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VOLUME:114 No.203, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2017
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
BUSINESS: WARNING OF SIGNIFICANT RISK IF ECONOMY NOT TURNED AROUND
Ragged families want to rebuild
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
RESIDENTS of Ragged Island are determined to go back home immediately and rebuild despite the decimation left from Hurricane Irma, with the community’s chief councillor saying it is “foolishness” for anyone to consider the island uninhabitable. Ragged Island natives have said they have nowhere else to go and do not want to remain in New Providence, an island rife with crime and violence. Some residents believe they can safely stay on the island in the structures that were not destroyed and want to start reconstruction as soon as possible. Chief councillor Demison Nesbitt, who has been staying at a shelter in Nassau since last week, said he doubts any of the residents still on the island would choose to evacuate rather than rebuild the area. He told The Tribune: “It’s
foolishness. We have decided we are going back home to rebuild. “Ragged Island is not a bunch of unknown people. “If the prime minister don’t want them there, them people ain’t gonna leave because that’s their home. A little bit of cleaning up and other stuff what may seem like a lot, Ragged Island people will handle it. “Ragged Island people been through this before and we will get it together,” Mr Nesbitt said. Attorney Wayne Munroe, QC, has also criticised Dr Minnis’ call for residents of Duncan Town to evacuate in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma as he questioned the conditions which led the government to deem Ragged Island uninhabitable. Mr Munroe, who was born on the island, took issue with this, adding he and a group of Ragged Island natives are also organising clean up and rebuilding efforts despite any pronouncements made about SEE PAGE SIX
EVACUEES’ SAFETY TOP PRIORITY
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
WHILE various government agencies have already started to assess Hurricane Irma’s damage in the southern Bahamas, it is still too early to put a price tag on the devastation caused by the monster storm, National Emergency Management Agency Director Captain Stephen Russell said. Capt Russell told The
Tribune yesterday that NEMA’s first priority has been to return persons who were evacuated back to their homes and ensure that they have basic supplies. This is outside of Ragged Island, which has been deemed uninhabitable at this time. NEMA will also execute plans to get teams from utility companies into islands where there are no essential utilities, he said on Monday. SEE PAGE SIX
HURRICANE INSURANCE:
Are you Covered?
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ONE man is dead and another is in hospital following a shooting in the Freeport area on Monday morning. According to police reports, officers received a call around midnight of gunshots being fired in the Garden Villas area and officers were dispatched to investigate. ASP Terecita Pinder said officers discovered two men with gunshot injuries to the body. She said one of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital where he is listed in serious condition. SEE PAGE SIX
COP KILLER BIDS TO CHALLENGE SENTENCE By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A GRAND Bahama native sentenced to life in prison for killing a police officer approximately 25 years ago may finally get to appeal his sentence when he returns to the appellate court in early November. Alexander Williams, 48, of Freeport, will return to the Court of Appeal on November 7 for a status hearing into the appeal he is seeking to have heard concerning the 1992 murder of Constable Truman Cooper. Williams is seeking an extension of time application to file his notice of appeal, after having
DELUGE AFTER experiencing almost no rain during Hurricane Irma, Nassau was hit by a torrential downpour yesterday. Heavy flooding caused chaos on the roads, with drivers struggling to navigate the rising water. • SEE PAGE 12 FOR MORE PHOTOS Photo: Jamie ‘JTrain’ Peterson
SEE PAGE 11
HURRICANE HIT WILL COST US - FOR NOW By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
Covering The Bahamas for 40 years. Nobody Does it Better!
DOUBLE SHOOTING LEAVES GB MAN DEAD
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar suggested yesterday the industry could take a hit in the wake of Hurricane Irma if it can’t shake the “destruction in the Caribbean” image being presented to various North American markets. Expressing a level of concern on Tuesday,
Mr D’Aguilar in an interview outside Cabinet said “very little damage” was inflicted on the Bahamas’ “major tourist destinations” as he declared “we’re open for business”. The Free Town MP said it is now the primary function of the Ministry of Tourism to promote the message that the islands weathered Irma well and remain capable of servicing the holiday needs of guests. “Everyone is hearing
‘destruction in the Caribbean,’ ‘hurricane went through the Bahamas’ and thinking the entire nation was affected. They don’t realise that we are an island nation and some islands were affected and some islands were not,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “Hopefully and thankfully our major population destination emerged from this relatively unscathed.”
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‘A nation of keyboard gangsters’ Alicia Wallace page 8
PAGE 2, Wednesday, September 13, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
‘Tornado sounded like a freight
THE HOME of the Roberts family in Grand Bahama which was damaged by a tornado on Sunday.
Photo: Denise Maycock
HURRICANE JOSE BEARS WATCHING AS PATH IS UNCERTAIN By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
FORECASTERS are keeping a “close watch” on Hurricane Jose which could pose a threat to the eastern Bahamas late this week, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski. Mr Kottlowski said there are several paths Jose can take this weekend and over the following days. How close Jose passes to the Turks and Caicos and eastern Bahamas late this week will determine whether its outer bands of rain and wind impact these areas. Jose, currently a category one hurricane, is churning hundreds of miles northeast of the Turks and Caicos and is expected to maintain hurricane status through the week. “Jose could remain at sea and pose no direct threat to land. Other possibilities include direct impacts to the
STORM DETAILS
Day: Tuesday Date: 9/12/2017 Time: 9 PM EDT
Storm Name: Jose Lat: 27.14 North, Lon: 66.81 West Movement: SE at 8 mph Central Pressure: 987 mb Sustained Wind: (mph):75 mph Peak Gust: (mph): 90 mph
8 PM SUN
8 AM SUN
Storm Discussion: Satellite imagery indicates that Jose appears to be picking up speed as it moves to the southeast between Bermuda and the southern Bahamas, undergoing strong wind shear as it struggles to maintain hurricane strength. Jose will continue moving generally to the south through tomorrow and then westerly tomorrow night.
8 PM SAT 10 PM TUE 8 AM SAT Miami
Nassau
8 AM WED 8 AM FRI
Havana
JOSE
Port-au-Prince
mid-Atlantic, New England or Atlantic Canada,” he said. “Anyone from Bermuda to The Bahamas, US East Coast and Atlantic Canada
8 AM THU
San Juan
should continue to monitor the system.” In a statement, the Department of Meteorology in the Bahamas said the US National Hurricane Centre
is advising that based on its latest models, when Hurricane Jose completes it loop on Friday, it will be pointed more towards the Carolinas and Virginia, USA.
However the Met Department said local officials will continue to monitor Jose as the hurricane is “still too close to The Bahamas.” “This suggests that Hurricane Jose will pose much less of a threat to The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands this coming weekend or early next week. The Bahamas Department of Meteorology will, however, continue to monitor the movement of Jose, because looping hurricanes have, in the past, not conformed to the suggested forecast tracks and Jose is still too close in proximity to The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands to not be of a concern,” the statement said. “The centre of the storm was located about 435 miles north-northeast of Grand Turk Island. It is moving towards the east near six mph and this motion is expected to continue (Tuesday), a turn towards the southeast is expected followed by a turn towards the southwest
by Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75mph with higher gusts. Some additional weakening is possible during the next day or so and Jose could weaken to a tropical storm later today.” There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect for Jose. Jose is the fourth threatening hurricane to form over the Atlantic in the past few weeks. Hurricane Harvey unleashed extensive damage in southern Texas and parts of Louisiana as it brought excessive rainfall and catastrophic flooding, killing at least 74 people. Katia killed at least two people in Mexico after it made landfall last week – right after a powerful earthquake killed 64 others, according to CNN. Six deaths in Florida have been blamed on Hurricane Irma so far, along with three in Georgia and one in South Carolina and at least 38 people were killed in the Caribbean.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, September 13, 2017, PAGE 3
train running through our home’ By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama resident Peter Roberts said it sounded like a “freight train” ran through his home on Sunday when a tornado passed through, the force of the twister so strong the wind picked him up and threw him to the ground as he and his wife tried to get to safety. Mr Roberts and his wife received minor injuries from the tornado. They are two of several residents of Grand Bahama who have been left traumatised after tornados ripped roofs off homes and structures in Freeport on Sunday as Hurricane Irma churned by, heading towards Florida. When The Tribune visited their area this week, Mr Roberts and his wife were removing furniture and other personal possessions from their house which had extensive roof damage. Despite this, the two are just grateful to be alive. After being treated and discharged from the hospital after the tornado hit their home, the Roberts returned to clean up and save whatever they could. “We did not know what to do,” Mr Roberts said. “It hit us, and in seconds the roof was gone. It sounded like a freight train. “My stepson saw it (coming), and we try to go to the bathroom. But by the time we get halfway there, it hit and knock us on the ground, and my wife hurt her leg. It happened so fast.” Holding a crystal framed wedding photo, his wife told The Tribune: “I lived here 14 years, and I am grateful to Jehovah because material things you could always get back, but I am grateful to be still alive and family still here with me. “You could get the house back; I cannot get my son and husband back – once you die, you’re gone.” Mrs Roberts hurt her leg and was struck in her head and back with debris when
A HOME in Grand Bahama covered in tarp, seemingly still awaiting repair from Hurricane Matthew. The couple is staying with further, she realised that the tornado threw them to a friend post-Irma. They another house behind hers the ground. “When my son told us the said officials from the De- had also been destroyed. When Irma struck, she tornado was coming we tried partment of Social Services to get in the bathroom, but stopped by and offered was in the process of completing roof repairs from the wind sucked the door, some help. On a nearby street in Hurricane Matthew. and when we reach in the “It rained (on Monday) bedroom the wind picked the Imperial Park area, us up and threw us back into Tanya Ferguson, who is and what was not destroyed the bathroom,” she recalled. four months pregnant, said in the tornado is now deMrs Roberts said that it was the second time her stroyed because of the rain she tried to stand up but house has been hit by a tor- – the two bedrooms and living are destroyed,” she said. couldn’t because her leg nado within a year. In addition to being trau“It was an absolutely horwas so painful. She said they went out- rible experience,” she said. matised, those affected are side and saw the extent of “This is the second tornado also having to deal with the that hit my house – a torna- prying stares of curious pasthe damage. “We noticed the roof do hit us during Hurricane sersby. Ms Ferguson said that it was severely damaged and Matthew (in October 2016) is very uncomfortable havthe tornado was still in the and now again.” Ms Ferguson was lying on ing to deal with persons backyard. We were going to go over to the neighbours, her bed when her nephew driving by all day staring and we saw her house was came running inside after and taking photographs of damaged too. A lot of peo- seeing a tornado coming to- their damage and posting them on social media. ple was in the road scream- ward their house. She said that when her “My mother said the ing and hollering. I looked around and said, ‘thank front door is blowing in, friend was taking her to the and she and my nephew hospital to be checked, anGod for life.’” were standing at the door other woman blocked the road and would not let them trying to stench it close. “It sounded like a big pass just to take a phototruck was driving by, and graph. “People are so just uncarthe house started to shake,” recalled Ms Ferguson. The ing,” she said. “(Sunday) house just shook; the whole was horrible, but (Monday) experience was like two was worse because we were catching water in here and seconds.” Ms Ferguson looked up people just driving past takand realised that her roof ing pictures and pictures. “Hurricane after the hurwas gone. “I could see the sunlight ricane, I refuse to go riding coming in the house, and I around looking at people’s said, ‘we lose our roof,’ and damage. It is heartbreaka panic came over me and I ing. Out of all of this, what hurts the most is the stares started crying,” she said. of people riding by and When Ms Ferguson went A SIGN says “Go away Irma” on a door in Grand Bahama. outside to assess her home looking,” Ms Ferguson said.
WHAT NEXT FOR RAGGED ISLAND STUDENTS? By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net AS the government continues its post Irma relief and rebuild efforts, education officials are considering its options to relocate Ragged Island students and teachers displaced by the storm. In an interview with reporters outside of the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday, Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd revealed that consideration is being given to the idea of enrolling the estimated 11 Ragged Island students in schools either in New Providence or Exuma, depending on which is more feasible to the immediate family of the students. According to the South Beach MP, similar consideration was given to the teachers from Ragged Island, with the final decision being made to post them to Exuma. “Ragged Island, Duncan Town - devastation,” Mr Lloyd told reporters Tuesday, one day after he and several of his Cabinet colleagues, along with Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, toured southern islands pounded by Hurricane Irma last week. “There is nothing else that you can use as a word to describe, but devastation. And that is a complete rebuild for the country of that particular settlement. The school, the all-age
school, in Duncan Town is gone, completely gone. “We have work for us in order to restore those schools in that community back to their original condition or even better so that they could withstand hurricanes in the future. “But, those 10 or 11 students out of Ragged Island will be placed either in Exuma, if they can be accommodated there because parents would be there, or in New Providence where their parents would be easily accommodated. “The teachers of Ragged Island would be accommodated on the Exuma Islands.” During that tour on Monday, Dr Minnis urged the 18 remaining residents of Ragged Island to evacuate the island, which has been left uninhabitable at the moment. When asked about any planned repair work to the school, Mr Lloyd said: “It is not a matter of repair, those are replacements and so that is going to be a decision by the government as to how our resources permit us to tackle those and have those concluded.” Additionally, Mr Lloyd on Tuesday revealed that education officials are currently considering several options to recover the academic hours lost in districts across the country due to Irma. He told reporters the professionalism of teachers led many of them to consider evening classes, and in
some cases, weekend classes to make up the lost hours of instruction. Mr Lloyd said: “Teachers are professionals and they know what they need to do to make ground up as it were, and they will do that, that is not a problem. “The dedication of our teachers, I’ve seen this over the years and I’ve seen it now as the minister of education, is beyond description. “These are real professionals who have dedicated their lives to our children, and if that means after school class or Saturday classes or even Sunday classes, I am very happy and proud to say the teachers are prepared to do it and have been doing it. “It is just remarkable, the kind of commitment we see demonstrated by our education professionals across the board in the Family Islands and here in New Providence and Grand Bahama.” When asked directly if the Minnis administration was considering forgoing the upcoming fall mid-term period, an option used by the former Christie administration after the passage of hurricanes, Mr Lloyd said it was a consideration that had to be confronted. “That might be necessary, or at least a shortened term of it. The same thing goes for the Easter break because we have to complete the syllabus,” Mr Lloyd insisted.
Photos: Denise Maycock However, she was very grateful to those who are lending them a hand with repairs and the kindness of a complete stranger who brought them some tarp to protect the house from the rain. She said that a family friend brought some plywood for the home’s roof. “I am also thankful to the gentleman that drove past, I have no idea what he looks like, but it was raining, and he gave us a couple of tarps; out of the many cars that drove through, he was the only person that helped,” said Ms Ferguson who became very emotional. Ms Ferguson said that representatives from National Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Social Services, and Iram Lewis, the MP for Central Grand Bahama, also stopped by and promised some assistance. The island experienced tornadic activity associated with Hurricane Irma on Sunday which caused extensive damage to some buildings and property.
Five residences in the Imperial Park Subdivision and the Masonic Lodge on East Sunrise Highway have been classified as unsafe due to significant damage. The Imperial Gardens Apartment Building, and ten businesses, which also sustained damage in the Freeport area, were classified as having “restrictive use.” About 28 persons have been displaced as a result of the tornado, according to officials at the Department of Social Services. Meanwhile, as work crews continue to restore electricity, power officials are reporting that the system “held up pretty well.” Grand Bahama International Airport opened for business on Tuesday morning following the restoration of power to 70 per cent of the island. Power crews expect to have 80 per cent to 90 per cent of customers back online, including the major industrial companies in the Freeport Industrial Park, and the Eight Mile Rock and West End communities.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, September 13, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
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Trump: North Korea ‘small steps’ warns of more NORTH Korea’s nuclear march. US officials showed Congress satellite images of illicit trade to highlight the challenge of getting China and Russia to cut off commerce with the rogue nation. The UN Security Council’s new restrictions could further bite into North Korea’s meager economy after what Kim Jong Un’s authoritarian government says was a hydrogen bomb test September 3. The world body on Monday banned North Korean textile exports, an important source of hard currency, and capped its imports of crude oil. The measures fell short of Washington’s goals: a potentially crippling ban on oil imports and freezing the international assets of Kim and his government. “We think it’s just another very small step - not a big deal,” Trump said as he met with Malaysia’s prime minister at the White House. “But those sanctions are nothing compared to what ultimately will have to happen.” He did not elaborate. Despite its limited economic impact, the new sanctions succeed in adding further pressure on Pyongyang without alienating Moscow and Beijing. The US needs the support of both of its geopolitical rivals for its current strategy of using economic pressure and diplomacy — and not military options — for getting North Korea to halt its testing of nuclear bombs and the missiles for delivering them. Trump said it was “nice” to get a 15-0 vote at the UN. But underscoring the big questions about Chinese and Russian compliance, senior US officials told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday that effective enforcement by both of the North’s neighbours and trading partners will be the acid test of whether sanctions work. The UN has adopted multiple resolutions against North Korea since its first nuclear test explosion in 2006, banning it from arms trading and curbing exports of commodities it heavily relies on for revenue. That has failed to stop its progress toward developing a nuclear-tipped missile that could soon range the American mainland. Briefing the US lawmakers, Treasury Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Marshall Billingslea displayed satellite photos to demonstrate North Korea’s deceptive shipping practices. He focused in particular on how it masks exports of coal that were banned in August after the North tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles. In one example, a North Korean ship registered in St Kitts and Nevis was said to have sailed from China to North Ko-
rea, turning off its transponder to conceal its location as it loaded coal. The ship then docked in Vladivostok, Russia, before finally going to China to presumably unload its cargo. China accounts for 90 per cent of North Korea’s external trade. “The success of the pressure strategy will depend on cooperation from international partners, especially Beijing,” said Susan Thornton, America’s top diplomat for East Asia. “We have also made clear that if China and Russia do not act, we will use the tools we have at our disposal.” Those tools include more sanctions. In June, the US designated the Bank of Dandong, a regional Chinese bank, as a “primary money laundering concern” over its alleged help to North Korea in accessing the US and international financial systems. Billingsea described the action as “a very clear warning shot that the Chinese understood”. He said North Korean bank representatives still operate in Russia in “flagrant disregard” of UN resolutions that Moscow voted for. This summer, the US targeted two Russian companies with penalties for supporting North Korean missile procurement. Lawmakers who spoke Tuesday supported the US pressure tactics, while voicing scepticism that North Korea could be forced to abandon nuclear weapons it regards as a guarantee of survival for the Kim dynasty. Republican Rep Ed Royce, the committee chairman, said US and allied efforts should be “super-charged”. Describing the North’s access to hard currency as its “Achilles heel,” he urged the administration to target more entities dealing with North Korea, particularly Chinese banks. He singled out the China Merchants Bank and the Agricultural Bank of China. Rep Eliot Engel, the committee’s topranking Democrat, also supported the pressure campaign. But he criticised Trump’s commentary on the North Korean crisis, which he said was making matters worse. Playing on Trump’s “fire and fury” threat of a month ago, Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly said Trump’s policy looks more like “fecklessness and failure.” Connolly protested that Trump had branded South Korea’s leader, a supporter of diplomacy with North Korea, as an appeaser. The State Department’s Thornton said Seoul had “come around very nicely” and appeasement was not South Korea’s policy. This article is by Matthew Pennington of the Associated Press
Nassau and the storm EDITOR, The Tribune. MANY will argue and emphatically state: It was prayer and the will of God that spared Nassau and the majority of the central, eastern and northern Bahamas but quite honestly if you had been tracking the storm on GF5 and the reliable European forecast pre-Thursday they both agreed.... New Providence winds no stronger than 50mph. Correctly or not after Matthew, Nassuvians were frightened and rightly so after the hit on Barbuda - Anquilla - St Martin and the Leewards all estimates suggested Nassau watch out. We have to say a whopping thank you to all the workers
in the food stores, hardware stores and Law Enforcement. IRMA was a no-show and there is a serious problem for the future - will the residents get prepared like they did this time for the next storm which could be JOSE already out there a CAT 4 which could head our way by Thursday-Friday of this week? We must always be over cautious - better over prepared than under. The Ministry of Works needs to confirm or otherwise that the Baha Mar Resort was built to withstand anticipated hurricane force winds that this region has to anticipate and expect? Can Baha Mar structurally withstand
a CAT 5 storm? Are their windows up to that standard or.....? It was totally unprecedented that Baha Mar closed its doors - shut up shop and stayed closed. Faithful Atlantis was open – looked after their guests and certain residents as they usually do –everyone safe and sound. Minister Desmond Bannister you need to make an official statement on this issue on Baha Mar? Bahamians there is already a further storm out there JOSE......don’t let your guard down, stay over prepared and stay safe. W THOMPSON Nassau, September 10, 2017.
Triumvirate EDITOR, The Tribune. NOW that Irma has passed through the country, we who are alive and above ground have much to be thankful for. Material damage can be corrected. Lives lost cannot be replaced. The Minnis Administration along with the Official Opposition, led by Philip ‘Brave’ Davis (PLP-Cat Island) both rose to the challenges in a mature and unified manner. The PM and Brave, et al, are to be congratulated on a job well done. The initial preparations were in fits and starts, but better late than never at all. NEMA needs an urgent make over and possibly a change in managerial personnel. The hurricane season is just beginning in earnest and I would hope that measures are in place to ensure that supplies and essential items are made available and delivered, where possible, by Bahamians and others who might be in need. The members of The Royal Bahamas Police Force and The Royal Bahamas Defence Force are to be complimented on their state of preparedness and assorted plans to assist with rapid and safe evacuation where necessary. Commodore Tellis Bethel Jr, finally the substantive holder of that office, is a no nonsense individual who has long been preparing himself and his team to do what they do best: protect our borders and, of course, disaster relief and search and rescue efforts. Acting Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ferguson, is an untested quality but I am certain that he is the man for the progressive evolvement of the force. It is so distressing, however, to see that a man like Elliston Greenslade seems to have been pushed aside ever since the election of the FNM. Sad. The FNM promised transparency and accountability but, clearly, they were bogus electoral mantras. In any event, we survived, again. We must now get on with the real business of the people. Hurricanes come and go, just like the run of the mill politicians. Yahweh has, again, seen fit to bring us through. Minnis and his people them have been baptised by water. If they fail to be saved or accept political salvation, they will be baptized by fire next time around. I am more than persuaded that the prayers of the ascribed anointed and deluded prayer warriors did an effective and credible job in making supplications to the great I Am That I Am to steer the destructive forces of Irma
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net away from The Bahamas. Now we should get back to the real business of the people. The Official Opposition is about to go into yet another convention. The Hon Glenys Hanna Martin (PLP-Englerston) is a mere distraction and on an ego trip to become ‘leader’ of the New PLP. Heritage is just that but not an automatic qualification for leadership. What will she or could she bring to the New PLP? The FNM sung its way into power but the songs now have the same, or so it seems, refrains of the songs sung by the now defunct Christie led PLP. Glenys, with all due respect, is being selfish and petty, in my view. She was incapable of running Road Traffic and some other agencies which feel under her watch. Millions went missing, allegedly, from the Post Office Savings Banks. Some other millions went missing, so they say, from a safe at Road Traffic on a weekend. No repercussions or ministerial acknowledgement? Yes, Brave had some unfortunate ‘challenges’ at BAMSI but , I submit, the Permanent Secretary, my good friend, Collin Higgs, et al, should have suffered administrative consequences. There were none. The now Minister of Agriculture signed an agreement or letter or whatever when he was creased up with Christie them. Minnis ‘cussed’ him out and called him many political names. today, Wells is a cabinet minister around Minnis’ banquet table, living large and, so they say, in charge. Only in The Bahamas. And so, the Official Opposition will be challenged to formulate and present a sensible alternative to the ‘fake’ agenda, so far of the clueless ‘moon beam’ FNM administration. I still hold out high hopes for Minnis dem, but I am fast losing hope that they know what the hell they are doing. Brave has his job cut out for him and The New PLP. I support him for leader. I support Chester Cooper for Deputy. I will hold my nose and support Fred Mitchell for National Chairman. These three persons will form the core of the block that should and must be cemented to lay the corner sound and foundation of the New PLP. During the approach and passage of Irma, Brave, showed just as much leadership capabilities and empa-
thy as the PM, with all due respect, and more, in many instances. Brave, with limited resources and without the purse strings of the state, was all over The Bahamas with his team ensuring that as many Bahamians, especially, Family Islanders, as possible were safe and in possession of all necessities. Dr Minnis was ok but, that is what we would have expected, and more. The PLP has no time for playing doll house and we have no time for siting back passively while clueless people continue to shove it down our throats just like Christie them did. As I have said, ad nausea, before, I do not ‘like’ Fred Mitchell at all. He is on a different run than most Bahamians. He is also a man with severe ‘failed’ political ambitions. Not only does he have ‘a lean and hungry look’ but, he too, if Brave is not careful, could emerge as ‘et tu Brutus....? He would, however, make an excellent National Chairman for the New PLP. He has nothing much to do and he appears to have plenty energy so he would be vital in restructuring and rebuilding constituency branches, one on one. Brave, while not a natural orator, is possessed of common sense and has a degree, often submerged, of empathy for regular people. it is a regret of epic proportions that we as a people have come to look to smooth talking politicians as our Great God In the Sky’ when they are mere mortals, just like you all. This is his last and only chance to become de facto and de jure leader of the New PLP. I would be grossly remise if I did not thank The Lord God for having once again spared us the ravages of a major hurricane. Truly, His mercies and goodness endureth forever. Prayers have been answered as never before. Are the hands of The Lord too short to save? The Triumvirate of Brave; Chester and Mitchell, the latter who I will reluctantly endorse for the post of National Chairman of the New PLP, will be the catalyst that secures the return to office by The New PLP. A triumvirate does not, mind you, of necessity, mean a ‘rule’ by three but rater an amalgamation where the ‘best’ three branches of the New PLP will be brought together. Brave is and will be primus inter pares, or for those of you who know no Latin, first amongst equals. ORTLAND H BODIE Jr Nassau, September 8, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, September 13, 2017, PAGE 5
Baha Mar ‘must reconsider’ strategy over hurricanes TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday suggested that Baha Mar will have to reconsider its hurricane strategy after the $3.5bn mega hotel was forced to evacuate guests ahead of Hurricane Irma. “When they built Baha Mar,” he said, “they didn’t consider getting people from the hotel to the convention centre without going outside. So the only way to get from the hotel to the convention centre is to go outside and that is dangerous in a storm and that creates liability issues for them. “To close the hotel and not be faced with liability of moving people from the
hotel to the convention centre is what motivated that decision. So if you don’t know that, you would think well they should never have made that decision, but they have a point and they need to address that issue moving forward. “You’re in a hurricane belt, you need to move people from your hotel to your convention centre during a hurricane, you can’t possibly think of putting them in a shelter that’s just not gonna work. So they need to think through that and I think for this hurricane, blissfully they were at a very low occupancy, blissfully we didn’t get hit. So I think it wasn’t really a ma-
jor issue. It was not necessarily a PR victory for them but I think they will now focus on this issue and address it.” On Saturday, president and managing director of the Atlantis resort Howard Karawan has said it is “unacceptable” and “surprising” that Baha Mar would close its doors to “customers and the community” during the passage of a major hurricane. Mr Karawan said the only reason a hotel should close because of a hurricane is if “the hotel was not built up to standard”. He said when you operate a major hotel on an island you have a “moral obliga-
tion” to provide shelter to guests and to support the community. In preparation for Hurricane Irma that was projected to hit the capital as a category four storm, Baha Mar’s guests were told to seek alternative “local shelter” if they were unable to leave the Bahamas, as the resort was temporarily closing its doors until after the passage of Irma. On Thursday, Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, told Tribune Business the hotel had already arranged the early departure of “almost 100 per cent” of guests ahead of the super storm’s
potential strike. New Providence was spared the brunt of Hurricane Irma that caused catastrophic damage in several Caribbean islands, killing more than 20 people and leaving thousands homeless. However, the storm brought significant damage to Ragged Island in the southern Bahamas, as well as Grand Bahama in the north. Mr D’Aguilar told reporters on the sidelines of Cabinet yesterday that his team was working hard to get the message out that the country’s major tourist destinations were all open for business in the wake of the
monster storm. “Tourism is a mercenary business,” Mr D’Aguilar said, “so where some of the touristic destinations which were wiped out it creates an opportunity. As sad as that may seem it creates opportunity for us. “...It’s important for us and our marketing edge to let people know that we are open for business and our major tourist destinations are available so please come, that’s the main message,” he added. “Get the word out that nothing really happened to New Providence, our other islands Exuma, Eleuthera, Abaco, so please come.”
HURRICANE HIT WILL COST US - FOR NOW from page one
He continued: “Obviously, everybody that had their holiday booked during the days of the hurricane, I think the airlines are hopefully, forcing them to re-book and I know from personal experience that they are calling people to find out how they want to reschedule. “So we may not get, for lack of a better word, we may not get the money now, but I think it is just going to be shifted further down; which is fine, September is a relatively slow month either way. “Hopefully those people will just shift their holidays one, possibly two weeks further down the calendar and those people will show up anyway. “So I am hopeful that people will come once they learn that The Bahamas is back and open for business, they will simply just re-book and come later.” In addition to The Bahamas, major hurricanes have hammered sections of North America over the past two weeks. Among those areas hardest hit, were Houston, Texas and parts of Florida, two communities that contribute huge numbers to The Bahamas’ tourism product. Asked if this could negatively impact The Bahamas in the coming months, Mr D’Aguilar said “no doubt about it”. “Houston is a major market for us and that got hit hard by Harvey. Florida, clearly, especially the boating market, they are always popping over to Bimini and Abaco and coming through our cays. So when you see on television boats thrown
HURRICANE damage in Salina Point, Acklins. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff across roads, marinas de- lines’ (website) this mornstroyed in Key West and ing you see Mexico with South Florida, yes, that is banners going across the going to have an affect on booking engines, saying ‘we’re open for business’ us,” he said. Mr D’Aguilar added: and ‘we didn’t get hit so “But, hopefully, they will come here.’ “So it is important for rebound. I don’t think Florida was hit as hard as us, as people decide ‘I want they initially thought, so to go on a holiday anyway’ hopefully the effect will not and ‘yes I don’t want to go where I was originally be as significant.” Mr D’Aguilar said the thinking,’ it is important for tourism industry is a “mer- us and our marketing encenary business,” insisting gine to let people know that that whichever Caribbean we are opened for business destination could rebound and our major tourist desthe quickest post Irma, tinations are available, so would more than likely please come.” To this end, command a great share of Mr D’Aguilar said he has the market this period. He stated: “So, where already implored his staff some of the tourism des- to get the word out: “Nothtinations may have been ing really happened to New wiped out, as sad as it may Providence, Nassau and seem, it creates opportuni- our other islands, Exuma, Eleuthera (and) Abaco, so ties for us.” “Just on American Air- please come.”
HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS BY TEXT BTC has launched a national text-to-donate campaign drive allowing all Bahamians to participate in fundraising efforts to assist those most affected by Hurricane Irma. The campaign, Each One, Reach One, will allow customers to make a donation to the relief efforts. The process is simple and customers can give $1 by texting the word “DONATE” to the number “5115.” Customers can donate as many times as they wish.
Proceeds will go to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Interim CEO Dexter Cartwright said: “BTC is known to be a big brother in the community, and we are always willing to help wherever we can. Starting (Tuesday), our entire customer base will be able to make a donation to assist those in need. BTC will match every dollar donated and all proceeds will go to NEMA to assist our fellow Bahamians most impacted by Hurricane Irma.”
In BTC’s last text to donate drive in 2015, the public contributed nearly $10,000. In turn, BTC along with its partners tripled the amount, donating $30,000 to disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Joaquin. In addition to this initiative, BTC is also working with community partners throughout the country to organise other relief efforts and initiatives. The Each One, Reach One donation drive will end on September 30.
$450,000 DONATED BY CIBC FOR RELIEF CIBC is donating US$450,000 to support organisations providing humanitarian relief to areas impacted by Hurricane Irma. The funds, which include a donation through CIBC FirstCaribbean’s ComTrust Foundation, will be distributed through the Red Cross and other local relief agencies. “Hurricane Irma has had a devastating impact on the islands in the northern Caribbean, particularly the British Virgin Islands, St Maarten, Anguilla, and
Grand Turk,” said Gary Brown, CEO of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank. “We stand by our colleagues and clients during this difficult time, and are committed to working closely with our clients, colleagues, and communities to recover and rebuild. The road to recovery in some of the hardest hit areas will be long, but we will help each other through it.” In total, seven islands where CIBC FirstCaribbean has operations – the British Virgin Islands, St Maarten, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos,
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, and St. Kitts and Nevis - were affected by the storm. Operations have restarted in all but two of the islands, St Maarten and Anguilla, and the bank is working closely with its employees and clients as recovery efforts begin. CIBC FirstCaribbean has approximately 3,000 employees in 17 countries in the Caribbean. The PrivateBank and CIBC Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management also have offices in Florida, which have been impacted.
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Ragged families want to rebuild from page one the island’s condition by the government. These efforts will begin as early as Thursday when the first group of people arrive by mail boat to begin cleanup. Ed Curling, a local business owner, told The Tribune yesterday he will ensure his heavy equipment fleet aids in these efforts. On Monday, after seeing the decimation for the first time since Irma battered the nine-square-mile island, the prime minister said health and safety conditions will only continue to deteriorate. The island’s physical condition, exacerbated by the smell of rotting animal carcasses and the destruction of all essential services, led Dr Minnis to strongly urge those still on Ragged Island to leave until the small community can be restored. Yesterday, Mr Munroe questioned the logic of asking people to leave the island. “To give you some context, the whole island of Ragged Island is nine square miles - three miles by three miles, so it’s not very big,” Mr Munroe told The Tribune. “The settlement itself is in an area that would fit probably into Arawak Cay and Long Wharf to the Hilton Hotel. That’s not very big. How long does it take you to get that area liveable? “It must be liveable because people are living there and more people went up there today (Tuesday) to resume living there and
FLIGHTS TO RETURN RESIDENTS ANNOUNCED THE government, in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), is continuing the return of residents who were evacuated into New Providence last week ahead of Hurricane Irma’s passage to their original islands. The schedule for Wednesday, September 13 is: Bahamasair flights into Inagua - 8.30am; 1pm and 2pm • Sky Bahamas into Crooked Island - 10.30am and 1:00pm Residents who received a call from NEMA will know of their flight times, number and point of departure. They are required to report to Lynden Pindling International Airport at least 90 minutes prior to departure for check-in, in accordance with standard airport security rules. All other evacuees will be notified of their return flights. For more information, call 323-1373; 323-1388; 323-1398 or the Family Island Toll Free Line: 242300-0144.
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES RESUME THE Bahamas Department of Correctional Services has announced that the following services will resume their normal operating hours at 8am today: visits, intake of property, and deposits to inmates’ accounts. The services had been temporarily suspended due to Hurricane Irma.
DOUBLE SHOOTING LEAVES GRAND BAHAMA MAN DEAD from page one The victim’s identity has not been released by police and investigations are continuing into the island’s ninth homicide. The killing marked the 98th murder for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. Police are appealing to anyone with information who can assist with their investigation to call 242-3503107 through 12, 911/919 or call the nearest police station.
SOME of the damage in Ragged Island following Hurricane Irma. more people flew up there today to resume living there and more people are going up on the weekend to resume living there. “While you don’t have running water, you have to go to the well to tote water, but before I left Ragged Island I used to tote water and we had outside toilet although I am understanding that the toilet at the old Anglican church is functioning and even if it’s not, the old pits are there. “When you don’t have electricity, you have a generator and they have generators so I don’t understand what’s unlivable about it,” Mr Munroe said.
“If animals are dead you collect them up (and) you either bury them, burn them or put quick lime on them. Animals die after every storm so I do not quite understand what is unlivable about Ragged Island. “They say no police is there. We don’t need police because we don’t be murdering one another. I am trying to find out what in this small area of settlement makes it unlivable. “After Hurricane Matthew hit, the Marshall Road area (in New Providence) was hit hard, was anyone evacuated or they lived there while power was restored? When Joaquin hit
Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff Long Island some people came up when their homes were destroyed, but they were not evacuated. “I am just at a lost as to what makes Ragged Island different,” Mr Munroe said. Another Ragged Island resident currently in New Providence said yesterday she had no desire to live in New Providence, pointing to high crime numbers in the capital. “We don’t have to deal with killing and stealing at home,” she said. “In Nassau we have to worry about something happening to me or my family.” Meanwhile, Mr Curling told The Tribune yesterday
he and other descendants of Ragged Island were committed to rebuilding the island. Mr Curling’s business is based in New Providence. He said: “Ragged Islanders are going to clean up Ragged Island and with the government’s help we are going to rebuild. “The prime minister is right when he said unlivable because of the environment. You have no doctor, no nurse, the scent of dead animals and there is water contamination. We don’t want to risk lives to the environment when we don’t have the proper health care,” Mr Curling added. “So the government will
spearhead an effort. After they move who wants to be moved and the others stay at their own risk, we will do what we have to do. “I hope with God’s help that the prime minister will help us to build Ragged Island to be a little city to be admired in the whole world,” Mr Curling said. An estimated 60 to 70 people live on Ragged Island and most of them evacuated ahead of the category five storm. About 18 people remained on the island as Irma barreled through. The government is sending a plane today to evacuate the remaining residents.
EVACUEES’ SAFETY TOP PRIORITY from page one
To do this, Capt Russell said officials may have to set up a tent city for various agencies to work free of concern for living accommodations. Asked whether officials had placed a figure on the damage caused by Hurricane Irma, Capt Russell said: “Absolutely not.” “The first order was we are going to get some people back to the islands tomorrow (Wednesday) and we hope to take those persons back with some care packages,” Capt Russell said. “We have already started sending supplies to Inagua and the other islands from NEMA’s stock. So the process started. So we’ll just get people back into the islands and then the supplies will come. “Those who were evacuated they want to get back so they can see the condition of their homes and then we can go from there. The aircraft that are going down we hope to take some basic care packages with them. “We are working in tandem with the Bahamas Red Cross,” he continued. “So we are going to make sure that they have some basic food supplies. Other things are in motion right now to get supplies in to the areas that are necessary. I don’t want to send the stuff there and the people are still on New Providence. So we are trying to get items to go with them as they go,” he said on Tuesday. In an interview with reporters Monday night, Capt Russell said after the initial assessments, Bahamas Power & Light as well as Water and Sewerage would be mapping out their respective plans to begin restoration. “But from NEMA’s stand point we are going to see how we can sent up a tent city for the various agencies working in tandem with the Royal Bahamas Police Force with their container city so corporations can come in and go about their business and not worry about a place to stay. If the Defence Force’s container city goes into the area, they can provide for the basic needs,” he said. The work of the initial damage assessment teams is critical in disaster management, as their assessments will be used to help provide government planners with a road map towards determining the appropriate course of action to be taken on the path to recovery, a press release from Bahamas Information Services (BIS) said yesterday. While Acklins and Crooked Island received some damage from Irma last week, Ragged Island was decimated by the hurricane. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and a team of officials on Monday visited each of these islands and for the first time saw the devastation. Ragged Island was the final leg of
CAPTAIN Stephen Russell. the journey for the delegation. “It was clear to see from the air upon approach, that the islandcommunity, had been ravaged by Hurricane Irma,” BIS said. “Downed power lines and poles snapped in half by hurricane-force winds still littered the community Monday as the prime minister and his delegation toured the island to assess and evaluate the damage brought on by Hurricane Irma. “Government buildings (school, police station, clinic, post office), homes and businesses were either flattened by the storm or severely damaged. Many of those that were left standing were only a shell, having had doors and concrete walls torn out; roofs torn off, and windows blown out. “Communications are also out
Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff due to the extensive damage caused to the island’s infrastructure. “Navigating the community on foot and in the few vehicles that survived Irma’s wrath, proved a bit tricky as assessment teams and members of the delegation had to manoeuvre around large electricity poles and wires that blocked pathways.” After his walkthrough of Duncan Town on Monday, Dr Minnis said health and safety conditions on the storm-stricken island will only continue to deteriorate, as he urged the 18 remaining residents on the island to evacuate in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. A flight will be sent for the Ragged Island residents today to bring them to New Providence. NEMA organised a flight into
Salina Point, Acklins on Tuesday, which took men from the local community to the island to help with the necessary clean-up. Ragged Island will receive heavyduty tarps to help to preserve what is left of standing structures and to salvage any remaining valuables. The Caribbean Development Bank has given $200,000 to aid in these recoveries. Also, teams from the United States Agency for International Development/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) have offered assistance in heeding NEMA’s requests for additional heavy-duty tarps, water containers, blankets, and other essentials. NEMA will also receive assistance from the Chinese Embassy and US Northern Command.
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THE DESTRUCTION at Ragged Island Police Station after Hurricane Irma’s impact. As Bahamians put their energy into defending the nation - in vulgar terms - against its critics, might it not be more useful to put that energy into rebuilding the nation? Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
Nationalism and collective energy T
HE past week has been hectic and panic-filled as the country prepared for Hurricane Irma which we expected to impact more islands and people than it did. We rushed to stores to buy food, water, ice, plywood, and all of the other supplies demanded by this active hurricane season. For as long as we had electricity and internet, we tracked the storm like meteorologists-in-training, checked on family members and friends, and monitored social media closely. It was the latter that inspired us to activate one of our most popular, prized team sports — national outrage. We have no shortage of reasons to be angry. Our educational system has been failing for years and continues to go without critical review and transformation. Crime and the fear of crime inspire no innovation in prevention techniques or programming. The poverty rate is over
ten per cent and successive government administrations continue to play numbers games with unemployment by creating temporary jobs as opposed to developing new industries, helping people to up-skill, or encouraging entrepreneurship. The Disabilities Act has been passed, but the ablebodied continue to park in parking spaces designated for differently-abled people. The abuse of children is so commonplace and normalised that we agree to call it “discipline”. All of this and more, but what really gets us going? People on the internet who make negative posts and comments. These inspire more
nationalism than anything else. From Nellie Day who wrote about the “small beach shacks and huts”, she claimed we live in to the people who complained about Shaunae Miller’s dive to the finish in the 400m at the Rio Olympics, Bahamians are keen to teach non-Bahamians not to mess with The Bahamas. We, as Bahamians, can complain about poverty, crime, and environmental hazards, but no one else can. Our issues with this country, the way it is run, and the way its people behave are valid. Our responses to these issues, however inflammatory, insulting, and unproductive, are valid.
It’s similar to sibling re- femininity and/or feminine lationships. We can bully bodies. It is used against both our brothers and sisters at home, but no one at school men and women, stripping can even look at them the the former of their mascuwrong way without having linity and reminding the to deal with us. We don’t latter that they are seen as little more recognise than their our own be- ‘In the blink of reproduchaviour as tive organs. violent or an eye, we go Many of us counterpro- from a Christian use these ductive, but nation — a praying words and when others phrases with behave the nation — to a little thought, same way, band of keyboard not intending we read it gangsters. We to belittle or as violence. harm women How do we forget about love, and girls, but respond? forgiveness, and words have With more divine intervention meanings. violence, of because someone Why is course. the wrath of In the callously wished the Bahablink of an ill on these blessed mian people eye, we go in from a Chris- and highly favoured cloaked misogyny? tian nation islands.’ And why do — a praying we, when nation — to a band of keyboard gang- challenged, try to defend sters. We forget about love, ourselves and our choice of forgiveness, and divine in- words instead of recognistervention because some- ing the issues and commitone callously wished ill on ting to better behaviour? these blessed and highly What would our comeback favoured islands. We com- be if our opponents called bine our powers and, for as us on our misogyny, and long as the power company that became the new way and internet service provid- of seeing The Bahamas? ers allow, hurl insults filled Would we care then? There are better uses with vulgarity at our new of our time and energy as enemies. This becomes the na- Bahamians who care about tional priority of the mo- this country and impacting ment and is when we reveal its trajectory. Thousands of our true selves. Maybe we tweets at people who think are not the Christians we we did not deserve a gold pretend to be on Sundays, medal we will always have during referenda, and when do not shift it. Bullying and doxxing some — not all — of our islands are spared a hur- people who make foolish ricane. Every ounce of mi- statements about us do not sogyny rises to the top as improve our circumstance. we associate our adversar- We are constantly proving ies with the worst things we our creativity, but only occan think of — femininity casionally show our dedication to our country, our and vaginas. #CYC has become the ul- people, and our future. How can we use our time, timate Bahamian clapback. It took off in the summer energy, and creativity to of 2016 when we fiercely turn our love of country into defended Shaunae Miller, commitment to a collecher athleticism, and the tive vision for this nation? deservedness of our collec- Can you secure a space for tive win. It is troubling that a reading programme? Do our support of a Bahamian you have vacant property woman spurred the misogy- that can become a communistic “carry your [vulgar nity garden? Can you teach term for vagina]” response. the children in your neighThis statement suggests bourhood to swim? Do you that we have a problem with have access to resources a
non-profit organisation can use to benefit its community? Think about what you have — tangible and intangible — and how it can be used to benefit others. #CYC is just a term and the internet. We, as a people, have more than that, and we should be using it to improve our circumstances, across all islands and cays. Today, many Bahamians feel like winners. We made people wish they never said anything negative about The Bahamas, and then we prayed a hurricane away (even if it was after it hit our southern islands). Still, our greatest battle has not yet been fought. We have numerous issues to address as a nation, and one of them is the safety and comfort of those evacuated and displaced because of Hurricane Irma. They will need long-term shelter, food, clothing, toiletries, and various forms of support. It takes more effort than angrily replying to people on social media, but we have the time, creativity, and motivation to help our fellow Bahamians. Instead of complaining about the extra food we bought, donate it to those in need. When shopping, pick up a few extra toiletries. A number of organisations are assisting in hurricane relief efforts and will need our support. Equality Bahamas volunteers will be at Lignum Vitae, 11 Meeting Street, on weekdays from Thursday to Tuesday, 4-7pm and at the farmer’s market at Doongalik on Village Road with Seasonal Sunshine Bahamas on Saturday, 9am to 1pm. We’re collecting toiletries (especially pads and tampons), underwear, and new clothes. Even if you’re not able to donate, you can volunteer with one of the many organisations doing this work and share posts on social media to help increase reach. We need to construct a positive narrative of the Bahamian people and our collective power. Let this be a start.
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Antigua and Barbuda prepared for challenge of rebuilding SIR Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador to Washington, DC, has said the two-island nation is prepared to face the challenges of rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma if it does not get outside aid for relief and reconstruction. Rebuilding is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. In an interview published on voanews.com on Tuesday, Sir Ronald said: “At the end of the day, it is our country, we have to try our best to keep it going as best we can.” He also said: “I suspect at some point we will have to organise a conference of donors at which we’ll lay out a sustainable development plan for Barbuda and invite countries to participate in the rebuilding process.” According to VOA News, if international assistance is not forthcoming, Sir Ronald said Antigua and Barbuda will marshal the resources it has. “The reason I want to stress that is I don’t want the idea created that Antigua is closed down because tourism is what we live by, and the best way people can help us get over the crisis … is to help Antigua to continue to earn, because Antigua needs to earn in order to help Barbuda rebuild. “The worst thing that can happen is for people to confuse the devastation on Barbuda with what’s going on in Antigua,” he said. “Antigua is now the sole bread
DAMAGE left after Hurricane Irma hit Barbuda. winner for both islands, we need our tourists to continue to come.” TIME magazine has reported that the cost of rebuilding Barbuda could be as much as $300 million. “We require probably
about $250-300 million,” Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the magazine in an interview in Antigua on Tuesday. “The extent of the damage is beyond the means of these islands ... Global human cooperation
Photo: Anika E. Kentish/AP is an absolute necessity.” Antigua and Barbuda was one of the first places in the Caribbean where Hurricane Irma made landfall with winds of up to 185 mph. According to reports,
more than 90 per cent of the structures on Barbuda have been damaged or destroyed by Irma’s fury. “Its infrastructure is in pieces and its population of 1,800 are now homeless and scattered around
a number of shelters across Antigua, which escaped the worst of the storm’s impact,” TIME magazine reported. “Rebuilding homes and infrastructure could take at least six months, officials said.”
IRMA CLAIMS DOZENS OF LIVES ACROSS THE REGION By the Associated Press
THE scope and scale of misery caused by Irma continues to grow, including its human toll. Irma, at one point the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the open Atlantic, has claimed the lives of dozens of people across the Caribbean and southeastern United States. Victims include two women in Havana who died when a balcony fell on a bus in which they were riding. A Florida jailhouse guard and sheriff’s deputy died after their vehicles collided. A two-year-old child on Barbuda died when his body was swept away after his home’s roof ripped off and the structure filled with water. A Barbados teen died while surfing as the massive hurricane was hundreds of miles away. Here are brief portraits of some of Irma’s victims: UNITED STATES David Boatswain, 65, Miami Authorities suspect Boatswain died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator running inside his home. A neighbour discovered Boatswain in his home Monday morning after he didn’t answer his phone, Miami-Dade Police Officer Robin Pinkard said Tuesday. A medical examiner is investigating, but emergency responders said the home tested positive for carbon monoxide. “Remember we’ve always been saying, when you’re operating a generator, make sure you run it in an open space, not an enclosed space,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said. “Unfortunately in this case, the generator was run inside the house and the individual died of carbon monoxide poisoning.” Joseph Ossman, 53, Sebring Julie Bridges, 42, Wauchula Ossman, a sergeant with the Hardee Correctional Institute, was headed to work Sunday morning and Bridges, a Hardee County sheriff’s deputy, was going home after the night shift when their vehicles collided head-on, according to a Florida Highway Patrol release.
Ossman’s car ended up on a grass shoulder, while Bridges’ patrol car came to a rest in a nearby intersection. It wasn’t immediately clear which vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane. Lt Gregory Bueno confirmed the area was affected by rain and other hurricane-related conditions at the time of the crash, but its official cause remains under investigation. Brian Buwalda, 51, Winter Park Buwalda died Monday after apparently being electrocuted by a downed power line, police said. Winter Park officers responded to reports of a man lying in the roadway and determined Buwalda was dead at the scene. A medical examiner will determine an official cause of death, but police say it appears to be accidental. Heidi Zehner, 50, Orlando Zehner was driving on a state highway near Orlando on Sunday evening, when she lost control and crashed. Her SUV struck a guardrail. The cause of death was under investigation. The accident came a couple hours after Irma made landfall 200 miles (320 kilometers) to the south on Marco Island. Wilfredo Hernandez, 55, Tampa Hernandez died when the chainsaw he was using to clear trees in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma became entangled in a branch, causing it to kick up and cut his carotid artery. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Cristal Nunez said in a news release that Hernandez was clearing trees in Tampa on Monday afternoon when the accident occurred. Nunez said deputies used a harness to lower the man from the tree, but he died at the scene. Nancy Eason, 67, Forsyth County, Georgia Eason, a retired court reporter, died Monday after a large tree fell on a vehicle in a private driveway, sheriff’s officials said. The fallen tree trapped Eason and her husband, Mike Eason, who suffered minor injuries. Nancy Eason worked for
THE WRECKAGE of a truck wrapped around a tree near 98th Street and Highway 1 in Marathon, in the Florida Keys on Saturday. Authorities say they are investigating whether Hurricane Irma contributed to the fatal crash. Photo: Monroe County Sheriff’s Office the Forsyth and Cherokee county judicial systems for many years. Mike Eason is a retired Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent and served as chief of the Cumming Police Department from 2005 to 2009. Charles Saxon, 57, Calhoun Falls, South Carolina Saxon died Monday after being struck by a tree limb as he was cleaning up limbs and debris outside his home, according to Abbeville County Coroner Ronnie Ashley. An autopsy is planned for Saxon, who died at the scene. William McBride, 54, Sumter County McBride was pronounced dead Tuesday after he was found lifeless at his mobile home, where a generator was running inside, according to Sumter County Coroner Robert Baker Jr. Baker says McBride died from carbon monoxide poisoning. McBride’s sons found him at the home Tuesday morning, and the coroner said he had several appliances plugged into the generator, with only a single window cracked for ventilation. Zhen Tain, 21 Tain died Monday afternoon in a car crash on a wet and windy Interstate 77 east of the capital, Columbia, as Irma moved past, according to state Public Safety Director Leroy Smith. Troopers said Tain crashed into another car
and his Ford Mustang flipped, trapping him inside. Authorities say the second driver was taken to the hospital. Her condition was not known. Smith said Tain was driving too fast for conditions, losing control on the wet road and hitting the other vehicle. Arthur Strudwick, 48, Columbia Strudwick, a city Public Works Department employee, was on his way to help with a downed tree Monday night when he crashed his vehicle, according to Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson. Police said it appears Strudwick lost control of his pickup truck and went off the road, striking a tree during windy and rainy conditions. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Wilson said the city’s flags will be lowered to honor Strudwick, who worked for the department’s forestry division. BARBADOS Zander Venezia, 16 Venezia, a professional surfer, died last Tuesday while surfing large swells generated by the hurricane. He was surfing on the island’s east coast when he drowned with the storm several hundred miles (kilometers) away, according to family friend and surfing instructor Alan Burke. Witnesses said Venezia was caught up in a monster
wave that pushed and held him under water. Burke said it was a freak accident that occurred under blue skies and ideal surfing conditions. In August, Venezia won North Carolina’s Rip Curl Grom Search surfing competition for his age group. BARBUDA Carl Junior Francis, 2 Carl, who had just turned 2 on Aug. 17, was swept to his death after the storm ripped the roof off the family’s house and water came in. The child’s mother, Stevet Jeremiah, fled with her husband and Carl’s 4-yearold brother but was unable to save the toddler. “Where they were staying, the roof (was) blown off from the house and then water started getting in the house,” said Sgt. James Thomas, second in command at the Barbuda police station. “They were trying to get out of the house when apparently the child got loose and got trapped in the water.” CUBA Maria del Carmen Arregoitia Cardona, 27, Bauta Yolendis Castillo Martinez, 27, Santiago de Cuba The women were riding in a bus in Havana that was crushed when a fourth-floor balcony collapsed onto the vehicle, according to an official statement released by the Cuban government. Osvaldo Abreu Barroso,
71, Havana Barroso was electrocuted while trying to take down his television antenna. He fell and came in contact with a live wire, according to the government statement. Alberto Francisco Flores Garcia, 77, Havana Garcia was struck by an electric pole toppled by the wind as he walked down a street, according to the government statement. Roydis Valdes Perez, 54, Havana Walfrido Antonio Valdes Perez, 51, Granma The brothers were killed when the home of Roydis Valdes Perez partially collapsed in the storm, according to the government statement. Nieves Martinez Burgaleta, 89, Plaza de la Revolucion Burgaleta was found floating in flood waters in front of his inundated apartment building, according to the government statement. Alberto Manzano Martinez, 65, Matanzas Orlando Torres Cruz, 53, Bolivia Edilberto Cabrera Rodríguez, 64, Esmeralda Camaguey Government officials said the homes of all three men collapsed, and added they “did not observe the norms of conduct” by “refusing evacuation”.
THE TRIBUNE
COP KILLER BIDS TO CHALLENGE SENTENCE
from page one
missed the 21-day deadline to do so after sentencing. The Tribune understands his most recent notice of appeal was filed in late 2014. He was re-sentenced to life in prison in 2011. Williams, and his attorney, Stanley Rolle, were both present before Court of Appeal Justices Dame Anita Allen, Jon Isaacs and Roy Jones yesterday, however, Mr Rolle told the court there were some issues concerning the Crown’s receipt of both the original extension of time summons and the supplemental affidavit, which is essentially the basis of his appeal. Dame Anita subsequently adjourned the matter to November 7, informing Mr Rolle and his client that the appellate court will deal with Williams’ “substantive matter” depending on the outcome of the status hearing. In 1993, Williams was convicted of murder and armed robbery and sentenced to death in connection with Constable Cooper’s murder. Williams was in his early twenties at the time. In 1998, when he was due to be hanged, his execution was stayed. On February 3, 2011, Justice Isaacs, then a Supreme Court judge, re-sentenced Williams to life in prison.
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Wednesday, September 13, 2017, PAGE 11
Optimism over judicial reform By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net STATE Minister for Legal Affairs Elsworth Johnson said yesterday he is optimistic the Minnis administration would carry out the promises it gave to the judiciary prior to the general election. Responding to questions by the press outside of Cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Johnson also said he was of the belief that the matters addressed by the government as it relates to the judiciary in its Speech from the Throne would be adhered to this term. Noting the legacy ailments of the judiciary, Mr Johnson, an attorney by profession, insisted that the shortcomings could not go on and needed to be addressed immediately. Over the summer, several cases were adjourned due to a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit at the Magis-
ELSWORTH JOHNSON trates’ Court complex. At one point, the waiting areas of the court complex had to be constantly mopped due to condensation from the faulty airconditioning system. Commenting Tuesday, Mr Johnson said the executive branch of government has a responsibility to
the judiciary to ensure that efficient and adequate facilities are provided, to protect the “stability” of the country. He stated: “So far as the state of affairs exist, there is an obligation on the part of the government to directly address and see how best we can handle these issues. I recall when I recently practised, it rained, it was hot, mould, there were a number of things. We have to look at those things objectively.” Mr Johnson added: “That is one of the reasons why I joined the Free National Movement, the direct interference in the judiciary and the promise to deal with those things. I know that my prime minister is proactive and that is the most I would like to say about that.” Complaints of structural issues at the various courts are not new and have been documented over the years. In late October 2013, there was a plumbing issue
that caused sewage back up for two days at the multimillion-dollar South Street and Nassau Street court complex that was officially opened in January 2012. Cases were adjourned due to the partial flooding in the foyer and cellblock of the compound that produced an unbearable stench. On November 5, 2013, in the Supreme Court, Senior Justice Vera Watkins adjourned matters because of a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit and plumbing problems in the court. In 2014, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, then leader of the Official Opposition, said he stopped by the Public Prosecutions Office at the time only to discover that the new facility was still “filthy, disorganised and uninhabitable.” At the time, he also said prosecutors had been working out of their cars since 2013 and the former administration refused to improve
their working conditions. In January 2016, Chief Justice Sir Hartman Longley stressed that a number of the existing structural issues with court buildings continue to interfere with the administration of justice and that the judiciary would be more efficient if it received additional funding and had control of its own finances. Speaking at the opening of the 2016 legal year, Sir Hartman stressed that a number of the existing structural issues with court buildings continued, up to that point, to interfere with the administration of justice. To date, many of those issues are still unresolved. In the Speech from the Throne read by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling in May, the government noted it will “modernise and increase the efficiency of the judicial system to give wider access to justice”.
BLAIR RAID SUSPECT ARRESTED IN PARADISE ISLAND HOTEL
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
SUPREME Court jurors heard yesterday how one of the accused men in the 2014 shooting death of Blair Estates resident Andre Cartwright was arrested by police in a hotel room on Paradise Island the day after the incident in question. Police Superintendent Roberto Goodman, taking the witness stand before Justice Renae McKay, said Kevin Andrews, two women roommates, and another man were all found in room 211 of Sunshine Paradise Suites in October 29, 2014. Cartwright was murdered in the early morning hours of October 28. At the time of the arrest, Supt Goodman claimed Andrews told him he was only seeking to give an un-
named individual a ride to the hospital after noticing “blood” on that person. According to Supt Goodman, Andrews said he asked his girlfriend to carry that unnamed person to hospital. Upon taking the witness stand, Supt Goodman said on October 29, 2014, and as a result of information received, he, along with a police inspector, a sergeant, and a team of Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers, went to Sunshine Paradise Suites, where the team of officers were instructed to surround the premises. Supt Goodman said he subsequently went to the front desk and spoke with a woman manager, from whom he received certain information before exiting the front desk area and returning outside. While outside, he said he
observed two young women exiting room 211. He identified himself to them, questioned them about which room they were staying in, and subsequently took a set of keys from one of the women. The officer said he took both women and the other officers to room 211, and used the keys he obtained to open the door. Upon entering, Supt Goodman said he saw two men seated on a bed in the room, one of whom was Andrews. Supt Goodman claimed that after Andrews allegedly told him about him asking his girlfriend to carry the unnamed, injured person to the hospital, the room was subsequently searched for anything illegal, a process which proved fruitless. The four were taken into custody and transported to the Paradise Island police station and booked. They
were later transferred to the Central Detective Unit for further investigation. Yesterday’s proceedings also had testimony from Dr Caryn Sands, a forensic pathologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), who said Cartwright’s cause of death was due to gunshot wounds. She said Cartwright was shot two times, one to the back and the left shoulder. The matter was adjourned to Thursday at 10am. Yesterday’s proceedings mark the third week of trial for Andrews, of Montell Heights, and Tiano D’Haiti, of Thompson Lane, in connection with Cartwright’s murder. D’Haiti, represented by Jairam Mangra, is accused of murder and attempted armed robbery, while Andrews, represented by Mur-
rio Ducille, is accused of murder, attempted armed robbery and burglary. According to initial reports from police, Cartwright, 44, was at his Blair Estates home around 1.40am with his mother and father on the morning in question, when men kicked in the door of the house. When he heard the noise, the deceased got his licensed shotgun and went to investigate, police reported. He encountered the suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, police said. There was a brief exchange of gunfire, which resulted in the victim being shot multiple times. He died at the scene. One of the suspects was also shot, however, initial reports from police said he and the other men escaped in a silver coloured Honda Accord.
PAGE 12, Wednesday, September 13, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Fighting through floods
FLOODING on the streets yesterday, above and below. Photos: Jamie ‘JTrain’ Peterson
A DRIVER making his way through flooding in Palmdale yesterday.
A PEDESTRIAN picking through flooding in Palmdale yesterday and, above right, drivers in floodwaters off Bay Street.
Photo: Donovan McIntosh
Photos: Donovan McIntosh