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The Tribune
Volume:115 No.199, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2018
Established 1903
Weekend
Weekend
WEEKEND: FROM BYLINES TO THE BIG SCREEN
Sands’ links with key trial witness FAREWELL, MY FRIEND
• Minister admits she paid into his election campaign • Signed off contract only after AG’s office gave the go-ahead By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
Company, without the approval of the Public Hospitals Authority’s board of directors. HEALTH Minister Dr Additionally, Dr Sands Duane Sands yesterday revealed that one of Mrs admitted that the key pros- Hanna’s two sons, Andy ecution witness in former Hanna, was “on occasion” PLP Senator a worker in two Frank Smith’s of his politicriminal trial cal campaigns, contributed being paid to do financially to his so in 2012 but political camserving as a volpaign in the untary worker in lead-up to the 2016-2017. 2017 general However, Dr elections. Sands mainTaking the wittained that the ness stand before primary reason Chief Magiswhy he moved to trate Joyann approve the conFerguson-Pratt, tract for Magic Dr Sands said Touch without Barbara Hanna the board’s blesscontributed some ing was because $300 towards his of a “crisis” at the bid to become Princess Margaret the member of Hospital where Parliament for the contractor the Elizabeth at the time was constituency. DUANE Sands and underperforming, Additionally, Barbara Hanna out- thus prompting Dr Sands said he side court previously. him to take action was fully aware to remedy the Mrs Hanna was issue. He said health officials a contributor to his most also sought legal advice from recent campaign before he the Office of the Attorney approved a $1.9m contract General on the matter. to be awarded to her busiSEE PAGE FIVE ness, Magic Touch Cleaning
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1 gardening
art books charity film fashio n music entertainment
Friday, September 7, 2018
THE ‘ESSENCE’ OF JAZZ Page 10
The new guard
Miss Bahamas gets innovativ e pages 14 & 15
STUDENT’S BEATING: POLICE TO INVESTIGATE By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net POLICE and the Ministry of Education are investigating an incident at a public school where a boy was allegedly beaten by an administrator. The announcement of the investigation came after advocacy group Rights Bahamas called on the Minnis administration and the Ministry of Education to address an incident of corporal punishment at C H Reeves Junior High School as a violation of both human rights and child laws. A boy was reportedly beaten by an official after he allegedly verbally disrespected his teacher on Tuesday morning. SEE PAGE THREE
DOCTORS IN ULTIMATUM TO HEALTH AUTHORITY By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham pays his respects as he signs the book of condolences during the public viewing for the late Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs. See page two for more. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
SENIOR doctors in the public healthcare system are planning to obtain a strike certificate after failing to finalise an industrial agreement with the Public Hospitals Authority despite more than two years of negotiations. Dr Locksley Munroe, president of the Consultant Physician Staff Association, told The Tribune his bargaining institution filed a trade dispute with the Department of Labour yesterday and has been advised by its lawyer Obie Ferguson to give the PHA five days to resolve outstanding issues. SEE PAGE THREE
VITAL RAGGED ISLAND FACILITIES TO BE REBUILT By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Emergency Management Agency Director Captain Stephen Russell yesterday said the Ministry of Works should shortly be approving plans to rebuild key government infrastructure such as a police station, clinic, and island administrator’s office in Ragged Island. Captain Russell said only after such key institutions
DESTRUCTION on Ragged Island after Hurricane Irma. are reinstated will government be able to lift the “uninhabitable” label from the island. His remarks came as he
warned the public not to let its guard down regarding hurricane preparedness, as the peak of the hurricane season is just beginning. Hurricane Irma passed over Ragged Island as a Category 4 storm on September 8 last year. The hurricane wrought widespread devastation, and the island was subsequently declared “uninhabitable” by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. SEE PAGE 11
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
A COMIC’S VIEW: LUCAYAN AND LAWYERS
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Friday, September 7, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel pays his respects.
A great loss to the legal fraternity FLAGS on parade as the body of the late Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs went on view at the Supreme Court yesterday. Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
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THE legal fraternity has suffered a great loss of a man who contributed “mightily” to the profession in both private practice and public service, Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday of Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs. Isaacs’ body laid in state yesterday at the Supreme Court in Bank Lane where many dignitaries came to pay respects. These included acting Chief Justice Vera Watkins, Attorney General Carl Bethel, Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest, Immigration Minister
Brent Symonette and Social Services and Urban Development Minister Frankie Campbell among others. “He contributed mightily to the legal profession both when he was in private practice and when he came in to give public service as a registrar and then latterly as a judge and then reaching the zenith of the profession as I call it,” the Progressive Liberal Party Leader told reporters yesterday “His life is truly illustrative of what it is about circumstances of life. We very often allow our circumstances to inhibit us and not allowing us to reach our full potential because we cower in the face of challenges. “The life of Stephen
Isaacs speaks to overcoming challenges, speaks to the courage and the will to move one’s self and not allow circumstances to define him or herself, but rather to demonstrate the true character of being in the human spirit.” A state funeral for Isaacs will be held today at 11am at Christ Church Cathedral. The country is now, until after the funeral service, in a state of mourning, the Cabinet Office has announced. Isaacs died on August 24 at the age of 63, two weeks after he was sworn in to the post of Chief Justice left vacant by the retirement of Sir Hartman Longley last year.
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A PICTURE of the late Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs on show yesterday.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 7, 2018, PAGE 3
Student’s beating: police to investigate from page one Since then, a photo purportedly of his visibly bruised posterior has been circulated on social media. “The Ministry of Education’s attention is drawn to an image circulating (on) social media of what appears to be a child’s exposed buttocks with a caption that indicated a presumed beating of the child at one of our public junior high schools,” the ministry noted in a statement issued yesterday. “The ministry has commenced an investigation in the matter and will be making a public statement when that investigation concludes. In the meantime, the ministry advises that it acknowledges, respects and protects the inherent (dignity) and sacred value of all persons. It guards most especially the critical values of the very vulnerable children in its care, and is most jealous of its responsibility
to ensure their safety and optimum health - be it physical, psychological, mental, spiritual, intellectual, social and cultural. “Therefore, the ministry will not tolerate, in any circumstances, the maltreatment, abuse or neglect of any child or person under its jurisdiction whatsoever, howsoever. To the extent that the Ministry becomes aware that any such illegal, unethical or unacceptable behaviour has been or is being committed, it will be addressed with the swiftest repudiation and sanction by this ministry.” Meanwhile, Rights Bahamas Education Committee Chairman Dawrin Thompson told The Tribune he suspected the photo was initially shared among the student’s family, but has since gone viral. “School just opened on Monday,” Mr Thompson said. “Allegedly a young man was beaten at C H Reeves. It was reported the young man said things to his
teacher, and the vice principal took action and beat him, which caused bruising on his posterior. “There are also pictures of his posterior posted being circulated in FB (Facebook) groups,” Mr Thompson said, “and that’s considered pornographic. The family were probably not being aware of what they were doing at the time.” In a statement yesterday, Mr Thompson and Ronelle King, chairwoman of RB’s Committee for Gender Equality and the Rights of the Child, called on officials to publicly correct the incident - which they dubbed a violation of the student’s human rights. The pair cited the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – international treaties The Bahamas has acceded to, as well as the Child Protection Act. “Rights Bahamas also calls on the staff of C H
Reeves to revisit corporal punishment methods within their school,” the statement read. “We instead suggest that the school adopt an inclusive punishment method that does not include the public degradation of students within their system. These methods can include, but are not limited to; after school programmes, counseling and community consultation, NGO involvement in after-school programme implementation.” It continued: “It has been proven that implementing non-physical methods of punishment within schools positively reinforces effective communication practices and reduces the tendencies of violent problem resolution.” RB called on the public to stop sharing alleged pictures of the student as it was considered pornographic. Corporal punishment is a hot button issue for the country with fierce
proponents on both sides. Section 62 of the Child Protection Act outlaws physical abuse; however, Section 110 of the Penal Code outlines conditions for the use of force in correcting a child for misconduct. An Inter-American Development Bank study last year ranked the Bahamas high among countries in the Caribbean that have tolerance or understanding for hitting women or correcting children with physical punishment. The report was titled “How safe are Caribbean Homes for Women and Children? - Attitudes toward Intimate Partner Violence and Corporal Punishment.” In response to the question of whether to correct a child who misbehaves was it necessary to hit or physically punish a child, more than 70 percent of Bahamians said it was “always” or “most often” or “sometimes” necessary.
Nearly 80 percent of Bahamians said they had “always,” “most often” or “sometimes” been hit or physically punished as a child to correct bad behaviour. In March, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd told The Tribune children should be beaten in schools only if all other options have been exhausted and in the most egregious of circumstances. His comments came after a district superintendent in West Grand Bahama and Bimini, in reaction to a viral video of a child in agony from complications stemming from an alleged beating by a school administrator two years ago, said the practice may be discontinued. At the time, Mr Lloyd said education officials may revise school policies on corporal punishment, insisting modern research shows it to be an ineffective way of disciplining children. Yesterday, police said the matter is being investigated.
senior doctors believe they deserve. “At present, the PHA receives the bulk of its funding from the government,” he said. “Our expected outlay of funds is to cover salaries, maintenance and ongoing operations in the region of $255m. We would’ve been funded to the tune of $216m through the latest budget so we are already starting with a significant deficit in excess of $30m. While we do generate some revenues from our operations, the amount we generate pales in comparison to what we are funded. Any amount added to that is going to be a further strain on the PHA itself. We recognise the fact that CPSA is seeking to have increases and it would require some financial gymnastics on our part to provide benefits to them. It would require that we find ways to generate increases in revenue or find ways to reduce our expenditure through implementation of
new technologies and being services is when you go to more efficient in how we the operating theatre, the carry out our operations. air-condition in that place We are interested to collab- is not working, the X-ray orating with our partners.” room doesn’t have a cat According to Dr Munroe, scan, etc.” the association is also frusMr Burrows acknowltrated with worrisome edged the need to improve working conditions. He infrastructure but said noted a failing air-condition officials did not get the system has brought a stop impression from CPSA that to elective surgeries at Prin- subpar working conditions cess Margaret Hospital. were a tipping point issue “Staff members are fall- for the doctors. ing out because of heat,” he “With the capital budget said. “You’re talking about we are allocated, there is wards where you have ter- only so much that can be mite infestation. Friday, The reason done in each fiscal period,” 7th September 2018 we will be withdrawing he said.
DOCTORS IN ULTIMATUM TO HEALTH AUTHORITY from page one He described negotiations with PHA as “lousy,” saying: “Literally it has been no different from everything else government does for the Bahamian people which simply marginalises and denigrates them.” In the meantime, he said, the association will also seek to get a strike certificate. He said with their frustrations at a peak, doctors are prepared to withdraw their services in “some way or fashion”. “The trade dispute is the first step,” he said. “Whether we get a resolution or not in the next five working days, shortly we will take steps to secure a strike certificate which is like having a licence – you could park your car for a month without driving it; with the certificate, we would have the legal right to go on a strike, even if not immediately.”
Dr Munroe said doctors would not take action that betrays the public’s trust but he insisted their work patterns would change. The main point of contention between doctors and the PHA concerns benefits. “We have no health insurance,” Dr Munroe said, “no pension plan, I have not gotten an increment, and when I say I, I mean any physician who has been working there for more than ten years, have not gotten an increment in that period.” The CPSA represents about 120 doctors. They are not only specialists in various fields but they manage junior doctors. A slow down or withdrawal of their services could have dramatic effects for the healthcare system in the country. Perpetually in a state of tension with its staff, PHA is also dealing with nurses who have threatened to go on a strike. Yesterday, Lyrone Burrows, PHA deputy
managing director, said management of the authority is “saddened” by the steps taken by CPSA. “We have been in discussions with the association for the past several months,” he said. He revealed that a decision had been made by management to split negotiations with CPSA around two themes: financial issues and non-financial issues. He said the non-financial issues have been resolved. “Within the last month we would’ve commenced a review around financial items,” he added. “We are disappointed with the association steps taken today. We are prepared to move forward with our discussions on those financial points bearing in mind that the PHA is under financial constraints.” Mr Burrows declined to discuss the details of CPSA’s requests. However, he said it would “require some financial gymnastics” to provide the benefits the
AMERICAN TRIO FINED FOR FAILURE TO DISCLOSE By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THREE American men were each ordered to pay $1,000 in fines or face three months in prison for failing to declare over $50,000 in cash to US
Border Patrol agents earlier this week. Additionally, Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain ordered the $51,355 Josue Gil, and brothers Umang and Sid Shah failed to declare on Tuesday to be surrendered to the Crown.
Upon payment of their fines, the trio will be turned over to immigration authorities and returned to their home country. According to initial reports from police, shortly after 4pm, the three men presented themselves to a US
Border Control officer at Lynden Pindling International Airport, but failed to declare the amount of currency they had in their possession. The officers conducted a search of the men and recovered $51,355 in cash.
SEVEN ARRESTS AFTER DRUG AND GUN FINDS By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
SEVEN people were arrested in the Freeport area by police for drug, firearm, and ammunition
possession. ASP Terecita Pinder reported that officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit and Rapid Response Unit conducted a joint operation called “Black Out” on Wednesday between 4pm
and 11pm. Officers executed search warrants on several residences, which resulted in the seizure of a 9mm pistol with eight rounds of ammunition, 49 packages of suspected cocaine, cash
in the amount of $1,699, as well as 23 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and five rounds of .38 ammunition, and two packages of suspected marijuana. Investigations are continuing into the matters.
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THE TRIBUNE
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So far, so good but we still need to be alert WITH Tropical Storm Gordon making landfall in countries on the Gulf of Mexico after passing south of The Bahamas last week, together with news of further tropical systems forming in the Atlantic, everyone in this country should be aware we are now in the middle of the most dangerous period of the hurricane season. Officially, it is from the beginning of June to the end of November but the incidence of storms is usually highest during the months of August, September and October. The two monster hurricanes – Irma and Maria – in September last year which did so much damage in the eastern Caribbean also badly affected some of the southern islands of the Bahamian archipelago, but the most populous northern islands, including New Providence, were spared the worst of both storms. Hurricane Maria also caused destruction in Puerto Rico and considerable loss of life, the figures for which recently have been significantly raised. Now, we are faced once again with the frightening reality of the uncertainty of the seasonal peak. The last major hurricane to hit almost every island in our archipelago was Matthew in October, 2016. That Category 5 storm resulted in extensive damage and precipitated serious flooding. However, miraculously no deaths were reported in The Bahamas while Haiti, just beyond the southernmost tip of our archipelago, suffered loss of life as well as widespread destruction. The connection between hurricanes and global warming remains a matter of debate, though the number of major storms seems to be growing; for example, last year in the Caribbean and in Japan which has just experienced its worst typhoon for 25 years. But the likely threat from global warming of rising sea levels - even if the rise in temperatures is limited to the existing international target of less than 2 degrees Celsius - could be catastrophic for The Bahamas because most of our landmass is already vulnerable to higher such levels and flooding. Against this background, it was disturbing to read the recent report by the Inter-American Development Bank rating our readiness to cope with major disasters as weak in almost all aspects of planning, preparation, management and response. These findings suggest we are woefully ill-prepared to deal with a hurricane despite the experience – and lessons learned – of Hurricane
Matthew only two years ago, not least because there has been little progress in improving disaster recovery planning. It is probably too late to put in place substantive new measures for the current hurricane season. However, while it should be the responsibility of individual householders to protect their own homes, we can only hope the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is on full alert and is prepared as fully as it can be with its existing plans and resources to deal with any disaster in the coming critical months.
PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE BAHAMAS Disturbing news from South Africa about serious violence against white farmers - together with plans for compulsory acquisition of land without compensation - is apparently only now attracting media attention following interest shown by the US President. A similar process has already happened in neighbouring Zimbabwe during a prolonged reign of terror by the then-President Robert Mugabe that forced white farmers off their land. Some observers, while not condoning the use of force, maintain this is the inevitable consequence of years of political oppression by the white minorities in both countries. Viewed from afar in the comfortable bosom of our own peaceful land that has largely escaped political violence and has developed a strong and tested democracy which respects the rights of all its citizens, we should rejoice that our country has a degree of racial harmony that is the envy of others. While we watch events unfolding in southern Africa and deplore the violence that has been unleashed, let us give thanks for our good fortune that, despite the endless political battling in running a relatively young country like The Bahamas, we manage to live and work together peacefully as one people irrespective of racial origins and other differences that have been divisive elsewhere. Long may the work of the One Bahamas Foundation flourish as we continue to strengthen national unity through further development of those elements that bind us together as a people to the benefit of us all.
Shell LNG deal more of the same EDITOR, The Tribune. THE incredible editorial of today Thursday, September 6th, insisting Government rushes to sign the Shell LNG deal. Editor - you have read successive letters exposing the issue of the legality and compliance or lack of compliance by BP&L to URCA and the Electricity Act 2015 – so we forget that? Editor - The Chamber of Commerce interviewed by your Business Editor
outlined The Chamber’s serious questioning as to the process of the 80MW standby generator RFP Tender - so we forget The Chambers’ position? You saying they wrong? Editor, we understand that electricity is a hot issue, pun unintended, but for 40 plus years successive government have messed with this and no way do we want now in 2018 to sign a 25 years concession which was not acquired complying with the law and the correct
process for Tenders. There is little doubt The Chamber is correct - there is no doubt that URCA did press BP&L to comply with the law and they didn’t so we close our eyes and forget breaching the law and customary regulations and process? Ouch, Editor! No way! Did we not vote for a change in May 2017? This is all of the same and worse! W THOMPSON Nassau, September 6, 2018.
Pompey Museum EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Pompey Museum of Slavery and emancipation was not a beach bar. Formerly known as Vendue House it was a market, a slave market, people became the property of other people to do
with as they pleased, breed them breed with them, sell or keep the offspring and work them until they died. We should be ashamed of this period in our history. Please do not try to justify these jolly colours on Junkanoo. Slavery was not getting
drunk on New Year’s morning and dancing in the streets. Repaint the building in a conservative colour that would not trivialise the horrors that took place there. LEONARD SMITH Nassau, August 30, 2018.
Process for cruise port scheme Re:Flawed process -RFP for management of the cruise port and APD group involvement EDITOR, The Tribune. I WOULD be grateful if you would permit me to publicly share my comments on recent media reports and public commentary by the Minister of Tourism that the Request for Proposal (RFP) for management of the downtown cruise port is in the process of being prepared and should be made public shortly. What is interesting and most astonishing in the Ministers’ various public commentary on the subject, was his disclosure that the bids are being prepared based on information gleaned from proposal/ expressions of interest submitted by two interested groups, who have shared their unsolicited vision and plans on how they would transform the port into a world class facility. Notwithstanding that the fact that the Minister did not disclose the two groups, if the RFP is being prepared based on information and ideas gleaned from proposal submitted by these two undisclosed groups, this would clearly offend the integrity of the bidding process. The process would be flawed from the beginning. These two groups will clearly have an advantage or at least an apparent advantage notwithstanding the Minister’s assertion that this will not be the case as all participants will be given the same amount of time to submit proposals. The fact that all participants will be given equal time to submit proposal is not the issue and does not put them all on equal footing under the circumstances. The issue is one of actual and perceived
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net advantages. If it is the case that you find these two undisclosed groups blueprint or plans for the port sufficiently attractive that it forms the basis of your RFP, clearly they would have gained some favour in the process before other participants would have had an opportunity to submit proposals. If the Minister needs to be educated on what is required to construct a proper RFP he could engage experts in the filed who have no vested interest in the process. The Nassau Port Development Group (APD) In the same article, it was disclosed by the writer that one of these interested groups could possibly be the Arawak Port Development Company (APD), together with investment advisory firm, CFAL (formerly Colina Financial Advisors). The APD group currently enjoys a government created monopoly, which comes with a protected 20 year exclusivity to be the only port operator within New Providence and also a tax payer protected rate of return. This protected monopoly not only eliminated opportunities for local Bahamians who may have an interest in venturing into such an undertaking, but have effectively secured an advantage for APD over any local group which may have an interest in participating in the proposed RFP for management of Nassau cruise port. The restriction imposed on Bahamians from entry into the management and operation of a freight port, anywhere near New Providence, made it virtually impossible for one to have
obtained the necessary experience and exposure locally, unless one went abroad and/or is willing to seek a joint venture with a foreign group. While joint venturing is commercially acceptable and widely practice, an individual should not be forced to do so with a foreign group, by circumstances brought about by a policy initiative (protected monopoly) implemented by his own government. This monopoly has secured for the APD group a de facto advantage over any local group even if they secure a foreign joint venture in the proposed RFP for management of the Nassau cruise port. I am also of the view that now would be the appropriate time for government to seek to have the APD group relinquish this unnecessary monopoly if they now want to venture outside the confines of the Arawak freight port and compete with others in the management of other ports. If they can compete with others, why can’t others compete with them? This is only fair given the fact that the APD group, not only enjoys a government guaranteed monopoly, but is also the beneficiary of a guaranteed tax payer rate of return. The fact that locals (the public) enjoy 20% shareholding, which as of late, has become a selling pitch for groups seeking to win government support in these ventures, is of no great significance when one takes into consideration the attendant costs (macro and micro) to the public, and the few selected individuals who are the major beneficiaries under this corporate creature known as the Arawak Port Development Company. CLAUDE B HANNA Nassau, September 6, 2018.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 7, 2018, PAGE 5
Sands’ links with key trial witness from page one Dr Sands said as minister of health he has access to the ministry’s records and stated that the standard protocol concerning tenders at PHA is not always followed. He said he has knowledge of and has seen documentation of instances occurring in each of the last five to six years when there has been deviation from the standard procedure. “It has happened many times,” Dr Sands said. According to Dr Sands, he first made contact with Mrs Hanna sometime around November 2016 after one of his staff members called her number. He said as Mrs Hanna had donated $300 to his campaign, he was calling her, as he also did with his other donors, to thank her for the contribution. He said as is his custom, he gives his donors his cell phone number, and sometimes opts to give out his home phone number. However, he said, in Mrs Hanna’s case, he only opted to give her the former. At the time, Dr Sands said he did not know Mrs Hanna had children, but later found out she had at least one daughter and at least two sons, one of whom he admitted worked on his political campaigns. Dr Sands said he first met Mrs Hanna in person on June 20, 2017, however, between that time and when he first spoke with her on the phone, he had conversations with her that inevitably thrust him into the heart of Smith’s court matter. According to Dr Sands, Mrs Hanna informed him that she had secured a contract with the PHA and was required to make cash payments to Smith, then the PHA’s chairman, in the amount of $5,000. Dr Sands said after revealing that information to him, Mrs Hanna asked if he was able to do anything about it. Dr Sands said he responded by asking if she had spoken with Dr Perry Gomez, former minister of health, about the issue. Dr Sands said when he suggested that Mrs Hanna take the matter to the police, she said she wasn’t prepared to do so. Dr Sands said he personally didn’t do anything about the issue, but he ended up receiving “many, many” calls from Mrs Hanna – as many as 15 missed calls a day. A lot of the calls, he stressed, would be her trying to call him, and as was his custom, he would call back at the end of the day. Dr Sands said when he returned her calls, she would give the same complaint of having to pay Smith $5,000 in cash. Dr Sands said when he again told her to take it to the police, she said she didn’t want to because she was afraid of being harmed,
FORMER MP Frank Smith outside court this week. because she was dealing with “very powerful people”. Dr Sands said once he realised that the calls kept coming, and her insisting that she was afraid she would be harmed, he said he would connect her to the minister of national security. That way, Dr Sands said he reasoned, her safety would be assured. Dr Sands said he subsequently gave Mrs Hanna Marvin Dames’ contact information, and also sent her contact information to Mr Dames. Dr Sands said he eventually met Mrs Hanna in person in June 2017 at the Ministry of Health, which he said is a “stone’s throw away” from the police AntiCorruption Unit. When asked why he didn’t take Mrs Hanna to that office, Dr Sands replied: “Not my job.” Dr Sands said he first became aware of Mrs Hanna’s desire to renew her contract with the PHA sometime in late May or June of last year. At the time, Dr Sands said he told Mrs Hanna to let her work speak for itself and assured her that the process would be transparent.
The Elizabeth MP said he was first made aware of the PHA’s Tender Evaluations Committee’s work concerning tenders for the contract in question pursuant to a conversation with former PHA Managing Director Herbert Brown sometime between the end of July and the beginning of August 2017. And it was at that time he said he became aware that Mrs Hanna was the preferred bidder. However, Dr Sands said he had no input on the committee’s recommendations. According to Dr Sands, at the time, Magic Touch and another company, RL Elite Housekeeping Limited, were the two lowest bidders, with RL Elite being the lowest. RL Elite submitted a $1,173,900 bid, which was ultimately denied because the bid was “unrealistic,” along with a combination of other factors. Dr Sands said a report was prepared and sent to the PHA’s executive management team, and specifically to Mr Brown and his team concerning the committee’s recommendations. The next procedural
WELLNESS DAY TO BE OBSERVED IN GB By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama Health Services is hosting two major events to highlight Caribbean Wellness Day, which is observed each year on the second Saturday of September. Valeria Burrows, assistant director of communications, said that a health fair is scheduled today at the Eight Mile Rock Community Clinic grounds from 10am to 6.30pm. The second event, a Beach Olympics, will be held on Saturday,
September 15, beginning at 8am on Taino Beach. Ms Burrows noted that this year’s theme is: “Love That Body: Preserving the Workforce.” “The Bahamas will join counties within the region in activities to execute the theme,” she said. Ms Burrows said Caribbean Wellness Day is an annual event that provides an opportunity to increase awareness of the non-communicable disease (NCD) burden in the Caribbean, mobilise and strengthen public, private and civil society partnerships for NCDs.
She stated that it also helps promote multi-sectoral activities in support of wellness, and showcase national and community level activities to promote healthy living and encourage residents to develop good health practices. Caribbean Wellness Day was first established by the CARICOM Heads of Summit on Chronic Diseases in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in September 2007. It was legally established in July 2011 by an inter-government agreement signed by CARICOM member states and began operations in 2013.
Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff step, according to Dr Sands, would have been for the matter to go to the board. However, Dr Sands said an issue had arisen where the existing contractor was underperforming in its duties to clean the relevant portion of the Princess Margaret Hospital. Dr Sands also said serious concerns were being expressed by executive management in the hospital on the issue, as well as by the administrative heads of the departments affected. As a result, Dr Sands said the issue needed to be dealt with. The minister said the issue was later raised with Mr Brown and the incoming PHA chairman, Julian Rolle, and a formal meeting was held between those three men at the Ministry of Health on August 9, 2017. During that meeting, Dr Sands said the men discussed the decision that needed to be made as a result of the recommendation of the committee concerning the cleaning/ janitorial services at PMH. According to Dr Sands, the result of that meeting
was that the matter would be placed on the agenda for the first substantive board meeting, and that notwithstanding the committee’s recommendation, because it was a controversial issue, the matter should be transferred to the Office of the Attorney General in a bid to obtain legal advice. Dr Sands said the matter was sent to the AG’s Office, which in turn offered written advice on the matter. According to Dr Sands, the AG’s Office noted that there was a matter before the courts against Smith; that Mrs Hanna was the virtual complainant; concerns about the appearance of “quid quo pro”, a Latin phrase which in essence means a favour for a favour, and that the process needed to be fair. However, Dr Sands said based on the information it was presented with, the AG’s Office found the process to be fair and that it saw no reason why the winner of the tender process should not get the contract. He maintained that notwithstanding the
controversial nature of the decision, he approved the contract only after the matter was thoroughly vetted by the Office of the Attorney General, and based on the fact that Magic Touch was the lowest non-disqualified bidder. Smith is facing 15 criminal charges concerning his alleged solicitation of $65,000 in bribes from a woman he is said to have assisted in getting a contract. He is currently out on $50,000 bail. It is alleged the former PHA chairman, between April 2016 and April 2017, demanded and obtained $5,000 per month from Mrs Hanna, knowing he was not lawfully authorised to do so. He is also alleged to have attempted to extort another $5,000 from Mrs Hanna. Concerning the bribery charge, it is alleged that he solicited $5,000 a month from Mrs Hanna for helping her to get a PHA contract. Smith pleaded not guilty to all the allegations during his arraignment in July 2017.
PAGE 6, Friday, September 7, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
‘Inaction to blame for stadium’s rising bill’
PHOTO: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis blamed the Minnis administration’s inaction on construction of the controversial Andre Rollins Baseball Stadium for the project’s skyrocketing cost. While he did admit work stopped on the project about a month before the May 2017 general election due to issues with the allocation of funds, Mr Davis said the present government had not allowed work at the stadium to resume since it came to office. Given this inaction, he said Public Works Minister Desmond Bannister had been deliberately disingenuous to assert the former Christie administration is at fault in this situation. He
further pointed to a crane on the site, just opposite Government High School, which accumulated cost and contributed to the staggering price tag now attached to the construction of the stadium. He suggested blaming the PLP has been the government’s easy way out in the face of challenges, but noted this would not solve this issue or change the country’s state of affairs. On Wednesday, Mr Bannister told Tribune Business the stadium is a waste of taxpayer dollars that will never pay for itself. He further asserted the government aimed to cap construction costs at about $30m as opposed to the $43.014m that has been projected for the full scope of works. Cabinet documents seen by The Tribune further
reveal the former government initially planned an estimated project cost of $16.5m, but this threatened to increase by 160 percent - almost three times’ higher than the original budget. “The minister is being very, very disingenuous (and) deliberately so,” Mr Davis told reporters yesterday. “It is as one of my good friends would say nothing but sophistry on his part. “The balloon in cost has nothing to do with the original plan for that stadium. The balloon in cost is due primarily at the feet of the minister and his government for not allowing the project to continue. “If he had allowed it to continue the cost would not have ballooned. If you have a contract for work to be done and you allow the contractor not to do his work and you have for
example a crane on site for over a year not doing anything, all that is cost. The fact that you have to remobilise the work, that’s cost. The fact that you did not pay any attention at all with the contractor with a contract that is existing, that’s cost. “So their inaction is the cost of the balloon and it’s clear that they are lost.” He added: “The worked stopped a month before the election. It had to do with the allocation of funds, which we were working on. So yes, a month delay under our administration. That’s where the cost is. That’s where the millions of dollars are found and just leaving a site exposed to the elements as they did will require remediation. That’s where the cost is.” In response to Mr Bannister’s admission the stadium will never pay for itself, Mr Davis said that was never the intention. He said the former government was more concerned with the advancement of young people who love and are interested in the sport. He said: “The purpose of the stadium was not to have a return. Yes that could have been in the plan. Yes there were plans set to try to recoup some of the cost,
but it was never intended to recover costs or for the stadium to pay for itself. “When we build stadiums, when we build parks, do we build it with recovering the cost in mind? No we don’t. We do it because we are investing in the youth of our nation. “Today we have over 22 young Bahamians playing professional baseball. That is why we build these stadiums to encourage our youth, to give them something to do and baseball has proven particularly through the efforts of (former) Senator Greg Burrows and the Freedom Farm initiative. Thousands of Bahamians have gotten scholarships for baseball and are now making a living through baseball,” Mr Davis continued. “That is why you invest in edifices like (the) baseball stadium to be able to encourage and to inspire the young amongst us to do something positive with their lives. And through baseball a lot of things can happen positively for our young people. That’s the return that we look for in the building and construction.” The stadium’s costs have increased progressively since the project was conceived in 2014-2015, rapidly
increasing to $18.75m and then just over $21m by the time the Christie administration was voted out of office in the May 2017 general election. A November 27, 2017, construction “update” revealed the “original funds required” subsequently soared to $32.917m through the addition of more than $6m in “contingencies” and “provisional sums” to cover any cost overruns. Terran Rodgers, a Ministry of Works architect, said in the report that construction delays due to non-payment of the contractor, Woslee Construction, plus structural engineers and other professionals, had added some $1.711m to the cost. And he warned that “additional funds required to complete the project” stood at $8.386m if the government went through with adding “two auxiliary fields” and “high-level IT services,” taking the final cost to $43.014m. Mr Bannister this week confirmed the Minnis administration had elected not to proceed with these facilities, which were outside the “original scope” of works, in the hopes of saving $5.5m and keeping project costs closer to $30m.
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
part of the consultative process for the project, and was still in talks with an international group about developing a winter baseball league. He continued: “(A winter league) speaks to tourism itself but it also gives our local guys who are away an opportunity to come home and play in our stadium. It gives our people an opportunity to see not only our guys play, but also international players. Not to mention the exposure for our local athletes to a professional facility and players. “There is no cost associated to that. He’s (the minister) been led wrong.” In an interview with Tribune Business, Mr Bannister spoke of steps taken to prevent a near-tripling of construction costs - saying the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium is a waste of taxpayer money that will “never pay for itself”. The government is aiming to cap construction costs at “about $30m” rather than the $43.014m full scope of works to limit the Bahamian people’s financial exposure. Tribune Business obtained internal Cabinet documents that reveal the Christie administration’s initial $16.5m “estimated project cost” threatened to increase by 160 percent almost three times’ higher than the original budget. A November 27, 2017, construction “update” revealed that the
“original funds required” subsequently soared to $32.917m through the addition of more than $6m in “contingencies” and “provisional sums” to cover any cost overruns. Terran Rodgers, a Ministry of Works architect, said in the report that construction delays due to non-payment of the contractor, Woslee Construction, plus structural engineers and other professionals, had added some $1.711m to the cost. Yesterday, Mr Burrows said he was heavily involved in consultation for the stadium, which was designed to have the capacity to house offices like the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Mr Burrows said he felt the figures given by Mr Bannister were “way off” as he understood it cost the government approximately $5,000 a month since the project was stalled. He insisted total costs should not be more than $27m. “The minister is a good man, a former athlete,” Mr Burrows said, “he understands my plight. He was president of the Ambassador Track and Field Club so he should have more soft-hearted approach, particular for baseball and what is going on. We have suffered for a long time. We were also given a track stadium - will we ever pay for that? “I’m disappointed man,” he added, “I’m sad.”
‘MINISTER MISLED OVER STADIUM CONCERNS’ FREEDOM Farm Baseball League founder Greg Burrows yesterday expressed concern that Public Works Minister Desmond Bannister was being led in the wrong direction over the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. Mr Burrows, a former PLP senator, called Mr Bannister’s comments to The Tribune over the financial viability of the facility a “disaster,” adding he was disappointed by the tone struck by the minister. “Somebody is leading minister in the wrong direction,” Mr Burrows said, “particularly when he spoke about the cost and that it will never pay for itself. I think the minister is off, but I also don’t know if our country, or any government, supposed to look at a return for payment when we have a responsibility as government to provide opportunities for our athletes, to build capacity. “We are doing an excellent work with sports. We have over 20 kids now in the Minor League system and this country does not have an adult size field on this island. I was able to construct one at the prison that we have limited access to. And it’s a good thing (Prison Superintendent Patrick Wright) did for us.” Mr Burrows said he was
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 7, 2018, PAGE 7
Davis: Foulkes failing people over The Pointe By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net WITH the spotlight again shining on the labour force complement at The Pointe, Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis accused Labour Minister Dion Foulkes of being “delinquent” in his oversight of the project. Mr Davis said the minister has failed in this regard, repeatedly giving excuses for why more Bahamians are not at work at the down town Nassau project. The Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP’s rebuke was in response to the labour minister’s explanation of the work force clause contained in the Heads of Agreement between Pointe developers and the government, signed under the former Christie administration. Earlier this week, Mr Foulkes told reporters the clause has two interpretations, adding the Minnis administration opted to interpret the clause that calls for a 70/30 labour split in favour of Bahamians, as a requirement to be satisfied over the lifetime of the project and not a static ratio. “I do not know where the labour minister is getting his double interpretation from,” Mr Davis said in a statement yesterday, “but I stand by the letter and terms of the HOA executed by the PLP government that the labour ratio is to be 70 to 30 in favour of Bahamians. “The minister of labour appears to be delinquent in his superintendence of this project and giving excuses for why Bahamians are not at work. He must do his job and not give excuses. One can hardly cause the developer
THE CONSTRUCTION at The Pointe. to carry out its obligations under the agreement if the government is failing to carry out its obligations under the same agreement. “The facts are that clause 3.2 of the said HOA are clear on the labour ratios, expressly that ‘it is understood and agreed that the workforce employed by the Bahamian subcontractor are part of the overall Bahamian to non-Bahamian labour ratio and Bahamians will represent 70 percent of the total labour requirement for the development.’
“Clause 3 of the agreement also states that ‘the developer shall make every effort to fill as many jobs as possible with Bahamian citizens.’ At the completion of the project, the developer is to hire at least 500 Bahamians in addition to the existing 277 currently employed by the hotel. During the negotiations, the PLP government took deliberate steps to ensure that Bahamians were well represented and advantaged in both the developmental and
Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff operational stages of this project.” He said Mr Foulkes’ interpretation was not fair. “The agreement does not admit to two interpretations. I say this and even assuming but not conceding that the agreement does admit to two interpretations, then as government you adopt the interpretation that favours the Bahamian people not the developer. “So if you accept that there are two interpretations, which one you going
to adopt? The one that favours the developer or the one that favours the Bahamian people? You adopt the one the favours the Bahamian people. “And that tells you where they are in respect to the Bahamian people.” There have been repeated calls from the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) and its president, Leonard Sands, for the government to show just how many Bahamians are currently employed at the $200m development.
The BCA previously branded as “hogwash” the government’s finding that The Pointe is not in breach of its heads of agreement on labour ratios. However, Mr Sands has said the agreement - as tabled by the former government – was vague, and could be interpreted in two different ways. Mr Sands argued the principal concern was the lack of clarification on how Bahamians, skilled labourers and contractors, can engage the project.
PAGE 8, Friday, September 7, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Lucayan and lawyers T
HROUGHOUT my lengthy comedy career, I’ve learnt one thing, a good joke and laugh catches every Bahamian’s attention. We as a people love to laugh, sometimes a good laugh is needed, in order for us to take a step back, examine the situation at hand without taking ourselves too seriously. (Attention Bahamian politicians from all parties) and move forward with a positive solution, beneficial to all Bahamians in the long run. So with that being said, here’s what came across my radar this week.
NO RETURN, NO REFUND
I know I shouldn’t be surprised when I see headlines in The Tribune like “Lucayan Valuation Only Now Underway”. After the Oban near fiasco (and other missteps) by the current Minnis administration, Bahamians have quickly come to learn that being thorough is not a tool in this government’s box. Still, I find it hard to believe that we are only now conducting an updated appraisal on a hotel the government has already bought, even if the purchase is by way of a layaway plan. According to The Tribune article: “In 2015, it was reported the market value of the resort was placed at $57m. Later, in 2017, the value was estimated at around $63.1m if the property
was operating at stabilised levels. The government did not seek a new appraisal prior to solidifying interest in the Grand Lucayan, The Tribune was told, but relied on the 2015 appraisal value.” Now, maybe it’s just me, but I think it takes an exceptional level of incompetence to buy a house in the current economy without first knowing the true value. So imagine a whole hotel! On top of that, we now have attorney Maurice Glinton, QC, on record saying that the Grand Lucayan’s purchase is unlawful: “I mean ‘flawed’ for not obviously being as informed as such process must be by views of proximate stakeholders consulted on the practicality and legality of an acquisition that will make The Bahamas government a licensee of Grand Bahama Port Authority Limited entitled to enjoy the benefits and privileges in virtue of the 1955 Hawksbill Creek Agreement and the subsequent 1960 and 1966 amended agreements, all statutory in nature as enabled by Acts of the Bahamian Parliament.” When asked about Glinton’s take, Attorney General Carl Bethel could only respond that he’ll review Mr Glinton’s commentary. In other words, it’s news
to him. Which doesn’t speak well to whatever is going on in the AG’s office. (More on that in a minute). Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis landed a decent right jab on the Minnis administration when he said: “It is ludicrous for the government to get an appraisal after agreeing a price and making a down payment… it supports what I said yesterday. They are incompetent and making things up as they go.” Not thorough or downright incompetent? I’m still trying to decide. There’s one point I will agree with though; when you examine the “deals” made by this administration these past few months and consider all the information we modern Bahamians have at our fingertips, it truly must take a whole team effort for the government to be this inept.
LAWYERING UP
So this week we also learned from Attorney General Carl Bethel that Harvey Tynes, QC, and Robert Adams from Graham Thompson in Grand Bahama are no longer representing the government in its case against those seeking to block the government’s shanty town eradication project. On top of that, the government recently had to
postpone implementing their much hyped gaming patron tax since the “numbers boys” have now taken them to court. I won’t get too deep into the actual merits of these cases just yet but I can say Bahamian “enquiring minds” do want to know what on God’s green earth is going on in the AG’s office? They seem to be caught off guard a whole lot recently, and it seems to be costing Bahamian taxpayers money. And now the AG’s Office will face a true test going up against attorneys like Fred Smith, former attorney general Alfred Sears and Wayne Munroe. All Queen’s Counsel. I’m sure there are really smart lawyers in the AG’s Office, but something appears to be in disarray. Which is never a good sign for the country’s main legal adviser. The attorney general represents the government. The government represents the people. So according to that old joke we’re the lawyer, the client and the fool right now.
ONE BRIGHT SPOT
According to an article in The Nassau Guardian: “Between January 1 and September 4, 2018, there were 66 murders. In the same period last year, there were 97 murders. This means murders are down 32 percent year on year.” Granted a single murder is one too many, I am encouraged by the work of
the Royal Bahamas Police Force. It’s good to finally be moving in the right direction.
RIP
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of iconic actor and all around “funny man” Burt Reynolds. Reynolds was a favourite of Bahamians of all walks of life, far and wide. Throughout his career, Reynolds became a box office sensation with roles in “The Longest Yard”, “Smokey and the Bandit”, “The Cannonball Run”, and “Deliverance”. The actor’s career started on television with roles in “Gunsmoke” and “Dan August”. Ah, “Gunsmoke”, I can remember watching it religiously with my late grandfather KM Thompson, every Saturday at 6.00pm on ZNS. Then again in abundance, when we got “satellite” and he found it, showing daily on WTBS. The entire “Smokey and the Bandit” trilogy was classic, comedic brilliance in its own right. Many a “happy tear” was shed watching as a family. Reynolds won two Emmys for the series “Evening Shade” (hilarious) and was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights” (An instant classic on multiple levels. One of my Top 10 movies of all time). Reynolds was a “maverick”, who inspired a wide range of responses over his long, erratic career: critical acclaim and critical scorn, commercial success and box office bombs.
Helping to spur the myriad of opinions both good and bad, were relationships with Loni Anderson, Sally Field and Dinah Shore. (This alone earned him stripes in some circles). Apart from the humour and being a straight shooter, what endeared me to Reynolds, was how candid he was about his flops, and his regrets in life, and, of course, his many achievements and famous influential friends. Reynolds once told the Associated Press: “My career is not like a regular chart, mine looks like a heart attack. I’ve done over 100 films, and I’m the only actor who has been canned by all three networks. I epitomise longevity.” You got to love it! That sums it up in a nutshell perfectly. Rest In Peace Burt, thanks for all the laughs and sound bites. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the late Justice Stephen Isaacs. A great Bahamian on many levels. I had the pleasure of meeting Justice Isaacs, and I was humbled, when he told me he was a fan of this column, and looked forward to it every Friday. My sincerest condolences and deepest sympathies to the family. May God continue to guide and strengthen you during this most difficult time. Until next week I will leave you with words from comedic legend, the late Rodney Dangerfield: “Don’t ever be afraid to be yourself, and let yourself shine. Remember, the sun doesn’t give a damn if it blinds you.”
READERS RESPOND TO RISING COST OF BASEBALL STADIUM AFTER Minister of Works Desmond Bannister described the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium as a waste of taxpayer money that will “never pay for itself”, readers gave their reaction on tribune242. com. Dawes said: “I would ask if the Government understands how to enter into a contract. As long as you don’t make any changes then the price quoted should be that. Every single contract Government enters is over budget by millions, we all know why, and this is why nothing will change as each party has those people loyal to it that need to be rewarded when they are in power.” BONEFISH had this to say: “This stadium project
was botched by the PLP government. The project was overly ambitious and poorly managed. However this information being released at this moment by Minister Bannister is simply a deflection.” This week, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Paul Maynard claimed that around 50 non-Bahamians were set to be brought on at BPL in the aftermath of 314 workers receiving voluntary separation packages. Hrysippus responded
with this comment: “So if I understand this correctly, 50 foreigners were hired to do the work that 314 Bahamians were doing before BPL bought them out with generous retirement packages. I can see now why Mr Maynard is so upset – what if this trend continues? What if the corporation turns into an efficient, well run and not overstaffed organisation? What would happen to the civil service after that?” There was this from Socrates: “You can’t serve two masters. Management is tasked with managing a company. Unions come along, and they want to do the same thing. How the hell is that supposed to work? One of the many dysfunctional aspects of
the Bahamas’ work scene is workers don’t understand that their purpose is, (i) show up, (ii) do your job (if you know how) and (iii) go home when time is finished. Rank and file staff are not consultants and are not employed to give management advice or directives.” DWW posted this comment: “Unions ruined this country. Would Mr Maynard like to talk about the 7 men I saw working just last week? 7 men and 2 trucks to cut a few shrubs away from a power line. It took them 5 hours to do something I could have done on my own in 4 hours if only I had the magic switch to cut the power.” The Bahamas National Trust has revealed it is “exploring” ten ventures
with private entities involving the country’s National Parks. That prompted this response from The_Oracle: “I have no doubt the Trust is challenged financially, as are all NGOs, increased taxation bites charities first. Public private partnerships can work, but transparency and the outright understanding that all improvements and service agreements are for PUBLIC USE. We Bahamians put natural resource stewardship so high on our list of priorities . . . the BNT is also one area that the Government ought to fund properly, for all Bahamians.” And Baha Mar’s full opening helped drive a 32 percent room revenue
increase among major hotel properties for the 2018 first half. John had this to say: “Don’t allow the opportunity to maximise growth potential in the tourism sector to slip away. Get hotel rooms filled. Bahamians employed and off social welfare or unemployment. A healthy tourist sector can boost other parts of the economy. Then put the IAAF meet back on the schedule so the government does not appear mean and stingy when it comes to Bahamians. The stadium is in need of use and will require much more to repair if it just sits there and deteriorates.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 7, 2018, PAGE 9
Town planners say no to Soldier Road cemetery By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THE Town Planning Committee has rejected an application to develop a cemetery in the Soldier Road area after the proposal was deemed to be “incompatible land use” for the community, committee chair Diane Holowesko Dunkley told The Tribune yesterday. The cemetery was proposed to be built
immediately northeast of Kennedy Subdivision, next to Superwash on Soldier Road. The backlash from locals was swift. Last month, resident Gloria Wallace wrote a letter to The Tribune decrying the proposal, citing issues such as property devaluation, ground water contamination, and traffic concerns as reasons why the cemetery should not be built. A town meeting was held on August 27 to allow
residents to express their concerns. Mrs Holowesko Dunkley said the meeting was “very spirited” and well-attended by residents in and around Soldier Road. “The residents were unanimous in their feelings that they did not want a cemetery there,” Mrs Holowesko Dunkley said. She added some residents admitted the island does need another cemetery but rejected the notion it should be built in that community.
BACK TO SCHOOL WITH A SUNNY SMILE
HUNDREDS of students on Abaco gathered on August 25 at the Patrick J Bethel High School for the third annual BackTo-School Extravaganza hosted by Sun Oil Limited. Sun Oil marketing manager Rufus Johnson II, pictured inset, said the company was elated to once again assist kids to get back into the classrooms.
“Abaco has embraced us and shown us love throughout the many years that we have been present on the island,” he said. “We just want to continue to give back to this wonderful community”. At the event, students were given bags, pencils, pens, notebooks, and more. Sun Oil also provided barbers and hairbraiders, free of charge.
Colina provided a nurse to take the kids’ pressure and other checks, and the Pilot Club of Abaco supported by assisting with the distribution of food and school materials. “The kids have gotten an extra boost in getting ready for school,” said Mr Johnson. “That puts a smile on their faces and their smiles put a smile on our faces.”
Rotary Clubs
at Gambier Park. The event attracted hundreds of kids and residents who enjoyed a day of fun complete with bouncing castle and more. Nearly 200 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed. The initiative was led by Shanley Toote, president, Rotary Club of Old Fort. “We wanted to take the
hassle and the stress of shopping for school supplies and make it a little easier for parents and host an event for the kids to give them a fun, back to school sendoff,” said Shanley. More than 50 boys had fresh haircuts and Rotarians donated food and drinks and served up special treats for the kids.
CHILDREN in the surrounding communities of Gambier got a Back to School treat just in time for the new school year as Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Old Fort partnered with the Rotary Club of West Nassau for a jamboree
JOIN THE CLUB OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers. To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line. For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 502-2373 or 826-2242.
Mrs Holowesko Dunkley said the following day, August 28, a regularly scheduled town planning meeting was held. At that meeting, “The committee resolved to refuse the proposed cemetery as it was deemed to be incompatible land use,” she said. The applicant received the letter on Wednesday. Last week, Mrs Holowesko Dunkley explained to The Tribune that the committee strives to “balance”
a developer’s right to develop a property while considering what is best for the overall welfare of the larger community. “When (someone) buys a piece of land…by law, they are allowed to submit to Town Planning an application to do absolutely anything with the land,” she said then. “If you’re living or I’m living next to an empty piece of property, the owner…could submit an application to Town
Planning to put a nuclear power site on the piece of property next to me.” Mrs Holowesko Dunkley said whether or not an application is approved is another matter. “Part of the (committee’s) responsibility, as mandated by the Planning and Subdivision Act 2010 is to ensure the safety, convenience, welfare of both current and future residents in an area. And we take that responsibility very seriously.”
PAGE 10, Friday, September 7, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Setting the record straight on a man who led a nation of slaves to freedom
By JULIA GAFFIELD, Georgie State University CROWDS cheered as local lawmakers on August 18 unveiled a street sign showing that Rogers Avenue in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn would now be called Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard, after a Haitian slave turned revolutionary general. When Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence from France in 1804 after a 13-year slave uprising and civil war, he became the Americas’ first black head of state. Supporting the French colonial perspective, leaders across the Americas and Europe immediately demonised Dessalines. Even in the United States, itself newly independent from Britain, newspapers recounted horrific stories of the final years of the Haitian Revolution, a war for independence that took the lives of some 50,000 French soldiers and over 100,000 black and mixed-race Haitians. For more than two centuries, Dessalines was
memorialised as a ruthless brute. Now, say residents of Brooklyn’s “Little Haiti” – the blocks around Rogers Avenue, home to some 50,000 Haitian-Americans – it’s time to correct the record. They hope the newly renamed Dessalines Boulevard will burnish the reputation of this Haitian hero. Other New Yorkers aren’t so sure. The New York City Council’s vetting committee labelled Dessalines a “possibly offensive historical figure”, tacitly referencing the massacre of French citizens that followed Haiti’s revolution. Just after declaring independence in early 1804, Dessalines discovered local French colonists were plotting to overthrow his new government. He ordered all remaining French citizens in Haiti, except for a few French allies, to be killed. My research indicates that between 1000 and 2000 white landowners and their families, merchants and poor French were executed, always in a very public
fashion. Some estimates are as high as 5000. Dessalines, who protected all British, American and other non-French white people living in Haiti, justified the killings as a response to acts of war by France. Despite Haiti’s declared independence, French imperial forces continued to threaten invasion from their military outpost in Santo Domingo, modern-day Dominican Republic. To his critics, however, Dessalines’ massacre amounted to “white genocide”. In researching Dessalines for the biography I am writing, I found he was in many ways cut from the same cloth as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other American revolutionaries. Dessalines was an Enlightenment thinker who espoused life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And he was willing to use strategic, bloody violence to free his people from colonial rule.
But in his commitment to black equality he was far more 1789 radical than America’s French Revolution, when founding fathers who freed idealists toppled their the US from England but monarchy demanding “Liblet black Americans stay erté, Egalité, Fraternité” in chains for another nine – freedom, equality and decades. fraternity. In June 1803, when Yet the French continDessalines began plan- ued to use enslaved labour ning for independence, he to produce sugar, coffee wrote to President Thomas and other crops in the CarJefferson. ibbean. Dessalines said Like Americans, he France had shrouded their reported, Haitians were colonies in a “veil of preju“tired of paying with our dice”. He insisted that true blood the price of our blind egalité required black liballegiance to a mother erty, too. country that cuts her chilThis radical vision dren’s throats,” he said. of black They would empowfight for their ‘In his commitment erment is freedom. to black equality he evident in JefferHaiti’s 1804 son never was far more radical Declaration responded. than America’s of IndeDessafounding fathers who pendence, lines’ vision signed by of an auton- freed the US from Dessalines. omous England but let black In 2010 I black state Americans stay in located the – a nation only known chains for another founded by extant enslaved nine decades.’ copy of this people who stunning killed their founding colonial masters – alarmed document, at the National the patrician Virginia plan- Archives of the United tation owner, Jefferson’s Kingdom. letters show. The US was The 1805 Constitution also being pressured by that followed reaffirmed southern slave states and the abolition of slavery in French and British diplo- Haiti, making it the first mats to shun Haiti. free black state in the WestRather than reckon- ern Hemisphere. ing with the ills of racial It also eliminated official oppression and colonialism, racial distinctions. Accordmost prominent thinkers ing to Haiti’s Constitution, across the Americas and all Haitians, regardless of Europe interpreted Dessa- skin colour, would be conlines’ war as an example of sidered black in the eyes African barbarity. of the law. In Dessalines’ Haiti was run by a “hord philosophy, race was an of ferocious banditt” and ideological concept. By led by “Barbarous Chief- securing Haitian citizentains”, commented one ship, a person became British observer in 1804. black. This racist view of DessaUnder Dessalines’ rule, lines persisted for two blackness was to be the centuries. source of freedom and Today, modern scholar- equality – not bondage. ship is redeeming Haiti’s Dessalines’ revolutionary founding father. fervour earned him internaDessalines challenged the tional diplomatic isolation. universalist rhetoric of the France refused to accept
Haitian independence until 1825, when Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer agreed to pay 150 million francs – equivalent to $21bn today – for the loss of human and territorial “property”. To ensure compliance, French warships with loaded canons threatened the country from the harbour of Port-au-Prince. Things also went badly for the newly independent Haiti in its own neighbourhood. Jefferson imposed an embargo on Haiti, cutting off trade with the country from 1806 to 1808, and the US refused to recognise Haitian independence until 1862. Dessalines was assassinated in 1806 by opponents within his own government. The international smear campaign almost succeeded in erasing Dessalines’ revolutionary legacy. As one opponent to the Little Haiti street renaming claimed, Dessalines is “obscure to most Americans”. Even within Haiti, Dessalines is overshadowed by the black Haitian military leader Toussaint Louverture, allegedly a more restrained and diplomatic revolutionary. But as scholars have revised the long-dominant racist narrative about Dessalines, public interest in the abolitionist has grown. As the Haitian-American New York Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte said in Brooklyn, the newly named Dessalines Boulevard is “undoing in a concrete and tangible way centuries of the trivialisation of our history”. • This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article here: http:// theconversation.com/ meet-haitis-foundingfather-whose-black-revolution-was-too-radical-forthomas-jefferson-101963.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 7, 2018, PAGE 11
Vital Ragged Island facilities to be rebuilt from page one Last week, Restoration Ragged Island Association Chairman Ellerly Lockhart called for the government to lift the unliveable status from the island. He added that the government’s refusal do so could be a contributing factor as to why residents may choose not to comply with a future evacuation notice. In response to these comments, Captain Russell said if another major storm approaches, common sense should dictate to those at risk to evacuate. “From what I’ve gathered, the government cannot lift that status because the basic infrastructure for government to support human life on the island (is not there),” he said. “And I just saw the official report from Ministry of Works and made contact with the architect. They should be approving plans sometime this week (or early next week) for those key structures…the school, the clinic, the police station and the administrator’s office. “Those are key institutions or facilities that government must have in place before they can officially say…the place is inhabitable or liveable.” Captain Russell added it is not a matter of residents being “afraid” to leave, but said it is just “good sense” to leave. “If they (are) refusing to leave if a major storm is approaching, the only thing left for government to do, is when they go back, if bodies are there to carry
body bags. That’s the hard facts about it,” Capt Russell said. “You’re not in a battle with government as to whether you’re going to leave, if it’s a major (hurricane) approaching your island. Common sense should (tell you) move out of the way. “It’s not a matter of not being able to return. If you become a fatality in a major storm, does it really matter?” Captain Russell noted the government has to oversee the repairs of more than a hundred government facilities nationwide that have been damaged by hurricanes in the last two years. “These things take time, yes it’s a whole year. We’ve had three major storms – hurricanes Joaquin, Matthew and Irma… After Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the Ministry of Works had a listing of 117 government facilities and structures throughout the islands that needed some degree of repair, major repairs. Hurricane Irma added another 25-33 structures onto that list. “So the Ministry of Works (is) trying to sift through a list of almost 150 structures. And then you had the school cycles come upon you, and you had to switch priorities and focus on getting the schools ready for the kids. “Yes, they know the (situation) in Ragged Island, they want to get some things done.” Last month, weeks ahead of the first year anniversary of Hurricane Irma, NEMA issued more than $70,000 in
NEMA director Captain Stephen Russell was recently in Ragged Island to issue cheques to assist those affected by Hurricane Irma last September. Photo: BIS financial assistance to resi- it’s not the government’s we execute the payment. “There are currently dents of Ragged Island. responsibility to refurbish Based on not just NEMA, two storm systems in the Eighteen households or repair homes. The gov- (but in) collaboration with Atlantic,” he said, noting received a maximum of ernment will provide some the Ministry of Works, who Hurricane Florence in par$4,000 per household to degree of assistance. We have assessment leaders. ticular could be a “serious further assist with recovery also encourage persons to And they gave us the data factor over the next ten efforts. get some degree of insur- necessary. days, particularly within the Last week, Mr Lockhart ance for their property. “The government at the US East Coast.” told The Tribune that while “Your home is one of Cabinet level, they said that “And also lined up on residents “definitely” do your most prized posses- $4,000 is the maximum the the coast of Africa, they not consider the money to sions, and you must make government would grant showed some three other be enough, they see it as a provisions to secure your to persons from Hurricane systems that are due to start. property as best you can Matthew as well as Hurri- come off the coast of Africa In response to these for the hurricane season. cane Irma.” during the course of the comments, Captain Rus- It’s also on you to maintain Regarding this hurricane next week,” he added. sell said home repairs are your home. season, Captain Russell “So we are getting into “not the government’s “It’s not a matter of said residents should “abso- the peak of the hurricane responsibility.” coming too late, once lutely not” let their guards season, how can you let “The whole idea is that approval is granted, then down. your guard down?”
PAGE 12, Friday, September 7, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
166 SKULLS FOUND IN MASS GRAVE
Russia denies poison claims MOSCOW Associated Press A TOP Russian diplomat yesterday denounced British accusations that Russian military intelligence agents poisoned a former spy in England, calling them base untruths aimed at whipping up hostility toward Moscow. The statement by Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia to a session of the UN Security Council came hours after Britain’s security minister said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ultimately responsible for the nerveagent poisoning in March of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the city of Salisbury. Britain produced an “unfounded and mendacious cocktail of facts” and is refusing to cooperate with Russia in investigating the poisoning “to unleash a disgusting anti-Russian hysteria and to involve other countries in this hysteria,” Nebenzia said. Moscow has denied involvement in the poisonings since the beginning of the case and the issue reared up again on Wednesday when Britain said it had identified two alleged agents of Russia’s GRU military intelligence service as suspects. Earlier at the Security Council, Ambassador Karen Pierce of Britain accused Russia of failing to uphold the ban on using chemical weapons and
playing “dice” with the lives of the people of Salisbury. She said the international community must take steps to safeguard people against the use of chemical weapons and “the threat of hostile foreign interference”. Britain’s security minister Ben Wallace called out Putin over the attack that used the nerve agent Novichok against the Skripals in Salisbury. Both Skripal, a GRU officer who turned double agent for Britain, and his daughter were hospitalised for weeks in critical condition. Pierce said “they are progressing well”. Wallace told the BBC that Putin and his government “controls, funds and directs” the GRU. Three months after the Skripals were poisoned, local woman Dawn Sturgess died and her boyfriend Charlie Rowley was sickened after they came across remnants of the nerve agent in a discarded perfume bottle. Britain announced the charges in absentia against two Russians, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov — names that are likely to be aliases. The murder attempt was approved “at a senior level of the Russian state”, British Prime Minister Theresa May said Wednesday. Moscow strongly denies involvement in the attack, and Russian officials said they didn’t recognise the suspects.
MEXICO CITY Associated Press
INVESTIGATORS said Thursday they have found 166 skulls in clandestine burial pits in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, one of the biggest mass graves discovered so far in Mexico. Veracruz state prosecutor Jorge Winckler said that for security reasons he would not reveal the location of the site. Mexican drug cartels frequently use clandestine pits to dispose of their victims. Winckler said the bodies were buried at least two years ago and did not rule out finding more remains. He said investigators had found 114 ID cards in the field, which held about 32 burial pits.
FAREWELL TO THE BANDIT AS BURT REYNOLDS DIES, AGED 82
BURT Reynolds, the handsome film and television star known for his acclaimed performances in “Deliverance” and “Boogie Nights”, commercial hits such as “Smokey and the Bandit” and for an active off-screen love life which included relationships with Loni Anderson and Sally Field, has died at age 82. His death was confirmed yesterday by his agent Todd Eisner. In a statement, his niece, Nancy Lee Hess, called his death “totally unexpected”, although she acknowledged he had health issues. “He was tough. Anyone who breaks their tail bone on a river and finishes the movie is tough. And that’s who he was. My uncle was looking forward to working with Quentin Tarantino, and the amazing cast that was assembled,” she said, referring to the upcoming film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. The mustachioed, smirking Reynolds inspired a wide range of responses over his long, erratic career: critical acclaim and critical scorn, popular success and box office bombs. Reynolds made scores of movies, ranging from lightweight
fare such as the hits “The Cannonball Run” and “Smokey and the Bandit” to more serious films like “The Longest Yard” and “The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing”. He received some of the film world’s highest and lowest honors. He was nominated for an Oscar for “Boogie Nights”, the Paul Thomas Anderson film about the pornography industry; won an Emmy for the TV series “Evening Shade”, and was praised for his starring role in “Deliverance”. But he also was a frequent nominee for the Razzie, the tongue-in-cheek award for Hollywood’s worst performance, and his personal life provided ongoing drama, particularly after an acrimonious divorce from Anderson in 1995. He had a troubled marriage to Judy Carne, a romance with Dinah Shore and a relationship with Field damaged by his acknowledged jealousy of her success. “My career is not like a regular chart, mine looks like a heart attack,” he said in 2001. “I’ve done over 100 films, and I’m the only actor who has been canned by all three networks. I epitomise longevity.”
HOMOSEXUALITY NO LONGER A CRIME IN INDIA NEW DELHI Associated Press INDIA’S Supreme Court yesterday struck down a colonial-era law that made gay sex punishable by up to ten years in prison, a victory for gay rights that one judge said would “pave the way for a better future”. The 1861 law, a relic of Victorian England, was a weapon used to discriminate against India’s gay community, the judges ruled in a unanimous decision. “Constitutional morality cannot be martyred at the altar of social morality,” Chief Justice Dipak Misra said, reading the verdict. “Social morality cannot be used to violate the fundamental rights of even a single individual.” As the news spread, the streets outside the courthouse erupted in cheers as opponents of the law danced and waved flags.
Congratulations Sasha Lightbourne Damian Blackburn and the entire ALIV team congratulates Sasha Lightbourne for being one of The Bahamas 40 most influential and Successful Professionals Under 40 recipients!
she is truly deserving of the recognition by Professional Services Bahamas. We are extremely proud of her.
Damian Blackburn, CAO Aliv
believe in best