE TWO
$50M REPAIRS STILL NOT CARRIED OUT By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
AS Hurricane Irma takes aim at The Bahamas, emergency management officials yesterday expressed concern that some islands, including New Providence, may not be fully prepared for the potential impact of
the category four storm. At a press conference at the Paul Farquharson Centre at the Royal Bahamas Police Force Headquarters, Local Government Director Cephas Cooper said he understands Mayaguana and Crooked Island are experiencing a “food and water shortage” and Social Services Director Lillian
Quant Forbes revealed that just 25 shelters have been identified for New Providence – a number she said is “not nearly enough.” However, they both said everything humanly possible is being done to ensure their respective departments are prepared for the hurricane. SEE PAGE THREE
SHOOTINGS LEAVE TWO DEAD, SEVEN INJURED
A 34-YEAR-OLD former bank employee was arraigned Monday in a Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding Bahamas Power & Light of just over $1m within a five-month period earlier this year. Reno Bethel, of Tropical Gardens in New Providence and Ottawa, Canada, stood before Magistrate Andrew Forbes facing 23 counts of fraud by false pretences, 23 counts of receiving, and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences. Police said the charges are in relation to the multi-million-dollar theft scheme at BPL uncovered earlier this year. It is alleged that Bethel, between January 27 and May 5, 2017, obtained a SEE PAGE SEVEN
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussel l@tribunemedia.net
A SPATE of shootings in 24 hours have left two people dead and seven injured with the latest murder seeing a man killed and a woman left in critical condition after a double shooting at a First Caribbean ATM. The shooting took place shortly after 10pm in Madeira Street, and was the 94th murder for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. Police said the victims were about to make a deposit when they were approached by two men with handguns, who robbed them before speeding off in a dark vehicle. The man was pronounced dead on the scene.
THE BODY of a man is taken from the scene of a shooting on Madeira Street last night. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff Police had earlier launched an islandwide manhunt for the suspects responsible for the fatal shooting of a man at Kim’s SEE PAGE SIX
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
FOR ALL THE VERY LATEST ON IRMA, SEE INSIDE AND TRIBUNE242.COM
PAGE 2, Tuesday, September 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaking at the NEMA press conference yesterday ahead of Hurricane Irma.
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
We all need to worry the chain in central Bahamas like Exuma, Long Island, Cat Island, and Rum Cay can experience tropical storm force winds as well. “However, we are still a good ways out and there is a possibility that the storm could change. We expect the southern islands to feel the effects Thursday going into Friday,” Mr Simmons added. Dave Samuhel, senior
meteorologist at Accuweather, had a similar forecast. He said Irma currently poses the “greatest threat” to the southern Bahama islands, adding that the core of the hurricane, or the eye, will likely pass over these islands as a “major” storm with “devastating” impact. “For The Bahamas, the greatest threat is to the southern Bahamas,” Mr
Samuhel said. “But, nearly everyone in the Bahamas will be looking at impacts. On the forecast track, the outer bands of Hurricane Irma will reach the southern Bahamas late in the day Thursday. The core of the hurricane will pass over the or south of the southern Bahamas as a major, perhaps category four hurricane with devastating impacts along the path of the eye.
“Great Inagua is most at risk for a direct hit. The centre of Irma will pass near the Columbus Bank and over the Bahama Bank south of Andros Island Friday night and Saturday. Over the weekend, it is expected to turn north. This will threaten the northern Bahamas with direct impacts by Sunday. Irma is expected to be at least a category three hurricane at this time. “In summary, the greatest impacts will likely occur across the southern and western Bahamas. But, all of the islands will likely see at least tropical storm conditions. This is a longrange forecast, so it is very likely to change some as we get closer to the weekend,” the Accuweather forecaster added. Kevin Nugent, meteorologist at US-based Baron Weather, said even though Irma has moved slightly south, The Bahamas should not consider it was out of the woods yet. “We can see in the satellite data a very distinct eye and a very symmetric storm,” he said. “Hurricane Irma is a powerful storm and has over the past 24 hours been increasing in size. “Over the past 24 hours, model forecasts have continued with their shift to the south and west of previous tracks and the NHC forecast has also shifted to the south further. The NHC forecast which goes out to 7am Saturday now has the storm near the north coast of Cuba on Saturday morning as a Category 4 Hurricane with 135mph sustained winds. The tropical model forecasts (spaghetti plots) have also shifted to the
south and west when compared to previous days.” “Even though there has been the shift to the south west it is only by 150 miles and could easily shift back northward again. It would be good to still prepare for the potential for major hurricane conditions throughout The Bahamas with the potential impact time being next Saturday-Sunday which is still 5-6 days away.” Preparation As he spoke about hurricane preparation yesterday, Dr Minnis also revealed the country is once again insured under the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF). The CCRIF is a regional disaster fund for Caribbean governments to quickly access financing to limit the financial impact of devastating hurricanes and earthquakes. In June, the prime minister told parliamentarians the former government missed out on a more than $31m insurance payout, after Hurricanes Matthew and Joaquin, because it opted not to pay the country’s premium to CCRIF. Dr Minnis said regardless of the storm’s current path, residents throughout the country “need to monitor the location and proximity of Irma to the island or cay on which they live”. “Maritime traffic, fishermen and boaters should take all necessary precautions as Hurricane Irma approaches The Bahamas,” he said. “As I stated previously, the threat of Irma must be taken seriously. While property must be secured, material possessions can be replaced. The priority is
to take precautions to save lives and to minimise the risk of harm and injury,” Dr Minnis said. “Depending on the track of the storm, there may need to be evacuations to shelters or other secure locations. “Life is precious. We must make every effort to preserve and protect life, including the elderly, the indigent and other vulnerable individuals. Various agencies will continue to provide the necessary preparedness updates and information. Bahamians and residents throughout the country should ensure that they have the necessary supplies in the event of Hurricane Irma affecting various areas of the country. This includes gathering supplies such as food, water, medicine, gasoline, flashlights, radios, batteries and any other necessary supplies.” According to weather. com, Irma is moving westsouthwest at 14 miles an hour. Forecasters said a west-northwestward turn was expected on Tuesday. Tropical storm-force winds could arrive in the eastern Caribbean late Tuesday, and in the British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by early Wednesday. The Bahamas and Cuba could see Irma arrive as a dangerous major hurricane later this week, according to the National Hurricane Centre, who also said Irma could strengthen then remain a powerful hurricane over the next five days. Hurricane-force winds of at least 74mph extend outward up to 35 miles from the centre and tropical storm-force winds of 39mph extend outward up to 140 miles.
THE NEMA press conference ahead of the possible impact of Hurricane Irma.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 5, 2017, PAGE 3
$50M REPAIRS STILL NOT CARRIED OUT from page one
Meanwhile, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials said the agency needs $50m to finish repairs and reconstruction on areas damaged by Hurricanes Joaquin and Matthew, which hit parts of the country in 2015 and 2016 respectively. “Everything is being done by our local government to safeguard against loss of life and minimise damage to property,” Mr Cooper said. “Final checks are being made to ensure drainage systems are working and satellite communications systems are functioning. “Government buildings and shelters are being secured and are in place and residents are being encouraged to take all necessary precautions to protect life and property. “It is hoped that mail boat services are provided to the islands particularly southern Bahamas, specifically Crooked Island and Mayaguana, where we understand that there may be a shortage of food and water supplies at this time and so I have been in touch with all of the administrators over the course of the last 24 hours and I am assured everything humanly possible is being done to ensure we are prepared,” Mr Cooper added. Meanwhile Mrs Quant Forbes appealed for persons with buildings that can be used as shelters in New Providence to assist the Department of Social Services. “So 25 shelters have been identified in New Providence. Grand Bahama has
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaking to Minister of National Security Marvin Dames at yesterday’s NEMA press conference. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff nine and the Family Islands have 87. Ladies and gentlemen let me say this, 25 shelters in New Providence (are) not sufficient and so we call on our partners out there to assist us as best as they can,” she said. “One of the things too is that churches and their congregations bunkered together during their time
of disaster, but again you have to understand we need additional shelters but the first thing I always say to persons is you need to identify family and friends who can host you and who can accommodate you for a period of time.” Slow recovery NEMA director Captain
Stephen Russell also admitted that the repair and reconstruction programme started after the passage of Hurricanes Matthew and Joaquin “has slowed down” significantly, leaving persons in Grand Bahama and Andros more vulnerable to the passage of Irma. In August, The Tribune reported that the govern-
RBDF VACATION LEAVE CANCELLED
BAHAMASAIR NOTICE ON TRAVEL
THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force has announced that all vacation leave for the force has been cancelled because of Hurricane Irma. All non-duty personnel have been asked to report to the Coral Harbour Base at 8.40am Tuesday. This includes officers and marines in New Providence who are on study leave and persons who are not on duty at various outposts such as Harbour Patrol Unit, Port Security Unit, the Air Wing Base, secondment, as well as military police and the Force Protection Unit. The RBDF said persons should be prepared to be deployed to the Family Islands. Persons exempt from the briefing at the base include those who are on duty at various outposts on Tuesday and those on mandatory retirement leave.
AS Hurricane Irma approaches, Bahamasair has advised the public that passengers who have booked travel from September 4 to September 14 will not incur any change in fees for adjustments made to travel itineraries during this period. All services will operate as scheduled as Bahamasair continues to monitor the movement of Hurricane Irma, the national airline announced on Monday. The airline said officials will provide a further update on its operations on Wednesday as more information becomes available. The Bahamas is expected to feel effects from the storm - which was upgraded to a category four storm last night - early on Friday.
ment does not yet have a timeline of when repairs will be completed on homes damaged as a result of the hurricanes, which ravaged part of the country in October 2015 and 2016. According to Press Secretary Anthony Newbold, while it is certain the homes must be repaired, there will be no hurricane czar as was the case during the Christie administration. He previously said NEMA and the Ministry of Works will oversee these efforts. “The repair and reconstruction programme in North Andros, New Providence and Grand Bahama is progressing very slowly,” Captain Russell said on Monday. “Immediately after the election, we had to make an adjustment and do an evaluation on how the funds were expended and as soon as we are happy with the state on
how funds would have been spent we hope to go ahead with the repair and reconstruction programme. We have the numbers and we have some assistance we have some estimate cost to carry out the programme which could run into excess of $50m. “There is a need for funding and once we have a channel or a source of funding we hope to continue with the programme as best we can.” Last year, the Christie administration moved a resolution for a loan of up to $150m to defray the costs of this country’s recovery and reconstruction efforts as a result of Hurricanes Matthew and Joaquin. According to former Prime Minister Perry Christie, the damage caused by Matthew was estimated at $600m, while Joaquin imposed costs estimated at around $200m.
ea’s tourism industry. The island is still recovering from Matthew, with a major three-hotel strip in Lucaya still closed and some homes still being repaired in West Grand Bahama. The $6.5m Fishing Hole Road project and the $4.8m
seawall project at Smith’s Point were delayed due to Hurricane Matthew. Both capital works projects have been resumed, but the threat of a storm could postpone work again and would leave those areas vulnerable to tidal surge and flooding.
GRAND BAHAMIANS STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES AHEAD OF STORM
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
HARDWARE stores were buzzing with activity as Grand Bahamians wasted no time shopping for hurricane supplies as Irma continued on a west, southwest path towards the Caribbean on Monday. Although the powerful storm was some 1,700 miles away from the island of Grand Bahama around noon, residents were not waiting for the last minute to purchase much-needed storm supplies. The parking lots at Dolly Madison Home Centre and Kelly’s Freeport were filled. The Tribune spoke with James Rolle, general manager of Dolly Madison Home Centre, who said customers were coming to the store to purchase necessary items. “There is a steady flow of customers who seem to be responding to news about the hurricane,” he said. “They are buying batteries, radios, flash lights, tarps, and one or two are buying generators.” “We are buzzing a little bit,” said Mr Rolle. Kelly’s Freeport was also abuzz with shoppers. “All of our registers are full - it is very busy today,” Lewis Alman, a store floor manager, said. “They are
purchasing everything that ran short during Matthew; everybody is making sure they are well prepared.” Mr Alman said that customers are purchasing batteries, flashlights, portable gas stoves, portable fans, and generators, as well as building materials and supplies. “They are getting tarps and that sort of stuff,” he added. When asked if residents appeared to be panicked, Mr Lewis said people were calm and purchased what they needed. On Monday afternoon, the hurricane was moving at 14mph with winds of 120mph. The storm is expected to affect The Bahamas later this week. “This position is some 1,700 miles away from Grand Bahama, and it is too far away to really make a close call on what it is going to do,” said Grand Bahama forecaster Kirk James. “The latest track now has the system coming more towards the south of us instead of east of us as of (Sunday) evening.” Although there has a been a shift toward the south to the central Caribbean and Cuba, Mr James noted that while it is somewhat good news, they are keeping a close watch. “Residents need to be busy preparing, not pan-
icking,” the forecaster said. “They should be stocking up on hurricane supplies – replenishing it or maintaining it, and making sure the house is sturdy and the drains cleared. There is time for that, but not much time.” Mr James said the island
could expect at the weekend “advisory level” winds between 20 to 40 knots. Grand Bahamians cannot soon forget the onslaught brought by Hurricane Matthew last October. The category four storm devastated the island, significantly affecting the ar-
PAGE 4, Tuesday, September 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
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The final destruction of Baha Mar IN his statement last week on China’s new restrictions on overseas investments by its nationals, Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield, in reply to a Tribune reporter’s question, said he had not mentioned the position of Baha Mar in his press release because “it is sold and (in the process of completion).” However, that is not what we understood when this question was raised before the change of government. Our understanding then was that the Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, the Cheng family’s large Hong Kong based business, would not conclude the sale until the Baha Mar development had been completed. In other words, we presumed that seeing what had happened to Mr Izmirlian, they were determined not to be caught in the same complex web of deception. In another report in connection with the PLP’s former education minister Jerome Fitzgerald’s business dealings with Baha Mar on behalf of his family, it was claimed that a secret deal was made through the Cheng family with Chow Tai Fook Enterprises. It is also claimed that this circuitous route was taken because Mr Izmirlian had sent the Fitzgerald request for business to his manager Sandy Sands with instructions that such contracts were to be awarded on merit. It is also claimed that this information was sealed by the Supreme Court. Has the Attorney General seen this alleged deal, or does he even know of its possible existence? The question was also asked as to whether former prime minister Christie knew of his cabinet minister’s business dealings with Baha Mar, and if so, when did he know. All the Attorney General has told the public is that he has seen the Baha Mar contract, which contains nothing to lose sleep over. However, at the same time he admitted that there are other “sensitive “ documents relating to the sale that remain sealed by the Supreme Court. Apparently, these are the very documents that the public should see and those documents are not sealed. Now we have a better understanding of why Mr Izmirlian, the original developer, who has offered to repurchase Baha Mar on multiple occasions, complete it with Bahamian workers and get it open, has not been allowed even to bid on his own development, and yet, according to Mr Izmirlian, the Baha Mar purchaser has been “found outside of the receivers’ process”. We also now fully understand Mr Fitzgerald’s statement in September, 2016, when Mr Izmirlian’s bid to purchase was refused. “The Government of the Bahamas is not working on words when it comes to this matter,” declared Mr Fitzgerald. “We are working on money, where it is located, where we can specify it and where we can see it. Unfortunately, Mr Izmirlian has never, ever done that. Never.” Really, Mr Fitzgerald, your brazenness is just too much. We also now understand why the government sided with EXIM Bank and CCA to avoid putting the $3.5 billion project into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. We can only imagine what transactions are being hidden. In the bankruptcy court in Delaware it would have all been laid bare as Mr Izmirlian was hoping. There was no need for the Christie government to enter a dispute between the developer and his contractor. They should have been left alone to sort it out themselves. Mr Izmirlian had complained to Mr Christie that the repeated delays and work practices of CCA were putting the development in financial jeopardy. He also flew to Beijing to complain to the Export-Import Bank (CEXIM). The attitude of the bank was that whatever its contractor did met with its approval. He flew back to the Bahamas where the dispute with CCA worsened.
To save Baha Mar, its creditors and employees already on staff being trained for the opening — which had by then been delayed at least three times by CCA, running up bills and bleeding the company — Mr Izmirlian quietly took the only sensible action open to him. He filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 in the courts of Delaware. Mr Christie was hurt that Mr Izmirlian had not informed him before the action was taken. We are amazed at Mr Christie’s surprise. We are also told that while Mr Izmirlian did not refer to the Chapter 11 specifically, he told Mr Christie very clearly that Baha Mar was running out of funding and that he would not be putting in more money without an assurances from CCA that they would complete Baha Mar. Being a lawyer, Mr Christie knows the importance of the element of surprise in actions of bankruptcy. After his experience with Mr Christie, Mr Izmirlian must by then have lost confidence in him, and judged that to take him into his confidence, was tantamount to including the Chinese. So he did it alone. Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham advised Mr Christie that he was making a wrong move - in fact he told Mr Christie that what his government was doing was “dead wrong.” He said that the Christie government had “tilted in favour” of the Chinese interests associated with the project. He wrote Mr Christie two letters to try to dissuade him from objecting to the Delaware Chapter 11 proceedings. The PLP government made a mockery of our “sovereignty” when they tried to hide their corruption and secret arrangements behind that noble word. The Bahamian people saw the truth and threw them out in the last election. Indeed the Delaware court, although admitting that Chapter 11 was the best route to take for the Baha Mar situation, threw the case out because the Government of The Bahamas had made it clear that it would not cooperate with the US court because to do so would be a breach of our sovereignty. In short the Delaware court’s decision would not be recognised. The irony of the matter was that Mr Raymond Winder, managing partner of Deloitte & Touche, ended up as the receiver for the $3.5 billion project when it was transferred to our Supreme Court, having earlier expressed the opinion that the “best hope for protecting the financial viability of a billion dollar joint venture project was to refer the matter to the US courts via Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.” In fact, Mr Winder pointed out that Resorts International had been purchased by Sol Kerzner out of Chapter 11 proceedings and later reopened under the Atlantis name. Therefore, in the past our courts had recognised America’s Chapter 11. But suddenly to placate the Chinese, “sovereignty” had crawled out of the woodwork to spook us all. At one point during this scandalous destruction of a fine development, Mr Christie had said: “We have a developer who has spent a lot of money. Mr Izmirlian says he has put $600 million of his family’s money in this and we have to, therefore, be aware that it is important for us in good faith to give him an opportunity to complete his property.” It was the Christie government’s siding with the Chinese – instead of guarding Bahamian interests – that destroyed Baha Mar. Mr Izmirlian has every reason to be bitter – despite Fred Mitchell’s infantile remark that he is a “spoil sport” to complain. And so, Mr Attorney General, we have pointed in the direction in which you can look to right the wrong. If you are not up to it, then consider stepping aside to allow someone else to do the job.
Apocalypse of crime EDITOR, The Tribune. EVER since men started to evolve into societies we have been plagued with crime and the violence often associated with it. Indeed, Cain way back in the day slayed his brother Abel in a fit of jealously and resentment. Nothing much, alas, has changed since then. No, do not get me wrong about the whole concept of crime and the utter destruction which it wrecks on collective society but, the question which begs an answer is whether or not we, again collectively, are serious about confronting it. Successive administrations have appointed consultative commissions and committees on crime as if they were going out of style. There are numerous “reports and studies” which have been submitted to “the power that be” at any given time. The “old” PLP used to go that route. The Hubert Ingraham administration went the same way. Despite all of these so-called “reports and studies”, crime continues unabated. I am not one to subscribe to the bogus view that crime will ever be solved because of human nature to simply sin, but it can and must be reduced to the irreducible minimum. I do not believe that the run of the mill politicians who infest our public life have the political will power to seriously address the triple issues of crime; punishment and rehabilitation. It is very seldom that right-thinking members of Bahamian society will, off the bat, commit a crime,
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net except for one of sudden passion. We are aware of the criminal consequences and banishment from regular society. The rest of you all, especially the ones who may have dropped out of school and have no marketable job skills, are relegated to a perpetual life of crime an my hem. Our criminal justice system is a complete joke and is “geared” towards, seemingly, the victims more than the perpetrators. Sentencing, where one is found guilty is often a mere slap on the wrist and the beat goes on and on ad nauseum. Persons who are charged with homicides are often granted bail “with conditions”. It is unfortunate that many of them so admitted to bail and are supposed to be monitored are themselves gunned down like zero. The incidents recently involving the shooting death of an infant and the wounding of the parents coupled with the armed robberies of an Anglican church and the hold up and robbery of a prominent Bishop’s children and their chauffeur, have alarmed the general populace. We should not be alarmed because we, as a people, have yet to get serious. You will recall that a few short months ago, prominent Evangelist Rex Major and his family endured a brutal and shocking home invasion. It will only get worse while you all wring your hands and shed onion in-
duced fake tears. The Apocalypse of crime will ‘kill’ us all in one way or the other. As I said earlier, we do not seem to care about the punishment stage. If one takes a life without legal justification, our laws are clear....he or she forfeits his/her own life - it is as simple as that. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has our hands tied. Get rid of this archaic judicial cum human rights nuisance and we could resume executions once all other judicial appeals are completed. Rehabilitation and the smooth re-entry of offenders back into society must also be urgently addressed. It is no use for an convict to be sent to The Bahamas Correctional Centre only to come out worse than when he/she went in. Job training and sustainable vocational skills must be taught to those willing to learn or train as an inducement for ‘time off’. It is to be hoped that such individuals would be able to reintegrate into their communities and move on in a positive way with their lives. The Apocalypse might appear to be upon us but, may I suggest, that we are merely going through knee jerk reactions and the fable seventh day news event. In short order, almost like watching a reality show on the tube, we will wait with baited breath for the next sensational ‘crime’ event. To God then, in all things, even the Apocalypse, be the glory. ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, September 2, 2017.
We need jobs EDITOR, The Tribune. IF we are to believe the OPM spokesman, the PM is concentrating on corruption whilst the country, in every single Constituency, are screaming for jobs, jobs, jobs! Surely the AG and the Minister of State Justice can deal with corruption and the PM get to work? Government committing to international conferences - I see we somehow got to committed to a FAO/Food & Agriculture organisation conference next year - all we are doing
is filling beds - civil servants and persons who attend these meetings do not spend Minister - wake up even if it might be embarrassing owing to our dire financial position cancel the darn meeting and any other the PLP committed to. Unless the Treasury is assured they will make money we corporately should not be committing to these meetings. Precisely the same goes for those crazy so-called Tourism events which really were events for us locals if they don’t make money cancel.
Financial Secretary - I have to ask for an explanation from the Prime Minister how he justifies the appointment of the new Financial Secretary? The People want to know and it is the People’s business. The PM as a doctor of medicine would not appoint a medical sales person as the Head of Surgery at PMH, surely? So 75 fired in GB...Minister says not the dockyard - what’s the difference. W THOMPSON Nassau, August 31, 2017.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, September 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
POLICE at the scene of Sunday night’s shooting.
SHOOTINGS LEAVE TWO DEAD, SEVEN INJURED from page one
Crescent off Baillou Hill Road South on Sunday night. In that incident, shortly before 11pm, a man was walking on Kim’s Crescent when two men in a passing car shot him. Three more people were injured in two separate incidents last night. Shortly after 9pm, there was a double shooting at Abner Street, Fox Hill. A dark vehicle pulled up and opened fire, shooting a man and a woman, before speeding off. The victims were taken to hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition. Then, shortly before 11pm, there was a shooting at Croton Street, Pinewood Gardens. A dark vehicle pulled up and the occupants opened fire on a man as he pulled up to his home. He was taken to hospital in critical condition, police reported at the time of going to press. Investigators were also searching for the suspects responsible for three other shootings in New Providence. Police said the first incident happened shortly before noon on Sunday in the
area of Peardale Road. Two men were driving in the area, when the occupants of a Honda vehicle fired four shots into the vehicle, resulting in one of the men being shot, police said. The victim was then taken to hospital where he is listed in stable condition. In the second incident, police said a man and woman were about to enter their vehicle in the area of Gambier Village when a man armed with a handgun approached and shot both of them. The incident happened shortly before 1am Monday. Both victims were taken to the hospital where they are listed in serious condition. The third incident happened on Minnie Street at around 1.30am Monday as a man was leaving a nightclub. A fight broke out and shots were fired resulting in him being shot in his body, police said. He was taken to hospital and is listed in stable condition. Police are appealing to members of the public to anonymously contact them with any information at 919, the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328-8557 in New Providence, or 1-242-300-8476 in the Family Islands.
NOTICE ThE publIC
A BULLET hole in the window of the First Caribbean branch in Palmdale after last night’s murder and robbery.
ID AUDIT: NO ‘MASS FIRINGS’ from page one
Dwayne Leroy Cooper
I Mr. Gary R. Goodman, C.E.O. of GG Fire & Safety Services (Formerly G & G Fire Protection) do hereby give notice to the general public that Mrs. Yvette Simmons Goodman & Mr. Dwayne Leroy Cooper of Professional Fire & Safety Services has no affiliation with GG Fire & Safety Services and are NOT Authorized to do any business on behalf of GG Fire and Safety Services or The Former G & G Fire Protection.
“There will not be a mass firing,” Mr Rolle recently told The Tribune, “you have to take it from the perspective that hundreds of persons were engaged by the previous government. “Some of these persons did not have a letter to authorise them to work, they didn’t have any documentation, and that’s just the first group. There’s another group whose contracts have expired or are about to expire,” he continued, “there are persons that have had contracts for two years and also those without contracts who were working for two years. “So we’re trying to regularise and we’ve been very reasonable and sensitive to these issues.” He added: “We are focusing primarily on how we can deal with persons who are receiving a salary and a pension having regards for many persons unemployed who need jobs.” Mrs Delancy told The Tribune yesterday that the department is still waiting on verification forms from overseas and Family Island centres to conclude the official count. She said that an editing team has been assembled, and will be responsible for verifying the official verification numbers and extracting those employees that will be interrupted for
the September 2017 payroll. Verification ended on Thursday, August 31. “In terms of the data on persons,” Mrs Delancy said, “we’re legitimising it, also making sure that the data we put for persons are correct. We’ve had verifications in the past, no matter who the government is the Public Treasury usually tries to get this done at least once per term.” She continued: “We try to ensure the National Insurance number, date of birth and their names are correct. Some persons get married, get divorced, drop the name, and the adjustments may be missed. It manifests itself at our pension section, when they die as an employee or when people come to get their benefits or go to NIB to claim.” The total unofficial count of persons verified at the five New Providence centres, and the staff at the Ministry of Grand Bahama, is 15,044. Of that number 14,431 persons are paid monthly, and 613 persons are paid weekly. The government’s employee count as of July 31 was: 21,593. The figure represents 20,916 monthly and 677 weekly employees. The July payroll represents the count of persons who should have participated in the verification exercise throughout The Bahamas and overseas.
Verification centres were established at public schools in New Providence and at government offices in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands since the process began on Tuesday, August 8. The five verification centres in New Providence, now closed, were H O Nash High School, T A Thompson Junior High School, C C Sweeting High School, C R Walker High School and Doris Johnson High School. Public officers who are assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism overseas offices, were expected to verify at their respective locations. Persons who fail to present themselves to be verified will have their salaries interrupted – not ceased – beginning this month until they comply with the verification and reinstatement process. According to officials, allowances have been made for public service employees on vacation within and outside of The Bahamas. Those travelling outside of the country were allowed to verify at any Bahamas Tourist Office (BTO) or foreign affairs mission abroad, while those within The Bahamas were able to verify at the administrator’s office in any Family Island, along with the Public Treasury in Central Abaco and Freeport, Grand Bahama.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 5, 2017, PAGE 7
BANKER CHARGED WITH BPL FRAUD from page one total of $1,034,483.40 from BPL’s account held at Scotiabank by means of false pretences while at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank (FCIB) at John F Kennedy Drive. It is also alleged that the former FCIB employee dishonestly received some $1,426,021.55 during the same time period. Bethel pleaded not guilty to all 47 of the charges. It has been previously reported that a $2m fraud scheme was recently uncov-
ered that involved cheques paid out to various vendors from December 16, 2016, to May 9. This prompted a wide-ranging audit by Ernst and Young of the electricity provider. Magistrate Forbes set a date of November 8 and 9 for Bethel’s trial, and remanded the accused to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until that time. Despite the magistrate not having the jurisdiction to grant bail, Bethel was informed of his right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail ahead of his trial.
RENO BETHEL, pictured outside court yesterday.
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Suspects face court over recent murders on island By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THREE men were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with three separate murders that took place within the last two months. Edlin Severe, 25, of Fritz Lane, and Andreaz Evans, 18, of Alexandria Boulevard, both stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt facing one count of murder each for two separate incidents that occurred in July and August, respectively. Another individual, Wilfred McKinney, 22, of Quarry Mission Road, was arraigned before Magistrate Subusola Swain on one count of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with an incident that took place on July 21. According to police reports, shortly before 4pm on July 21, two women and a man had just left a fast food eatery near the Oakes Field roundabout, when two men armed with handguns approached their vehicle and fired several shots before fleeing on foot. The victim, Ashanton Akeem Newbold, was pronounced dead on the scene. Police confirmed at the time that the victim was on bail for a serious offence and was being electronically monitored. Police subsequently arrested two men in connection with the incident. Rico Taylot, 24, of Flemming and West Streets, was arraigned in connection with the incident in question in the latter part of July. It is alleged that Evans on July 22 murdered Everette Rolle Jr. According to reports, shortly before 6pm on the day in question, a man was cleaning a vehicle on Silk Cotton Street off Buttonwood Avenue, Pinewood Gardens, when two men in a Suzuki Swift car, armed with handguns, approached and shot him before speeding off. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. As for Severe, it is alleged that on August 18, he murdered Marco Neely. According to initial reports, around 8am on the day in question, police received a report of a man found dead on Hospital Lane. Responding officers arrived on the scene and found the lifeless body of a man who had been shot. None of the three men was required to plead to the charges. McKinney’s matter was adjourned to October 31 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI), while Evans’ and Severe’s matters were adjourned to October 19 and 20 respectively also for service. They were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) in the interim.
EDLIN SEVERE
ANDREAZ EVANS
PAIR ACCUSED OVER $2M COCAINE SEIZURE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a major drug seizure of some $2m worth of suspected cocaine near the island of Bimini over the weekend. Valdez Edgecombe, 38, of South Bimini, and 31-year-old Michael Roberts Jr, aka “Suge” of Alice Town, Bimini, stood before Magistrate Andrew Forbes faced with one count each of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. According to initial police reports, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers
intercepted a 26ft aqua and white Contender vessel in waters near Alice Town, Bimini shortly before 8am on Friday. During a search, officers discovered two white coolers and two backpacks all containing packages of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of $2.3m. The two suspects on board were subsequently taken into custody. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges. The matter was subsequently adjourned to November 6 and 7 for trial. The two men were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until that time.
MICHAEL ROBERTS, left, and Valdez Edgecombe outside court.
THEFT CHARGES FOR ABACO MAN
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AN Abaco man was arraigned on more than a dozen charges in the Magistrate’s Court on that island on Monday. Chris Tyrone Ferguson, 31, of The Mud, appeared before Magistrate Ancella Evans on seven counts of shopbreaking, seven counts of stealing from a shop, and one count of stealing from a vehicle. He pleaded guilty to all of the offences and was sentenced to three years on each count of shopbreaking, nine months on each count of stealing from a shop, and six months for stealing from a vehicle. The sentences are to run concurrently.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, September 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Davis-Cooper dream team for PLP? By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis and Exuma MP I Chester Cooper toured Family Islands on the weekend, courting delegates for support as an apparent team ahead of the organisation’s October convention. In a recent post on Mr Davis’ Facebook page, a photo caption referred to support for a “Davis-Cooper” team as leader and deputy leader respectively. While Mr Cooper has not made a formal announcement about vying for dep-
uty leader on a ticket with Mr Davis, insiders told The Tribune yesterday there are many who support the move. Mr Cooper has previously said he would run for a leadership position at the PLP’s convention but did not specify which post. Meanwhile, Mr Davis and Mr Cooper visited San Salvador and Rum Cay along with PLP Senator JoBeth Davis-Coleby and party Vice-Chairman Obie Roberts. “PLP frontline youthful female Senator backs Davis-Cooper team,” Mr Davis’ Facebook post read. “San Salvador - the youngest woman in in the Upper
House, PLP Senator JoBeth Coleby-Davis has thrown her support behind PLP Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and Chester Cooper for the top posts of the party.” It continued: “ColebyDavis represents the new talent now filling the top inside the party who will bring lasting transformation to the opposition. The female senator called on millennials to work with and stand by the party’s leadership team to ready the organisation for victory at the next general election.” The PLP will hold its National Convention at the Melia Nassau Beach hotel on October 22 – 25. Former Cabinet minister
George Smith is one PLP supporter who believes a Davis-Cooper team is the right move for the opposition party. “They would make an excellent team and have what it takes to restore the party’s image,” he said during an interview with The Tribune yesterday. “I think once people get to know Philip ‘Brave’ Davis on a one-on-one or faceto-face basis they would find out that he has a talent that a lot of politicians lack. “He listens and he contemplates and people many times just want you to listen to them. “Also, his legal success in the courts suggests that he
has a very good brain and I think that he is committed to the well-being of the Bahamian people and I really don’t believe he is egotistical. “I think Chester brings freshness and intelligence to politics and to the party. I was greatly impressed with the campaign he conducted in Exuma. He was very one-on-one, listened to and interacted with people and he got to know the people of Exuma on a very close level. “He understands the problems, particularly the financial problems, and understands the concept of business. I think he would be able to play a very important role in what must
become outside of the natural things to deal with like crime and the other immediate pressing problems the country faces,” Mr Smith continued. Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin is the only PLP member so far to announce her intent to challenge Mr Davis for the PLP’s top post in October. Last month, Mr Davis told The Nassau Guardian he doesn’t discourage ambition as he spoke about leadership races in the party. The PLP convention will come five months after the party’s devastating defeat in the May general election and nine months after its January convention.
ACTIVISTS TO MEET WITH POLLUTION SURVEY FIRMS
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Grand Bahama Environmental Association will finally have an opportunity to meet with representatives of the two firms that conducted independent studies of the Pinder’s Point/Lewis Yard areas and surrounding communities near the Grand Bahama Industrial Park. The association commended State Minister for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson for inviting them to meetings with the Antea Group and Common Invent, which respectively carried out a safety risk assessment study and electronic monitoring reports. The environmental group believes that the studies conducted under the former Christie government are flawed. GBEA President Berthram Pinder and Shuffel Hepburn Sr met with Mr Thompson, and Iram Lewis, MP for Central Grand Bahama, on Monday, August 28. “While the meeting was
SHUFFEL Hepburn pictured at a previous meeting. very tense, it was productive, and the GBEA is looking forward to significant results in the long term,” said the group’s press release. According to the GBEA, Senator Thompson has committed to meet with the association on a
monthly basis. “Of course, this is something that has never happened in the history of the GBEA or the Pinder’s Point Lewis Yard Committee’s 40-year struggle. The GBEA takes its hat off to the Minister for making this commitment,” the state-
ment said. “Further, the minister committed to inviting the GBEA to meetings with The Antea Group as well as Common Invent. These are the firms that produced the safety assessment and the electronic monitoring reports that were passed
on to the industry partners, the GBPA and the GBEA in early June.” The GBEA is hopeful that the meetings will allow the association to be instrumental in causing some serious scientific concerns to be addressed and hopefully corrected. Chemical emissions from nearby industrial plants have plagued residents in the affected communities for more than 30 years. They believe the environmental pollution has resulted in some illnesses and deaths in their communities. An e-nose study done in the area involved the installation of 22 odour detectors that were put up on existing light poles in the affected communities. GBEA claims that the detectors are not measuring the actual air breathed by the residents and are installed too high. “The GBEA reluctantly committed to having a scientific expert produce a critique of the three studies commissioned by the former government. The GBEA’s reluctance was
due to the unavailability of funds to support such an analysis. However, we committed to having a report done, outlining concerns about the perceived inconsistencies and shortcomings of the three studies,” the statement said. “The GBEA for the past 13 months has been conducting a revved up campaign in the media and otherwise to draw attention to the cries of the residents. “It has been a very costly process, with no funding from the residents, many of whom are still trying to recover from Hurricane Matthew,” said the group. The group reported that the campaign had cost more than $30,000 just this year alone. “The GBEA is looking forward to the unfolding of the minister’s commitments in the months ahead, yet reserves its right to return to demonstrating against the government, the GBPA, and the industrial companies should the progress toward ‘relocation and compensation of the residents’ be less than satisfactory,” the statement said.
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THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 5, 2017, PAGE 9
NATIONAL Training Agency students pictured during workforce preparation.
Photos: NTA
200 trainees complete scheme THE National Training Agency (NTA) completed a four-week training programme, helping more than 200 young Bahamians. The agency’s Mandatory Workforce Preparation Training scheme, a series of sessions to develop skills and help understand workplace dynamics, was completed on August 24. More than 200 Bahamians between the ages of 16 and 26 are enrolled, and will continue on to ten
weeks of skills training as of yesterday. Trainees are divided into 11 disciplines which include: allied health care, butler services, food & beverage service, housekeeping, food preparation, Microsoft Office, auto-body repair, customer service, office procedures, noninstructional teacher’s aide and QuickBooks accounting. All areas of training run for 14 weeks, with the exception of allied health
care, which runs for 16 weeks. The graduation for cohort eight is scheduled for early 2018. The NTA’s new executive director, Gadville McDonald, and board of directors are committed to building upon the foundation of the agency; but more importantly, new strategies are being developed to achieve the greater objectives of the NTA. The objectives include, among many: improving quality of instruction by de-
livering competency-based training through a more responsive and flexible delivery and assessment system; producing booklets, brochures, programmes, media advertising and other promotional materials to
enhance the image of competency-based vocational training and certification as the catalyst for building a productivity-focused, service-driven workforce; designing and developing a tracking and monitoring sys-
tem to measure the results of the agency’s activities. To date, the NTA, which was legislated in 2013, has trained over 4,000 young Bahamians in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Exuma and Eleuthera.
NOTICE SOME of those taking part in training from the National Training Agency.
Residents of Bimini are advised that the public discussion on the BAHAMAS POWER & LIGHT (BPL) CONSUMER PROTECTION PLAN previously scheduled for Tuesday, 5 September, 2017 at 6:30pm, at the Louise McDonald High School has been postponed until further notice due to the approach of Hurricane Irma.
UTILITIES REGULATION & COMPETITION AUTHORITY
YOUR
CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019
Frederick House, Frederick Street P.O. Box N-4860, Nassau, Bahamas Phone: 242 393 0234 • Hotline: 242 393 0263 • Toll Free: 242 300 URCA (8722) • Fax: 242 393 0237 Email: info@urcabahamas.bs www.urcabahamas.bs
“Improving Lives Through Effective Utilities Regulation”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 5, 2017, PAGE 11
STUDENTS RETURN TO CLASSROOMS IN GRAND BAHAMA
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THOUSANDS of students returned to their classrooms on Monday, and police officers were out in full force at the various schools and streets to ensure a safe first day back to school. In Grand Bahama, Deputy Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour and other senior officers were at the St George’s High School around 8.15am. Police officers were stationed at every school distributing road safety flyers
to motorists and making sure that they adhered to the speed limit in the school zones and pedestrian crosswalks. Road safety is a primary concern especially in school zones during the morning hours of 8am to 9am and at 3pm to 4pm. Ministry of Education officials have reported a “smooth opening” at the schools in the eastern and western districts. Yvonne Ward, the district superintendent of East Grand Bahama, said: “Everything seems to be running smoothly, there was nothing serious reported.”
Mrs Ward said a teacher shortage in the public school system is being addressed. “We are discussing that today, and we should have persons in place shortly,” she said. Mrs Ward oversees some nine schools, including the Grand Cay All Age School, Sweeting’s Cay All Age, Jack Hayward Junior and Jack Hayward Senior High Schools, Maurice Moore Primary, Freeport Primary, East End Junior High, East End Primary and East End Preschool. With a storm approaching the region, the superin-
tendent said officials plan to proceed with the second day of orientation on Tuesday. “We will get an update on the storm on Monday afternoon. They have already identified the school gymnasiums that are shelters, and so when we get an update we will be able to determine how we will proceed for the rest of the week,” said Mrs Ward. Ivan Butler, district superintendent for the west, reported a nearly full staff attendance at the school in his district. “Our first day went well; I visited the schools, starting
Back t o schoo l
IT was the first day of school for many new and returning students and for teachers after a long summer vacation yesterday - including for students at Carlton E Francis and Sybil Strachan Primary, pictured. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
with West End Primary and worked my way into Freeport. “All of the primary schools were ready, and we had a 95 per cent complement of staff in place, and the principals welcomed their teachers. “It got off to a good start this year, and we had no major incidents or hindrances to prevent us from opening schools.” Mr Butler said that there was a police presence at the schools and on the streets. “We saw not only constables but high-ranking officers in khaki out in the west-
ern district,” he reported. Mr Butler has responsibility for some ten schools, including the West End Primary, Holmes Rock Primary, Martin Town Primary, Bartlett Hill Primary, Eight Mile Rock High, Lewis Yard Primary, as well as the Bimini All Age. “I have spoken to the principal in Bimini, and he is reporting that all went well there too and they are ready to go,” he said. Bahamas Union of Teachers area vice president Quinton Laroda could not be reached for comments regarding the first day of school in Grand Bahama.
BACK TO SCHOOL WITH HELP FROM SUN OIL THE second annual ‘back to school’ drive hosted by Sun Oil Ltd, a subsidiary of FOCOL Holdings Ltd, brought great excitement to the Abaco community. Students and their families enjoyed a day filled with entertainment, food, school supply giveaways, and lots of fun. As a part of the initiative, boys and girls received complimentary haircuts and hair braiding, preparing them to look their best for the first day of school. Rufus Johnson II, Sun Oil marketing manager, and his team were delighted to help the youth, as the Abaco community has been a continuous supporter of Sun Oil. “Sun Oil is just proud to be doing an initiative like this. One of our mantras is that we continuously try to contribute and give back to the communities that support us year-round, and Abaco has definitely been a community that has been supporting us for many years, so we’re just happy to be able to give back,” said Mr Johnson. “We sponsor several summer camps throughout Nassau and the Family Islands, however this particular initiative was started last year, and the feedback has been tremendous.” According to the marketing manager, the company realises the importance of contributing and giving back to the communities in which we reside and operate. “Abaco has definitely been a community that has been supporting us for many years, so we’re just happy to be able to give back,” said Mr Johnson.
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